The Code of Hermes

Ars Magica Primer
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Mythic Europe
The Order of Hermes
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Below is the Oath sworn by every member of The Order of Hermes, without exception. The Oath is sworn before a Quaesitor and witnesses before an apprentice or, in rarer cases, an outside wizard may join.

The Hermetic Oath

I, Bonisagus, hereby swear my everlasting loyalty to the Order of Hermes, and its members.

I will not deprive, nor attempt to deprive any member of the Order of his magical power. I will not slay nor attempt to slay any member of the Order, except in duly executed and formally declared Wizards' War. I hereby understand that Wizards' War is an open conflict between two magi who may slay each other without breaking this oath, and that should I be slain in a Wizards' War, no retribution shall fall on he who slays me.

I will abide by the decisions made by fair vote at a tribunal. I will have one vote at tribunal, and I will use it prudently. I will respect as equal the votes of all others at tribunal.

I will not endanger the Order through my actions. Nor will I interfere with the affairs of mundanes and thereby bring ruin on my sodales. I will not deal with devils, lest I imperil my soul, and the souls of my sodalis as well. I will not molest the faeries, lest their vengeance catch my sodalis also.

I will not use magic to scry upon members of the Order of Hermes, nor shall I use it to peer into their affairs.

I will train apprentices who will swear to this code, and should any of them turn against the Order and my sodales, I shall be the first to strike them down and bring them to justice. No apprentice of mine shall be called a magus until he first swears to uphold this code.

[House Bonisagus only]: I shall further the knowledge of the order and share with its members all that I find in my search for wisdom and power.

[All other Houses]: I concede to Bonisagus the right to take my apprentice if he should find my apprentice valuable to him in his studies.

I request that should I break this oath, I be cast out of the Order. If I am cast out of the Order, I ask my sodales to find me and slay me, that my life not continue in degradation and infamy.

The enemies of the Order are my enemies. The friends of the Order are my friends. The allies of the Order are my allies. Let us work together as one and grow hale and strong.

This oath I hereby swear on the third day of Pisces, in the nine hundred and fiftieth year of Aries. Woe to they who try to tempt me to break this oath, and woe to me if I succumb to the temptation.

Commentary

I, Bonisagus, hereby swear my everlasting loyalty to the Order of Hermes and its members.

While Bonisagus was the first to swear upon the Code, each subsequent magus to take the Code must insert his own name in place of Bonisagus'. It is traditional to use the first Founder's name when writing the Oath.

It is important to note here the phraseology of Bonisagus' words 'everlasting loyalty'. There is no space for ambiguity of interpretation. Once a member of the Order, a Magus is always a member and can never leave the Order whether permanently or temporarily for convenience to by-pass a part of the Code.

This clause also notes the fact that a Magus swears loyalty to both the Order and to its members.

I will not deprive, nor attempt to deprive any member of the Order of his magical power.

This is the most important clause in the Code. Note that the magi regard losing one's magical power as even more serious than death. This clause ended the strife that had plagued the wizards in the eighth century. In this sense magical power encompasses many things: his familiar, his apprentice; personal tomes and notebooks of magic; personal vis supplies. To destroy, abduct or steal any of these things is such a deprivation.

Every magi should have a space which is considered his own: this is called his sanctum and is considered part of his magical power. Another magus should not enter another's sanctum, if he does so then the magus whose sanctum he has entered is within his rights to attack and kill the invading magus, irrespective of the actions of the invading magus. It should be noted that the sanctum must be marked clearly by a recognisable marker to define its extent.

While it is acceptable to construct Wards and defences within a sanctum to protect it from invasion or interference, it is not acceptable to place similar, deadly wards outside the Sanctum. Nor is it acceptable for the magus of the sanctum to injure or attack a magus who is approaching his sanctum, for that magus may be wishing for peaceful discourse, not of evil intent.

