Vigilantia claimed to be the last in a lineage of priestesses from Syria dedicated to Nemesis when she was recruited into the Order by Hariste, soon after its founding. Vigilantia, and her tradition have long been considered a single-minded group, even amongst the members of their House, and are known for their constant testing of all about them. They have long participated in the shapechanging aspects of Nemesis, along with her more famous aspects. Two lineages are descended from her:
Gorthyno > Etrea > Manuel > ConstantineThat is, Seraphis and Gorthyno (Constantine's Great Grandpater) were hermetic brothers.
Nemesis is an implacable deity to men of violence and is called Retribution or Divine Vengeance. She punishes the absence of moderation and reestablish order when things are out of proportion, as excesses of pride or undeserved happiness. Nemesis puts to sleep presumptuous boasting and checks offensive words, for there is for light words a heavy penalty, exacted by this goddess, who is the messenger of Justice. So those who abuse others because they feel the company of Fortune, sooner or later meet Nemesis, when Fortune, who does not know constancy, has departed.And yet artists have been convinced that Nemesis manifests herself as a consequence of Love, and that is why they have given wings to Nemesis as they do to Love, who also is winged.Not long from Marathon, where the mighty Persian army was defeated by the Athenians (490 BC) there was a sanctuary and statue of Nemesis. The Persians in their pride thought that nothing stood in the way of their taking Athens, and that is why they were bringing a piece of Parian marble to make a trophy, convinced that their task was already finished. But they were defeated and of this marble the Athenian sculptor Phidias made a statue of Nemesis.It is told that Nemesis, trying to escape Zeus, changed into a fish and other dread creatures. Or else she changed into a goose, but Zeus in his turn took the likeness of a swan. As the fruit of their love she laid an egg, which was found by a shepherd and given to Leda. And when Helen was hatched in due time, Leda brought her up as her own daughter.
Vigilantia was the member of an Asiatic cult dedicated to Nemesis in the aspect of Adrasteia. This version of nemesis is associated as a lunar divinity, directing her power thorough the moon. In this aspect she personifies the omnipotence f celestial justice. This cult had for millennia (before the coming of Christianity) ane essentially military following. It was associated with two male horsemen gods, the Dioscuri. Like the rites of Mithras, its followers transported these rites throughout the Roman empire through the legion.
Worshipped as the daughter of Ocean and Night (unlike the standard Hesiodic genealogy, see above). They emphasized the anger of this figure betrayed by the Order of the Gods, who represented an older Order, and in retribution placed this Order above the Gods of Olympus. In short, this is justice beyond the law. For the cult of Adrasteia, shapechanging was one route to this, just as it had been in Nemesis’s failed attempt to avoid Zeus. One which was practiced by the inner priesthood. Many representations of the cult has the priests depicted as ram’s and bears, while the priestesses were depicted as birds.
At its height the cult determined the kings of Asia Minor, or at least swung its support in ways that kept them in power. With the coming of the Roman legions, the Cult of Mercury was powerful enough to constrain them to their temples. Except at times when powered by their view of divine retribution and justice beyond order, they issued out to fulfill the duty of their goddess. The Cult was able to suppress them but never vanquish.
By the time of Vigilantia, this cult had shrunk. Vanquished by the divine love of Christianity. Viglilantia was the last true priest. Yet even constrained by the power of the Dominion she still was able to bing out her justice to the world. It was in ne of these cases that she met Hariste. And as is the way in house Tytalus, great battle began. Finally vanquished by the power of Bonisagus’ theory, she was offered the chance to join. She wisely did so, and in this was given the opportunity to renew her priesthood.
Gorthyno was a pragmatic man. A trait continued by his descendent. They have given up most of the cultic aspects Nemesis. But the philosophy is still there.