Anulus Connectens: Hector of Tremere

[Christian_Andersen (Christian Rosenkjaer Andersen)]

Regarding "Shiver me Timbers"...It's been discusses at length before whether a ship should be affected with T:Str or if T:Ind (with sufficient Size mod) is better.

Structure affects the entire ship, and everything in it - however many effects (such as this particular one) only affects the ship itself. Then why not T:Ind?

[darkwing]

I always got the impression modest ships were size +7, and larger ships were size +8 or +9 so would need T:Individual +3 size modifiers, so would work out the same as T:Structure anyway. If you have convincing examples of ship size from RAW or have cunning calculations that show you need less size modifiers than that, maybe T:Ind would work as well.

I like T:Structure for spells affecting ships or buildings as it uses a straightforward guideline from the core rulebook and so bypasses a lot of argument and calculation.

I've remembered why "Direct the Marine Predator" is so named - "Direct the Land Predator" would only cover up to size +4, as non-magical land animals don't get larger than a rhino or elephant, both of which are size +4. Sharks and whales can reach much bigger sizes, so the marine version for Hector has to have extra size.

[Erik_Tyrrell]

Continuing my collection of Hector's accomplishments so that I feel better about advancing him, here are his enchanted devices (just 2?)

Hector has created the following lesser enchanted device however when he created the device he made several copies of it.

Sorcerous Still
ReAq 5
R: Touch, D: Conc. T: Ind
The sorcerous still is pot that when activated turns all of the water it holds into water vapor, leaving all impurities behind. If the vapor that the still produces is collected the vapor in another pot and then concentration is relaxed, the vapor reforms as pure water. As a result of Hector’s sigil these pots always smell of brine when they are completely clean.
Base 3, +1 touch, +1 conc.

Hector's talisman is a simple staff of Walnut
(Is this correct? only a single component?)

Hector’s Talisman has the following attunements opened:
+4 control things at a distance
+4 destroy things at a distance
+4 affect dead wood
+3 affect living wood
+4 mind

and it has the following enchantments:

Curse of the Rotted Hull
PeHe 25 (24 uses per day)
R: sight, D: Mom., T: Part
Causes part of a non-living wooden object to rot and fall apart. Parts up to a pace across, (the size of a single door ) can be affected, but things that size take up to two rounds to decay. Usually, large chunks of wood start falling off the target, and slowly crumble to smaller and smaller pieces, until only dust and the smell of brine are left.
(Base 4, +3 sight, +1part for a total of 20, +5 for 24 uses/day)

Gather the Watery Vis
ReVi(Aq) 22 (3 uses per day)
R: Touch, D: Mom, T: Part
This enchantment concentrates the raw vis in a volume of water: Hector can place his talisman into a body of water, and concentrate the vis from one base area (20 cubic meters) and to a spot at the tip. By tying a ladle to the bottom of the staff, Hector can gather vis while at sea. Gather the Watery Vis collects already existent vis, if there is no vis in a volume to gather the effect does nothing.
(base 10, +1 touch, +1 part, +2 levels 3 uses per day)

Sight of Vis
In Vi 16 2 uses per day
R: Pers., D: Sun, T: vision
This effect gives Hector the ability to discern the presence of vis by sight alone. While the effect is range personal it targets Hector rather than the talisman.
(base 1, +4 vision, +2 sun +1 2 uses/day )

Gather the Cloudy Vis
ReVi(Au) 30 (1 use per day)
This enchantment concentrates the raw vis in a cloud, a wind or a weather feature that the wielder can see:. The spell concentrates the existing vis it into single portion of the feature such as a raindrop. Gather the Cloudy Vis collects already existent vis, if there is no vis in a volume to gather the effect does nothing.
(Base 10 +3 sight +1 part)

The Rot-Proof Grain Ship
CrHe 26 (2 uses per day)
R: Touch, D: Moon, T: Structure
The structure touched by the talisman is warded against rot and decay, protecting both the timbers of the ship (or barn) and the plant products inside. The name refers to the fact the largest ships in use are for the purpose of carrying grain to feed cities. Hector is torn between anxiety and curiosity regarding learning what the warping effects of this power is on targets subjected to it for years at a time.
(base 2 , +1 range touch , +3 moon, +3 structure, +1 level for 2 uses/day)

