The wind speaks. Sometimes in a lover's whisper, other times, in a sirocco scream. Like the wind, the Ahl-i-Batin seem formless, invisible

and elemental. And like the wind, they speak in many voices.

Masters of telepathy, projection, and space, these mysticks cross great distances with ease. During the Crusades, Batini assassins truck down kings; now their

diplomats smooth ruffled feathers while their warriors make more permanent truces. When

need he, these magi emerge, perform their duties, then vanish.

Batini ties to European magi run deep: Long ago, mysterious invitations summoned dozens of magi together. In the home of an Arabian merchant, the guests laid the plans for the Web of Faith. Eventually, they realized their host was a minor sorcerer acting on behalf

of a larger fellowship: the Hidden Ones, whose name — Ahl-i-Batin — means "subtle" and "interior."

Behind that elusive name lies a common tie to each of the other groups, Five hundred years before Christ, arcane warfare led to a bizarre union. A war-weary Akashic group stumbled

across an Ecstatic dance; joining it, one of their memhers suddenly bonded with an Ecstatic, creating a two-faced

entity called the Khwaja al-Akbar. In a rapid series of revelations, he announced the Doctrine of Unity,

wherein all the pieces of Divinity were to be brought back together into a

single, ineffable whole. War parties from other sects interrupted this "Night of Fana." The resulting battle turned a fertile plain into a waste-

land. The Ahl-i-Batin had been born.After that night, the

survivors became mirages. Melding their old Arts with the arcane revelations of the Khwaja

al-Akbar, they transcended mortal space. In the well between time and distance, the

Batini discovered Mount Qaf, the heart of Creation. There, they built the citadel Sihr Maqamut and forged a fellowship bond by a telepathic network — the Naffas Allah, or "Breath of God." Over several centuries, the Batini spread across the Middle East, sowing wisdom among the warring tribes. In their travels Subtle Ones crossed swords with Whash (Marauds), Magouh Doudi (Nephandi) and other, secular foes. To prevail, Batini employed disguise, stealth and misdirection. Their invitation to the other groups gave them allies. Soon, Islam gave them purpose.Undoubtedly, the Web of Faith provided a cradle for the later Convocation that will one day lead to the Council of Nine Traditions. Through emissaries, teachers and occasional assassins, the Subtle Ones now guide the events towards the Unity spoken of by the Khwaja al-Akbar. Despite the group's efforts, most European magi remain ignorant of the Batini; those who know of them at all consider them heretical Muslims. Although Batini eagerly embrace Mohammed's faith — a Divine extension of their own doctrine—the group remains hidden behind veils of secrecy. The powers of Fana are abominations to most children of the Prophet, so the Batini remain "subtle" to this day.

As individuals, Batini are often charming, hard-working folk. The word "sorcerer" is an insult to them, but most will tolerate "magus." The average Subtle One calls himself a khilwat — a silence. This strange appellation refers both to the mindspeech the Batini prefer, and to the silence before a grand revelation. In that silence, Allah whispers to the Enlightened Ones, and that whisper carries like the wind.

Philosophy: Wisdom comes not from seclusion, but from experience. Schooling is vital, but maturity moreso. Most Murids (experienced magi) have mastered Mind well enough to achieve a profound empathy for other people.

Combined with his travels, studies and doctrine, a khilwat mirrors the concept of Unity in himself- Unity lies at the core of our belief. Divinity slumbers within all people, even unbelievers. All things are connected by Allah; with His help, we pull the connections a little closer. Sabr — perseverance — strengthens wise men, and generosity makes them virtuous. (Sadly, the Crusades and Reconquista mock the Doctrine of Unity- Surely Allah never intended this! Faced with ignorance and treachery, Subtle Ones teach when they can and kill when they must. The eternal comfort "La ilaha. ilia 'llah" — "There is no God hut Allah" — is never far from their lips.)

Style and Tools: Magick is Allah's gift to His muttaqi (devoted servants). A Murid performs his miracles through prayers, meditation, chants and music. Esoteric mathematics break the chains of preconception, and dance frees the mind and body. Some practice alchemy, but even these folks prize spiritual riches over material ones.

