Editing Lineage:House Lineages
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Magical Style: French medieval. | Magical Style: French medieval. | ||
| − | The House of Anjou is the oldest surviving House with a claim to the English throne, and on those grounds regard themselves as the rightful holders of the power now wielded on the world stage by the House of Stuart. Though the Anjou’s medieval glory days are long past, they hold on as a formidable faction through courage, will and ingenuity, working towards the day when they will dominate the English speaking world and beyond. Their fierce independence and proud defiance of the other English Houses has left them politically isolated and their romanticism has led them to adapt less well to the modern world than many of their rivals. However, their tenacity is legendary as is their talent for violence, political or personal as the case may be. Anjou possessions include the Hewlett-Packard corporation. The House is heavily invested in the oil industry, especially American and French corporations. Apprentices are expected to be able to handle themselves both in high society and in combat. The Anjou have a reputation for their hot tempers | + | The House of Anjou is the oldest surviving House with a claim to the English throne, and on those grounds regard themselves as the rightful holders of the power now wielded on the world stage by the House of Stuart. Though the Anjou’s medieval glory days are long past, they hold on as a formidable faction through courage, will and ingenuity, working towards the day when they will dominate the English speaking world and beyond. Their fierce independence and proud defiance of the other English Houses has left them politically isolated and their romanticism has led them to adapt less well to the modern world than many of their rivals. However, their tenacity is legendary as is their talent for violence, political or personal as the case may be. Anjou possessions include the Hewlett-Packard corporation. The House is heavily invested in the oil industry, especially American and French corporations. Apprentices are expected to be able to handle themselves both in high society and in combat. The Anjou have a reputation for their hot tempers and bloody actions and madness ran in the line long before they became famous for their magery. Magical training is focused on the study of madness, due to fears that the Anjou have a tendency to degenerate into insanity. |
The House of Anjou originated in the Anjou region of France in the 10th century. Ambitious, they allied with the Roman House of Flavii to oppose the power of the French Houses Blois and Capet. This only pushed Blois and Capet to ally with the Roman House of Julii, almost leading to Anjou’s destruction. The House of Anjou only survived the purges by staging a brilliant takeover of the English throne in the 12th century, ousting the Capet puppet Harold Godwinson and making alliance with the native House of Wessex to keep the English Julii in line. Once established in Britain, the Anjou allied with their old enemies the Julii and annihilated the House of Wessex. | The House of Anjou originated in the Anjou region of France in the 10th century. Ambitious, they allied with the Roman House of Flavii to oppose the power of the French Houses Blois and Capet. This only pushed Blois and Capet to ally with the Roman House of Julii, almost leading to Anjou’s destruction. The House of Anjou only survived the purges by staging a brilliant takeover of the English throne in the 12th century, ousting the Capet puppet Harold Godwinson and making alliance with the native House of Wessex to keep the English Julii in line. Once established in Britain, the Anjou allied with their old enemies the Julii and annihilated the House of Wessex. | ||
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Magical Style: Ancient Roman. | Magical Style: Ancient Roman. | ||
| − | One of the most ancient great Houses in the world, the House of Flavii dates back to the earliest days of Rome. They long ago abandoned the insecurity of direct rule in favor of mentoring, advising, and generally making themselves indispensable cogs in the administration for whichever upstart Houses happen to be ruling at the time. They cultivate their reputation for experience and wisdom, playing the elder statesman and wise sage. The Flavii do their best to manipulate events behind the scenes, showing a patience and a feel for long-term strategy that has allowed them to survive for thousands of years. For most | + | One of the most ancient great Houses in the world, the House of Flavii dates back to the earliest days of Rome. They long ago abandoned the insecurity of direct rule in favor of mentoring, advising, and generally making themselves indispensable cogs in the administration for whichever upstart Houses happen to be ruling at the time. They cultivate their reputation for experience and wisdom, playing the elder statesman and wise sage. The Flavii do their best to manipulate events behind the scenes, showing a patience and a feel for long-term strategy that has allowed them to survive for thousands of years. For most the middle ages their most important power-bases were in the middle-east and many Flavii living in the U.S. have middle-eastern facial features. Apprentices are trained to handle themselves in political and business negotiation. Magical training focuses on necromancy, as a means to knowing useful secrets. |
