Houses of Hermes

2017-05-03T06:06:50Z

173.228.60.106: Fixed a spelling error that bugged me.

{{about|the group of present and past houses that comprise the Order of Hermes|the 1994 Supplement by Wizards of the Coast|Houses of Hermes Book}}

In most Ars Magica [[Saga|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 [[Mystery House|Mystery Cult]] descended from Germanic magi and capable of taking the form of an animal called the "heartbeast."<ref>''[[Ars Magica Fifth Edition]]'', p. 11, "House Bjornear"</ref>
: [[House Bonisagus]] : A [[True Lineages|True Lineage]] decended from the founder of the Order. This house is a mix of magical researchers and statesmen.
: [[House Criamon]] : A [[Mystery House]] of enigmatic magi who frequently work in riddles and question the nature of reality.
: [[House Ex Miscellanea]] : An eclectic House of magi from many different traditions, some of them [[Non Hermetic|non-Hermetic]]. In [[ArM5]], this is a [[Societas]].
: [[House Flambeau]] : A [[Societas|Society]] of warrior magi, often specializing in the [[Arts]] of [[Ignem]] or [[Perdo]].
: [[House Guernicus]] : A [[True Lineages|True Lineage]] of [[Quaesitor|Quaesitors]], the judges of the Order. In [[ArM4]] and earlier, it was known as House Quaesitor.
: [[House Jerbiton]] : A [[Societas|Society]] of magi interested in [[Mundane]] culture, arts and society.
: [[House Mercere]] : The messengers and merchants of the Order, this [[True Lineages|True Lineage]] includes many [[unGifted]] [[Redcap|redcaps]] and some [[magi]].
: [[House Merinita]] : A [[Mystery House|Mystery Cult]] interested in the [[Faerie Realm]].
: [[House Tremere]] : A highly organized, hierarchical House with strong political influence. In [[ArM5]], it is a [[True Lineages|True Lineage]].
: [[House Tytalus]] : A [[Societas|Society]] of magi whose members share a philosophy of thriving on conflict.
: [[House Verditius]] : A [[Mystery House]] whose members excel in making [[Enchanted device|enchanted devices]].

== 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]].{{citation needed}}

== References ==

=== [[Fifth Edition]] ===
The categorization of Houses into [[True Lineages]], [[Societas | Societates]], and [[Mystery House | 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:
* [[Houses of Hermes: True Lineages]] covering [[House Bonisagus]], [[House Guernicus]], [[House Mercere]] and [[House Tremere]].
* [[Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults]] covering [[House Bjornaer]], [[House Criamon]], [[House Merinita]], and [[House Verditius]].
* [[Houses of Hermes: Societates]] covering [[House Flambeau]], [[House Jerbiton]], [[House Tytalus]], and [[House Ex Miscellanea]].

=== Interim between [[Third Edition]] and [[Fourth Edition]]===

[[Wizards of the Coast]] published a supplement that described the Houses in detail: [[Houses of Hermes Book | 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 Book | Order of Hermes]]

=== [[First Edition]] ===

Houses did not exist in First Edition. Magi were generally categorized by their favored [[Arts]] instead.

= Citations =
<references />

{{Legacy|page=houses_of_hermes}}
[[Category:Houses of Hermes]]
[[Category:Order of Hermes]]

Project: Redcap - User contributions [en]

Houses of Hermes