Houses of the Auspices

Seas, Skies, Sparks, and Stones

### Goals

Achieve Self-Perfection, grow martial skill, and cultivate deeper understanding of one's self

### Members

Monks, followers on the Path of Self-Perfection, scholars, healers, martial artists, adventurers

The **Houses of the Auspices** is an organization founded and existing within the **Republic of Athreya.** The organization is dedicated to growing one's own martial skill and in understanding of one's path to self-perfection. While the organization is not part of the government itself, leading members in the organization are part of the Republic.

**Special:** A Player Character may use this organization to count as being part of the **Houses of Perfection** for qualifying for the Student of Perfection prestige class. They may take the Prestige Class without possessing the Perfect Style feat, gaining a bonus Combat Feat at level 3 and level 7 levels of Student of Perfection in place of the regular bonus feat.

## History

The group began forming in the Year 5 of the Age of Might, slowly taking shape until Year 8 of the Age of Might when it began operating in full and in official capacity. A sect of martial artists had begun to form under the **Claude Taviter** in the Old World once he had begun teaching to those willing to learn. Yet, with the numerous amount coming to him for advice, he had handed some students off to his close friends to study under. Each one approaching training in their own way to better grow themselves. Within months, however, the disciples began to congregate into their own groups and study with one another. It became obvious that a group had formed and needed better organizing to complete the goal of all that took part in these groups.

Thus, Claude funded and built facilities for the disciples to train themselves. In favor of the diverse training, where the disciples eventually met once again at a later time to learn through training together, he built one in the corners of Athreya so that they could all work in their own environments. The grand stage to host all of them when the groups had met once again was to be set in the center of the Republic. Thus, the Houses of the Auspices were formed. Each House had its own approach to training and the idea of combat, skills, and approaching self-perfection in their own way. Yet, the true beauty was when they all met to see what they discovered and to show it.

## Organization

The organization has a ranks within the order to show the development and skill of each student. While they all have their own names, they follow the same template of mastery and authority. While seniority is recognized within the ranks, it's a common understanding in the organization that even masters can learn from students. Thus, higher seniority often means capable of handling further responsibilities, having a solid understanding of the ideals of the organization, and a discipline to both grow and enforce them. Within the Order, the highest ranks that do have actual authority have been tested harshly and deeply about their skills and knowledge. It's not unheard of for one of the recognized masters to drop in rank, whether recognizing they have more to understand before resuming their position or if they have not met to the standard.

Due to the composition of their members, most members in the organization often take up quests or tasks that go out into the field or helping others in the area. An opportunity to grow oneself through new experiences found in it or simply testing how far they have come. While they aren't always going out in groups, there's no adversity to doing such. Simply put, the chance at a new experience becomes one of the highlights of not going in groups. Yet, there is a rumor that whatever is to come when a group from the Houses must deploy holds caution to whatever the plan to handle.

The ranks are:

* **Sage**
* **Grandmaster**
* **Master**
* **Core Disciple**
* **Inner Disciple**
* **Outer Disciple**
* **Initiate**

The ranks of Inner and Outer Disciples have three tiers to them:

* **Expert Disciple**
* **Senior Disciple**
* **Novice Disciple**

### Headquarters

Each of the Houses has their own Headquarters in a Athreyan settlement. However, the main Headquarters is in the city of Amphalos. The monastery is one of the largest to be found in the World and a grand congregation of those on the path of martial arts or self-perfection. From the great libraries, to the famous dojos, to arenas for duels and sparring, and spots for festivities, the Headquarters stands as one of the famous areas of the martial world. While a good deal is open to the public, the most important areas holding information or personal training is kept away from public eyes. The Hall of Champions holds the records for the winners of the tournaments and the winner of the Trial of the Earth and Heavens, with the first name being the Founder's. Since then, with the Trial open to the public, it's often considered that the winner is one of the most skilled combatants at their point in time. Every subsequent name has been those who won the tournament. The disciples, however, look more towards the names most often in the records than those who just win at combat.

