syndics and knights under your control. Between adven-
tures, you can now maintain a wealthy lifestyle.
You are given a servitor tbrull (see chapter^6 for the
stat block) that is yours to command. If it is killed, your
pontiff gives you a new one at their djscretion, possi-
bly up to ld4 weeks later. You also have a staff of 2d4
knights and 4d8 syndics under your command. You can
order them only to carry out tasks that contribute to the
work your pontiff assigns to you. The duty of protecting
you from physical harm is a lways appropriate service for
your knights, however. Your knights can be knights or
priests , and your syndics are either nobles or acolytes
(stat blocks for them appear in the Monster Manual).
RANK 4: PONTIFF
Prerequis ite: Rank^3 and renown^50 or higher in the
Orzhov Syndicate, Orzhov birth
As a pontiff, you are one of th e executive managers in
charge of enacting the will of the Ghost Council. For
that purpose, you have a staff of 2d6 ministrants (use
the mage or priest stat blocks from the Monster Manual
to represent them), with their attendant knights and
syndics as described for rank 3. You have access to 2d4
servitor thrulls and winged tbrulls (see chapter 6 for
these stat blocks) at any given time, to carry messages
and perform menial tasks for you. You also gain the
occasional privilege of speaking with members of the
Obzedat. Between adventures. you can maintain an aris-
tocratic lifestyle.
ENEMIES AND ALLIES
A syndicate built on a foundation of exploitation and
extortion can't rely on alliances. The Orzhov appreciate
certain aspects of other guilds' work and missions, but
they treat other guilds as resources to be plundered. In
general, the Orzhov view guilds that promote order and
stability (Azorius, Boros, and Selesnya) more kindly
than guilds that sow chaos and destruction (such as Gol-
gari and Rakdos).
Sometimes adherence to order can get in the way of
an efficient crime operation, though. and that's when the
Orzhov part ways with the other law-and-order guilds-
especially the Azorius. Any guild that obstructs the Or-
zhov from amassing more wealth is an enemy, whether
the disruption comes from horning in on Orzhov opera-
tions or enforcing laws against racketeering.
The best way to secure individual allies from other
guilds is to make them owe you something. Borrowers
seldom make fri endly or especially loyal allies, but they
can be useful pawns. You might form a genuine alliance
with members of other guilds if you share a common en-
emy: the overreaching Azorius or Boros, the spies of t he
Dimir or assassins of the Golgari, or the rampages and
excesses of the Gruul and Rakdos. Alternatively, you
might team up with members of a chaotic guild to bring
down an opponent that is causing too much trouble for
Orzhov operations.THE 0RZHOV VIEW ON OTHER GUILDS
In the eyes of the Orzhov Syndicate, the other guilds pri-
marily represent either opportunities for exploitation or
dangerous threats to its way of life.
Azorius. "Their new laws challenge everything we know
Ravnica stands for. If they will not protect the people,
then we will do it for them."
Boros. "Though their structure is reasonable, they are
naive in their outlook on justice. What glory i s there in
risking one's life when work continues in th e afterlife?"
Di m ir. "It's hard to begrudge them their love of secrets.
As long as they stay out of our business, we will
leave them be."
Golgari. "Admirably resourceful and elegant, but tragically
unhygienic. The swarmers may persist, as long as they
don't try to force their aesthetic sensibilities on us."
Gruul. "They know nothing of order and dignity, and there-
fore they serve little purpose as an organization."
l zzet. "Combative and obnoxious. Their allegiance lies with
no one, and their naivete isn't worth our time."
Rakdos. "A necessary source of creativity and satire. Wit
is a dangerous weapon, and their critiques speak to the
people more than fear and surveillance ever will."
Selesnya. "The Selesnya are idealistic fools. Looking
toward nature ignores the problems at hand in the civi-
lized world."
Simic. "Their preoccupation with life disregards the might
that death can provide."I