Pečenicrates
Key Facts
- Favored Tribunals: Transylvania
- Major Non-Hermetic Virtue: Divination & Augury (Scapulimancy)
- Minor Hermetic Virtue: Puissant Animal
- Major Hermetic Flaw: Study Requirement
History
A tradition that has many ties to both Christianity and the peasants of Serbia. Before being introduced to the Order the Pečenicrates lived as respected wise folk in different villages. During the Twelvetide they would lead the communities in special ceremonies and divine about the community’s future. Love magic and other divination were also common, the rituals usually were connected to slaughtered animals.
The tradition was introduced to the Order relatively early by a combined effort of House Tremere and House Ex Miscellanea, though since then there has been many issues surrounding the tradition.
A feud between the Pečenicrates and the Hermetic Haruspexes has persisted into the 13th century. The fighting supposedly originated from a shared origin, where both traditions claim that the other stole their secret methods of divination. The Pečenicrates further claims that many other methods of divination – like Causimomancy, Ooscopy and Aleuromancy - all are similar diluted versions of their divination.
Culture
The members of Pečenicrates tries to live like their ancestors but with a Hermetic twist. Helping Serbs peasant and offering interpretation of the coming years harvest and the health of the animals and so on. This is hard to for a magi to fit in their busy lifes. A usual member of the Pečenicrates usually spends at least the Twelvetide in these humbling environments, but not always the full 12 days since the laboratories can’t be suddenly abandoned. Though this break can be combined to combat the Study Requirement flaw imposed on the tradition.
The structure is very loose, the tradition is more connected to the Serbs than each other. Sometimes the communities overlap and require cooperation between two or more magi. The tradition is more connected in shared politics and personal relationships.
The tradition is very opposed to House Ex Miscellanea official leadership. Rejecting both the authority of Cad Gadu and the Primus. Each member is often very public with these opinions and actively opposes any attempt to centralize the House around either of the elements. The reason for this disdain is debated. Some supposes that the reason is the Haruspexes feud since that tradition is famous for supplying prima. Others say its due to Tremere influence, wishing for Ex Miscellanea to remain weak and divided.
Characters
Most character focus equally on Hermetic Arts and Divination, but very few seek out new methods. Doing so would be looked at very unfavourably by the tradition. So would traveling to Cad Gadu or writing to the Primus. All these actions might earn a character the Black Sheep story flaw. Many members are devout Christians and may take flaws representing this.
Major Magical Focus in domesticated animals is a common virtue, but a Minor Focus in Animal Bones is also common. Special Circumstance (Twelvetide) is also very common, which bonus might be increased further since it’s so limited – with troupe approval.