While Darkside is ostensibly under the authority of the Temple, in reality it is nearly autonomous. For a time, it was in effect ruled by a crime lord known as "Faraon the Friend" - a golden dragon that resided in the Jade Palace (also known as "Faraon's Dome"), in Underside - the flip side of Rephidim. However, a concerted military assault following the kidnapping of the Captain-Astromancer resulted in the destruction of Faraon's base of power, and forced his flight from Rephidim. Now, it seems that Darkside's crime organizations are crushed, divided into petty factions squabbling over territory, since Faraon had succeeded in crushing the other major power years before - the Assassins' Guild.