The Da Vinci Code/Organizations

DCPJ
The Direction Centrale Police Judiciaire is a major French internal security service. Made of two departments, the national police force and the national gendarmerie(or military police), their principle mission is to combat criminal and delinquent behaviors in whatever form crime may take.

British Police
British Police forces are organized under three main factions: the British Transport Police, the National Crime Squad, and SOCA(Serious Organized Crime Agency). The majority of police work is handled by territorial policeforces covering a particular city and under the command of a Commissioner.

Manus Dei
This conservative and highly regulated sect of the Church, values discipline and strict following of the rules above all. They have little tolerance for other religions and their practice of corporal mortification(self-flagellation to absolve thier sins and keep pure) is looked down upon by the upper echelon of the Church. Though their practices have always been a point of contention, recently it has become a high profile issue and the Church has been considering Manus Dei's removal from their stable of recognized sects.

Sanctus Umbra
The Seedy underbelly of Manus Dei, Sanctus Umbra is only a whispered tale passed on as a legend from the early 1930's. Rumors speak of a group of monks trained by Manus Dei in the ways of the ancient Hassassins(or Assassins)from their youth. Their ability to blend with shadows is said to be uncanny, and their thirst to inflict God's vengeance, insatiable.

The Priory of Sion
Many rumors abound about this mysterious secret society. Though documentation of their existence has proven to be questionable at best, it is rumored that the Priory itself would prefer its activities and members remain unknown. While the history of the Priory remains in question, it is said that they had a hand in the creation of the Knights Templar and ultimately in keeping the bloodline of the Merovingian dynasty,the last line to Jesus Christ, alive.

Mercenaries
These cutthroat criminals care about only one thing, money. If you can pay, you've got yourself a veritable army of bloodthirsty villains who know the ins and outs of any type of job you send them on. Need a bank robbed? No problem. Want someone taken out? No sweat. Need a Church secured? Well, that's not exactly their cup of tea, but for the right price, they'll do their best.