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Illuminati

From Lexicanum

The Illuminati were introduced in the Realms of Chaos books alongside the Sensei and Star Child background material, both of which are no longer part of official canon.

The Illuminati are a secret society - existing beyond even the Emperor's knowledge, but manipulating and interpreting the Imperial Will to bring about their objectives. Its members all share the same experience: they have been possessed by Daemons and then, either through the force of their own will or through outside assistance, have freed themselves. Sharing a mind with a daemon they have gained the most intimate understanding of Chaos. Having mastered the Chaos within themselves, they are immune to its temptations and corruption. They then fight Chaos in the broader universe and, as they share a common enemy, are frequently involved on some level with the Eldar, in particular the Harlequins. The Illuminati are some of very few allowed access to the Eldar's Black Library of Chaos. They know of the Fall of the Eldar, and seek to prevent the same from happening to Man.

The Illuminati are plotting to have the Emperor of Mankind reborn. They realize the Emperor is failing and cannot survive in his current state of living death forever. They plan to rejuvenate the Emperor by sacrificing his descendants, the Sensei, at the moment the Emperor's will finally fails. The Emperor will be reborn, as the Sensei-Emperor, to again lead humanity directly. Their plans are a carefully kept secret; should the Emperor learn their plan, he may see no reason to continue to endure, and allow himself to die prematurely. Should the Sensei learn they may be unwilling to meet their intended fate.

The Illuminati influence events to pave the way for the Emperor's rebirth, and gather together the Sensei, protecting them from the persecution of the Inquisition.

Certain factions of the Inquisition know of and strongly oppose the Illuminati, fearing the Illuminati's plans are influenced by Chaos. They have been known to destroy cells of the Illuminati on several occasions. The Illuminati themselves are engaged in a campaign of disinformation and confusion against these factions of the Inquisition, in order to protect the Sensei.

Many Illuminati are also Inquisitors, which gives the brotherhood much more power and influence. One of the more proactive ways the brotherhood gains members is by illuminating others, subjecting the most promising individuals to daemonic possession and then freeing them.

It has been claimed that the entire Adeptus Custodes are Sensei under Illuminati control, but this has not been verified and is highly unlikely.

The entire Space Marine chapter the Exorcists have been possessed by daemons and freed, and can therefore be said to be "Illuminated", but they have no connection to the Illuminati brotherhood.