The Hierarchy

Established by Charon the first of the Ferrymen, the Hierarchy is many things. It is the law maker, the soul harvester, the military, the government the protector, the slave master and the moral compass. Organised as a tiered society, the upper ranks command the lower ranks. The Necropoli in the Shadowlands started out as colonial outposts of Stygia, created to facilitate the processing of souls. Since their inception, many have expanded to become strongholds in their own right.

The weakest wraiths become Thralls, protected from Oblivion by the chains that subdue their thoughts and their Arcanoi. Those who have useful talents and retain some of their intellect after death are deemed freewraiths and funnelled into the legions, either as military Legionnaires or administrative Clerks to play their part in keeping the vast machinery of the Dark Kingdom of Iron running. For all their freedom, even freewraiths have to pay their way in the Underworld.

Yet for this seemingly oppressive regime, sexism and racism are almost unknown. If a wraith can prove their worth, and can navigate the labyrinthine politics of Stygia then they too can rise from humble beginnings to wield power and influence. Be careful who you cross, or whose corpora you step over to get what you want as the soul forges run night and day and they are a handy manner in which to dispose of the bodies.

While the Hierarchy can be seen as callous and carelessly brutal at times, it looks after its own by providing an organised front of resistance against the forces of Oblivion. it is ironic that the Hierarchy provides the very security that enables the Renegades and Heretics to slack off and criticise Stygian policies while offering very little in the way of alternatives.

The Masks of the Hierarchy

Responsibility

The Hierarchy provides an organsational structure shaped over millenia for the purpose of maintaining the society of the Restless Dead. Out of the chaos of anarchy, the Hierarchy brings order; the vast numbers of dead are catalogued and assigned to a Deathlord and their Legions find them productive work to do. The goal in every day is to hold fast against Oblivion.

Peacekeeping

The Empire of Stygia fields vast numbers of wraiths whose primary task is to maintain order within the territories and Necropoli claimed by the Dark Kingdom of Iron. Securing and maintaining the Byways that link the Necropoli with Stygia, ensuring the traffic of souls and trade in goods is secure. Winding their way through the Tempest, the Byways are a navigation guide for travellers, without the protection of the Legions they would be no safer than walking the Labyrinth itself.

Oblivion Fighters

Every Hierarchy wraith contributes to the primary goal of Stygia; that being the struggle against Oblivion. Whether it is fighting Spectres on the front lines with the military, working as a reaper collecting freshly dead souls, fashioning weapons, armour, maps or coin to keep the Legions running or whipping the Shadows of colleagues back into line. Each wraith has their part to play; even if for some their part is to be soul forged.

The Hierarchy as a rule doesn't soul forge on a whim; it does so using wraiths who are drones or close to Shadow-eaten that, if left to their own devices, they would fall to Oblivion, thus strengthening it. Soul goods cannot fall and can provide the stronger-willed wraiths who wield them a much needed advantage against the Spectre horde.

Opportunity Seekers

The Hierarchy has at its heart the commerce of any great empire. Those who collect or create needed materials and goods can make a comfortable, sometimes even opulent, existence for themselves. Whether you trade in souls, soul goods, information, relics or artefacts, there are many opportunities for advancement.

Keepers of the Dream

In centuries passed, the Hierarchy had the task of helping wraiths seek Transendence. In the mean time, while wraiths worked towards this elusive goal, the Hierarchy also provided a sense of purpose in an otherwise bewildering existence. For some, the dream of the greatness of Stygia is not easily forgotten.

Manner of Death

Each manner in which a mortal might meet the end of their life has been categorised by the Hierarchy and assigned to one of the eight Deathlords. Under most circumstances the wraiths serving a given Deathlord share the same type of death, though not necessarily the same manner. There are a few wraiths, more than the Deathlords would like discussed, who have been acquired by Legions other than the one signified by their Deathmarks; sometimes this is due to theft, trading between Deathlords or simply an opportunistic Reaper.

Death, Deathlords and Legions

The Silent Legion, ruled by the Quiet Lord from the Seat of Silence, and consisting of the victims of Despair.
The Legion of Paupers, ruled by the Beggar Lord from the Seat of Golden Tears, and consisting of the victims of Mystery.
The Emerald Legion, ruled by the Emerald Lord from the Seat of Thorns, and consisting of the victims of Happenstance.
The Grim Legion, ruled by the Smiling Lord from the Seat of Burning Waters, and consisting of the victims of Violence.
The Iron Legion, ruled by the Ashen Lady from the Seat of Shadows, and consisting of the victims of Old Age.
The Penitent Legion, ruled by the Laughing Lady from the Seat of Succour, and consisting of the victims of Madness.
The Skeletal Legion ruled by the Skeletal Lord from the Seat of Dust, and consisting of the victims of Pestilence.
The Legion of Fate, ruled by the Ladies of Fate from the Seat of Fate, and consisting of those whom Fate has marked for its own.

Heretics and Renegades

To those within the Hierarchy, even the outsiders such as Heretics and Renegades have a classification of their Death. Usually this is simply a formality but in strongly-held Hierarchy Necropoli it can mean that the Legion that claims you comes looking for you. How that turns out greatly depends upon the philosophy of the Legion concerned, and of the Legionnaires with their shackles.

Ranks in the Hierarchy

There are two distinct divisions within the membership of the Hierarchy, those in the Military arm and those in the Administrative arm. While a wraith of the Hierarchy officially only owes obedience to a higher ranked wraith of their own Legion and arm, it is an unwise wraith that frequently ignores orders from higher up the chain without either powerful friends or an excellent reason.

Ranks in the Hierarchy
Status	Military	Administrative
1	Legionnaire	Clerk
2	Centurian	Adjustor
3	Marshall	Inspector
4	Regent	Minister
5	Overlord	Chancellor
6	Anacreon

Hierarchy