Here is a listing of groups that may currently be joined by player-characters, and some background on each. More information can be found here.

The Aiian Clergy -

The aiian clergy serve the goddess Aiia, and are entirely female. Induction into the clergical teachings of the goddess Aiia usually occurs at a young age, a church accepting girls who show promise in learning the mysteries of Aiia. Many such inductees (called Hopefuls) never become priestesses.

A hopeful is typically aged anywhere from six to thirteen. Typically, by the onset of puberty, if a girl has not shown enough promise to advance deeper into Aiia's teachings, then she is ejected from the clergy's care.

A 'Childess' is a new priestess, and may be anything from a promising child, to a young woman. There are older childess', but this is very rare.

As a member of the Aiian priesthood, one is expected to uphold the values the child goddess, Aiia, has set forth. The most important of these is respect for all life, and the power of creation. Fertility and childbirth are an Aiian priestess' realm of expertise. An Aiian priestess herself, however, may only conceive under extremely specific conditions, and may never wed. The result for transgressions against these rules are often quite severe.

An Aiian priestess serves the populace, and lives with her sisters in the church. She serves Aiia with every breath.

Both the role of Hopeful and Childess are available to new players.

The Grey Harbor Lawmen

Though armed with little more than a copper-banded club, a lawmen nevertheless commands some respect in the colony of Gray Harbor. There are few enough trained fighters in the colony, and the lawmen often have the upper hand when it comes to brawn.

Though a poor organization in their padded gambesons and dirty uniform trousers, the Lawmen nevertheless keep order in the town of Grey Harbor. Though not nearly a large enough organization to cover all of the city, they are often helped by the populace, most of which would rather a crook go punished than be free about, making life harder. A hue and cry is a common event about town, and the Lawmen respond with speed to the call of 'thief!'.

A lawman's life is rarely to do with murder or dark forces, and they are usually happier for it. A market thief or drunken bar brawl is much more common, and the lawmen have just the blunt tools to handle such situations neatly, and with as little fuss as possible.

Women have been known to be lawmen, though it is rare. In Aiian society, a woman who takes up a weapon revokes her lawful womanly status, and most of the benefits thereof.

Local Private Guard - ('A Johnny')

Sailors who have gone to seed are often employed by shops and businesses to watch out for pick-pockets and ne'er-do-wells. Often called Johnnys, these people are not officially part of any organization, nor affiliated with the Lawmen, these colonists nevertheless play a vital role in the keeping of order in Gray Harbor.

Though frequently past their prime, or very young, it is not unheard of for a strapping young lad to take up this sort of profession. Women are much less likely to be seen as Johnnys, as to do so would be to cast of their female status in the eyes of the law, and the pay just isn't very much for this sort of work.

The House of Judgement

Positions in the House of Judgement include Stenographer, Lord Justice, a Company ( or 'companion': the defense), Kettler (a lawmaker and local representative of sorts), Lash (a prosecutor) Records Keeper, and various apprentices in-training for those positions.

The Navy Surelain

As a member of Suraal's standing military force, order and protocol are highly important. A small contingent of Navy forces are stationed in Gray Harbor to aid in times of trouble, and to generally serve the Navy's interests within the colony (those interests being the interests of the Regency itself).

Navy officers do what they're told, when they're told to do it. Their colors are blue and white.

The Black Watch

An extension of the Navy Surelain, the Black Watch is charged with the seeking out and destruction of Lurenites and Ilseans alike. Though the proscribed faiths are quite secretive by nature, and the Black Watch has little representation in the Gray Harbor colony, there is rumor that representatives have visited town.

Members of the Black Watch are reputed to be cold, calculating, and humorless. Their color is black, and their flag is black.

The Laughing Grim

A common rumor, the Laughing Grim are a major underworld force in Gray Harbor. Smuggling earns more opal than petty thievery, but as its members like to state 'a nose in the air gets cut off'. The Laughing Grim are above no crime, should it gain wealth and safety for themselves and their siblings in crime.

The wise steer clear, the foolish end up dead, and the rest are not spoken of by tongues who wish to remain in their owner's mouths.

The Lurenites

Not typically a starting role for players.

The Lurenites worship their Dark Lord Luren, the Lodestar and the bringer of the final twilight. Luren worship is proscribed in Aiian society, and thus the dark arts of the cult of Luren are practiced in secrecy.

Independant Businessmen, Fishermen, etc.

Basically, if one can make a living selling something, or offering some service, then one may do so in Gray Harbor. Capital to start one's own shop is difficult to come by, but there are plenty of folks who make a living on their own as fishers of the bay, or lobster trappers, workers in the shipyard, or servants of wealthy families.

If you can earn an opal, you can eat. If you can eat, you can live in Gray Harbor. If you don't eat, your body is dumped into the bay with last weeks trash.