Lares Vestales, Sprits of the Hearth 3-10 Might (Ignem) (Spring)
The Lares Vestales (often referred to simply as “Vestae”) are hearth spirits that naturally arise from hearth fires which are regularly tended in magic auras. They are usually quite minor spirits unless a home has been continuously inhabited for a great deal of time (in the order of generations) without interruption. Though they are named for the domestic guardian spirits once honoured by the Romans (these were actually, in all likelihood, faeries) they are airy spirits of fire and have little regard for, or indeed ability to comprehend, the familial unit.
Instead they have a keen awareness of individuals and become attached to specific members of the household, usually the ones who regularly tend the hearth fire. As this often means the women of the house, in some covenants they are viewed as guardian spirits of women. In covenants less bound by traditional gender roles they are sometimes viewed as guardians of the young, or of serving folk.
A Lar which is well tended and honoured grants blessings of luck to members of the household. The weakest of Lares can only grant this blessing to a single member of the household, but some can spread their gifts across multiple people. In some covenants with a strong mercurian influence grogs are sometimes gifted with a pawn of vis to offer to the Lar of their household, often on Saturnalia.
The tending of the hearth was of great importance in Roman domestic religion, and allowing the hearthfire to burn out was a shameful event for the women of a household. The symbolic importance of the tending of domestic fires was performed at large scale on the level of the state via the vestal virgins and their sacred fires. Because of this significance
Characteristics: Int +0, Per +2, Pre +1, Com +0, Str +0, Sta +2, Dex +0, Qik +0
Qualities and Inferiorities: Ritual Power, Improved Powers, Decreased Abilities
Personality Traits: Hearth Spirit +3*, Likes the tender of the hearth +3
Abilities: Penetration (Powers) 2, Awareness (The House) 3, Folk Ken (Tender) 3, Area Lore (The House) 2
Description: Lares Vestales are often perceived as small humanoid figures that move with the flames of the hearth fire, usually with the appearance of a young man or woman. They always appear lithe and graceful and seem almost to dance in the flickering light of their native fire.
Powers
Grant Luck (Vi) 3 Might Init -10 Ritual
R: Touch D: Momentary T: Individual
Grants the Luck Minor Virtue to the target. If granted temporarily the might used is not regained until the blessing is withdrawn. If granted permanently the might is taken from the might score of the spirit.