Factions (Suikoden Supplement)

Black Dragon Clan

A group of chefs living on Black Dragon Island; many famous chefs of Suiko all come from this Island. Secretly, the clan leader created a plot to find the perfect recipe; and use it to rule the world. The group actually achieved some success in this goal, creating the Moon Bird Recipe, a simple, easy to prepare dish that appeals to everyone. However, seeing how the recipe was corrupting the Black Dragon Clan, two members stole it and ran away with it.

One of them, though successful in stealing the recipe, was found out and assassinated by another member of the clan; before dying, however, she hung on long enough to give the recipe to her lover and top-ranking member of the clan. He ran far from Black Dragon Island, eventually finding a place to stay in the City-States of Jowston as a chef for the New State Army under a fake name. However, the Black Dragon Clan successfully tracked him down in the Allied Army’s kitchen, and several members challenged him to cook-offs for the recipe, including the leader of the clan.

However, his cooking talents were phenomenal, and overcoming his competition, he managed to retain victory even over the clan. Tearing up the Moon Bird Recipe that had brought so much strife, he proclaimed that the best dish was any dish baked with your heart. He was eventually allowed to return to Black Dragon Island.

Dragon Knights

An autonomous group of knights located in the Dragon Knight's Domain, the Dragon Knights are simply knights who use dragons as their steeds, rather than Gul-Horses, horses, Kangacorns or the like. Dragons are considerably rarer mounts, however, as Dragon Eggs usually only hatch in the Dragon's Den.

Though living in the Toran Republic, the Dragon's Den Knights are independent from the surrounding government; however, in exchange for their autonomy, they will work with the surrounding governments. Most famously, the Dragon Knights granted their aid to the Liberation Army during the Toran Liberation War. It was Joshua Levenheit's Dragon Rune, combined with Leknaat's piece of the Gate Rune, that sent the monsters Windy summoned back to the World of Emptiness during the Battle of Gregminster. A few Dragon Knights also participated in the Second Fire Bringer War, nearly 20 years following their service in the Toran Liberation War.

The Dragon Knights are a somewhat mysterious organization to outsiders; all Dragon Knights are trained from their youth, and both they and their families live in Dragon Knights' Fortress. A potential knight has until the age of five to bond with a dragon; if he or she has not done so by then, they are removed from the pool of candidates for possible knighthood. If he or she can form a bond, the child would spend time growing up with their dragon, depending on the bond between the two, until the knight reaches the age where they will become an apprentice. Following their apprenticeship, the young Dragon Knights advance through the ranks , continuing on until either they or their dragon passes on.

A Dragon Knight who loses his or her dragon is cast out from the knighthood until he or she can find a new dragon; given the unusual growing conditions of the dragon eggs, which will rarely hatch outside of the Dragon's Den, the quest to find a new dragon becomes a nearly impossible task, to be sure. Few are ever successful in finding a new dragon.

Feitas Dragon Cavalry

A military force founded by the Dragon Horse People following the union of the peoples and the Falena Queendom after their alliance in the war against Nagarea. Early on in the history of the Feitas Dragon Cavalry, their abilities were abused as the various factions of the Falenan Senate tried to align themselves with the Dragon Cavalry. Unused to such intrigue and subterfuge, the Dragon Cavalry often found themselves manipulated and used as pawns. Tiring of this, the Dragon Cavalry imposed a rule upon themselves, naming its mission as defending the nation against those who would threaten Falena's borders, thus divorcing themselves from internal matters. The Sun Palace gave its approval to this measure, having grown uncomfortable with the Senate's meddling.

A regimented, disciplined group, the Dragon Cavalry held many rules in its past, including their prohibition against women joining their ranks, not borne from the customs of the Dragon Horse people, as expected, but from the conventions of the Queendom at the time as regards the Queen's Knights. This tradition remained even after the Queendom removed their rule regarding membership of the Queen's Knights until Rahal took control of the organisation, introducing reforms in 450.

Following the Falenan Civil War in 450, an off-shoot of the Feitas Dragon Cavalry, the Sun Palace Dragon Brigade, was created to deal with matters that were not covered by the rules of the Dragon Cavalry

Howling Voice Guild

"Howling Voice, shadow upon the ground!
Howling Voice, flash of thunder from the gods!
Cursed Voice that separates Life from Death!
Right here, right now, these guns want to shed blood.
They want to feast on souls!
Listen you cursed Guns!
We are it!
The final blast to signal war!"
—Howling Voice Guild duel rites

The Howling Voice Guild is a powerful espionage and assassination guild in the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia. Guild members often have one of three important tasks entrusted to them: to gather information on targets, protect them, or assassinate them. The guild is often used by Harmonian priests in order to manipulate the People's Faction and/or the Temple Faction. Though known for the powerful, unique weapons their members carry – guns, and the gun powder that powers them - the Howling Voice Guild also specialises in other fields, such as toxicology. Members are raised from childhood onwards in the guild, never leaving save when on a mission, each apprentice training to become part of the elite gunner classes. A select few may receive an ‘internship’ in the guild, usually those who belong to powerful families within Harmonia. The training of the Howling Voice Guild is known to be extremely rigorous, and fatality rates run high; not all apprentices survive to adulthood. For Harmonians not of First Class Rank, the Howling Voice Guild is often one of the only ways for them to gain power, as the Guild chooses to rank its members on skill rather than social class.

