The Occultists
| The Occultists | |
| Leader | Sorantia Caderyn |
| Patron | Ourania |
| Leadership Style | Elected Autocracy |
| Founder | Harlequin |
| City | Ashtan |
| Classes Permitted | Occultist, Shaman, Infernal, Serpent, Sylvan, Magi, Outcast, Apostate |
| House Tutor | Ezekial, |
| Heraldric Arms | Sable, a chimera salient contourny Or and a chimera salient Or |
| Icon | The Wheel of Chaos |
Shrouded by secrecy and misinformation, the venerable House of the Occultists makes its home in the northern city of Ashtan. Known for its unpredictability and general insanity, it is a group fiercely devoted to the forbidden study of Chaos in all of its manifestations. Considering themselves scholars and thaumaturgists of the highest order, members have also produced some of history's great warriors and leaders. Indeed, the Goddess Eris arose from the mortal Occultist, Servelan. Central to the occultic identity is the oath of secrecy that every member must swear, and the violation of that oath is the only intolerable crime recognized by the House. Both its intense study of Chaos and its affiliation with the city of Ashtan lend the House a strong focus on the ideal of freedom; Occultists despise unnecessary constraints and are quick to overturn taboos and prohibitions.
House History
In the distant past, before Nicator and his empire, the Occultists were scattered into a loosely organised system of cabals. Studying the secrets of karma and aura manipulation, and quietly interacting with the mysterious and powerful Chaos Lords, they soon attracted the attention of more radical elements within the ancient Church. According to traditional occultic legend, the Luminai launched a vicious crusade against them. Cabals were destroyed, libraries were burned, and all traces of their work were eliminated immediately upon discovery.
The Carnivalis family, of which Silvestri Carnivalis would later become the most famous, sheltered many of the Occultists who were trying to flee the wrath of the Church. According to the legends, it was from the kindness of this organisation that the occultists learned the art of Tarot. Countess Belladona, then of Ashtan, also offered sanctuary to the disorganised Occultists. In return, however, she demanded their assistance in the development of Necromancy - an art that, misfiring, ultimately was her ruin when it transformed her into a fearsome vampiress.
Regrouping, the Occultists established themselves in Ashtan, under the leadership of Belladona’s son, Luxsyth. Abandoning Occultism by his order, they committed themselves entirely to the study of Necromancy. It was not until the year 304, when deprived of Necromancy by the malevolent decree of Sartan, that the Occultists recovered Occultism through the Eschaton Experiment, under the leadership of Shakti Devi and direction of Eris, Goddess of Chaos.
In the year 397 AF, the Occultists Guild became the Occultists House under Orklanishkal Eruu'Yul. Unlike many of the other guilds that made the same transition, the Occultists changed little with respect to their identity and customs.
Demiurges of the Occultists
The following individuals have served the Occultists, first as Guildmasters and later as House Lords, wearing the title of Demiurge.
- Servelan de Vermiis
- 175 AF to 190 AF
- Luthius
- 193 AF to 203 AF
- Bakhu
- 203 AF to 208 AF
- Vieira Harkness
- 208 AF to 209 AF
- Mordyval Danarrii
- 209 AF to 227 AF
- Napoloen
- 227 AF to 231 AF
- Morlana Ni'Choya
- 231 AF to 268 AF
- Nightcrawler
- 268 AF to 284 Af
- Morlana Ni'Choya
- 284 AF to 287 AF
- Fate
- 287 AF to 293 AF
- Shakti Devi
- 293 AF to 326 Af
- Aneila
- 326 AF to 382 AF
- Orklanishkal Eruu'Yul
- 382 AF to 397 AF
- Reznik Saer'rac
- 397 AF to 403 Af
- Imyrr Rousseau
- 403 AF to 419 AF
- Amunet Viatrix
- 419 AF to 451 AF
- Sorantia Caderyn
- 452 AF to present