Houses of Hermes
In most Ars Magica sagas, the Order of Hermes consists of twelve "houses". (Depending on the time period of the saga, there may be thirteen instead, plus any unofficial Houses the players may have invented for themselves)
Houses are groups of magi who are somehow related; they are something like noble families, though their members (usually) trace their lineage through apprenticeship rather than blood.
The Twelve Houses
- House Bjornaer : A House of shapeshifters. In ArM5, this is a Mystery House
- House Bonisagus : A House of magical researchers and statesmen. In ArM5, this is a True Lineage.
- House Criamon : A House of highly mystical magi. In ArM5, this is a Mystery House.
- House Ex Miscellanea : A highly eclectic House of magi from many different traditions, some of them non-Hermetic. In ArM5, this is a Societas.
- House Flambeau : A House of warrior magi, often specializing in the Arts of Ignem or Perdo. In ArM5, this is a Societas.
- House Guernicus : A House containing the Quaesitors, the judges of the Order. In ArM5, it is a True Lineage. In ArM4 and earlier, it was known as House Quaesitor.
- House Jerbiton : A House of magi interested in Mundane culture or society. In ArM5, this is a Societas.
- House Mercere : A House that includes many unGifted redcaps and some magi. In ArM5, it is a True Lineage.
- House Merinita : A House that is interested in the Faerie Realm. In ArM5, it is a Mystery House.
- House Tremere : A highly organized, hierarchical House with strong political influence. In ArM5, it is a True Lineage.
- House Tytalus : A House whose members share a philosophy of thriving on conflict. In ArM5, it is a Societas.
- House Verditius : A House whose members excel in making Enchanted Items. In ArM5, it is a Mystery House.
The Thirteenth House
In addition, earlier in the history of Mythic Europe, there was a thirteenth House called House Diedne. It was destroyed in the Schism War. House Diedne is also referred to as the Nameless House.
References
Fifth Edition
The categorization of Houses into True Lineages, Societates, and Mystery Houses was introduced. (ArM5, p. 223)
In Fifth Edition, House Quaesitor was renamed to House Guernicus.
The following Fifth Edition supplements relate to Houses:
Interrim between Third Edition and Fourth Edition
Wizards of the Coast published a supplement that described the Houses in detail: Houses of Hermes. It billed itself as a Fourth Edition source book, but was published before any Fourth Edition core rule book. When Atlas Games began the Fourth Edition line, Houses of Hermes was considered mostly compatible.
Second Edition
Houses were described in the Second Edition supplement, Order of Hermes
First Edition
Houses did not exist in First Edition. Magi were generally categorized by their favored Arts instead.
Legacy Page
The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at Legacy:houses_of_hermes