Percutior, Daimon of Martial Skill (Might 20)
A daimon of martial skill. Unlike some other spirits known to theurgists of similar concepts (such as the Roman god Honos) he is interested only in the actual skill of wielding weapons, not what use they are put to. Great caution is advised in any grimoire he is listed in for when invoked the theurgist must prove their worth by duelling the spirit. Victory is not required (Percutior is only testing their skill) but those who refuse, show a lack of skill, or attempt to avoid the fight will receive no reward from the daimon and may even be punished.
Those who show exceptional skill or manage to best him will find themselves greatly favoured. If asked for a pact greater than he would normally give Percutior always asks for a service in return – typically these take the form of being sent somewhere the realms are in conflict and championing the losing side. While often this is magic or faerie on occasion it has been the dominion or even the infernal (a worrying prospect for any sensible magus).
He takes the form of a large man or woman of athletic build. The details of his appearance change with each invocation but one thing is always the same – the sword. It appears to be of strange design and the hilt is finely crafted in the shape of a man. Some theurgists have claimed to have seen the mouth of the hilt moving in time with the words of the spirit.
Characteristics: Int +1, Per +2, Pre 0, Com -3, Str +2, Sta +9, Dex +10, Quik +10
Personality Traits: Teacher +5, Enjoys Challenge +3, Respects Effort +6
Size: +1
Combat: Brawl: Init +10, Attack +20, Defense +20, Damage +2*
Sword: Init +11, Attack +33, Defense +31, Damage +7*
*If Percutior chooses his blows cause no true harm. Instead if any wound would have been inflicted the target gains a short term fatigue level.
Soak: +9
Wound Penalties: –1 (1-6), –3 (7-12), –5 (13-24), Banished (25-29)
Abilities: Brawl 10, Single Weapon 20, Great Weapon 20, Craft: Weaponsmith 10, Folk Ken 5
Powers:
Grant Puissant Swordcraft, 5 points (Init 0)
Percutior can reveal secret techniques to the theurge, granting puissance in any one combat ability. This gift is usually only given in exchange for some service rendered but is always permanent.
Teach Swordcraft, 5 points (Init 0)
Percutior can teach the theurge the skills of battle, imparting 20xp in Single Weapon or Great Weapon. The theurge must spend a season practicing the skills to gain the benefit of this training.
Teach Performance Magic (Init 0)
Percutior can teach a magus the minor virtue Performance Magic with the ability used being a combat ability. Though the teaching is short the theurge must spend a season practising and absorbing the knowledge.
Grant Greater Immunity (Missiles), 5 points (Init 0)
Percutior can imbue the theurge with an immunity to damage from any missile. However, this virtue is only active when the theurge is wielding a weapon.
Battle Blessings, 5 points (Init 0)
Percutior can grant the theurge magical abilities (these are lesser powers) that can improve their physical abilities. Each ability takes 1 level of short-term fatigue to activate and is of concentration duration. The are always Corpus effects, the common ones granted are:
- Being able to run as fast as a horse.
- Having +3 to soak.
- Growing a size level.
- Become unnaturally flexible, granting +3 to rolls involving Dexterity.
- Sharpen the senses, granting +3 to initiative.
Vis: When banished only the sword remains. It rapidly rusts into a barely recognisable lump of useless material. These remnants contain 4 pawns of Perdo vis.
You can also read this post here: https://lexhermetica.wordpress.com/2019/11/09/percutior-30-daimons-for-november-9/