Organization: Some Batini avoid subtlety; dressed in finery from various cultures, they delight in Arabian splendor.Subtle khilwati disguise themselves and hide their mystick talents. Despite preconceptions, many Batini are women— respected, if not equal, members of the fellowship. These take the title shaykha, and favor divination and storytelling. Most Batini are Murids, magi of limited insight. Gathered into khanaqahs (lodges), they tend to Earthly affairs. Truly wise khilwati attain Murshid status, and travel on to the Otherworldly Mt. Qaf. Back home, Qutbs, masters of Mind, maintain the Web of Faith that allows Batini to communicate across vast distances. Each memher of the khanaqah takes his or her title from a household chore (the Baker, the Cupbearer, etc.). The Breath of God connects them all, and allows Batini to commune across great distances.

Initiation: A Murid tests a promising recruit's sabr through irritating questions, enigmas and apparent contradictions.If the pupil perseveres, he is brought before the khanaqah, questioned, and perhaps initiated. Afterward, he becomes a "child" to his "family" and begins a seven-year instruction. When he finishes that, he is accepted as a Murid.

Avatar: The Bos (Reed) guides a seeker back to the ponds atop Mt. Qaf. Until it returns, the Reed whistles plaintively, mourning its separation from the Whole.

Affinities: Connection, Mind. Batini may never learn Entropy, ever; it contradicts their entire paradigm of Unity.

Followers: Moorish refugees, Arab traders, wandering wise men, harem dancers, slaves, farmers, family members

Concepts: Physician, tradesman, scholar, houri, alchemist, defender of the faith

Cabal of Pure Thought (Gabrielites)

For over a thousand years, God's Holy Church has brought order to civilization. Throughout the dark times, monasteries and nunneries tended to the needy, educated the poor and above all else, ministered to the faithful. As a result, the Church has kept darkness at arm's length. Now that the Church has become corrupted. Simonists sell salvation; nunneries

hide brothels; clerics sell their approval for worldly goods and influence. Many servants of God remain mercifully free of this spiritual taint, but the threat of corruption is there. The City of God is besieged.

Fortuitously, the Knights of Archangel Gabriel, Messenger of God, are there to break that assault.

In His eternal wisdom, God granted a vision to His servant ClaudiusDediticius many years ago. In it, Gabriel outlined a fellowship of reverent men and women who would supplement Peter's Church.

To seal the covenant, Gabriel kissed Claudius, imbuing him with Holy Might — the Awakening of God's Power

within him. To this day, that fire stirs withinGabrielites,and defines their sacred mission.

Claudius set his vision down as the Revelation of the Pure Thought of God, and assembled a fellow--ship of talented Christians to aid him. This Divine order outlasted Rome, Charlemagne and the Pagan

hordes that once ruled Europe; its members went on Crusades, built cathedrals and compiled libraries

when education was almost nonexistent. Working within the shadow of Peter's

throne, this secret Cabal sought to unify all Christians under one Word, one God and

one Church, then protect that Church against its adversaries. The decline of that holy institution and the stains on Saint Peter's holy robes have

pushed the Knights into a more militant position. What good is world unity when the Church that

provides it is defiled? Now, the Cabal seems beset on

all sides by the enemies of God. In response, some Knights have suspended their commitment to the Sixth, Eighth and Ninth Commandments (killing, stealing and lying). Surely the Lord understands

their distress! This army of God conducts its war

on three fronts: The lllustroferatores, who feed the hungry, tend the sick, debate the

Word with skeptics, and monitorbooks for orthodoxy; the Poenitenti,

who minister to the weak, take confessions and spy upon the faithless;

and the Venatores Maleficorum, who war upon the

enemies who will not be dissuaded by softer ministrations. The well-known "Falcons of Gabriel" come from the latter branch, while agents of the other two are inconspicuous in their dealings. Within the Church, these "Doves of Christ" conduct a secret crusade; they loose the Falcons — their military cousins — only when grace has failed. These Falcons form the sword-arm of the Cabal’s, offering shelter to the Lord's followers (like the Knights Templar) while punishing heretics, night-folk and unbelievers. Equipped with the best weapons and armor that divine blessings can secure, they take the field when no other options exist. Because the Falcons present the Cabal's most obvious face, most outsiders think all Gabrielites are warrior-priests. This is hardly the case; most Knights see their Cabal as a merciful order. Better to slay an errant soul than to stand by while innocent ones suffer. Worse still, the world would be forfeit if the Church itself fell. In the void, the Pagans and monsters would rush in, just as they did after Rome's decline, and take the collective soul of mankind screaming into Hell. That must never be allowed to happen!

