Evil Secret Societies
In a land so fraught with evil, some individuals are inevitably drawn by its power.
The Kargatane
A Lawful Evil Secret Society
Permission is needless to him who has the power to take
without it.
- Spanish Proverb
During the reign of Azalin the lich, the Kargat acted as the state police force of Darkon. Beneath this vile group was the Kargatane, an assembly of mortals who did the bidding of the Kargat - though without always understanding the true nature of their masters.
With the apparent death of Azalin and the transformation of his realm into Necropolis, many believe that the Kargatane has ceased to exist. In truth, the organization is more powerful than ever, although they now act in a covert manner and serve no master. Only their endless desire for immortality and a fascination with blood drives them on.
Membership
No one who seeks to join the Kargatane is accepted into their ranks. Indeed, such petitioners are routinely killed, after being tortured for the names of those who led them to the order. New members come into the Kargatane only when that vile order decides to recruit them.
Although the leader of the Kargatane is a vampiress named Kazandra, all of its lesser members are mortals. Through the rituals of membership, each new recruit shares his blood with Kazandra and, thus, becomes her obedient slave.
Recognition
No formal method of recognition is needed when members of the Kargatane meet with Kazandra to receive their orders. One look into the pale blue eyes of the beautiful vampiress is sufficient to show them that they are in the presence of their master.
Mortal members, on the other hand, are not instantly obvious. To mark themselves as pilgrims on the road to immortality, each carries a small ampoule of what appears to be blood on a slender chain around his neck. In truth, this ampoule holds a deadly poison that can be used to escape capture or interrogation.
Activities
The members of the Kargatane have two objectives. The first is their desire to attain immortality. Because none of the members know that Kazandra is a vampire, they remain unaware that she could easily grant their wish.
The second goal of the group, although they do not realize it, is to obey the will of Kazandra. Whatever scheme the vampiress might have, the Kargatane are pawns in its execution. Her past objectives have usually revolved around attaining control over the people of Martira Bay.
Headquarters
Kazandra directs the actions of the Kargatane from her estate on the coast of the Sea of Sorrows north of Martira Bay. Whenever she needs to meet with one or more members of the order, she sends out a telepathic message, summoning them to the ancestral crypt on that grand estate.
The Fraternity of Shadows
A Neutral Evil Secret Society
Even though you know a thousand things, ask the man
who knows one.
- Turkish Proverb
The Fraternity of Shadows is an alliance of wizards and magicians devoted to unravelling the secrets of the Demiplane of Dread. They understand that their land is unique, and they seek to learn why this is the case.
If the Fraternity sought only knowledge, they might be considered harmless. Their ultimate goal, however, is to use the knowledge they acquire to take control of Ravenloft and become the masters of all creatures who dwell there.
Membership
In order to become a member of the Fraternity, a character must be a male wizard of some type and have a neutral evil alignment.
Although all of the Fraternity's leaders are illusionists, most other types of wizards are welcome to join the order. Only those who cannot cast spells from the school of illusion are rejected when they seek membership.
Recognition
Each member of the Fraternity of Shadows wears a silver ring in the shape of two intertwined asps. The mouths of these vipers form the setting into which an onyx stone is placed. The Fraternity presents one of these rings to each member upon acceptance; the ring grants the ability to cast a darkness, 15' radius spell once per day. As only members of the Fraternity are able to invoke this power, demonstrating it is a sure sign of the wearer's loyalty and authenticity.
Activities
Most members of this loosely-knit organization carry out their research in their home domains. From time to time, a member will undertake an expedition to learn something that his research has not been able to uncover.
All of the members of the Fraternity work toward a single goal: the attainment of ultimate understanding and power. They recognize that the Mists hide many secrets, and they strive endlessly to increase their knowledge. It is quite possible that the members of the Fraternity know more about the Demiplane of Dread than anyone else in Ravenloft.
Headquarters
While the Fraternity of Shadows maintains no central headquarters, the need for meetings between members is recognized. Whenever a number of members come together, they will do so at a place that represents knowledge and power. Past meetings have taken place (secretly, of course) at the school of magic in Lekar, Falkovnia and at the Great Library in Port-a-Lucine, Dementlieu.
The Unholy
Order of the Grave
A Chaotic Evil Secret Society
Day by day death approaches, like the slaughter of a victim
being led along step by step.
- Indic Proverb
The Unholy Order of the Grave is perhaps the most unusual of the secret societies described in this chapter. Directed by the hand of Death from the heart of Necropolis, this elite group of undead travels the Demiplane doing their master's bidding. Without a doubt, the most terrible thing about this group is the fact that it is composed wholly of the living dead.
Membership
As mentioned above, membership in the Unholy Order is open only to the ranks of the living dead. Of those creatures, only the self-willed and chaotic evil are considered.
Every member of the Unholy Order must visit the throne of Death in the city of II Aluk and swear loyalty to the grim creature that sits upon it. In exchange for this vow, the undead being is given a fraction of Death's power, enabling him to drain one life-energy level from any living thing he touches. If the creature is already able to do this, his ability increases. Thus, a vampire who joins the Unholy Order is able to drain three life energy levels with his touch.
Recognition
Every member of this vile alliance carries a defiled holy symbol from some lawful good religion. Although this object has no special abilities, it no longer poses a threat to those harmed by good holy symbols. Further proof of membership in the Unholy Order can be found in the fact that each these creatures bears the mark of Death, an hourglass tattoo, over his heart.
Activities
The Unholy Order operates throughout the Demiplane of Dread, carrying out the orders of its grim master. Exactly what plans the master of II Aluk has for the ranks of the living remains unknown, but it is clear that his undead minions are working toward some nefarious objective. Typical assignments for the agents of death include the gathering of life energy, the recovery of magical items, and the recruiting of potential allies.
Headquarters
Death commands the Unholy Order from the dark fortress known as the Grim Fastness, which was rebuilt by his undead minions after being destroyed by the doomsday device. Located at the heart of Il Aluk, this is the sinister structure in which the lich lord Azalin met his apparent end.
It is said that beneath that keep lie many secrets that Death may not yet have access to. If this is the case, one can rest assured that the agents of the Unholy Order are searching the catacombs beneath the Fastness for such treasures.
