The majority of PCs are or will become members or allies of Riftwatch. The exceptions are: (1) prisoners, (2) rifters or natives with anchors who do not wish to join/assist the organization but must remain due to their anchors, (3) rare mod-approved special cases, and (4) side characters who are Kirkwall locals or otherwise not fully affiliated with the organization.

Characters who choose not to join/ally will be provided only basic room and board (or dungeon cells, as appropriate), rather than full outfitting and regular pay. They also won't be able to participate in a significant number of plots. The majority of mod plots and many player plots hinge on characters being ordered or authorized to conduct official business, and characters who don't actually work for the organization won't be given orders to go anywhere or be authorized to operate on its behalf, except on rare occasions. Those characters can, however, participate in player plots or mod plots that don't hinge on official orders.


Riftwatch, as an organization, has four divisions: Diplomacy, Forces, Research, and Scouting. All members and allies will belong to one of these divisions and report to that division's head. What division your character belongs to will determine what the majority of their day to day work consists of. Belonging to a division doesn't mean your character is limited to only that type of work. The sample job duties and so on described for each division are meant to help players know what characters' daily lives are like when they aren't participating in specific missions or plots, assist in handwaving, or help prompt ideas for ways characters can meet or interact around the Gallows, but characters can do other things as well.

Characters who are only allies rather than formal members—Wardens, mercenaries, Templars or mages who choose to still report to their wartime leaders, etc.—should still choose a division representing the area that they primarily assist with and the leader they would generally be coordinating with. For example, a Templar who still reports within the Templar organization might typically be working with other Templars to combat mages and should sign up for Forces, or a Warden may be focused on researching the Blight and reporting on that research to other Wardens, but should still be part of the Research division.


Projects are subsections of the organization based on topics, rather than types of work, and constitute some of Riftwatch's most important work. Characters from any division can assist with any project.


The day to day operations and practical details of the Gallows' operation—overseeing the domestic staff, handling shipments and supplies, animal care, etc.—are also the responsibility of PCs. The Gallows has a Seneschal who coordinates these efforts, and other characters can take on official roles/titles such as Quartermaster, Stablemaster, Apothecary, Archivist, Head Cook, Captain of the Watch, etc. Some of these roles are IC leadership appointments that must be applied for, but you're welcome to invent your own for your character or say that your character is part of an official IC leader's staff without applying.