Philosophy: Goodness comes through Christ's holy blood, shed on the Cross, Mankind has refused to follow theteachings of God, His Son and the prophets; thus, the world spirals downward, and Satan cackles, This truth is simple and self-evident; there is no reason to disguise it in riddles or signs. A pure soul thinks pure thoughts; while no man is without sin, this ideal gives us something to aspire to.

Tools and Style: Each Gabrielite is invested with the Holy Fire — their Awakening —and carries it as a sacred trust.That trust can only be broken by forfeiting one's soul. Prayer is a Gabrielite's greatest tool; through it, God answers his servant's needs. Even so, He appreciates resourceful followers. Hence, a Knight also employs speeches and invocations (to change minds); healing salves (to cure illness and wounds); fire and water (to purify); and weapons, armor and torture (to destroy that which will not be changed). When discretion is essential, passwords, hand signals and Scripture-based codes assure the Cabal's secrecy.

Organization: The Doves (Knights of Peace) and Falcons (Knights of War) both divide their adherents between aspirants (also called novices), resplendents, and maximi.(revered for their holiness as much as for the strength of their workings). Gabrielites refer to lodges as temples; a rotating Senatus composed of maximi oversees the Cabal. Gabrielites, even commoners and women, are considered Knights of God (within their own fellowship, anyway). Several military orders — among them the Templars, Swords of Grace, Die Wolffgilde and the Order of theHammer — comprise the Falcons' wings.

Initiation: A Gabrielite experiences a holy vision before Awakening. This usually leads the Aspirant to a tutor, where he receives instruction and a special sacrament- This ritual, the Kiss of Gabriel, involves long prayer, fasting and purification, followed by a series of vows and a final kiss. If the Aspirant feels the Holy Fire within him, he joins the ranks; if not, he becomes a Brother instead.

Avatar: Each Gabrielite has a personal guardian angel who acts as guide, teacher and disciplinarian.

Affinities: Forces, Mind and Fire.

Followers: Peasants, clergymen, knights and soldiers, witch-hunters, scholars, missionaries

Concepts: Scholarly monk, exorcist, orator, torturer. Inquisitor, knight or man-at-arms, healer, monster-hunter,servant to a bishop or cardinal

CraftmasonsAcross the centuries the Craftmasons have brought together separate orders,established lodges within the mortal comm.-

-unity, and used their Divine mysteries to safeguard the common folk. Moreover, they're humble; in place of the

cathedrals favored by other the Church, or the Castles raised by the nobility, the Grafters prefer a simple chapel.

One would think they would be popular, even revered; instead, these dedicated Artisans hide behind walls of

misdirection. Their crimes? They fired the first shot of the Ascension War, in the attack on the Hermetic Chantry at

Mistridge; but even worse, they dared to treat commoners as equals, even superiors, of magi and nobility.

Schooled in sacred geometry and esoteric lore, these "Craftmasons" understand the relationships between mathematics, the elements, Divinity and the human soul. Their Arts, channeled through architecture and invention, take advantage of Shallowings and Crays, focusing mystick power to auspicious

locations. Each stone set and each wall erected is a ritual dedicated to the construction of something greater. Each creation becomes a symbol of a larger Unity - I.ong ago, the Mt. Ossa Calyx and Collegium Praecepti birthed guilds that preserved the secrets of alchemy, architecture, trade

and transportation after Rome fell. During that dark age, pride and jealousy splintered those guilds into dozens of fragments. The resulting Masonic

sects offered variations on sacred geometry, but rarely with the insights of true Divine guidance.

To preserve the Ars Praeclarus,the masters of several guilds forswore grand works; instead, they dedicated their fellowships to the common man and to God. Slowly, these guilds built

their chapel with mortal architects and began handing down the ancient secrets. Occasional lodge wars under-

mined the work, but alliances reinforced the walls. When Wolfgang von Reismann called

his Gathering of the Square, the chapel became a gate; when the resulting Craftmasons declared war on the Houses of Hermes, that gate became a castle.

