rere) ‘Bo ~ “onathan Tweet & Mark Rein: Hagen(Cacarors: Jonathan Tweet and Mark ReinHagen “Tecnica Surroxr: Matthew Seidl Fiera EDmOw Desicy te PROIECT MaNAGEMENT: David Chart ‘Seca. THANKS: Pete Adkison, Shannon Appel, Steve Bishop, fill Firma Ebon Disicn ConTRBUTIONS, Tom Dowd, org Peter Brickman, Bob Brynildson, Tmnothy Carroll, Sam Chupp, Jenifer Friedeich, Rich Gentile, Andrew Gronosky, Mark Shirley, Andrew Clarke Witkes, Ken Clif, Jerry Corie, Chis Daan, Smith, Kevin Sours, David Woods Christopher Estey, Woody Eblom, Chri Fretking, Jeremiah PROOFREADING: Sheila Thomas and John Nephew Genest, Geolrey Grabowski, Kevin Hosa, Peter Hentges, Wil Lavoure Scott Reeves with Michelle Nephew Hindmarch, Damelon Kimbrough, Scott Lia, Lydia Leong, Grarnic Disien, Camtocearty, « Ant: Scot Reeves Lindroos, Aaron Link, Clay Luther, Susann Lyon, Dave P Marti, ADDITIONAL Rt: Dave Allop, Liz Danforth, Bean Dugan, Neil [Mare Philipp Messner, Paul Nurmberger, Chris Pramas, Wade Edwards, Chattes Gillespie, fosh Hoops, Eric Hota, Janine Racine, Roderick Robertson, Carl Schou, John Sacad, Robin Johnston, Alexis Liosatos, Willa O'Conner, Dom Reardon, Steeden, Jeremy Strandberg, Jef Tl, Robbie Westmoreland, John Scotello, Jock Simpson Travis Lamar Willams Fifth Edition Plavtesters as Roh Ls any, Pe i Cet reno K Se al Vd Ge Spon Dt Sat, Red Sey i Ka sn Soe hes ‘ast aie Ces Me la Ci Ae Dae la Care, ier om gr ae hay Ste Se, ea on Rs Ra ok hes ‘Wale ese oe il Chat aon Ae a aad Ny Woda Ket ire oes yee in eee Dah ehh Br ‘Got Phin Na rom eWay Nh ee Far Fach fon KO Su Uh Winer Cr is Dn Cay dn a, er 8a ‘haar Bwa Home Ac Hon Dal Madr a Han ar lms Pa Ea Sel, ee semi Se Sen Scones Nl Ona ry Hae, a aD Tom So rc Gone See, Dem Sc, Rh Sty ny Fry BC Bae Dk teh ele Ade Coody Ni ania rdw Sb Ves ay, ah Co Cal, Doar aN Heo, ik a en Ninny Sas Won pn Sn ih Yar es Cl Cp N Moan ch Na oe vc Rd eet lr So Ferm psa tee Se Ce a, Rely Na Sys Shor Wo hike Crow Dna, Mt se et Te hee Tes ee, Nos r,s at Pot techn Ken Ola AS Uh Witnat achaNah Phases Acre White Hea, ec rin en eo ir ve Wor Rea Le CamyLa c t Ra Ru Ee Pc Ch Ec Ko ran, Se he, {Semi aC ie Ce, eS Pl Hee eee Se Soa ak Hn “To Rous. ind Gray Pe ey Chi en Rae Pal lech Le ce, Ks St ok Ty een ry Cs a Deny, Rh Cen, Andey Cel, ‘Coal, Martha Awe Wick Gres, Dn i, Hem Ker ed Rh! ie ee Cy Fc Ka Yc Spa: oe isn ei ot ond An Jt are dal Si ag der Cay N Man See Mh ate Shed Se ete Ta fale Nt Si Nn Cer hen Ca NPM Ie Ore ron Rie Sean fo: By abe hse Re, So ee ops Muh Cn coy Mh hy Ad Atcr WoO Wash ake aon Da Ch Pal ses ha Ey Son Pos Wind Sn en Dn ona Roe lo et Sh or Fou Ron al Ch Cat hat ot Pot ty ad ets Lake od Come Rem Sd Ed Woody Baan Ki Rei Ei Dhl Th Sn ae ‘hey ch Cmts Aer Cnty meyer Red Aya Reed a Shoe foi ay NN So a ide Sra lene oe: Nn fw Sur ede Cote aon Cana Nut Ses Cae ap RO sve, eon ie Dane ‘Aes ate Nat ar abd Rye My Wa Cam Coy aye th Shy Aue Sa, Ae Wi ike Cae Mi Maer Cay Po, eth ee ‘ane inf Set eer Ca lr Perea, nm Kee Oh sa, Ac Seg ech Wit Dra Whe Sere Sade Le Sai Neon me Sande hc Hien Ben Fr Roun. Nl Cet Cho own Rot Pe i, Kei Se Lb a, Ld Cama ote Dp Soi sl at Dine Dama, As Nireem Mie Yo De bur Cae Caran Wen ym Ang Don Sa Da Suk Wu aya Sane Aes Bie Te ee Sn owe teem Cte he Car eee Orn oe ee, Cos Cl Ha ike Ma Shy Kes Seah, a aan, ie Chews FR Ne {Gen Ne Tp Sh hrm fox Wey nde € CGM, neh Wine Cele ena Ohne Sa dr Nes Cy Wear vente tal a i ey A Ft eos Onn om ne Py al Wie Kec oP tn oy Rah, Pa Te Chit ha an ‘Ars Mogica players participate ina thriving fan community by subscribing to email discussion lists (like dhe Bereley fst), compiling archives of ganne matral (suchas Project Reap), main- taining fan-created web sites, and running demos through Aas Games Special Ops program. To learn more, visit wwwatla-gares com/AeMS ‘Copyright 2004 Trident, In. eva Atlas Games. All ights reserved. Reproduction ofthis work ‘by any means without writen pertision Irom the publisher, except shor excerpts forthe pu pose of reviews, is expressly prohibited ‘Ars Magica, Mythic Europe, Covenants, and Charting New Resims of imagination ae trademarks ff Tident, Ie. Order of Hermes, Tremere, and Doistetep are vademark of White Woll Ine and ae used with pemission ISBN 1-58978-070-1CHAPTER ONE: Introduction . Cuarrer Two: The Order of Hermes (Charrer THREE: Characters Chapter Four: Virtues and Flaws CHarrer Five: Abilities .... Cuaprer Six: Covenants (CHAPTER SEVEN: Hermetic Magic . . . Cuarrer EIGHT: Long-Term Events. . (Cuaprer ELEVEN: Obstacles . . {s CHAPTER TWELVE: Realms .... CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Bestiary (CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Mythic Europe (CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Stories. o CHAPTER SUCTEEN: Sagas. .. ‘APPENDIX Fourth Edition Conversion . . . APPENDIX II: Formulae Review. . . APPENDIX II: Spells Index(On the day the fares came to burn the village, Waller oa rebir= ing tbe cho x AS be wrk, be ht af an oe strangers who had aried the preious cong, Waller di’ ie the lok of them, particulary the woman. She looked hike the srt who sod watered tale and seduced men so she could rob and kill hem while they sl. "The group seem 1 be waiting for