Ironbrook’s Talons
1.0 Becoming a Talon 1.1 The Chicks 1.2 Other Recruitment Paths 2.0 Talons Service 2.1 Duties 2.2 Facilities 2.3 Uniform 2.4 Retirement 2.5 Talons Flights 3.0 Talons Leadership 3.1 Flocks 3.2 Promotion 3.3 Ranks |
Joining the Talons
Information regarding Talons recruitment and training.
A student may opt out of joining the Talons (or not do well enough to earn a position there) but it is highly uncommon, and those there on scholarships are often required to as part of their agreement with the organization.
Most Chicks students are from prestigious Brookian families with the money and influence needed to get them a seat. Occasionally, the Talons may offer special scholarships to talented individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend. (Such qualifiers might be a skill for necromancy, a familiar companion, or extreme academic skill). Students are boarded at their Chicks Academy throughout the school year, returning home during the summer and on the occasional break.
Chicks students are required to wear uniforms while attending classes. These consist of a white shirt, dark blue pants (or skirt, if the student desires) and coat with red and gold accents, and a dark blue cap. They also have a more ornate formal uniform for special occasions.
Education in the Chicks is high-quality and focuses on skills relevant to a career in the Talons; the first two years a student spends at the Academy they receive the same general training, before branching off into classes more relevant to the Flight they would prefer to join. Some examples of classes a Chick might be able to take are; impersonation, combat, how to be charismatic, sciences, and all the numerous other skills each Flight specializes in.
Chicks are allowed to choose any Flight to focus on, although their educators may nudge them to one that they have a stronger aptitude for, and they must pass an exam to test their skills as a future agent of said Flight.
At the end of their fourth year (or when they’re turning eighteen) a Chick is given one final opportunity to change their Flight of choice and then must embark on a test of their skills as a future Talons agent. The final exam is an approximation of what they can expect to do in the future, and while not a real mission, some Flight exams can be dangerous. The task expected of a Chick is different depending on what Flight they’re interested in joining: for a future Eagle, it might be something combat-related, the Hummingbirds a test of scientific knowledge, the Ravens being tasked with trailing someone (perhaps even an older Talons agent), etc.
If they are successful in their final exam, a Chicks student will be granted the position of Fledgeling within their Flock of choice. If they fail, they will not be allowed into the Talons - although not all hope is lost, for the Chicks isn’t the only way into the organization’s ranks.
Should a prospective new agent take up the offer, they will be put through training lasting anywhere from a few months to a little over a year. The length depends on their existing skills, but even those highly proficient in the Flight they’re being recruited into need to spend some time learning the Talons’ policies.
Occasionally, those brought in for criminal activity may be offered a position in the Talons instead of punishment. This is usually reserved for those with exceptional talents or rare abilities, such as necromancers.
Rarer still is entirely forced recruitment; the Crows may sometimes be called in to deal with individuals who have committed crimes but would be of extreme value as part of the organization; when they are done, the ‘recruit’ tends to come out far more... agreeable.
Talons Service
Information relevant to active Talons agents.
In return for their hard work, the Talons have access to a great number of benefits. The pay is very good, they can receive medical treatment from their fellow agents of near-unequalled quality from throughout the Realm, and they hold a position of power and influence within Ironbrook’s society, even if most of it is done behind the scenes, and they are allowed to take vacations within reason.
! Further information on current Talons facilities is available to those with Talons characters in their associated discord channel.
The major exception to this is the Talons’ distinctive “plague doctor” masks. White with red lenses and resembling the type of bird the agent’s Flight is named for, these are the infamous marker of a Talons agent on the job. While agents may customize the look of these to an extent, these are meant to prevent easy identification, and those who go a little over-the-top may be reprimanded and forced to replace theirs.
Unknown to non-Talons members, each mask has a unique 8-digit ID code inside tied to its agent. These are recorded in a registry with their owner’s name in a secure Talons facility. If a mask should be lost or go missing, its owner is required to report it so that other agents can be on the alert for anyone attempting to impersonate a Talon.
Some Talons agents with particularly rare skills may be offered an alternative to the eventuality of retirement; as Ironbrook gladly makes use of necromancy, a Talon could be rewarded with life extensions keeping them youthful well beyond normal limits.
Those who defect from the Talons can expect to become some of their highest-priority criminals to deal with. Talons agents often accumulate a wealth of knowledge regarding state secrets, and they will stop at nothing to make sure that they’re dealt with before they can spread it. Those who betray the Talons can expect to remain fugitives all their lives.