A castle was necessary; as guildmasters compiled their arch- I

-ves, they noticed a disturbing pattern: Without help, the average person was trapped in an endless maze of mortal slavery

and supernatural predation. Hammers in hand, the Craftmasons began to demolish that maze, first by circulating

texts about their enemies, then by encouraging free trade and advanced workmanship. When necessary, these gifts were

hacked up by steel, crossbows, Greek Fire and other "impossible"

innovations. One of their masters, an ex-Hermetic named Giambatista Piranesi, even designed the infamous “wizard’s

gaol” of Pope Nicholas; its esoteric angles, mathematically perfect proportions, and geomantic design actually diffuse quintessence outward harmlessly, and nullify any but the most powerful magicks within its walls.

Despite cultivating members among the society’s savants and geniuses, the Craftmasons have become peasant magicians, the “lodge of the people.” Forswearing the finery of rival wizards, these folk use only what they need. Long centuries of cooperation have established a bond between common laborers and Enlightened Artisans, The result is a humble but powerful fellowship that combines esoteric doctrines with solid labor. But now their castle is beset by storms. Hermetic wizards have sworn revenge for Mistridge; rival "Mason Lodges" strike back at every opportunity; peasant uprisings, encouraged by Crafters, become purges. Craftmasons revere the common man, but other groups consider him a tool. This has caused a schism between the founders and other groups of supernaturals and magi alike. The Sacred Artisans have erected a fortress for the common man, of uncommon magicks. The castle trembles. How long can its walls hold?

Philosophy: Sorcery is lazy and sinful; good things come through hard work.. Flaws invite disaster. An imperfect building must be torn down and begun again. When God made the world, He left His mark on it — a Grand Design symbolized by a single red rose of 99 petals. Each of those petals circles a single hub; that center symbolizes Unity, and Unity is strength. Like the rose, a perfect structure combines disparate elements into a unified whole. Hence, our philosophy blends esoteric and symbolic aspects into concrete work — work that mirrors the labor of God. (Some accounts claim the Collegium Praecepti undermined Rome, intending to rebuild it to its former glory. Thus, do the Grafters undermine rival magi, feudal society and the castle they helped construct. When it all comes down, they'll rebuild again.)

Tools and Style: Magick is Craftsmanship; a spell is built, not "cast." Most workings involve powerful tools; one creation, the Viasilicos, is the pinnacle of Craftmason Arts. The greater mason's tools—levels, chisels, ruling squares, ladders, hammers arid plumb lines — all have ritual and symbolic significance as well as practical uses. Lesser tools—guns, cannons, and the onehanded crossbows many Craftmasons employ — symbolize the Grafters' commitment to force when necessary.

Organization: Within their lodges, Craftmasons recognize 33 levels of achievement that approximate the usual wizardly ranks. Nine guilds function within the larger fellowship: the Chalice (healers); Coin (traders); Level (political reformers); Sword (men-at-arms); Hemlock (spies and assassins); Chisel (architects and teachers); Arrow (charities); Stone (laborers); and Scroll (teachers and scribes). Some accounts claim mysterious "elder circle" of astral magi governs the Maximi, but the tale is impossible to prove.

Grand Primus: A succession of humble workers, chosen each year by election.

Initiation: Many Sacred Artisans begin as mortal craftsmen who learn the greater secrets through the symbols employed by the group. By meditating at a site of architectural genius, an initiate receives visions of the Great Ideal, and Awakens. From there, she recruits a sponsor, who takes her through a series of tests. If she passes, a new Artisan joins the fold. If not, she's often kept on as a valued retainer.

Avatar: Most Craftmasons dismiss their Daemons as delusions or demonic tempters; some mystics, however, see the spirits as ghostly mentors or "Hidden Masters" who have transcended mortal form.