The House of Flavii was one of three great ancient Roman Houses who overthrew the House of Romulus and established the Roman republic in the 6th century BC. The rocky alliance between Julii, Claudii and Flavii lasted until the first century BC, when Flavii plans to turn the republic into an empire were supported by the Julii but opposed by the Claudii, who felt that royal monopolies might strangle its wealth. The Claudii were duly exterminated and a Roman Empire was established. The remaining two Houses fell to fighting each other for ultimate power, Julii with particular influence over the armies and people and Flavii with particular influence over the nobility and senate. Neither side could achieve a final victory and in the 3rd century, the empire was split between them with the House of Julii getting the west, ruled from Rome, and the House of Flavii getting the east, ruled from Constantinople. | The House of Flavii was one of three great ancient Roman Houses who overthrew the House of Romulus and established the Roman republic in the 6th century BC. The rocky alliance between Julii, Claudii and Flavii lasted until the first century BC, when Flavii plans to turn the republic into an empire were supported by the Julii but opposed by the Claudii, who felt that royal monopolies might strangle its wealth. The Claudii were duly exterminated and a Roman Empire was established. The remaining two Houses fell to fighting each other for ultimate power, Julii with particular influence over the armies and people and Flavii with particular influence over the nobility and senate. Neither side could achieve a final victory and in the 3rd century, the empire was split between them with the House of Julii getting the west, ruled from Rome, and the House of Flavii getting the east, ruled from Constantinople. | ||
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Cost: 1 point. | Cost: 1 point. | ||
| − | Perk: Line of Venus. The Julii have long had a reputation as skilled seducers and manipulators of romantic feelings. A Julii mage gets +1 to | + | Perk: Line of Venus. The Julii have long had a reputation as skilled seducers and manipulators of romantic feelings. A Julii mage gets +1 to skill for any spell that increases romantic or sexual interest. |
Disadvantage: Epilepsy (30 points). The House of Julii calls this “the falling sickness” and they have suffered from it since the early days of Rome. Stories persist that some Julii make prophecy while suffering fits. | Disadvantage: Epilepsy (30 points). The House of Julii calls this “the falling sickness” and they have suffered from it since the early days of Rome. Stories persist that some Julii make prophecy while suffering fits. | ||
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Magical Style: Mesopotamian, an amalgam of Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian elements. | Magical Style: Mesopotamian, an amalgam of Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian elements. | ||
| − | The Order of Lilith is counted among The Houses, even though it is an Order whose members are not related by blood. It has this position because it cares nothing for the Rebellion, regarding sympathy for other human beings as the height of foolishness. Like the House of Cain, the Order of Lilith is an ancient institution that claims to date from the Biblical creation. They say that Lilith was the first wife of Adam, made by God at the same time. However, whereas Adam wished to serve God, Lilith wished to be her own ruler and fled into the wilderness. Lilith was not a rebel, however. She did not seek to overturn the old order for humanity, but sought only what was best for herself, making selfishness her cardinal virtue. Unlike Cain, she never romanticized combat and taught her students that fighting only occurs | + | The Order of Lilith is counted among The Houses, even though it is an Order whose members are not related by blood. It has this position because it cares nothing for the Rebellion, regarding sympathy for other human beings as the height of foolishness. Like the House of Cain, the Order of Lilith is an ancient institution that claims to date from the Biblical creation. They say that Lilith was the first wife of Adam, made by God at the same time. However, whereas Adam wished to serve God, Lilith wished to be her own ruler and fled into the wilderness. Lilith was not a rebel, however. She did not seek to overturn the old order for humanity, but sought only what was best for herself, making selfishness her cardinal virtue. Unlike Cain, she never romanticized combat and taught her students that fighting only occurs where the intellect has already failed to achieve decisive victory. Today, the order still holds up selfishness as the ideal. They are the most anarchic and least organized of any of the Orders and Houses, disavowing even loyalty to one another. Mages only take on apprentices because apprentices can be useful and they are famously willing to sacrifice these valuable assets if the situation calls for it. Apprentice training focuses on helping the new mage to move smoothly through the social world, getting what they want from other people. Magical training emphasizes never being taken by surprise. |
Mortal Politics: Mages of the Order of Lilith often observe politics, but they rarely take sides. They are most likely to take interest in laws that will have a direct effect on them. | Mortal Politics: Mages of the Order of Lilith often observe politics, but they rarely take sides. They are most likely to take interest in laws that will have a direct effect on them. | ||
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Mortal Politics: If we cannot be the government, then the less power and control the government has, the better. Taxes, social services and military spending should all be slashed to the bone and corporations should be barred from donating money to political parties. The war in the middle east only takes money from taxes and gives it to politicians via fat contracts. | Mortal Politics: If we cannot be the government, then the less power and control the government has, the better. Taxes, social services and military spending should all be slashed to the bone and corporations should be barred from donating money to political parties. The war in the middle east only takes money from taxes and gives it to politicians via fat contracts. | ||
| − | Cost: Being a mage of the House of Romanov is a disadvantage worth | + | Cost: Being a mage of the House of Romanov is a disadvantage worth 9 points. |
Advantages: Language (Russian, Broken) | Advantages: Language (Russian, Broken) | ||
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Spells: | Spells: | ||
| − | Healing: Lend Energy, Lend Vitality, Minor Healing | + | Healing: Lend Energy, Lend Vitality, Minor Healing. |
Necromantic: Steal Energy, Steal Vitality, Weaken Blood. | Necromantic: Steal Energy, Steal Vitality, Weaken Blood. | ||
Water: Create Water, Freeze, Purify Water, Seek Water, Shape Water. | Water: Create Water, Freeze, Purify Water, Seek Water, Shape Water. | ||
