History Main / TheGroup

Basically, a sub-trope of NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast that applies specifically to a group or organization, as well as the SuperTrope under which several others fall (such as AncientConspiracy and GovernmentAgencyOfFiction).

The Group does not have any proper nouns in its name. This is meant to convey just how ancient, mysterious, clannish, secretive, powerful, and connected it is. It is not "The Silford Group". It is simply...''The'' Group. The Group is typically some form of Ancient Conspiracy, [[GovernmentAgencyOfFiction Government Agency]], or [[TheSyndicate Very Powerful Crime Syndicate]]. Even more likely, The Group will be some combination of some or all of the above, such as an ancient and extremely highly-trained order that traces its origins back to the time when it was an [[AncientEgypt Egyptian mystery religion]], today [[MurderInc has deadly assassins]] and TheMenInBlack counted among its many agents, is technically an ancillary [[TheGovernment part of the United States government]] and, oh yeah, manages [[TheSyndicate a large underground criminal empire as well]].

If there's a {{Masquerade}} going on in your world, The Group is, ''de rigueur'', the first ones in and the last ones out to deal with anything related to it. If it gets [[BrokenMasquerade broken]], that's on them. Even if The Group is evil, which they may well be, they may often try to cover up {{The Masquerade}} in an attempt to utilize whatever it is for their own ends, and thus do the world some good by keeping it ignorant and safe. Whether it is [[FunctionalMagic mystical, supernatural, or horrific beings, creatures, phenomena]] or {{MacGuffin}}s, [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum things of alien origin]], [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual superhumans and related paraphernalia]], [[AppliedPhlebotinum examples of advanced technology]], [[TimeTravel time travelers and the difficulties they create]], [[MonsterOfTheWeek various types of monsters, demons]], or whatever other GreenRocks or {{Weirdness Magnet}}s may be around in a world, you can be assured The Group will be there to either [[TheHunter hunt and destroy them]], try to [[ManipulativeBastard manipulate and use them]], or [[TheWatcher simply watch and contain them]]. Oh, and it should go without saying that if anyone is in charge of The Group, yes, it will be an OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness.

It's also entirely possible to have ''two'' Groups in the world. Often, they will be fighting a war in the shadows, this will be the basis for an {{Arc}} (story or myth), typically with one fighting behind the scenes to protect the world, and the other secretly trying to destroy or corrupt it. The Group may be several decades old (for example, formed around {{World War II}} or the ColdWar), several hundred years old (for example, dating from around the time of the [[{{Steampunk}} Industrial Revolution]] and the [[TheAmericanRevolution American]] and [[TheFrenchRevolution French Revolutions]]), several thousand years old (originating in AncientRome, AncientGreece, or AncientEgypt), as old as human civilization itself (as soon as one cavemen invented fire, two others got together on the other side of the cave and whispered to eachother that they had better keep an eye on this, and thus The Group was born), or [[TimeAbyss older than time itself]] (humans may serve The Group, but some very definitely ''[[EldritchAbomination non-humans]]'' founded, and control, it).

** The Conclave: ComicBook/TheAvengers foes. A shadow cabinet made up of members of every U.S. government organization.
** The Corporation: Nationwide business-like criminal organization. Foes of CaptainAmerica and TheIncredibleHulk, amongst others.

* ''NineteenEightyFour'' has The Party. (It also has The Brotherhood, but they're not working against the protagonist.)

* The Shop, from {{Stephen King}}'s CanonWelding crossover-verse which ties all of his fiction into the DarkTower [[TheVerse universe]].

* The Committee from ''{{VR5}}''.

* ''{{Series/Heroes}}''. The Company.

* The N.I.D. in ''StargateSG1''. According to [[AllThereInTheManual the RPG sourcebook]] it stands for National Intelligence Department.

* The Order in ''{{Freelancer}}''. [[spoiler:Subverted in that they're actually the good guys, fighting off a race of shapeshifting aliens called the Nomads.]]

* The Foundation in ''{{TheSuffering}} II: Ties That Bind'', which seems to be a paramilitary organization hell-bent on [[spoiler:capturing Malefactors and supposedly researching them]]. They also have an unhealthy interest in [[AntiHero Torque]], [[spoiler:because they work for [[EnemyWithin Blackmore]]]].

* ''TheClub''.

