Genius/Juno – Domestic Spirits of Fertility Might 10-20 (Corpus) (Spring-Summer)
The Genius is a spirit of male fertility (the female counterpart is called a Juno and is functionally identical except in some details) which arises whenever a man and woman live together in a magical aura and have a desire for children.
There is a great deal of superstition in some covenants about these spirits (perpetuated largely by members of house Mercere). In some it is believed that a Genius and Juno only form if an appropriate ceremony is made to join the couple. In others the Genius is viewed as a general protective spirit over the family. Some uphold that only adherence to neo-mercurian practice can ensure a strong Genius and Juno. These are largely baseless but persist regardless, rooted in the old Roman beliefs about the Genius spirit of the paterfamilias and the Juno of his wife.
There is a kernel of truth to the last assertion as Genii do not expire with their “host” but will instead shift focus to one of the children of the household as they come of age and are ready to have children of their own. Often this is the eldest child, but a Genius is intelligent enough to understand which child is the favoured heir. Over generations of a family living in a magic aura a Genius can acquire additional traits and powers, though these are not guaranteed to be of much benefit to the family.
Because these spirits have a serpentine appearance some devout magi believe them to be corrupt, perhaps even infernal, and some even destroy them when they are found. Such action harms the fertility of the covenant but to no worse than it would be in the mundane world (without the benefit of a magic aura).
The example given below has 10 might. More powerful examples will have powers not directly related to fertility.
Characteristics: Int +2, Per +0, Pre +1, Com +0, Str +0, Sta +2, Dex +0, Qik +0
Qualities and Inferiorities: Ritual Power, Focus Power x2
Personality Traits: Domestic Spirit of Fertility +3*, Familial Traits**
**A Genius or Juno takes on the character of the family it watches over. Often this is a trait shared by many family members, or a strong trait of the patriarch or matriarch of the family.
Abilities:
Description: A Genius or Juno appears to second sight as a huge snake, often coiled around their favoured person.
Powers
Gift of New Life (CrCo) 3 Might Init -8 Ritual
R: Touch D: Momentary T: Unborn Child
The target of this power (which must be a human) is guaranteed to conceive a child the next time they have intercourse, so long as it is with a partner who is fertile. This reduces both the might pool and the might score of the spirit. A single point of this lost might is restored each time the family the patronise gives birth to a healthy child.
Children conceived after the use of this power may acquire the Magical Blood (Spirit) virtue, the Monstrous Blood (Spirit) flaw, or be born as a magical human with the Transformed virtue. The latter is far less common than the former.
(Base 15, +1 Touch)
Spirit of Fertility (Co) Variable Might Init Quickness-Magnitude
The spirit can replicate any effect related to Fertility or Unborn Children at a cost of 1 might per magnitude, with a maximum level of 25 higher than the might of the spirit.
The spirit has access to the Unborn Child target from Fertility Magic (see Ancient Magic pg. 55)