Societas Flambonis (by Mark D Faulkner)

This article was originally written in 2008 by Mark D Faulkner aka “Marko Markoko” and kindly posted with his permission. It first appeared in Sub Rosa #3 as a full length, 7000 word piece but I’ve divided it into this introductory page / appendix and three main sections for easier navigation. I’ve promised Marko I’ll upload the article onto the Light of Andorra Wiki, but I’ll start with here.

Within House Flambeau there is a societas called the Knights of Seneca. Comprised of roughly a dozen magi scattered across Europe, they seek to embody the most noble virtues of their House; Bravery, Loyalty, Temperance, and Wisdom. They are small, but their acclaim is such that they are known and respected as heroes and adventurers. This wasn’t always the case. Their history goes back to the Schism War, and their early days are fraught with violent conflict. Once considered ruthless Reconquista magi, they were still praised for heroism, and the glory of their deeds overshadowed their indiscretions. Key to understanding the Knights of Seneca their relation to what is known as the Flambeau Apocrypha. A patchwork of societates, House Flambeau stems from various different traditions, lineages, and even mysteries. All Flambeau magi have variant views of history to some extent, and official lore is kept purposefully vague to avoid conflict. Outsiders tend to misperceive the majority view as the norm, and thus other beliefs must somehow be heretical or apocryphal. Flambeau scholars shun these terms, preferring “Legend”. Most Flambeau magi only hold a few apocryphal beliefs, but the Knights of Seneca embrace a large body of the disputed lore. Their very history is intertwined with it, making them a subject of much interest to historians. Not all of this attention is positive though, as some take offence to a few of their claims. Even their name is a source of controversy, going back to a centuries old dispute as to whether the founder was a Frank or a Visgoth. Further, they claim that the magus who established their societas was one of Seven Champions at Flambeau’s side during his Final Battle, and through him they hold the Founder’s final secrets.

1. Flambeau Apocrypha

2. The Knights of Seneca

3. Magic of the Knights of Seneca

The Charge of Flambeau?

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Andrew Gronosky for his forbearance and advice, Lachlan “Jarkman” Hayes for his helpful criticisms and suggestions, and my old friend Carmello Hernandez for playing the best Flambeau magus in any edition ever!

Suggested Reading

• Dahl, Ferguson, Gronosky, Post, Shirley, & Simmonds; Houses of Hermes: Societates; Trident
• Peter Hentges; Tribunals of Hermes: Iberia; White Wolf
• Joseph F. O’Callaghan; A History of Medieval Spain; Cornell University Press
• H.J. Chayton; History of Aragon and Catalonia; Methuen & Co Ltd.
• John Matthews; Heroes and Warriors, El Cid, Champion of Spain; Firebird Books