Order of Hermes (Mage: The Ascension)

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The Order of Hermes is one of nine Mystic Tradition in the role-playing game Mage: the Ascension by White Wolf Game Studio, set in the fictional World of Darkness. They are based on the Order of Hermes from the game Ars Magica. Ars Magica was created and published first, and vast amounts of its fictional setting Mythic Europe were incorporated into the later World of Darkness setting by White Wolf, who published the third edition of Ars Magica, but substantively changed therein; to this day, the overlap is very confusing to players familiar with either game, when they encounter the alternate alternate reality of the other game, as similarly-named entities can seem virtually-identical in one passage, and radically-different in the next.

This article deals specifically with the fictional history of the World of Darkness, rather than Mythic Europe. Ars Magica players should therefore expect to be confused and (for the purposes of Mythic Europe) mis-informed by this article, and use the Ars Magica Order of Hermes article for Ars Magica reference.

1 History
2 Houses of Hermes
3 References
- 3.1 See also

[edit] History

[edit] Antiquity

The Tradition traces its roots to the Sumer and ancient Egypt of 5000 years ago around the time when the first writing systems were developed. Before written language, names were thought to be inherent to the objects they designated as reflections of their true natures. With writing as an ability to catch and manipulate names, the scribe was able to imprison the object and manipulate its very nature. The catching of names was considered a magical act in ancient societies so the ability to write was reserved for the clergy under the direct influence of gods of wisdom and magic such as Thoth.

Letters provided useful metaphors for abstact concepts, so for the first time in history thinkers were able to ascend from the physical world into whole new realms of ideas. First, Plato formed the theory of realism that allowed a secular paradigm for controlling every element of reality. Mystics then equated ideals with divinity developing manicheic, gnostic, neoplatonic and other dualistic theories around 2nd century AD. But the great intellectual upsurge of the 2nd century was soon squashed by the rapid expansion of Christianity which strove for orthodoxy in the Mediterranean region. Soon Rome fell and Western civilization fell onto Dark Times. Hermetic scholars fragmented, the sharing of ideas halted and wizards secluded themselves in their towers for protection and to study free of the Church's inquiry.

From the summonings of Babylonian priests to Egyptian priest's divining the Nile's flooding from stars to Solomon's seals, which gave him control over world, it was the time of the greatest mages of Western tradition. It was also the time when the greatest grimoires and talismans were created. However, apart from Solomon we don't know their names and so the body of knowledge consisting of theurgia, goetia, astrology and alchemy was known as the work of a single Ascended being called Hermes Trismegistus.

[edit] Order of Hermes

It wasn't until 767 AD that the situation changed. Two mages, Bonisagus and Trianoma, gathered together eleven great magi and persuaded them to form an alliance. Thus, the Order of Hermes was born.

[edit] Modern thoughts

The Order was thought to be a group of old wizards who cloister themselves in dusty libraries and had old arcane lore as their bread and butter. However, with the advent of modern technologies, the young and the brave new generation of Hermetics restructured the Order and devised new ways to do magick so that it would survive in the 21st century.

[edit] Houses of Hermes

Each magus in the Order of hermes has formal membership in one or more Houses, which are confederations of like-minded magi with specific philosophies and areas of expertise. The size, number, and influence of the Houses has changed significantly over time.

[edit] Surviving original Houses

These Houses were part of the original twelve that founded the Order, and still survive today.

Bonisagus

A Founding House. Masters of magickal knowledge and theory.

Flambeau

A Founding House. Studies the magick of warfare and the potent use of mystickal forces. Have Zoroastrian roots (common with Taftani Craft); most extreme of Hermetic Houses, almost to the point of fanaticism.

Quaesitori

A Founding House. Actually (or, rather, originally) named House Guernicus. Acts as the judges and lawmakers of the Order.

Tytalus

A Founding House. Strives to improve itself through conflict.

Verditus

A Founding House. Joined Ex Misc in the 17th century; promoted to full house again in 1999, include some remains of House Thig. Artificers and enchanters who cannot perform magick without tools. After inclusion of House Thig have heavy information technology slant.

[edit] Newly-founded Houses

These Houses are not founding members of the Order but have grown large enough to be considered Major Houses.

Solificati

Founded in 1315 AD as somewhat separate entity; have long history of alliances and conflict with the Order. Full House since 1999. Alchemists, traditionally of very noble blood.

Shaea

Adopted into the Order in 1412 AD; promoted to Full House in 1982. Practices Egyptian (rather than European) tradition and magick with heavy religious overtones. Focuses on language, communication, education and prophecy. Almost exclusively female.