Lord of the Plants and Planks
ReHe 35 unlimited uses
R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Ind.
This effect animates small plants or things made of wood so they move around without Hector’s direct control. This talisman allows Hector to animate wooden mops or buckets onboard ship by touching his staff to them, or to animate plants in his lab. This is entertaining, useful for labour saving, and helps increase his lab’s ability for him to study Rego.
(base 10, +1 Touch, +2 sun, +10 levels unlimited uses)

Behold the Burning Bush
ReIg(He) 34 (12 uses per day)
R: voice, D: Sun, T: Ind.
Turns a fire into the shape of a bush under Hector’s control.
(Base 10, +2 voice, +2 sun, +4 levels 12 uses per day)

Why? Why does Hector want to turn fires into bush-shaped fires 12 times a day? I don't see the motivation.

Rearrange the Room
ReIm 34 12 uses per day
R: Voice, D: Sun, T: Group
Rearrange the Room moves the visual images of up to 100 nearby items to places within 5 paces.
(base 3, +2 Voice, +2 Sun, +2 Group, +1 size, +4 levels for 12 uses/day)

[darkwing]

Hector's talisman deliberately looks like a mundane military officers' baton - I was looking for symbols of office used by admirals and this came up as one. He has the Gentle Gift and deliberately tries to pass as a powerful ship captain rather than as a wizard. This is why it doesn't have flashy components.

Re: turning fires into bushes - Hector has a Study Requirement but also gets a Study Bonus - in order to get as much benefit from Rego and various forms, he has enchantments to allow him control over his environment. The one to animate wooden objects and plants allows him a lot of labour saving and study bonuses for Re and He. The turning fires into bushes helps with Ig and He. "Rearrange the room" is to establish mastery over the visual appearance of his vicinity, allowing study of Re and Im (and handily disguising things).
With time, I would probably have invented even more ridiculous things to control Hector's environment and prove his mastery over the area, partly for Study Bonus and partly for show. Actual uses that might be useful in a scenario...who knows?

[Erik_Tyrrell]

Starting the new period then Hector has already spent 2 seasons on the transformation effect in the familiar bond and he's obligated to spend two seasons on longevity rituals. That would make an even year except that he dedicated a season in the 61-75 period to longevity rituals. That means to get an even year he should spend one more season in the lab.

Here's a spell that Hector and Pisces will craft in that season.

Angry Shove of Neptune
ReHe35
R: Sight, D: Conc., T: Group, (+2 size)
An Herbam object or objects is moved in a straight line, or, if already moving, their velocity can be greatly increased or decreased. Hector developed this spell to move ships. While the caser concentrates the targeted ship or ships is pushed through the water as if shoved by a giant hand. Ship accelerate over the course of a few rounds and, when pushed in a direction parallel to their keels, reach a maximum velocity half again the speed of a galloping horse. Possibly fast enough to damage or destroy ships already weakened by some other issue, and definitely fast enough to destroy a ship driven in to a rock. Hector can use this spell to arrange a fleet in his desired positions or to quickly move ships in to or out of harms way. this spell can effect targets equal in volume to 1000 standard herbam individuals, allowing the targeting of at least one large Cog perhaps more.
(base 3, +3 sight, +1 conc., +2 group, +2 size)

Hector's team should be able to generate a lab total of 127 (127- ish, Sarose is not complete but even using Picses instead of the maga they can get over 126) for the longevity rituals for Sarose and himself, providing a bonus of 26 to aging rolls.

[Ignes.Festivus]

Greetings all, lurker on this thread.

Noticed that Hector has Faerie blood, which gives a -1 to aging, but it hasn't been accounted for in any of the rolls that I saw, might have saved an aging point here or there, at least kept the youngish looks longer.

Nice thread, by the way!

[Erik_Tyrrell]

I've now got more ideas for lab work than I think Hector will be able to do, but in the spirit of trying I'm going to leave him five more years for projects. That means he'll have 9 years for study.

Darkwing has previously separated his arts from his abilities in order to account for his study bonus. I'll do the same.