somthing, and when the fein rode out of the woods Walter thought he ke what The grass blackened ‘nd sak in the boofprint It by the shining crimson hors, an the Jaa ofthe faerie nbles were uated in lames, says, Wale shout ced the alarm, andthe villagers tan for the church, He shifted to get ofthe tof and bs lg went straight throug the damaged thatch, raping im, His waring shouts changed cries for hep, but he ober villages knew thers Rao staight forthe church, Say in the church until the faery bave _goe. Do nt come out to Fp yon no mater who it ok and sounds i Helpless, Walter waicod bis death approach as the prist ban to ring the church bell. The stranger split wp the woman cong forard by For a moment, he thought she was a spy for the fers, but ther the leader ‘Introduction ‘She wasnt. The five that could destrey a house ina moment had left the woman completly unbamed. She soke again, more loudly this tng agsturing at the faerie leader’ horse as she did So. A mometlterthe horse Shrike, dread, Figh sound that went on and om and bucked its vider off. The faerie gt tos Jet as the horse rol, til screaming i agony, ‘igniting smal fies as it with. The woman spoke again, and this tine the fare listened. Walter couldnt understand ohat they were saying. The discussion sent on for Some tin, asthe hose got ois et, seemingly unharmed, and the womans Companion came fonoard to join ber. Inthe end, some sort of agreement was reached, and iefaie ‘turned and rode back into the forest Walter watched the woman, clearly a witch of some sr, approach bis hous, looking up with an unpleasant irk on her face. She spoke and destured again, and Wale ft some force grab hin. He was ie of the roof, but then placed gently, standing, othe ground in front ofthe witch, ‘She spoke to one of br escort who then spoke to Wali “My mistress would ike otal to the priest amd bali. Please bring them bere” Walter didnot el lik arguing, avd ran othe church, shouting that Frese ad calling tothe faers in language Walter didnt understand ‘hr a bol of lame and Walter ik teas merely dead (elcome to Airs Magica Dragons ain the mountains, angels watch cover the Church, fees dance inthe forests, and sent day, 1220. Nevertheless, an Order that has endured for well over four hundred years has naturally faced its share of crises and problems DAMBAN-ALLADH AND “TM ORDO MISCHLLANEA In the eatly years of the ninth century Damhan-Alligh (DAHLvan ALLath, a pow: ceful and ev wizard reside im the British aes, led an organized resistance to the Order ‘of Hermes. Rather than face Hermetic wizards in magical combat, his followers cursed and hrased their followers, set traps, and used ‘mundane asassins to halt the progress of the ‘Order, Fora numberof years these tactics were cefectve, and some began to thick that the Order would be stopped at the English Channel Tytalus the Founder entrusted Pralix, his most gifted apprentice, with the task of defeat: {ing Damhan-Allaidh, She brought as much cunning to the task as her opponent, and in 3 series of devious raids and spectacular magical butles she was able to defeat Damhan-Allich and bring many of his followers over to her side, As the Onder prepared to welcome the victor home, it received a message. Pralix had established her own Order, the Ordo ‘Miscellanea, which would serve as a compet tort the Order of Hermes, keeping it strong Flambeau wanted to march against her ime diately, but Tytahs, impressed by his fila nerve, foreed a negotiated settlement. In 817 the Ordo Mixellane joined the Order of Hermes as a thitcenth House, House Ex Miscellanea, ‘Tite Donnan oF House Trenene House Tremere had been slowly building Its power since the foundation ofthe Order with “Tremere himsell keeping close contol over his big. Through the carefl use of cetamen and the bulking of politi alliances, the Houne gained cefecive contol ever several Tribunal, and was posed 10 tke over more. When the eleventh Founder dhed, leaving Tiemere as the sole remaining Founder, the Howse was ready to move to dominate the entire Order, turing i ‘toa too forthe larger plans A that point, a group of magi whose iden- tities are sil unknown broke the minds of ‘Tremere’ cloves lewtennts. This event, known, as the “Sundering” ako broke the power struc tures thatthe House had bull, a obligation 19 those magi and threats posed by them ceased 10 bbe a concer, Temere hie met with the magi responsible for the Sundering, or perhaps thei representatives, and some sort of agreement w5 forged. While Tremere himself ded soon after. ward, the House has kept to the agreement, and has never again ried to dominate the Order ‘Tree Coesurnow oF House TyTALus House Tytalus has always sought chal: lenges. Inthe late tenth century, leaders of the Huse went too fa, secking to contol demons and instead being comupted by them, They were engaged in subtle campaign to comupt the rest of the Order as well when thee cor ruption was uncovered by another Tytalus maga. She alerted the Quacsitores, and the (Order turned with great efficiency to purging the dabolists from their midst. The Prima of House Tytalus, Tasilia, was the most prom nent victim, but the House lost many of