Rast-Khoda, the Herald (Might 70)
A daimon who embodies the concept of fame and renown. His powers encompass all kinds of fame and infamy, deserved or not. He is a powerful daimon, very difficult to invoke, but of great value to the theurgist who can manage it. He can grant reputations, erase existing ones, and in general effect how a person is remembered and viewed by others in ways that seem impossible to hermetic magic.
He is surprisingly amenable to granting the requests of those who summon him. He seems to view the, usually prideful, theurgists who invoke him with a sort of bemused indifference. He may caution them against requests which seem destined to end in misery, but will acquiesce with an attitude of “on your own head be it, mortal.” If pressed.
The few theurgists who have spoken with him report he is, somewhat ironically considering his nature, not a believer in the value of reputation. He reportedly advises most that reputation and the perception of others ultimately only have as much value as you give to them. Most theurgists who would summon him are unwilling to listen to such advice, sadly.
He appears as a man clothed in red. He has the head of a lion and the wings of an eagle.
Characteristics: Int +3, Per +9, Pre +9, Com +9, Str 0, Sta 0, Dex 0, Quik 0
Personality Traits:
Size: +1
Combat: Brawl: Init 0, Attack 0, Defense 0, Damage 0
Soak: +5
Wound Penalties: –1 (1-6), –3 (7-12), –5 (13-23), Banished (24-29)
Abilities: Etiquette 15, Leadership 15, Charm 10
Powers:
Be Known in the Minds of Men, 8 points (Init -10)
R: Arcane D: Special T: Individual
This mysterious power grants the theurge or another target a reputation of 1 that he or she previously did not have (this can be negative). This could be for anything, even things the theurge has never done. It only effects people the theurge meets in person after this power is used – if he writes a letter to someone he has never met this ‘false’ reputation does not count. The power lasts for 5 seasons, but if reinforced by an actual deed in line with the reputation in this period it becomes permanent.
If used on an unwilling target this is considered a (Rego) Creo Mentem effect.
For example: Estora, a reclusive theurgist maga little known outside her own tribunal is somehow selected to represent the tribunal at the grand tribunal. She invokes Rast-Khoda to give her a hermetic reputation of 1 as a “Wise Councillor”. When she attends the grand tribunal several of the magi present feel as though they have heard of her and put more weight on her words than they otherwise might have. This good performance solidifies the reputation and makes it permanent.
Let Your Fame be as that of Alexander, 15 points (Init -10)
R: Arcane D: Special T: Individual
This power enhances an existing reputation of the theurge. A positive reputation can be increased by up to 3 points, while a negative reputation can be reduced by up to 3 points. This cannot create or remove a reputation entirely. As with the power described above this reputation boost only effects people the theurge meets in person after this power is used. The reputation increase lowers by 1 per year until the original reputation is restored. If the theurge does something to increase their reputation it increases their “true” reputation, not the false increased value which remains static. The false reputation will not decrease if the theurge has increased the real reputation (or decreased for negative reputations) over the span of the year. In time the real value might catch up to the false value, making the reputation true and permanent.
The decline of the reputation may colour the views of those who were effected by the false value. This may result in a negative reputation (for example for “Wasted Potential” or “Washed Up”) and some, especially magi, may realise it was caused by a magical effect which is arguably a crime under the code.
If used on an unwilling target this is considered a (Creo) Rego Mentem effect.
For Example: Estora, buoyed by her success at the grand tribunal, invokes Rast-Khoda again to enhance her “Wise Councillor” reputation to 4. Over the next few years she attempts to solidify this enhanced reputation, and because of it she is often asked for advice. Unfortunately, she isn’t actually that wise, but because of the reputation the tribunal all believe she is giving bad advice on purpose for her own ends. The reputation begins to fade, and she has now developed a negative reputation as a “Wicked Schemer”. She is eventually killed in a wizard’s war by a group of aggrieved magi who she gave bad advice to.