Novus ordo seclorum

One of the younger secret societies for humans, the Illuminati was initially designed to serve as a shield for men of science against the vigorous persecution of the Catholic Church, but rapidly darkened from a shield into a weapon. In this battle, they decided that the only way to fight the power of the Church was by obtaining commensurate power of their own and began to infiltrate, subvert and gradually assert control over the institutions of the world. In the interveneing centuries, the Illuminati has forgotten its original goals, and embraced the concepts of 'Might is Right', and that their vision of the world is the correct one.

History

The accepted origins of the Illuminati stem from a period of time when the the clergy and institutions that formed 'the Church' held so much influence in the world that anyone who questioned their teachings were viewed as heretics and sentenced to death. It was nothing to keep the lower class subdued, poorly educated, and willing to labor in this life for the promise of rewards in the after life. Further, the Church touted the idea of "Divine Right" which said that nobles and rulers were chosen for their position directly by God, thus ensuring their continued reign. Bolstered by the Church's resources, monarchs saw the value in deepening these relationships until it was questionable who actually ruled the people.

Illuminati formed as a way for supposed heretics to meet and share ideas. Most members were men of science who believed that there was a natural order to the world that could be discovered with study that didn't necessarily contradict the notion of God, and only wanted to study these principles in peace. Some saw flaws in the holy scripture and found fault with how the clergy used the Bible to manipulate nobility and populace alike. The Church, fearing a loss of power and the wealth that came with it, insisted that any association with the Illuminati was a pact with Satan and any acceptance of their beliefs was an affront to God. In return, the Illuminati maintained that the clergy was composed of flawed human beings incapable of knowing what an all-powerful God desired and only through understanding the world he created could we know him truly.

As the battle between these philosophies grew, each side grew more aggressive and cunning. Torture under the name of punishment and repentance was common. Renowned individuals were used as examples of failures by one side and became martyrs for the other. Members were sent to infiltrate, subvert, and gradually assume control of the other side. For each King and influential person the Church controlled, the Illuminati had their own pawns, but seeing that they could not individually match the prowess of the Church, they began to take over other institutions such universities and the arts, and merged with several other like-minded groups such as the Freemasons. In 1785, when the political climate was right and views on private clubs were unfavorable, the Illuminati underwent a calculated move that told the world that the Illuminati was defunct, enabling the order to embrace more subversive and secret operations.

Over time, the Illuminati came to put people in prominent positions across the globe and now operate in secrecy where it is easier to guide the course of the world to their own ideas without open hostility. Operating on the concept that their view is the correct one and "Might is Right" has turned a once sympathetic group of free-thinkers to a reviled and mistrusted organization. Much like their original argument for the Church though, members of the Illuminati are merely human and prone to having different interpretations, different goals, and different ideas on how to carry them out.

Purpose & Goals

The Illuminati today scarcely holds the same tenets from its origins. Some still believe in the value of new and novel ideas, however this is often twisted to the idea that information shouldn't be pursued simply for personal enlightenment, but rather to obtain the power that knowledge imparts. There are a few common goals, though means and ends may vary by member or subsect.

• Information & Intelligence - Gathering information remains paramount to the Illuminati. Every tidbit, from common knowledge that expands one's own mind, to secrets for blackmail, to trade secrets for exploitation of entire economies, all information is valuable. It's better to have the information in hand and not need it than to be bested because one was unprepared and uninformed. Organizations like news and media outlets, intelligence agencies, government groups, and similar are populated with Illuminati members.
• World Domination - Unfortunately, the world has demonstrated time and time again that they are collectively unable of governing themselves in a way that leads to global growth and improvement. Too many factions, too many varied belief systems, too many corrupt politicians and leaders. The Illuminati have positioned members in roles that either directly govern, advise, or help create legislation that supports their world vision, a state they dub "the New World Order."
• Human Supremacy - All supernatural beings are abominations who threaten the very existence of mortal humans. Angels and demons use Earth as a battle ground for their own petty wars and only protect humans for the power of their souls. Vampires are parasites that feed off human blood and leave chaos in their wake. Lycanthropes are wild animals who shouldn't be trusted and show a distinct lack of control. To the Illuminati, humans are meant to stand above all, and have been known to support groups like Humans First that further this agenda.

