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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Yair" data-source="post: 2579004" data-attributes="member: 10913">Maybe the politics will attract some crowed?Personalities and Politics in the Rhine TribunalThere 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.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.</blockquote>

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