Bartholomeus of Verditius
Filius Titus Maximus of Verditius
Background: Bartel was born in one of the villages near Fengheld in the Rhine Tribunal. His mother (Margareta) was the village's midwife and healer, treating both the villagers and their flock of sheep, but also a bastard daughter of a visiting magus with one of the servants of Fengheld. His father (Rupert) was the village's carpenter. Although a bit accident-prone, Bartel had a sunny disposition and was always eager to help his parents. When his Gift began manifestating at the age of 8, his parents knew they had to inform Fengheld of this, even though they were afraid they wouldn't get to see their boy much once he became the apprentice of a magus.
Upon learning that a Gifted child had appeared, Fengheld decided to inform the boy's grandfather as a courtesy. Titus Maximus of Verditius was already reknowned wandmaker in the Greater Alps, one of those who had returned Tarragon Vale to the Order. He was proud as a peacock that a blood descendant of his would help spread his fame. Even better, the boy was quickly proving to be of above-average intelligence, even amongst other Gifted children! So he took the child as his new apprentice and begun his training at the covenant of New Tarragon Vale. The child's intellect was up to the challenge and he learned quickly. Of course, there were often small mishaps happening around him, and he was proving less... able physically. But broken crockery could be replaced. If the boy couldn't handle a staff in combat without injuring himself or the grog guarding him, one just couldn't blame him for not mastering a warrior's skill. He was a Verditius apprentice, after all! There was that matter of the damaged books in the library, of course. That was more serious, but the librarian was surely to blame for carrying those jars of ink at a time when Bartel was studying. And those shelves should have been kept in good repair! The boy would learn to be more careful, too...
In the end, however, accidents kept happening again, and again, and again. Up to the point that, while his master was away to negociate a commission for the upcoming Tribunal, Bartel bumped into a candle holder, which fell unto some wood shavings. He tried putting out the flames with a blanket, which had promptly caught fire as well. Jumping back, he caused a tapestry to fall, further fanning the flames, and... Well, when Titus returned, he discovered his workshop and laboratory almost completely destroyed by the resulting conflagration. Including many of his masterpieces and his ongoing commission. Horrified, ridiculed and shamed, he'd spurned Bartel. This was no blood of his! He was a curse!
Only the intervention of the Quaesitors, and the fact that he'd kept his "masterpice" in his own room rather than his master's workshop, had made it possible for Bartel to be tested for his Gauntlet. But his grandfather's words remain engraved in his mind -- his clumsiness must be the result of a curse.
Appearance: On the tall side, Bartholomeus' red hair and blue eyes show his Danish ancestry (though his grandmother). He is always bumping into things, no matter how hard he tried to be careful. His voice is often hesitant, though melodious. His clothing is often slightly damaged or stained -- the more elaborate the garment, the more likely he is to have an unfortunate accident.
Age: 24 (born 1212 A.D.)
Size: 0
Gender: Male
Confidence: 1 (3)
Characteristics: Int +5, Per +1, Str 0, Sta 0, Pre 0, Com +1, Dex -1, Qik 0
Virtues: The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Verditius Magic (free), Major Magical Focus (resizing), Affinity w/Magic Theory, Affinity w/Muto, Great Characteristic (Intelligence), Inventive Genius, Personal Vis Source, Skilled Parens
Flaws: Black Sheep, Rigid Magic, Ability Block (martial), Clumsy, Clumsy Magic, Delusion (cursed with clumsiness)
Personality Traits: Brave +1, Charming +2, Eager to Please +3, Proud -2
Reputation: Incompetent and clumsy (House Verditius) 2
Abilities:
Area Lore: Saxony (geography) 1
Artes Liberales (ceremonial magic) 1
Awareness (alertness) 2
Charm (first impressions) 2
Chirurgy (bind wounds) 1
Craft: Wood (wands) 4
Folk Ken (peasants) 2
Language: Low German (Saxon) 5
Language: West Norse (Danish) 3
Language: Latin (Hermetic usage) 4
Magic Theory (enchanting items) 5
Organization Lore: Order of Hermes (history) 1
Parma Magica (Corpus) 1
Philosophiae (Verditius Runes) 3
Magical Arts: Cr 5, In 5, Mu 9, Pe 0, Re 5, An 4, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 4, He 4, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 0, Te 4, Vi 4
Wizard's Sigil: The target deforms temporarily.
Spells:
Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15) +13
Cloak of the Ducks Feathers (ReAq 5)
Purification of the Festering Wounds (CrCo 20) +9
Preternatural Growth and Shrinking (MuCo 20) +17
Rise of the Feathery Body (ReCo 10) +9
Cloak of Prometheus (CrIg 5) -- Magi of Hermes p.110
Lamp Withouth Flame (CrIg 10)
Wizard's Sidestep (ReIm 10) +5
Object of Increased Size (MuTe 15) +17
Hands of the Grasping Earth (ReTe 15, Mu req) +4
Scales of the Magical Weight (InVi 5) +9
Sense the Nature of Vis (InVi 5) +9
Unravelling the Fabric of Corpus (PeVi 5) +4
Unravelling the Fabric of Imaginem (PeVi 5) +4
Unravelling the Fabric of Terram (PeVi 5) +4
Personal possessions: Carving knives and tools, wax tablet and stylus