Sphere: Matter

Followers: Workers, men-at-arms, radical clergy, tradesmen, bandits, midwives, apothecaries

Concepts: Mentor, Platonic visionary, reformer, Gnostic mystic, lodge mastermind, outlaw leader, Facilitator, architect, occult librarian, artillerist, monster-hunter

Euthanatoi (Hooded Ones)As everyone knows, a crossroad is the surest path to the Underworld. This Fellowship is a loose alliance of necromancers from diverse traditions. These Thanatoic sects comprise an odd four-way union. A Celtic group, the Aided, preserves the Pagan mysteries of Annwynn and Carbonck; The small but vocal Pomegranate Deme retains the mysteries of Persephone, Orpheus,and Demeter; The quiet Hemlock Cup have preserved the classical Greek philosophy of Thanatos, drunk deep the myths of Hades, She’ol, and Hel (and other underworlds), and treated with the spirits of the restless dead; And recently, returning Crusaders brought back whispers of a death cult in the Holy Land named the Sons of Mawet – understood by some as the Hebrew angel of death, and by some as the ancient Canaanite death god. The other Thanatoic magi immediately recognized a kindred group in the Mawetim, and have made basic overtures for cooperation and sharingof magicks and lore. United by the Scholars of the Wheel (archivists who track past incarnations), these diverse groups find common ground at the crossingof death and rebirth.

From these four pillars, new acolytes havebeen accepted from many lands. Some hold strictlyto the ancient tradition of each set, while among otherEuthanatoi a general paradigm of death-magic has evolved,drawing from all four (and other) sources.

It’s fitting that a crossroad of tour diverse cultures ledto the Thanatoic tradition. The Euthanatoi watch over theArts of mortality., the crossroads between life and death, one state and another. Like leaves from an autumn tree, these magi guard the moment between life and death. Heretical reincamationists, they see Creation as a spinning Wheel of Death and Rebirth. When something — or someone — interferes with the Wheel's motion, the obstacle should be removed. The method of removal may be as simple as a kind word or as finalas murder. No other Fellowship inspires asmuch loathing as the Euthanatoi. Even the sweetestamong them seems, to others, like a demon from Hell.

Death and Fortune hold fascinating power. It is in the turning of the Wheel, in the chance-meetings of the Crossroad, that fate, luck, fortune, and blind chance meet. These magi not only tend to the cycle of life and rebirth, administering “the good death”reverently when necessary—they also tend to the movements of fate itself. They keep the forces of entropy, chance,

chaos, and re-creation spinning with their magicks. More to the point, they occupy important placesin God's plan. Better to have an ally who understands and respects death than one who toys with it- No one doubts the sincerity and insight these magi display, and none can question the power in their hands. The witch-folk and shamans, while uncertain of the necromancers, often ally with them as well; a mutual respect for cycles and spirits places them in tough agreement. While the Order of Hermes uses the name “Euthanatoi” for them (favoring it for its Greek origin), the issue has yet to be decided; many magi simply call them "The Hooded Ones" — or other, darker names.

Like all crossroads, this fellowship is uneasy. Death exerts a fascinating pull that few sorcerers can resist; walls of language, culture and practice divide the different sects, and their companions are hostile at best. A Hooded One must walk very, very carefully. His magicks are not to be regarded lightly. Still, there are fertile Arts to be mined from the corpse-yard. A Euthanatos believes that Death and Luck follow the same spin; with a steady hand on the Wheel, a magus can turn ill Fortune into good. Despite the dark image they share, most Euthanatoi are generous to a fault. Many of the smartest and kindest magi belong to this tradition. Their sect demands responsibility and foresight. It rewards carelessness harshly. To dwell at the crossroad, a magus must be honest, perceptive and wise. This uncanny fellowship provides a strong hand at the fellowship’s rudder and a vigilant watch on the moment of death.

(Later in their history, as Europeans travel further abroad, these “death mages” will encounter other kindred spirits whom they acknowledge as their brothers & sisters in the craft. three Hindu sects (the Natatapas, Lhaksmists and Connsanguinity of Eternal Joy) comprise the largest faction, and pursue war, healing, luck, and necromancy respectively. The African Madzimbabwe cure plagues and tend ghosts, and the Cult of Osiris follows the mysteries of the Egyptian books of the dead. Some of members of these groups, particularly the Indian sects, will join the mostly-European Hooded Ones, adding their insights and philosophy to the Fellowship.)

Philosophy: All things die, and all shall be reborn. You need only look at the crops to know this is true. All lifecarries death and new life inside. The secret to understanding this is to observe them both. Ghosts surround us; listen to the wind and hear their voices. They are the souls stuck on the Wheel of rebirth. Best to free them and end their suffering. Good fortune rides on that Wheel, too, for those who understand how to spin it properly — and with reverence. Adherents of pagan religions, philosophers, atheists, and free-thinkers have no problem treading this path; Christians who would stand at the Crossroads have much to justify with their religion, and are generally adherents of some heresy or another – often Manicheeism or Gnosticism.

