Fenicil's Rituals

In the early years of the Order, Fenicil, primus of House Guernicus, uncovered many powerful Mercurian and earlier rituals. These were adapted to use by Guernicus magi. Their exact number and their effects are unknown, but it is generally believed in the Order that they offer the Quaesitores unique and potent capabilities that exceed the limits of Hermetic magic.

The mechanics are based on ritual-specific Abilities, which has been criticized as inapplicable in practice. For example, there are three Greater Rituals, each requiring a season to enact. They are taught only to an inner circle of "experienced Guernicus magi", which the example-casting given implies includes 37 out of a House of 98 - so about every third Guernicus magus. The example also indicates that this experienced magus knows the relevant Ability to level 3 or 4, which assuming Quality 10 sources would amount to about 3-5 seasons - for each Greater Ritual Ability, so for all three some 12 seasons of study are needed. That is a lot of time to expect every third Guernicus magus to invest, and this covers only the three Greater Rituals - supposedly these same magi would also be expected to learn at least some Lesser Rituals. And all these years of investment are for the off chance that it will be necessary to cast the ritual, an occurance that may never occur. This all seems highly unreasonable. As a house rule, the troupe may consider alternative methods of casting, such as casting the ritual like an Hermetic Ritual spell.

References

• Houses of Hermes: True Lineages, "House Guernicus" - "Fenicil's Rituals", pp. 76-77