4 years of abilities, 120 exp
magic theory to 7 65 (his magic theory was pretty weak for a magus of his age)
profession shipbuilder at 1 5 (he can spont the rego craft spells necessary, let's get Hector the Knowledge needed to build ships)
organization lore House Tremere at 2 15 (He's ambitious, he want's to know his house)
finesse to 7 35 (His rego score is phenominal, this is a worthwhile investment)

5 years of arts with study bonus 38 xp per year 190 xp

40 xp in rego to net 60 from his affinity and raise his rego to 30 +1 xp. If his study bonus environment is sufficient to get him to 28, with the addition of the burning bushes from the last period it should be enough to get him to 30 now.
31 xp in Herbam to get to 16
27 in creo to get to 14
27 in muto to get to 14
10 in ignem to get to 10
29 in Aq to get to 15
23 to get intellego to 12

I just raised what I expect to use, to this point Hector hasn't concentrated on 2 strong techniques and 2 strong forms like the Tremere chapter says for duelists. I kept on the same path concentrating on Hector doing the work needed to become the Admiral his house thinks that they want.

As long as I'm doing experience I'll do the experience for Pisces as well. He has 9 years at 25 xp per year for 225 xp

Magic Theory to 7 for 35
Artes Liberales to 9 for 105 (Astrological Inceptions here we come )
Carouse to 2 for 10
Faerie lore to 4 for 20
Magic lore to 4 for 20
Divine lore to 1 for 5

With most of the relevant arts for what I want to invent raised by 2, and the magic theories of both Hector and Pisces raised by 2, the lab totals for a lot of what I hope to do will be raised by 8. I suspect that this will be plenty.

Yes, a fish is going to perform experimental philosophy!! (If he has time)

[Erik_Tyrrell]

Hector has 20 seasons for lab work, here are the first 4.

Hector wants to be able to lead a fleet of Tremere ships wherever they're needed. It behooves him to be able to control the weather. While I'm partial to doing unique spells for everything I just can't come up with a justification for not going with Gathering of the Stormy Might (ReAu 40) from the core book. Despite its name, it can be used to both gather and disperse storms and it can be learned in a season from lab notes without any assistance from Pisces.

The second and third seasons are going to be spent on this spell

Cog of the Lunar Transit
CrHe 35
R: Touch, D: Moon, T: Group (+2 size)
The caster creates a large ship of their design which lasts for the spell's duration. While the materials and workmanship of the ship are always excellent, if the caster is unfamiliar with sailing vessels or has a low finesse score the created vessel can be ungraceful or illogically built.
(base 3, +1 touch, +3 moon, +2 group, +2 size)

the final season is used for this spell (Pisces help is unnecessary this season as well)

Sailors; Obedient, Coordinated, and Unobtrusive
ReHe35
R: Sight, D: Conc., T: Group
The caster controls the rudder, sails and other key objects on a targeted ship. The objects move at the will of the caster. the Caster makes any rolls to control the ship using their choice of Finesse -3 or Profession Sail -3. The storyguide should feel free to further penalize the caster if he or she is not able to clearly perceive the ship's situation. The spell has an effective strength of +5 which can be relevant If there is a crew on the ship working at cross purposes to the spell.
(base 5, +3 sight, +1 conc., +2 group)

I figure that the parts of a single ship qualify as a standard group target. I used the +5 strength from the Rego Terram spell Unseen Servant but I'm not thrilled with it. If anyone sees a better rationale for a lower strength please let me know.

[Erik_Tyrrell]

4 more seasons

It seems pretty likely that Hector would primarily lead merchant fleets rather than military fleets, if Hector or the Tremere as a whole have a need to deal with someone else's naval power, it probably won't be a long term event. Thus this lesser enchanted device:

Longshoreman's Wand
MuHe 30 24 uses per day
R: Touch, D: Conc. (Item maintains) T: Ind'
This wooden wand transforms part of a ship's hull into a wide ramp leading in to a newly created opening in the side of a ship. Any racks or shelves attached to the interior of the hull are relocated to the sides of the ramp in a manner where they will be easily accessible. Hector Crafted this item to allow the holds of a ship to be quickly emptied and filled. When Hector is present he frequently uses his Sigil of the Shallow Draft spell to ensure that the new hole in the side of the ship does not fall below the water level. Although the spell was created to work on ships it could also function on any wooden wall.
(base 3, +1 touch, +1 part, +1 concentration, +5 levels item maintains concentration, +2 size, +5 levels 24 use per day)

