Consilium Draco Cruentis

The Court of the Draco Cruentis

The Consilium of the Vermilion Dragon has ruled London's Awakened since the time of Richard the Lion-Hearted. It is one of the oldest standing Consilii in the world, rivaled only by those which stand in Rome, Kiev and Cairo. The closest ally of Consilium Draco Cruentus is Consilium Draco Niveus, the Alabaster Dragon Consilium of Wales.

Hierarch

The Hierarch, who always takes the Shadow Name of Draco Cruentus, sits the Solium Draconis, the Dragon-Chair of the London Consilium. This position is very much a kingship in the eyes of the London Consilium, and that of much of much of England's Awakened, as well. The Consilium is clear, however, that this kingship is not over the temporal body of England (that is the king's dominion), nor the spiritual body of England (that is the Archbishop of Canterbury's dominion).

Rather, the Draco Cruentus holds kingship over the magical body of England; though the Hierarchs of other British Consilii have not always regarded the magi of the Dragon-Seat as such, it has been more than a century since any Consilium failed to send a representative to the Consilium Draco Cruentus to bear his wisdom back to their home courts. The Hierarch bears artifact crown and scepter to reflect this. Upon being made Hierarch, a magus must remove himself from membership in his cabal, but generally appoints someone of his old cabal to the Council seat he is leaving.

• Draco Cruentus XIV, Hierarch of London. Silver Ladder, Obrimos.

Councilors

The four councilors of the Consilium Draco Cruentus sit in one of four Seats: the Solium Ungula (Seat of the Talon), Solium Visus (Seat of the Eye), the Solium Alae (Seat of the Wing) and the Solium Vox (Seat of the Voice). Each position bears an Atlantean artifact representative of their station.

• Areia, Solium Ungula. Adamantine Arrow, Acanthus, Lions of Charing Cross.
• Valens, Solium Visus. Guardians of the Veil, Obrimos, Sublime Lodge.
• Thoth, Solium Alae. Mysterium, Thyrsus, Seekers of the Cenacle.
• Lady Nox, Solium Vox. Silver Ladder, Moros, Order of Brigantia.

Pages

There are five Provosts of the Court of the Draco Cruentus, one for each of the Councilors, and a fifth for the Vermilion Dragon himself. They are referred to as the Pages.

• Njordr, Hierarch's Page. Silver Ladder, Moros, Grail Society.
• Fermin, Solium Ungula Page; Adamantine Arrow, Thyrsus, Taurean Brotherhood.
• Basilisk, Solium Visus Page; Guardians of the Veil, Mastigos, Brothers of Colton.
• Bene Moriendi, Solium Alae Page; Mysterium, Moros, Monks of Highgate.
• Nehushtan, Solium Vox Page; Silver Ladder, Thyrsus, Grail Society.

Knights of the Oath Vermilion

The Knights of the Consilium Draco Cruentus are its Sentinels, men and women sworn to protect the Dragon-Throne and the Consilium as a whole. The Knights take something called the Oath Vermilion, the precise details of which are unknown, save that it grants them some measure of strange power; though, in all fairness, this may very well simply be legend.

There are five Knights of the Oath Vermilion at any given time: the Knight-General of the Order, and the four Master Knights. Each of the Knights of the Vermilion of Oath has the authority, in times of duress, to appoint a Knight-Sergeant, a Sentinel under his command. The Knights of the Oath Vermilion are expected to keep four candidates in mind and trained.

Traditionally, each of the Master Knights comes from one of the Orders, and are charged with overseeing the defenses of the city's Consilium as appropriate to his Order.

• Michael, Knight-General, the Dragon-Knight. The Dragon-Knight is said to swear another version of the Oath Vermilion that links him to the ancient magical power beneath London, the Vermilion Dragon and that, in a time where the sanctity of the Consilium is in danger, he may call upon it to defend the city, at the cost of his life and the lives of his Master Knights. Michael is part of the Order of Brigantia.
• Tulis, Knight of Talons. The Knight of Talons oversees the actual martial readiness and is generally the first one into a physical or magical confrontation. The Knight of Talons' traditional area of influence is the military. He bears an artifact sword as his regalia. Tulis is part of the Knights of Hyde.
• Goodman Dull, Knight of Eyes. The Knight of Eyes oversees the internal security of the Consilium and is considered the Hierarch's spymaster. The Knight of Eyes' traditional area of influence is the constabulary. He bears an artifact mask as his regalia. Goodman Dull is part of the Roseacrux Sodality.
• Aubregard, Knight of Wings. The Knight of Wings oversees the defense of magical artifacts and storehouses of knowledge and power, including the city's Hallows. The Knight of Wings' traditional area of influence is academia. He bears an artifact mantle as his regalia. Aubregard is part of the Snakemen.
• Alexander, Knight of Roars. The Knight of Roars oversees the defense of the city's power structures and Sleepwalker resources. The Knight of Roars' traditional area of influence is bureaucracy. He bears an artifact circlet as his regalia. Alexander is part of the Magic Circle.

