The Occultists

{{{The Occultists}}}
Demiurge	Amunet Stryganis
Patron	Ourania, Goddess of the Moon
Leadership Style	Autocracy
Founder	Harlequin
City	Ashtan
House Tutor	Ezekial the Scholar
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 their unpredictability and general insanity, they are a group fiercely devoted to the forbidden study of Chaos in all of its manifestations. Considering themselves scholars and thaumaturgists of the highest order, they 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 their intense study of Chaos and their affiliation with the city of Ashtan lend the house a strong focus on the ideal of freedom; they 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 organized system of cabals. Studying the secrets of 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 whom Silvestri Carnivalis would later be 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 organization that the Occultists learned the art of Tarot. Countess Belladona, then of Ashtan, also offered sanctuary to the disorganized 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, under the leadership of Shakti Devi.

In the year 397 AF, the Occultists Guild became the Occultists House, under Orklanishkal Eruu'Yul. Unlike many of the other guilds who made the same transition, the Occultists changed little with respect to their identity or 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.

Name	Term
Servelan de Vermiis	175-190
Luthius, Prince of Decay	193-203
Bakhu	203-208
Vieira Harkness	208-209
Mordyval Danarrii	209-227
Napoleon	227-231
Morlana Ni'Choya	231-268
Nightcrawler	268-284
Morlana Ni'Choya	284-287
Fate	287-293
Shakti Devi	293-326
Aneila, Sui generis	326-382
Orklanishkal Eruu'Yul	382-397
Reznik Saer'rac	397-403
Imyrr Rousseau	403-419
Amunet Stryganis	419-