The Group does not have any proper nouns in its name. This is meant to convey just how ancient, mysterious, clannish, secretive, powerful, and connected it is. It is not "The Silford Group". It is simply...''The'' Group. The Group is typically some form of Ancient Conspiracy, [[GovernmentAgencyOfFiction Government Agency]], or [[TheSyndicate Very Powerful Crime Syndicate]]. Even more likely, The Group will be some combination of some or all of the above, such as an ancient and extremely highly-trained order that traces its origins back to the time when it was an [[AncientEgypt Egyptian mystery religion]], today [[MurderInc has deadly assassins]] and [[{{MIB}} Men In Black]] counted among its many agents, is technically an ancillary [[TheGovernment part of the United States government]] and, oh yeah, manages [[TheSyndicate a large underground criminal empire as well]].

* In the WebOriginal/SCPFoundation universe, the titular organization is often referred to as simply "The Foundation."

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<<|{{Villains}}|>>

* In the SCPFoundation universe, the titular organization is often referred to as simply "The Foundation."

<<|{{Villains}}|>>

* The Foundation in ''{{TheSuffering}} II: Ties That Bind'', which seems to be a paramilitary organization hell-bent on [[spoiler:capturing Malefactors and supposedly researching them]]. They also have an unhealthy interest in [[AntiHero Torque]], [[spoiler:probably because they work for [[EnemyWithin Blackmore]]]].

* The Foundation in ''{{TheSuffering}} II: Ties That Bind'', which seems to be a paramilitary organization hell-bent on [[spoiler:capturing Malefactors and supposedly researching them]]. They also have an unhealthy interest in [[AntiHero Torque]], [[spoiler:probably because they work for [[TheEnemyWithin Blackmore]]]].

It's also entirely possible to have ''two'' Groups in the world. Often, they will be fighting a war in the shadows, this will be the basis for an {{Arc}} (story or myth), typically with one fighting behind the scenes to protect the world, and the other secretly trying to destroy or corrupt it. The Group may be several decades old (for example, formed around {{World War II}} or the ColdWar), several hundred years old (for example, dating from around the time of the [[{{Steampunk}} Industrial Revolution]] and the [[TheAmericanRevolution American]] and [[TheFrenchRevolution French Revolutions]]), several thousand years old (originating in AncientRome, AncientGreece, or AncientEgypt), [[OlderThanDirt as old as human civilization itself]] (as soon as one cavemen invented fire, two others got together on the other side of the cave and whispered to eachother that they had better keep an eye on this, and thus The Group was born), or [[TimeAbyss older than time itself]] (humans may serve The Group, but some very definitely ''[[EldritchAbomination non-humans]]'' founded, and control, it).

* The Order from ''Film/SherlockHolmes'' are a NoCelebritiesHarmed version of the Freemasons as they were commonly thought of in Victorian times, being a shadowy group of influential men at the highest reaches of power engaging in mysterious, weird rituals. It's gradually taken over by a powerful and charismatic DarkMessiah who has returned from the dead and is demonstrating his power to such an extent that almost the entire country is utterly terrified of him. However, it's ultimately a complete deconstruction, as the Order is largely presented as a bunch of superstitious and largely ineffectual old men who are utterly caught up in their own mythology [[spoiler: to the extent that they'll let the so-called DarkMessiah, in fact a complete charlatan, seduce them with a theatrical manner and some admittedly pretty clever conjuring tricks. Hey, this is ''SherlockHolmes''; as if he wasn't going to be DoingInTheWizard]]. It's also an excuse for them to have orgies, apparently.

Basically, a sub-trope of {{Names To Run Away From Really Fast}} that applies specifically to a group or organization, as well as the {{Super Trope}} under which several others fall (such as {{Ancient Conspiracy}} and {{Government Agency Of Fiction}}).

The Group does not have any proper nouns in its name. This is meant to convey just how ancient, mysterious, clannish, secretive, powerful, and connected it is. It is not "The Silford Group". It is simply...''The'' Group. The Group is typically some form of {{Ancient Conspiracy}}, [[{{Government Agency Of Fiction}} Government Agency]], or [[{{The Syndicate}} Very Powerful Crime Syndicate]]. Even more likely, The Group will be some combination of some or all of the above, such as an ancient and extremely highly-trained order that traces its origins back to the time when it was an [[{{Ancient Egypt}} Egyptian mystery religion]], today [[{{Murder Inc}} has deadly assassins]] and [[{{MIB}} Men In Black]] counted among its many agents, is technically an ancillary [[{{The Government}} part of the United States government]] and, oh yeah, manages [[{{The Syndicate}} a large underground criminal empire as well]].

