The Iron Band

17 points

Style Prerequisite: Hermetic Potential

Grand Council: The Triple Tower at Bellad, Oridal

Locales

Nobles generally distrust the Iron Band, but they still have at least one major guildhouse in most human nations. They have an uneasy truce in Oridal, where their Grand Council meets, with the merchant guilds that trust them even less than most, but still find themselves in dire need of their services.

Nickname(s): Directors

Philosophy: The Iron Band are a semi-secret society of mages interested primarily in research into mind-influencing magic. While their existence is generally well-known, few know about their internal workings, which has resulted in much suspicion from other mages and non-casters alike. The central philosophy of the Iron Band is the belief that an understanding of reality can only be gained through thought. Based on the writings of Agemo the Wise, their belief is that reality is an illusion created by the mind of the individual and by experimenting with thought, one can piece together the true nature of reality.

Membership: Membership in the Iron Band is open to anyone who can pass the rigorous mental tests that they require of all potential apprentices. These mental inquiries not only determine if an individual is knowledgeable, but also if the aspiring Director has the willpower and problem-solving skills that the Order requires.

Hierarchy: The internal Hierarchy of the Iron Band is generally unknown, but the most believable theories hold that the Band is divided into several Circles, each with its own responsibilities and goals. It is known that the internal hierarchy is extremely rigid and members of the Band are not beyond executing someone who has transgressed their code.

Required Skills: Acting, Brainwashing, Cryptography, Diplomacy, Fast-Talk, Hidden Lore, Intimidation, History, Mathematics, Psychology, Thaumatology

Required Spells: Dull Sense, Foolishness, Keen Sense, Sense Foes, Truthsayer

Perks: Afflicted Casting (Flagellant's Blessing), Area Spell Mastery, Attribute Substitution (Will), Blocking Spell Mastery, Continuous Ritual, Elixir Resistance, Extra Option (Stabilizing Skill), Far Casting, Guild Rank, Intuitive Cantrip (Avatar), Kill Switch, Limited Energy Reserve, Magical Style Adaptation, No Gestures, Reduced Footprint, Secret Mage, Secret Spell, Special Exercises (IQ), Spell Bond, Spell Hardiness, Spell Resistance, Standard Operating Procedure (Magical Lawyer), Thaumatological Doublespeak and Willful Casting.

Optional Traits

Attributes: None

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: None

Skills: None

Spell List

First Ring (Apprentice)

Though an Apprentice may learn any number of the spells listed, they must learn Dull Sense, Foolishness, Keen Sense, Sense Foes and Truthsayer to be considered a member of the Fellowship and even be considered for promotion to Scholar.

Bravery	Itch	Slow Fall
Disorient	Keen Sense	Sound
Dull Sense	Panic	Tell Time
Fear	Sense Emotion	Terror
Foolishness	Sense Foes	Truthsayer
Haste	Sense Life	Vexation
Hinder	Silence

Second Ring (Mentalist) An Apprentice becomes a Mentalist upon learning at least the six required Apprentice spells and passing the required tests. Having Hermetic Aptitude I is strongly recommended, though some few otherwise very talented Apprentices do receive promotion to full membership in the Iron Band as a Mentalist.

Alarm	Glib Tongue	Scryguard
Alertness*	Grace	Seeker
Berserker	Hide	Sense Danger
Clumsiness	Hide Emotion	Sleep
Command	Lend Energy	Slow
Conceal Magic	Lend Language	Sound Vision
Daze	Loyalty	Spasm
Death Vision	Madness	Steal Energy
Detect Magic	Memorize	Vigor
Drunkenness	Mental Stun	Voices
Dullness*	Might	Wall of Silence
Encrypt	Mind-Reading	Weaken Will
Fascinate	Peaceful Sleep	Wisdom
Find Direction	Persuasion	Wizard Nose
Forgetfulness	Rear Vision

Third Ring (Director) A Mentalist may become a Director upon learning at least ten Apprentice Spells and five Mentalist spells, one of which must be Loyalty. Typically, a Mentalist is required to submit to an examination by a higher-ranking member of the Iron Band, during which he will be required to use his magic to have a stranger perform a series of tasks of increasing risk or difficulty. Very few Mentalists not possessing Hermetic Aptitude II will be considered for promotion to Director.

Apportation	Identify Spell	Poltergeist
Aura	Insignificance	Recall
Avoid	Lend Vitality	Reflect
Beast-Soother	Lure	See Secrets
Boost Attribute (Dexterity)	Mage Sense	Sense Observation
Boost Attribute (Health)	Mage Sight	Sense Spirit
Boost Attribute (Intelligence)	Magelock	Shield
Boost Attribute (Strength)	Magic Resistance	Sickness
Borrow Language	Mass Daze	Soul Rider
Compel Truth	Mass Sleep	Steal Vitality
Counterspell	Mass Suggestion	Strengthen Will
Dancing Object	Mindlessness*	Suggestion
Delayed Message	Mind-Search*	Suspend Spell
Ecstasy*	Mind-Sending	Telepathy*
Emotion Control	Missile Shield	Trace
Enthrall	Oath	Vigil*
Hallucination	Permanent Madness*	Ward
Hide Thoughts	Permanent Forgetfulness*	Wizard Eye
History

Fourth Ring (Master) To become a Master, a Wizard must be familiar with at least ten Apprentice spells, ten Mentalist spells and five Director spells, one of which must be Emotion Control. The Director must undergo rigorous examination by the available Masters of the Chapterhouse he belongs to or wishes to become a Master at. The examination typically requires using magic to influence a variety of important people in a city or region to achieve a pre-determined result (for example, manipulating a mayoral election to cause an unpopular candidate to win or framing a popular local hero for a crime). Hermetic Aptitude III is typical and Hermetic Aptitude II is all but required. Upon becoming a Master, the wizard is expected to take on at least one Apprentice to provide constant training and guidance to. In most Chapterhouses of the Iron Band, a Wizard will not be promoted until there is an Apprentice available (or another Master already has more than one and is willing to surrender one of his Apprentices to the new Master).

Animal Control	False Memory	Retrogression
Armor	Great Hallucination*	Scrywall
Charm	Great Ward	Spell Shield
Compel Lie	Lend Skill	Steal Wisdom
Control Person	Nightmare	Suspend Magic
Dispel Magic	Presence	Will Lock
Dream Sending	Projection

Fifth Ring (Transcendent Master) Elevation to Transcendent Master generally only occurs when there is a vacancy in the position of Magister of a Chapterhouse, though it does periodically occur without such a vacancy. To even be considered for such an elevation, the mage must have Hermetic Aptitude III and familiarity with all Apprentice spells, fifteen Mentalist spells, ten Director spells and five Master spells, one of which must be Control Person. A Transcendent Master is generally expected to be sedentary and take on the leadership responsibilities of the Chapterhouse to which he is assigned, though no small number become advisers to important nobles or find a means by which to elevate themselves to nobility. Examinations for elevation to Transcendent Master are extremely difficult and complex, often taking months to complete, as the Master is tasked with manipulating the regional economy or political alliances. It is rumored that wars have been started due to the completion of a Transcendent Master's final examination.

Borrow Skill	Displace Spell	Lesser Geas*
Delay	Dream Projection	Possession*
Dispel Possession	Gift of Tongues*	Steal Skill*