Forged

The Forged, also known as the Fires of the Forge, are a radical anti-establishment guerrilla faction that was originally under the direct command of the High King of Valindor, and used to destabilize several hierarchies across the Northmarch kingdoms. After the death of the High King during the second Hellfire Invasion, the faction continued to operate under the leadership of five Forged Elites, known as The Five. Under their rule, the faction spread across Northmarch and was responsible for multiple assassinations and murderings of political and royal figures, including the Alistar family line of Aragonia, in an attempt to usher a total collapse of the Northmarch Kingdoms and create a singular nation-state, lead by the Five, to combat the Hellfire.

The Borns have the option of joining the Forged or destroying them during the campaign. Joining them unlocks the Forged ending, in which all Ten Kingdoms of Northmarch collapse, and the Forged Elites that weren't killed during the war establish a single, unified kingdom known as Aeon, named after the divine of Flame, with the Borns serving as mystic guardians and extensions of justice. If the players decide to eliminate the Forged, they must kill all Five of the Forged Elites, which can be found in Daggerfell, Darkreath, Valindor, Aldimer, and Elysmer during Sidequests. This will remove the faction from the game and stop their ultimate goal from being achieved.

The Forged are mostly made up of militia recruits from the Western Expansion, who were either bribed or blackmailed into service. This was done so if any Forged fell in combat or were captured, no association would be made between the faction and with Valindor or the rest of the East. Because of this, killing Forged members lowers affinity with the West, while working with the Forged lower affinity with the East.