I believe that listing the mysteries as virtues allows the creation of maga that have belonged to a particular house in the past and now, for some reason, belong to another. It seems to be a fanciful thought that a maga, once a member of a house, never gets pissed and leaves. I am not denying that such a leaving wouldn't have issues associated with it, maybe even a declaration of a wizard's war against the leaver. But it has to have happened, and will continue to happen. That is why I believe that these mysteries are refered to as 'outer' mysteries. Certainly, like most secret societies, the initiates to an order are only taught the minor secrets. As time passes and the initiate (apprentice) becomes a full member (magus), he is taught some of the secrets, but not given the keys to the vault. Only after long years of service to the Order and to the House will the inner and innermost mysteries be taught, and probably under geas or pain of death, etc. It certainly adds a new dimension to a saga where a maga has to choose between his sodalis and house. Whether to study the magic for the next few years, or undertake a dangerous and lengthy quest to prove his deserving worth to his house leadership. Maybe even to try to "borrow" the knowledge of an outer mystery from one of the houses. Seems like a number of new challenges for my troupe instead of the old, "where's the dragon."
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