Secret societies have existed all throughout history, and they have taken many forms, and pursued many goals over the years. While some of these societies have had relatively public faces, others have existed only as rumors, hidden in plain sight behind secret passphrases and esoteric symbolism. These societies have been both big and small, and they’ve focused on a variety of goals and causes, ranging from mutual aid societies, to attempting to bring about political change, to a kind of shadow guild for maintaining trade secrets among those who have been inducted into their ranks.
While we may think of these organizations as relics of the past, the conditions for secret societies being formed never truly go away. Whether it’s political upheaval, the persecution of a minority, the criminal nature of their activities or just carrying on traditions and rituals onto the next generation, there are likely always going to be secret societies. Some of them will be big, some will be small, some may be relatively benign (or even helpful), while others could be mysterious, shadowy or downright deadly if someone who isn’t a member discovers their existence.
Whether your game is set among the concrete canyons of a sprawling metropolis, in the corridors of space stations or even on far-flung colonies on alien worlds or strange moons, there’s a chance those places boast secret societies. They might be shadowy allies to your players, they might be antagonists trying to stop them from reaching their goals or your players might even be part of these organizations, acting as agents in their proxy wars. You may even choose to have these societies present simply as background flavor, adding a little more depth to your setting. Whichever option you choose, though, the following secret societies are there to serve your needs!
To use the list, either roll d100 for a random result or select appropriate ones manually.
Here are some sample results:
94. The Cryptex: The universe is full of strange myths and legends that tell tales of bizarre, impossible creatures. While many of these stories are just that, others have at least a grain of truth at their core. These creatures, from evolutionary offshoots, to alien crossbreeds, to beings that lurk unseen in parallel dimensions, are the subject of this secret society’s inquiries. The Cryptex attempt to protect these cryptids from being exploited (or destroyed), doing what they can to keep a little wonder alive in the universe. Members of this society are typically found in wildlife control organizations, law enforcement, scientific bodies, as well as in some of the more fringe parts of academia. Rarely taken seriously by those who do know about it, this society has a surprisingly robust membership.
95. Star Phantoms: Considered little more than a legend among starfarers and space pirates alike, these black ships are said to patrol the fringes of the known universe, and to swoop in to save those in need of aid out in the deep black. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to where or why the Star Phantoms are encountered, but it’s theorized by some that the faceless pilots behind these ships have agents among the various star fleets who relay information to them, and who know how to call for a strike when one is necessary to save lives.
96. The Caduceus Society: The medical profession has a long and prestigious history, but there are spots of darkness in it as well. All one has to do is read a few books to come across unethical experimentation, “research” that rises to the level of war crimes and a focus on the possibility of success without any consideration about the fallout of that success… often literally. The Caduceus Society was formed as a way for doctors and scientists to police their own, and those who have sworn the oaths of the society take their promise to prevent harm to the innocent quite seriously.
Released: 16th September 2023 Pages: 24
PDF ($1.99): DriveThruRPG
“Ordered Arms”