Within the peripheral code, a magus' apprentice is a part of his magical power, and his full responsibility. It is accepted that the apprentice is the full responsibility of the Magus for the duration of the apprenticeship. Whatever acts the apprentice may commit, irrespective of whether they fall within in the Code, the Magus is responsible for, and if the Apprentice causes damage to another Magi's property or magical power, or otherwise breaks the Code, the Apprentice's master is liable for their actions, and may be required by Tribunal to recompense anybody the Apprentice so commits offences against. If an apprentice commits an offence against his master, destroying his resources or otherwise, then the Magus cannot claim recompense when the Apprentice becomes a full Magus, as the fault is deemed to be that of the Magus.

The Gauntlet, however, is a special case. Neither Master or Apprentice is fully responsible for the actions of the Apprentice during the Gauntlet. However, if the Master sets a gauntlet where mundanes, the Fae or Demons are interfered with, or other breach of the Code is committed, is necessary or even most likely for success, then this is seen as a breach of the Code, and the Master can be punished as the ruling Tribunal sees fit. The Apprentice, even if he carries out the Gauntlet, is not seen as guilty within the Code.

This position of master and 'chattel' means that the Magus may do as he wishes to the Apprentice, even the killing of the Apprentice, although the author, along with the House Guernicus strongly disapproves of the killing of Apprentices, as it decreased the magical potential of the Order as a whole.

While a magus lives and is not in final twilight, there is no recourse in law to remove an apprentice from the master, unless the master fails to provide the apprentice with at least one season's tuition for each year. If the master is in twilight for over a year then the apprentice should not be removed as long as the apprentice receives tuition the season after the twilight is completed, and the missing season is compensated for within a reasonable period.

If the apprentice is removed by Tribunal, or if the master dies or enters Final Twilight, then the apprentice must be reassigned a new master. If there is only one magus prepared to take on the apprentice, then the matter is simple and the apprentice may be handed over forthwith. If there are multiple contenders then priority is given to those contenders of the same house. If there are still multiple contenders, then the final choice may be settled by certamen in the presence of witnesses, or if both parties are unwilling to take part in certamen, then the apprentice should be allowed a choice of masters. It should be noted that the covenant of the original magus does not have an automatic right to take the apprentice.

Of course, within the provision of the peripheral code, magi of the House Bonisagus may, at any point, and without reason given to the original magus, take the apprentice as his own. (See below)

It should also be noted, under this proviso, that the magus of Bonisagus need not take the apprentice to become his own apprentice. Indeed, nowhere is this stated, though it is implied. In fact, the magus of Bonisagus may take the apprentice for any purpose which may aid his magical studies. However, it should be noted that frivolous use of apprentices in this manner, or taking an apprentice from a non-Bonisagus under this proviso, not to teach but to merely deprive the other of, is not approved of: apprentices are a precious resource, and any magi who does not treat them as such is making the poorer by his actions.

Magical power can also be interpreted to be the spells and effects invented by the magus. No magus is obliged to share his inventions with his sodales. The exception here is the magi of the House Bonisagus who are obliged to share all of their inventions and advances of magic.

I will not slay or attempt to slay any member of the Order, except in justly executed and formally declared Wizard's War. I hereby understand that Wizard's War is an open conflict between two magi who may slay each other without breaking this oath and that should I be slain in Wizard's War, no retribution shall fall on he who slays me.

Flambeau was largely responsible for including provision for a Wizard's War in the Code.

A Wizard's War is an open conflict between two magi who often have intractable differences. To qualify 'justly executed and formally declared' Wizard's War, a notice of intent must be posted to the target on the next night of full moon. The Wizard's War begins on the rise on the next full moon and lasts until the next full moon. This has been set by the Grand Tribunal as part of the Peripheral Code.

For the duration of Wizard's War, the tenets of the Code are suspended and the two magi may do as they will to each other. However, if either damages another magi's property or injures or kills another magi in the course of the Wizard's War, then this is a breach of the Code.

While a magus may declare Wizard's War any number of times, each declaration must be justified. While a single declaration of War may be deemed appropriate, multiple declarations must be reasonable, and in each case the situation must have come to such a point that Wizard's War is the only recourse. A magus declaring unjustified Wizard's War is deemed to have to broken the primary Code and may be punished by Tribunal.

I will abide by the decisions made by fair vote at Tribunal. I will have one vote at Tribunal and I will use it prudently. I will respect as equal the votes of others at Tribunal.

