Order of the Red Dawn

The Order of the Red Dawn is a mystical secret society, based within Great Britain. Founded in the late sixteenth century by the English courtier, John Dee, and several associates, the Order began as a loose fellowship of occult scholars, but over the decades, gradually expanded its influence, until its membership included numerous prominent English families. Composed almost entirely of ordinary mortals, the Order of the Red Dawn makes use of numerous forms of legerdemain, and is primarily devoted to gathering occult knowledge and mystical artifacts for the benefit of its members. The Order's sphere of influence has largely been confined to the British Isles and Western Europe, though it has conducted missions around the world.

## History

The group that would become the Order of the Red Dawn began in 1578, as a collection of mystically minded individuals in the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Foremost among them was John Dee, who led a group of alchemists, diviners, and occult mathematicians, as they shared their occult knowledge and put their resources together to gather more. Beginning in the early 1580s, Dee and several of his associates began travelling across Europe, seeking to find other like minded individuals with which to swell their ranks and find new sources of occult knowledge.

The Order's records are fuzzy on the exact circumstances of John Dee's final years, and how he ended up destitute with his occult library ransacked. However, the first official meeting of the Order of the Red Dawn is set on March 21st, 1609, only a few months after Dee's death. Over the next several decades, the Order expanded their ranks, recruiting intellectual courtiers, scholars, and aristocrats.

During the English Civil War, the Order of the Red Dawn secretly supported the Parliamentarians, and purged several members who supported the Royalist cause.

In the year 1892, the Order was infiltrated by the vampire, Dante di Venezia, posing as a mortal Initiate. di Venezia remained with the Order for two years, after which he managed to enter its reliquary and stole the Codex Consilium, the Order's most precious artifact.

The Order's membership exploded during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, thanks to the general rise of occultism within intellectual circles.

## Organization

### Ranks

The Order of the Red Dawn is structured with a number of ranks for its members, denoting their status within the Order, known as "degrees", with lower degrees indicating a higher rank within the Order. The degrees are further separated into three Circles, with the Third Circle holding the lowest rankings of the Order, the Second the standard but recognized members, and the First its leaders.

#### The Third Circle

* Novitiate: Novitiates, the Ninth Degree, are the lowest ranking members of the Order. Sponsored by a member of the Second or First Circles, they are in a probationary period, allowed only into Inferior Lodges, and only when accompanied by their sponsor. They are allowed to practice the Mystical Sciences solely when supervised.
* Initiate: Initiates, the Eighth Degree, must have fulfilled two criteria to progress from the Ninth: they must have demonstrated that they are trustworthy, and have successfully produced a novice work of Mystical Science unaided (ooc, this means a Tier 1 Legerdemain effect). Initiates are allowed into the Order's Inferior Lodges without their sponsor, and may attend Superior Lodges if their sponsor accompanies them.
* Initiate Eximius: Initiates Eximius, the Seventh Degree, has produced a novice work of Mystical Science in all the Order's schools. They may attend Superior Lodges unaccompanied, but are not permitted to vote in matters set before the Lodge.

#### The Second Circle

* Practicus: Practicii, the Sixth Degree, are recognized and independent members of the Order, allowed to attend Lodges on their own. In order to attain the rank of Practicus, one must demonstrate their ability to produce practical effects of Mystical Science in any of the Order's schools. (OOC, this means a Tier 2 Legerdemain effect). They are also authorized to attend and vote in Superior Lodges.
* Adeptus: Adeptus, the Fifth Degree, has demonstrated themselves to be a powerful scholar of Mystical Science by produce Adept effects (Tier 3) of Mystical Science in one of the schools. Adeptii are allowed to access the Order's reliquaries to make use of its artifacts, so long as they are given permission from a member of the First Circle, who must accompany them inside.
* Adeptus Maior: Adeptus Maior, the Fourth Degree, is attained by having produced major effects in one school of Mystical Science (Tier 4), and adept effects in at least one other.. They may access reliquaries so long as they have permission from a member of the First Circle.

#### The First Circle

* Magister Scholae: Magister Scholae, the Third Degree, is attained by demonstrating one's ability to produce master level effects in a school of Mystical Science, and major effects in two more. Upon attaining this rank, a member of the Order is allowed unfettered access to reliquaries, though they must still record their uses of artifacts. They are also permitted to attend Magisterial Lodges.
* Magister Templi: Magister Templi, the Second Degree, is obtained by the vote of the (tbd) Lodge. Magister Templi are charged with supervising a reliquary, and are authorized to restrict certain items against use by any inferior Degree.
* Magister Mundi: The Magister Mundi, the First Degree, is the leader of the Order of the Red Dawn. They are elected from a vote by the Magisterial Lodge.

### Lodges

Lodges is the name given to the gatherings that the Order holds among its members. They are held in various locations, usually in homes or other venues owned by members of the Order. Lodges are used for members to share information, present new artifacts to the Order, ask for aid either in their studies, some sort of quest, or for protection against their foes.

There are several types of Lodges:

* Inferior Lodges: Inferior Lodges are the most common types of Lodge, held three times a month, during the new moon, first quarter, and second quarter. Members of the Order may fraternize, exchange gossip, and discuss the Mystical Sciences, but are not permitted to practice them or discuss any matters of the supernatural aside from the Mystical Sciences. This makes them ideal for testing out Novitiates and throwing off potential suspicion from outside authorities, making them think they are nothing more than an inane bunch of occultists. Inferior Lodges are held in varying places throughout a city, such as a member's home or a rented out location. While they are private, with visitors being required to wear masks, their locations are not extraordinarily secretive.
* Superior Lodges: Superior Lodges are where the interesting things happen. They are held on the full moon of every month. At Superior Lodges, members of the Order are permitted to practice the Mystical Sciences, and are the places where they may demonstrate their mastery over them to their peers so as to advance through the Degrees. Superior Lodges also have members submit project proposals for approval by the Lodge. It is required practice to submit written reports on such projects, which anyone who attends the Lodge may read. Should any practitioner desire assistance from their peers with a project, the Superior Lodge is the place to ask for it. Members of the Second and First Circles are permitted to vote on matters set before the Lodge.
* Magisterial Lodges: Magisterial Lodges are held in London four times a year; on the Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox, and Winter Solstice. Only members of the First Circle may attend. Magisterial Lodges are used to vote on broad policy within the Order, such as what sorts of experiments are permitted, rule amendments, and the election or impeachment of the Magister Mundi. Magisterial Lodges also involve very advanced and secretive works of the Mystical Sciences being performed, away from lower ranking members of the Order.

## Drives and Ideology

### Paradigm

The Order of the Red Dawn views magic through an intellectual, scientific lens. While many of its abilities are wondrous and the creatures who use it strange, study and observation can be used to comprehend and harness its abilities. With this viewpoint in mind, they call the various forms of legerdemain that they practice the Mystical Sciences, and view learning them as a form of academic achievement. The forms of legerdemain they practice are prized for their consistency and propensity to be studied and explained. Other, more esoteric or ephemeral forms of legerdemain are disdained by the Order as being primitive and undisciplined.

### Views on Supernatural Beings

The Order, unlike other secret societies of humans which study the supernatural, are neither particularly afraid of supernatural beings, nor do they particularly despise them. Their power is respected, but the Order is of the belief that they should be studied, not shunned, hunted, or venerated. The Order as a whole is willing to interact and work with the supernatural, though it maintains that caution is necessary. At the same time, general Order doctrine finds it perfectly acceptable to capture, kill, and experiment upon supernatural beings when it is required.