The Guild of Rovia, an institution that once stood as a beacon of hope and protection for the city's inhabitants, had long since decayed into something far darker. Established over 500 years ago, the Guild was originally formed to defend the city against the dangers of the wildlands—beasts, marauding bands, and dark sorceries. But as the centuries passed, the noble ideals that once guided the Guild were gradually eroded by greed, ambition, and the lust for power. Under the current leadership of Guild Master Alaric, the Guild had transformed into a shadowy organization that controlled every aspect of life in Rovia, its influence corrupting the very heart of the city.
Alaric, a man whose power was only matched by his cunning, ruled the Guild with an iron fist. His elemental prowess made him a formidable opponent, but it was his skill in manipulation and deception that truly set him apart. Alaric understood that the key to maintaining power was not brute strength alone, but control—control over people, information, and wealth. And so, he allowed the Guild to devolve into a hierarchical nightmare, where power was concentrated in the hands of the few, and the weak were trampled underfoot.
At the top of this hierarchy were the A and B rank adventurers, men and women who had proven their strength and skill in battle. But these ranks were not just a measure of combat ability; they were also a gateway to privilege and corruption. A and B rank adventurers were given nearly free rein in the city, their status granting them access to vast wealth and influence. Each week, they were paid a stipend of 100 gold coins—enough to live in luxury while the rest of the city struggled to make ends meet. But this wealth came at a cost, for it was not merely a reward for their services, but a bribe to ensure their loyalty to the corrupt system that Alaric had built.
These high-ranking adventurers used their power to extort and bully the lower ranks and the common citizens of Rovia. It was an unspoken rule that fruit sellers, bakers, blacksmiths, and every other tradesperson in the city had to offer free goods to any A or B rank adventurer who demanded them. Those who refused found their businesses mysteriously beset by troubles—thieves would break in at night, their stalls would be destroyed, or worse, wild beasts would appear as if from nowhere, leaving nothing but chaos and destruction in their wake. Few suspected the truth, that the Guild itself orchestrated these attacks, using its connections with the criminal underworld and its mastery of dark magic to terrorize the population into submission.
The lower-ranking members of the Guild—those of C rank and below—were little more than pawns in this corrupt system. They were forced to pay "tribute" to their higher-ranking counterparts, a portion of their earnings extorted under threat of violence or demotion. Those who failed to meet these demands were often sent on dangerous missions, their deaths chalked up to misfortune rather than the calculated machinations of their superiors. These missions were often little more than death sentences, designed to eliminate anyone who might pose a threat to the existing power structure.
Even within the Guild's own walls, corruption was rampant. Promotions were not earned through merit, but through bribery, blackmail, and connections. It was common knowledge that to rise through the ranks, one had to align themselves with a powerful patron—an A or B rank adventurer who could pull the necessary strings. In return for their patronage, the lower ranks were expected to perform all manner of unsavory tasks, from sabotaging a rival's mission to spying on potential threats to the Guild's power.
The Guild also maintained a stranglehold on Rovia's economy. They controlled key industries—mining, agriculture, trade routes—and used their influence to manipulate prices and profits. Merchants who refused to comply with the Guild's demands found their caravans ambushed, their goods stolen, or their families threatened. Those who played along were rewarded handsomely, but the price of their cooperation was silence and complicity in the Guild's crimes.
Behind the scenes, the Guild ran a network of informants and spies, keeping tabs on anyone who might challenge their authority. These informants were often paid in gold or protection, their loyalty secured through fear or greed. They reported on everything from political dissent to personal rivalries, feeding the Guild a steady stream of information that Alaric used to tighten his grip on the city.
One of the most insidious aspects of the Guild's corruption was its manipulation of Rovia's legal system. The city's magistrates and judges were little more than puppets, their decisions dictated by the Guild's interests. Those who dared to seek justice against the Guild or its members found themselves facing charges of treason, theft, or worse. The prisons of Rovia were filled with those who had crossed the Guild, while real criminals walked free, protected by their connections or the bribes they paid.
The Guild's reach extended even to the religious institutions of Rovia. Temples and shrines were forced to pay tribute to the Guild in the form of "donations" or protection fees. Priests who spoke out against the corruption were silenced, their congregations infiltrated by Guild agents who spread rumors and dissent. The spiritual leaders of Rovia were either cowed into submission or replaced with those more amenable to the Guild's influence.
For the common people of Rovia, life under the Guild's rule was a daily struggle for survival. They lived in fear, knowing that at any moment, they could become the target of the Guild's wrath. Many were forced to turn to the black market to meet their basic needs, as the Guild-controlled economy left them with few legal options. Those who tried to resist or organize against the Guild were quickly and brutally crushed, their leaders made examples of in public displays of power.
Alaric, for his part, maintained the facade of a benevolent ruler. He held court in the Guild Hall, dispensing justice and offering aid to the needy. But behind closed doors, he orchestrated the very crimes he claimed to fight against, using his position to enrich himself and his loyal followers. The people of Rovia saw him as a hero, a protector—but the Shadow Saints knew the truth.