The Children of Aristotle are a cult of Magi in the Theban tribunal who propose that Aristotle's view of the mutability and transience of the elements can lead to enlightenment and power. They are also strange among mystery cults, in that they are all rather secular and understand how much of their rites and beliefs are window dressing - while simultaneously adhering to the rites all the same. A modest number of non-Gifted scholars and academics are aware of them in passing, and some rumors of them persist in calling them 'Aristotle's Bastards'.
Most of the cult members are academics among magi, and such have a Presence of +0 to +2, none of them are particularly strong cult mystagogues. There tend to be 7-9 members at any one time.
A number of these rituals are designed to be performed at four sites of power during a time of power. Most of these sites are also covenants, in modern times. To this end, the cult has fostered some alliances with the covenants, and drafted members who could invite their applicants as guests for the season. The Four Sites of Power:
Ignasia for Fire at midsummer
Aegea for Water at midwinter
Hedyosmos for Earth at midautumn
The Storm Spire fir Air at midspring // Or mount Olympus, since the Storm Spire doesn't exist in other sagas.
Introductory initiation; Requires Cult Lore 1, Philosophae 3.
Initiation Target: 15 (18 if teacher doesn't have virtue)
Initiation Script (+10) Mystagogue requires Pre + Cult Lore of 5 (or 7)
+ Virtue gained: Minor Magical Focus (Elementals) or Potent Magic (Elementals) [Different script for each]
- The petitioner must write and submit a tractatus on the mutability of elements to the cult (sacrifice of time +1) to prove his understanding of the concepts; This tractatus should be published under an anonymous psuedonym, to help keep cult membership secretive.
- The petitioner performs a secret rite infusing themselves with the four elements, gaining Weak Elemental Resistance (Hedge Magic p 20) (Major Ordeal +9)
Step of Hard Knowledge: Req Cult Lore 3. Though not part of the initiation ritual, the cult usually desires a tractatus in Cult Lore before performing the ritual, and sometimes requires a minor task.
Initiation target 9 [15-9 for recent ordeal/ 9 min]
Initiation Script (+3) Mystagoge requires a Pre+Cult Lore of 6. (whether virtue possessed or not)
+Virtue Gained: Affinity (Elemental form 1)
- Initiate must travel to a special place and time for the ritual (Travel +3)
Step of Easy Power: Req Cult Lore 3. Though not part of the initiation ritual, the cult usually desires the acolyte to recruit mundane allies to aid in clandestine cult activities (such as scribing tractati). Again, a minor task is often requested as well.
Initiation Target: 9 [15-6 for first Ordeal]
Initiation Script (+3) Mystagoge requires a Pre+Cult Lore of 6 (9 if virtue is not possessed)
+ Virtue Gained: Puissant (Elemental Form 2)
- Initiate must travel to a special place and time for the ritual (Travel +3)
Step of Essential Infusion: Req Cult Lore 4, Philosophae 4. By this advancement in the mystery cult, they expect two tractati to be written for the cult (Cult lore, and perhaps an elemental form). One or two minor tasks will also be required of the acolyte.
Initiation target: 15 [18-3 for recent Ordeal, assuming Mystagogue does not share elemental bonuses at this level, otherwise target 12]
Initiation Script (+6) Mystagoge requires a Pre + Cult Lore of 9 (or 6)
+ Virtue Gained: Imbued with the Spirit of (Elemental Form 3)
- This will bestow apon the initiate the flaw 'Vulnerable to Form'(Hedge magic p20) for the opposite form of the gained Virtue (Ordeal +3)
- Acolyte must travel to a special place and time for the ritual (Travel +3)
Step of Purified Elements: Req Cult Lore 5. At this point in advancement, the mystery cultist will want the acolyte to have advanced the cult's aims by inducting a new member into the cult - without giving away the identity, since secretive work is part of the mystery. As always, a minor task or two can be required as well.
Initation target: 13 [18-3 for ordeal; Assuming the Mystagoge does not have]
Initiation Script (+6) Mystagoge requires a Pre + Cult Lore of 7
+ Virtue Gained: Personal Vis Source
- Acolyte must travel to a special place and time for the ritual (Travel +3)
- Initiate a new young member into the cult's ways and teach them, without giving away your identity. (Quest +3)
Dias of Understanding: Req Cult Lore 6, Philosophae 5. This level of cult advancement requires the cultist to do a lot of work; The transmuter, as they are now called, must locate the site of their own advancement and prepare it for the ritual. They must craft an invested item symbolizing their mastery of all four elements. The cult may often request the Transmuter acts as a mystagogue to others, and should have written three tractati by this point for the cult.
Initiation Target 19 [21-2 for recent Ordeal, assuming Mystagogue DOES have this virtue]
Initiation Script (+10) Mystagogue requires a Pre + Cult Lore of 9
+ Virtue Gained: Elemental Magic
- Transmuter must locate a mystical site sacred to all four elements (Quest +3)
-Transmuter must spend a season preparing it for the rital (Sacrifice of Time +1)
- minor Warped Magic flaw gained(Ordeal +3)
- Perhaps also create an Invested item that represents all four elements. It is destroyed as part of the rite. (Sacrifice +3)
- This removes the aura/regio, though it has been shown that the site is moved elswhere mystically rather than destroyed.
The cult often requests a number of minor tasks from their members, not only as a sign of dedication but also to advance the cultist agendas. But what constitutes a 'minor task'? Here's a few examples.
Minor Tasks:
Scout a mystical site for the cult
Secure a mystical site against interlopers
maintain a mystical site from losing its elemental bias.
Finding mundane allies willing to enter into a mystic cult, often teachers and scribes
Aid a fellow cultist in their endeavors and studies
Creation of charged items for the cult, since their sacred sites are often inhospitable to mundane interference.
Translating lab texts, or designing new spells to then spread out to the cult.