Tribunal Description
The covenant is located in western Pomerania, in the northern part of the tribunal close to the covenants of Crintera and Ocularum. The land is under the control of Denmark, but no noble currently claims this particular isolated place. [German reconquest may, or may not, happen at 1227.] It lies on top of a large dark forest, near a lake. A few villages exist nearby, a monastery is not far off, and the nearest city is Rostock some 50 miles to the west (lying on the shores of the Baltic sea). The land is hilly, with patches of dark forests and lakes, and clusters of villages and farmland. Most of the populace speaks German, but a significant portion speaks Slavic.
The tribunal has about 150 magi, wielding over 200 votes. These include about a dozen archmagi, and three primi. Most magi reside in covenants, about a dozen are eremite [hermits], and some are peregenitores [guests, not accounted as members in any covenant].
Crintera, domus magnus of House Bjornaer, lies 70 miles to the north on the island of Rugen. Of its six magi, you are probably familiar with
Urgen, the infamous leader of the Hawthorn gild,
Falke, an influential Linden gild member and prima of Bjornaer, and
Phyllia, the gossip of the tribunal.
Ocularum lies 100 miles to the west, in the city of Lubeck. You have probably heard of
Henri there, the leader of the Apple gild.
You are familiar with Durenmar, in the black forest some 350 miles to the south-west, and its Great Library. The leader of tribunal, Praeco Archmaga Prima Murion, lives there, so does the senior Quaesitor Caecilius and the senior redcap Horst, and the notorious Philipus Niger of Flambeau, leader of the Ash gild.
You are also acutely familiar with Fengheld, some 150 miles to the south-west, the biggest covenant with many chapter houses and probably your home covenant. It is led by the strict Stentorius, exarch of the Tremere.
There are, of course, many other magi in the tribunal, and you may have heard of any of them.
Political factions in the tribunal can be described in terms of Gilds:[sblock]
Gilds
Every magus character should choose one Gild to belong to. A gild is much like a political party, it holds no formal weight or authority in Hermetic law but can have a lot of political weight and social implications. The following gilds are available to choose from:
- Apple A young but growing gild, prominent amongst Jerbiton magi and led by the covenant of Ocularum that resides in the trade city Lubeck. The Apple gild seeks to see magi integrated into mundane society, and as accepted and respected members of society. Its members often admire mundane art, scholarship, or God. Apple magi tend to condone interference with mundanes as long it is respectful of them, and support lenient interpretations of the Code in that respect. They condemn and oppose taking harsh measures against mundanes and the Church in particular. Many of its members interact with mundane society as merchants, scholars, or de facto nobles.
- Ash A small but exclusive gild, led by Philipus Niger scholae Flambeau of Durenmar, and including quite a few Flambeau and Tytalus magi. Ostensibly the gild promotes the idea that magi are superior to other mundanes and beings, and should be treated accordingly. In practice, they condone violations of the Code and promote lenient interpretations of it, especially condoning the use of force. They oppose any attempt to limit the power of magi or force temperance or patience. But above all, they concern themselves with hunting down and rooting out enemies of the Order. A few of its members are pagans, and are suspected of subtantially (and illegally) supporing pagan religion.
- Elder Effectively led by Handri, the Primus of Merinitia, this gild is almost synonymous with Merinitia magi. It promotes respect for faeries, from both mundanes and magi. It tends to support paganism, and often violently opposes Church and mundane encroachment. It opposes attempts to reconcile Hermetic and mundane society as misguided, efforts of reconciliation with the Church as dangerous, and actions that impinge on faeries and faerie auras as almost sacrilegious. Most of its members are pagans, although some merely see the faeries as sources of enlightment rather than gods.
- Hawthorn Led by the infamous Urgen, former Primus of Bjornaer, this is a small but loud gild. It maintains that the answers to today's problems lie in the primeval magical powers that lie at the heart of the great forests of Germany, in its animal spirits, in the inherent and ancient magic of the land. The gild vehemently opposes mundane and Church encroachment, and even extends this treatment to Faerie which it sees as a pollution of the purely magical. Its members tend to support actions that prevent mundane or Church encroachment, lenient interpretations of the Code, and respect antiquety and old age. They condemn contact with mundanes, respect for faeries, and above all defilement or depletion of magical places. Hawthorn magi have been known to devestate entire settlements and overturn Faerie auras.
- Linden A powerful gild led by Occultes scholae Bonisagus of Durenmar. Linden magi promote the secrecy of the Order, stealth, and subterfuge. They abhor violent, flashy solutions whether in mundane or arcane matters, and encourage peaceful resolution of conflicts. Many of them are noncombatants, and relatively many are eremite (“lonely”) magi. Many of them denounce the worldliness of the Order, and espouse a more secluded and esoteric existence.
