Aurelian

**Aurelian** is one of the Ancient Eight in Leigh Bardugo's *Ninth House*. Established in 1910, it is the fifth oldest landed secret society at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Aurelian specializes in word binding and divination through language, creating unbreakable contracts, binding vows, stories that can put the reading to sleep. Their magic is described as ' only sometimes' working and dangerous.

## Book Information

* *Teachings*: Practices logomancy, word binding and divination through language.
* *Famous Alumni*: Admiral Richard Lyon, Samantha Power, John B. Goodenough

Aurelian specializes in word binding and divination through language. Aurelian creates unbreakable contracts, binding vows, stories that can put the reading to sleep. Aurelian's power is not what it was because of the loss of their 'tomb.' Since then, Aurelian has only managed the occasional non-disclosure agreement or inspiration spell. As a result, Lethe and the other societies do not take Aurelian seriously. While Aurelian's magic is weaker and less influential in function, theirs was far more portable and practical than other societies.

The way rituals are performed is different according to purpose. For example, inspiration spells especially are catered to need, as every story is different. Among members present is the delegation president, the Emperor, the title to the society's alumna meant to supervise the ritual, several other Aurelian members, and the subject of the ritual. Aurelian members participating in the ritual don ivory robes for the occasion. Like all Houses of the Veil, Aurelian must conduct their rituals on Thursday nights or on approved dates by the University and Lethe House.

#### Tomb

Aurelian never had a conventional tomb like the other other Houses of the Veil. Instead, they performed their rites in consecrated rooms in Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall. The rooms were called Room 405 by Aurelians and they were given to them by the university as they found their magics particularly useful. While not traditional, these rooms are still referred to as a tomb.

After the loss of their 'tomb,' Aurelian conducts their rituals wherever in accordance to the ritual's needs. In a case of needing inspiration to write a book, Aurelian chose the library of Beinecke Plaza. Rituals for pre-nuptial agreements could be done in the law school entryway, forgeries in the university's art gallery, land deeds atop East Rock.

## History

### 1900's

Aurelian was founded in 1910, to embrace ideals of leadership and supposedly bring together the best of the societies. They attempted to model themselves as a kind of New Lethe, tapping members from every society to form a leadership council. This explains the lack of the traditional tomb. The council fell to the wayside as Aurelian became as clannish as the other Houses of the Veil. Even then, the other secret societies tended to ridicule Aurelian for its unimpressive, working-professionals' magic.

Aurelian became a landed society when Room 405 in SSS Hall was consecrated during the 1932 renovations. The rooms were gifted to Aurelian by Yale University for their services in *logomancy* which secured the contract for the purchase of Sachem’s Wood in 1910. That acquisition of land through Aurelian made sure the purchase of the land couldn't be challenged, eventually leading to the establishment of Science Hill. Additionally, half of the dead in Grove Street Cemetery reportedly only stay in their graves because the inscriptions on their tombstones were crafted by members of Aurelian.

In 1989 a certain millionaire slipped into a coma in the cabin of his yacht. A copy of God and Man at Yale was found beside him, and if anyone had thought to look they would have found an introduction that exists in no other version—one composed by Aurelian.

### 2000's

Aurelian society lost their rooms in SSS Hall, the official charge given to the public was that the society was caught serving alcohol to minors. According to Darlington, when union contract negotiations with the university soured, Yale University felt Aurelian had botched the initial contracts and in punishment the society was kicked out of their tomb. As a result, they can only manage the occasional nondisclosure agreement or inspiration spell. Aurelian's power is not what it was because they no longer have a "real tomb" – thus Lethe and the other societies do not take Aurelian seriously. Current Aurelian members are campaigning to get their consecrated rooms in SSS back.

