Cryptopoly
An important asset to achieve this is the Cryptopoly a network of affiliated occult organisations with influence throughout all spheres of sleeper life. The conspiracies that make up this network each have a different name, but all are headed by an Illuminate who reports to a Silver Ladder caucus. A Silver Ladder is not limited to their own Allies, Contacts, Resources or Status, but can access any of the resources available in the Cryptopoly -- provided they share their assets in turn.
Note that Illuminates will help mages from any order provided they use a code word or secret sign to indicate they are "enlightened" Pentacle mages, and provided they don't ask for anything that the conspiracies rulers wouldn't allow (Silver Ladder, p.60). Mages could take Allies (Cryptopoly) to represent this. The ruling Ladder caucus is, of course, always informed.
OOC Note
Note that "Basic information about the kinds of merits that are within a character's cryptopoly is normally freely shared by and with all Thearchs in good standing." (Addendum: M:tA, section IV.5.). This page can be used to share that basic information (i.e. the list of assets available and which VST to contact to barter for them), but avoid revealing too much OOC information. Non-Silver Ladder PC's should consider this as out-of-character information.
Benefits
The Silver Ladder have learnt the benefits of division of labor. Rather than each mage spreading themselves thin and taking, say, Resources •• + Contacts •• + Allies (Police) •••, those in the Silver Ladder have learnt to specialise and are more likely to take a straight Allies (Police) •••• then take a free Allies (Cryptopoly) •••• allowing them access to the network (whilst also sharing their allies with the network).
The Silver Ladder have also learnt about delgation of responsibility. Rather than directly taking something like Resources ••••• themselves, they are far more likely to take Retainer ••••• and have their minion start a new Cryptopoly conspiracy (with it's own name and the retainer as Illuminate). The Illuminate then gets 10 dot to spend on Allies, Contacts, Resources, Status and their own less powerful Retainers, allowing the character control of more resources (see The Silver Ladder, p.60). These resources can also then be shared with the Cryptopoly.
Even better, the Silver Ladder have also learned the wisdom of shared costs. While other mages pool their resources for powerful Sanctums, Hallows, Libraries and the like, the Silver Ladder have also learnt how to share the cost of their Illuminate retainers (see The Silver Ladder, p.59). Characters can work together and contribute a few dots each to relatively cheaply add new retainers to the Cryptopoly, sacrificing direct control for broader reach.
Available Cryptopoly Assets
Please contact the VST of the relevant city to access assets.
- Each occult conspiracy (cell) within the Cryptopoly is known by it's name (e.g. "Sisterhood of the Triple Moon", "Bunker Hill Boys", "New Jersey's Spiritual Housing Pact".). It will also have an ideology and practial and estoeric goals.
- The conspiracy will be headed by one (or more) Illuminates, who could be PC's (if Awakened), or otherwise Sleepwalkers or high Wisdom characters. They usually have at least Occult ••••.
- The conspiracy will then be controlled by a local Silver Ladder caucus cabal, or even a powerful individual.
Example (from Silver Ladder):
| Organisation | Merits | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sisterhood of the Triple Moon | Resources •••• Contacts •• (Essex Country's local governments) |
A neopagan conspiracy that believes the Hierarch of Boston is a god who is prophesised to raise his servants to divinity. Its practical goal is to purchase valuable real rural estate, especially around ley lines and supernatural phenomena. (Its esoteric goal is to guard strange places for the use of mages alone -- not necessarily revealed.) |
Armidale
| Organisation | Merits | Description |
|---|
Brisbane
| Organisation | Merits | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Threads of Destiny | Contacts ••• (Occult, Criminal, Hacker) | Network dedicated to observing and reporting anomolous events to a database which members believes feeds an AI singularity. While other networks are for action; the Threads of Destiny practical goals are focussed on information gathering. |
Melbourne
| Organisation | Merits | Description |
|---|
Perth
| Organisation | Merits | Description |
|---|
Sydney
| Organisation | Merits | Description |
|---|
Summary
Summary of Cryptopoly influence across areas:
| Resources |
|---|
| - |
| Allies Area | Allies | Contacts Area | Contacts | Status Area | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | Academic | - | ||
| Banks | - | - | banks | - | |
| City Hall | - | - | City Hall | - | |
| - | - | Clerical Standing | - | ||
| - | big business | - | Corporate Executive | - | |
| - | couriers | - | - | ||
| Criminals | - | (criminals) | ••• | Criminal | - |
| - | - | Diplomat | - | ||
| - | - | Licensed Professional (Private Investigator) | - | ||
| - | - | Licensed Professional (Lawyer) | - | ||
| - | - | Licensed Professional (Building Contractor) | - | ||
| - | hackers | ••• | - | ||
| Hospital staff | - | - | Medical / hospital staff | - | |
| - | (occult) | ••• | Occult | - | |
| Police | - | - | Police | - | |
| Unions | - | - | Union/Rotary | - | |
| University Faculty | - | - | university faculty | - | |
| (Construction Industry) | - | - | - |
Addendum Rules
From Addendum: Mage: the Awakening, 1 June 2013 (updated 7 May 2013)
- ERATTA AND ADDITIONAL BOOKS
- Silver Ladder (WW40105)
- All Cryptopoly cults require Approval from the lowest-level ST whose authority extends over the cult's entire scope of influence. Social merits for these cults require the same level of approval as Merits belonging to PCs.
- Silver Ladder (WW40105)
- MERITS
- Merits Affected by the Addendum
- Cryptopoly [Silver Ladder]: A Silver Ladder PC – Awakened or not - may consider any or all of his Social merits as part of his Cryptopoly. Other Silver Ladder PCs may barter for use of these merits, and he may barter for use of their Cryptopoly merits. Regularly denying such requests unless they are unbalanced or significantly disadvantageous is considered a Sin within the Order. Basic information about the kinds of merits that are within a character's cryptopoly is normally freely shared by and with all Thearchs in good standing
- Illuminate Retainer [Silver Ladder]
- Created as a ●●●●● Retainer using the alternative creation template on p. 63 of Silver Ladder. They do not gain any additional XP by virtue of being a ●●●●● Retainer. (Please note that PC Illuminated Proximi are generated as a normal character.) However, the merit becomes a simple cost, rather than graduated cost merit.
- The PC can ask the retainer to take an action to use one of its social merits on their behalf per downtime.
- All merits held by the Illuminate Retainer are held as part of a Cryptopoly, so can also be accessed by other PCs as noted above.
- Created as a ●●●●● Retainer using the alternative creation template on p. 63 of Silver Ladder. They do not gain any additional XP by virtue of being a ●●●●● Retainer. (Please note that PC Illuminated Proximi are generated as a normal character.) However, the merit becomes a simple cost, rather than graduated cost merit.
- Merits Affected by the Addendum
Note: I presume the page reference above should be p. 60, which details Illuminated Retainers, not p. 63, which details Illuminated Proximi.