Covenants

Constantinople: The heart of the Tribunal, the covenant of Constantinople is the richest in the Theban area, and perhaps even in all the Order. Disguised as a monastery (marked as venerating "Saint Trismegestos") the covenant spreads into the catacombs below. Constantinople being a Holy City, with an average Dominion Aura of four, means that the only parts of the covenant with an active magical aura are the catacombs, and they never manage to rise above a level of one. The covenant is home to the Chief Quaesitor of the Tribunal (Epateus), his assistants, several Jerbiton, a Tytalus (Manuel), a Mercere, a politically minded Bonisagus (Iardanus) and several Verditius, including an artificer renowned for his fabulous clockworks and automatons. The covenant (having such a low magic aura) depends upon trade for most of its Vis supplies. It is said that the covenant gained its land in the city and its estates in the surrounding area due to its favors to a past Emperor. The covenant is known to provide three days of hospitality to all Magi, and is agreeable to providing facilities for further stay if provided with a respectful offering. Due to a ruling of the Tribunal, all magi who live within Constantinople proper must do so on this covenants terms (particularly regarding the secrecy that is the covenant's best protection).

The Constantinople covenant is towards the end of Autumn (although those who live there would not admit as much), enjoying their deserved power and influence. It rarely stirs itself to action except to deal with problems directed against itself. A major concern is keeping the magi from the Roman Tribunal in check as they join the growing influx of Italian traders in the area: these traders have already gained their own private sections of the city, and their influence is only growing.

Ritual forms a great part of their culture, easily as intricate as the imperial court. They tend to gather together fairly frequently in combinations understood only by themselves, following a very rigid code of etiquette. Most outsiders are usually bewildered by thi. It can take eyars to even begin t udnerstand some of these rituals. Many exist on time scales that only a magus (or other similarly long lived) could understand. There are monthly council meetings, always on a full moon. Domus Trismegistos delights in holding intricate feasts for visitors, one of the few perks that can be regularly expected from them.

Cyllene: Located on a high mountain of the same name, in the north-west corner of Arkadia, this covenant is the ceremonial center of the Tribunal -- some would say it soul. This mountain was celebrated as the birth-place of Hermes: it is said he was born in a cave on this mountain. There was long a temple of Hermes Cyllenius upon the summit, and this covenant was constructed on its foundations. Cyllene is regarded as the highest mountain in the Pelloponnesus (although in the "real world" one of the summits of Targetes rises higher). The summit is reported to be above the wind and clouds (a fact attested to by magi). Toward the north, Cyllene sends out a projecting ridge called Chelydorea (because Hermes was said to have found here the tortoise shell that he converted into a Lyre). The covenant is the location for the four-year Tribunal sessions and games. There is a proper stadium built as part of the covenant itself. While Cyllene is not always the home of the Praeco (head of the Tribunal), tradition nonetheless demands that meetings be held here, the birthplace of Hermes.

Cyllene has always been attractive to Seekers: five of its members are seekers. Those in the know could tell you of secret ries held on ythe Hermae by the Seekers of this Tribunal. What exactly is going on is unknown. It would be a good guess, based on recently increased activities, that someone has discovered something near this covenant: of course they are not being very public about it.

Dolphin's Cove: Located on the isle of Melos, in the Cyclades -- an island group of the Aegean. This covenant is renowned for its hot springs and its artistic legacy, which makes it a magnet for Jerbiton and Verditius magi. The covenant also includes a well-known Bjornaer whose heart beast is a dolphin (Arion).

Melos was famous during Antiquity for its quality of art (including the famous Venus de Milo) a tradition the current covenant strives to maintain. The island is the most westerly of the Cyclades; owing its distinctive topography to its origins as the caldera of an ancient, and long gone volcano, to which the sulphurous hot springs in the northeast and southeast of the island still bear witness. It has one of the best harbors in the Mediterranean - on the northwest side. In the northwest is the Plaka, the principle spot of the island. In the village Trypiti below it is a series of Early Christian catacombs, with a saint's tombs. The catacombs are considered unique. Dolphin's Cove tends to be the most Pan-Order of the covenants in this Tribunal. Often being the voice of reason when the discussion strays into areas best left alone. While they are respected for their Art, most of the Hellenic faction wishes they would be more 'Greek.' ecent years has seen their ties to the Roman and Levant Tribunal grow. This has tended to alienate them from more hardcore Hellenes.

Ephesus Covenant (name to be decided): This covenant is a fortified manor built on the remnants of the Temple of Artemis that was once one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The covenant Vis sources are all known to involve Creo, Animal and Herbam and some pure Vim. Most are associated in one way or another with sites sacred to Artemis, Demeter or other ancient deities.