its ‘members, and never again recovered the rela tive size it had inthe early yeas, “Tue Sons War Just after the tur of the millennia, the (Order of Hermes beyan to descend int anarchy The comuption of House Tytahs: made magi ‘more paranoid about the secret activities of ther ‘magi, even without the incitement of The Gt Magi also became more concemed. about attempts t0 pry into their secrets and thas tebulfed attempts at investigation, Many di putes reached Taibunal, where the voting 35 deadlocked as magi reused 1 yet drawn in. In this period, many Tibunals were inquorae, as magi were rehctan to leave the security of thet Magi who felt themselves threatened resorted 10 Weards War, and even to ileal raids on other covenanis, The Quaesitores, Redcaps, Bonsai, and ether magi interested in Ais Magica Fifth @dition | eeeeeermeerseimties Aeeping the Onder together were strctched 00 thin, and found that they could not impose order on magi who did not want it ‘The anarchy grew, and for a while it looked as though the Order of Hermes would fall to the same threat asthe Cult of Mercury before it ‘Then House Tiemere declared war on House Diedne. The pagans of that House had always been somewhat distant from the rest of the Order, which was, a6 1 always had been Iangely Christian, Dak rumors about thei re tious rites had spread in the wake of the cor ‘upton of Tytals, and few tasted chem. When the Primus of House Tremere, Cerestum, aalled on the Order to help eliminate the dia- bolss, House Flambeau eagerly joined the bat tle, Many members of Hous Jerbiton, who had Jong been concerned that the Order harbored 4 payan cult, aso joined sn. Members of many Houses stepped forward to join the Tremere, and no one publicly supported the Diedne Seizing the opportunity, the Bonisagt and Quaesitoes called an emergency Grand Tribunal, at which the whole of House Diedne was declared Renounced, so that it was the duty ofall Hermetic mag to hunt them down and slay them, ‘The war that followed was bloody and. destructive, and wiped the House out. Its lad 15, however, wete never fund, and while the ‘Order hope that heir spells killed them, the fear remains that they fled to some magical regio, biding their time and waiting. for revenge ‘With the destruction of the Died, the Schism War eame to an end. The Quaesitores hha been able to enforce the Code during the Final stages of the War, a all members of the (Order were theoretically united against a single enemy. The experience of chaos and deste: tion convinced most magi that they never wanted t0 see such a thing again, and once again Tribunals were respected, and the rule of Taw returned tothe Orde. Since the Schism Was, the Order has casted ina state of relative peace and cooper ation. However, by 1220 the last magi who ean remember the War have died or passed into Final Twlight, and memories of that terble time are fading, The Kouses of Tee ‘The Onder of Hermes is divided into twelve House, all but Ex Miscellanea descend: ced in some way fom one of the Twelve Founders. This section provides a brief—ceeemticoeme 4455 Magica Filth Edition overview ofthe Houses, but its important to remember that individuals within a House can vary widely ‘The twelve Houses fall inc three groups Four (Bonisagus, Guernicus, Mercere, and Tremere) ate true hneages, made up of those trained by someone trained by someone (ete) truined by the founder of the House. It not posibly to join those Houses later Four (Bjornaer, Cramon, Menta, and Vertis) are Mystery Cals, and magi can join those Houses by being initiated imo the cult. Such ‘nitions teach the Outer Mystery ofthe cult the only cult ability that i not kept lngely secret The las four (Ex Miscellanea, Farben, Jerbiton, and Tytalus) are gatherings of mag with common interest. Is relatively easy 0 Join these Houses after training, and magi who Feo that they do nor fit nto their ol Houses, ‘often do, Ex Miscellanea, in particular, will tke anyone with The Gift, a smattering of Latin ‘nd Magic Theory, and the ability to raise a Parma Magica —and many members wil each the las three co potential recruits eis only possible to be a member of one House at a time House Bomar ‘Magi of Biomaer (BYORE-nayr) concern themselves primarily with beats and the an mmalistc sie of human nature, Because of this ‘emphasis in their taining, each Bjornaer magus ‘an fake the form of an animal, known as his “heartbeast” Understanding the heanbeast in particular and animal in general is considered ‘more important than Hermetic magi by many in this Howse. Due to their nature, Boraer mag are tunable to forge the necesary links to have 8 familiar, and the very concep alien to them Some Brormace deride magi who take faa, which they cal subsite” heartbeats. On the ‘other hand, ether mag are wary of followers of Bjornaer because of ther fascination with the bestia. Furthermore, House Bjornaer is less respected than it might otherwise be because its founder was from a Germanic rather than a Roman magical tation This House is a Mystery Cult, and the aby o take the form ofthe heartbeast i the Outer Mystery (se page 9). House Bonisacus Bonisagus (BOH-nee-SAH.goos) invent. cd the