SHR Main Page | Opera Propria | Pax Hermetica Introduction
In the late middle ages, the Order of Hermes was the supreme magical authority in Mythic Europe, other magicians existing largely because they were beneath the notice and concerns of the Order. As the Renaissance dawned, however, two events occurred that would come to challenge its position. Firstly, after many dark rumours it was discovered House Tremere had been thoroughly infiltrated by some foul demonic taint, twisting and changing magi into something akin to the vampire of Eastern legend. While the Order marched upon this threat instantly, House Tremere being destroyed and declared Anathema with its untainted survivors being absorbed into other Houses, a new group began to arise. Using magic similar to that of House Verditius, but more tied to their foci in the manner of Natural Magicians, these Scientist-philosopher-magi rapidly allied themselves with the mortal powers of the day. For the first time, a shadow of doubt fell across the hearts of the magi of the Order. The "Scientists" were allied with mortals and wielded a strange form of weaponry that defied all laws of sense and science: the gun.
For a time it appeared as if the Order's control would crumble while the Primi debated and dithered...
And then the Scientists marched on Val-Negra.
It was this that proved their undoing, for this attack galvanised the Flambeau instantly, and with the realisation that these upstarts dared assault the Domus Magna of the most warlike of the Houses, the Order decided, almost too late, that to hesitate was to be lost. It struck back, hard.
While the magical weaponry of the Scientists was powerful, it was matched by the power of the Parma Magica, and it was this, as so many times in the past, that saved the Order.
By the 1500's the Order was again unchallenged in power in Europe, but realisation had begun to dawn on the leaders of the Houses. During the "Dark Days," more magi had died to mortal weapons than to either Vampire or Scientist. The Grand Tribunal debated this for weeks and then came to a decision: The Order had to slip quietly from public view; the days of open action were past. This was easily done, and within three generations the wizards' towers were regarded as nothing more than a fairy tale like that of King Arthur. The Grand Tribunal also reasoned that it was not enough that the Order should take this step. If any magic user was exposed, then all would be. If a Hedge Witch were found it would be only a matter of time before the Order too came back to mortal attention, and it would be harder for it to remove itself from notice a second time. So, for the good of all and particularly the Order, the Pax Hermetica would need to be enforced.
Join, or die.
Since those days relatively little has changed within the Order, although its influence has spread outside Europe, carried on the wings of expansionism, first penetrating deeper into the Russias under the protection, some say knowingly, of Tsar Peter the Great, then riding the waves of Imperial expansion by first the Spanish and Portuguese and then the Dutch, French and British. Now, as the more imperialistically-minded of the Order would claim, the followers of Hermes straddle the Earth like a Colossus; in truth, like a giant many do not notice the poisonous ants that crawl around their feet.
While in many ways life is easier for a modern magus, in some ways things have become much harder. The first involves difficulties with the police or similar institutions. These should be readily obvious. Less obvious is the effect of the modern setting on apprentices. In the middle ages it was quite acceptable to acquire an apprentice in a number of ways, ranging from regular apprenticeship to kidnapping, threats and even acquisition by purchase. Nowadays the situation is more complex, with local authorities often causing problems to those they see as being a threat to children. Sadly for the magi, this may well include those who hang around childrens' playgrounds looking for the "odd ones who don't quite fit in." Wise magi are encouraged to use, rather than be used by, the mortal authorities, perhaps by getting grogs or those with the Gentle Gift to "adopt" such children, or by making use of an Order-run "select and exclusive" private school, which gives scholarships to "deserving cases." Of course, nothing in this world is entirely without problems, and such stratagems are not always effective, leading some magi to follow less savoury practices...
Copyright © Tom McKinnell 2006.