Adepts who adhere to the Third Hour are usually among the greatest heroes or the most ferocious villains. Mars is the hour of war, discipline, combat and violent destruction. Those who seek out an alliance with the Martial authority gain access to an almost unlimited amount of power with the promise that they should never find peace. The Martial Hour holds sway over struggle, hostility, and bloodshed. Should any adept aspire to immerse themselves within its dominion, they must always remember that the demand for such a privilege will always be sacrifice. This hour makes heavy demands from its adherents and none are free to abandon them. With every ritual your resolve will be tested. Here, you will continually be challenged, every successful conjuration will be designed to crush you. You must prove yourself against these obstacles.
As you advance in skill, you will acquire enemies from among this world and numerous others. The Martial hour will give you the means to seek out and destroy them. However, none may wield this power without first being worthy. Anyone committing themselves to the Martial hour must live by the sword. The rule of the strong governs your life and decides your death. From battle you may never retreat, you are war sworn, bound to conflict both internal and external.
The Martial Hourlies will amass to serve you. With their aid you will master the use of weaponry from this era and ages past. They will only readily serve a powerful leader and will continually test your resolve. Let there be no mistake in your mind from the moment you summon these spirits you are at war. Even the Sub-lunars, demonic beings will feel dread in your presence. If you should survive and advance, the powers offered by the Martial Hour will shape you into a force of nature, even fierce storms will part at your coming. Nothing natural or unnatural will be able to stand against you. But if fate demands a victim and along with your foes you are crushed under the burden of the Third Hour, then these Martial spirits that helped mold you into a champion will feast upon your essence and drain away the last of your life force.
Those specialized in directing the force of the Martial Hour are called Praetors. Named for the commanders of the legions of Rome whose duties extended into the cities as judges and magistrates. Exemplary Praetors are held in high regard by the Dark School. Those worthy soldiers are selected to act as a magical police force. Tracking and exorcising rogue sorcerers, escaped Sub-lunars, unhinged Hourlies and even criminals from the uninitiated populace. The drive for justice, conquest and militant order is infused into the adept as they are exposed to the Martial Hourlies. It is not abnormal to see a gathering of these adepts form quickly into a hierarchy with the strongest as the leader. For Praetors it becomes an instinct to seek out the strong and either defeat them or join their ranks. Their greatest joy will always be to struggle against adversity.
May the lightning of your glory be seen and the thunders of your onset heard from east to west
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