Tools and Style; Kinship with Fate makes a Hooded One master of it. A practiced Euthanatos may commune with ghosts, cure or breed disease and decay, crumble stone and twist Fate's threads to suit his purposes. His tools depend on his sect: Celts favor Pagan rituals; Africans prefer prayer, paint and corpse-parts; Hindus employ a frightening variety of self-tortures, purifications, ordeals and designs; Greeks pepper elaborate rites with fruits, dust, chants and sacrifice. All sects use weapons and symbols of mortality.

Organization: Each sect uses its own hierarchies. Elders are generally obeyed without question, hut rarely act without consulting their fellows. The Scholars of the Wheel serve as the group's "head council" and lorekeepers.

Initiation: All Hooded Ones must die and be reborn — literally. A mentor brings his charge back from the far edge of death (where she Awakens), then schools her in the Arts, often with visions of past lives. The Euthanatos Code is essential: Briefly, it decrees a belief in reincarnation, entropy and the unity of all things; a duty to ease suffering, deny excess, practice mercy and purity the self; and the necessity of death before initiation. Euthanatoi are carefully trained and watched by elders. Those who stray are cut down.

Avatar: Depending on her faith, a Euthanatos might see her daemon as Shiva, Kali, Persephone, Hades, Uriel,Dame Fortune, Demeter, or some simple but potent animal spirit.

Affinities: Entropy and Spirit.

Followers: Ghosts, grieving relatives, animals, physicians, beggars

Concepts: Healer, guardian, merchant, assassin, spy, ghost-tender, necromancer

Hippocratic Circle (Cosians)No Art or science is as vital ( but problematic) as the ones concerningthe human body. According to Genesis, God made man in His imageand gave him dominion over the Earth; by the same token, He also cursedthe children of Adam and Eve, and gave Satan dominion over them.The body, therefore, is both sacred and unclean, a mirror of Divinity,yet a harbor for lusts and disease. To work with such a canvas, amagus must be brave, wise and irreverent. The chirurgeons of theHippocratic Circle are all of those and more. Long ago, healers like Imotep, Wang Wei-i, Herophilusand Hippocrates established great schools of medicine. Inaddition to mortal techniques, these Awakened masterspioneered special Arts, and passed them on to their beststudents. Hippocrates established a special guild of suchhealers in Greece; named the Cosian Circle, this academytreated illnesses, pursued alchemical immortalityand encouraged education and vitality. This Circle hada darker side, too; legends claim that a guild within theguild pursued a secret Hippocrates forbade: the creationof new life. To this end, the physicians dissectedliving creatures and infused them with odd humours.Chambers beneath the guildhalls housed the malformedresults: creatures that were occasionallydispatched to kill the Circle's enemies. When Rome fell, the Circle was broken and itssecrets scattered. In the Far and Middle East, someguilds preserved the Arts, but in Europe, they werenearly lost. In Byzantium, a single school preservedCosian techniques for centuries. Agonizingly slowly, in this age of leech-craft and humour-balancing, the Cosians are reestablishing the Hippocratic Circle and returning Hippocrates’ Arts to Europe. It was none too soon; the rash of plagues that sweptthe land kept the handful of Cosian initiates busy. Asthe sicknesses spread, so too did centers of Enlightenedhealing. The odd and irreverent nature of their Artssoon brought these physicians into conflict with theChurch, however, and the healers often lost. Hospitalswere burned, often with both patients and Cosians inside.Now the Circle hides behind a monasteries, crusader hostels, and noble patrons. The Brandenburg Krankenhause, a largehospital protected by the Holy Roman Emperor, providesthe only "open" office for the elusive Cosians. Elsewhere,they cloak their teachings in symbology andpass them on to the most talented initiates.While mortal physicians grope about in the dark withmedicine as likely to harm as to heal, Cosian doctorspreserve the advanced practices of Egyptian,Greek and Arabian healers—and add to them. Likethe four humours, the Cosian body follows fourfunctions: The House of Mandrake studies

