It's a Mongoose canon expansion thing, if memory serves.
General Secret Societies IYTU*?
- Thread starter Spinward Scout
- Start date
There are societies that are secret, societies that have secrets, societies that believe they know secrets, and societies that believe they know of secret societies.
You might get as much mileage out of simply having rumors of secret societies in the background as actually making them part of the plot.
You might get as much mileage out of simply having rumors of secret societies in the background as actually making them part of the plot.
Commander Truestar
SOC-14 1K
Sorry for the long burning fuse on the one...
I wonder if you know "which" issue of the Challenge magazine the knights were mentioned in?
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
I remember it from DGP's Traveller's Digest, I don't immediately recall if it made it to Challenge but I do have memories of Dave Nilsen commenting on psionic knights storming castle anthrax as a play option for future TNE post wave.
Commander Truestar
SOC-14 1K
Yes, I have all the data from the four adventures in the DGP material.
And I also saw the comments by @McPerth saying they "were not" mentioned in Challenge
I'm just trying to make certain.
I pulled up the index of Challenge Magazines and started looking through all pieces by Charles Gannon, to investigate.
But, I'm sadly encumbered by other things, so I figured I'd ask here - to see if anyone "did remember" any piece in Challenge? Or, to find out if the people who said, "Hey, this came from a piece in Challenge" might realize they mis-remembered.
Just being a completest.
Commander Truestar
SOC-14 1K
I've also found data which is most likely not be Canon, but...
On Saarinen - B566212-8(Sabine/Deneb), A low-pop, Ni world on the Aramis Trace there is an Imperial Research Station Epsilon.
That Research Station - "Epsilon" had been founded specifically for military Psionics research and was associated with the "Order of the White Star"
The piece describes the Order as an "Imperium-wide Psionics Institute for training military knights with psionic ability."
It says that after the Psionics Suppressions, the Station was converted to measure undersea geologic processes.
So, it is data to "consider" adding to anyone's notes if they chose to use the White Star Order in their campaign
I found this data at the URL: https://march-harrier.weebly.com/aramis-trace.html
And, I would not be surprised if that was a site related to the campaign of someone on this board.
On Saarinen - B566212-8(Sabine/Deneb), A low-pop, Ni world on the Aramis Trace there is an Imperial Research Station Epsilon.
That Research Station - "Epsilon" had been founded specifically for military Psionics research and was associated with the "Order of the White Star"
The piece describes the Order as an "Imperium-wide Psionics Institute for training military knights with psionic ability."
It says that after the Psionics Suppressions, the Station was converted to measure undersea geologic processes.
So, it is data to "consider" adding to anyone's notes if they chose to use the White Star Order in their campaign
I found this data at the URL: https://march-harrier.weebly.com/aramis-trace.html
And, I would not be surprised if that was a site related to the campaign of someone on this board.
My bad. The Order of the White Star is first mentioned in Ghost Ship in TD 14. It's existence on Caladbolg is mentioned in Sword of Arthur in TD 16.
Black Vulmea
SOC-12
I could tell you, but then I'd have to space you.
Stei'awtliyrl
SOC-12
My definition of "Secret Society" is an insular organization that is composed of the wealthy, powerful and influential. I can imagine that there is such an organization that exerts its' influence in Core, but those members are almost all connected with the Iridium Throne. These societies are the ones that whisper in ears that make their way to policy makers of the Imperium. I'd suspect the region of the old Ziru Siirka has ancient secret societies that reach back Millenia, but the Vilani secret societies would be more like the Freemasons or the Skull and Crossbones in our world. The Vilani organizations are not subtle powers behind the throne any more, but more of keepers of tradition. The rituals and rites are more or less meaningless, but if you know the handshakes and passwords, you can get access to the social clubs and organizations where you can rub elbows with the rich and powerful. (So long as you correctly observe the hallowed Vilani traditions).
Most Secret Societies in Charted Space are regional. The travel times for communication alone limit the ability to coordinate plots across anything larger than four or so Subsectors. The classic "secret society that runs the Imperium" trope is mostly a Conspiracy Theory, that perpetuates itself across generations. On the other hand, a Fraternity with a strong alumni and legacy recruitment tradition can set up a lot of mutual support for the privileged and powerful. Wearing your membership pin to a business gathering might connect you with a Noble or a Senior Megacorporate VP.
