28.02.2013 Views

Untitled - The Secrets of the Mind & Body Shaping

Untitled - The Secrets of the Mind & Body Shaping

Untitled - The Secrets of the Mind & Body Shaping

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

new “Harmonists.” Both factions still exist<br />

in House Bjornaer, and <strong>the</strong> Harmonists<br />

have grown to equal <strong>the</strong> Wilderists in<br />

number.<br />

Recent Events<br />

<strong>The</strong> most notable event to have<br />

struck House Bjornaer in <strong>the</strong> last century<br />

or so was <strong>the</strong> invasion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island <strong>of</strong><br />

Rügen by King Valdemar I <strong>of</strong> Denmark in<br />

1168, followed by <strong>the</strong> conquest in 1201<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> surrounding German provinces.<br />

While <strong>the</strong> covenant <strong>of</strong> Crintera itself was<br />

safe within its regio, <strong>the</strong> House feared<br />

that <strong>the</strong> settlement <strong>of</strong> Christian folk on<br />

a formerly pagan island would result in<br />

<strong>the</strong> destruction <strong>of</strong> its aura. Appeals to<br />

both <strong>the</strong> Rhine Tribunal and <strong>the</strong> Grand<br />

Houses <strong>of</strong> Hermes<br />

Tribunal fell on deaf ears; <strong>the</strong> House was<br />

merely reminded in <strong>the</strong> strongest terms <strong>of</strong><br />

its duty to uphold <strong>the</strong> Oath <strong>of</strong> Hermes,<br />

and many Bjornaer magi are still resentful<br />

that <strong>the</strong> Order failed <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong>ir time <strong>of</strong><br />

greatest need. Fifty years later, <strong>the</strong> biggest<br />

effect that this invasion actually had on<br />

House Bjornaer was to cause <strong>the</strong> primus<br />

to change twice. <strong>The</strong> fi rst time brought<br />

<strong>the</strong> aggressive Urgen to <strong>the</strong> leadership <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> House. He spent <strong>the</strong> three decades<br />

<strong>of</strong> his tenure lashing out at <strong>the</strong> mundanes<br />

and covenants whom he believed were<br />

responsible for aiding <strong>the</strong> invasion. He<br />

was popular in <strong>the</strong> House, unpopular in<br />

<strong>the</strong> Order, and largely impotent with<br />

respect to his overall goal. He resigned<br />

as primus in 1203 in favor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> present<br />

incumbent, <strong>the</strong> level-headed Falke,<br />

though he remains active in <strong>the</strong> politics<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> House.<br />

10<br />

Customs <strong>of</strong><br />

House Bjornaer<br />

House Bjornaer has several unique<br />

conventions that set <strong>the</strong>m apart from<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r magi, but also make <strong>the</strong>m a target<br />

for accusations <strong>of</strong> savagery and barbarism.<br />

This maintenance <strong>of</strong> “primitive”<br />

customs, such as animal names and a<br />

tribal organization, forms a link to <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

past and <strong>the</strong>ir ancestors, from which <strong>the</strong><br />

Bjornaer magi draw power. <strong>The</strong> stereotype<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bjornaer magus is a scruffy,<br />

uncultured individual who spends much<br />

time in <strong>the</strong> wild, uses primarily natureoriented<br />

magic, and is afraid <strong>of</strong> fi re. While<br />

individuals like this do exist, <strong>the</strong>y are no<br />

more common in House Bjornaer than<br />

<strong>the</strong>y are in any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r Houses. <strong>The</strong>y

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!