Hermetic theory of magic, and his stu- dent, the maga Thanoma, masterminded the formation of the Order. House Bonisagus is» true lineage, all ofits members can trace their heritage back vo Bonisagus hime ‘House Bonisagus i split inca two strands, the politcal and the theoretical. Theoretial Bonisagus magi concentrate on pushing back the boundaries of Hermetic ma, and are the undisputed masters of Magic Theor: Political Bonisages magi, often called Followers of Trianoma, concentrate on keeping the Order together, and excel at polities House Cunwon “This very secretive House known forts obscure philosophy is disdain fr simple poe, and is members’ habit of marking thei faces and bodes with arane symbols. Followers of ‘Griamon (KREE-sh mone) ae an enigmatic and ‘otherworldly group of magt, generally having Tie sterest inthe politics ofthe Onde. Magi of Crlamon seck the “Enigma” which other magi characterize a some sort of mystical experience. For followers of Criamon, tunderstanding the Enigra has a great deal to td with discovering the true nature of Wizards “Twilight and of magi self This House is a Mystery Cul, and che Mystery atthe heart of the cult the Enigma (see page 92). Hous Et MISCELLANEA “This i lage, diverse, and highly disor. sanized collection of mag}. Though originally founded by Pr asa rival to the Order of Hermes, this association was accepted as a House of ts own. It accepts wizards of all Kinds, ome only nominally Hermetic, whose magic comes from many disparate traditions Magi Ex Miscellanea (EKS mike: LAH. nay ah) are often called “hedge wizards’ by thei many detractors within the Order, although ‘most ean use Hermetic magic just swell as any other magus Magi of Ex Miscellanea have very litle i common, belonging 19 many diferent tad tions within the House, each tradition having its own strengths and weaknesses House Fava ‘While mos followers of Flambeau (lam BOH) specialize in fire magic, some study sells of simple annihilation as a more subtle alternative, These aggresive and. ferocious magi often case trouble within the Order and Frequemily anger mundanes. However, their Feaessness and love of destruction make them invaluable when the Order requires the appli ‘ation of manta force. House Flambeau sa gathering of kindred spi, House Gurasicus House Guernicus (GWAIR- nee) isa tave lineage, all ats members descended from ‘Garricus the Founder, who believed that the (der needed strictly enforced rules it was 10 ‘survive, Members of tis House are the judges of the Order, investigating wrongdoing and bringing eases aginst those who tramyres the ode of Hermes and the Peripheral Code They believe the Order will collapse through Internal confit without their fierce steward- ship. The House i sometines known informal ly as House Quaesitor (KWAE-se-tor, as “quacsitor the ule of those magt empowered by the Order to vestigate crimes ‘Akhough Home Gaernicus. tains and indicts ther own apprentces, ther magi can aso Join the ranks of the qusestones, and one of thehighest honors inthe Orders tobe invited by the ders of House Guemneus to become 2 quaestor Such magi invariably retain membership in ther nigral House, A staring maga can only be a ‘questo she was tained in House Goer ‘Quacsitors are sometimes asked 10 inves: tigate posle crimes, oF to mediate disputes between magi or covenants, While this does take time, the custom ofthe Order i thatthe Quacsiors be given afew pawns of isasa wit, in return for thei efor House esarron House Jerbiton (YARE-bih-tan) i inter sted in the mundane word, and sometimes assumes the duty of keeping the Order on gond tezms with the nobility and Church, This inci nation i its members often stems from a noble background — apprentices. are sometimes taken from the aristocracy, and these maxi maintain tes afterwards, Other vembers are taken from skilled arists and erafsmen who hhave The Gift. The Gentle Gift (page 42) s particularly common in this House ‘Many members of ether Houses believe that followers of Jerbiton are too closely bound to the mundane powers to be trusted. On the ‘other hand, Jerbiton magi fear that members of the Order have become isolated from humanity risking bloody conflet with the mundanes. “They try energeially to heal this nif, and pur sue aesthetic and Clsial knowledge with a pasion. ‘Members of House Jerbiton are trained in ‘mundane study, the as, and polities, and the House is held together by these common House Mercere ‘The Founder ofthis House lst his magical powers but remained involved in the Order He assimed 2 non-magical role valuable to other ‘magi — that of mesenger Hi followers contin tie to fall that role All members of House ‘Mercere (mare-KAY:ray, or mare-SARE in vulgar in), regardless of whether they possess The Gi, re offically recognized as magi of the ‘Order. Even united Mercere spend 15 year in apprenticeship like other mat Followers of Mercere are more commonly known as “Redcapy’ because of the headgear they wear asa badge office. Redcap are per imitted to attend Hermetic Tabunals, but by convention they only vote if they have The Gi Howe Mercere isa te lineage, Mercere trained two apprentices before he lost hs Cif and