Overview:
The Apex Guild originally rose to power as a powerful conglomerate based in Vignone, a fusion of business and scientific research. Known for their immense financial backing and groundbreaking work in space exploration and life sciences, the Guild was instrumental in propelling the Mungo system to new technological heights. However, their insatiable greed led them down a dangerous path. In an effort to expand their influence and further control the resources of the galaxy, they tampered with forces beyond their understanding, ultimately opening a portal to a pocket dimension that brought forth the Hollowed, setting the stage for the apocalypse that now ravages the universe.

The Guild, though shattered by their mistakes, continues to hide in elite cities on Vignone, with their operations now split between the morally conflicted factions of Vignone and Capus. While the Capus branch seeks redemption and stability, the Vignone faction remains intent on regaining control, with their eyes still set on exploiting the Hollowed's power.

Key Motivations:
The Apex Guild seeks absolute dominance, and their actions in opening the portal to the Hollowed were driven by a desire for more power. Their ultimate goal is to establish a new order where they control both the resources and the fate of the universe, using the Hollowed and other powerful artifacts to bend reality to their will. Though the branch on Capus has refocused on redeeming the past mistakes, the Vignone faction remains fixated on exploiting their discovery, trying to manipulate the dimensional tear they created in order to harness the energy of the Hollowed.

Leadership:
Dante Valis serves as the face of the Apex Guild. As a ruthless business tycoon, he’s managed to keep the Guild relevant in the shadows, pulling the strings behind the scenes. He is the driving force behind the Vignone faction, manipulating resources, establishing business deals, and controlling the scientific advancements of the Guild. Beneath him are the business elites, scientists, and military operatives who work tirelessly to ensure the Guild’s empire continues to expand. While the Capus faction has distanced itself from the Guild's past mistakes, the Vignone side’s insatiable hunger for power remains unchecked.

Key Features:

• Vignone Faction: This group thrives on corruption and seeks to regain the influence they once had. They continue to explore the potential of the Hollowed and believe they can control them for their own ends. They are relentless in their pursuit of more power and will do anything to maintain their dominance.

• Capus Faction: In contrast to the Vignone faction, the Capus branch is attempting to correct the mistakes of the past. They now operate as a tech hub and military research center on Capus, offering their services to the Nexus Vanguard and other factions seeking technological advancement. However, remnants of their past actions linger, and not everyone is entirely on the side of redemption.

• Dimensional Influence: The Guild’s failed experiment in opening a portal to the Hollowed's pocket dimension has left them with a lingering connection to powerful, dark forces. They are continually trying to manipulate the very forces they unleashed, trying to use their discovery as leverage for control over the universe.

• Elite Society: The Guild operates in a highly secretive manner, hidden among the elite cities of Vignone, where the wealthy, powerful, and influential conduct their covert business dealings. The Guild's activities remain largely in the shadows, yet its influence extends far beyond the public eye.

Key Beliefs:

• Greed and Power: The Apex Guild believes in the accumulation of power above all else. Their ambition led them to tamper with forces they didn't fully understand, setting off a chain of events that has thrown the universe into chaos. They are now working to consolidate their power, regardless of the costs.

• Redemption vs. Corruption: While the Capus faction seeks redemption for the mistakes of the past, the Vignone faction remains a bastion of corruption, clinging to the hope that controlling the Hollowed will restore their former glory.

• Control through Technology: The Guild believes that technology and science are the keys to ultimate control, using their inventions to manipulate others and maintain power. They see themselves as the rightful rulers of the universe, with only the strongest factions worthy of leading.

Character Arc:
As the story unfolds, the Guild will be shown as the instigators of the apocalypse, with their greed and arrogance sparking the events that led to the rise of the Hollowed. Their internal conflict between redemption and corruption will form a key part of their narrative, as the Guild's different factions work against each other while struggling with their past mistakes. The Guild’s role as puppet masters of the universe will also be explored, with key characters potentially trying to either align with or dismantle their reign.