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In Hermes Portal #3, Angus Macdonald questioned, among other things, the role of House Ex Miscellanea within the Order of Hermes. He offered three possible visions of the role of the house: a "dumping ground" for non-Hermetic wizards, a "half-way house," where non-Hermetic magi learn the rudiments of Hermetic magic before being transferred to another house, and a mixture of the two. In this article I propose to offer a more detailed interpretation of the role and composition of the house, which will incorporate, synthesise and elaborate on his suggestions. In the process, I will present a vision of the house that will be ready for storyguides to slot into their sagas. Alternatively, they may wish to ignore it completely or incorporate only some of the ideas presented here!
To begin, let us consider the possible purposes of House Ex Miscellanea. Originally founded in 816 by Pralix of Tytalus as a league of British, non-Hermetic wizards, then admitted as a house of the Order in 817, since then most members of House Ex Miscellanea have joined for one of two reasons: to learn Hermetic magic, or to avoid being attacked by Hermetic magi. The house is also the only one that non-Hermetic magi are allowed to join (the exception being Larta magi, who join House Jerbiton). This essentially leads one to conceive two major agendas for the house:
House Ex Miscellanea currently consists of approximately 125 magi. The exact number is unknown; some Hermetic magi accuse the house of exaggerating its membership to gain influence in the Order, while others say that the number is actually greater than that given, but that the house seeks to minimise its apparent power to avoid potential opposition from other houses. Some particularly paranoid members of the Order claim the number is vastly greater than that quoted, and that the house constitutes a threat to the Order's stability within its ranks. Most magi Ex Miscellanea neither know nor care how many members their house has.
The composition of House Ex Miscellanea may be conceived as being as follows:
| Magi Type | Number |
| Hermetic Traditions | 59 |
| Hermetic Individuals | 14 |
| Non-Hermetic Traditions | 45 |
| Non-Hermetic Individuals | 7 |
| Total | 125 |
Most Hermetic traditions are lineages that have grown out of non-Hermetic magi adapting their magic to Hermetic ways. Examples of these include the Spirit Masters (Houses of Hermes, pages 44-5, 6 members), Hermetically-trained Hermetic Witches (Houses of Hermes, pages 45-7, 5 members) and the Beast Mages (Houses of Hermes, page 47, 7 members). These often preserve traditional pre-Hermetic practices or preferences within their ranks. There are also a number of Hermetic lineages that have formed in the more traditional manner, with a fully-Hermetic magus or maga who is a member of the house taking an apprentice and training them fully in Hermetic ways, so that their magic is completely compatible with that of other members of the Order. A major example of such a lineage is the large Firentine tradition, described below (19 members).
In addition to the Hermetic traditions, there are also a number of individual members of the house who have also adapted their magic to Hermetic ways, but do not form part of a larger tradition within the house.
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In addition to all the above, there are also a few highly individualistic members of House Ex Miscellanea, who practice a form of magic that is entirely individual to themselves and as such form part of no existing tradition of magic. Two examples may be found here and here. In addition, there are also magi who form part of traditions existing outside the Order, but are the only members of their tradition within it, effectively making them individuals, at least as far as the Order of Hermes is concerned. One example may be found here.
Firento was primus of House Ex Miscellanea in the 10th century. He attempted to get the members of his house to accept more strictly Hermetic magic and traditions, only to be assassinated by members of his own house. However, his filii and other Hermetically-trained members of the house took up his mission. They decided that rather than attempting to impose Hermetic ways on the house, it would be more profitable to make themselves available to other members as teachers of Hermetic magic. In this way they helped those magi Ex Miscellanea who wished to adapt their abilities to Hermetic ways and, when training was complete, they assisted them in their attempts to gain entry to other houses. Their filii have followed their lead in these practices. Firentine magi also train their own apprentices, instilling in them the same desire to promote Hermetic ways in the house.
There are usually one or two Firentine magi in each Hermetic tribunal, and they always ensure that important figures in the tribunal are aware of their presence, so that potential trainees can be directed to them for aid. Many non-Hermetic magi Ex Miscellanea regard the Firentines as being weak pawns of the Order, and they have been accused of attempting to impose Hermetic-style hierarchies and politics on the house that will restrict the freedoms of its members. The Quaesitores, on the other hand, see the Firentines as potentially being a unifying force that will ensure the loyalty of House Ex Miscellanea, should divisions appear within the Order again as in the days of the Schism War.
You have an important role to play in the Order, for you assist new members in becoming fully-trained Hermetic magi. You could easily join any house you wished, but instead you will nobly remain in House Ex Miscellanea and devote your attention to the benefit of others.
Qauesitores and Redcaps: Noble servants of the unified Order. Assist them when you can.
Hermetic magi in general: What all non-Hermetic magi should aspire to be.
Non-Hermetic magi: Worthy of assistance if they are wise enough to seek our help, potentially untrustworthy if they do not.
You are one of a small but valuable team of workers for the benefit of the Order as a whole. Assist each other when you can.
Firentine magi are often generalists, as training others in Hermetic magic requires a broad knowledge of the Arts. They frequently have the Virtues Strong Writer (Hermetic, +1) and Knack (General, Variable, with Lectio, Disputatio or Scribe Latin).
Note: All Firentine magi must take the Virtue Well-Known (General, +1, giving a Reputation of Good Servant of the Order, 2, with the Quaesitores) and the Flaw Bad Reputation (General, -1, giving a Reputation of Untrustworthy, 2, with magi Ex Miscellanea). They frequently have the Virtue Higher Purpose (General, +1) or the Flaw Driving Goal (General, -1), representing their desire to promote Hermetic ways.
Text copyright © Niall Christie 2003. Artwork copyright © Eric Pommer 2003.