- Oak By far the largest gild, led by Murion scholae Bonisagus of Durenmar and supported by Stentorius scholae Tremere of Fenghled, it also has the most vague agenda. Ostensibly it strives to uncover ancient primeval secrets, maintain Hermetic law and order, and protect the wilderness, magi, and the Order. In practice it forms a large mass of undecided votes on nearly every issue, which even its leaders find hard to control. Oak votes tend to support caution, investigation, and deferment; they tend to oppose new and untraditional ideas, tribunal-wide decisions and obligations, and anything that may be even slightly dangerous to the Order. Many of its magi simply follow their leader’s vote, trusting in his or her judgment.
[/sblock]
There are approximately 130 magi in the Rhine Tribunal. In such a small group, politics are by necessity a matter of personal relations as much as political opinions. The following are the most noteworthy magi in the tribunal, and as such those that carry the most political weight. They are presented roughly in the order of their influence. [sblock]
Twenty Noteworthy Personalities of the Rhine Tribunal
Archmaga
Murion of House Bonisagus, from the covenant of Durenmar, is probably the most influential political figure in the tribunal. Praeco, Prima of Bonisagus, and leader of the Oak Gild and the second-largest and perhaps most important covenant, she holds considerable legal and political power. Her supporters see her as a resolute and adamant leader, working tirelessly to return the House and Tribunal to their past glory. She emphasizes the importance of Hermetic research to increase the power of the Order, works to improve the training of apprentices and the education of magi, and to contain the more hot-headed members of the tribunal. Her detractors paint her as a judgmental and stubborn old woman, too concerned with personal and House ambition and resentful of any true innovation. As Prima, she has been known to occasionally use her power to force House-wide votes in matters that were more to do with Oak policy. She is equally renowned, however, for looking after and supporting her fellow Bonisagus magi.
Archmagus
Stentorius of House Tremere, from the covenant of Fengheld, is another figure of tremendous political impact. Exarch (leader of the Tremere in the tribunal) and leader of the largest covenant in the tribunal, he has great influence on other magi, especially in the Oak Gild. He is seen as an uncompromising and demanding leader, that pushes his followers to their best and has great personal integrity and wisdom. His detractors see him as overly rigid, stuck in old traditions and beliefs that no longer apply in the modern world. As the leader of Fengheld he brought it to great strength, until its power now rivals Durenmar itself. As exarch he is considered a strict but fair commander, and never abuses his position for personal or Oak interests.
Occultes of House Bonisagus, from the covenant of Durenmar, leads the Linden Gild, the second largest faction in Rhine politics. In sharp contrast to the leaders of the Oak Gild, Occultes is a friendly and kind man, liked more than respected by his fellow Gild members. Indeed, the Gild's most powerful members are eremite (that is, secluded) magi, who let the friendly Gildmaster speak (and often vote) on their behalf rather than soil themselves in Hermetic politics. It is perhaps little wonder that Occultes speaks of the virtues of a more secretive Order, isolated from mundane society and concerns. He is surprisingly cunning, and famous for successfully designing and carrying out subtle ploys to preserve the Order's interests with no one even realizing that they were manipulated.
Falke of House Bjornaer, from the covenant of Crintera, is respected throughout the tribunal as a level-headed and eloquent speaker. She is the new Prima of Bjornaer, elected after convincing House and Tribunal into a policy of isolation and prudence in handling the conquest of Ruden. She is a prominent member of the Linden Gild, but is seen as too young and naive by most members of the tribunal. Even the former Primus, Urgen, sees her as misguided, a victim of her youth and inexperience.
Handri of House Merinitia, from the covenant of Irencillia, leads the covenant and House. He is a very secretive man, and none seem to know his designs. Although he doesn't officially lead the Elder Gild, he is considered its de facto leader. Gild and House meld into one for him, and he will often declare Gild policy as House policy. He is highly respected in Merinitia circles, and often speaks to protect faeries from molestation or mundane encroachment.
Archmaga
Vinaria of House Merinitia, of the covenant of Irencillia, is highly respected throughout the tribunal. Former Prima of Merinitia, she is considered the most advanced in the House's Mysteries. Since her return from what was considered her Final Twilight she has not tried to depose Handri, but many feel she is his superior in every way.
Archmagus
Urgen of House Bjornaer, from the covenant of Crintera, is widely respected and feared. Former Primus of Bjornaer, he is considered one of the most powerful magi of the Order, his wisdom stemming from the deepest roots of the primeval magical forests of Germany. He has lately resigned as Primus after being rebuked at Tribunal for killing and driving off mundanes, and now devotes his time to leading the Hawthorn Gild, promoting the sanctity of nature and pushing for a more active role in defending the wilderness. His views extend to reclaiming lost natural places, including Faerie auras which he claims are a pollution of a Magical aura, a view that does not endear him to Merinitia magi. Even his supporters concede that he is warmongering and hot-headed, but he is also an impressive, powerful man with piercing wisdom and great knowledge.
