House Lictori

House Lictori is a minor house of the Order of Hermes, organized under House Ex Misceallanea, and founded in 1865. Its Primus is Rastovan Ashtari, a Magister Insignitor originally of House Quaesitor, and one of the founding members of the Goethean Party. Master Ashtari is an ardent follower of Master Abakuk and a Hermetic hardliner.

The official purpose of the Lictors is to guard the Hermetic Paradigm, and protect the power and glory of the Order of Hermes. In practice, the Lictors are the secret police of the Goethean Party, charged with gathering information on its enemies and, increasingly, removing threats to the Order.

Lictors are recruited from members of the Goethean Party from all the houses of the Order. Their varied background mean the Lictors are familiar with all the arts covered by the Hermetic Paradigm. All members are expected to be at a minimum an Adept of Ars Mentem. Lictors use Mind rotes to give their cabals telepathic links, making them able to move in perfect unison. They often operate in secret, hidden in their parent houses and in cabals with other Hermetics and even other Traditions. When Lictors operate in the open, such as guarding a chantry house, they will wear identical uniforms and hide their faces behind golden masks. Each of these masks are Wonders, shielding the bearer’s identity as well as providing them additional protection from Magickal attacks.

Their exact number is unknown to anyone but Rastovan Ashtari and Master Abakuk, but it is believed that there are maybe three dozen Mages in the house. More pessimistic reports from House Janissary has their numbers above 120, with maybe twice as many Custos at their command.

Dankmar
The Domus Magnum of the house is the Dankmar chantry in Germany. Here the Lictors will wear their uniforms and masks at all times, even in the connected Horizon Realm, the Cellar, where it is rumored that they keep prisoners for interrogation. The only time the Lictors will be without their masks is in their private chambers.

Chantry House IV
A squat, three-story granite fortress-looking building located near the Bridge of Riddles in Horizon's Forces Ward. The main floor is windowless, the second has narrow windows reminiscent of arrow-slits, and the windows on the third floor are protected by wrought iron bars. The main entrance is guarded by imposing columns and dragon statues. Alternating banners, red with the House Lictori crest and blue with the Prime sigil and the Goethean motto, “Power and Honour,” adorn the chantry house.

In the surprisingly small foyer, there will always be a uniformed and masked Adeptus-at-Arms on duty, seated behind a raised lectern.