Thebes Tribunal

Details of the Theban Tribunal are found in The Sundered Eagle. In this Tribunal the culture of the ancient Greeks as well as that of the eastern Roman Empire has shaped the Order of Hermes. The spirit of individual freedom, cooperation, and democracy is strong here. Magi have a tendency to create groups based on interests and opinions across the lines of covenant and House. In Thebes the magi form Leagues to associate with like minded individuals. Another detail to keep in mind is that the Faerie realm in Thebes includes the Greek gods of old, and thus the pro-faerie faction might appeal to classically-inclined magi.

Relisius attaches himself to one of the more influential covenants with sympathizers typically from the Houses of Bonisagus and Guernicus. Polyaigos is a possibility due to the existence of the apprentice school, which would have Bonisagi. The many Flambeau found here might join his ranks because of their passion for Christianity. Hedyosmos is also a candidate due to the Guernici, but the Tytali are as ever the wild card. While Epidauros is definitely a Bonisagus and research oriented covenant, their interests lie more in healing than magical breakthrough and they might remain neutral.

Relisius has been residing here long enough to have earned the status of citizen. The randomness of who sits on what council at what time makes him more inclined to simply use influence to affect politics rather than take action himself.

The Wächter and Iselin are affiliated the most with Aegea, it being a joint venture of Merinita and Bjornaer. Erebos also includes many supporters because of their collective interest in the old Greek ways, but as always the Ex Miscellanea hardly present a united front.

Gigas, as the Tremere stronghold, might go either way, depending on how things fit into their current plans. They can be used as a regulatory tool by the storyguide to keep the balance and flow she needs for this story. The many Verditii of Favonis and Ingasia can also see the merits of either side of the conflict. On one hand, they would like to have their magical sanctuary and vis sources kept intact from the spread of the Dominion. On the other hand, they do sell items to mundanes and prefer a large base of competent mundane craftsmen from which to recruit helpers. These represent the undecided whom both factions seek to sway. The rest of the covenants are mostly smaller or have split interests and can give support as the storyguide sees fit. The Mercere of Alexandria should remain neutral and focus on the tasks of running the Tribunal rather than take sides and lend active help.

Regarding the Leagues, the League Against Idolatry is the obvious group to rally to Relisius' ideas. The League of the Vigilant are also likely supporters since the spread of the Dominion furthers their fight against the Infernal. On the side of the Wächter, the Children of Olympos are proactively furthering the spread of the Greek pantheon. The League of Constantine is anyone's guess, since they seek to restore the Greek emperor's line, but not revert to paganism.

Of all the Boards of Magistrates, the Judicial Board is the most important group to control if one wants to change the entire shape of Tribunal politics, and both Relisius and Iselin know this. Any High Crime is investigated and handled by amateurs in the world of law rather than Quaesitors, but the matter is voted upon and settled in the People's Court. By having a system to review the conduct of the Archai after their term has been served, the Theban Tribunal in most cases avoids gross incompetence or corruption. Nevertheless, fanatical supporters of a cause might sacrifice themselves and simply accept the punishment of shards, while those from their faction who kept their noses clean can mitigate the punishment by spending tokens of their own on trivial requests for neutralization. Alternatively a magus might have so much influence over the Conciliatory Board as to have Decrees of Contrition successfully remove shards. This legal system is difficult to control since the power changes hands every seven years, but a large enough group working together can influence many of the cases brought before them.

Finally, since vis sources aren't as rare in the Theban Tribunal as in some of the others the stakes may need to be raised here. Make the source threatened a major source or — alternatively — an ancient pagan temple site of interest to most of the player magi, and perhaps the very thing that gives the covenant its status. Since all covenants in Thebes are meant to have some overall and common goal or philosophy this very concept might be the object of the threat.