Houses of Hermes: Societates
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The third and final volume in the Houses of Hermes series¸ Societates covers Houses Flambeau¸ Jerbiton¸ Tytalus¸ and Ex Miscellanea. These houses are formed of wizards who have come together out of shared interests and philosophies. House Flambeau includes the champions and knights of the Order¸ individual warriors who fight for glory and honor¸ both their own and that of the Order as a whole. The House admires bold adventurers who seek out and overcome fearsome opponents. Worthy opponents are chosen according to the magus's sense of honor¸ not external rules. As a result¸ many of the Order's Hoplites are from House Flambeau¸ as are many of the magi they hunt down. House Jerbiton live lives in pursuit of beauty¸ and in pursuit of living beautifully. This requires interaction with the world beyond the Order of Hermes¸ both for the sake of the beauty found there and to avoid the stunted lives that result from a life lived entirely within a covenant. Experts in the use of Mentem and Imaginem¸ followers of Jerbiton generally prefer to interact subtly with the world. The fall of Constantinople has¸ however¸ been a great shock to them¸ and has pushed the House onto a more active path. House Tytalus thrive on¸ and admire¸ conflict. The main conflict they see is between an individual's nature and the rules imposed by surrounding society¸ but this central conflict plays out in many¸ less abstract¸ contests. They are renowned for long-running rivalries with their Housemates¸ convoluted political schemes¸ and activities that skirt the edges of legality. House Ex Miscellanea gathers together magi who do not fit into any other House¸ normally because they are still tied to elements of a pre-Hermetic tradition. The House claims to embody unity in diversity¸ but the emphasis is definitely on the diversity. This book provides eight detailed examples of traditions within the House¸ complete with rules for their non-Hermetic abilities.