## The Houses

There are Four Houses in the organization. Each one has their own focus in way of approaching greater heights, typically by through being of an element and a corresponding beast.

### House of the Adamantoise

* **Leader:** Torvic Ironflow
* **Alignment**: Lawful Neutral
* **Location:** Paradeigma, Republic of Athreya
* **Element:** Water
* **Fighting Style:** Defensive and Countering
* **Goals:** Through the freedom of the flowing water and yet a sturdy form, mastery over both sides of the coin of skill can be achieved. Through great defense gain great offense that will wear down the mountains.
* **Motto:** "Even the greatest obstacles fall when the unbreaking tide continues to strike at it and back. Persist and endure, you will overcome."
* **House of Perfection Replacement:** Monastery of the Unbreaking Waves

The House of the Adamantoise mimics the beast by engaging in a highly defensive form. With their excelled defense, they turn it into an offensive measure capable of wearing down any foe. The House focuses on discipline of the mind and body, believing that through the strength in them can overcome all challenges to be faced in the future. The current leader, though, does not partake in maintaining the order from the House itself. A belief of his that one must explore the greater world to better understand the countermeasures necessary to weaponize both defense and offense, combining the two.

### House of the Behir

* **Leader:** Vanrilgos
* **Alignment:** Neutral, although rumored to formerly be Neutral Evil
* **Location:** Valect, Republic of Athreya
* **Element:** Electric
* **Fighting Style:** Barrage and Ranged
* **Goals:** Storms strike and roar aplenty. In the avenues you pursue to greatness, pursue many. Even if one would fail, there are many still to chase. Amidst many failures, one shall eventually succeed. Yet pursue them all truly.
* **Motto:** "Do all you can, do all you must. Even should lightning not strike its first target, it will eventually hit where it wished."
* **House of Perfection Replacement:** Monastery of the Unfolding Wind

The House of the Behir, ironically, is led by the behir Vanrilgos. The House focuses on experiences and attempts. Trying many things and new things to gain better insight. Thus, their combat style ended up being striking numerous times rather than few but brutal ones. Where if one attempt misses, another shall succeed and gain more progress than the others. Yet, if the heart is not in it, they shall not come to be victorious. The disciples of this style end up changing between still but sturdy combat forms or into mobile and speedy forms. Vanrilgos is often seen as one of the most strict leaders amongst the Houses, for he encourages curiosity and trying new things must also come with a strong handling of curiosity gone too far. It's fine to be curious, it is not fun for suffering to come from it.

### House of the Phoenix

* **Leader:** Kayam Solomir
* **Alignment:** Neutral Good
* **Location:** Unideri, Republic of Athreya
* **Element:** Fire
* **Fighting Style:** Mobile and Cunning
* **Goals:** Be as passionate and as free as you should be. Let the flame in your heart guide you and the fire burn away all blockades. Remain true to yourself and your passions, and greatness surely shall come.
* **Motto:** "In your heart shall burn endless desire. Let it guide you and guide you rightly. In the changing times, you will remain true and through any trial."
* **House of Perfection Replacement:** Monastery of the Unblinking Flame

The House of the Phoenix puts a focus on the hearts of the practitioners. Finding that the self part of self-perfection is as important as any discipline one can undertake. For if you lose yourself in the path to greatness, are you truly becoming perfect if it is changed or in denial? This ideal does not mean being immutable, however, as fires do grow when exposed to more and new things. The goal is finding yourself, your most true self, and enjoying that. With this, most practitioners of the style end up using abilities that bring themselves to bear unto their opponents. Commonly, this comes into play as speedy combat styles or ones expert in cunning. The leader of the House, Kayan Solomir, can always be seen wearing a smile on his face and showing off to disciples to leave an impression. Often joked to be as bright as the sun in his personality.