Other Positions

The London Consilium maintains another handful of positions within its ranks, for awarding to loyal and valuable magi of the Lesser Cabals. These positions include:

• Herald: The Herald is the Master of Cabals, keeping track of the various dominions, fealties and resources of the cabals of the Consilium. He also keeps the List of Elder Cabals. The Herald is traditionally chosen from among the Silver Ladder, and changes hands every five years. The current Herald is Amergin, a member of the Magic Circle.
• Guardian: The de facto bodyguard of the Hierarch, the Guardian is expected to lay down his life in the defense of the Hierarch. He must be skilled in countermagic techniques and other protective magics. The Guardian is traditionally chosen from the Adamantine Arrows, and changes hands every five years (after which point the Hierarch grants a suitable reward for that time of service). The current Guardian is Tauromach, a member of the Taurean Brotherhood.
• Interfector: The torturer and executioner of the London Consilium, the Interfector is provided by the Guardians of the Veil from among one of their own. They remain masked and cloaked, and none touch their shadow. It is not know who the Interfector is.
• Archivist: The archivist records the doings of the Consilium Draco Cruentus in the Codex Cruentus, the Vermilion Codex, a powerful imbued item that has recorded the history of the Consilium since its inception. The role of Archivist changes hands every five years. The current Archivist is Brother Cassiodorus, a member of the Monks of Highgate.

The Elder Cabals

Sometimes referred to half-jokingly as the Peerage, the Elder Cabals of London are among the oldest and most powerful cabals in all of Europe. If the Draco Cruentus is a king, these are his nobility. The List of Elder Cabals is the elite gathering of those cabals who have proven their dedication to London's Consilium. If a cabal forms new, or arrives in London, they must have an Elder Cabal sponsor to whom they swear an oath of fealty, in the manner of feudal barons. There is but one hitch to this, however, meant to prevent any Order from gaining too much power in the city: an Order-affiliated cabal may not sponsor a cabal that is part of their Order.

• Order of Brigantia: A Silver Ladder cabal made up of politicians, patriots and soldiers. Among other things, the Order of Brigantia as a whole maintains significant control over the College of Arms, the central heraldry register for the British Empire. The Order of Brigantia's public sanctum consists of an entire floor of the Herald's Office in Central London, just south of St. Paul's Cathedral.
• Sublime Lodge: The core cabal of Guardians of the Veil in London, the Sublime Lodge has spent literally centuries strengthening their Masonic Labyrinths. They absolutely and completely claim Masonic Lodges as their sole dominion, and look with ill-amusement on those who would trespass there. The cabal is based out of the Freemason's Hall, in North-Central London, beneath which they maintain an old subterranean sanctum.
• Lions of Charing Cross: A cabal of Adamantine Arrows, dedicated to the defense of the city. The Knight of Talons usually comes from this cabal, and its leader is the acknowledged Adamant Sage of London. The Lions of Charing Cross maintain a public sanctum within a small side-building in the Admiralty, overlooking Charing Cross proper, in Downtown London.
• Seekers of the Cenacle: An ancient fraternity of Mysterium magi dedicated to recovering the lost lore of Atlantis. It is they who maintain the Athenaeum, and those who bring them rare books and artifacts are likely to win sponsorship or even membership, in some cases. They are also willing to take ancient artifacts of historical value in exchange for slightly more powerful or more useful ones, created by members of the cabal. The Seekers maintain the Athenaeum, which is located in a series of vaults beneath the British Museum, in North-Central London. They also keep a public sanctum overlooking Bedford Square, near the museum.
• Inficiunti: The Stained are an ecstatic group of multi-Order mages who claim a heritage that stretches back to the Picts. There are druids, witches, faerie seers and shamans among their number, and they are known by their blue tattoos. In the rare instances when the Inficiunti can be found in London, they hold as their public sanctum a residence overlooking Hyde Park in West London. Their influence has been sufficient to keep the park from being openly lit at night, providing its acres for their use.

Ambassadorial Cabals

• Cyfamod: A multi-Order cabal made up of representatives from the Consilium Draco Niveus. They are not allowed to sponsor common cabals into the Consilium, however. Cyfamod is kept in relatively fine style in the Woolsey House, in West London, which serves as their public sanctum. They can oft-nights be found in the company of the Inficiunti, in Hyde Park.

