Conspiracy theories

From Almeopedia

As Alan Moore remarks, conspiracy theories are popular because they offer reassurance that someone is in charge— bad guys, perhaps, but people with a plan, whose goals and methods can be understood. This seems more satisfying to people than a world run by the actions or apathy of millions.

Conspiracy theories abound on Almea; in general, one has only to look at some secretive people or institution and extrapolate. Some of the leading contenders:

The Red Cabal 

The Cabal originated in Caďinas in the 21st century, ostensibly to protest imperial tyranny and prevent the increasingly common dynastic civil wars. Thirty years of intrigue culminated in the overthrow of the empire (2107), a reign of terror, and a spree of plunder and corruption. They were suppressed by Irun of Banda by 2220 and their leading members executed; but bad news continued to happen, and for centuries many blamed it on the Red Cabal— some, in fact, maintain that it still exists a thousand years later as an underground organization, a continual wellspring of destruction and immorality.

Bezuxau 

From the late 2600s, the dzusey (Endajué Master) Bezu ma-Veon proclaimed this doctrine, which was effectively nihilistic: there were no gods in the world, no good nor evil. Sometimes he hinted that there was another, better world; but this one was still devoid of value. He rose to the position of chief minister to the Xurnese nyei before being arrested in 2792 by aristocratic enemies. His followers helped him escape to the island fortress of Šušumbör, from which they carried a program of assassination and terror aimed at destabilizing the regime. As the empire was exceedingly militarized and reactionary, this destructive program received a good deal of support from the intelligentsia, especially in Čeiy, since Bezu supported its independence. When this was achieved, by 2840, the cult dominated Čeiyu politics by indirect and often violent means, till 2977 when Šušumbör was finally destroyed with explosives. Bezuxau still exists, though publicly it no longer calls for violent revolution. Sober opinion is that it can no longer command an army of crazed terrorists, but many believe that it is still in control of Čeiy (or even Xurno), or hopes to be.

Eleďát 

The mysterious Elenicoi appeared in Érenat in 2780, and almost immediately became a focus for rebellion against the occupation of Kebri. The Elenicoi were used to operating as an underground organization, and were masters of resisting authority without outright war (which would, at least at first, have failed). By 2840 Avéla was free, and within a century all of Érenat. By the Union of 2987 the Elenicoi merged with the Arašei— themselves often distrusted as a secretive religious cult— to form the new religion of Eleďát. In 3241 Verduria found itself under an Eleďe dynasty; it was hard to maintain that its rule was anything but benign, but detractors gave it the old college try. At root the Eleďi just aren't Caďinorian, and thus must be up to no good. The Knights of Dévora are often pointed to as the military arm of the conspiracy.

Dhekhnam 

With the disappearance of Munkhâsh it seemed sometimes that the ktuvok empire was a thing of the past; but then Dhekhnam reappeared, gobbling up Visecra (2550), the Carhinnoi (2835-45), and Sarnáe (2910-3044). In the 3100s they inspired rebellions in Azgami and Mútkün, creating client states in Eretald. Suspecting the Dhekhnami of bad intentions is not paranoia at all. But for the same reason, it's easy enough to see their hand in almost any dire event, from opposition politics to crop failure. As well, ktuvoks make fine villains— the worst humans, after all, can rarely think of anything really novel to oppress you with. Anything can be attributed to a ktuvok— that they might eat you, for instance, is a mere starting point for the imagination.

There are more, of course, but most are fairly banal assumptions that long-term enemies are still plotting. Xurno worries about Nyexe (Royalists); the Tžuro and the Uṭandal worry about each other; Eretald manages to worry about Caizura. In Arcél, Uytai and Belesao eye each other, and everybody worries about Fananak as well as the Rifters.

Finally I should note that it's a commonplace that the world is really run by the iliu. As this generally doesn't produce the horrific frisson of a good conspiracy theory, the idea is sometimes reversed: that the iliu used to be in charge but are now slipping.