Swarm Masters
Key Facts
- Favored Tribunals: Transylvania Tribunal but spreading
- Major Non-Hermetic Virtue: Swarm Transformation
- Minor Hermetic Virtue: Affinity with Animal
- Major Hermetic Flaw: Chaotic Magic
History
House Tremere strict control of the Transylvanian tribunal has long involved limiting lycanthropes and shapechangers running rampant in the region. A particular strange version of this widespread power is possessed by the Swarm Master. Instead of a single animal these magicians turned into a large and chaotic swarm, something that isn’t possible with Hermetic Magic.
Pralician magi were eventually notified, and they began training a few Swarm Masters in Hermetic Magic. The Swarm Master would develop a very loose control of the magic and not be able to teach the Hermetic magi much in exchange, though arguably the effort was cut needlessly short.
Culture
The tradition has no structure, mimicking the chaos of the swarms they can transform into. The tradition still mostly consists in Transylvania, but this is beginning to change as pressure from House Tremere has increased.
The tradition has a somewhat sinister reputation, both in Hermetic and Hedge Magician circles. Partly because of the traditions' limited control of their swarms and magic alike. Association with Beelzebub and an unclear origin has further increased this.
The Swarm members of this tradition usually take the shape of some kind of vermin, bats and rats are very common. Perhaps some of the vampire myths of people turning into bats originated from early practitioners of this tradition. Reports of magicians turning into swarms of locusts in Egypt could also be explained by this tradition or a closely related one.
Characters
Many magi specialize in Animal often paired with Rego. Magic for stealth and transporting gear and inventory is also common. Inoffensive to Animals and Animal Ken are common virtues. The Lycanthrope flaw is not unheard of, if so the Swarm Master transforms into a swarm rather than animal. Loose Magic, Unpredictable Magic and Weird Magic are also common flaws within the tradition.
New Major Supernatural Virtue: Swarm Transformation
You may transform yourself into a swarm of small animal or insect – unlike shapeshifter you can only transform into one type of animal (which is specified upon gaining the virtue) no matter what your score in the ability is – the size of the animal must be -7 (rat) or smaller. This requires a few seconds’ (one rounds) concentration, and a roll of Stamina + Swarm Transformation against an Ease Factor of 9.
Controlling the swarm is very difficult and entirely unlike anything else. Completing difficult tasks like monitoring a full house may require Intelligence + Concentration rolls set against an Ease Factor determined by the Story Guide. While more simple actions, which require little cooperation between the Swarm e.g., scatter, can be accomplished without these rolls.
Changing back to human form requires the same concentration, and the same Stamina + Swarm Transformation against an Ease Factor of 9 roll. The whole swarm must be gathered for the transformation back to take place. If the whole swarm can’t be grouped together for some reason the transformation can’t take place. If part of the swarm dies transformation is still possible but an appropriate amount of wounds determined by the Saga Guide should be assigned.