Faction Agent: Order of the Holy Dawn

 

Many secret societies are scattered across London, but none can compete with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Its members are devoted to the study and practice of the occult, metaphysics, and paranormal activities. Known as a magical order, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn focuses its practices on theurgy and spiritual development. Golden Dawn members are primarily interested in magical philosophy and traditional ritual practice for the advancement of the individual’s spirit. 

Members of the Order are encouraged to engage not in worship but in the scholarly study of symbols and rituals that would help them attain a higher level of spiritual being through natural magic. Although members of the Golden Dawn do invoke otherworldly entities, they do not focus on the worship of or sacrifices to particular divinities. Rather, a person would use such invocations to develop as a fully spiritual being. Similarly, the Order strongly discourages practices popular among spiritualists, such as mesmerism and hypnotism, where an intermediary was seen to act as a passive medium separating the individual subject from the other-worldly realm.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion

Tool Proficiencies: Alchemist’s supplies

Languages: None

Equipment: A necklace stylized after the Rose Cross of the Golden Dawn, a copy of the Cipher Manuscripts , a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15 gp

Suggested Characteristics

Golden Dawn members are primarily interested in magical philosophy and traditional ritual practice for the advancement of the individual’s spirit. They do not long to worship only one deity but instead want to advance through the order by truly advancing their individual spirituality.

The only entities they long for are the mystical Secret Chiefs of the third level. The general belief is that the secret chiefs were alchemists whose practices were part of an unbroken hermetic tradition going back to ancient Egypt, but since they are no sources truly confirming if they were simply other people, or spiritual or symbolic entities, your quest might connect to finding out how to rise to the 3rd level in the ranks to get into contact with the Secret Chiefs themselves.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I idolize a particular hero of my faith, and constantly refer to that person’s deeds and example.
2	I can find common ground between the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace.
3	I see omens in every event and action. The gods try to speak to us, we just need to listen.
4	Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude.
5	I quote (or misquote) sacred texts and proverbs in almost every situation.
6	I am tolerant (or intolerant) of other faiths and respect (or condemn) the worship of other gods.
7	I’ve enjoyed fine food, drink, and high society among my temple’s elite. Rough living grates on me.
8	I’ve spent so long in the temple that I have little practical experience dealing with people in the outside world.

d6	Ideal
1	Tradition. The ancient traditions of worship and sacrifice must be preserved and upheld. (Lawful)
2	Charity. I always try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. (Good)
3	Change. We must help bring about the changes the gods are constantly working in the world. (Chaotic)
4	Power. I hope to one day rise to the top of my faith’s religious hierarchy. (Lawful)
5	Faith. I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well. (Lawful)
6	Aspiration. I seek to prove myself worthy of my god’s favor by matching my actions against his or her teachings. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago.
2	I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic.
3	I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my parents died.
4	Everything I do is for the common people.
5	I will do anything to protect the temple where I served.
6	I seek to preserve a sacred text that my enemies consider heretical and seek to destroy.

d6	Flaw
1	I judge others harshly, and myself even more severely.
2	I put too much trust in those who wield power within my temple’s hierarchy.
3	My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my god.
4	I am inflexible in my thinking.
5	I am suspicious of strangers and expect the worst of them.
6	Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life.