With an early riser routine Hector and Pisces can get an applicable lab total of 60. Hector makes a device because he's probably got better things to do than load and unload ships. The following spell Hector invents when he wants things to move even more quickly:

Crew of Unseen Longshoreman
ReTe 25
R: Voice, D: Conc, T: Group (+2 size)
this spell functions like Unseen Arm (ReTe 5), but it can simultaneously carry up to 1000 large objects such as crates. Roughly speaking, it has the capabilities of a very strong person (Str +5). The heavier the object is, the slower the unseen porter moves. If delicacy is required, high Finesse stress rolls (12+ or so) are needed. The spell can only carry inanimate objects, and cannot carry the caster. It also cannot lift things more than 6 feet above the ground. Casting requisites of an appropriate Form for the target are required. Using this spell and the Longshoreman's wand Hector is capable of unloading and reloading a ship in a matter of seconds providing the material to be put in and taken out of the ship is sufficiently organized to form a hermetic group target.
(Base 3, +2 Voice, +1 Concentration, +2 group, +2 size)

Hector invents this in a single season with no assistance from Pisces

Once again thinking that Hector will want to be able to deal with large numbers of ships rather than just one he'll spend two seasons develop this one to save someone else's ship when it is having problems. (I thought that the covenant already had a similar spell or device but I didn't find it).

Flawless Hull
ReAq 50
R: Sight, D: Moon, T: Part (+2 size)
This spell targets a section of wood or other Herbam material. Water will not pass through the targeted material. Although designed to allow Hector to help a ship in distress, Hector preemptively casts this spell on all of the ships under his command, and those ships on covenant business, and sometimes just because he wants to keep strangers safe, why not?.
(Base 5, +3 sight, +1 part, +3 Moon, +2 size)

It's overkill, but Hector didn't have the lab total to do a version I liked in a single season so he went with level 50 because he was using two seasons anyway.

12 seasons left

[Erik_Tyrrell]

4 more seasons. I'm hoping that the lack of responses are because I'm posting spells and effects that are well within the borders of what's described in the rules. I'm sorry, I'll try and do worse.

But probably not with these (Hector's needs, or at least what I imagine them to be, seem to require magic that is more conventional than most)

I see Hector as very commonly having a need to cast spells on other ships. Up to this point I've had him develop range sight spells to do this. That leads to higher level spells and leaves him the problem that his sponts are not, as a rule, going to be able to reach other ships without help. Hector decides to use his amazing Rego score to develop a different way to handle this challenge and learn Evil Eye (projects page 80) at level 45 from a lab text. For those not in the know, Evil Eye is a duration Diameter arcane tunnel spell that works at range sight and can carry spells up to one magnitude higher than its level.

During the second season he'll work on being able to see things. His lab total for Creo Ignem is 49, he can use an early riser routing to get it to 50

Half a Torch
CrIg 15
R: Touch, D: Moon, T: Ind.
The object touched by the caster grows glowing flame-like tongues of glowing light. The created lights appear less clearly defined than typical flames, not in fact being flames. Hector created this spell to give his sailors a manner of illuminating every part of their ship without any concern for starting any fires.
(base 3, +1 touch, +3 moon)

Beacon Fire
CrIg 10
R: Touch, D: Diameter, T: Ind.
This spell creates a glowing set of flame-like tongues that illuminate the surrounding area with light equivalent to a cloudy day. This light is completely insubstantial (although it may be attached to an object) and therefore often hard to conceal. Hector wanted a spell to illuminate distant targets (ships), working within the limitations of his lab total he was able to craft this spell to use in conjunction with Evil Eye.
(base 4, +1 touch, +1 diameter)

The third season he'll continue making spells that allow him to see other ships. Hector's Muto, (Intelligo), Mentem, (Auram) total is 52. That lets him make this spell

Eyes of a Bright Summer Day
Mu(In)Me(Au) 25
R: Touch, D: Diam., T: Vision Group
Members of the group touched by the caster can, for the duration of the spell, see clearly through all manner of obfuscation in the air nearby, including smoke, fog, and dust, even if the obfuscation is magical.
(base 1, +1 touch, +1 diameter, +2 group, +4 vision)

Am I the only one who wishes that the MuMe requirements on page 114 for multiple target magical sense spells were errated into non-existence? Can anyone speak in their defense, or is my loathing universal?