thus thee isa small Gifted tradition inthis House, which is composed almost entiely of blood descendants of Mercere House Menta ‘This House is focused on the world of faeries, and its members tend to be jst a6 strange as the creaures they study. Merinita (mehonh- NEE-ah) mag frequently remain so laced, having lite to do with the rest of the Order, except to defend faeries from the assaults of other magi, Those of this House cachew the merely moral, and seek answers within the mysterious world of Arcadia House Merinita #8 3 Mystery Cult, and ‘magi of Merota are all iiiated ito the Outer [Mystery of Faerie Magie (sce page 92) House Teese Members of House Tremere (tay MARE. ay or ray: MARE) emphasize the importance of Judgment, strategy, and detailed. planning ‘They believe in the respect of superiors and in asserting authority ever minions: Dignity i of the utmost concern House Tiemere is considered one of the more sensible and stable Houses, providing srength and courage when needed and refrain Ing from action when peace better serves the ‘members can trace a chain back through thei masters and their masters’ masters, and so on, back to Tremere the Founder. Is nt posible to Jin the House fom outside ts Magica Fith Cation “Sissies. CCeramen was invented by Tremere the Founder, and his House retains a great deal of Tn addiion, Tremere magi hold their lis voting sis (sce page 86) unt the fils beats the parent in certamen, oF until the parens dis a Tremere magus who does not hold his own sig wane an apprentice, the new magus sig 's held by the parens of the taining magus, assuming that that magus holds his oven sg I the docs not, the sigil is passed back up the chain until it reaches a magus who does hold fis own sig. Asa result ofthis custom, House ‘Tremere votes are concentrated in avery lim sted umber of hands House Trruus ‘The philosophy of Tytalus (TIE-ah- loos) ‘magt isto master all forms of confit To this end, they promote innovation in all sorts of contests. They do not feel alive unless they’ are ina constant state of srg, perpetually test Ing the strengtn and weaknesses of thers House Tytalus is almost the opposite of House Tremere. Where the Tremere believe ia stability and respect for elders, Tytalus magi believe in constant change, and in challenging your elders repeatedly until you can finally win In their neverending search for conflict, the leaders of House Tytalus went: fain the 10th century, falling prey to demonic machina tions. Those masters of intrigue arrogantly heieved they could master the datk forces, but despite thei skill, were unable to outwit Hel ‘The leaders were executed for their crime of dlabolism, and House Tytaks has been dis- Inased ever since, House Verornus Mag of House Verditis (ware-DEE:tce: ‘008) have unsurpasid shill at creating enchant: ced items, making them invaluable tocother magi and non Gifted persons Almost ll, unfortunately, have also inher ited thee founders magical Fla, making them ‘unable to cast Formula spells without the aid‘ean be found below Since he asthe frscto swear it, his name is record fed whenever its written down. There isa slight difference between the Code that members of House Bonisagus swear and the Code that members of other Houses swear The difference is marked "I, Bonisagus, hereby swear my ever: fasting loyalty to the Order of Hermes and ‘ts members “I will not deprive nor attempt t0 deprive any member of the Order of hi magical power. {will not slay nor ateny to slay any member ofthe Order, except in justly executed and formally: declared Wizards! War | hereby understand that Wizards’ Waris am open conflict between ‘y0.magi who may slay each other without breaking this oath, and that should | be slain ina Wizards War, no retribution shall fal on he who slays me Tribunal, = “Twill not endanger the Order rough my actions. Nor wil 1 interfere swith the affirs of mundanes and thereby ng ruin on my sodales. I will not deal with devils, lest imperil my soul and the souls of my sodales as well. [ will not molest the faeries, lest their vengeance catch my sodas ao, Twill not use magic to sery upon members of the Order of Hermes, nor shall use i to peer ito their affairs. “Twill tain apprentices. who will swear to this Code, and should any of them turn against the Order and my sales, | shall be the fist to strike them down and bring them to justice. No apprentice of mine shall be called a magus until he fis swears to uphold this Code.