Malogus of Ex Miscellanea (Máel-Loga an t-Éigse Measceal) is a newly appointed mystagogue. Neo-Mercurian mystagogues are geographically fixed to a single temple, which can be tricky if your saga is situated outside the limits of Roman influence and therefore, presumably, outside the influence of the Cult of Mercury proper (e.g. in Hibernia or Loch Leglean). Malogus is intended for just these situations. He can be located in any region where there is (or was) a significant Celtic population.
Malogus is dedicated to the study of the “Celtic Mercury”, the cult’s conception of the pan-Celtic deity Lugus. Unlike most priests of the cult he is not from a Latinate tradition, having been born in Hibernia and trained in an Ex Miscellanea tradition of Fáithe (sing. Fáidh) - the prophetic class of pre-Christian Ireland. This tradition has the Major Virtue Hermetic Dream Interpreter, Minor Virtue Performance Magic (Sorcerous Music), and Major Flaw Weak Spontaneous Magic.
A profound desire to reclaim the lost knowledge of his own tradition led him to kindred spirits: first in the Cult of Mercury and, when unsatisfied with the lack of historical rigor, in the Neo-Mercurians. He has accepted fully the interpretation of Lugh as a Celtic Mercury and willingly adopted Roman customs. This has led to estrangement from his native tradition and only moderate acceptance by the Neo-Mercurians.
He proposes that the Vates (Fáidh/Fáithe is the Irish cognate of Vates) of the ancient Celts were a true branch of the Cult of Mercury, distinct not only in social standing but in magical tradition from the Druids. There is circumstantial evidence for this theory in the magic of his own tradition, and in accounts that Vates once performed rituals and sacrifice to the gods. There is, however, no evidence (material or written) of a tradition of theurgy or ritual magic as had the Cult of Mercury. This causes most initiates to reject the idea, but Malogus fervently explores sites connected to Lugh in hopes of finding proof that definitively ties his native tradition to the Cult of Mercury.
Malogus has a unique initiation script for transforming Performance Magic (Sorcerous Music) into Performance Magic (Neo-Mercurian Magic).
Characteristics: Int +3, Per +1, Pre +2, Com +2, Str -1, Sta +1, Dex +2, Qik +0
Size: +0
Age: 60 (31)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 1 (4)
Virtues and Flaws: Affinity with (Intellego), Improved Characteristics, Inspirational, Driven (Prove the Celtic Vates were a branch of the Cult of Mercury), Covenant Upbringing, Poor Hearing, Hermetic Dream Interpreter, Weak Spontaneous Magic
Mysteries Known: Mercurian Magic, Performance Magic (Neo-Mercurian Magic), Art of Memory, Hermetic Theurgy, Withstand Magic, Hermetic Sacrifice, Divination (Apantomancy)*
*A second method of divination inducted as a minor virtue.
Mystery Ordeal Flaws: Necessary Condition (Ritual Purity)
Personality Traits: Driven (see above) +3, Romanophile +3, Jovial +1
Reputations: Mercurian Priest +3 (Hermetic), Almost a True Roman +2 (neo-Mercurians)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, –1, –3, –5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11–15), Incapacitated (16–20)
Abilities: Divination (Dreams) 9, Neo-Mercurian Lore (Initiations) 6, Area Lore (Tribunal he resides in) 5, Parma Magica 4, Charm 4, Folk Ken 4, Area Lore (A neighbouring tribunal) 3, Area Lore (Hibernia) 3, Penetration 3, Pagan Theology 3, Area Lore (Ancient Gaul) 2, Survival 2, Teaching 2, Order of Hermes Lore 2, Magic Lore 2, Finesse 1, Guile 1, Athletics 1, Awareness 1, Code of Hermes 1, Concentration 1, Latin 5, Gaelic 5, Art of Memory 3, Profession: Poet 4
Arts: Animal 6, Aquam 5, Auram 6, Corpus 6, Creo 5, Herbam 6, Ignem 4, Imaginem 9, Intellego 17, Mentem 5, Muto 5, Perdo 5, Rego 7, Terram 4, Vim 8
Twilight Scars: None
Spells and Trappings: Malogus favours Intellego and has a broad array of scrying spells.
His skill in divination allows a great deal of flexibility in non-formulaic scrying as well, something usually difficult for Mercurian magi. It should be assumed at any time that Malogus might know any information that could be gained from an In(Fo) spell of level 10 or less, simply by observing animals he encounters throughout the day, or from a portent in a dream he had recently (this is a fudge of how Divination & Augury actually works, to make him easier to run as an NPC. Ignore it if you prefer).
This includes, but is not limited to:
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Whenever they are in an aura, and the realm it is associated with, but not its strength.
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The presence of vis within a boundary target, so long as they are also inside the boundary (touch range)
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The composition of metal alloys in objects they can touch.
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All the properties of mundane plants they touch.
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The natural and magical properties of any liquid they touch.
He largely lacks offensive spells, relying on superior knowledge to outwit foes.
His familiar is a blackbird called Píbín. This bond has scores of 2,2,1 in the Golden, Silver, and Bronze cords respectively. Their bond is enchanted so that they can communicate mentally and so that Píbín’s song can lull Malogus to sleep or wake him from sleep instantly – very useful for the purposes of his Hermetic Dream Interpreter virtue.
Malogus, wearing Roman dress but an Irish hairstyle. The Cúlán style was very fashionable in 13th century Ireland and amusingly resembles a modern mullet with a shorter cut on top. The Cúlán and moustache were so distinctly Irish that the Dublin parliament of 1297 actually banned settlers from wearing the style, to avoid being mistaken for natives.