Sons of Mercy
The Sons of Mercy are a minor Faction from the Planescape setting of Dungeons & Dragons. They are an ancient faction who date back before the Great Upheaval, when the Lady of Pain decreed that Sigil would tolerate only a small number of the then-prolific Factions to reside within its streets. The Sons of Mercy responded by hooking up with another Faction with relatively compatible beliefs, the Sodkillers, and the united groups rechristened themselves as the Mercykillers. In the wake of the Faction War, they broke back up again.
Philosophy[edit | edit source]
The Sons of Mercy believe in the purity of justice above all things, but that justice must be tempered with mercy. In contrast to the cold, legalistic "the law is the only authority that matters" approach of the Mercykillers, the Sons of Mercy believe that justice should be proportionate and consider the circumstances.
In their 4th edition writeup in Dragon Magazine #370, the Sons of Mercy's philosophy is summarized as "Justice Breeds Peace", which is elaborated on as follows:
- “By ensuring justice is applied fairly and to all who live in the light of civilization, we all prosper.”
- Tyranny foments unrest. Justice and order must be shown to be superior alternatives to chaos and upheaval. Through law’s champions, people will embrace an orderly society, for through it they can lead normal and prosperous lives. This recognition and support from the governed ensures a peaceful and secure community. Punishment should always fit the crime, and it should be dispensed fairly. Should there ever be doubt about a person’s guilt, the accused should go free, for it is better to loose one hundred criminals rather than execute an innocent person.
Post-Faction War[edit | edit source]
After the Faction War, the Sons of Mercy attempt to rebuild themselves by reigniting their former belief, hoping that when the Lady of Pain changes her mind, they will be able to more officially champion the cause of justice and mercy. They continue to run the prison, and do so with far greater compassion than the Mercykillers, striving to redeem their charges rather than simply punish them. They also attempt to expand and take over the role of Sigil's police force, a role originally filled by the now-exiled Harmonium... unfortunately, lacking the political weight of factionhood, the naturally anarchistic and rebellious denizens of Sigil mostly ignore them.
Sources[edit | edit source]
The Sons of Mercy as a revived proto-Faction debuted in the Faction War adventure module for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition. They were subsequently canonized in the writeup for Sigil that appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition splat "Planar Handbook"; this depiction carried on into Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition in its Manual of the Planes and Dungeon Master's Guide 2. The article "Riven Justice: The Mercykillers" in Dragon Magazine #370 also expands upon the lore for all three factions - Sons of Mercy, Sodkillers and Mercykillers - in the World Axis.