Speaking of Conspiracy Theories; In the Dezzy Traveller Universe, the assassination of Emperor Strephon has become like the Kennedy Assassination. And the emergence of Strephon in Gushmege with the claims of body doubles has only added napalm to the bonfire. And like in our world where conspiracies will often point at marginalized groups to blame. The Psionics Institutes are prime targets. "Dulinor was mind-controlled by the Psionic Cabal that are going to turn everyone into thoughtless drones!" And every single non-Imperium polity are at the center of the Strephon Assassination Theory. "It's the Hivers! They're the manipulators of the galaxy!", "It's the Zhodani, they're directing the Psionics Institutes to undermine Imperium Values!", "It's the K'Kree! They want revenge for all the herbivores eaten by the carnivorous races over the centuries!"
Espionage Agencies aren't "Secret Societies" but a common strategy is to create or use an existing Secret Society as a front for operations. SolSec always has it's tendrils probing around the Rimward Sectors, compromising social clubs or business and professional Guilds.
... I think I have the beginnings for next week's essay for Lore and Legends of the Dezzyverse
Most Secret Societies in Charted Space are regional. The travel times for communication alone limit the ability to coordinate plots across anything larger than four or so Subsectors. The classic "secret society that runs the Imperium" trope is mostly a Conspiracy Theory, that perpetuates itself across generations. On the other hand, a Fraternity with a strong alumni and legacy recruitment tradition can set up a lot of mutual support for the privileged and powerful. Wearing your membership pin to a business gathering might connect you with a Noble or a Senior Megacorporate VP.
Speaking of Conspiracy Theories; In the Dezzy Traveller Universe, the assassination of Emperor Strephon has become like the Kennedy Assassination. And the emergence of Strephon in Gushmege with the claims of body doubles has only added napalm to the bonfire. And like in our world where conspiracies will often point at marginalized groups to blame. The Psionics Institutes are prime targets. "Dulinor was mind-controlled by the Psionic Cabal that are going to turn everyone into thoughtless drones!" And every single non-Imperium polity are at the center of the Strephon Assassination Theory. "It's the Hivers! They're the manipulators of the galaxy!", "It's the Zhodani, they're directing the Psionics Institutes to undermine Imperium Values!", "It's the K'Kree! They want revenge for all the herbivores eaten by the carnivorous races over the centuries!"
Espionage Agencies aren't "Secret Societies" but a common strategy is to create or use an existing Secret Society as a front for operations. SolSec always has it's tendrils probing around the Rimward Sectors, compromising social clubs or business and professional Guilds.
... I think I have the beginnings for next week's essay for Lore and Legends of the Dezzyverse
Stei'awtliyrl
SOC-12
heh heh heh. I went ahead and did it. Here's the "Secret Societies essay"
dezzy-parrish.com
Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?
Secret Societies, Conspiracies, Cabals and Guilds In the Third Imperium, there are countless organizations dedicated to the social, political, business, even academic advancement of their members. …
dezzy-parrish.com
Commander Truestar
SOC-14 1K
In an episode of Babylon 5, a "waif-like" arrival on station came through the security checkpoint and immediately noticed what looked like damage on a wall in the compartment. Taking that as a guide, the waif then followed other graffiti, etc, and got to where she could meet "her people"
In that regard, you can add any secret societies you want.
A rating newly assigned to an Imperial Navy ship can get on the internal crew forums and introduce themselves with specific words misspelled. Just I's and E's switched with "A" replacing an "IE" in the last word of the intro....
That means nothing to anyone except...
1) The petty officer under whom they work assumes this new rating may be sloppy and might need to be ridden
2) All of the SolSec moles and sympathizers now know they have a new resource aboard
3) And, "perhaps", the ship's First Officer notifies the senior command officers because they've broken that code
In that regard, you can add any secret societies you want.
A rating newly assigned to an Imperial Navy ship can get on the internal crew forums and introduce themselves with specific words misspelled. Just I's and E's switched with "A" replacing an "IE" in the last word of the intro....
That means nothing to anyone except...
1) The petty officer under whom they work assumes this new rating may be sloppy and might need to be ridden
2) All of the SolSec moles and sympathizers now know they have a new resource aboard
3) And, "perhaps", the ship's First Officer notifies the senior command officers because they've broken that code
