The Master's Guild, the Hunter's Wolf Packs, and the Sisterhood of the KajiraStrictures: Belief, Fraternity, Limited Membership (males into the Master's Guild; females into the Sisterhood), Oath
Resources/Dues: Luxury. Adepts are expected to give everything they own to their Masters, who hold the resources of an entire family in a communal "pool" that they dole out as they see fit. As a result, most Masters are incredibly wealthy individuals. Petitioners to the Master's Guild must pay a substantial gift upon acceptance into the order, and a further gift upon graduation to Master, but the value of these gifts is often highly variable (see below).
Patron: None for Masters; each Master is their own patron for Kajira and Wolves.
Description: The Maste's Guild, the Huntmaster's Wolf Packs and the Sisterhood of Sacred Kajiras is a mystical group dedicated to obscure sadomasochistic sex rites, blending tantric yoga with ascetic self-moliation rituals. The tradition is deeply sexist, and utterly despised by Dianic wiccans and other more sexually progressive world-views. The group does, in fact, allow women into positions of power and men into positions of subservience, but ingrained attitudes and traditions create something of a "glass ceiling".
The groups has two separate Initiation Paths - one for Adepts (which is almost exclusively female), and one for Magicians (which is almost exclusively male). Magical Adepts may choose either path, but tend to be strongly encouraged towards the "correct" path for their gender. The gender politics are highly complex: a male Adept may find himself welcomed into the Adept Initiation Path alongside his "sisters", while a female Magician will find a much more hostile reception. The key to this discrepancy is the patriarchal attitudes of the upper ranks, almost all of whom are male Magicians of considerable power. Female Magicians must "prove" themselves in typically masculine displays of power and competition before they will be treated with any respect at all, and will still be seen as second-class Initiates compared to male members. On the other hand, a female who manages to distinguish herself as genuinely exceptional (in the Order's eyes, of course) will often find herself treated better than most male Magicians of the same Grade - another facet of the complex and ambiguous gender politics rife within the Order.
There are several "progressive" offshoots of this Order, all of which tend to be viewed by the "traditionalists" with contempt bordering on hostility. Many of these allow transgendered Adepts and Masters, seeing 'spiritual' gender as more important than 'genetic' - although they expect Masters and Hunters to act fully masculine, and Kajira to act fully feminine. Still further on the path towards gender equality are the so-called 'open' offshoots, which see dominance and submission as utterly transcending gender, and allow fully male (and sometimes ungelded) Kajira, and fully female Masters. A female Master who does not act 'masculine' will at least be expected to act 'matronly', presiding over her family as a strict but benevolent matriarch.
Regardless of sectarian schisms, though, nearly all groups who consider themselves a part of this Tradition follow very strict guidelines for Initiation processes and rituals.
Game Rules: Each Grade of Initiation is listed with its name, the Karma Cost (with group and ordeal reductions already factored in), the Ordeal that must be passed to achieve that Grade, and the specific Metamagic that is learned upon completing that Grade.
Magician's Initiation Path (The Way of the Master)
[ Spoiler ]
Grade 1 (Apprentice) - 8 Karma (Oath - Honor) - Great Ritual
With this, the recruit becomes an Apprentice, formally petitioning the order for the right to learn the skills and philosophy necessary to found his own family. He must swear a formal Oath on his own soul and power, to always treat his slaves properly and with honor, to always honor his deals and commitments with other Masters, and to always treat free men with courtesy and respect until deliberately disrespected. He then promises to honor the commitment to his sifu, and is brought into his sifu's house to learn.
Grade 2 (Animal) - 10 Karma (Suffering) - Sacrifice
When the sifu feels the Apprentice is ready, he is brought to a Place of Pain, where his endurance and resolve are tested until he breaks. The weak are discarded, while the strong are judged worthy to be given the chance to become Masters. Those who survive are dubbed "Animals", a constant reminder that they have shown themselves strong of body and spirit, but have not yet demonstrated the mind, the will, or the culture that distinguish Man from beast.
Grade 3 (Boy) - 12 Karma (Asceticism) - Centering
After a period of basic wilderness survival training, the Animal is taken into a harsh environment by his sifu, and then left to fend for himself for one lunar month. He must use his wits, his strength, and most importantly his human intelligence to survive. When the Animal returns, he is declared Human, and welcomed into his sifu's house as an honored son. From this point forward, he will be referred to by one of two titles - Son or Boy - depending on whether he is being honored or reprimanded. He is taught the history, traditions, customs and expected behavior befitting Masters, until his sifu feels he has sufficient understanding.
Grade 4 (Man) - 14 Karma (Deed) - Invoking or Masking
When the Boy has learned all he can at the foot of his sifu, an elaborate "coming of age" ceremony is held, where the sifu gives his Son his "inheritance" - a gift of wealth and power from the sifu to the boy - and the Son pledges to go forth and accomplish a great deed in the name of his sifu. He is then banished entirely from all contact with his sifu, or anyone within the Order, until he has accomplished his task. Once he returns with proof of his success - often an item of substantial value to his sifu - he presents this as a gift to his sifu, and is granted the title of "Man". He is now free to go and establish his own household.
Grade 5 (Master) - 15 Karma (Thesis or Familiar) - Ally Conjuring or Quickening
At the final stage, the Man spends as much time as necessary - both in the mundane world and within the Order - establishing a foundation of wealth and security upon which he may build his family. When he feels he can securely begin, he either creates an Ally Spirit to serve as his first kajira, or writes an elaborate treatise on the specific rules, customs and rituals that will be observed within his own family, along with their personal significance to him. When either of these are completed, he may then call himself Master. No further ranks are necessary, and no higher honor can be awarded - and indeed, it is the Master's duty to award this final title upon himself.
