Revision 1

Overview

St. Halssius's House of Healing is an institution in Hernand that was once dedicated to treating mental illness. It has since transformed into something much darker. With access strictly controlled and even family visits denied, the House of Healing resembles a detention center more than any place of actual healing.

The organization no longer practices medicine in any real sense. Instead, it functions as a facility for holding individuals deemed "ideologically impure," particularly people from Demeniss. What began as a medical institution has become a tool of control, and the people running it are hostile to anyone who questions their methods or tries to free the detainees.

Details

Territory and Locations

The faction controls several locations in Hernand, all tied to its operations:

Lore and Background

The House of Healing's fall from a medical institution to a detention facility reflects the political instability gripping Hernand and the wider continent of Pywel. The King of Demeniss lies in a coma, and the resulting power vacuum has allowed institutions like St. Halssius's to be co-opted for political purposes. People branded as ideologically impure, a vague label that can be applied to almost anyone inconvenient, are shipped to the facility and locked away.

The denial of family visits is particularly telling. A genuine hospital would welcome family involvement in patient care. The fact that St. Halssius's bars all visitors suggests the people inside are being silenced rather than treated. Players who investigate the facility discover that the "patients" are political prisoners, not mentally ill individuals receiving care.

Combat Encounters

The guards and staff at St. Halssius's facilities are hostile to players. Encounters involve a mix of lightly armored orderlies and more heavily armed guards. The main facility itself has restricted access, so players should expect to fight their way in if they attempt to free detainees or investigate the operation.

St. Halssius's is one of the hostile factions that can be dealt with through the game's liberation mechanics. Clearing the faction from their strongholds restores those areas to normal function and frees any detainees being held.

Related Content

The faction connects to several broader game systems. The Liberation System allows players to retake the faction's occupied locations. Liberating St. Halssius's locations can affect the player's standing with other factions in Hernand and may open up new services or NPCs in the area. The faction's political nature also ties it to the Law System, since actions taken against or in support of the faction can influence regional reputation.