The Spy, The Whole Spy, and Nothing but the Spy: Secrecy 101

[DestroyerOTN]

At the behest of balthur, I repost and progressively shape into order my guide to stealth, sleuth, knives-in-the-back, and generally organizations you don't want people knowing about.

Let's break it down...

Why So Serious?: The "W's" on Secrecy
The reason for one's organization in it's secrecy is important to establish. Quoth our exchange:

The standard of secret organizations, of any kind, is to establish (moreso than -anywhere- else) a goal. A calling. A -creed- even...

... when setting up for organized intrigue, a dogmatic outlook is important because it will lay the foundation for all other answers. What one needs to look into is an ultimate goal statement, or a continuous pursuit.

When going in to secrecy, this is an important thing to consider. The secrecy of an organization is usually for the evasion of controversy in their interloping, the protection of their members, or the like. It doesn't have to be to avoid the city guard. In fact, if cordor had some secret, neutral aligned CIA (not the harpers), I'd be pleased to know. Likewise, on mention of the harpers, -they- exist, and (while more -semi- secret...) few can attest to knowing their activities or members currently on arelith (if they are, indeed, on Arelith and it's not just the evil person's word for "I don't like you").

Think hard about why you're secret, what you do, and the like more than with open factions. This will literally shape everything your group does later. Contacts? Members? Structure? This defines.

The Secret For Secret: How To Not Get Your Dream Cyrist Cell Crumble 2 Days In (Recruiting)
As one making a secret society, now that we have our definition, our structure, layouts, confines and the like... we ask ourselves "Great! But... it's empty."

The natural reaction is to set post for recruiting. This is grand, only... obviously, if, say, the Cult of the Dragon went to cordor and put up a sign that said "NOW HIRING! EVIL CULTIST DEVOUTS WILLING TO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES FOR THE CREATION OF THE SACRED ONES!"... well, Jenna would laugh at them, rip their limbs off and eat them. Being eaten by Jenna is bad. Plus, you never even get your members.

We then -likely- ask "What do we do now?"

Quoth Further of correspondence:

Make good contacts early, and you'll be set to do them all... not that you want to jump right into this. Avoiding early discovery can sometimes be as simple as not doing anything to discover until you are to a point you can actually... do it (A level 8 rogue starting a guild while low levels still see him stealthing, or through guise, is a -bad- idea).

Just as I said, it's important for a blossoming group of silence to hold a few people that it can trust, contacts, to aid their searches or the like. They don't need to know they're working with you if you don't want them to... but have people point out others of common interest, and assemble what is (more than your establishment alone) a network. By the time you're thriving, you should have at least a few factions you consider partners in your work, knowing or non.

Also, as is said, I can't emphasize it enough. It's great to RP before leveling, and I resent people who get to level 20 in 3 weeks to my very core and think them the devil (mostly because I depressingly may never be one).. but save your own grief, and don't make your organization until you -have- the power to get it off the ground. Otherwise, it'll be back to square 1 fast.

As to the actual scouting, it's important to expand from my earlier statement. The way to post for your group without posting for your group... is not to post. Confusing? Read further:

Your member spotting will not be of searching. A careful eye, a good ear, and cover in the very plain sight while you're not looking at people (While poetic) is exactly what you need. Locating members should be an activity of finding those most likely to fill the role. Most willing. Most able... you're eyes should seek someone that does exactly what you want, whom wouldn't likely spew about.

...eye their personality... look for what -you- want to see... people tend to play archetypicals, so your average conniving rogue or brute thug isn't hard to find.

Again, as scribed. When searching for members, it is up to -you the player- to hold an active look and openness to draw in anyone, at any time, who may fit your bill. Involving people is good anyway, so the better RPers amidst us in this community will have no issue. Don't worry about it seeming meta-y: your character should be wise enough to perceive what he is looking for where it manifests. If not, well, he probably lacks the wisdom to think (on his own) to -create- such a society.

Final point of late addition: Informing a DM may be a plan if you find the time. They can't drive your effort, but some may try and nudge a new player into crossing paths with you if you maintain your group well enough and they share your goals. I know, at least, a few groups operate this way.

So What's The Deal, Anyway: Arrangement of Plot

You now have a goal with a band of rag-tag silent knives to match! Congratulations...

You may wonder, though, what you're actually going to do with this now that you have it. We don't want it sinking into formality, just a list of contacts to be cast aside. Let's talk about talking. More specifically, setting up encounters, events, and group goals

For introductions, a pseudonym is wise... but make sure you've a set up contact point if that is so. Elsewise, you'll never make your meetings.

Get a few orderly meets set up, definitely. Weekly, if needed, or just spontaneous... ensure both of you know OOC what playername to seek for on (that level of meta will, sadly, be needed). Avoid meetsite busts by moving. Often.

Consistency is a friend in this RP. Make your own cipher or spoken language, if you want, but be consistent. Hold order to how you meet, how you contact, and keep any contact as low as you can... not by silence or chaos: orderly discretion. Organize every move, every act. Everything. This secrecy business is traditionally alien to foundation by chaotics for this reason. Reflect that as desired.

Show up to meetings in stealth, be it mechanical, or amidst inconspicuous environs

As said, if someone you don't want to come sees your message, it's important to be prepared for their intrusion. The goal is to remain unseen when seen, if you can. Be careful, of course, not to let your members miss you... but keeping this until it's routine and reminding one's self maintains successful silence.

Once you've done all this? No more measures of security are neccesary... until you know there is a breach. Then, have a plan. Of course, you want to be careful to program this plan for potential failure.

When Bad Things Happen...: Accepting Defeat

As said above, there is a point where it just becomes unfun, reclusive, and dull to maintain silence. If you genuinely would never let someone know? Sure, be quiet... but say someone figures it out, or someone you thought you could trust leaks. The reaction should be expected, taken in stride. Laugh at the failure and plan for the climax. Why? Remember, this is a multiplayer game of roleplay. Real roleplay. What makes us distinct from things like Elder Scrolls online, WoW, or the like... is that the players matter. To quotate:

In the end, don't fear being caught too much...*omitted*; plan for when you do get caught, and you should be able to fade under radar for a while... or intentionally allow someone to cause discord to the order, and it's collapse, if you think it's "that time".

...see that you make it interesting to all. Victim, member, or third party. If wanted, leave calling cards, holes, weaves and the like. Don't fear discovery to the point of silence, embrace it, or make your character prepare for it... all without being stupid. The eventual fact is, someone -will- question why x is missing from y... or why x happens at y. The disconnect should be point Z, and never anything else. Never make it clear who -is- running it... just make it clear -"who"- is running it. The secrecy should keep itself that way without making you obscurely inaccessible

So... when it boils down to it, everyone should have fun. Plan well, but not hard. Be secret, but not obscure. Make sure of that, and you'll be a loved thing to reach the history tomes. A regular Silent Hand to be named years after you've fallen. Oh, and your needs to weave intrigue shall be filled.

Take these steps in mind, though don't let them rule your RP. Remember: this is a guide. If you need to bend something to fit, go for it.

[DestroyerOTN]

I'll be posting informational "Added Tidbits" later for evil groups. They're a large chunk of the secrecy deal, and can be more lax. More advice comes with this.