Secrets and Swords: a Conspiracy Timeline

1785
This letter is to be transmitted through certain trusted parties to all surviving Illuminati at my death.

To those who once held the title of Illuminatus:

While the Order may have died so recently, we must refound it, to balance the powers in the world if for no other reason. I have been contacted by another secret society that claims to be far older than us. Their views are frightening, and they have had no opposition for nearly a millenium; I believe that it is our Illuminist duty to stop them.

The contact has been done with notes that find their ways to me in the hands of random nobodies who in turn take my replies. They share our love of peace and prosperity, but only because it is the most convenient situation for their purposes. To explain I will tell what little I know of their history.

In around 850 AD a monastery on the Frankish coast of the North Sea was attacked by Vikings, but the abbot was a ruthless man, who managed to take most of the savages hostage. When he noticed their blades were of an unknown make he asked them; and they spoke of explorations far to the East, where the metal was made to be tough yet flexible. One of the party was a former smith of these eastern forges who had been taken as a slave, and the abbot made the wise investment of buying him. This began a series of nefarious trades in which the abbot made weapons for hundreds of vikings out of crucible steel.

Over the years this led to the creation of what calls itself the Ulfberht Trust, allegedly named for the abbot. They grew in power throughout Europe, and spread to the Middle East. They played both sides of the Crusades for profit, and infiltrated many Papacies and Caliphates. Even now they are based in the current Moorish Empire, and claim to have plans for every corner of the New World. I fear this Trust so greatly because in it I see every corruption I ever found between the clergy and monarchy multiplied tenfold. This menace has had a head start of nine hundred and thirty years on us, but I have plans to supplant it.

We must continue with our quest to proliferate pure truth and make virtue victorious but in a new place. As I write the newborn nation which calls itself the United States of America is still young enough that we will have equal footing there. Add to that the fact that many of their honorable leaders are fellow Masons who have written praise for the Order and we shall have every potential to gain power there. In a century, maybe two we will have the power to attack the Trust, though I hope that we will be able to come to a more peaceable agreement.

-Carpe lucem!
Brother Spartacus

This letter was given to Duke Ernest of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg by Adam Weishaupt to send to all former Illuminati who had remained loyal to the cause. Before that happened Weishaupt was found dead of sword wounds in an alley. Considering the contents of the letter this is disturbing and frightening as well as saddening, God rest his soul.

-Ernest II
 
Last edited:
1785
Dear George,

I had a pleasant surprise yesterday when having myself taken out for fresh air. I came upon a group of men speaking english in german accents. I had the gentlemen set me down so that I could join conversation (it’s not often that you see english-speaking Germans) and found that they were also familiar with the politics surrounding our nation better than any of her citizens! Wouldn’t the world be a better place if all immigrants were like that…

Anyway, we talked about America’s friendship with the Moorish Empire, which they seemed to oppose. They claimed that the Moors were led by greedy bloodsuckers, though I honestly don’t see what their problem was. They had a lot to say on the inhumanity of slavery, something I understand myself, though they also understood the importance of compromise in intra-national negotiations.

As it turns out, they were all fellow Freemasons, and we had a chat on the lighter aspects of it. One of the more eccentric ones said that there should be women’s lodges, that women had certain abilities that could be exploited. He was a rather odd bloke and the others knew so too. It was a nice conversation, but quite odd. We ended on an abrupt note, as they had a meeting to attend, and I headed on my way.

Yours Truly,
B. Franklin
 
Last edited:
1787
From The Journal of Brother Patrick, Illuminatus, Abolitionist-
After hearing about the Northern victory over counting population in states, I fear for future treatment of slaves and negros as a whole. While it reduced the power of the Southern states, it removed any scrap of empathy for those in bondage that they had. No longer are slaves considered people, and there is no reason for the law to treat them any better than machines. The northerners who had this pass are worse than the slave owners they fought, all that they did was ensure their power at the expense of the most basic human right, the right to be free!

This news along with the country’s continuing alignment with the Moors against Britain and the Ottomans makes me realize many things. I realize that although we Illuminati are taking root in America, we have much to do before we may gain any power. I realize that no one but the Chapter’s leader can even use what power we have, and how powerless even politicians in the Order are against their superiors. My plans to bring the Order power and direction will eventually come to fruit, though. They must.
 
