Ravenloft Group Patrons

[KingCorn]

While the release of Tasha's cauldron of everything was a bit of a dissapointment, what with but a glancing reference to Azalin and that was it, its ideas on group patrons where interesting. With Ravenloft, their are so many darklords and clandestine groups to choose from. And seeing as how Eberron - Rising from the Last War had a section of iconic starter group patrons, I figure one could be made for Ravenloft as well. With that in mind:

Academy: University of Dementliue.
A no brainer, and a good way to keep the group involved in Port-a-Lucine, the most promient city in setting. With classes both mundane and mystical, its many archeological digs, and its ties to the Fraternity of Shadows, it has everything one needs for a gothic education.

Ancient Being: Gwydion.
Thought it'd Azalin, but nope! Don't worry, he's on the list somewhere. But to me, no more iconic an ancient force could be granting eldritch power to the group in exchange for favors than the greatest horror ever to be caught by the Mists. He is older than old, going back to the earliest days of existence.

Aristocrat: Louise Reiner.
Louise Reiner works as a perfectly iconic and usable Aristocrat patron for many reasons. 1) She has goals which she can't accomplish with what power she already has, ie: deposse her sister. 2) She works hard to hob-nob with other power figures in the Mists, keeping connected to the high life.

Crime Syndicate: The Kargat.
The most powerful and wide spread spy network around, while they are not mundane thieves they run in those circles as need be. And for many players, they may indeed think they are simply pawns in a simple crime syndicate, never knowing their true masters.

Guild: Boritsi Trading Company.
Tieing all parts of the core together, and weeding their way even beyond, this great trade company is powerful, brutal, and in desperate need of new hires and trouble shooters to ensure both quality and market supremecy. From the defense of warehouses from Talon sabotage, to the protection of important ships across the Balinoks, to even diplomatic meetings in Pharazia, their is all sorts of adventuring potential with this patron.

Military Force: The Talons.
Lets not beat around the bush: the Talons are evil. And in a game like ravenloft, where you're trying to be heroes, thats hard. But there's no other military force in the mists besides the Ebon Gargoyles. This is just kinda a no win thing. At least they're iconic. I dunno. (Man, Ravenloft needs more war and armies)

Religious Order: The Church of Ezra.
Who else could it be? The most widespread faith in the mists, tied to many forces of good and order, and divided between many sects that are more and more moving away from one another, theirs so much potential in the Church of Ezra as patrons. Cause it could be anything: seeks knowledge under the sect of Dementliue. Enforce the faith and "investigate" the other sects under Borca, battle the forces of evil under the sect of Mordent, or search for the signs of the end times under the Darkon Sect. Or even help fond the fifth somewhere in the core.

Sovereign: Azalin Rex.
WHO ELSE COULD IT BE?! Who else strikes a more kingly image than Azalin "My name litearlly means Wizard King" Rex? Who commands a greater nation, more respect, more fear, more knowledge than him? He is king of Darkon, and his schemes are many. From escaping the Mists, to gathering info through the Kargat, to simply establishing order in his nation, or taking down Death and reclaiming Il Aluk once and for all.

[Mistmaster]

The Mistworld offers more options
Academy: Lamordian academies, Mordent University, the various academies in Darkon,

Ancient Being:
Inajira in Barovia, The Wolf God in Verbrek,

Aristocrat: Mordentish Noble Houses, Vaasam Aristocracy,

Crime Syndicate: Black Lotus, Red Vardo, Collodian Black Hand

Guild: Musarde River Company, Zherisia Verdant Reaches Company, Zeindostein Maritime Trade.

Military Force:
Lamordian Milice, Darkonian Army, Zeindost Military Navy, Mordent Milice and Lamplighters.

Religious Order: The Iron Church, Church of Andaran

Sovereign: Anna II of Zherisia,Strahd XII of Barovia.