The Obscura faction deceives and manipulates their way to power. This is represented by the connive keyword action, which helps you scheme for the future. Some spells and abilities instruct a creature to connive. To do so, its controller draws a card and discards a card. If they discarded a nonland card this way, they put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.

The Riveteers faction moves with speed and efficiency. They are associated with the blitz keyword ability. Creature cards with a blitz cost may be cast for that cost instead of their mana cost. If they are, then they have haste and "When this permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, draw a card," and they are sacrificed at the beginning of the next end step.

The Brokers can offer protection from all kinds of dangers and are associated with shield counters. If a permanent with a shield counter on it would be dealt damage or would be destroyed as the result of an effect, a shield counter is removed instead.