When the Order began, there was only one Tribunal. The Peripheral Code states that this clause refers to all official Hermetic Tribunals. Voting is regulated by sigils. Each magus has one sigil, given to them by their master, and whoever holds a magus' sigil by permission may vote as that magus' proxy at that magus' Tribunal.

A tribunal is a meeting of magi (at least 12 magi from 4 different covenants), overseen by at least one Quaesitor. Each magus holds a sigil given to him by his master upon completion of the gauntlet, at a special tribunal meeting where the apprentice swears upon the Code. House Tremere has a tradition whereby a new magus' sigil is kept by his master until the new magus is able to defeat his former master through Certamen.

A magus at a tribunal is in charge of his own sigil unless he voluntarily passes it to a colleague. A magus cannot be forced to pass over his sigil even by certamen.

I will not endanger the Order through my actions. Nor will I interfere with the affairs of mundanes and thereby bring ruin on my sodales. I will not deal with devils, lest I imperil my soul, and the souls of my sodales as well. I will not molest the Faeries, lest their vengeance catch my sodales also.

With respect to interference with mundane society, much is made of the caveat 'and so harm my sodales' but this caveat cannot be seen as a universal escape clause. While it is inevitable that there will be some interaction between mundane society and the Order, it must be kept to a minimum and with great subtlety. If a magi needs to interfere with a mundane -- and 'need' must mean imminent danger to the covenant -- then he must do so in a way that will not identify him as a Magus of the Order. This means that either he must kill all witnesses, if he uses magic; or he must not use blatant magic at all. The latter use is the most preferable, as the minimum number of deaths will provide less for the mundane forces to investigate. To use blatant magic or to otherwise bring the attention of the mundanes onto the Order is a breach of the Code.

Interference can also be taken to mean the indirect effect on mundane society by a covenant or magus. If by indirect actions, or failure to act in a way to prevent mundane concern, a magus or covenant brings negative attention upon themselves and thus the Order, then this can also be considered a breach of the Code.

There may come a time when a magus wishes to help one mundane force against another. This is a very dangerous situation, and one that often leads to breach of the pimary code. Firstly, a main provision of the peripheral code sets a simple rule that cannot be ignored: that a Magus must not, under any circumstances, work for a mundane. The result of failure to abide by this is simple to see: the opposing force, seeing a Magus helping their enemy, will thus see the Order as their enemy also. If the employing mundane loses, he may see the Order as an enemy. Neither situation is acceptable.

A magus may also attempt to aid one mundane force against another without taking such a position, by taking a martial position with the army. If magic is used, then there is no doubt that the Magus has broken the Code. If magic is not used, the matter is less clear cut. Primarily, the Magus should try and avoid such a situation, but if he finds himself in this situation, he must endeavour to keep his true nature from his companions. To allow the companions to know his true nature is a breach of the Code.

There is no ambiguity with respect to Demons and demonkind. While Demons are not deemed the automatic enemies of the Order it is should be noted that they are not, and never can be allies or friends. Primarily, one should avoid all and any interaction with demonkind. The use of summoning spells, or the striking of deals with demons, is strictly forbidden and there can be no excuse for such action. Renunciation and Wizard's March should be automatic in such cases. If a demon is present, binding or other attempts at forcing is not acceptable as the threat of the demon should be weighted against the threat from the demon's anger at such action. However, if there is a direct threat, the dispelling of demons is allowable.

Dealings with the Fae are complicated by the fact that the Fae are usually aware of the existance of the Order. The prime concern is that magi of the Order should not trouble the Fae and thus incur their wrath. The most common dealings with the Fae concern the harvesting of vis from Fae sites. While the quaesitors accept that the harvesting of vis is most important, it should never reach a level, or use a method that inflicts too much distress on the Fae. Any such intrusion is counter to the Code. Again, as in other non-Hermetic interactions, no actions should be taken counter to the best interests of the Fae, except in reaction to direct action by the Fae against the covenant or magus.

I will not use magic to scry upon members of the Order, nor shall I use it to peer into their affairs.

