# [[The Augen Trust]] The Augen Trust is a clandestine faction that "watches the Watchers", referring to the [[The Crownsguard]] and political power in [[The Dwendalian Empire]]. ## Members ```dataview table description as "Description" from "ttrpgs/Temporary White Circle" WHERE contains(type,"PC") and contains(faction,"Augen Trust") SORT file.name ASC ``` ## Goals The Augen Trust want to make sure that no power, especially not in [[The Dwendalian Empire]], goes unchecked. Their goal is to make sure those in power act responsibly. ## Ranks [^reddit] > [!quote] The Augen Trust > We disguise ourselves because those who know us seek to ruin us. We are your family and friends, your neighbors and servants. All you enjoy the freedoms of is because of our eyes and hands. The Crown trusts us, and we have called on you. Now, the question is… are you ready to place your trust in us? ### Chosen Eye An initiate of the Dwendalian Empire’s elite spy network, a Chosen Eye is the first step to becoming a loyal, unbreakable servant of the Augen Trust. _**Requirements.**_ An individual may become invited to become a Chosen Eye through assisting (unknowingly) in missions that further the Empire’s goals and desires, such as arresting imperial dissenters, exposing secrets of the Cerberus Assembly that make the Crown look more appealing, or fighting/capturing/killing Empire traitors or Kryn Dynasty members. _**Initiation.**_ When invited to the Augen Trust and upon acceptance, the individual undergoes a grueling and invasive interrogation in front of one or more higher members of the Trust, where they are expected to lay out all of their secrets in exchange for being taken into the fold. This interrogation may or may not include methods of psychological strain in order to bully the initiate into parting with their secrets (but not magic since magic is associated more with the Cerberus Assembly — I imagine that the Augen Trust would rely on mundane means to break people). What the individual isn’t aware of, though, is that the Augen Trust may have already done their research and found out what they need to, meaning that lying or omission of personal details could bring bad results. Other tactics used may be inviting the individual to a secret meeting place, leaving them there to wait for a long amount of time, and observing them in secret to see if they continue following instructions or get fed up and leave. Psychologically exhausting bait-and-switch methods like this are often utilized for the Trust to vet out those who are weak-willed, impatient, or otherwise seen as a potential liability or disruption to their ranks. _**Perks.**_ After initiation, the Chosen Eye receives a symbol of the Augen Trust (possibly a pin/brooch or minted coin of the Empire that’s been modified slightly so that those who aren’t looking wouldn’t notice anything off but another Trust member would spot it immediately) as well as the light favor of the faction. The Chosen Eye now has access to minor power over the local Crownsguard in any given imperial city; they can freely go to a barracks, prison, or otherwise and use their standing with the Empire to ask for help, information, or resources. They will receive a minimal amount of any of these (one ally, an adventure lead, or a few mundane items or a common magical item, for example). ### Prime Blade After assisting the Augen Trust in infiltration, obtaining information and secrets, and drawing out imperial dissidents, a Chosen Eye is deemed ready to advance in the ranks of the faction and become a Prime Blade. _**Requirements.**_ An individual may be eligible to become a Prime Blade after having completed several missions on behalf of the Augen Trust, perhaps having also foiled a small rebellion in an imperial town or arrested citizens planning to sow discord by violently dissenting. _**Initiation.**_ As a test of their personal and mental strength, an individual is set up in either a personal duel or a group tournament while an Augen Trust member observes their physical prowess. The outcome of the duel can be as important or unimportant as the DM desires; emphasis is placed on how the Trust feels the individual performed during or behaved before or after the duel. This duel can be replaced with a sensitive mission as well; sample missions could include having to expose an otherwise innocent-seeming citizen of political dissent or treason or eliminate a target that an individual would normally have trouble bringing themself to go through with (such as a family of which the absence of a main breadwinner would bring them deeper into poverty, etc). _**Perks.**_ As a reward for their dedication and progress, the Prime Blade is given a magical weapon, a set of armor, or a shield of the DM’s choice. Suggested rarity of this item is _**uncommon**_; alternately, they can also receive a _**dormant**_ _**Vestige of Divergence**_, if the Augen Trust has possession of one. The access that they have to members of the Crownsguard to assist them may expand slightly at this rank as well at the DM’s discretion. ### Cardinal Protector Known Cardinal Protectors: [[Sage Moonshine]] As the Prime Blade climbs the ranks of the Augen Trust and proves themself to be a loyal member and citizen of the Dwendalian Empire, their access to resources expands, and they become a Cardinal Protector. _**Requirements.**_ Membership of a Cardinal Protector can become available after shutting down a plot to assassinate a powerful imperial official (not necessarily the king), having completed several missions on behalf of the Augen Trust, or quelling rebellions in various towns or strengthening the Empire’s hold over cities where it’s not as strong (autonomous cities such as Hupperdook, Bysaes Tyl, Grimgolir, or the Velvin Thicket). _**Initiation.