Roberto wakes well before dawn, does some morning exercise, grabs a light breakfast, scrubs up, and dresses not fancy at all. Outfit of a normal soldier. He leaves the shield and cape at home, wears studded leather, and carries a different sword. Then after the turb has breakfast and come out into the yard to begin practice, Roberto mixes in with them and socializes. He is still amazed at the fact that his Gift had become Gentle, yet worries that it may not last forever. Then when he notices Vibria, he approaches her with salutation.
Salve sodale! My commendation on the quality of the soldiers. You are the Bishop over the guards I believe?
Vibria is fully geared up, in the Arma Draco, the Draconian helm, and heater shield, with her short sword at her side.
[color=red]"Salve...Roberto, is it? Thank you for the compliment, but I only train with the soldiers, I don't train them myself. The credit belongs to Captain Alexandro. And...I don't think I'm the Bishop. That would be Carmen*"
She gives Roberto a long appraising look, then gives him a smile. [color=red]"El Cidito said you wanted to play today. You up to it?"
- correct me if I'm wrong.
(* I actually thought it was Vibria. I had Carmen become Treasurer so that I can handwave accounting details :mrgreen: )
Play? I don't think that's how it translates from Spanish to Catalan.
...or maybe it does.
I meant more along the lines of [code]exercises. Contests, Flambeau games. Maybe I did say play. But not in the amusement sense of the word. They do that up in Normandy with the Tribunal Tournaments. That did not sit well with me. We are Hermetic Magi, not Frankish Cavaliers. The Certamen bouts work out fine, though I had a hard time getting anyone to duel with the Test of Flames. Managed to squeeze one side match in back in '21. Hot my @$$ handed to me, but it was fun.
The other stuff they do is weird though. I did not care for the joust. The Hastidlium is strange, and I think I pronounced that wrong. But what stuck in my craw was the Dimicatio. I learned the classic version, not the tourney variant. We would duel only with Mastered spells and Fast Casting was a viable tactic. The tourney, no fast casting or other tricks allowed. Very formalized. But no spell mastery requirement. The classic version does not require that, but my pater and mentor both mandated matered spells for our practices for the sake of simple safety. I saw a guy get killed when his opponent botched his attack spell. It latter turned out to be a coverup for murder, but at the time we could do nothing about it.
Me, I placed in the quarter finals. But latter they cried shenanigans because of the shouting trick I was using, forgoing incantations and taking the hit on casting power just to obfuscate the Arts. They said it was the cheep way of doing it, I say it was the hard way. But Penetration is a non-issue with Forceless Casting, so I figured it was worth a shot.
But anyways, I heard you were immune to fire. Is this true? Perhaps you would like to engage in a Test of Flames Certamen? If you know that spell and master it, I can teach you how to incorporate it into your Certamen. Inirelte of Flambeau invented it. I have a Ward against Heat and Flames, so the fires are of no real danger to either of us. It is a good straight-up Creo Ignem contest, excellent practice for fire blooded Flambeaux such as ourselves!
((Having Vibria be the Bishop of the Guard or whatever works for me, I actually hadn't thought about it. Makes sense, since she's been training with the Andorran Guard, Armando, and Fausto, and actually has Leadership with a Specialty in Soldiers.))
[color=red]"I've actually never done any of the tournament events. Just straight Certamen and whatnot, but not in many years. I would like to try the Dimicatio, though."
[color=red]"I've never learned Test of the Flames, mainly because I am immune to fire and that made it seem almost like cheating to me. But if I understand it correctly, I should be able to spontaneously cast it.[sup]1[/sup] I'm not sure how that would be of use in Certamen, except as a possible distraction, but I'm willing to learn."
[hr][/hr][sup]1[/sup] The level (HoH: S, p. 36, for those following along at home) is 15, while Vibria's CrIg CT is Cr 10 + Cr (from her Focus) 10 + Ig 16 + Sta 2 + Aura 5 = 43 + die roll, halved, so about 23 or so.