Fourth season Hector will learn yet another spell to help him keep track of an entire fleet. This spell is "To See as through a Plethron Distant" from Magic of Hermes p 101. This spell lets Hector move his vantage point for vision to any location he can see. Hector often uses the spell to get a view from a mile or more in the air looking down on his ships and their surroundings. He names it Vantage point of the Angels, but it would be silly to give it a different name for our purposes. I had Hector invent the spell because I'm a little hesitant to say that lab texts are available for spells shown to be the inventions of the mages in that book.

Two more free seasons for Pisces during this year, 8 seasons left

[Erik_Tyrrell]

Expedient Boarding Party
ReCo 40
T: Touch, D: Mom., T: Group
This spell transports a group of individuals to any place within seven leagues either that the caster can see or has an Arcane Connection to. If the caster fails an Intelligence + Finesse stress roll of 9+, the target's arrival goes slightly awry. For instance, they might fall when they appear, or just be facing the wrong way. A botch means they appear in the wrong place, in the case of Hector, who developed this spell to quickly move people between ships, likely in the water. Hector can use this spell in conjunction with his evil eye spell to relocate any group of people that he can see.
in general spells of this sort require casting requisites for material that the teleported targets bring with them but this is subject to story guide judgement (see Transforming Mythic Europe pg. 107).
(base 25, +1 touch, +2 group)

He can't get a similar spells bonus from Leap of Homecoming because a similar spell with a closely related effect must have the same set of spell parameters and this changes both range and target parameters.

His lab total is:
Rego 30
Cor 13
Int 3
Magic theory (rego specialization) 8
aura 3
lab general quality 2
lab rego bonus 8

total of 67, with pisces it would be 78. With one season of the nocturnal lab schedule they'll get it done in a season.

Seven seasons left

[Erik_Tyrrell]

In one season with Pisces

Maze of Fountains
ReAq 40
R: Sight, D: Diam., T: Group
This spell brings into being a set of ten wall shaped eruptions of water each up to four paces high and eight paces long spraying up from a larger body of water. Smaller boats are, barring magical assistance, unable to cross these barriers and larger vessels can only cross them with profession sail rolls determined by the story guide based on the size and speed of the ship. The precision of the wall locations is controlled by a finesse + intelligence roll from the caster. With a roll of ease factor 9+ a set of walls can be placed sufficiently closely to a previously existing casting of this spell to effectively extend its duration by replacing exiting water walls with new ones.Hector created this spell to control the movement of seas vessels in an area to conform to his desires.
(base 10,+3 Sight, +1 diameter, +2 group)

In one season by himself

Bilge Water Banishment
ReAq 25
R: Touch, D: Moon, T: Ind.
This spell targets the pool of water that typically collects in the lowest point inside of a ship. For the spell's duration water collecting in the ship's bilge flows gently along the interior walls of the ship and off of the ship's nearest side. The amount of water in the ship's lowest point is, under most circumstances, kept at a constant volume of about a teaspoon. This spell has the ability to move approximately the same volume of water as a small stream current. Especially large influxes of water (for reference, more than the output of the spell Mighty Torrent of Water) may overload it's capacity.
(base 5, +1 Touch, +3 moon)

Five seasons left

Anyone still reading?

[Tellus]

@Erik Tyrrell

Anyone still reading?

Trying, yeah. Not checking all the spells

[darkwing]

Still reading, you have not violated the character concept yet and the spells don't seem controversial.

[Erik_Tyrrell]

@darkwing

...and the spells don't seem controversial.

Sorry about that, my ideas for Hector's labwork really were painfully non-controversial.

