Lodge Membership:
The premiere political influence-trading body would always be the imperial court. The series of balls, parties, extended government functions, and other gatherings of the most wealthy, most elite, and most politically favored was and would always be the heart of the Britannian social, political, and governmental scene. The people who attended even a fraction of the hosted events were the highest tier of celebrities in the empire. Individuals who wrote acclaimed plays, performed masterpieces of music, created the highest demonstrations of skill and art.
All of that is not to say, of course, that the imperial court was the
only arena available to bargain and trade in favors and money.
For the upper crust of Britannia's elite, a lodge membership was a readily available fallback option. If an individual wasn't in favor at court, couldn't dispense with the funding to keep up to date with fashions and technology of the season, or simply had some unsightly habit that they couldn't break, then seeking out a membership in a lodge would be an acceptable alternative to both avoid making an ass of oneself as well as still remain connected politically and socially.
And it wasn't as if anyone was short of options to join.
There were lodges for hunting any specific type of game, lodges for every given sport, lodges for hobbyists and students of the arts. All truly required to create a lodge was to secure the backing of a sufficiently wealthy and influential patron and subsequent registry with a government agency. Precisely what that registry
entailed, though, would be a matter of who a group's patron was and what the lodge's activities were. Luckily, no matter what an individual wished to pursue, if they possessed a modicum of wealth it was likely that someone in some position of power had sympathies with them.
If you were a surprisingly effeminate man who wanted some privacy with other surprisingly effeminate men? There was a lodge for that, guaranteeing the privacy of all involved.
If you preferred pastimes with whips, chains, and excessive amounts of leather, then there was a lodge for that with similarly sealed and private membership lists.
"At least, that was how mother explained it to me." You finished with a shrug.
Jeanne sighed and rubbed at the bridge of her nose. "Very well, your highness. I will insist that a branch of your protection detail remain on call-"
"-and I will not deny you that, but the invitation was very specific. Two bodyguards who will be remanded to private quarters on-site if needed. Outside of that, I will be mingling with a great number of people who have a vested interest in keeping their faces and names hidden from public view. The kidnapping or murder of a royal is not something that could possibly happen without a great deal of acclaim."
Jeanne gave a grudging nod as your attendant put the finishing touches on your outfit for the evening. It was a little modern for most Britannian tastes, a tuxedo without the frills or cuffs traditionally affixed, but you weren't exactly going to court and the frills were irritating to deal with.
After another round of intense questions and answering about security plans with Jeanne, the young woman finally consented to your departure. Leaving surreptitiously, an unmarked and low-profile armored car drove you to the manicured wilderness surrounding Pendragon, a cultivated countryside created as a playground for the city's elite.
The car stopped and, exiting into an enclosed wooden structure trying its hand at pretending to be tastefully-rustic, three men in robes nodded at both you and your attendants.
"Sire." Your driver whispered, the word both an objection and a plea.
You empathized, truly, and usually strove to ascribe to all of their paranoia and doctrine, but...
"I will be fine." You state as firmly as possible, and the man sags just a bit.
"This way please, Your Highness." The artificially-deep voice of the man wearing the robe motioned, his face in dark shadow as he bowed.
"Of course."
Following them into the next room, the three individuals beckoned you onward still, through an arched doorway which you barely caught a glimpse of the carved inscription over it before a black bag came down on your head.
Descensus Averno Facilis Est
Easy Indeed.
Keeping the thought private, you were lead down a few halls towards your destination as you caught the strain of music through padded walls as a door opened and closed. You recognized it as one of the current European trends, 'rock and roll' music. Hardly the most patriotic thing, but you supposed the forbidden fruit tasted the sweetest to some.
Finally arriving at your destination or, apparently so at least, you heard a door open and were gently moved into the room with a hand on your back.
Then, the bag was removed.
Another masked man, wearing a dark cloak. You were at once both unsurprised and unimpressed. Even if the man (or well-disguised woman) did loom particularly well.
