Houses of Hermes: Societates

Houses of Hermes: Societates is a sourcebook for Ars Magica Fifth Edition published by Atlas Games in 2007. It describes the canonic take on the four Houses that function as Societates in this edition: House Flambeau, House Jerbiton, House Tytalus, and House Ex Miscellanea.

Post-release discussions on the Berklist focused on flame-wars regarding the protrayal of the character of Flambeau the Founder, and in general dislike for the level of detail given in the Founder's biographies. The book was well-liked as a whole, however, with special notice being paid to the protrayal of Fleambeau magi as something more than the archetypal savages, and the rich treatment of Tytalian apprenticeship and outlook.

HoHS was written by Erik Dahl, Timothy Ferguson, Andrew Gronosky, John Post, Mark Shirley, and Nick Simmonds.

Other Content

Some books, available throughout the Order, are described. These include the works of Elaine of Flambeau stored in the Great Library of Durenmar (including works on Ignem, Penetration, Magic Theory, and Philosophiae) on p. 9, as well as the widely-available Analects of Tytalus (covering House Tytalus and Order of Hermes Lore, as well as Philosophiae) on p. 74. The legendary "Herbal of Crateuas" is also mentioned on p. 124, a work on Medicine, Apothecary, and Mythic Herbalism.

An extensive discussion of Wizard War is given on p. 22-25.

Rules for Fighting Invisibly are given on p. 32-33.

The Fast-Trigger Enchantment Option is given on p. 33.

New Spell Mastery special abilities are offered. Combat-related ones are described on p. 34. Mercurian options are given on p. 34. Two more options (affecting others' magic) are detailed on p. 129.

New Spell Guidelines and rules are provided. Rules for firing projectiles using Rego are given on p. 35 and p. 38. Guidelines for rego and creo Craft Magic are given on p. 60. Rules for Flourishes (flourishing your sigil) are given on p. 60-61. Guidelines for illusion and mental magic are given on p. 61-70. A suggestion on how to treat Aura of Ennobled Presence and similar spells in combination with the Gift is given on p. 96. A new healing guidelines is given on p. 100. A new ReVi guideline is given on p. 129.

Rules for Mythic Companions and Favored Abilities are given at p. 106.

A discussion of The Dead and Spirits is given on p. 117.

Rules for Agents are given on p. 140-144.

New Spells are presented. These include combat spells on p.35-37. Spells relating to illusions and mental manipulation are given on p. 63-70. Spells relating to social interactions and manipulation are provided on p. 96-98. Some spirit-related spells are given on p. 99-100, and a few healing spells on p. 100. Two new spells related to hedge magi are given page 129.

A new coveted artifact is presented, the Mappa Mundi, on p. 47. Another is given on p. 111, sort-of.

Rules for and discussion of Etiquette are given on p. 48-51.

New Virtues and Flaws are presented, suitable for any magus at character generation. These include beauty-related V&F (as well as the Muse virtue) on p. 56, Performance Magic on p. 58, the Persona virtue and Leprosy flaw on p. 94. A few V&F related to exotic traditions are given on p. 107. In addition, Societas presents several new supernatural abilities.

New rules for Lacuna, which are related to regios, are given on p. 57.

Rules for mundane Disguise, using the Guile ability, are given on p. 87.

Rules for Debate are given on p. 90-93.

New supernatural abilities available at character generation, as well as guidelines on how to design new ones, are given on p. 103-106 (Summon Animals, Whistle Up the Wind, and Control Fertility). Other supernatural abilities are also presented in this chapter, but are probably more suited to the Ex Misc traditions they are related to (these include Warding, Banishing, Mythic Herbalism, and Comprehend Magic).

Further References