The current Guild Master is Clive.

The Tower

Also known as the “the garden” to members of the guild, the Tower itself is a single, small fortress with one central tower. Within it’s confines live the entire guild, who are not permitted to leave unless on a mission. No agriculture takes place in the tower; the Howling Voice Guild is dependent on rations delivered to the tower by the temple.

Ranks of the Howling Voice Guild

Apprentice Class

All Howling Voice Guild members start out as part of the apprentice class. Here, they begin to learn the powerful espionage and killing techniques that will make them into effective agents of the guild. Apprentices are sent out on assignments; however, they are not allowed to handle the firearms more elite classes may. Stella, a young apprentice who ambushed Nash Latkje on his journey, was of the apprentice class.

Squire Class Gunner

Squire Class members are those who have proved themselves as apprentices. They are allowed to wield firearms, and are regularly sent out by the guild on missions. To be promoted to a Knight Class Gunner, they must take a test – a test so grueling it is rare that many students survive it! Zaj Quilous, an ambitious gunner who attempted to murder most of the Latkje family, was a member of this rank.

Knight Class Gunner

If they can pass the test, however, they will become Knight Class Gunners. It is very rare for there to be more than one Knight Class Gunner in a generation; they are usually chosen to become Guild Master by the Elders. Elza was of this rank; as was Clive, during the Toran Liberation War and Dunan Unification War.

Guild Master

The title of Guild Master is somewhat misleading; they are not the true masters of the guild, rather, they are a figurehead for the Elders, who often pull the strings of the Guild Master behind the scene. In order to become Guild Master, a Knight Class Gunner must be able to wield Sturm, one of the guns of the Howling Voice Guild – or defeat another gunner who can. Kelley was once a member of this rank; the current Guild Master is Clive.

Elder

A shadowy group who controls the guild behind the scenes, the Elders are retired Guild Masters or other members of the Guild who have proven themselves through merit to rise to this ultimate rank. Elders often form factions within both the guild itself and are able to exert their influence in Harmonian politics. A few even are friends of powerful Harmonian aristocrats. Master Sauro was a member of this rank.

Guns of the Howling Voice Guild

Sturm

Sturm (sometimes called Storm) is the most sacred gun within the Howling Voice Guild. Only the Guild Master is allowed to wield Sturm. In fact, a Knight Class Gunner must be able to wield Sturm in order to become Guild master. It is said that Sturm is sentient, and possessed by an elemental spirit. Not even the Elders, the rulers of the Guild, may oppose Sturm. This gun was used by Clive, during his hunt for Elza.

Star and Moon

Two small, specialized guns that were made specifically for dueling. Stern symbolizes justice, and Mond, betrayal; these two symbols were chosen because they represent the two functions of the Howling Voice Guild. These guns were used in a duel between Elza and Kelley, as well as a duel between Clive and Elza.

Talgrund

An old and rather odd gun once owned by Zaj Quilous, the Talgrund is firmly attached to the hilt of a sword with a black blade, the barrel of the gun pointing towards the edge. The Talgrund’s wheel locked, muzzle loaded gun holds an extremely small capacity; only one bullet can be fired.

Rotkappchen

Rotkappchen is a large rifle carried by Cathari, the "Invisible Howl", during her excursion into Falena. Despite the size of the weapon, it makes very little noise, perhaps adding to Cathari's already mysterious reputation. It is a weapon that is likely used for long distance assassinations. By the time it would be discovered where Cathari was hiding, she would be long gone. It is important to note that Cathari is the only HVG member to never refer to her gun by name. Her listed weapon names could only be nicknames.

Nether Gate

Its members undertook many dangerous and illegal acts over the years, including espionage, sabotage and murder. Divided into five divisions (Assassination, Intelligence, Assassin Training, Drug Development and Subversive Activities), the group trained their operatives while they were young children and graduated the survivors at the age of ten. The training completely brainwashes their operatives, forever altering their behaviour and appearance. For example, the former Nether Gate assassin Sagiri was trained to smile all the time to make her appear unassuming to targets and so is unable to change her facial expression, even years later.

In the past, Nether Gate attempted to infiltrate Harmonia's Howling Voice Guild to steal their gun technology, but were rebuffed. They carried out political assassinations, such as the murder of Nakula's father, a New Armes chieftain who was advocating strong anti-Falena measures at the time of his assassination in 441. Its Drug Development division created many rare and dangerous drugs including Dark Arcanum, Raging Nostrum as well as other drugs which could kill a target instantly.

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