Charter of the Covenant of the Mystic Halls

This was written by the original Campaign Master. Although it is drawn from charters included in game source materials, it has little relationship to the way things would have been done in the historic time period. It has never been used in play, and is presented here for completeness.

---

Requirements of Membership

Each member of this covenant must be a member in good standing of the Order of Hermes. In the event a magus is cast out from the Order of Hermes, they will also be cast from this covenant.

A magus who wishes membership in the covenant of the Mystic Halls must be sponsored by one of the members of the covenant, who shall present the potential member to the full council of the covenant. A three-fourths vote shall be required to admit the magus as a probationary member. A magus shall be a probationary member for a period of one year. During this period, the probationary member shall undertake all requests and requirements of the council. At the end of this period, another vote by the full council shall be taken. A majority vote shall be required for the probationary member to become a full member in good standing.

Hierarchy

The four members who have been members in good standing for the longest time and have been members in good standing for at least ten years will be granted the title of Melior Magus. A Melior Magus shall have two votes in the covenant council.

All members who are not Melior Magi, shall be termed Idonus Magi.

Basic Rights of Members

A member of the Covenant of the Mystic Halls is granted the following rights. These rights cannot be denied to a member by a vote of the council or ruling of the primus, regardless of circumstances, for so long as the magus remains a member in good standing.

A member has the right of food as required for health.

A member has the right to suitable living quarters for themselves and their servants.

A member has the right to attend, speak, and vote at all meetings of the covenant council.

A member has the right to access the library and all books held by the covenant. When two or more member magi shall desire the use of a text at the same time, the magus who has been a member in good standing the longest shall have the right to use the text. No person shall be allowed to retain a text for more than six months if another member shall wish to use that text.

A Melior Magus who shall exceed one hundred years in age shall have the right to refuse to go out into the mundane world on covenant sponsored expeditions.

A member shall share in the monetary and vis income of the covenant. The council shall set the amount of money and vis to be distributed to the members. Each Idonus Magus shall receive one share of the money and vis distributed. Each Melior Magus shall receive two shares of the money and vis distributed.

Basic Duties of Members

A member of the Covenant of the Mystic Halls shall be responsible for the following duties.

A member shall submit to all valid rulings by the covenant's council. A member shall also submit to the authority of the Primus.

No member shall knowingly or intentionally undertake any action, communication, or correspondence which shall bring danger or disrepute upon the Covenant of the Mystic Halls, the members of the covenant, or the Order of Hermes.

Each member must, within one year of being accepted as a member and every ten years thereafter, scribe a set of spells totaling at least six magnitudes. If possible, the scribed spells must be ones not currently available in the library of the covenant.

Each magus must, within twenty five years of being accepted as a member, create one item, spell, potion, or other magical device which may be used for the defense or other improvement of the covenant. The covenant council shall have the final approval over the selection of the item to be created. If a magical item is to be created, the covenant shall provide one-half of the vis needed for the creation of the item.

A member shall participate in expeditions organized by the covenant as required by the council and the Primus. Proceeds from such expeditions shall be surrendered to the covenant as required by the council.

A member shall turn over to the covenant one share of the proceeds of any expedition conduced by covenant members, but not explicitly organized by the covenant.

A member shall surrender to the covenant all books, scrolls, and magical items found on covenant lands or acquired when on a covenant sponsored expedition.

Authority of the Covenant's Council

The covenant council shall have authority over all covenant assets, resources, member magi, servants, retainers, and other persons who shall be on the lands claimed by the covenant.

The council shall elect a Primus for the covenant by a three-fourths majority vote.

The council may reward or punish all subject persons upon a majority vote of the council.

The council has the power to remove a magus from good standing within the covenant. Such a removal may be accomplished by a three-quarters majority vote of the council. A magus who shall lose their good standing shall lose all rights and privileges under this charter.

The council shall have the power to make amendments and changes to this charter by a three-quarters majority vote.

The council shall appoint members or mundane persons as Autocrat, Librarians, and other positions as necessary to handle the day-to-day activities of the covenant. All such persons shall report to the council and the Primus.

Limitations of the Covenant's Council

The covenant council shall meet at least once each season. The meeting shall take place during the first month of the season.

A quorum shall be required for the council to make any decision. A quorum shall be attained when at least one-half of the members in good standing are present at a meeting, at least one of whom shall be a Melior Magus.

The Primus

The term of office of the Primus shall be for life.

The Primus shall have the right to veto any decision of the council. The council may override such a veto by a three-quarters majority vote.

The Primus shall have the right to require any member of the covenant to undertake any expedition required by the covenant's council.

The Primus may be removed from office by a three-quarters majority vote of the council. The Primus shall not be able to veto this vote.

Non-Members

Non-members may petition the council for the privilege to access the resources of the covenant. The council will determine which of the covenant's resources the non-member shall be allowed to access.

Non-members shall be required to follow all of the rules set by this charter, the covenant's council, and the Primus.

Non-members may attend council meetings with the permission of the council or the consent of the Primus.

Covenant Symbol The badge of the Covenant of the Mystic Halls shall be:     Azure, a dexter hand apaumy and couped Argent.