101 Fantasy Government Secrets

[Meloncov]

Nealy every government has secrets it wants to keep from its populace, and these secrets often have the potential for great plots (case in pont: Serenity).

As such, I though it would be useful to create a collection of fantasy govermental secrets to serve as plot inspirations. These secrets should have a significent effect on the nation should they escape; the sort of things the government would be willing to kill for.


Once completed, I'll make a PDF of the thread.



1. The giant raiders attacking the outskirts of the kingdom are actually hired by the king in order to subdue a rebelious area.

 

[RangerWickett]

2. The nation has a roster of all the old dungeons and tombs from ancient times, and they occasionally contact the immortal sorcerers, ancient monsters, and other horrible things and extract favors in exchange for keeping the existence of the tomb secret.

 

[el-remmen]

The otherwise benevolent king has been magic-jarring into his heir's body whenever death from old age draws near.

He has done this for ten generations.

 

[Dog Moon]

4. The homeless and poor upon the streets were cleaned up greatly ten years ago by the current ruler. At the moment, homelessness is at an all-time low.

At the same time, the city has been shipping out ore in record numbers. This has brought a new age of prosperity to the people and to the city. What is not know, however, is that those who were once homeless have homes in the mines as slaves.

 

[Vigilance]

5. Generations ago, the king's ancestor had his realm's greatest magician cast a wish to try and make Orcs more passive but instead created the much more brutal race of Ogres. Now the king will kill anyone who stumbles onto the secret, fearing the populace will overthrow him "we tried to make them better".

 

[Meloncov]

6. The government has for centuries attempted to breed monsters to create a super-soldier race. Though they have never suceeded, several creatures have escaped, and over the years they have slaughered hundred of people.

 

[Gilladian]

7. Several years ago the kingdom fought a war against a lich and his dragon companions.The kingdom won, but the heir to the throne went missing for some time during the final battle. What is not known is that the heir was kidnapped by the lich and magic jarred. The heir now awaits his chance to claim the throne and win his ultimate victory...

 

[Wraith Form]

All those drugs that have been hitting the homeless, that the city watch has been finding? They're all being shipped into the city by a shadow military group. Why? To make the ore-mining homeless slaves (see #4 above) more plaible and passive.

This is very much a "chose a conspiracy theory and fantasy-ize it" thread--and I LOVE IT!

 

[Dog Moon]

9. The city flower is actually a way of controlling people. The pollen put into the air weakens the minds of people, though they never realize it. It works so slowly that it is impossible to detect. It causes the minds of people to be easily manipulated. The government has taken numerous citizens from their homes, but a few quick spells and no one even realizes that there was a person where there is now no one. Newcomers occasionally notice something wierd, but if they stay long enough, they get caught up in the effects of the flower. Worst part is that it never hibernates. It stays alive all winter and belies its danger with its beautiful appearance.

 

[Land Outcast]

10. The new security & construction machines aren't machines, but sentient constructs...

11. The Council of Elders does not exist, the king takes his decisions alone...

12. The King does not exist, the Council of Elders rule the kingdom...

13. All high-rank figures are made addicted to a high-addiction rating drug to ensure loyalty.