Houses of Hermes

This article is about the group of present and past houses that comprise the Order of Hermes. For the 1994 Supplement by Wizards of the Coast, see Houses of Hermes Book.

In most Ars Magica sagas, the Order of Hermes consists of twelve "houses". (Depending on the time period of the saga, there may be thirteen instead, plus any unofficial Houses the players may have invented for themselves)

Houses are groups of magi who are somehow related; they are something like noble families, though their members (usually) trace their lineage through apprenticeship rather than blood.

The Twelve Houses

House Bjornaer : A House of shapeshifters. In ArM5, this is a Mystery House

House Bonisagus : A House of magical researchers and statesmen. In ArM5, this is a True Lineage.

House Criamon : A House of highly mystical magi. In ArM5, this is a Mystery House.

House Ex Miscellanea : A highly eclectic House of magi from many different traditions, some of them non-Hermetic. In ArM5, this is a Societas.

House Flambeau : A House of warrior magi, often specializing in the Arts of Ignem or Perdo. In ArM5, this is a Societas.

House Guernicus : A House containing the Quaesitors, the judges of the Order. In ArM5, it is a True Lineage. In ArM4 and earlier, it was known as House Quaesitor.

House Jerbiton : A House of magi interested in Mundane culture or society. In ArM5, this is a Societas.

House Mercere : A House that includes many unGifted redcaps and some magi. In ArM5, it is a True Lineage.

House Merinita : A House that is interested in the Faerie Realm. In ArM5, it is a Mystery House.

House Tremere : A highly organized, hierarchical House with strong political influence. In ArM5, it is a True Lineage.

House Tytalus : A House whose members share a philosophy of thriving on conflict. In ArM5, it is a Societas.

House Verditius : A House whose members excel in making enchanted devices. In ArM5, it is a Mystery House.

The Thirteenth House

In addition, earlier in the history of Mythic Europe, there was a thirteenth House called House Diedne. It was destroyed in the Schism War. House Diedne is also referred to as the Nameless House.

References

Fifth Edition

The categorization of Houses into True Lineages, Societates, and Mystery Houses was introduced. (ArM5, p. 223)

In Fifth Edition, House Quaesitor was renamed to House Guernicus.

The following Fifth Edition supplements relate to Houses:

• Houses of Hermes: True Lineages covering House Bonisagus, House Guernicus, House Mercere and House Tremere.
• Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults covering House Bjornaer, House Criamon, House Merinita, and House Verditius.
• Houses of Hermes: Societates covering House Flambeau, House Jerbiton, House Tytalus, and House Ex Miscellanea.

Interrim between Third Edition and Fourth Edition

Wizards of the Coast published a supplement that described the Houses in detail: Houses of Hermes. It billed itself as a Fourth Edition source book, but was published before any Fourth Edition core rule book. When Atlas Games began the Fourth Edition line, Houses of Hermes was considered mostly compatible.

Second Edition

Houses were described in the Second Edition supplement, Order of Hermes

First Edition

Houses did not exist in First Edition. Magi were generally categorized by their favored Arts instead.

Legacy Page

The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at Legacy:houses_of_hermes