The Guardian Sword was originally the ranks of Tordic soldiers who took Mariport from the Northlands. For several years, it reigned as the only government of Mariport. Two centuries ago, however, Legious, capital of Torda, sent up Senator Raikin and his staff to serve as the new, permanent government of the city. Sensing a collapse of his power, General Yondi (the then current head of the Guardian Sword) propogated rumors against the senator and turned the populace against him before he even set foot in the city. When the senator arrived, he was lynched on the spot by a mob of civilians, angry with all the problems Yondi had told them he had caused. Legious responded with an army, but a lone hero, Yala Kuriso, intervened and prevented the pointless loss of hundreds of lives. She proposed a joint rule between Military and Senate (now known as the Shining Crown), which was accepted by both parties.

In recent times, a third branch has grown out of the rich aristocracy, known now as the Scepter of Gold. These affluent merchants and traders use their wealth to direct the growth of the city to their own liking, much to the dismay of both the Guardian Sword and the Shining Crown. Using each of their resources, the branches are in a constant dynamic equilibrium, always vying with one another for power over the city.

Beneath the surface of the city, however, two factions of vampires dance in a similar struggle for power; Obora, the queen of the Nosferatu, who seeks to be the sole ruler of the underworld tries to pull at the combined strengths of The Triumverate, lead by Pharos of the Gangrel, Vance de Vanor of the Malkavian, and David Greydin of the Ventrue. However, both factions of vampires follow a sort of tensed etiquette... for now. Roger's castle provides a neutral ground for both parties to meet and discuss their intentions in a safe environment.