Aedes Mercurii

Symbol: A fiery dragon eating its own tail

Just before the Schism War broke out, many of the Flambeau magi at Val-Negra left the domus magna, based on a vision one experienced, to form a separate covenant, and took a number of magi from other Houses with them. They seized control of a nearby outpost and the smaller halls scattered throughout the Pyrenees which once belonged to Val-Negra, including the great temple to Mercury from which they took the covenant's name. After the Schism War, to help establish their legitimacy, they spread the idea that Val-Negra covenant itself was no more, and that Aedes Mercurii had inherited its legacy. The brutal and prominent losses suffered by the covenant during hostilities only reinforced this idea. Thus, the covenant is now considered to be one of the most powerful regional covenants, although it doesn't match Val-Negra's former glory.

Aedes Mercurii has two locations. The first consists of a series of low utilitarian buildings surrounding a majestic stone edifice located in the center of the Cirque du Gavernie, about two miles north of Val-Negra. The main building is called the Temple of Mercury, and seems to predate the birth of Christ. Some tales claim members of the original Order of Mercury constructed it, others say Priamitus and other founders of the Cult of Mercury designed it to appear ancient. It stands three hundred feet long, surrounded by carved columns, with an elegant and beautiful interior and ancient altars on every side before the holy of holies at the eastern end. Usually called "the Temple" (Templum) by those at the covenant, this site is accessed from the other part via a large Mercere Portal built into an archway between two courtyards. The Magic aura throughout the Cirque and the outer buildings is 4, increasing to 8 inside the temple proper.

The second location is the more wellknown site, built into the top of the distinc-

tive Pic du Midi d'Ossau, which on a clear day is visible from Pau. Only 90 kilometers to the northwest of Val-Negra, Aedes Mercurii was originally established as a garrison for Val-Negra's forces during the final conflicts in the early 900s, but it has been continually improved since. Pic du Midi d'Ossau is now an immense fortress, with many towers, domes, and rotundas carved out of the mountain's interior. The exterior is grim and forbidding, especially when viewed from the narrow and winding path leading along the chasms of the Pyrenees to the entrance. Inside, the labyrinthine halls are a riot of conflicting styles, both grandiose and eclectic. It is enormous; even the magi who now live there do not know everything it contains, as new members usually add on to the existing structure. Many rooms once claimed by magi as labs and sanctums have remained undisturbed since their owners entered Twilight or died. The whole mountain has a pervasive Magic aura of 5. Since the main temple is typically accessed from here, this site is often referred to as "the back" of the temple (Dorsum).

Various other sites have also been considered part of the covenant, though none as significant as these two. Until recently, there was a large outpost at the city of Saint Jean Pied-de-Port, but, disastrously, the covenfolk who lived there came under suspicion of witchcraft from the local citizenry and the house became a casualty of a war when Richard the Lionheart razed the city in 1177. At one time there was another portal and entrance to the complex at the eastern edge of the Pyrenees, near Barcelona and north of Girona, though that too was abandoned, along with the portal to Val-Negra proper, at the beginning of the Schism War.

Approximately 18 magi compose Aedes Mercurii, with 11 living at the Dorsum site, and the other 7 living remotely at the Templum. The covenfolk divide in more or less the same proportion. While the two settlements are part of the same covenant, over the years since the Schism War tensions have escalated between them. Though they still present a united front to outsiders, the magi living at the Templum and those living at the Dorsum have very different outlooks. Generally speaking, the Templum magi remain loyal to what they envision as the pagan and historical traditions of the Order of Mercury, while the only consistent quality of the Dorsum magi is their bitter opposition to Castra Solis and their perceived status as the inheritors of Val-Negra's legacy.

As part of their belief that they are the last uninterrupted magical descendants of the Order of Mercury, the magi of Aedes Mercurii consider themselves to be priests of the Temple, or Flamen, each associated with a Roman god or goddess appropriate to their focus of magic. In most cases, especially that of the Tremere members, this is purely ceremonial and secular; declaring their patron god is like naming a spell after that god. Very few of those living at the covenant are actually pagan, worshipping their gods as anything more than high concepts, and those are generally seen as unusual. The most powerful faction at the covenant are the priests of Mars, who are almost exclusively House Flambeau, and the priests of Pluto, who are mostly House Tremere and thus have a good deal of political clout. House Verditius maintains a small and not-very-influential priesthood to Vulcan.

Flammarcus of Flambeau

Age: 121 (Apparent age 75) Personality Traits: Passionate +2, Ruthless +2

Flammarcus of Flambeau considers himself the leader of the covenant, and he calls himself the Pontifex Maximus. He is a priest of Mars, though like many who live at the Dorsum he is actually Christian and views the Mercurian priesthood as purely ceremonial. He idolizes Flambeau the Founder, and believes the magi of Castra Solis corrupted and revised the Founder's history. According to his research, Flambeau was not a Mithraian, but a Mercurian, possessor of some of the lost rituals of the Order. His findings paint a very different picture from the commonly accepted history, though

most other magi believe him overzealous, and do not understand his fervor. He is passionately driven to become Primus as soon as Garus dies, and it seems he might be willing to do anything to achieve this goal.