The Vassal Cabals

In order to become truly part of the London Consilium, a cabal must prove its worth to one of the Elder Cabals. Moreover, this means proving one's worth outside of an Order, for Elder Cabals associated with an Order are not permitted to sponsor cabals of their Order. As a result, there is much jockeying behind the scenes, with Elder Cabals trading favors and sponsorships, or Elder Cabals extracting future favors from cabals. In some cases — such as the Knights of Hyde — the sponsoring Elder Cabal only agreed to sponsor them as long as they changed the very purpose and identity under which they originally formed. The benefits of doing so, however, are major.

Adamantine Arrow

• Taurean Brotherhood: An Adamantine Arrow cabal that claims its origins in the Mithraic Mystery Cult that once had strong roots in England during the time of the Roman Empire, the Taurean Brotherhood maintain that old cult's warrior ideal. The Brotherhood is rumored to maintain a subterranean labyrinth in North-East London as their sole sanctum, eschewing any need for a public one. Sponsored by the Sublime Lodge.
• The Knights of Hyde: A cabal of Adamantine Arrow magi dedicated to defending the Open Hallows of Hyde Park, in West London, from poaching. A large house on the edge of Hyde Park, the Wolsey House, acts as their public sanctum. Sponsored by the Order of Brigantia.

Guardians of the Veil

• Torch At the Crossroads: A coven of witches, the Torch at the Crossroads helps to defend the Mysteries with deception and poison, when the situation calls for it. The name of their coven is a reference to the Goddess of Witches, Hecate, and they use a season-theme for their coven workings. The Torch At the Crossroads oversee the Guild of Naturists, a group of upper and middle class nudist artists who focus on pagan and mystical themes in their work. The Torch at the Crossroads maintain a small block in Walham Green in Southwest London, a very bohemian part of town. Their four houses block off the center of the block, which boasts a tiny grove screened from the view of others. Sponsored by the Inficiunti.
• The Roseacrux Sodality: A cabal of Rosicrucian magicians, the Roseacrux Sodality maintains ties to the Anglican Church and to a variety of the nobility through their Labyrinth, the Rosicrucians. Though the ancient Temple of the Knights Templar has been turned into a simple set of hotels and other sight-seeing attractions in Downtown London, the ancient Temple itself still serves those who have taken the oaths. Beneath the great outer buildings lies the Sanctum of the Roseacrux Sodality. Sponsored by the Seekers of the Cenacle.
• The Brothers of Colton: A strange group of religiously-focused Guardians who concentrate on the disproving of the supernatural, the Brothers of Colton are well-revered by the Consilium for their diligent protection of the secrets of the supernatural world. The Brothers of Colton have taken the symbolism of old legendary creatures for their cabal's symbolism. The Brothers of Colton are based out of an old monastery in Northwest London that has been turned into part of a local theological seminary. Sponsored by the Seekers of the Cenacle.

Mysterium

• The Transcendence Gather: A cabal focused around spiritism, transcendentalism and the exploration of the Astral for traces of Atlantean lore, the Transcendence Gather has placed its roots firmly in the theosophist and spiritualism movements of the era. The Transcendence Gather cabal runs its affairs out of the very posh social club known as the Veiled House in West London, notorious for hosting visiting charlatans and spiritists. Sponsored by the Sublime Lodge.
• The Snakemen: A cabal of thieves, burglars and criminal types often used as the Seekers of the Cenacle's pet thieves. The Snakemen run a large criminal gang that operates out of back alleys and miserable drink-houses in the filthy streets of East London. They have a subterranean sanctum accessible only through a maze-like profusion of guarded sewers and other tunnels. Sponsored by the Lions of Charing Cross.
• Monks of Highgate: A cabal of necromancers and funerealists who seek the secrets of the dead – and work to keep them. The Monks of Highgate are based out of a small, poorly funded monastery overlooking the grounds of Highgate Cemetary, tucked well away from the main road and church. Highgate Cemetary is found in Kentish Town, in Northwest London. Sponsored by the Order of Brigantia.

Silver Ladder

• The Magic Circle: A group of lawyers and solicitors who practice magic, believing that the power of Law is a potent one for the Awakening. The Magic Circle maintains a small suite of offices as their public sanctum within sight of the Temple district in Downtown London. Sponsored by the Lions of Charing Cross.
• The Grail Society: A cabal of Silver Ladder dedicated to the connections between the self and the land. They are healers and geomancers par excellence, with an interest in heredity. The Grail Society operates out of a spacious estate that acts as the headquarters for a gentleman's society called the Adamite Fraternity in West London. Sponsored by the Seekers of the Cenacle.

Multi-Order

• Varda: Named for the Hindu mudra of serenity, peace and welcoming, Varda is a cabal of Hindu and Indic magi, whose sole purpose is to provide a friendly welcome for others mages of India who visit, as well as perhaps lend a little magical aid to the burgeoning Indian community in London. Sponsored by Inficiunti. Varda maintains a large lodging house in Limehouse in East London, called the House of the Wheel, as their primary sanctum.