The Shape of Things

[madimpossibledreamer]

Several anecdotes got edited out by senior Templars to avoid giving away valuable intel they’re not sure the Dragon have yet.  This isn't the extensive list of what will be encountered, either; here Shaun was told just to answer questions Desmond's already asked.
Yes I bring up that snowball every chance I get. Because the stories told are epic and hilarious, and I’m just sad I wasn’t there for it. (Also I have no proof that Dame Julia took part, but she absolutely would. Start out furious, but she was quite the Agent back in her day, so once she saw the amusement in it she’d absolutely join in and trounce everyone.)
Part of this is also definitely based on the devs’ expectations vs what I’ve actually seen/heard about the various factions. Illuminati were supposed to be the party faction but every Illuminati I’ve met has been fairly straight-laced, and Templars were supposed to be the serious ones and everything I’ve heard is just incredibly goofy. Like the snowball fight. (Dragon, in a shocking twist, are...unpredictably predictable in that they are exactly as advertised.)

Main Points:
Assassin's Creed/The Secret World
Summary: Shaun shares what information he can about The Secret World.
Word Count: 2025
Rating: Teen

 

When I say everything is true, Desmond, I mean it very literally. All right, not entirely literally, but close enough to be indistinguishable, practically speaking. Most of those conspiracy theories you hear about, they’re real. The only exceptions, as far as I’ve been able to work out, are the Illuminati’s little disinformation campaign, where they release information that sounds plausible to conceal the truth among the rubbish. And by plausible, well. That’s in the ear of the listener, isn’t it? We live in a world where there are dozens of potentially world-ending crises, people are coming back from the dead, entire cities are falling off the grid. It comes with the territory, really.

So. The Big Three, as you’ve already noted.

The Templars. That’s us. I wouldn’t exactly call us the ‘good guys’. Just better than the Dragon and the Illuminati. If you want a group most likely to try to save civilians or, better still, the world, vote for the Templars. The biggest problem is an issue of inflexibility, though that’s more the old guard. The new guard, well. An infamous snowball fight happened to take place in the courtyard of Temple Hall, I certainly did not take part and get a good shot on Dame Julia, and she absolutely did not retaliate and facilitate my icy demise. Rebecca was also not in the thick of it, despite the fact that she doesn’t quite move like she used to.

But, even though none of that occurred and is categorically denied, the new guard is attempting to get past this narrowminded ‘righteous cause’ approach, because it’s easy to miss important things that way. We absolutely do not need to end up as flexible as the Dragon, and, sadly, it’s impossible to always save everyone. More just...trying to have the reminder that while the mission does come first, it doesn’t have to be the only priority. We’re past the days when setting fire to an entire village to stop a single demon makes any sense (if, indeed, it ever did). Also, attempting to get our computer systems up to state, bring us up to date with support for minorities, that sort of thing. Rebecca actually runs the numbers, though, and we do, in fact, have the highest recorded count of saving civilians, as per the archives down in the Council’s Sunken Library, which should count for something.

The Illuminati are every single thing wrong with modern capitalism wrapped up in a nice shiny package and presented with a bow. They accept everyone, they say, but only to a point—you’re only valued as long as you’re useful. For an ambitious Bee, it’s possible to go far, but I’d hardly want to keep running that mouse wheel and put a single foot wrong. Constant performance evaluations, and, would you believe it, they have, in the past, asked what’s in it for them when it came to saving the world. I would think that the answer of being able to continue their business ventures would be enough for them, but perhaps they were trying to reduce expenses that month. They have friends in high places, or occasionally those they have merely bribed or blackmailed to be their “friends”, because the only thing they love more than money is power. Their surveillance network is second to none. I believe they have a number of hitmen on contract, and likely have some connections with organized crime. They also fund magic schools; there’s one prestigious one in Solomon Island teaching such illustrious classes as ‘necromancy’ and ‘thaumaturgy’, though I hear the headmaster Montag might be looking into replacing the curriculum, and they probably have the best understanding and even melding of magic and technology (I say probably because I wouldn’t count out the Dragon). Their stated motto is work hard, party harder, but does anyone enjoy a work party, really?

The Dragon, well. That’s your lot. Masters of order-in-chaos and all that rot. Sometimes, it’s easier to deal with the data drunk, because while they might be masters of finding a sensible pattern between sending an Agent to give an old grandmarm an orange and then starting an act of arson across town that harms absolutely no one, I am not. Crane has more luck, here. So if you were wondering if your recruitment was normal: no, but yes, thinking about it, that was probably the point. It’s hard to tell where the poking holes in reality to find the pattern, following the threads of that pattern to action, and just baiting the rest of us to see how we respond and where we stumble begin and end. The Illuminati like to advertise how they’re the best choice for free will, individualism, and such, but the Dragon truly do tend to give the most leeway, as you’ve seen, with the exception of absolute orders they never explain. They tend to operate more in terms of cells, from what we’ve seen, although the exact structure isn’t really known outside the organization.

It’s somewhat vulgar to be gambling on this, but if I were a betting man, my money would be on the Illuminati for that hit. Losing you to the Dragon, oh well, there’s always another to take your place, but with you spending so much time here and being seen with us, that could be seen as the threat of an alliance, leading to a shift in power. And the Illuminati guard their place in this secret war with all the tools in their arsenal. I happen to be a scholar of history, and, situations like these, it’s all about following the trails of power. Who would have the motive in this instance? It’s not always easy to discern, but history wouldn’t be fascinating if it were easy.