Talons Flights
Flight | Description |
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Eagles |
The heavy fighters of the Talons. The Eagles are highly trained when it comes to combat and handling dangerous weaponry, and are sent into action to deal with major threats to Ironbrook’s security that need to be punched (or magic’d) into submission. They’re highly trained and have access to a wide variety of magical and non-magical weapons, including lightweight rune-enhanced armour. |
Owls |
The detectives of the Talons. The Owls focus on investigating crimes and tracking down the location of fugitives of the law within Ironbrook’s borders. After that is done, the task of apprehending more dangerous criminals often falls to the Hawks or Eagles. They have knowledge of self-defence, though are not trained anywhere near as extensively in the subject as in Flights where combat is their primary duty. Owls are often highly intelligent and with good deductive skills. They usually wear ordinary Brookian fashion, though have access to runic items and potions to allow them to hear and see more. |
Hawks |
The Hawks are a middle ground between the forcefulness of the Eagles and the more measured approach of the Owls, favouring adaptability and quick-strike tactics. As they have both combat and decent deductive skills, Hawks may be the first Flight called upon when something goes wrong and a fast response is needed. They may work with both Eagles and Owls as extra numbers when the situation calls for it, and have access to a mixed bag of each Flight’s typical equipment. |
Ravens |
The spies of the Talons. Ravens are tasked with mimicry and infiltrating Ironbrook's enemies. They’re specialists when it comes to disguises and blending in with the civilian population. They have all sorts of different outfits available to them, and some are able to completely change their personality to fit the given situation. |
Crows |
Interrogators and psychologists. Crows are responsible for dealing with criminals after they’ve been apprehended, although some specialize instead in acting as therapists for their fellow Talons agents, or run the more school-adjacent re-education programs that Ironbrook’s government may sometimes prescribe as punishment. They are more infamous however for their members who take the roles of interrogators and ‘brainwashers’, using unsavoury means to deal with Ironbrook’s worst offenders and rebel organizations. |
Vulture |
Assassins and kidnappers. Vultures are tasked with quietly removing enemies of the Talons - mysterious fires, unexplained deaths and vanishings are all their kind of work. They are some of the more feared members of the Talons in some circles. They’re meant to be quiet and anonymous and therefore do not tend to wear anything identifiable, though may have their mask or a small ‘code’ garment on for certain missions so other Talons don’t mistake them for criminals or kidnappers. |
Pelicans |
Skyship engineers/pilots and customs agents serving within Ironbrook. They work at city docks and border crossings inspecting passports, cargo, and luggage. Pelicans are also responsible for crewing the skyships owned by Ironbrook’s government and the Talons, making sure that shipments to secret facilities arrive without delay and transporting agents where they need to go. |
Finches |
Ironbrook’s public police force. They are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement of the law and dealing with more minor criminals, and as such are one of the largest Flights. Finches may also act as bodyguards for high-ranking officials in Ironbrook’s government. Most Finches agents wear their associated masks and a plain but distinctive uniform. Some members of this Flight also serve in civilian clothing, to catch people who think they’re safe from Talon eyes. |
Toucans |
The Toucans are ‘mascots’ for the Talons as well as a supplemental force to the Finches with similar duties. They wear impractical, long-beaked masks resembling a toucan’s face. |
Ibises |
The Ibises are a Flight that focuses on the application of magic for the benefit of the Talons; their members are runesmiths, alchemists, necromancers, and harvest mages. Agents of the Ibises may research various mysteries of magic or act as craftsmen making potions/runic items for other Flights. Harvest mage Ibises can be expected to be called upon to heal their fellow Talons when in need, and necromancers to revive or even extend the lifespan of an especially worthy agent. |
Hummingbirds |
A highly academic Flight. Hummingbirds are responsible for forensics in crime scenes, as well as researching non-magical sciences that are of interest to the Talons, and furthering Ironbrook’s understanding of the world around them. |
Sparrows |
The glittery, over-the-top showmen and salespeople of the Talons. The Sparrows primary goal is to put on a pleasant public face for the organization and act as recruiters. Agents of the Sparrows are usually highly charismatic and talented event planners. Their duties consist of recruiting for the Chicks as well as scouting out anyone older with talents of use to the Talons, as well as performing public stunts to generate goodwill towards the Augury and the Talons. They usually wear ostentatious uniforms and are expected to present themselves in good order at all times, though may sometimes go without uniform and impersonate regular civilians to spread general goodwill towards the Augury. |
Hens |
The Hens are not usually considered official members of the Talons, but rather individuals pressed to assist the organization in a forceful manner. These include criminals handed over to the Ibises and Hummingbirds as test subjects, those who have been ‘re-educated’ by the Crows, and informants for the Talons in various criminal groups or areas otherwise prone to dissent. They may occasionally be brought in as full Talons agents if one can be sure of their new loyalties. Hens with criminal backgrounds have small tattooed markings on their hands that can be read with a blue light. |
Chicks |
A High School department for younger Brookians who wish to get involved in the Talons early. Training includes all the ‘Flights’, as well as picking which Flight they wish to join. If they complete the program, they go to their chosen Flight as a Fledgeling member. Chicks are only ever aged 14 to 18 (or turning those ages the year they’re recruited/graduate. Older recruits are put through a different training program. |
Talons Leadership
Information regarding Talons hierarchy and ranks.
