The Code of Hermes is the governing body of law of the Tradition. Supplemented by the Peripheral Corrigenda, the Code provides the Order with cohesion and a means of self-governance. It was set down by Bonisagus, and everyone who joins the Order of Hermes must swear to uphold it.
Overview[]
The Code of Hermes has stood since 787 CE when Guernicus first laid down its precepts. Along with the Peripheral Corrigenda, the Code allows the Order to maintain cohesion, regulate itself and its members, and yoke its diverse factions under one body of law.
The Peripheral Corrigenda[]
The Peripheral Corrigenda is a related body of law derived laws that act as addenda too the Code. Over the centuries, Tribunals interpreted various aspects of the Code, and records of these rulings formed a related body of ancillary law. All precedents set by the Order's Tribunals are added to the Peripheral Corrigenda to supplement the Code. Where the Code is broad and sweeping the Peripheral Corrigenda clarifies and narrows the Code so that it cannot misused to support just any perspective. Over the many years of use it has accrued hundreds of thousands of interpretations, clarifications, and secondary rulings on everything from important matters, such as the exact size of Tribunals to appropriate decorum with the Fae to the precise rules of a certamen duel. Because of its age and depth, few aspects of Hermetic life are not commented upon in the Peripheral Corrigenda making for an obtuse, contradictory, complicated, and often useless system.
Origin[]
When Magi Trianoma was organizing the Founders to form the Order, Guernicus, the eventual Founder of House Quaesitor, refused to join believing the endeavor was doomed to fail because of the infighting and petty squabbling that was a hallmark of wizards. Trianoma convinced him to join by challenging him to create a system of laws to govern such an organization. The Code of Hermes was written, and ratified in 787 CE .
House Quaesitor is considered to be the expert of the Order's legal system and receive extensive schooling about the Code and its peripheral Corrigenda. Once, breaches of the Code were summarily handled though execution, but in the recent centuries, other ways have been found.
The Code of Hermes[]
- I swear everlasting loyalty to the Order and its members. The Order's enemies and friends are my enemies and friends, and I shall not spurn a friend nor succor an enemy.
- I shall not through action or inaction endanger the Order, nor consort with devils or undead, nor anger the fae.
- I shall not deprive any Order mage of magickal power nor through action or inaction attempt to bring harm to an Order mage, except in justly declared and open certámen.
- I shall not spy by any means or manners upon another Order mage's private works, nor read an Order mage's mind, nor invade or observe another Order mage's Sanctum, save to guard against a clear, direct, forceful and imminent threat to the safety of the Order.
- If called before a Tribunal, I shall abide by its verdicts. If called to sit on a Tribunal, I shall vote wisely, respect the vote of others, and support the Tribunal's verdicts.
- Upon reaching the Fifth Degree or higher, I shall train apprentices and instruct them in this Code. I bear the entire responsibility for my apprentices and shall duly admonish, restrain, discipline, or arrest an apprentice who endangers the Order, and shall yield same apprentice to the Order's lawfully appointed agent or Tribunal.
- I solemnly swear to uphold this sacred Code of Hermes, and venture any risk or sacrifice to protect it. Should I breach it, may all mages of the Order rise as one united and hunt me down and destroy me forevermore.
- I solemnly swear to vigorously and actively pursue the Enemies of Ascension and to unmake their works in this world and all others.
Version Differences[]
- See more information on Code of Hermes at Mythic Europe, the Ars Magica Wiki.
References[]
- ArM: The Order of Hermes, p. 37-41
- MTAs: Order of Hermes Tradition Book, p. 27
- MTAs: Tradition Book: Order of Hermes, p. 44-46
