The Chronicles of the Illuminati

[TinCow]

Word Document Version

Herein lies the most Sacred History of the Divine Order of the Illuminati. All records of the Brotherhood’s dealings are preserved here for the education of future generations of The Enlightened. Learn well what wisdom lies within these pages, ye reader, for the true souls of men lay bared to your gaze.

A Warning to any Unenlightened Eyes which fate draws across these words: Read no further. Abandon your pursuit of undeserved wisdom, for you are not worthy of the knowledge contained within. Even if this Tome has been lost to the Order and the Brotherhood has not revealed itself for countless eons, be assured that the Cloaked Ones live and see all. Any Unenlightened Soul which glimpses a single word contained herein will be marked for death. Return to your Ignorance, ye puppets of the world. Gods walk these pages.

Chapter I: Genesis

Arnold, my friend!

It is good to see another face in the Diet whose eyes are not clouded by cataracts! I am not as much of a fool as many of those in the Diet may think. We are but a sideshow in this Diet and even our well-known abilities will not be enough to help us during this session. These old bastards simply aren't willing to share their glory with men who look as good as us! HAH!

But the coming Chancellor will not serve forever. We should prepare for the future. There are many new, young members of the Diet. At the moment only you and I have spoken up, but there are many others who also have a youthful complexion. Sigismund von Mahren, Peter von Kastilien, Ehrhart von Mahren, Fritz von Kastilien, Jan von Hamburg, and perhaps even Helmut von Hamburg and Ansehelm von Kastilien. That is a large body of men, my friend! If we could harness this youth into a political alliance aimed at furthering our own stations, we could bring about a new age in the Reich! Think of it!

If you agree, Ansehelm von Kastilien has spoken in the Diet and perhaps we could approach him about this matter. It appears that Hans will indeed take the Chancellorship unopposed this term. While he is not a young man anymore, many of the old men in the Diet clearly consider him a young upstart. Perhaps he would be receptive to aiding the Young Guarde.

What do you say, Arnold? This Empire is our heritage. Let us make sure it is not run into the ground before we inherit it!

Lothar

Lothar, I like it!! The von Mahren's have just been added to House Austria and as my father goes on crusade I will be the steward. That should help with Sigismund and Ehrhart. How would you like to organise our policies!!

I still think your mad, and I still think we need to go out this evening!!? I haven’t been whoring for some months!! Bring your brother, that will be a good place to start this group...we need a name!!?

Speak soon

HAH! I knew you would love it, Arnold! Clearly our first priorities should be to get ourselves some experience on the battlefield. A few victories will make the elderly take us more seriously. Encourage your father to have you knighted as soon as possible. It won't be long before you become Duke yourself and will have full control over the Austrian Household Army.

I have petitioned my father to allow me to prove myself worthy of knighthood as well. That vicious witch has rather unnerved him on the battlefield and I think he will see the wisdom in allowing me to serve as the commander for the Bavarian Household Army.

Duke Otto is old and will soon be gone. My father will inherit Bavaria and surely he will send that pious fool Salier to the East under the pretense of overseeing our possession in Outremer. With him gone, the Steffen family will rule Bavaria unopposed. If I follow my father loyally, I will surely inherit the Dukedom when he is gone. Think of it Arnold, you and I, fellow Dukes!

Kaiser Henry is getting old as well. The recent difficulties with Prinz Jobst have given us the perfect opportunity. Let us express our loyalty to the Prinz, defend him in the Diet, and do his will to the best of our abilities. He will soon be Kaiser and will be a valuable ally. With an alliance between the Kaiser and the Dukes of Austria and Bavaria, nothing can stop us! No emergency session of the Diet can be called unless the Kaiser or THREE Dukes agree to it. Between us we could deny any emergency session should the Diet disagree with our actions. Not that we would give them any cause to do so, of course... but insurance like that is always valuable.

As for names, I shall have to think on it. While The Drunken Whoremongers would be fabulous, I doubt it would inspire the reaction that we wish! Speaking of drunken whoremongering...

Lothar!!

I have already made it a priority with my father to become Knighted before he leaves for the crusade. I will immediately be looking to take control of the AHA.

Keep in mind Lothar that as soon as my father commences the crusade I will become Steward of Austria.

Many of our most famous leaders will be gone in the next chancellorship, so there is certainly going to be a power vacuum to move into. I would be more than honoured for the two of us to take our boyhood friendship to levels we could only have dreamed of some years ago.

There is only one problem with your plan...I really don't like Jobst, he annoys me no end and I don't care for his attitude. Maybe we should find another Duke, in fact what about all the young guy's from each of the house's being formed in this club?

You know me Lothar, I don't suffer fools gladly and I have more than enough reputation preceding me due to my father’s ability to cause fear.

Is there another likely candidate that could be a young Duke in the making??