If Pisces assuming the form of a baboon and casting horoscopes isn't a concern, then I don't think I have anything sufficiently drastic to upend your character concept.

[Erik_Tyrrell]

Hector spends a season learning Eyes of the Eagle InIm 25 from a lab text. I think this is the final thing I'll do for allowing him to see other ships and target them with his magic. because he has extra lab total he'll also pick up Palm of Hearing InIm 10 from Through the Aegis page 80 (If I recall the spell correctly, I'll need to double check it when I get home).

He'll then spend two seasons developing the following spell to allow his ships to move beneath the surface of the sea. If Hector had Pisces' help he could get it done in a single season if he also gained a few points from an in unusual lab schedule. Hector has already employed lab schedules twice this period, and I don't imagine that at this point in his life Hector is under tremendous pressure to produce results quickly. Granted, he is very ambitious but it would probably serve his ambition better to take two seasons with significant time off each season, then spend the time he has outside of the lab writing letters and greasing palms to further his interests rather than crafting more spells.

Tunnel to Atlantis
ReAq 40
R: Voice, D: Sun, T: Part +1 size
This spell alters the surface of the waters surrounding a ship making them slope gradually in directions controlled by the caster. Most often this spell initially is employed to have a ship descend into a sub aquatic tunnel. This tunnel is extends from the normal water level on the sides of the ship to form a cylinder up to 5 paces from the sides of the ship and up to 15 paces from the bow and stern. The elevation of the surface on which the ship floats can be controlled by the caster and can change by up to 2 paces per round. This surface can be as low as the sea bed or as high as 10 paces above the surrounding water level. The size of the bubble of air surrounding the ship is not controlled by the caster during the spell and this tube of water will only form around the ship when it is below the water's surface. The caster can, by use of his will, propel the ship to move at speeds as fast as that of a galloping horse. The caster can control the motion of the ship only while he is within voice range of the ship. As the spell begins to expire at dawn or dusk the water level surrounding the ship gradually reverts to it natural elevation over the course of sunrise or sunset. Hector designed this spell at range voice so that he could use it from a ship's deck without scuttling down to the water's surface.
(base 10, +2 voice, +2 sun, +1 part, +1 size)

The spell controls the water surface so it isn't level and also keeps an open bubble around the target ship. The caster gets a ship as a submarine. Does this work? Is it clear?

Two seasons left.

[Erik_Tyrrell]

Hector has in this period only crafted one device suitable for taking the covenant's ship to new non-watery places. He'll use the previous spell to help craft another.

Wand to Open the Highway of Worms
ReAq(Te) 47 3 uses per day
R: Voice, D: Sun, T Part +1 size
This lesser enchanted device has the form of a thick wooden wand tipped with a rounded piece of jade. this item creates an enchantment nearly identical to the spell Tunnel to Atlantis, with the modification that it has a terram requisite, designed to function in concert with Janus' Sailing on Gaia's Back device (Which is described here Hermetic Generations ) to allow the ship to travel both under water ad through the earth.
When the item is used the surface of the waters surrounding a ship slope gradually in directions controlled by the wielder. Initially the effect is typically used to have a ship descend into a sub aquatic tunnel. This tunnel extends from the normal water level on the sides of the ship to form a cylinder up to 5 paces from the sides of the ship and up to 15 paces from the bow and stern. The elevation of the surface on which the ship floats can be controlled by the wielder and can be changed by up to 2 paces per round. This surface can only be extended to be as high as 10 paces above the surrounding water level or ground surface. The size of the tunnel, the bubble of air surrounding the ship, is not controlled by the wielder during the effect and this tunnel will only form around the ship when it is below the surface. The wielder can, by use of his will, propel the ship to move at the speed of a galloping horse. The wielder can control the motion of the ship only while he is within voice range of the ship. As the enchantment begins to expire at dawn or dusk the water level surrounding the ship gradually reverts to it natural elevation over the course of sunrise or sunset. Hector designed this device to function at range voice so that it could be used from a ship's deck without scuttling down to the water's surface.
(base 10, +2 voice, +2 sun, +1 part, +1 size +1 terram requisite, +2 levels 3 uses per day)

I kept with the aquam target size thinking that if the other device made the ground act like water the device could target it like water. Does that seem problematic to anyone?