Fortunae

Founded in 1910 as part of House Ex Miscellanea by Hassam al-Jadidi ibnu Faridi; promoted to Full House in 1936. Masters of fate, fortune and social interactions; seers and chronomancers. Among their primary fields of study are Gematria, Pythagorean arithmosophy (and numerology in general), sacred geometry and chaos theory. Act as Public Relation office of the Order (historically replacing House Jerbiton on this post).

[edit] Ex Miscellena

House Ex Miscellena is not a House; it is a collection of Minor Houses and magi who are not members of a House. Founded in 817 AD.

Jerbiton

A Founding House. In Ex Miscellanea since 13th century. A former public relations House; members are often writers, artists, philosophers, doctors, or nobility.

Merinita

A Founding House. In Ex Miscellanea since 14th century. Students of the Fae.

Criamon

A Founding House. In Ex Miscellanea since 18th century, now almost extinct. Cryptic, ecstatic seers and prophets.

Skopos

Created in Ex Miscellanea in 2000 by Spiro Hatzis. Very small (3 members as of 2002). Study quantum physics; maintain ties with Sons of Ether. Most of their magick is perception-enhancing or perception-based.

Hong Lei (Crimson Thunder)

Adopted into Ex Miscellanea in 2000. Part of remains of former Chinese Wu Lung Craft (another part joined Akashic Brotherhood). Practice confucian and taoist rites, I Ching divination and feng-shui, invocations to ancestors and dragons.

Ngoma

Adopted into Ex Miscellanea in 2001. Formerly independent Craft, this group refused to become part of Dreamspeakers tradition during Grand Convocation and was virtually extinct by the end of 16th century. High ritualists of South Africa (Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, probably Angola).

Xaos

Adopted into Ex Miscellanea in 2001. Remains of House Thig that were not included into House Verditius. Profess a purposedly eclectic approach to ritual magic; among many other styles, use Discordianism, neuro-linguistic programming and memetics.

[edit] Defunct Houses

These Houses no longer exist as such.

Bjornaer

A Founding House. Germanic in origin. Rustic shapeshifters focused on self-perfection. Absorbed into the Verbena Tradition during Grand Convocation in 15th century.

Diedne

A Founding House. Drew tradition from Celtic druid tradition. Accused of diabolism by Tremere and destroyed in 1003 AD in the Schism War by joint efforts of Houses Flambeau, Tremere and Tytalus. Rumored to be exiled in the Umbra.

Mercere

A Founding House. Acted as the messengers of the Order; membership was not restricted to the Gifted. Included in the ranks of Ex Miscellanea in 1630 AD; in 1930s became part of House Fortunae. Experts in politics and conspiracy.

Tremere

A Founding House. A political House, weak in magic; creators of certamen. Delved into vampirism in 1033, causing a two-century war, or Wizard's March, known as the Massasa War. Eventually became Clan Tremere.

Golo

Founded in 1171 AD by Lorenzo Golo of House Verditius and Simon de Laurent of the Cabal of the Pure Thought. Promoted natural philosophy method in the magic. Disbanded in 1188, its mages adopted by Hermetic Houses of Verditius and Bonisagus and by the Order of Reason; the latter eventually became Electrodyne Engineers and later Sons of Ether tradition.

Castrovilli

Founded to verify Biblical miracles via magick. Disbanded in the 16th century.

Ziracah

Founded in 1327 by Lady Alimont Zirach (Ziracah?); weakened in 1645 in Naseby Catastrophe; wiped out in 1780 in Hellfire Club incident.

Tharsis

Founded in 1522 by Samuel Nash; wiped out in 1897, accused of diabolism. Specialized in sea-travel and warfare, water and weather (especially storms).

Validas

Founded in 1557 by “Shining Edward” Validas; wiped out in 1700, accused of diabolism. May be still active in the form of diabolical craft. Were based in England, professed deism; used machines and Kabbalah.

Luxor

Founded in 1872 by Max Theon and Paschal Beverly Randolph (first black Hermetic magus); subsumed into Sons of Ether in 1936. Were the first America-based House.

Janissary

Founded in 18th century by Dincer Albayrak. Turkish war-mages and spies. Acted together with the Quaesitors as the internal police of the Order. Weakened in the Great Conflagration in 1999, purged in 2001 (accused of diabolism, rumors of spying and sabotage in favor of New World Order).

Thig

Founded in 1846 by Joseph Ryelander, grew to be largest of the newly-founded Houses; weakened in Great Conflagration in 1999 and split into two factions, one included in House Verditius (which was thus promoted to a full House again), remaining formed House Xaos. Technomancers and spies.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

World of Darkness

Tremere — Former Hermetic House become vampires in Middle Ages
Crafts (World of Darkness) — Many former Crafts (small societies of awakened mages) were forced to join Order of Hermes recently