Protendus of Tremere

Age: 112 (Apparent age: 83) Personality Traits: Reclusive +2, Secretive +2

Protendus of Tremere is the most senior magus of House Tremere in the Tribunal. He answers (somewhat reluctantly) to the Iberian exarch, whom he believes resents the fact that the House does not have a significant presence in the Tribunal. He has trained several apprentices, and encourages young Tremeres to distinguish themselves, but the House's last enterprise twenty years ago (Lariander) failed for mysterious reasons, and he suspects that crusaders and the Merinita magi associated with Castra Solis were behind their disappearance. He is a member of the Vexillation of the Golden Thread, a secretive Tremere group dedicated to thwarting the twisty wiles of magi of House Tytalus, and he serves on the Aedes council as the priest of Pluto. He is also reputed to be a necromancer of unparalleled skill. For the most part, he remains aloof from Tribunal politics despite holding six sigils, often abstaining unless a decision impacts his House or a fellow Tremere advises him of important potential consequences. He prefers to act as a sort of unofficial, although tacitly sanctioned, Quaesitor. This unadvertised Quaesitor status and his Tremere rank allow him to better conduct unobtrusive investigations requiring discretion. Protendus keeps this secret by oaths enforced by certamen when necessary. He focuses on preventing the northern magi of House Tytalus from gaining a foothold in the region through unofficial channels and through methods Quaesitors might not usually use. So far he has been successful, though he suspects that the Tytali are now simply using the Mithraian members of House Flambeau and Castra Solis as their cat's-paws.

Ophilio of Mercere

Age: 172 (Apparent age: 85) Personality Traits: Gregarious +2, Opinionated +2

Ophilio of Mercere lives at the Templum. He is generally respected by the other magi, though they tread carefully around him and he rarely shows his face at council, preferring to spend his time with the covenfolk. If he exerted authority over the covenant it would be grudgingly respected, as he was the High Priest of Mercury for many years, though he has since retired. Gifted, Ophilio is one of House Mercere's longevity specialists.

Midius of Flambeau

Age: 94 (Apparent age: 50)

Personality Traits: Loyal +2, Submissive +2

Midius of Flambeau is the current High Priest of Mercury, caretaker of the Templum and flamen for the Provençal Tribunal. He still thinks of himself as Ophilio's subordinate, from his many years of serving beneath him in the temple, and is as ever desperate to impress the old magus. He attends Tribunal on Ophilio's behalf.

Pila of Flambeau

Age: 103 (Apparent age: 79)

Personality Traits: Couragous +2, Dedicated +2

Pila of Flambeau is a priest of Mars and responsible for the covenant's defenses, duties she takes very seriously, and some would say fanatically. She is a staunch supporter of Flammarcus and his revised version of the Founder's history. She also considers herself a true "Hoplite" as the term was once used in the Order and dresses like a Greek infantry soldier when going into battle. She looks surprisingly unassuming and mild otherwise. She resides at the Dorsum.

Malfortis of Flambeau

Age: 87 (Apparent age: 44)

Personality Traits: Engaging +2, Expressive +2

Malfortis of Flambeau is another priest of Mars, though he is not particularly militant. He is an exceptional teacher and a strong writer, and has written a great many books in the covenant's library. He fulsomely corresponds with anyone who writes to him, though he is generally not particularly friendly in his replies. He is also a staunch supporter of Flammarcus and his beliefs regarding the Founder. Unusually for a Flambeau, he fights barehanded and specializes in Corpus magic.

Ricardus of Flambeau

Age: 82 (Apparent age: 42)

Personality Traits: Disturbing +2, Sensual +2

Ricardus of Flambeau is a priest of Bacchus, openly homosexual, and rumored to have lustful proclivities. Most of the other magi at the Dorsum find his company and interests distasteful, especially when they involve the many tractatus he writes. However, he is very social and tends to get involved in covenant business; few activities pass by the council without his input, and so he is often uncomfortably supported at Tribunal. He is said to be accomplished in the Arts of Creo and Mentem.

Aintza Ex Miscellanea

Age: 87 (Apparent age: 59)

Personality Traits: Combative +2, Mysterious +2

Aintza Ex Miscellanea is one of the few priestesses at Aedes, and the leader of the Janus priesthood. She is a Hermetic Haruspex, one of a small group of oracular magi supposedly invited to join House Flambeau but who spurned the invitation and joined House Ex Miscellanea. She does not care about distinctions of sex, and certainly does not favor women over men; she believes that her lower status at the covenant is because she is House Ex Miscellanea, not because she is female. She is pagan, the primary Mystagogue for the Aedes branch of the Neo-Mercurians, and lives at the Templum with the other Haruspexes. She has a magical cat as her

familiar, named Elias, whom she believes is possessed by an aspect of the god Janus due to its strangely disfigured face. The cat has two mouths, two noses and three eyes. Azinta makes a special point of in-

Ruberus of Verditius

cluding him in all of her magic.

Age: 99 (Apparent age: 41)

Personality Traits: Concilatory +2, Relaxed +2

Ruberus of Verditius is the leader of the Confraternity of Roland, a group of Verditius magi dedicated to the construction of magical swords (see Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, page 121). One of the few magi at Aedes Mercurii with no complaint with Castra Solis, Ruberus admires and respects Garus, the Flambeau Primus. However, deep within the mountain of the Dorsum, one of the forges of Hephaestus smoulders, and as the priest of Vulcan he is also the caretaker of this important site. This requires that he maintain cordial relations with his covenant-mates and conceal his friendship with Garus. He also greatly admires and even secretly loves Dama, the Praeco, and would do almost anything to protect her.

Berezi the Redcap

Age: 48 (Apparent age: 35)

Personality Traits: Prone to Wanderlust +2,

Proud +2

One of the resident Redcaps at the Dorsum goes by the name of Berezi, and is a descendent of one of the Milvi Antiquiti (see Houses of Hermes: True Lineages, page 98), often spending her two seasons of service traveling between Aedes Mercurii and her mother's home covenant in the Roman Tribunal to obtain and deliver books for the magi of western Provençal. She possesses a magical device that allows her to transform herself and anything she carries into the shape of a bird.

Faith & Flame