I am not the best person to answer your question about the various story lines on talus but since no one else has had the time, i will try to ellaborate a bit as i see it. (keep in mind I usually just hak so i may be off on some or all of this)
The major factions on talus are
(player based)
1) The Freeblades (a force of nuetral/good aligned characters) who stand between the free world of talus and the forces of darkness.
2) The Sunshine pixie guild (nuetral/good characters) who aid the FB when necessary but mostly run about doing what pixies do.
3) Red Rogues, a very small and secretive society of cut throats and villians who's main objective isnt clear to outsiders, most of whom dont even know they exist.
4) En something or other, sorry I forget their name. a collection of mostly nuetral/evil rogue types who are loosely loyal to the queen of the rogues Osa.
5) Goblins clan (The Swarm). goblins are evil or nuetral mostly and do what goblins do, loot and pillage.
(NPC based, none player accessable, for DM running quests)
1) Livedia (sp?) leader of the "d**ned legion". Arch nemesis of the FB guild. bent on taking over everything that isnt already in their control. Deep and long history between these factions!
2) Akrona, a city of the dead or should we say the undead. Ruled by an evil queen. full of nasty sorcerers and minions.
3) Drow city deep beneath the surface you can find if your unlucky enough, the city of drow and not too far away the Ilithid chambers. No friend to any player who isnt of the same race and always a challenge!
4) Evil Lich (is there any other sort?) mage who resides in some hard to reach tower. If you meet him you will know it.
5) Cthorna a demi god from the plane of fire who has been taken to heart by the mostly good citizens of Peridotia island. For their prayers he watches over them. Seek him out and do his quests for rich xp rewards. His is active against the drow and duegar who have infiltrated into his sub mountain caves!
6) Wereking. No one has seen him in a while but his lair is well known to lay somewhere in the eerie bogs. Watch out, die in combat with his minions and you may turn into a were yourself!
7) Troll King. Pretty much the same synopsis as above.
8) Queen of the Yuanti. Straddling the border of the rockie plains & the bogs is her temple. Dont be in too much of a hurry to see her.
9) City of the Dwarves. It used to be a thriving city north of snow city, high in the snow covered mountains of athabasca. Its inhabitants now slain, their city over run by spiders and yeti. Lets not forget the restless undead former inhabitants.
10) Antarians, a race of extreme cold loving (mostly evil) people. They tolerate the other peoples of talus only for the extensive trading.
11) Snow City, the last northern establishment of what is typically considered the free world. Located on the main continent it is pretty far north of Lomat city and straddles the base of the northern mountain range. The Snow City guard are considered reliable and pretty stoute humans. Mostly protecting the area from the Orgothian Orcs who live all too close to the west.
12) Orgothian Orc clan. Nasty, evil and well. orcs.. nough said.
There are tons more to see and learn but ive not the will nor fortitude (*roll d20 fort check*) to attempt to list it all.
Hope that helps some...
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