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Order of Lilith: They stand for no-one and nothing. Only the amusing fact that they take pride in this makes them bearable. | Order of Lilith: They stand for no-one and nothing. Only the amusing fact that they take pride in this makes them bearable. | ||
| − | House of Medici: They have always been | + | House of Medici: They have always been to small-minded to see the profit in backing us. We will not forget their neutrality. |
House of Stuart: Did the mighty ones so much as lift a finger to help us when we faced annihilation? No, not they. We shall never forget. | House of Stuart: Did the mighty ones so much as lift a finger to help us when we faced annihilation? No, not they. We shall never forget. | ||
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Cost: Being a mage of the House of Warwick is a disadvantage worth 5 points. | Cost: Being a mage of the House of Warwick is a disadvantage worth 5 points. | ||
| − | Disadvantages: Eyes of | + | Disadvantages: Eyes of evening. Mages of the House of Warwick psychologically cannot tolerate bright lights, whether it is the light of a sunny day or a well-lit room. They prefer gloomy conditions but can tolerate normal levels of lighting. The Warwick say that they damaged their eyes centuries ago experimenting with light magic. This is a Dread (Bright Lights) (30 points). They also have the Reputation as liars among mages. This is normally worth a -1 reaction penalty, although a bonus is possible if a sneaky bastard happens to be needed. (4 points) |
Skills: Administration, Current Affairs (World News), Diplomacy, Fast-Talk, Law, Occultism, Politics, Public Speaking, Savoir-Faire, Symbol Drawing (Western Hermetic), Thaumatology. | Skills: Administration, Current Affairs (World News), Diplomacy, Fast-Talk, Law, Occultism, Politics, Public Speaking, Savoir-Faire, Symbol Drawing (Western Hermetic), Thaumatology. | ||
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The House of York dominates modern mining and the armies of the west. Yorks have been influential in European armies since medieval times and have always been a powerful force in armies of the British Empire and the American military-industrial complex. Indeed, they like to claim to be the backbone of western military force. They have used their political power to obtain wealth in what they assumed to be its most solid form – mineral wealth. It is a fair bet that wherever there is a mine run by an English-speaking corporation, York has a controlling interest in it. Mages of the House of York all study animal magic on the grounds that only by understanding the animal within us can we truly understand the nature of war and conflict Those closely involved in the mining industry often study Earth spells. | The House of York dominates modern mining and the armies of the west. Yorks have been influential in European armies since medieval times and have always been a powerful force in armies of the British Empire and the American military-industrial complex. Indeed, they like to claim to be the backbone of western military force. They have used their political power to obtain wealth in what they assumed to be its most solid form – mineral wealth. It is a fair bet that wherever there is a mine run by an English-speaking corporation, York has a controlling interest in it. Mages of the House of York all study animal magic on the grounds that only by understanding the animal within us can we truly understand the nature of war and conflict Those closely involved in the mining industry often study Earth spells. | ||
| − | Originally a splinter-House from the House of Anjou in the 14th century, the House of York became powerful enough to contest the English throne in the 15th century. Though Anjou was dethroned, the crown went eventually to the rival House of Lancaster. York | + | Originally a splinter-House from the House of Anjou in the 14th century, the House of York became powerful enough to contest the English throne in the 15th century. Though Anjou was dethroned, the crown went eventually to the rival House of Lancaster. York refused to give up and seized the crown again before the century was out, but did not have the power to keep a firm grip on it and the monarchy remained contested between York and Lancaster until the eventual victory of the upstart House of Stuart over both of them in the 17th century. |
York migration to the New World was largely driven by its business interests in cattle and mining and it has strongholds wherever these are or have been major industries. While it officially supported England and the House of Stuart during the American Revolution, it is well known that it aided the revolutionaries, in a secret alliance with Anjou and Lancaster by which they hoped to take North America for themselves. They sided with the North in the American Civil War in an effort to hurt the agrarian power-base of Anjou, Capet and Stuart, and sided with the Allies in the two world wars because they didn’t want to lose their holdings in the English-speaking world. Heavily involved in the oil business, they have long urged American intervention in the middle east to secure supplies there and have been firm supporters of the wars in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. York possessions include the Exxon Mobil and Enron corporations. | York migration to the New World was largely driven by its business interests in cattle and mining and it has strongholds wherever these are or have been major industries. While it officially supported England and the House of Stuart during the American Revolution, it is well known that it aided the revolutionaries, in a secret alliance with Anjou and Lancaster by which they hoped to take North America for themselves. They sided with the North in the American Civil War in an effort to hurt the agrarian power-base of Anjou, Capet and Stuart, and sided with the Allies in the two world wars because they didn’t want to lose their holdings in the English-speaking world. Heavily involved in the oil business, they have long urged American intervention in the middle east to secure supplies there and have been firm supporters of the wars in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. York possessions include the Exxon Mobil and Enron corporations. | ||