* "1 request that should T break this cath, Ibe cast out ofthe Order If Tam cast atl eth ec otro oe iy frend The alles of the Order ae shy allies Let us work together as one and ‘grow hale and strong day of Pisces, in the nine hundred and fit ceth year of Aries, Woe to they who try £0 tempt me to break this eath, and woe to re if | succumb to the temptation.” + AL this point, followers of Bonisagus “This oath hereby swear on the thd ‘recite. shall further the knowledge of ‘the Onder and share with is member al that [ind in my search for wisdom and power” Others recite: ‘I concede to Bonisagus the right to take my apprentice ithe should find my apprentice valuable to him in his studies” The Peripheral Code extends Bonisagus’ right 10 aim apprentices wo followers of Bonisagus, Cae? es of casing took. Followers of Verdiius are sometimes considered inferior to other magi because ofthis weakness House Verdi sa Mystery Cult, and all embers ate iniiated into the Outer Mystery of Nerds Mage. (See page 93) Covenants ‘Covenants are as important tothe Order of Hermes 2s Houses, and magi can, and do, seed hours debating which s more important sethe end Str speaking, covenants any group of magi who agree to a set of rules that go evood the Code of Hermes, and that allow sem to share resources and cooperate more easly. Inthe overwhelming majority of cass, ceverants are formed by magi who want olive fe the same place, sharing acess to a magic sea, buldings, and servants. Ths, the term ‘covenant’ has come to refer toa place where a sember of mat live together, a wel ast the seep of magi making the agreement ‘Atypical covenant has about half a dozen ‘woe! 2s members, but they range from two seam) to large organizations with over two esen agi and hundreds of mundane salt Mow Ars Magica spas center around a single covenant and ensuring thatthe covenant pos pers iss important a individual advancement After all, characters belonging to a well sup pied covenant will advance more quickly chan ‘hore who must ely on their own resources. “The physical form of covenants varies, but towers and castles are common. In addon, ‘covenants are normally located some distance from major mundane setements, lage part ‘because that i where most magic auras are fund The Code of Inermes “The foundation of the Order of Hermes 15 an organization is the Code of Hermes. This ‘short text, alo called the Hermetic Oath” because all members of the Order recite and swear to it when they are admitted, sets the stnictre of the Order and fines certain Hits ‘on what is members may do. Iwas dated to sive magi as much freedom as posible, while protecting them from each other “The degre to which magi obey the Oath varies from magus to mapus, covenant 10 ‘covenant, and Tibunal to Tribunal. Magi who violate the Outh and get che, however, us ally find themselves in-trouble- with their ‘Tibual The Peripheral Code “The Peripheral Code consists ofall dec sions made in Tabunal since the furdation of ‘the Orders formal authority derives rom the clause inthe Code requtring magi to abide by the decisions made at Tribunal, but a every case s diferent Iter Tibunals are noe bound by the deesions of earlier Taburals Indeed, there are contradictory precedents throughout the Peripheral Code, and few magi outside the (Quaesitores ae famiar with al of ts tas Some points are widely known, however, and ‘worth dscusing in this section In theory, the only penalty for breaking the Code is death In practice, Tabunals only rarely impose that, instead settling for vis fines, time spent in service, of other lesier punish iments, These punishments are backed up by the wtinate sanction, however, and refsing (0 submit tothe punishment imposed by a “iibunal is always taken a reason forthe death penalty, This enforced by declaring a ‘Wizards Marc, which ess the offender from the Order and thus deprives him ofthe Code’ protection. This i called “Renouncing” and magi subject to a Wizards March are known 35 “renounced magi” Since the criminals posses: sions are, by tradition, granted (0 those who Lal him, poweril may are often intersted i helping to hunt down the offendersDerevinc oF Macacat Power ‘This clase 4 often tavoked t0 punish actions against a magus that fal short of phy teal harm, such as damaging his laboratory or alli wrous. ‘The justification 1s that, by depriving a magus ofthe resources he needs to study, the miscreant i depriving him of some of the magical power he would otherwise enjoy. The core meaning ofthe clause, though, ‘sthat mag must not ry to damage each others Git Weean Was ‘The Code allows for 2 conflict berween ‘vo magi to escalate to open conflict in certain ‘conditions. When those conditions are met the to magi evolved may step outside the bounds ofthe Code temporary to settle their differences. One magus nites a Wizard War by sending a declaration of war to the other. “The messaye must arive om the next night of the fll moon. The war then eins om the ise ofthe following full moon, and lasts unt the tise of the next fall moon aftr that. Unjust oF constant use of Wizard Waris discouraged by the majority of level headed mag), Occasionilly, those who declare war ‘oo ‘often find themselves victims of a Wizards Moreh, Tumunas “iibunals are central to the politial ie of the Order, a5 was always Tranoma’s intent, and this they are discusted in detail in their own section, below, This clause swt, however, as it gives Taibunals some authority to make new rules and interpret the eauses ofthe Code to fit ‘changing situations Inerganc wT MUNDANES ‘The clause forbidding interference with rmundanes és probably the most controversial ‘lase in the Code. Covenants have to deal with mundane repeatedly in order to exist, and fortified dwellings containing substantial num: bers of warmiors ted to draw the attention of local nobles. Asa result, the second half ofthe sentence, ‘and