This clause includes all forms of magic -- including most Intelligo spells -- to investigate another magus. A magus may allow another to investigate him with permission, but cannot be forced, even by certamen, to allow scrying. Non magical investigation, though often ill-advised, is not banned by the Code. Mundanes can be used for investigation and observation. However, if magic is used in any way to boost the performance of said mundanes, this is also taken to be against the Code.

A magus must also not interfere with Redcaps in the course of their duty. Theft of magus' correspondence from a Redcap can also be seen as a form of peering into their affairs, and is forbidden.

I will train apprentices who shall swear to this Code, and should any of them turn against the Order and my sodales, I shall be the first to strike them down and bring them to justice. No apprentice of mine shall be called a Magus until he first swears to uphold the Code.

Technically, this provision includes a promise to train apprentices, so that those who do not do so are in violation of the oath. This interpretation, however, is not enforced. Still, magi do see training apprentices as a duty to be performed even if one will not personally profit from it. The only restriction this provision now imposes is that all apprentices must become Hermetic magi. The Peripheral Code outlines what is seen as fair and unfair treatment of apprentices. Apprentices must receive at least one season training per year.

If a former apprentice is ever convicted at Tribunal and Renounced from the Order, his master has a particular duty to 'strike them down' and erase the shame of his filius' actions.

Non-Bonisagus Magi: I concede to Bonisagus the right to take my apprentice if he should find my apprentice valuable to him in his studies.

This clause was not spoken by Bonisagus, nor is it spoken by his followers. The Peripheral Code rules that the followers of Bonisagus have the same right as he did to take the apprentices of others. If demanded, all non-Bonisagus magi must release their apprentice to a Bonisagus magus.

Due to the sensitivities of depriving a magus of his apprentice, Bonisagus magi have erected rules for themselves on how they may take an apprentice. These are House tradition and not part of the Code, however. A Bonisagus magus who abuses this right is still subject to Wizard's War.

Bonisagus Magi: I shall further the knowledge of the Order and share with its members all that I find in my search for wisdom and power.

Of the Founders, only Bonisagus spoke this provision, and now only his followers take this part of the oath. This clause compensates the other magi for the apprentices taken by Bonisagus and his followers. Bonisagus magi have created numerous traditions to ensure that their knowledge is shared and spread throughout the Order. Magi may even demand knowledge of Bonisagus magi, though often they will be referred to Durenmar, the Bonisagus Domus Magna.

I request that should I break this oath, I be cast out of the Order. If I am cast out of the Order, I ask my sodales to find me and slay me that my life may not continue in degradation and infamy.

This clause details the main course of action against those who break the primary code. The term for being cast out of the Order is 'Renunciation' and any magus who has been renounced has no further right to life and all magi of the Order are under a duty to slay the offending magus.

Renunciation is not the only recourse within the primary and peripheral Code. For minor infractions the tribunal may require the offender to pay a fine in vis or other services to either the tribunal or wronged party. Often these fines take the form of the suitable reparation: if a magus kills another's familiar, for example, his own familiar may be taken from him; for theft of magical resources, he may be required to work for a season or more at the wronged party's covenant. It is the duty of the tribunal, with the aid and advice of the quaesitor, to decide upon a suitable punishment.

The enemies of the Order are my enemies. The friends of my Order are my friends. The allies of the Order are my allies. Let us work together as one and grow hale and strong.

This unenforceable provision was an attempt to unify the magi. In practice, magi make their own enemies and friends, and the Order is generally divided as to who qualifies as enemy, friend, and ally. Even though this provision is not enforced or universally followed, it remains as the ideal within the Order.

This oath I hereby swear on the third day of Pisces, in the nine hundred and fifth year of Aries. Woe to they who try to tempt me to break this oath, and woe to me if I succumb to the temptation.

Bonisagus took the oath on February 21st, A.D. 767, which is the third day of Pisces in the nine hundred and fifth year of Aries, according to Hermetic reckoning. Hermetic astrologers place the Age of Aries as beginning in 139 B.C. Each new magus states the current date in place of this one as they take the oath. It is traditional to use the astrological date, rather than the common one.