Male Adept's Initiation Path (The Way of the Hunter's Wolf)
[ Spoiler ]
Grade 1 (Acolyte) - 8 Karma (Oath - Obedience) - Power Point
With this, the recruit becomes an Acolyte, formally petitioning the order for the right to join their family. He must swear a formal Oath on his own soul and power, to always obey their Master in all things, to never betray his family, and to never abandon his duties. Males are also given an additional Oath to always behave with "honor" and "chivalry", the details of which are explicitly defined in the oath.
Grade 2 (Gelded Pup) - 10 Karma (Suffering) - Power Point
The Alcolyte is ritually castrated, then branded with intricate scars and tattoos to permanently re-align their chakras. This renders the Acolyte permanently sterile, but radically slows their aging, keeping their body physiologically at beginning of adulthood (17 to 21). At this stage, the Acolyte is welcomed fully into the family, and gains the title of Gelded Pup. His is kept sequestered and protected by his family until his body heals from the damage the ritual has done to him.
Grade 3 (Hunting Dog) - 12 Karma (Geas - Honorable Combat) - Power Point
Once his body and soul heals, the Gelded Pup is taught the way of the warrior, as well as many minor tantric sex rites. By performing ritual combat training and only fighting using "honorable" styles, he increases his power and control over his life-force. The title of Gelded Pup is cast aside, and he becomes a Hunting Dog.
Grade 4 (Young Wolf) - 14 Karma (Sacrifice - Logic) - Attunement (Bike or Horse)
When the understanding of the true purpose of the honor training has reached its fullness, the Hunting Dog is brought before his Master for "sculpting". The exact details vary from person to person, but the ordeal is always a grueling and tortuous mental gauntlet, leaving the conscious mind ravaged and the feral subconscious far closer to the surface. Once finished, they join the ranks of the Young Wolves, and are given a mount - a motorcycle or horse, depending on the level of technology their Master prefers.
Grade 5 (Pack Wolf) - 15 Karma (Thesis) - Adept Centering
At the final stage, the Young Wolf is brought before all the Pack Wolves in service to his Master, and given his Wolf Name. He is formally accepted as a member of the Pack, and welcomed to their family. He must write a long treatise on his own concepts of honor and service, and submit them to his Pack Leader, who then presents the manuscript to the pack's Master.
Further Initiation proceeds at a pace determined by necessity and skill, but does not endow the Pack Wolf with any new rank. Indeed, little attention is paid to the difference between higher Initiation and merely learning a new Metamagical Technique or gaining a new Power Point at this stage. Pack Wolves may choose to Initiate if they wish to raise their Magic Attribute maximum, but otherwise tend to merely learn new Techniques or increase their Power.
Female Adept's Initiation Path (The Way of the Kajira)
[ Spoiler ]
Grade 1 (Acolyte) - 8 Karma (Oath - Obedience) - Power Point
With this, the recruit becomes an Acolyte, formally petitioning the order for the right to join their family. She must swear a formal Oath on her own soul and power, to always obey their Master in all things, to never betray her family, and to never abandon her duties.
Grade 2 (Little Sister) - 10 Karma (Sacrifice - Body) - Power Point
The Acolyte is given an herbal mixture, infused with potent magics. This substance tears through her body, ravaging her reproductive system and permanently re-aligning her chakras. This renders the Acolyte permanently sterile, but radically slows her aging, keeping her body physiologically at cusp between puberty and adulthood (13 to 17). At this stage, the Acolyte is welcomed fully into the family, and gains the title of Little Sister. She is kept sequestered and protected by her family until her body heals from the damage the concoction has done to her.
Grade 3 (Blissful Concubine) - 12 Karma (Geas - Sexual Submission) - Power Point
Once her body and soul heals, the Little Sister is taught the secret tantric sex rites at the core of the family. By performing ritualized sexual acts with her Master and the other members of her order, they increase their power and their control over their life-force. The title of Little Sister is cast aside, and they become a Blissful Concubine.
Grade 4 (Betrothed) - 14 Karma (Sacrifice: Strength or Suffering) - Attunement (Clothing)
When her understanding of the true purpose of the tantric rites has reached its fullness, the Blissful Concubine is brought before their group for "sculpting". The exact details vary from person to person - some are starved for months, others laden with radical cosmetic surgery implants, and still others have entire limbs removed (and are re-trained over months to move and balance without any substantial loss to Agility). Once finished, she joins the ranks of the Betrothed, and is given suitable raiment for her station and newly sculpted purpose.
Grade 5 (Celestial Bride) - 15 Karma (Thesis) - Adept Centering
At the final stage, the Celestial Bride is made to sit alone for months, pondering her new form and her new powers and duties. At the end of this, she must write - in perfect, flowing penmanship, with whatever limbs or tools are available to her - a poetic tome describing who she was, what she has gained and lost, and who she has become. Once this tome is accepted by her Master, she is welcomed back to her family, and may step forward in an elaborate wedding ceremony to become a Celestial Bride to their Master.
Further Initiation proceeds at a pace determined by necessity and skill, but does not endow the Celestial Bride with any new rank. Indeed, little attention is paid to the difference between higher Initiation and merely learning a new Metamagical Technique or gaining a new Power Point at this stage. Celestial Brides may choose to Initiate if they wish to raise their Magic Attribute maximum, but otherwise tend to merely learn new Techniques or increase their Power.