"Welcome, Lelouch vi Britannia, to the Walpurgis Club. It has been long since such an august personage as a royal has graced our humble organization." He stated grandly, bowing slightly in introduction. "You may call me Polaris. I am the current most senior member as well as the primary financial backer for the club."
"Indeed." You nod, getting your legs underneath you. "Given the melodrama, I suppose identities truly will remain secret if everyone is wearing masks and cloaks. If that is the case, am I to choose a pseudonym?"
A single nod. "Quite. The individuals who escorted you here are staff, not club members. They've been with us for longer than I have and know a number of faces and names, but seldom even leave the property. You needn't worry about them."
"I see." You take a deep breath. "So, where do we go from here?"
Polaris motioned to a brown cloak with a small black mask reminiscent of a bird's beak arching over the full top half of the wearer's face. "These are initiate robes. Most club members also wear masks which allow them to eat and drink during activities. This one is suitably low-cut as to distort your voice with a bit of an echo. Should you feel the need, you may reveal your identity to any member at any time, though I encourage you to do so on a one-on-one basis. Beyond that, the only information that will be disseminated during your initiation process is that you currently have interests in the South Pacific, possess military connections, and are looking to expand a limited financial base. These fact will allow members with common interests to approach you while you present within the club. Normally, all of this would be explained to you in front of an assemblage, and I will reiterate it to camouflage our conversation here."
You thought quickly, considering the ultimatum of what would be revealed. There were a large number of mid-ranked nobility setting up fiefs in the Pacific given the relatively recent conquests of New Guinea and the Philippines, so you wouldn't stand out much, if any. Military connections, too, were a plenty in nobility, especially given that so many of the newly-risen nobles were cut from military achievements. Lastly, of course, everyone wanted more money. It was simply good sense. All in all, each descriptor was technically true, but ultimately misleading. It would do, and you could always add further layers to the deception; shell companies, straw purchasers, etc...
"So then to what do I owe the personal attention?" You ask with a mild tone.
Polaris pauses. "To the same reasons your introduction was... postponed to this late in the year. I and the most senior members felt we needed to reevaluate our vetting process after one Hogarth Stadtfeld slipped through the cracks. While I won't go into details, a friend in a certain three-letter imperial agency passed on a few interesting tidbits. As such, I felt it would be better to start things off... differently."
You nod slowly. "It truly is a shame when a lesser member of a noble house feels the need to assassinate their paterfamilias. Given my position as the oath-sworn commander of his daughter, it was only naturally I extend some aid to the man."
Polaris chuckles darkly. "Just so, just so. Still, even without intending to, you have offered a great deal of assistance to the club already in keeping our membership list free of...
rats. As such, I felt I should pass along a piece of information which would aid you as well."
You cocked your head slightly, struck by curiosity despite yourself.
Polaris breathed deep, the sound echoing against his mask. "Your patronage of the scientist Jaegar has not gone unnoticed by a group founded on ideals antithetical to his own passions. Given your position, you should expect to see unusually well-developed threats by the south pacific pirates."
For just a second, you froze, your mind awhir.
"Their setback at the hands of your butcher has bought you time and wariness after their failure to kill Jaegar on New Caledonia." Polaris went on. "But do not confuse this for a lack of will on their part. You will definitely see challenges in the coming years and it is my hope that the Walpurgis Club will be able to help see you through them."
He pulls the brown cloak off the hanger and hefts the mask-like helm in the other hand. "Now come, Rigel. It is time for you to
cross the desert to demonstrate your dedication."
Rewards: Walpurgis Club Initiation Passed. Extremely Sore Hindquarters. Oh, and you know someone has decided to fuck with you using the pirates as a proxy. That's probably important too. Walpurgis Club Activities now added as Intrigue & Personal Action next year.
*A/N: Because, no matter what, most secret societies devolve into initiation hazing. The big advantage of the Walpurgis Club will be that you'll be able to use Intrigue instead of Diplomacy to build ties and make contacts. Enjoy.
