Hermetic Order

The Hermetic Order is a group of magic users who trace their origins to Ancient Greece, being founded around 1200 BC, shortly before the beginning of the Homeric Age. According to legend, they were originally composed of a group of magic users brought together by the god Hermes, for the purpose of guarding humanity.

## History

Founded by Arkas (vessel of Hermes) and Pronaea (vessel of Athena)

## Structure

### The Council of Hierophants

The Council of Hierophants, are a secretive group of members of the Hermetic Order who serve as its leaders. Members of the council are afforded the title of Hierophants, and together, they serve to lead the Hermetic Order. Whatever decision they make on policy, the rest of the order is expected to follow their lead. Furthermore, they also serve to settle disputes between major powers within the order.

### Strategoi

The nine Strategoi serve as powerful influencers within the Order, acting as direct representatives of the will of the Council of Hierophants. Typically, they will oversee the efforts of the order wherever they are needed most, and will grant their aid to whatever sanctuaries require it most. They have the capacity to assign tasks to any member of the order who is not among the council or a fellow strategos, as well as the ability to strip any lesser ranked member of the Order of their rank if they perform particularly poorly. Whilst most strategoi are polite enough to request that certain deeds be performed by subordinate Order members, there is not a single one of them who would not bend over backwards to fulfill one of their requests.

#### Dikastes

Dikastes are accomplished and powerful members of the order who are either not inclined or not suited to administrative positions. Instead, after becoming an aristos, a Hermetic who catches the eye of a strategos through a demonstration of their prowess may be elevated to dikast, where they will serve as a strategos's personal enforcer. Typically, they will be sent to carry out extremely dangerous assignments.

### Hegemon Council

A Hegemon Council functions as a collection of high ranking Hermetics within a city and its surrounding area, and serves as a localized version of the Hierophant Council within a city. The hegemons of the Council within a city serve as the ultimate taskmasters and arbitrators within the area under their control.

#### Archon

The archon is the foremost member of the Hegemon within a city and the area around it. Whilst they do not have direct authority over their fellow hegemons, they are gifted with a position of elevated honor and respect, and their word is usually heeded, allowing them to facilitate council meetings with their fellows.

### Aristoi

Aristoi are one single step above the Eirens, and serve as the mouthpieces of their Hegemon Council. They are tasked with supervising eirens, and have nominal authority over them. Typically, they will be assigned more important or dangerous tasks, and if higher ranking members of the order assign a task which requires multiple people to carry out, the Aristoi will be given seniority.

### Eiren

Eiren are the lowest ranking full members of the Hermetic Order, having completed their apprenticeship. They have no position of authority over anyone, and generally will be made to defer to all higher ranking members. They can be given almost any task by higher ranking members. Eiren are often taken on as apprentices by any higher ranking member willing to instruct them in the ways of magic.

### Apprentice

Apprentices are Hermetics in training. They are assigned to a master, who will teach them all the necessary skills that they will require to become an eiren.

## Sanctuaries

The Hermetic Order has operations across the world. As such, they possess bases located in many places, usually magically concealed within major population centers, so as to be better able to defend large groups of people. Most of their presence is concentrated around the Mediterranean Sea, though they also have sparser sanctuaries spread around the globe.

### Known Sanctuaries

* **Athens Sanctuary:** The prime sanctuary of the Order, the Athens sanctuary is the seat of the Ephorate Council, and is the most heavily fortified sanctuary. It houses a number of extremely potent magical artifacts, as well as the Grand Archives, a massive library which contains the repository of all the Order's knowledge, garnered over three millennia.
* **Dallas Sanctuary:** Built in the 1890s, the Dallas Sanctuary is one of several located within the United States.