Secret Societies
Secret societies are groups, organizations or factions, whose motives, activities, membership, and rituals are kept secret. While their existence may (or may not) be known to the public at large, these groups possess secret knowledge or endeavors that are kept hidden from non-members. Fictional secret societies are common elements in worldbuilding and include corrupt organizations that secretly rule the world, evil cults seeking to destroy it, and hidden brotherhoods that stand as the world’s protectors. They can found in nearly all genres, from high fantasy to cyberpunk.
| Synonyms: hidden groups, clubs, institutes |
| Example Mythonyms: the Brotherhood of the Arctic Fox, the Grim Society |
Designing Fictional Secret Societies
Overview
Secret societies typically possess three characteristics: exclusivity, secret knowledge, and benefits to membership. Fictional secret societies typically operate in the dark corners of the world, fulfilling their intended purpose or making strides to do without knowledge of their activities.
Faction Identity
Fictional secret societies may possess secret handshakes or code phrases only known to members of the society. These may be used to identify members, or to pass short messages to one another.
Similar to secret greetings, secret marks may allow members to see if there is a friend or clubhouse nearby. These markings, hidden in places only members know to look, may be permanent features, or temporary graffiti.
Initiation
There is typically some type of initiation ritual for new members of secret societies. This may be informal, or may be highly elaborate. It may include the performance of some feat by the inductee. In nearly all cases it involves an oath to keep secret the societies activities and knowledge. This oath may also include portions describing how a member should act or what they should believe.
Clubhouse
A central clubhouse or network of clubhouses will likely exist where members can meet in secret. It may be any type of building, but unusual or unexpected locations are often preferred in worldbuilding. A clubhouse may have a hidden entrance and exit so that the public is not aware of who comes and who goes. The clubhouse may be fortified in some manner.
If the secret organization in your game-oriented world is serving as an enemy faction, this clubhouse may be a type of dungeon. If the secret organization is good, the clubhouse may be a kind of sanctuary for the player where they can rest without threat of danger.
Civil Involvement
Secret societies may be involved in the political landscape as a hidden political faction, either by influencing politicians or having members run for office directly. This will inevitably be done to further the societies underlying agenda.
Members of the society may also hold positions in law enforcement, either as judges, lawyers, or members of the police force. These positions may help them advance their agenda or ensure their agenda remains hidden from the public.
