The Conspiracy (a.k.a The Pyramid) is the most powerful organization on the planet Earth. A collection of secret societies devoted to the goals of dominating the future of humanity. Unfortunately, the Conspiracy is deeply and bitterly divided over doctrinal issues. They are divided into Factions, sects that each want to push their own agenda for humanity's future. The Conspiracy will not be able to resolve this dispute without massive bloodshed. But, for the time being, they are willing to put aside their differences in order to face their exterior enemies.
The Thirteen Factions
The Thirteen Major Factions are the prime movers and shakers of the Conspiracy. For the most part, they restrain themselves from killing one another. Of course, if you can get away with it, eliminating especially troublesome rival Faction members can actually win you prestige in the Pyramid. Each of the Factions controls a different sphere of influence and attempts to keep all rivals from interfering with its business. None of the Factions have absolute control over their sphere and often have to fight to make sure that regular humanity doesn't exceed them in influence. The Pyramid's power to manipulate humanity is by no means absolute. Oftentimes, humanity will take cultural shifts or create new technology that leaves the Conspiracy scrambling to catch up. As humanity changes, so do Factions grow in influence or fade into obscurity. No one really knows which Faction will end up in control of the world but every one of them wants to rule what's left when the dust settles.
The All-Seeing Eye
What most people think of when they think a government Conspiracy. The All-Seeing Eye attempts to control all the world's government and intelligence agencies. The All-Seeing Eye is riding out their victory over their rivals during the Cold War but are rapidly hemorraging influence to the World Banking Union and Majestic-13. They are the self-proclaimed leaders of the Conspiracy and the most powerful of the Factions, for now.
The Black Pentacle
The Black Pentacle is one of the oldest of Factions in existence. The descendants of magicians that used to dominate the world through shamanism and sorcery, the Black Pentacle is slowly dying out as humanity ceases to believe in its power. The Black Pentacle still wield tremendous authority through their summoning of demons and witchcraft but fewer humans are born with the magical gift every year. They are swiftly becoming desperate.European Union Anti-Terrorist Alliance (EUATA)
The newest Conspiracy, the EUATA is an organization formed by the Illuminati to combat terrorist threats against the Conspiracy. Gradually, it's members have become aware of the vastly powerful network that it performs missions for. Many EUATA members are uncomfortable with working for such a vast and megalomanical organization.Erisiad
The Anti-Conspiracy. Erisiad attempts to influence the world to develop radical change both in social reform and in consciousness. Most members of the Conspiracy think Erisiad is filled with burn-outs, ineffectual fools, an social scientists with no real-life experience. They're wrong. They're social scientists with lots of real-life experience and are extremely effective idealists. Only some of them are burn-outs. If the world can't be changed, they'd rather see it collapse.
The Fates
He who controls the future, controls the present. The Fates are diviners, mathematicians, and oracles who attempt to manipulate the world by predicting the future. The Fates missed World War 2's coming, which has called into serious question their ability. They have been struggling to rebuild their reputation ever since. The Fates serve as the secret advisers and manipulators of the manipulators in the Conspiracy.The Knights Templar
Religion has always been a comfort to mankind. It has also always been a tool for the powerful to maintain control. The Knights Templar attempt to dominate all of the world's religions, not just Christianity. Unfortunately for the Conspiracy, many of its members genuinely believe in the tenants of their faith and loathe the more ungodly behavior of their Pyramid brethren.The Hashasheen
The Assassins. They attempt to manipulate the world's politics through a combination of drugs, murder, mysticism, religion, and terrorism. The Assassins have little love for the rest of the Pyramid and outright hate the Knights Templar. Time will tell if their manipulations will add up to an ultimate endgame or they are simply killing for its own sake.The Illuminati
The oldest of all Conspiracies. Created during the early part of human history by beings from the stars, the Illuminati seeks to achieve world peace through enlightened rule. Formerly the most powerful of all Factions, many of its bloodlines were wiped out with the fall of the nobility throughout the world. Most Illuminati are as likely to be academics as they are to be aristocrats. Despite their fallen state, many believe the Illuminati are playing a much longer game than any of the other Factions. They have survived the fall of numerous civilizations and are patient enough to watch their current enemies destroy themselves (perhaps with a nudge or two).The Leviathan (TIAMAT)
Whoever says crime doesn't pay is a damn liar. Leviathan is the most ambitious and heavy-handed of all modern conspiracies. The world's largest criminal syndicate, they are attempting to gain control over all the traditional sources of illicit revenue in the world. Leviathan cares nothing for the moral pretensions of most Factions. Its members are out to make money and achieve power. Because of this attitude, most other Factions treat them as unsteady allies at best.Majestic-13
The successor organization to Majestic-12, Majestic-13 is the third most powerful Conspiracy and may eventually become the most influential. Mysterious amongst the mysterious, Majestic-13 has contact with alien powers and other dimensional entities. It is interested in transhumanism and gaining control over both government as well as scientific holdings. Despite this, neither the All-Seeing Eye or Scientific Principle has been willing to stand against them. Most Factions are content to dominate the world, Majestic-13 wants to transform it.P.R.I.S.M
A relatively young nationalist Faction, PRISM is a sub-section of the CIA that went rogue when it realized just what sort of threats existed outside of the United States' borders. Jingoistic and paranoid, PRISM's first loyalty is to America. Note, not necessarily the United States government, just America in general. Its power has been waning since the end of the Cold War and most believe it will be absorbed into the All-Seeing Eye.
PRISM refuses to believe that. They're Americans and they would never join a Faction that was so full of foreigners.
The Scientific Principle
The Scientific Principle believes that science holds the key to all of humanity's problems. It can't control the development of human technology but it can certainly influence it. The Scientific Principle is always pushing the boundaries of humanity's discoveries and trying to implement them on a global scale. Underfunded and unappreciated by comparison to the other Factions, the Scientific Principle has faith that the ultimate face of humanity's future will be determined not by who owns the most but who knows the most.