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CK2 Dev Diary DD#37: Three times greater

Hello all, it’s time for another Society reveal: This week we’ll talk about the Hermetic society. Hermeticism is based primarily upon writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus ("Thrice Great"), who was said to know the three parts of the wisdom of the universe.The three parts are alchemy, astrology, and theurgy.
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In game terms, the Hermetics are an open society joinable by members of the abrahamic religions, as well as Zoroastrians and Zun pagans (OK, and Hellenic, should you manage to play as one). Their primary attribute is Learning. Their Powers and Missions tend to involve earlier scientific experimentation combined with mysticism and a dash of Theurgy. They will often reward you with technology points or artifacts.

There is some overlap between the Hermetic society and Way of Life’s Scholarship focus. As a member you will be able to build an observatory, just as characters with the focus can, and once it is built you will be able to interact with it further to observe the skies. Not only that, Hermetic members are encouraged to build a laboratory for additional experimentation.
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Other powers and abilities include attempting to divine the future using Scrying, making Horoscopes for your children, experimenting with drugs and medical techniques, and eventually writing your magnum opus - a book of lore and knowledge that you enshrine for the ages.
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That’s all for now, but remember to watch the Medieval Monday stream at 1600 CET today, followed by Three Kings at 1700.
 
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That's actually a very good question. That complexion does not look like any of the other "whitening" that some of the darker skinned portraits recently received.

An even greater question is what is that hand icon.

We see a similar one on army windows.

With a complexion that pallid I'd say he's an aspiring Lich.
 
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He has the new Vampire Face Pack installed, of course. It will be included in the Monks and Mystics Content Pack, along with the Emo-Gothic Unit and Councillors Pack, and the Weird Mystical Music Pack
 
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He has the new Vampire Face Pack installed, of course. It will be included in the Monks and Mystics Content Pack, along with the Emo-Gothic Unit and Councillors Pack, and the Weird Mystical Music Pack
It also includes the Emo-to-the-Xtremo music pack which includes songs such as 'Cut my wrists and Black my Eyes', 'I have feelings in my heart', and 'betrayal is the only truth.'
 
You guys are silly.
 
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Dove face cream
 
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They're more esoteric. If you divine you are going to rule well is it magic or just a confidence boosting placebo that coincidentally makes you a better ruler? So the rule won't disable them.

Firstly, this is the society I have been most interested to hear about since I saw the hermetic Symbol in a previous Dev Diary.

This all looks good, but what about Theurgy White Magic?

You've already said that Satan-Worshippers will get access to spells and familiars. The major Abrahamic religions all have strong traditions from the medieval period of charms and prayers for healing of illness and disease as well as divination. I'm thinking specifically of events where you might be able to cure, say, Leprosy or Cancer using Hermeticism. That's actually already in the game if you hire a pious Abrahamic Mystic as your Physician but it would be nice to have some agency where you could take it upon yourself to cleanse your disease through a combination of prayer and magic.

Also, the ability to magically cure someone else by Laying on Hands is something that would be nice to have as an event once in a while.

This would obviously be something you'd really have to devote yourself to but if we're getting Devil-Worshippers as an active society then I think we need a counterpart to that for "good" characters. Not just thematically, but mechanically.

I can even see the Hermetics and Devil-Worshippers actively opposing each other, that would be fun.
 
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