Ranks & Hierarchy

Borrowing somewhat from the Freemason system, the Illuminati shares both a ranked hierarchy and similar titling for these roles. The overall structure consists of three core levels with a top administrative level that provides leadership and oversees the organization. Members begin at the bottom-most tier and climb as they achieve certain wisdom or complete certain tasks, promoted only once they have proven their dedication. Recruitment is extremely selective with every new recruit requiring sponsorship from an existing member in order to be considered.

Level I

The introductory level at which all members begin as a Noviciate. In this range, they are exposed to the principles of the Illuminati, taught the basic rights, responsibilities, and rituals, and study the organization's history. The second rank is a Minerval, followed by Apprentice. Upon reaching Apprentice status, a member is intimately familiar with the organization's past and fundamental beliefs, having been tutored and tested over key Illuminati literature. To a lesser degree, those within the first level have shown some commitment and loyalty.

Level II

Comprised of Companions, Elus, and Masters, this is the level that the majority of members reach and remain at. Indoctrination includes a couple new sources of information to deepen understanding and belief, mentoring and sponsorship assignments to those in Level I, as well as some rituals designed to cement the sense of fellowship between members. A rather unsavory rite of passage that members unknowingly partake in is to be put in a situation where they must choose something of personal importance weighed against the organization. Those who are not willing to sacrifice some degree of their personal attachments, whether it be friends, family, pride, wealth, or something else, may be surreptitiously culled from the ranks and almost never promoted any higher.

Level III

To become an Illuminatus, one must wholly believe and live the Illuminati creed, taking these precepts into account for every decision made, every action taken. One must be willing to give everything up to an including their own life for the greater good of the organization. Rituals are no longer simple ceremonies to bind individuals together, but incorporate true magic, drawing upon otherworldly forces to bless the organization and help it achieve its goals.

The Illuminatus is further distinguished as either Knight Illuminatus or Arcanist Illuminatus, depending on the individual's talent for magic and other abilities.

• Knights - Members of the Illuminati which do not have magical or psychic abilities and are trained instead as warriors and guardians for the rest of the Order.
• Arcanist - Members who possess magical powers or psychic abilities that are used on behalf of the Order.

Level IV

Although there is debate on whether an actual tier or merely a distinction between the normal and the elite, there is a clear division between those who lead and those who follow.

• Synod - A council consisting of five members who oversee various aspects of the Illuminati. They are often high ranking officials or carry considerable prestige in the world, using their roles to steer governments and public opinions in the desired direction(s). The serve in an advisory capacity to the Archon, and operate democratically to make critical decisions.
• Archon - The leader of the Illuminati. While this person may be well-known publicly, their position at the head of the Illuminati is a well-guarded secret. The Archon is tasked with creating a vision and setting goals, plotting out the "master plan", and guiding the organization towards the desired end.

Benefits of Membership

• Community - Regardless of different socioecononic status, race, gender, religion, or other characteristics, those who are part of the Illuminati are accepted for who they are. They are encouraged to form strong relationships and rely upon each other, serving as surrogate families and stalwart allies.
• Networking - Not only do people of power, wealth, and influence contribute to the internal membership of the Illuminati, but the organization offers external exposure to the same type of people. Many have found opportunties that otherwise would have been inaccessible to them because a fellow member made an introduction.
• Purpose - From the Archon to new recruits, everyone serves a higher purpose, driven to reach individual and collective goals that support the organization's overall aims. There is always another rank to earn, another target on the horizon, and another opportunity to grow beyond one's innate abilities, and success is highly rewarded.