thereby bring. ruin on my sodas” is brought into most debates. AS lon as dealings with mundanes do not harm other tag), nor sem likly to ease sich harm, they are permitted, Many precedents, however, have established that working asa court wizard ‘sa violation ofthe Code, As Magica Bith Gian *Spethm. Deane wnt Dewons: ‘The Order hunts down and kill: any member found dealing with demons. This i the only clause enforeed absoluely. Trying to ‘destroy. demons is normally acceptable, but ‘even then drawing a demoni attention to the (Order i rowned upon. MocesTiNc 1h Patni Inerpretation ofthis dhuse rests heavily ‘on what counts 38 molestation Faerie places are ‘good vis souees, 50 few magi have been willing to argue that charging into a faerie area spells blazing, stealing lange amounts of ferie proper ty, and retreating 40 your covenant, counts as ‘molestation. This has made i rather dificult 10 say what s, and prosecution under this cause tend to come down to pobiies, and whether ‘other magi have suffered. Unlike the mundane And demonic clases, however, t does pro- Iii friendly dealings with faeries, at any level ‘Macicat Caexrunes [Notably ising from the Code is a clause ranting protection to magical ercataes oF ‘other wizards. This wa deliberate, a Trianoma ‘wanted the Order ta be abe tose force to cam: pel people to join. Excessive interference with powerful magical beings, however, ca sil fall under ‘endangering the Order by my actions” Sewn ‘This prohibition is enforced with surpris- ing rigor. Tribunals have led that i is egal to sery on a: non-magus, if by 80 doing you Fearn about the maguss activities, that simply walking around invisble 4s magical serving, and that you can be punished for using Fnllego magic on 2 magus even if you dit know that he was a magus. There ae also con teary rulings 09 many of these points, but in ‘eeneral Tribunals have taken 8 very strict view ‘of what consiutes magica srying Avewenmices. By contrast, the cause on apprentices is hardly enforced at all Magi do nt have tain apprentices, and the obligation on the paren 10 join a Wizards March against is isi treated more as a social expectation than algal duty ‘The special ht of Borsagus magi to take apprentices rom other mag supheld, however, as isthe duty of Bonisagus mag to share their work. Tribunals In origin, a Tribunal was any formal gath- ring of magi that made decisions by a major: ty vote of those present, and kept a record of those decisions. As the Order grew, however, the Peripheral Code rapidly provided. more definition. The Tribunals ofthe Order are now the Grand Tribunal, and any other Tabunals formally established by it In 1220, the region 1 Tabunals are the only ones so established. ‘egal Trbaral must be attended, in per son, by atleast twelve mag fom atleast four different covenants, There must be one ‘Quaesitor present to overse the legality ofthe proceedings, and while the Quaesitor does not ‘ote, he does count towards the quorum. Ma Iay vote by prony, ving their voting ils to someone whois attending on their behal, who may or may not be required 0 wse them in a ‘certain way, depending on the agreement with the person granting the sigh ‘The Tribunals chaired by the Praeco, the ‘oldest magus present and while he alo cannot vote, except to break tes, he docs have the power ta choose the order of business and, in ‘extreme ctcurstances silence a magus or ject, him from the Tribunal. If the ejections render the Tabunalinquorate, or deprive it of a pre siding Quaesitor, the Tabunal ceases 10 be valid. Av the end of the Tribunal, the presiding Quaesitor must certify ita vai and this isthe ‘main check onthe Pracco abusing his power. The Grand Tribunal The most important Taibamal of the ‘Orders the Grand Tribunal, eld every thirty tee years and drawing magi from the whole ‘Onder. The Gand Tiibunal i always held at Durenmar, the domus magna of House Bonisagus and the birthplace of the Order “Three representatives ae sent fom each of the regional Tabunals se below), andthe Primi of all Houses ako atend. The Primus of House Bonisagus serves as Pracco, even if older magi fare present, and the Primus of House ‘Gurricus a8 Presiding Quaesitor “The Grand Tbunal discusses matters allectng the whole Order ands decisions are _zenerally given far more weight than the deci- sions of leser Tnbunals. In ation, its the ‘only Tribunal with authority over the whole ‘Onder, and thus the foram where inter Tabumal Aisputes must be settled,ne Regional Tribunals Each regional Tabural © composed, in theory, of all the may ving in certain area of Europe. These areas are roughly fixed by Grand Tribunal decisions, but the magi in them can change the name of the Tribunal a wil tnd set the membership requirements frely In general, you dont change Tribunal i you visit ‘covenant ina different Tibunal, and diferent Tibunals might have diferent rules on just how long a visit ean be. Regional Tribunals ect once every seven years, and the Redcaps fre required to ensure that every mags inthe Tribunal has received an invitation, Otherwise ‘they follow the normal rules for Tbunals. For the borders and names of the Regional Tibunal, see