### Ninth House

The first rite of the delegation was an inspiration spell in the fall quarter for Zeb Yarrowman. Josh Zelinski, the delegation president, and the Emperor for the night, Amelia, were there to greet Alex Stern and Darlington. For an inspiration ritual, the protection wardings needed to be left open in the four compass points, which act as gates to facilitate the flowing of magic. This requires members of Lethe to guard the gates from the interference of Grays. A long table is set up, with two lines of Aurelians facing each other on either side of the table. The delegation president stood at one end, the Emperor on the other, while Yarrowman laid half-naked on the table. While everyone was chanting the spell, Aurelians on both sides cut lines into him, from his wrists to his forearms. Yarrowman reached for paper, with it absorbing the blood. Then, with the crescendo of chanting, the blood would turn back into ink and go back into his body to his head and heart.

The rite would almost be disrupted by the commotion caused by the Grays physically touching Alex, startling her to the point of smudging the ward lines and making the Grays even more frenzied. However, Alex and Darlington would expel all the Grays, and Yarrowman was successfully inspired for his next novel.

Aurelian conducted another rite in the fall quarter, with both Alex and Darlington in attendance. It consisted of a patent application, which took place at the Peabody’s satellite campus.

## Known Members

* Josh Zelinski (delegation president)
* Amelia (alumna)

## Trivia

* Winstone Churchill might have been assassinated by Aurelian magics. His last words, "I'm bored with it all," could be an indicator of being bored to death by some story ensorcelled by Aurelian word magics.

## Real World Information

### History

The Constitution of the society reads: "The object of this Society is to encourage and promote high character, gentlemanly conduct and the molding of one's career to a life to the community, and to bring the active members into contact with the honorary members who shall have been selected with the view that their careers shall be a source of inspiration".

Besides discussing issues of the University, Aurelian has, since its inception, overseen a variety of important philanthropic activities in support of the University:

* a scholarship fund (in place since 1953 administered by the financial aid office),
* an undergraduate science contest, the Chester Harding Plimpton award
* a public lecture series
* the prep-school cup award

After the unification of Yale College and the Sheffield Scientific School, and through the tumultuous era of the 1960s, the Aurelian Honor Society's role in University governance declined.

Aurelian continued to be a supra-senior society, drawing its membership from throughout the University and other societies. Largely due to the sponsorship of Aurelian alumnus Loomis Havemeyer (author of the history of the Society) , Aurelian continued to meet for Tuesday lunches with faculty and honorary members. When Yale went co-ed, Aurelian followed suit, making it one of the few societies to do so at their first opportunity.

* In 1981, Aurelian was revived after a period of a few years in the late 1970s when all societies and fraternities were in decline.
* In 2009, the delegation modified the constitution, officially declaring itself a Senior Society and thereby formally adopting the practices of those societies such as mutual exclusivity from other societies, conducting student biographies, and participating in the tap process.

The Society still seeks to attract members from all walks of student life and maintains contact with the faculty. In this way, Aurelian still maintains the leadership role on which it was founded, emphasizing a sense of history and inquisitiveness. This legacy persists in its annual speakers program and monthly lunches with members of the faculty and administration.

* Aurelian Honor Society at Yale

### Trivia

* Aurelian Name and emblem - The name was chosen in honor of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, whose career and philosophy represented those ideas for which the organization wished to strive. These ideals are symbolized by the Society's emblem: a seven-pointed star surrounded by a wreath. The wreath represents a reward of merit, and the star stands for a single body (originally seven members) radiating light in the seven principal lines of college activity—Scientific, Athletic, Literary, Oratorical, Executive, Scholarship, and Religious.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Ninth House Chapter 6 (Last Fall)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ninth House Chapter 5 (Winter) - Lethe Days Diary
3. ↑ https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/02/06/aurelian-society-banned-from-on-campus-meeting-space/
4. ↑ Interestingly, Aurelian was banned twice from Room 405 for giving drinks to minors. Once in 2012 - its unclear when they got back their rooms again - and again in 2016/17
5. ↑ Ninth House Chapter 18 (Last Fall)
 Aurelian on Wikipedia
 Aurelian on Wikipedia