It’s not exactly a grassy knoll, but, well. It’s a well-known fact among those in the know that one of us was responsible that day in 1963. Just a question of whom. The Illuminati claim responsibility to anyone who asks, the Dragon say nothing and delight in seeing how many ways that could be interpreted, and we say it wasn’t us, but this would hardly be the first time we’ve tried to disavow our sordid past.

And before you critique the plan as the worst ever concocted by man...it’s very likely that temporarily killing you wasn’t the point. While you’re temporarily indisposed, that’s the real window of opportunity, to kidnap you, bury you alive, what have you, while your spirit is trying to return to your body from the Anima Well.
I’m not terribly familiar myself; the Templar way tends to be the straightforward removal of our enemies, but I suspect someone’s attempted it, several times. We’ve had agents disappear. Not many, but enough to form an alarming pattern of sorts. More often missing individuals aren’t found quickly, simply vanishing before they can be found and recruited.

Much about the Phoenicians was lost to the past, more’s the pity, but here’s what we do know: they’re fond of the color purple, they used to have ties to piracy and Carthage, shockingly, they were founded by a brother to the founder of the Templars after they fought about something, for which the only references I have for that part are shockingly vague but consistently mention a woman, and rather than trusting one of the Three the Council of Venice decided to use the Phoenicians for when their own won’t do. I suppose there they have a point: using any of the Three would upset the delicate balance they’ve been working their whole existence to uphold. The Phoenicians also supposedly haven’t been heard from for at least a hundred years, but Rebecca’s fairly certain they’re still active. I suppose since the Council started ramping up their own campaign, it’s plausible. They’re not part of the Secret War, but can act against other factions that aren’t part of the Council, and records indicate they might be used as enforcers against factions that aren’t following the rules, and, for all we know, since they are essentially Council black operations, might act on their own on occasion. It’s not like the Council will confirm or deny.

Orochi. Ah, that infamous eight-headed snake-monster of legend, brought to life in a corporation based in Tokyo, hence the name. What probably convinced Rebecca I was on the right track here is that they have the Illuminati—yes, that Illuminati—concerned. That simply doesn’t happen. They have a finger in every pie, as the saying goes, with eight-sub-companies with branches in every industry on every continent. (Possibly excluding Antarctica; data here is shaky, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a secret base there, too.) I’m not sure how far their influence spreads online, but their media empire rivals the Illuminati’s. While their charitable contributions are nothing short of magnanimous and their medical discoveries have saved many lives, I’d be worried about Faustian bargains for more reasons than one (for one thing, because one of the sub-companies is named Faust Capital because someone thought they were being clever). It’s hotly debated online whether Bingo!Cola is one of their products; I avoid it out of principle.

Supposedly, the Morninglight is just a self-help group, but one of my specialties is cults, and they’re secretive enough to outsiders it’s ringing all the warning bells. No one has that clean of a presence online without some type of diabolical plan. And if you bring up Marquard to any of their number, it’s nothing but praise, not a single critique in sight. They practically worship the man. Never a good sign, really. Sadly, I don’t have as much information as I’d like. While I’d advise not drawing more attention from them than you can help (and have already done), I’d also appreciate it if you could share anything you do happen to learn.

You’ve seen the ghouls and know what they look like; usually, they’re corpse-eaters and not particularly bright or well-liked by other supernatural creatures. I cannot explain Dante and that’s one mystery I’m perfectly happy leaving unsolved. Darkside is the only place I’ve seen them not digging up gravesites or attempting to kill and bury food for later. Ghouls are entirely mortal, so the usual attacks should kill them; I wouldn’t advertise trying it until you’ve been properly equipped and trained, though.

The short ones with rodent faces are the Blajini, from Transylvania. They’re known as “the Kindly Ones”, and like many fairy tales, they’re capable of great mischief, but do them no wrong and they will repay you in kind.

The ones with the gas masks, by the way, are vampires. They follow strict rules when in London, but those who have been alive long enough to learn to avoid the blood rage, to control their darker impulses, can do so with ease, and they can develop their own motivations beyond mere survival, usually feeding only on the living, and some leading relatively quiet lives. Of the commonly depicted weaknesses: destroying the heart, decapitation, fire if you can trap them within, exposing them to sunlight, ignore the rest as airport paperback rubbish. Also forget the common misconception about them not having a reflection, unless you happen to have a mirror backed with real silver. Many deal with the sunlight weakness using magic or specially enchanted clothing, hence the gas mask.

The ones with the horns are fauns, like the satyr and Pan, associated with nature, the forest, and such. For lack of a better word, most of them seem...lost. Wandering without purpose. They may be seeking it. I haven’t heard of agents being attacked by them, but writings record they, too, are vulnerable to mundane attacks and don’t require any blood rituals or ancient incantations.

Those talismans, by the way, are basically magical armour. Given that someone’s attempted to shoot you in cold blood, I’d recommend you wear them as soon as you possibly can. I’ve attended too many funerals, in recent days. It’s all ramping up. The specifics—the specifics can be dodged, but the general outline? Seers, fortune-tellers, ancient texts, they’re all saying the same things: ‘dark days are coming’.