Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults Chapter Five: House Verditius

Verditius Magi

The Contest

In 802, Verditius’s filius Milo discovered one of the treasures of Hephaestus, the mechanized torture chair used by Zeus to interrogate his wife Hera. Returning it to Verdi, Milo and Verditius’s first filius, Gelon, quarreled over who should possess the chair. Verditius decided that ownership would be awarded to the filius who could invent the most wondrous magical item, giving them a year to complete the task. He summoned all the Verditius magi in the Order to judge the event. Gelon won the contest, and benevolently gave the chair to Verdi rather than accepting the item himself. This was such a well-received event that Verditius decided to hold it again, eighteen years later, this time allowing all of his line to participate. This tradition has lasted throughout the centuries; even the Schism War did not interrupt the Contest of 1018.

Every eighteen years, all able-bodied Verditius travel to Verdi for the Contest. Verdi fills with magi, apprentices, forge- companions, selling agents, and other hangers-on, stuffing the unused towers of the previous Primi with guests. Magi bring their most fabulous magical item to enter in the competition. Those without an entry still come to participate in the judging, meet old friends, make new contacts, and cast sour glances at rivals. The event begins on Midsummer Eve and lasts for a week. The first half of the week is reserved for feasting, House meetings, Initiations, and other Verditius business. The judging of items occurs during the last three days.

The actual Contest takes place in a Greek-style temple built in a Magic regio that lies just outside Verdi, accessible through one of the ancient nuraghi. Only Verditius magi are allowed within the regio, which is protected by guards and magical wards to prevent others from entering. The Contest has three categories of competition: items crafted by apprentices, journeymen, and masters. All of these entries are on display throughout the week. The apprentices’ devices are judged on the fifth day, the journeymen’s on the sixth, and the masters’ on the final day. The assembled Verditius magi serve as judges, casting their voting sigils for the entry that they deem most unique or clever. The magical power of the device is not the only criteria for winning, and items are judged according to their usefulness, inventiveness, beauty, cost in construction, and innovative nature. Majority vote wins, with the Primus deciding in the case of a tie. All of the entries become the property of Verdi.

Winners are lauded with acclaim and respect. Each category winner selects an item from the vast stores of Contest entries as her prize. The master category winner selects first, choosing three items for himself, the journeyman winner chooses two, followed by the apprentice winner who chooses a single item. None of the winning devices may be selected as prizes until the next Contest.