Each Flock is named for its leader, though may also be given a distinctive code name to avoid identifying a Talons agent by name.
Flocks are normally composed of only members of the same Flight, but may rarely have Talons agents from different sections of the organization working together for a specific mission. These tend to be more temporary affairs, as it makes the chain of command between the Flock and more senior Talons agents somewhat unclear.
There are also agents who work entirely alone, known as “Flockless”, though it is rarer and they often do not have much chance of promotion. May be temporarily assigned to a Flock or to coordinate with a Flock on important missions.
At minimum, Talons agents tend to spend at least a handful of years in each role before being promoted further. Very talented Fledgelings may be elevated directly to Flock Second after becoming a full member of the Talons, but need to get at least a few years of leadership experience in the field before going further.
Ranks
Rank | Description |
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Head |
The overall leader of a Flight within the Talons. Flight Heads report directly to the Augury and the secretive Head Talon. Due to their high rank and extensive knowledge of state secrets, they rarely do field work and their primary duties are to oversee the overall efficacy and actions of their Flight. On average, Flight Heads are in their mid-late thirties or much older, but rarely an individual who is exceptionally talented may be raised up in the ranks at a younger age. During missions of extreme importance, Flight Heads may take direct command over Flocks to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Individual Flight Heads are usually referred to by the section of the Talons they preside over: Head Pelican, Head Hawk, Head Ibis, etc. |
Vice-Head |
Vice-Heads are experienced and talented Talons agents that serve as assistants to Flight Heads. They provide advice and help their superior manage the extensive workload of running one of the sections of the Talons. There are always at least two and no more than four at a time within each Flight. |
Commander |
Talon Commanders are in charge of the organization’s most major facilities and report directly to the Head and Vice-Heads of their Flight. There are usually only ten to twenty of them in each Flight, scattered across Ironbrook. |
Senior* |
Senior Talons are in charge of facilities of middling importance or work directly under a Talon Commander to manage larger sites. They usually oversee three to four Flock Directors and set the general agenda for their subordinates. *This is the highest Talons rank a player character can hold. |
Flock Director |
Flock Directors are the commanders of three to four Flocks, and may occasionally be given leadership over minor Talons facilities. They do less field work than the average Talons agent but may be called out to coordinate their subordinates on the ground. They don’t tend to have a large amount of autonomy. They receive an agenda from the ‘Senior’ they report to, and then decide how best to go about completing their tasks using the Flocks beneath them. |
Flock Leader |
Members of the Talons are organized into ‘Flocks’; these are squads of 5-7 agents. More combat-oriented Flights like Eagles and Hawks tend to have slightly larger Flocks on average, while non-combat ones like Hummingbirds often have fewer numbers. Flock Leaders, as the name would suggest, are in direct command of their Flock. They report to their Flock Director and act as leaders on the ground and during missions. While their tasks are determined by their Director, they are able to make the final call on things when in action. |
Flock Second |
The seconds-in-command in a Flock. There are usually one to two Seconds in each squad; their job is to support their Flock Leader and take over for them if they are sick or injured. Flock Seconds will often be promoted to leadership of their own flock after gaining experience. |
Flock Member |
Your average member of the Talons. They work in ‘Flocks’ of several other agents and report directly to their Flock Second and Flock Leader. |
Flockless |
Talons members who work on their own. A suitable rank for the solitary types who don’t take well to the chain of command, but can also make promotion nearly impossible, even if the Flockless individual is talented in their own right. After all, one usually becomes Flock Second and higher because of their leadership and teamwork skills. Those who are Flockless often don’t have any, or at the very least don’t have any opportunity to show those off. May be temporarily assigned to a Flock or to coordinate with a Flock on important missions. |
Fledgeling |
New members of the Talons just recruited from the Chicks. They are still getting on-the-job experience; 1-2 of them are assigned to a Flock to learn from their peers. Fledgelings typically spend 1-3 years in this position and are between 18-21 years old; older recruits will usually be brought straight up to Flock Member/Flockless after a few months of intensive training to familiarize them with Talons policies. They are re-assigned to a different (or entirely new) Flock once they become a full member, usually made of some recently-promoted Flock Seconds and a mix of new and more experienced members. |