herbalism and agriculture; traveling healers fromthe House of Fire relieve plagues and isolate diseases;the House of Books concentrates on teaching and study, while the dreaded House of Knives specializes in surgery. Outside that order, a "minor house'of non-physicians, the warrior Phylaxoi, protects the healers, and a secret alchemical guild, the House of Olympus, carries on forbidden experiments with immortality and creation. The Cosian world is a strange brew of the blood-to-the-elbows experience of midwives, herbalists, barber-chirurgeons; the scholarly works of courtly astrologer-physicians; and the methodical experiments of botanists and dissectionists. A Cosian immerses herself in her work to an unsettling degree, and of ten chronicles her research in stomach-churning detail. An academic theorist spends much of her time among plants and star charts; the dedicated plague-chaser travels across the land searching for epidemics; the cadaverist dwells in charnel houses and blood-guttered basements. This fellowship attracts all manner of folk, some of them deeply disturbing. It takes intelligence, obsession and guts to question God's handiwork. A Cosian physician considers such questions merely a beginning....

Philosophy: As a carpenter works in wood or a stonecutter in marble, the Cosian works in plants, flesh and blood. Divinity nestles within the natural world. What we cannot catalogue, we can create with secrets uncovered within God's puzzle, Our world is God incarnate — a miracle, not a prison.

Tools and Style: Founded in Pagan practices and ungodly research, the Hippocratic Arts delve into thepatterns of life, decipher those patterns and turn them to greater ends. Herbs, potions, artificial limbs and surgicaltools make up the Cosian's "kit." With such wonders, she can cure plagues, heal infections and create homunculi,living plains, wondrous creatures and longevity potions. Depending on the healer's discipline and personality, shemight cure, alter or corrupt most living things.

Organization: Most lodges consist of secret meeting halts within established academies or hospices. The attending Cosians refer to apprentices as Medici, adepts as Doctori, masters as Praceptori, and the grand masters as Praavus (Grandfather) and Proavia (Grandmother). The Cosians are likely to respect female members as well as male; the Dark-Age European tradition of the wise woman, skilled in healing and herbalism, is respected in this group. Advanced as they are by mortal standards, the Cosians still follow the Greco-Roman model of medicine. Two rival fellowships, the Chinese House of Hua T'o and the Arabian Hands of Mercy, disdain the Cosians and are spumed in return. While some radical physicians study two or three healing styles, most uphold the superiority of their cultural Art and disparage the others.

Initiation: Most Cosians follow the family trade; occasionally, though, an outside initiate might seem worthwhile. Extensive training and experience provide the mentor a chance to observe budding Enlightenment. If A wakening appears imminent, the mentor sends the initiate on some traumatic errand, then tests her when she returns, If successful, she joins the lower Medici; if nor, she remains a valued but mundane healer.

Avatar: While most Cosians see their guides as ghostly physicians, a few commune with angels or Old Gods of healing. (They keep those communions secret!)

Sphere(s): Life, Mind.

Followers: Farmers, mercenaries, lepers, indebted nobility, former "experiments"

Concepts: Physician, midwife, mad doctor, chirurgeon, artist, herbalist, zoologist, animal trainer, alchemist,plague-healer

An Awakened person wears a crown. Like the halo of a saint, this glittering

An Awakened person wears a crown. Like a saint’s halo, this glitteringcoronet displays God's favor. To win it, a magus must look past false

appearances, master the Art, and refine himself from clay to gold.Alchemy, the Transformation Art, concerns the ascension of matter

to an exalted state. Mortal "puffers" try to turn lead to gold, but the true alchemist wants to transform himself. While this quest involves

material disciplines, those refinements are baby steps on the Royal Road. Solificati alchemists take their name from the crown of mastery.

These "Crown'd Ones" wear their achievements proudly — too proudly for some tastes — hut they have that right. The road to

their ranks is long arid torturous, beset by dragons of greed, ignorance and material instability. The fire of genius can

become a torch (or an explosion) all too easily. That Path begins in the Cup of Isis, with the Arts of Hatshepsut,

who powdered her cheeks with gold she made from sand. Glowing like the sun, she taught her best students how to

refine the glittering dust. Just as the humble sand becomes pure gold, she taught, the basest pupil could, through wisdom, become a magician — and more. To protect

her secrets, she hid them in esoteric hieroglyphs — pictures so symbolic that even master scribes could not decipher

