Editing Lineage:Rebellion Lineages (section)

=Order of Thales=

[[Image:WaveNo72.jpg]]

Positive Stereotype:  Wise philosopher.

Negative Stereotype:  Anal buffoon.

Symbol:  Wave.

Signature Spell:  Mage Sight.  “Piercing the Shadow”

Magical Style:  Ancient Greek, with Egyptian, Phoenician and Persian influences.

The Order of Thales was founded in classical Greece, reputedly by the philosopher Thales.  The Order was devoted to the application of reason to the question of the true nature of the universe, with the intention of using this information to protect mankind against the whim of the gods.  Some have accused the Order of preferring thought to action, to the point of being rebels in theory only.  Their usefulness as a source of information is much respected, however.  Apprentices are given a thorough training in science and philosophy.  Magical training emphasizes information spells, especially those dealing with magic itself.

The Order spread with the Greek and Latin languages, throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.  The Order spread again with European languages and Arabic, through Africa and the Americas.  They have rarely held positions of power, however, finding them a distraction from their work.

Historically, the House of Flavii has shown a tolerance of the Order of Thales and have even taken them into their employ.  The relationship has been a difficult one as the independence of order members does not easily accommodate Flavii emphasis on discipline and hierarchy.  The House of Julii has traditionally regarded the Order of Thales as a dangerous subversive organization, although there was temporary cooperation during the Renaissance when the Julii became enamored of the Order’s scholarship.

Mortal Politics:  Our number one funding priority must be the universities.  A nations power to do good is never any greater than its understanding, yet universities receive only a tiny fraction of government budgets.

Magical Style:  Ancient Greek.

Cost:  17

Skills:  Chemistry, Mathematics, Occultism, Philosophy (Western Analytic), Physics, Symbol Drawing (Greek), Thaumatology.

Knowledge:  Analyze Magic, Detect Magic, Identify Spell, Mage Sight, Measurement, Tell Time.
Meta:  Counterspell, Suspend Spell.
Water:  Purify Water, Seek Water.

Relations

The Houses

House of Anjou:  Their cannibalistic state is caused by their overwhelming feelings of rage and hostility.

House of Cain:  A strong monster is still just a monster.  They have disfigured their souls and cannot live like human beings.

House of Capet:  There is nothing left of them but pride and greed.  The right to rule comes from wisdom in the skill of ruling.  It cannot be gained through inheritance.

House of Carolus:  They appear to have gone mad with grief at the loss of their Frankish Empire.  In their hysteria, they are willing to believe anything.

House of Flavii:  If one of the great Houses must rule, it should probably be them.  At least they cultivate their resources instead of bleeding them to death.

House of Hapsburg:  They are too authoritarian to truly allow thought to flourish.  However, they are necessary as a check to the Stuarts.

House of Julii:  So in love with victory that they will invent wars if they have to.  They lack temperance, justice and compassion.

House of Lancaster:  They consort very closely with things that aren’t human, things from the ancient mounds of Britain.

Order of Lilith:  A wretched exile, forever alienated from other human beings.

House of Medici:  Merchants are useful, but they need to be kept out of the church business.

House of Romanov:  Their little empire failed, yet now they want to replace it with something absolutely the same.  Have they no sense?

House of Stuart:  They reign but change nothing, rendering themselves irrelevant to human history.

House of Trastámara:  Living proof that the world has monsters in it.  The fact that they act only on “reason” rather than sadism makes them only more terifying.

House of Ummayad:  Fascinating to talk to, if you can find one.

House of Warwick:  How can you tell when a Warrick is lying?  His lips are moving.

House of York:  They could be good soldiers if they cared about doing the right thing.  Dedication to your given duty is not enough if your given duty conflicts with your actual duty.

The Rebellion

Order of Boudicca:  Don’t let celebrating what you are get in the way of understanding what you could be.

Order of Copernicus:  Wow!  They have so much to teach us.  Who knew that the universe is so vast?

Order of Darwin:  Politically simplistic, but scientifically profound.  They have given humanity incredible gifts.

Order of Eve:  Myths are useful, but not if you forget they are myths.

Order of Jesus:  Some people are just determined to believe what they want, even in the face of the strongest possible evidence.

Order of Judas:  They are cunning, although it is foolish of them to cultivate a reputation for ferocity.

Order of Siddhartha:  They are hiding in their own imaginations and need to wake the hell up.

Order of Solon:  History does not warrant their faith in the wisdom of the common person.

Order of Spartacus:  They have great ideals but no sense, driven more by hysteria than strategy.

Order of Utnapishtim:  Mere survival is a poor life even for an animal.  It is no sort of life for a human being.