Henri de Tours of House Jerbiton, of the covenant of Ocularum, is seen by more and more magi as the voice of the future in the tribunal. He leads the covenant of Ocularum in the trade city of Lubeck, where he is known as a merchant prince. He further leads the Apple Gild, which is growing in influence. Henri and his supporters espouse humility before god, and knowing one's place within mundane society. They say that magi can, and should, ingratiate themselves into mundane society, and in time gain acceptance just like merchants or other not-so-holy mundanes. Henri's detractors see him as a greedy man whose dangerous ideas may bring ruin to the whole Order. His supporters see him as a visionary paving the way to the future.
Daria La Gris of House Tremere, leader of the covenant of Triamore, is another key figure in Apple politics. Like Henri, she supports a more lenient interpretation of the Code to allow interactions with mundanes. Unlike him, she is not impressed with mundane religion or scholarship, and simply seeks to live in her castle as a lord would in his, claiming that by doing so she is not interfering with mundane society at all. Essentially, she expects the mundanes to just come to terms with the fact that a wizard, rather than a noble, controls the covenant and its lands; although she does not couch it in such terms. She is seen as a politically shrewed player, as evidenced by her keen leadership of Triamore that somehow always managed to escape Quaesitor censure. Her influence is strong in some parts of the Apple Gild, and extends to other Gilds and even Tribunals.
Archmagus
Philipus Niger of House Flmabeau, from the covenant of Durenmar, is probably the most feared magus in the tribunal. He leads the Ash Gild, which under his leadership has exposed and Marched several Enemies of the Order, and pushed several landmark Tribunal decisions condoning overt use of magic. His bloody reputation and mastery of Perdo has won him respect and fear throughout the Order, but those who get to know him speak of a man deeply troubled over the threats to the Order, a man whose thoughts span decades and centuries and with an abiding love and loyalty to the Order. His detractors whisper quietly that this man is also insane, consumed with bloodlust, and has lost any connection to the true threats to the Order. He current concern is the Order of Odin, which he is convinced functions covertly even as south as the northern Rhine river, and forms the only serious long-term threat to the Order's very survival.
Iacov of House Merinitia, from the covenant of Irencillia, is Handri's filius and the official leader of the Elder Gild. He is widely seen as a weak figure (though capable magus), a mouthpiece for Handri. He is as secretive as his parens, and less respected.
Archmagus
Caecilius of House Bonisagus, from the covenant of Durenmar, is the senior Quaesitor and the greatest living exponent of Intellego in the Order. In later years he has limited his activity to Tribunals and is reluctant to use magic, but his keen insights and unscrupulous reputation remain solid.
Tamdaline of House Bonisagus and the covenant of Durenmar is notable as she is Murion's right hand. She maintains correspondence with all Bonisagus magi, and is an influential figure in her House and, to some extent, the Oak Gild.
Andrus of House Bonisagus is the chief librarian of Durenmar, controlling access to the Great Library. This earns him a measure of respect as none want to cross him, but he is generally thought to be a weak man under Murion's power and overly consumed with library duties to bring his, admittedly brilliant, mind to bear on magical research.
Horst is the senior Redcap of the tribunal, overseeing the Mercer House in Fengheld. He is also renowned for his writing quality, and his clear books on the foundations of Magic Theory are known to any apprentice in the Tribunal. Although he isn't Gifted, Horst is greatly respected and his council and perfect memory often sought at Tribunal.
Eule of House Bjornaer from Fengheld covenant is renowned for her great wisdom and good advice. She was once the senior Quaesitor, but retired. She now spends all her time in her owl (heartbeast) form, and her filius (Gunther Lupus) is required to communicate with her.
Phyllia of House Bjornaer is the gossip of the tribunal, traveling in eagle form all over the tribunal exchanging gossip. Every Bjornaer magus is sure to meet her at least once a year, and even non-Bjornaer magi are often graced by her visit. She has a talent for luring even the most stubborn magus into a conversation, but many do their best to avoid her as they feel she is spying for Crintera and her House.
Adea of House Bjornaer from Crintera is renown for her foresight and divinatory powers. She is considered one of the most powerful seers of the Order.
Archmagus
Igor Rastvan of House Ex Miscellanea from Rostov covenant may very well be the only Ex Miscellanea archamagus in the Order. He is a devout pagan Slav, a master of elemental powers, and a friend of Philipus Niger and member in the Ash Gild.
Archmagus
Schwall of House Bjornaer is an eremite renowned for his understanding of Bjornaer Mysteries. His whereabouts are unknown, but he occasionally attends Tribunal.
There are four more archmagi in the tribunal, intentionally left vague at this point, as well as other magi that may come to bear. The above list also fails to note some of the covenant's leaders, when these do not have a wider influence.[/sblock]