Last edited:
1800
To The Current Alawi Sultan And His Most Trusted Advisors:

My associates have told me of a recent event that could be of interest to the regime, and I feel that it is my duty to report it. The conflict over Egypt has ended with peace, but also with chaos. The Ottomans, Britain, and France have signed a treaty to stay out of Egypt so long as the others do too. This leaves Egypt in a state of absolute anarchy, an opportunity that should not be missed. I hope to soon see Moorish banners flying over the entire North African Coast, and one shouldn’t disappoint.

From The Most Trusted Spymaster:
Ulfberht
 
1807
Sister Freydis-

I am pleased to hear about the improving relations with the Shawnee. It is still surprising that you ended up being the one to forge such compromise, and a tribute to the skills of the order that you did. Meanwhile working with Thomas is as frustrating as ever. I know that my job is to convince him to bring your efforts to a larger scale, but he is… hard to work with.

Every time we discuss Indian relations he tries to change the subject. I understand that he wants the support of the Georgians and others. It would just be so much easier if one could make him understand that their support doesn’t matter with an Illuminatus taking the votes. Perhaps I could bring him into the order? He did say a few quite positive things about it, so it wouldn’t be that hard. I seek your approval.

Carpe lucem!
Sister Esther
 
1807
Sister Esther:

I have contacted the current Prime about your offer, and he recently replied that it had been done. You will be reassigned and renamed as such, report to the women’s tier of the First Canadian lodge. There you will be given your new job, name, and location. Your performance is currently being reviewed to find an optimal profession, if you are unsatisfied, you may only downgrade.

Carpe lucem!
Sister Freydis
 
Given that this site bans people who post conspiracy theories, it's ... daring to build an entire TL around them...

Yes, yes, different slant and all. Still...
 
1826
Spymaster Ulfberht:

You are needed in Egypt. It seems that their wali aren’t properly representing them. The Jews demand their own wali, the Arabs demand a shura, and the Copts want both. As I understand you know a lot about the situation in Egypt. I simply ask you to observe the opinions of the masses, and give the administration a working plan to reform Egypt’s representation.

Sultan of Morocco
Karim I
 
1826
To Sultan Karim I

I have followed your orders and come to the conclusion that the only way to solve the greater problem is to instate nationwide reforms. The federal government will be composed of the Ministry, Royal House, and Congress. The ministry will function just as your current advisory cabinet does, but independent of the throne and more oligarchical. The congress will be made of the Qadi House and Shurate. The Qadi house is an uneasy combination of a supreme court and a house of lords. The Shurate is like a house of commons or a house of representatives, but their power is reduced by requiring direct vote on many issues. This was to answer the pleas for a shura. The system was specifically designed to pretend that the sultan has less power, but to give him more in secret. The trust also takes its fair share.

Loyal Spymaster
Ulfberht
 
1853
Brother Niccolo

With the introduction of the communal farming program taking away the economic need of plantations, there is no excuse to keep slavery around. Those few states that have it are moving away from it, and the modernization of the south is moving swiftly. Undermining any efforts of theirs to organize any movements has worked well, and I believe that your skills are no longer needed in the south, but the west.

Others will take care of the south without you, but the west needs someone to connect it to the world. It is an untamed frontier now, but I suspect that it will be indistinguishable from the rest of the US after no more than twenty years. I want you to fully integrate the Indians, connect towns, and craft order from chaos wherever you go. I dream of a US that can’t be divided into three regions at each others’ throats, and you’re helping me with that dream.

Carpe lucem!
Prime
 
1891
To The Traitor Ulfberht:

Well, this depression seems to have gone well for the world’s secret societies. The European powers are neutered, but the US stays strong with its Illuminati. As for us Moors, we have enough rebels that it has to break some kind of world record. The regime has fallen, and the only stable region left is Egypt. All trustees in the government have fled there, to form your new puppet state. I have always hated my father for signing on that constitution and now I hate him more than ever. The dynasty has fallen, and Morocco may never again rise to such power.

Egypt will rise out of my ashes, and it will try to enslave the world. To the west, though, lies an order that will defeat the puppet as well as the trust that binds it! We will defeat you simply by proliferating pure truth and making virtue victorious! I have been indoctrinated into the Order and am fleeing to the US. And I have to say this: You are not alone in your journey for power, and you never will be so long as the owl of minerva gazes into the distance. If a member of your trust ever needs humility, they need only to look to the west.

Former Puppet
Karim II
 
Top