Is your brother on-board?

As for names, well whoremongering is a past time not a name.

How about the Illuminati?

Ah, a Latin name. I believe it translates to "The Enlightened Ones," does it not? It conjures in my mind images of robed figures meeting in dark halls. HAH! It's bloody well perfect! It will make our members feel powerful and will instill fear and uncertainty in our enemies.

Let's do this thing right! Let's write up an Illuminati Blood Charter, by which our alliance will operate. I have picked up a bit of literary technique from Gottfried and Godwin (Hans and Frans?), so perhaps that will be of use. Let's see here...

*Lothar picks up a quill and begins to write.*

Being the Most Sacred Blood Charter of the Divine Order of the Illuminati, this document is infallible law.

As the Esoteric Brotherhood is Supreme on Earth, the aims of the Illuminati shall forever be to increase the station and power of all Members of the Order. As the elevation of the Illuminati is a Divine and Holy mission, all means of achieving its ends shall be acceptable, no matter the cost to the Unenlightened.

Rule 1: The existence of the Illuminati, the identity of the Brothers, all proceedings of the Orders, grand plans, goals, and assets are to be kept secret from the Unenlightened.

Rule 2: All formal decisions of the Illuminati are made by majority vote. Split votes fail.

Rule 3: All Brothers will comply with all formal decisions of the Illuminati, regardless of personal opinion on the matter.

Rule 4: No Brother may vote against another Brother in any election for Chancellor nor may he vote against an Edict proposed by a Brother, unless the Brother standing for election or proposing the Edict agrees otherwise. Brothers may abstain from any Diet vote unless a formal decision states otherwise.

Rule 5: New members of the Illuminati must be approved by unanimous vote of all Brothers before an invitation can be given.

Rule 6: All amendments to the Blood Charter must be approved by unanimous vote.

Rule 7: Violation of any Rule of the Blood Charter will result in immediate expulsion from the Divine Order of the Illuminati. It is the duty of all Brothers to hinder and harm all Exiles with all the means in their power, including death.

*Lother puts down the pen and looks over the document.*

There, that ought to do it. Suitably grim and mysterious, eh? Perhaps we should get ourselves some black friars' cloaks to disguise ourselves during meetings.

If you are in agreement with these Rules (More to keep anyone else in line than to restrict ourselves, of course!), I do have a suggestion for our first 'recruit.' Ansehelm von Kastilien is a few years older than us, but he is still of the new generation. Most importantly, he is the son of the Duke of Franconia, placing him in an excellent position to inherit that title when his father passes on. If he were to join us, we would have the potential heirs to three of the Ducal Houses within our numbers.

Ah, I am looking forward to this already, Arnold! The world shall be ours!

Christ Lothar!!

Where was that little gem sitting in your head!! Have you been reading books again??

It looks good. Shall we be the two founding members?

We have to have some type of cart blanch over rule function...I think we need that.

I've accepted your fathers offer to crush the Hungarians while the AHA is sacking that Venetian city I can't pronounce the name of.

You should get yourself on that army list so we can be knighted together. It seems as if the BHA could go west though.

What do you think?

Yes, that is wise. We must have a way of keeping some special power for ourselves, without seeming to rule over the rest. How about altering a rule and adding in one final rule:

Rule 5: New members of the Illuminati must be approved by unanimous vote of all Brothers before an invitation can be given. All communication with and initiation of prospective members is to be done by the Voice.

Rule 8: The determination of any matter not specifically laid out in the Blood Charter is to be made by the Grand Master of the Illuminati. The Grand Master's rulings in this regard will have the weight of a formal decision of the Illuminati.

The new rule allows for great leeway and power in the event of some crisis. Furthermore, by limiting it to one single person, it will not appear that both of us are controlling the Order. I believe you would be the proper choice for Grand Master. Your father's fearsome reputation already makes men fearful of you. This is a group that should be led by a man that others believe will stop at nothing to further its goals and protect it from danger.

In turn, I will be the Voice of the Illuminati. Despite the secrecy of our Order, one of us by nature must communicate with those who are not yet amongst us. To keep the identity of the rest a secret, that should always be the same person. I will take that duty on myself, as it may be that some already suspect me of being part of a secret group.

If you agree with this, then we shall conclude that the Order of the Illuminati has been formally created, with you as Grand Master and myself as Voice. I believe our first order of business should be to expand slightly and recruit one Brother. I have previously mentioned Ansehelm von Kastilien as a possible candidate. What are your thoughts on him?

Love you work Lothar, you're a bloody genius my friend. I concur with your thoughts on the Illuminati provisions.

Let us make this day the formal consecration of the Illuminati!!

Yes we need a Franconian in our order. He seems of a good age...can we turn him to our cause my friend...can we bind him to our order and have him succumb to our will...you are the Voice proceed at will!!