They are reputed to possess some great artifact associated with the ancient worship of Artemis.

This covenant is active in local politics and are one of the only reasons Ephesus has survived the continual invasions of the Turks, albeit a smaller city than it was in antiquity. A strong Jerbiton contigent makes this Sumemr Covenant its home. In Hermetic politics they straddle the boundary between Latins and Hellenes. They are not as pro-Roman as some of their brethern in Dolphin's Cove, and can often be persuaded to listen to the Hellene side, if the terms are right.

Phlebouros: This covenant is built upon the southern slope of the Parnasos, just above the triangle formed by the twin Phaedriades ("Shining Rocks") which constitute a tremendous precipice 250-300 yards high.

This covenant is the home of a clutch of Criamon magi, and several others who tend to stay briefly, all interested in the site of Delphi nearby (and of course, in its Oracle). Over the last decade the magi of this covenant have been seen less and less by others. It seems they are either passing into winter or have become to absorbed in some pressing research, or both.

The magi seem pretty much oblivious to much of anything. It’s a total air of detachment. Paulina is the only active member of the covenant and she seems frazzled by the down-right obliviousness of the other magi and the custodes. The custodes themselves seem to exist in another realm. Not all there in the mind. Further, the covenfolk have been changing into spidery entities.

Once, Phlebouros was famous for the quality of its magical silk. Verditius and Jerbiton came from the reaches of the Order to trade for. And the covenant grew rich in magic and wealth. However, as winter has come upon the covenant, its members have grown more inward seeking, and their silk imports have dried up. Whether they are still producing silk is a fact unknown to the greater Order.

Stentor and Constantine both have determined that, if anything, silk production has increased since its export dried up. The destination of the silk, however, is a mystery. Constantine was unable to determine this, and although Stentor received a “favored son” treatment from the magi, they would not share this information with him.

An interesting thing about this covenant is that in the last two decades it has produced three newly gauntleted magi. All of whom have joined the Aerie of the Spirit's Breath - with two still residing. Whether there is a pattern in this, or it is one of those strange Criamon flukes, it has created a great deal of rumor in the Theban Tribunal.

The village Castri, which is near the covenant, has strained relations with the other-worldly magi.

Urania: Located in the Caucasus mountains, this covenant currently has five magi, and the number is slowly dwindling. This is the oldest covenant in the region, and has extensive relations with the three Tribunals (Novgorod, Thebes and the Levant) due to their conflict about the local geography. Its current allegiance to the Thebes Tribunal came as a result of its failed bid to have their region recognized as its own Tribunal; their failure, however, has not dulled their desire to achieve this end. They keep a sharp eye on any developments in Eastern Anatolia that could aid their political machinations.

Their covenant is built on the highest peak of the Caucasus mountains, Mount Elbrus. It is an extinct volcano with twin cones reaching 18,510 feet (5,642 m) and 18,356 feet (5,595 m). Sulfurous gases are still emitted on its eastern slopes, and there are many mineral springs along its descending streams. A total area of 53 square miles (138 square km) of Elbrus is covered by 22 glaciers, which feed the Kuban River and some of the headwaters of the Terek.

Beloved of Erictho: A small group of Ex Miscellanea in a tradition of Thessalian witchery and one rather odd Bjornaer (Deristes) located in Thessaly. They tend to be quiet. Except the Bjornaer, who doesn't talk much about his own covenant.

A rocky island, separated from land by a tempestuous bit of sea. The waves crashing wildly against the rocks. The island itself is a jutting spur rising from the waves. Its rocky shore unbroken but for a small pathway that winds to an entranceway carved, it seems, by wind and wave.

The inhabitants live in this rock, its passageways seemingly naturally carved. The sound of wind, strange melodies of the power of nature fill the corridors with its strength.

Mt. Athos: There is an introspective group of magi living a monastic life on Mt. Athos. This covenant was founded approximately one-hundred years ago. They have little connection with the outside world, including the Hermetic.

Academy of Thebes: Founded by the descedents of John Italus, the filius of Psellos.

Italus and Psellos often feuded, and there is a major break in their philosopies. Italus's hermetic descedents have been in Thebes for the last 100-years, teaching and researching. They go through periods of political quiet, though it seems they are about to resurface in hermetic politics.

The Eastern Breath: Recently founded as a result of Richard of England's conquest of Cyprus, this covenant is composed of Latins. It was officiallyr atified by the Tribunal of 1197, where they were given access to the vis of the island, excluding 12 sites barred by the Quaesitors.