### House of the Dweomercat

* **Leader:** Sofia Miriam
* **Alignment:** Chaotic Neutral
* **Location:** Synosis, Republic of Athreya
* **Element:** Acid
* **Fighting Style:** Manipulation and Information
* **Goals:** As the earth we walk on, come to understand it. Know all you can to tackle any problem you find.
* **Motto:** "As the earth can be molded, let your mind and thoughts be the same. Use your mind, whether by know-how, wit, or creativity, to beat anything in your way. Skill or uniqueness, you shall win."
* **House of Perfection Replacement:** Monastery of the Untwisting Iron

The House of the Dweomercat chooses to focus on the mind more than anything. This does not mean their focus is in just knowledge, but rather enhancing one's mind so that they can apply knowledge, use their wits to overcome things, or being creative to approach solutions to problems that others would not have considered. Their combat style came to be using their minds to strike at their enemies while also gaining a focus on using their knowledge to avoid or mitigate blows that are dealt to them. The leader, Sofia Miriam, is often regarded as care-free for her position. Yet the almost lackadaisical attitude has made her the uncontested leader of the House because of what goes on her in head.

## Trials and Challenges

To help those within the Houses better understand themselves and their skills, there are numerous sets of competitions and trials for the students to undertake. During these things, for the Houses, it's more important of demonstrating what you know, applying it, and then learning from your attempts (whether a failure or success) so that you can gain deeper insight on your path to becoming better.

### **Trial of the Earth and Heavens**

A yearly tournament set in the city of **Amphalos** in the Republic of Athreya. This is a grand tournament where the Houses join together to compete against one another in a friendly competition. Perhaps one of the biggest festivals in the nation, it happens during the entirety of the month of **Sarenith**. People that are not members of the Houses are allowed to join and compete in it as well, inviting all across the world to come to have their chance to compete and show off their skill on one of the biggest stages of prowess to know of. The Trial of the Earth and Heavens also has competitions for the following areas:

* Knowledge
* Cunning
* Speed
* Weapon Mastery
* Unarmed Fighting
* Mastery of Self
* Magical Ability
* Skill

The biggest one, however, is the tournament of general combat where all combatants face off against one another. To see who has the greatest skill amongst all that enter and walk away the victor, for their own pride or for the pride of their House.

### Challenges

Challenges are trials within the Houses to be accomplished so that one can climb the ranks of the organization or to prove themselves, in the event their promotion comes from elsewhere. Each Challenge is meant to be a harsh trial for the individual, reflecting the person and testing them to their limits. The Challenges have gained notoriety to garner attention from people not part of the Houses, wanting to give them a shot just as a chance to prove themselves.

* **Challenge of the Receding Waves:** The Challenge of the Receding Waves is a survival trial. Most often, when undertaken, the person departs from the civilizations to train and survive on their own for at least a month's time. If they return to civilization and their journey is not yet finished, the attempt is considered a failure.
* **Challenge by Clear Skies and Storm:** The Challenge by Clear Skies and Storm asks that the person venture into the unknown. Typically, for most, this becomes an adventuring request. To choose a destination, delve as deep as you can and learn as much as you can, then return back to the monastery so that you can reveal a new bit of information. If the information is not considered worthy enough, at least not adding or expanding known information about the area, then it is a failure.
* **Challenge of the Burning Incense:** The Challenge of the Burning Incense is a mental trial. The person is tasked with confining themselves into an area for an extended period of time. During this time, they must undergo deep meditation and mental examination to understand themselves to a new degree. Most people undertaking this challenge undergo it during a time of internal conflict, returning with their thoughts and minds cleared. Yet, even then, it is considered a failure if they have not reached a new level of understanding as examined by the disciples.
* **Challenge by Severing Iron:** The Challenge by Severing Iron proves to be the most unique. The test is simply undertaking a task you are used to, but without the methods you usually would. Many practitioners undertake a quest in this regard, accomplishing it in an alternative manner. Some people do not use unarmed combat, some do not bring magical items, others temporarily blind themselves. If the difficulty of the task matches the philosophy behind the test, then it is a pass. Yet, this also makes it the one with the most failures.