For Hector's last season another spell that I see as important to him is a ward aganst faeries at target structure that he could cast on a ship.

Structure Warded Against the Realm of Faerie
ReVi Gen
R: Touch, D: Sun T: Structure
All creatures with Faerie Might equal to or less than the level of the spell -15 are unable to enter or touch the targeted structure or harm those within it.
(Base spell +3 target structure)

Not real creative for a last spell and the name... well I'd love a more poetic suggestion.

Hector has a casting total of 43 + a die roll and a penetration skill of 4, so he'd get the best use from a level 35 spell where it would block creatures of up to might 20 and he'd be likely to get in the neighborhood of penetration 20. Level 35 is also a comfortable level for him to invent in a season.

[Erik_Tyrrell]

He's out of seasons for now but I had hoped to have Hector develop an item to help with the transportation of animals by sea. I figured that horses were too big for convenient travel. I had thought of turning them into rats (which somehow always survive sea voyages) or tiny sea otters for more safety. Yet it was outside of his strongest arts and his magic theory of 7 put too great a limit on how much benefit he could gain from moving to a device.

I also had looked in to Rego Craft magic for the building and repair of ships, including a spell for the preparation (seasoning ?) of lumber so that it was ready to be used in ship construction. While the transmutation of Horses, Cows, and Pigs was on the difficult side, rego craft magic was too easy for him. Mystic Carpenter from Covenants is an adequate spell and really Hector's Rego score is high enough He can spont most any craft magic spell he'd need without too much trouble.

[Erik_Tyrrell]

Pisces has 9 seasons left unaccounted for.

He will use two of these seasons to construct a laboratory for his use with astrology (Art and Academe page 70). The covenant might be presumed to still have the laboratory that Andreva abandoned at the end of the first fifteen year period but it seems more likely that this has been repurposed during the intervening 70+ years in fact I think that the only argument for its continued existence is that it serves a purpose to the covenant (perhaps for visiting magi or apprentices or something) which would preclude it being occupied by Pisces.

The covenant has a quary and it has two magi with posses both exceedingly high Rego Teram totals and formidable finesse scores. The presence of Hector or Andreva makes the creation of an additional room or building is (as I see it) a non-issue. (Or do you think that some amount of arctecture skill would be a prerequisite?).

Although I don't see statement to this effect (it should be in there someplace) it seems obvious that Pisces should use his artes Liberales Score instead of his magic theory score in the creation of the laboratory. He'll start with the following virtues and flaws.

huge armillary sphere
greater feature major structure virtue
also greater focus: major structure flaw

opening roof matched with a pool that reflects the star
greater feature major structure virtue
also greater focus: major structure flaw

Pisces' lab also presumably has the benefit of Janus's covenant wide enchantments and could use Andreva's chest of laboratory equipment but I don't think that any of that would be relevant to doing astrology work.

Size +0
Refinement 0
General Quality -4
Upkeep 0
Safety 0
Warping 0
Health 0
Aesthetics +4
specialization in astrology +14

While more optimization is possible, this lab already seems unseemly in it's numbers. I think it would be in poor taste to take it further.

Thoughts?

[Trogdor]

According to page 120 of Covenants, a lab may only have one Focus.

@Covenants

Specialized labs often have certain noteworthy or unique structural features (arising from one or more Greater Feature or Lesser Feature Virtues), which aid or inspire certain types of magic. Features may be added to a lab with relatively little disruption, if space permits. Alternatively, the lab may be rearranged such that one Feature becomes the lab’s central focus (in which case, take the Greater Focus or Lesser Focus Flaw, as appropriate). A lab may only have one Focus. In this case, lab activities that are unrelated to the Feature are disadvantaged, but the specialized benefits of the Feature are increased. It takes one season to build or assemble the structure of a Lesser Feature, and two seasons to do the same for a Greater Feature.

(Emphasis added)

Also, can you give a bonus to Astrology, especially a +14 bonus? The only other Ability that allows for improvement is Teaching, and the Teaching specialization is explicitly limited to +3.