Fantasy Core RPG
© Jerry Harris 2013
(This link will take you to the
Fantasy Core Index.)
Secret Societies
The open secrets are the most indiscernible.
In Shang-tu, there are two main active secret societies, the
White Lotus Society and the Heaven and Earth Society (the Triads). While both have the goal of overthrowing
Manchu rule, they are generally not compatible.
(Which is obviously to Governor Yu’s advantage.) They do not associate with one another except
in dire circumstances or unprecedented opportunity. The people in general in
Shang-tu know of these groups only as vague rumors. Even Triad sympathizers in the Lake Ward
The establishment wishes to preserve established
mistakes. A revolutionary wishes to
create new ones.
Both secret societies operate along the same lines. New members are initiated by rigorous
testing. Absolute loyalty and secrecy is
demanded. Members are expected to give
their lives to accomplish their mission (or take their own lives if caught). In the end, both groups seek to remove the
current rulers and replace them with themselves. The White Lotus wants things to more or less
stay the same, just without the Manchus.
They think they will be able to manipulate the Triads into making a good
distraction, when the time comes for their masterstroke. The Triads want the Manchus and the rest of
the powerful in society removed. They
think the White Lotus and their valuable information network will ultimately
have to sell out their backers and join their own, more popular group, if they
wish to be relevant.
If two groups that serve the same cause fight one
another, they serve no one.
These two groups are ultimately not compatible. The question is will they tolerate one
another long enough to topple the Manchus?
They could end up seeing one another as the main obstacle to their
common goal. So far, neither side has
intentionally harmed one another’s members or operatives by action or
inaction. Polite apologies and
reparations are exchanged after any “regrettable” incidents, as both groups do
have blind contact with one another.
Of note to adventurers, the Triads only trust their own
members for tasks and are an organization of warriors. The White Lotus is primarily made up of
intelligence gatherers, who are only warriors if that is their normal
trade. They usually hire professionals,
who don’t ask too many questions, for dangerous tasks. Working for one, doesn’t necessarily preclude
working for the other, but it is taken into careful consideration.
One will serve an abusive provider longer than an
uncaring one.
Keep in mind that the secret societies (the White Lotus and
the Triads) and criminal gangs (the Brotherhood and the Tongs) actually do
serve some useful purpose to their members and people under their
“protection.” People who are or feel
that they are disenfranchised or ignored by the proper government have someone
to turn to help and to have some political power there. These groups often care for their members in
times of general or even personal trouble better than any government
agency. Members may be abused, mislead,
and even sacrificed but are not ignored, and thus most are very loyal to their
chosen groups.
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