CoD Aegis kai Doru

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Aspis (Status •)

You have experienced the First Initiation into the Secrets of the Aegis Kai Doru. The Aspis is the shield of the Greek warrior, a critical part of his gear that is also heavy and sometimes cumbersome. The Aspis is meant to be a student, but is also meant to carry gear, rush first into the fight, and perform gutter tasks that no one else wishes to tend to.

• Benefit: You can purchase the Relics Endowment Merit.

Xiphos (Status ••)

The short sword of the Greek soldier, considered useful but a lesser weapon than the spear. The Xiphos hunter is useful, capable, and should be a rising star, but they haven't yet made a name for themselves. The goal of every Xiphos is to distinguish themselves. The Xiphos is invited to join one of the informal factions within the Aegis kai Doru, who help refine their skills and focus on tasks meant to gain renown.

• Benefit: You gain a free Specialty based on which faction you belong to.

The Factions

• The Sword: Occult (Identifying Magic). The purview of this group is simple: destroy witches and shapechangers. Mercy is not part of the equation, and martial abilities are paramount. The Sword is also the one most likely to be send on missions to recover relics.
• The Temple: Crafts (Traps). The Temple guard the relics recovered by the others, and provide a safe repository for them. The Temple is named for the headquarters their membership are responsible for tending: the local Temple, providing a place to hide, to heal, and to secure the items of magic recovered.
• The Scroll: Academics (Research). A small but knowledgeable group, the Scroll's purview is information. Ancient lore, who the local power players are, where monstrous territories are, and anything else of use to the Aegis. If the Sword acquires the relics, and the Temple protects them, it is the Scroll who studies them and determines if they are safe enough to be handed off to others, or if they must be sequestered away.

Doru (Status •••)

The doru is the primary weapon of the Greek warrior: the spear, a critical weapon of power and finesse. So, too, are the hunters at this rank expected to be. They are elevated warriors and teachers – not one or the other, but of necessity both. They both lead strike teams and write books, give lectures, and train those beneath them in the hierarchy.

• Benefit: Choose a Relics specialty for either Academics or Occult. Gain that specialty, and both the Interdisciplinary Specialty and Area of Expertise Merits.

Kopis (Status ••••)

The curved Greek sword that was equal parts "war blade" and "sacrificial knife", the hunter of this ranking similarly serves two functions. Firstly, they are the regent of all the local Aegis Kai Doru hunters, and they are the judge of monsters. The local Temple is considered their dominion and headquarters, where they serve as regional authorities.

• Benefit: You receive mastery of a Temple, with command over those who are part of that Temple. Each Temple is a unique package of Merits, usually made up of Resources, Safe Place, and similar Merits. These Merits can only be increased through game play and are not subject to the Sanctity of Merits rule.

Sagaris (Status •••••)

Named for the Minoan double-headed axe thought to represent Zeus' lightning, the Sagaris is the bolt from the heavens. No hunter reaches this rank without suitably epic accomplishments. Each Sagaris is famed, spoken of in the Temples far and wide, and is considered a role model for those beneath them to aspire to. When an opening in the Inner Circle opens, it is filled from the ranks of the Sagaris the world-over.

• Benefit: You gain the Unseen Sense (Mages or Werewolves) Merit. You also gain a Mages or Werewolves specialty in Occult or Weaponry, and the Interdisciplinary Specialty Merit for that specialty as well.

The Inner Circle

Nine of the most-famed and most-renowned Aegis sit as the Inner Circle. But it is not enough that they have demonstrated their skill and dedication in the field – only those who can demonstrate their families' involvement in the Aegis Vigil for at least five generations will ever sit on the Inner Circle. As a result, the families all know one another, and have for generations. Though they are not all of Greek heritage, they all maintain partial residence in Athens. The Inner Circle are monitors of a very comprehensive list of artifacts, and the keepers of a trove of items whose power is unmatched and in many cases, potentially world-ending.