There are currently nine major factions in the Secret War:
A loose band of heroes drawn from across the timelines who have stumbled onto the Secret War by accident, and now they aim to make things right for you and me. They rely on luck, determination, and the sheer rightness of their cause to prevail.
These secret rulers of our modern world are the descendants of animals that, centuries ago, used magic to transform themselves into humans. They have created a vast, worldwide conspiracy, through which they control police, militaries, the media, big business, and organized crime. They want to make sure they remain in charge and that magic never comes back — if it does, they'll turn into bears and snakes and tigers again.
These cruel eunuchs hail from ancient China, where they secretly control the Chinese empire using dark magic and sinister intrigue. Powerful sorcerers, the Eaters of the Lotus have learned to summon and control the supernatural creatures native to the ancient period: long-nailed hopping vampires, alluring but deadly ghosts, putrid walking corpses, and bizarre demons.
Twisted scientists and power-hungry bureaucrats from the future who run a worldwide totalitarian government known as the Buro. They combine advanced science with a form of magic called "arcanowaves" to reach new heights of biotechnology and genetic manipulation. They raid the past for supernatural creatures to use as raw materials for their Abominations, deadly bioengineered soldiers.
A group of Shaolin monks from the 19th century forms the core of this secret society dedicated to halting the tyranny of groups like the Architects, Ascended and Lotus. They seek to reshape the world according to Confucian ideals, doing away with the decadence and personal freedom of the modern world.
Although the Guiding Hand is opposed to magic in all its forms, their kung fu techniques are so incredible that they seem almost supernatural.
These powerful sorcerers ruled the world until the Ascended took control of enough feng shui sites to cause a critical shift, and erasing the Monarchs from our history books. Now exiled to the Netherworld, these four siblings plot to regain what once was theirs — when they aren't busy plotting against each other.
A motley group of cyborg monkeys and cast-off rebels based in the Netherworld who oppose the authoritarian rule of the Architects. They believe that feng shui sites are the cause of all the world's problems, so they intend to do everyone a favor by blowing up all the feng shui sites they can find!
A formerly secret society of sorcerers within the Architects of the Flesh, now acting openly and independently. Originally recruited and taught by Lotus agents, they are opposed to Arcanowave technology and all its applications. They dedicate themselves to the perfection of "pure" magic. This dedication causes loss of fingers to sentient paradox cubes. Others lose their minds.
