REALM is a multinational task force on α-Earth that recovers historical artifacts from black market trade. They are an α-only organization with no Omega counterpart.[1]
Functioning[]
REALM is known for its work to recover antiquities from thieves and black market trade and return them to their countries of origin. The task force hired many military operatives for this purpose, and used military rankings such as Private, Captain, and Commander. If we include analysis of their leaked full name, it also suggested that the force does more than just fight criminals, also carrying out excavations and analysis of items that came within their care.
REALM's reputation is mostly spotless as a result of their "noble" mission statement of returning confiscated antiquities to their homes and their work to enforce it. The organization did make headlines when they repeatedly failed to apprehend a fugitive, but media attention appeared to be more focused on the powers of the fugitive and how they were able to keep on escaping, rather than suggesting any failures on REALM's part.
A rogue faction[]
Whilst the task force overall does not appear to be corrupt, there does exist a secret faction within REALM. Their agenda appears to include taking the most powerful relics they come across for themselves. It has not been confirmed whether this faction is solely present within REALM or whether it is a larger group for which REALM is one of several organizations they are operating in. Currently, only one employee of REALM is known to be a part of this faction - Captain Greaves. Whilst many other REALM employees and the force itself effectively worked along with Greaves' agenda, this appears to be because they were misled by Greaves rather than being corrupt themselves. Most were happy to trust that Greaves was telling the truth given his high rank and that there was no evidence being presented to suggest he was lying, although some operatives did have doubts over the situation given they only had Greaves' side of the story which had turned a known legend and hero of REALM into a murderer in an instant.[2]
Whilst the involvement of REALM, Greaves, and this faction in the current events of the lore appears to be over for now (as of EP 05 Act III), it is possible we may see them return in the future. We know the faction's agenda has included obtaining powerful relics, so depending on how long they have been operating for, it's possible they may have obtained several of these relics and also gained a lot of knowledge from them - something that could cross paths with the interests of the VALORANT Protocol at some point.
Notes[]
- In Lightfarm Studio's Article on Harbor's Reveal Trailer, they claimed 'REALM' to be an acronym for 'Relic Excavation Analysis Logistics and Misplacement'. This was retconned just days later when the article was edited and the full form removed.