them. The queen passed the secrets to 10 of her most trusted Cupbearers, bidding the magi to perfect themselves along with

the sand. Naturally, those secrets spread; Hatshcpsut's lore soon mingled with the

discoveries of Taoist magicians, Hermetic wizards, Jewish rabbis, Pagan oracles and Christian mystics, breeding a strange Art

that could damn or purify with equal success.To those who pursued alchemy with greedy

intents, the Curse of Gold turned their fortune to ruin; to those who sought the Royal Road of self-perfection, alchemy

granted wealth, Enlightenment and imm--ortality. Along the way, alchemists refined

marvelous cures, magnificent ores and a language of symbols so ornate and complex

that even its masters only halfunderstoodit. A group of those masters, the White Lion

Guild, organized a number of alchemistsunder the name “The Crowned Ones”

(Solificati) as an alchemical fellowshipof mutual aid, cooperation, and study.

To outsiders, a Solificato seems arrogant and self-absorbed. Her research

appears more important than social graces, and she often speaks in riddles and searches for

hidden meanings. If she's remotely competent, this

magus surroundsherself with worldly goods — whichshe doesn't seem to care about. Behind that shell, however,

the alchemist is a seer struggling with her own blindness. To her, the world is a tapestry of symbols, tantalizing in itscomplexity, yet simple if yon know where and how to look. Her enigmatic ways are a challenge to others: See beyond the obvious. Reach past your limits. Crack the serpent's egg and cut yourself on Ouroboros' teeth. Only then can you call yourself "magus."

Philosophy: Magick is a symbol for self-refinement. While it bestows great powers, those trinkets are nothingcompared to the spiritual process, Everything in Creation is part of that process (the stars, the minerals, the spirits, thebeasts), and is a reflection of a cosmic truth; every item has a higher state. The world is organic, caked with baseness that, when smelted away, reveals Divinity. That smelting presents the greatest challenge; it requires wisdom, education, intuition and a balance between inner and outer elements. Perfection of one breeds perfection for all. Material things are ultimately hollow. One must be generous as the swan, honorable as the flame and valiant as the lion. The true Philosopher's Stone is not a stone at all— it is the spirit that lives forever.

Tools and Style: Unlike the Hermetics they resemble, most Solificati are calm and patient. In laboratories overflowing with books, burners, astrological charts and strange chemicals, they transform mundane matter into wondrous objects. Lead into gold is only the beginning. Their potions, dusts, True Metals and strange fires are less intimidating than the wild storms of their Hermetic friends, but used wisely, they can be equally effective. Mishandled, they breed catastrophe. Those toys are a dumb-show, however; the true magick appears in the expanded awareness, perceptions and faculty that a good alchemist achieves. His senses, mind and endurance reach superhuman levels; he can see into the past or future, heal himself, even read thoughts and emotions. The magus becomes his own focus; so long us he can concentrate on his experiments, his senses sharpen. Some Crown'd Ones actually become rebi — hermaphrodites that meld male and female aspects into a perfect whole. Such a rebis, formed from the union of two magi into one, or from the refinement of an individual’s male and female principle, is highly honored by the Fellowsip.

Organization: These days, an alchemist is judged by her achievements and insight, not her ranking in some paltry hierarchy. Apprenticeship is essential, bur after graduation, each Crown'd One is equal — provided she canprove her worth. Disputes are often left to the magi to settle (preferably by certamen, not murder). Scandalously enough, this Fellowship reveres male and female equally. Insight is more important to them than decorum.

Initiation: Convincing a good alchemist to train you is difficult enough; the endless tests, labors and lessons that come with that training drive out all hut the most dedicated seekers. Many apprenticeships last five to 10 years; in that time, the "egg" (apprentice) learns the most common symbols, hut must figure the rest out for himself. Few alchemical texts feature writing — pictures and a few cryptic references arc all an egg has to learn by. If he Awakens, he might be taken into the formal fellowship or he might not. Most eggs don't know what they have joined until they've been chosen to join it.

Avatar: Magical beasts, animals and zodiac signs lead a merry dance along the Royal Road.

Spheres: Matter and Earth.

Followers: Rich patrons, artists, aspiring alchemists, recipients of generosity

Concepts: Mysterious stranger, apothecary, monk, astrologer, painter, noble, ne'er-do-well