Several organised (and somewhat less organised) groups exist in Spindle. Some perform functions necessary to the maintenance of Spindle and Dream, while others help to keep Muse society in order. Others still simply act as discussion groups for like-minded Muses. They are summarised below, with more information available on their respective pages.
At Character Creation, you may choose one of these Factions to be affiliated with, or up to two as long as it makes narrative sense for your character. Depending on the group, this may give you access to an additional brief with further information or faction-specific Quirks. It is entirely possible to change which Faction(s) you are affiliated with, or attempt to join additional Factions, over the course of the game - though bear in mind that being an active member of any of these groups comes with a set of responsibilities and expectations which may make life difficult for your character if they attempt to participate in multiple Factions.
The Academy of Thought is an authority that doesn’t so much perpetuate ideas as they do control them. One of their key tools is the press, issuing official statements on the goings-on in Dream on a weekly basis. They are hailed as the most impartial and reliable source of news in the Dream, and therefore: their word is fact.
Food For Thought, or just “the Café”, is the best café in the whole of the Dreamscape, if not also one of the weirdest. It is famous for providing food that tastes like literal thoughts, and thoughts that are as delicious as the best delicacy one can find. Its regulars are keen for discussion of all topics, from casual gossip to philosophical debates.
The rebellious Muses of the Free Idea Forum are free spirits; artistic individualists who chafe at the restraints placed on their creativity by society. The FIF struggles endlessly to liberate the hearts and minds of Muses everywhere, fighting for a Dream where everyone is free to create without fear of repression.
Jommunity is a viewing society and fandom dedicated to the hot, old reality TV show that is Jo’s life! The Jodom see Jo not only as the entity to which they provide inspiration, but as a character in themselves. They cry over their relationships, celebrate their victories and cheer them on through hard times.
The Nightmare Fuel Weather Station (NFWS) are a research institute whose existence centres around maintenance and power distribution of the Juice Battery. They consist of scientists, explorers and surveilence - keen to explore the properties of Dream, Tropes and Creative Juices with an almost child-like sense of irreverent curiosity.
Pure Inspiration is an exclusive social club for Muses of the highest creative calibre. They are the social elite and trendsetters of Spindle, priding themselves on their ability to utilise Tropes to their fullest conceptual potential - though some say their “creative vision” has drifted too far and become divorced from reality. They also curate the exhibits of the Exhibition Hall.
Some Muses aspire to create something truly novel and sincerely felt, and leave their mark on the world, but for the Sell-Out Syndicate, creativity is a means to an end, and the highest artform is whichever one market analytics forecast will be most popular in the upcoming quarter.