the map, Note tha the borders are only approximate, as no disputes have yet ansen requiring them to be precisely fied The Order and Society Most Hermetic magi want society to leave them lone to get om with their research tnd in return they are perfectly happy to leave Society alone. Life i, of course, not that simple, And magi are often forced to éncract with many parts of society. Some even want t0 do Peasants Mont peasants ate arid of may and stay sveay from their covenants. This fat ener ally reasonable, as covenants are almost invari bly founded in maga arcas, where strange and dangerous things happen. Further, magi themselves, dc wo The Gift and thee ability to turn people ino fogs, tend inspire Fear in the uneducated. Local legends may grow up around a covenant, and older legends ole ends rom distant places may be attached to it, peving it a ery strange, and largely undeserved, reputation (On the other hand, a covenant in a remote location which keeps itself to itself tight well be slnost unknown among the peasants They hive no particular reason to Sotto know about it, ad there is no reason for them t hear about it. In this ease, they are probably stil scared of the region, which Almost certainly has 2 magical ara, but may fot even know that there are magi living thee, Most covenants rely on some peasants to row food, jst a the nobly and clruy do. These peasants find the magi creepy, die (0 “The Gi, but are likely to accept them as lords a long as they tea their charges faily well Indeed, they might even be sen as better lords than most, as mag an do something about bad weather, plegues, or attacking dragons. Sensible covenant wil have an unCifted of cal in charge of direct teraction with the peasants, but there 90 reason why the local pessant shouldnt fel a certain degree ofafee tion for “thei wizards, as long as they dont have to deal wih them in person too often Finally, peasants who dont fit into Mythic European society for whatever reason may seek sanctuary atthe covenant. Women who want tobe scholars or warriors, serfs who want tobe free, and people fleeing the consequences of single mshacgment ae al potential rests. As 4 rule, people join the covenant because they Ihave 8 good reson not to be somewhere es, rather than because they particularly want 10 live with wizards The Church Relations between the Order and the ‘Church are officially non-existent, The Order is well wae thatthe Church, with Gods back ing, could wipe them oat with no problem. The Church is well aware that Hermetic magi are very powerful, and that a leat some are good. Chvistians. The Orders tendeney #0 hab heretics draws suspicion, but as long as magi stay out of ccclsiastial affairs, the Church i ‘ot willing to take offical action Tndvcal clergy, however, run the fll range of atid, from self righteous certainty that magi are devil worshipers who must be destroyed, 10 embusiastic collaboration with them as fellow scholar, albeit scholars with unusual alent, Most covenants ty to establish food relations withthe loal parsh ceray, at Teast, and most sicceed at that Again, using tunGalted intermedi is generally a good iden “Tunas tend to treat interfering with the Church as a very serious crime, simply because the Church isthe only organization with he potential to wipe out the entie Order Friendly, or at least neutral, relations are encouraged, magi eho launch attacks 69 the Church can expect to be renounced and [Marehed before they can inspire a Crasade. Mobilit, Most nobles are aware of the existence of the Order of Hermes, anal local nobles will ‘uichly bocome aware ofa standaed covenant with ts caste and armed troops, Most nobles also have some vague recollection th jpowerll wizards are allowed to sweat fealty to them, or serve them as court wizards, and thus they apply a bit more subtlety in trying to forge relationships with their powerful new neighbors ‘Again, individ attitudes run che fll szamut, from eager, sycophantic fawning inthe hope of magica assistance, to outright host ty in the hope of convincing the magt tos up somewhere else, a long. way away. Most Covenants, again, try to establish good rel tionships with che local nobility, but mary fi to win over everyone, this leaving a constant fival asa thorn intheir sie. Few noble are sta pid enough to mount a direct assault on a ‘covenant, and those who are tend to di, but sully any covenant that deliberately wiped fut & noble rval would be hauled before “Tibunal and Marched, post haste ‘The Peripheral Code has tended to rule that deals with nobles that dont involve service forpermanent magical aid are nota violation of the clause against interfering with mundanes This sonly a tendency, though, and covenans with extensive mundane involvement need t0 pay close attention to thet Hermetic ration ships well, lst they find themselves isolated and condemned at Taibunal Cities Most covenants ad mag stay away from cites, Ina city, The Git is « major handiap, tnd mont cies have Dmion ars that inter tere strony with magical research, On the cher hand, ets conan scholar, merchant, and al Kids of mundane resources, and eve simple magic can support an effective trade, so