If there's a {{Masquerade}} going on in your world, The Group is, ''de rigueur'', the first ones in and the last ones out to deal with anything related to it. If it gets [[{{Broken Masquerade}} broken]], that's on them. Even if The Group is evil, which they may well be, they may often try to cover up {{The Masquerade}} in an attempt to utilize whatever it is for their own ends, and thus do the world some good by keeping it ignorant and safe. Whether it is [[{{Functional Magic}} mystical, supernatural, or horrific beings, creatures, phenomena]] or {{MacGuffin}}s, [[{{Imported Alien Phlebotinum}} things of alien origin]], [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual superhumans and related paraphernalia]], [[{{Applied Phlebotinum}} examples of advanced technology]], [[{{Time Travel}} time travelers and the difficulties they create]], [[{{Monster Of The Week}} various types of monsters, demons]], or whatever other {{Green Rocks}} or {{Weirdness Magnet}}s may be around in a world, you can be assured The Group will be there to either [[{{The Hunter}} hunt and destroy them]], try to [[{{Manipulative Bastard}} manipulate and use them]], or [[{{The Watcher}} simply watch and contain them]]. Oh, and it should go without saying that if anyone is in charge of The Group, yes, it will be an {{Omniscient Council Of Vagueness}}.

It's also entirely possible to have ''two'' Groups in the world. Often, they will be fighting a war in the shadows, this will be the basis for an {{Arc}} (story or myth), typically with one fighting behind the scenes to protect the world, and the other secretly trying to destroy or corrupt it. The Group may be several decades old (for example, formed around {{World War II}} or the {{Cold War}}), several hundred years old (for example, dating from around the time of the [[{{Steampunk}} Industrial Revolution]] and the [[{{The American Revolution}} American]] and [[{{The French Revolution}} French Revolutions]]), several thousand years old (originating in [[{{Ancient Rome}} Rome]], [[{{Ancient Greece}} Greece]], or [[{{Ancient Egypt}} Egypt]]), [[{{Older Than Dirt}} as old as human civilization itself]] (as soon as one cavemen invented fire, two others got together on the other side of the cave and whispered to eachother that they had better keep an eye on this, and thus The Group was born), or [[{{Time Abyss}} older than time itself]] (humans may serve The Group, but some very definitely ''[[{{Eldritch Abomination}} non-humans]]'' founded, and control, it).

* The Shop, from {{Stephen King}}'s CanonWelding crossover-verse which ties all of his fiction into the {{Dark Tower}} [[{{The Verse}} universe]].

* ''The Dominion'' from DeepSpaceNine has the right sort of name (although, so does ''The Federation'', come to think of it), and they were definitely a mysterious powerful organization in the first few seasons. ''Section 31'' is the clandestine intelligence agency in the Federation that has been around from the beginning.

* The Division in ''{{Push}}''.

* The Cabal in ''{{Blood}}''. Known more properly as the Cult of Tchernobog, but more often called just Cabal.
* The Agency in ''{{Deadlands}}''.
* ''TheGuild''.
* [[{{Lost}} The Others]]. (''{{Lost}}'' also had The Initiative.)
* [[VR5 The Committee]]

* ''TheChurch''.
* ''TheClub''.
* TheCompany (referring to the CIA) and TheBureau (referring to the FBI). Of course, only used when their motives are ''secret''...
** The Farm is where the The Company trains its agents.
* The Directive, a shadowy intelligence organisation from the ''{{Aberrant}}'' role playing game.
* ''The Dominion'' from DeepSpaceNine has the right sort of name (although, so does ''The Federation'', come to think of it), and they were definitely a mysterious powerful organization in the first few seasons. ''Section 31'' is the clandestine intelligence agency in the Federation that has been around from the beginning.
* The Centre, of ''ThePretender''.
* RealLife musical groups The Group and The Band.
* WildPalms: The Fathers.
* ''{{Series/Heroes}}''. The Company.
* ''TheXFiles''. The Syndicate.

* ''TheConduit'' has The Trust.
* ''CowboyBebop'' also has The Syndicate.

* Also, the Enclave from ''{{Fallout}}'', and the Exchange from ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''.

