Council of Ros
tan y noson olaf, rydym yn cynnal y wylnos
jusqu'à ce que la dernière nuit, nous détenons la veillée
最後の夜まで、我々は徹夜を保持します。
to the final night, we hold the vigil.
founded
ca. 722, c.e.
headquarters
london, england; kyoto, japan; victoria, australia; alexandria, egypt; haifa, israel; santiago, chile; montreal, canada
founding members
myrdyn, morgaine, and himiko
allies
cult of bastet, cult of hermes, temple of amaterasu, numerous cults and churches
enemies
guild of ia, thrall, holy see, numerous cults and churches
There are many factions in the Downbelow older than the Ros, but none hold nearly the power or influence over affairs mortal and immortal. Initially founded after the fall of Avalon in the 8th century, the Council of Ros endeavored primarily to be an institution of magical science and learning, a university of sorts for the mageblooded of the world. Quickly, the ambitions of its founders grew beyond mere education, and the Council took on an active role in policing the supernatural. While there was little ill intent, the good intentions of three catastrophically powerful archmagi with agendas of their own can frequently prove disastrous, and doubly so when the three distrust each-other relentlessly.
As the founders took on apprentices, and their apprentices took on students, the Ros grew in power. The spark of magic inherent to humanity afforded them a nigh-endless pool of possible recruits, and soon they took to enlisting the aid of even the marginally talented - those who lacked the spark of true skill served in other capacities. Scholars, soldiers, artisans, and diplomats joined the ranks of the Ros. Their influence spread to churches and royalty the world over, and they directed politics on a global scale. The arm of the Ros bent slowly, but it bent surely towards justice - the violence and destruction along the way seen as necessary sacrifice for a better world.
It nearly unraveled in 1307, when their pervasive influence in the Knights Templar was discovered by key members of the Holy See. The near-destruction of the Ros' Templar sent waves through the supernatural world, and the war that followed between great powers sent the mortal world into a dark age.
Since then, the Ros has stepped far more delicately and quietly, serving as protectors and investigators rather than kingmakers. Myrdyn, Morgaine, and Himiko have largely withdrawn from the spotlight - though they still serve on the Inner Council, they rarely speak during congress, and their distrust and rivalry seems only to have grown. Many outside observers believe the Ros is a wounded animal, cornered and acting out its death throes. Others, however, are not so quick to write off a power with infrastructure and influence the world over… least of all a power composed principally of blooded magi.
holdings
- "the athenaeum" a great library in the heart of london, seen only by those who know where to find it. within the athenaeum, the ros keeps the records, histories, and grimoires of the order from its inception to the modern day - along with the artifacts and curiosities too dangerous to release into the world.
- "the tower of glass"
- "the wailing walls"
- "the lighthouse" the pharos stands outside alexandria, a thousand feet above the sea. it signals passersby of the dangers of the crossing - not by sea, but by the ley-lines that cross the city like scars.
- "the house of justice"
- "the watchtower"
- "the goblins market" in the outskirts of saint-laurent, a market is held every thursday from dusk until dawn. here, creatures of the underworld and the otherworld may breach the shroud, and trade - for those few precious hours - with the mortal world.
the inner council
myrdyn; morgaine; himiko; jean-basile fleury; francesca del sol; moira unathi
the castellan
jean-basile fleury; moira unathi; luc-aurele fleury; kyle macaulay; isaak volkov
the advocates
jean-basile fleury; francesca del sol; chiba jebali
the templar
dana arthur kincaid; minuet kelley; marc-aurele fleury; david carroll
the archivists
rowland greasebeam; lusa chamberlain; irina morozova
the associates
hollow commune; clan o cearbhaill