**_ An individual can obtain the rank of Cardinal Protector by completing a mission that requires the utmost discretion and secrecy. This initiation is more loose than the previous ones but is done so to symbolize the individual’s independence and the trust placed in them to make their own decisions on behalf of the faction. A mission of this sort can be disposing a local leader who is a traitor to the Empire, rigging an election so that the Empire’s favored candidate wins, or infiltrating a Concordian city and changing the political landscape so that it’s more favorable to the Empire. _**Perks.**_ As a reward, the Cardinal Protector is gifted either a _**rare**_ magical item (weapon, armor, shield, etc.) or several magical items of _**uncommon**_ rarity; if they’re not in possession of a Vestige, this could be a time where they receive an _**awakened Vestige of Divergence**_, if you think the Trust would have one. Their access to the Crownsguard resources expands at this level and they may be able to call on a fellow Augen Trust member for longer term assistance at the DM’s discretion. ### Exalted Guard Having gained great favor and allegiance with the Augen Trust, a Cardinal Protector is given one of the highest honors in the Trust and made into an Exalted Guard. _**Requirements.**_ An individual can be qualified to become an Exalted Guard after having repeatedly proven their capabilities to the Trust time and time again through amassing an impressive resume of missions that have helped the Empire. At this point in their adventuring career, they may be a common name that the Crown calls on for infiltration into enemy territory, negotiations with other nations or regions, or removal of political rivals and enemies. They are loyal, unwavering, and true. _**Initiation.**_ Obtaining this rank, as with many of the other higher tier ranks, is up to the DM’s discretion, but could involve having completed a mission where the individual placed their allegiance to the Trust over their own personal morals or goals. As this is a very vague concept, it could look like anything — from the Trust using deceit in order to have an individual turn against a loved one or an ally for working against the Empire to choosing to support the Empire after seeing evidence that they’re asked to ignore and turn a blind eye to. At this point, another thorough interrogation can take place as a “milestone” check-in, just to ensure that the Trust still has a strong hold on the individual’s loyalty. _**Perks.**_ As a well-trusted and repeatedly-proven member of the Augen Trust, an Exalted Guard has a plethora of resources at their beck and call. They can potentially influence a significant amount of Crownsguard to chase down leads, arrest ne’er-do-wells, or otherwise, at the DM’s discretion, and may have access to several Augen Trust members to command or call on for assistance. In terms of magic items, they may receive one of _**very rare**_ rarity or an _**awakened Vestige of Divergence**_ (with potential to become _**exalted**_ depending on level). ### Righteous Warden The highest rank a member can obtain besides being the actual head of the Augen Trust, a Righteous Warden has well-earned influence and power over the elite forces of the Empire. _**Requirements.**_ Very few have been able to prove their loyalty to the Empire as deeply as a Righteous Warden would. This rank is considerably hard to obtain and shouldn’t be granted easily — an individual who has a history of toeing the line of loyalty, telling lies of omission about their personal goals, or having conflicts of interest with the Trust would be the last choice for this honor. For someone who is worthy, however, they may have paved their way to becoming a hero of the Empire and a favored ally of the Crown and king’s court. This individual may have been vital in larger scale plots that permanently changed the Empire’s standing on the continent, possibly obtaining more land in the north by clearing out the Tribes of Shadycreek Run, dealing war-ending blows to the Kryn Dynasty, or weakening the Cerberus Assembly’s influence on the Empire and sowing discord within their structure. _**Initiation.**_ A personalized, private ceremony, headed by Oliver Schreiber, would bestow the great honor of Righteous Warden onto an individual. What this ceremony looks like is up to DM’s discretion but could include skill checks or other trials for flavor and player participation. At this point, the individual is trusted enough that one final interrogation isn’t necessary, and any members who have suspicion cast onto them or have an unstable reputation wouldn’t have lasted long enough to see this rank, regardless. _**Perks.**_ A Righteous Warden is one of the pinnacles of power and influence in the Augen Trust. Their word is taken seriously, only possibly overridden either by Oliver Schreiber or King Dwendal, and what they can do with that reach is vast. Entire Crownsguard squads, platoons, or regiments can be called into battle at their command, and they have no trouble finding numerous allies to assist them in any imperial city. However, with such power comes a large target on their back from other factions — assassination attempts, death threats, and corruption plots could number the dozens as other factions recognize the immense power a Righteous Warden holds, even if they’re unaware of the means or the official name by which the individual holds it. A Righteous Warden has access to the Empire’s most coveted treasures — including things like _**legendary**_ magic items or an _**exalted Vestige of Divergence**_. Additionally, a Righteous Warden may be granted a reflavored _**Lord’s Ensemble**_ (_Waterdeep: Dragon Heist_) for the purposes of secret meetings or participating in initiations of other Chosen Eyes. [^reddit]: @hearden. (2021). *Wildemount faction ranks & renown: Augen Trust.* Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/Wildemount/comments/mnmg46/wildemount_faction_ranks_renown_augen_trust/