* The Order in ''{{Freelancer}}''. [[spoiler:Subverted in that they're actually the good guys, fighting off a race of shapeshifting aliens called the Nomads.]]
* The N.I.D. in ''StargateSG1''. (Is the meaning of N.I.D. ever revealed?)
** On the program? No. The [=RPG=] sourcebook gives it as National Intelligence Department though.
** And later, the Trust.
* Bureau Thirteen in ''BabylonFive''. Heard of once in the episode ''Spider In The Web'', then never heard from again.

* ''CityOfHeroes / Villains'' has The Family.
** And the Council, the Cabal, the Banished Pantheon, the Lost, the Minions of Igneous and the Midnight Squad.
* The Organization from ''{{Fearless}}''.
* The Fraternity from ''{{Wanted}}''; while the movie has an organization of AntiHero JerkAss assassins, the original comicbook has full on amoral supervillains.
* The ''{{Hitman}}'' videogames have the International Contract Agency, which is usually known as just The Agency. Although they're the organization the protagonist works for, they're morally ambiguous enough to count. A competing group is The Franchise. In the movie the group is called The Organization.

* In the SCPFoundation universe, the titular organization is often referred to as simply "The Foundation."
** One of the groups opposing them is called The Factory.

* The Organization from ''StreetFighter III'', a strange, powerful cult that has produced the superhuman Gill, is never really given a name in the Japanese, though it is sometimes referred to as the Illuminati in English.
* The Order from ''Film/SherlockHolmes'' are a NoCelebritiesHarmed version of the Freemasons as they were commonly thought of in Victorian times, being a shadowy group of influential men at the highest reaches of power engaging in mysterious, weird rituals. It's gradually taken over by a powerful and charismatic DarkMessiah who has returned from the dead and is demonstrating his power to such an extent that almost the entire country is utterly terrified of him. However, it's ultimately a complete deconstruction, as the Order is largely presented as a bunch of superstitious and largely ineffectual old men who are utterly caught up in their own mythology [[spoiler: to the extent that they'll let the so-called DarkMessiah, in fact a complete charlatan, seduce them with a theatrical manner and some admittedly pretty clever conjuring tricks. Hey, this is ''SherlockHolmes''; as if he wasn't going to be DoingInTheWizard]]. It's also an excuse for them to have orgies, apparently.
* ''SinCity'' has "The Guild", a group of assassins who also deal in the Black Market.
* The Agency from the ''SyphonFilter'' series of games, which served under The Consortium. After [[spoiler:the protagonist becomes the new leader at the end of the third game]], it gets [[ConspiracyRedemption reorganised]] into the International Presidential Consulting Agency... which still doesn't have any proper nouns.

* Les Soldats from ''{{Noir}}'' technically counts, since it's just [[GratuitousFrench French]] for "The Soldiers". It's also a textbook AncientConspiracy.
* The Centre from ''MartinMystery'' is a clear cut [[HeroesRUs heroic example]].

* Perry the Platypus in ''PhineasAndFerb'' works in The Agency as Agent P.

* ''NineteenEightyFour'' has The Party. (It also has The Brotherhood, but they're not working against the protagonist. [[OrIsIt Or are they?]])

* ''{{Alias}}'' had the Alliance and later the Covenant.

* The Order from ''Film/SherlockHolmes'' are a NoCelebritiesHarmed version of the Freemasons as they were commonly thought of in Victorian times, being a shadowy group of influential men at the highest reaches of power engaging in mysterious, weird rituals. It's gradually taken over by a powerful and charismatic DarkMessiah who has returned from the dead and is demonstrating his power to such an extent that almost the entire country is utterly terrified of him. However, it's ultimately a complete deconstruction, as the Order is largely presented as a bunch of superstitious and largely ineffectual old men who are utterly caught up in their own mythology [[spoiler: to the extent that they'll let the so-called DarkMessiah, in fact a complete charlatan, seduce them with a theatrical manner and some admittedly pretty clever conjuring tricks. Hey, this is ''SherlockHolmes''; as if he wasn't going to be DoingInTheWizard]]. It's also, apparently, an excuse for them to have orgies as well, apparently.

* The Fathers. (Oliver Stone's "Wild Palms")

* The Shop, from {{Stephen King}}'s [[{{The Moorcock Effect}} Moorcock Effect crossover-verse]] which ties all of his fiction into the {{Dark Tower}} [[{{The Verse}} universe]].