I am pulling the idea for Inirelte's Certamen from ArM4 Houses of Hermes (Test of Flames a.k.a. Inirelte's Certamen). Societas retconned it into a Cult of Mithras thing, which I hated because I utterly despise the cult of Mithras. Which is why I have chosen the original Mercurian variation as invented by Peter Henteges. But there are still plenty of good ideas in Societates that I like and have blended together with the original.
In Sub Rosa 3, there was this one schmoe that wrote an article about the Flambeau Apochrypha and the Knights of Seneca. There is an insert box mentioning Inirelte's Certamen for 5th edition, cross referencing the Certamen Schools from True Lineages. To duel in the style of Inirelte is just showing off. You engage in Certamen, any Arts, and you just happen to be standing in a magical circle of fire. Irellevant, because you are both protected by Parma Magica. Vibria is at least capable of that much.
Mastery of this school, actually knowing it and being able to use it's special tricks, requires both knowing the spell and mastering it. It is considered a Minor Breakthrough, and is limited to a single TeFo combination. You can add your Mastery score to eith Attack or Defense and switch it up from round-to-round. Additionally, you can use certain Mastery feats in Certamen that are easily logically applied; such as Penetration, Imperturbable, Resistance, and whatever fits.
Like other Certamen schools, the other magus does not need to know or be using it for you to be able. Just as long as it is a Creo-Ignem duel fought while you both stand in a circle of flame that you created using this exact specific same spell (no variation) and have mastered it.
Roberto only has a Mastery of 1 with Resistance. Meaning he can add +1 to either Attack or Defense and gets a +1 bonus to resistance. Vibria has the Higher Art score combo though, edging Roberto out by 3 points. Then again, Vibria is underdeveloped in basic skills such as Finesse & Penetration. It would be an interesting contest, and perhaps a way for Vibria (or Roberto) to suggest exchanging some Teaching & Training time with each other.
oh yeah, I should roleplay instead of exposit 
The Trick with Certamen is to have at least three strong Arts so you can switch it up, and to play unexpected wild cards such as using vis.
As for Dimicatio, I would love to, but I insist we err on the side of safety. Maybe I am growing soft in my old age, but that tournament bout where Praxiteles was crushed...
I would suggest Mastered spells where forceless casting cannot be botched, or spells that are harmless in their effect so as to avoid potential accident. It is essentially a speed contest after all, a good way to practice Finesse and Fast Casting defensive spells.
((So, it's basically a home-brew version of a system from a third edition supplement and an early issue of Sub-Rosa, neither of which I have. Got it.))
So, this School of Inirelte is just normal certamen that just happens to be in a Ring of Fire?
Although you lost me on the "mastery of this school" thing? You can master Certamen like you can spells, and getting levels in School of Inirelte means you have to put points into both the School and Test of the Flames, which basically makes it twice as expensive?
[hr][/hr][color=red]"I haven't gotten around to mastering any spells yet, except for Sword of the Avenger, and I'm not sure that would be any good in a Certamen. Or Dimicatio."
Well, if you put it that way...
Flip me your e-mail and I will send you the full article. Not the sub rosa issue, I mean the actual raw text file that was submitted and became that article. It isn't from 3rd edition, it was 4th. And nothing mechanical was imported. Just the name "Inirelte". The system is straight forward and lifted straight from ArM5 True Lineages.
Pretty much, yeah.
No, not like that. Maybe I messed the terminology up. Let me look it up in True Lineages...
Page 135-138
A distinction is drawn between those who dabble or learn how to fight in the style of a particular school, and those who are dedicated followers and masters of a school. No xp involved. You may Master one school, and dabble in any number you have been exposed too. For example, Bjornaer followers of the Bestarius school may substitute their Heartbeast score for Finesse, and add twice their Heartbeast score to Resistance. Those who merely dabble in this school may add their Heartbeast score (x1) to Resistance. Other schools offer other tricks and bonuses to their followers, and those that dabble in them often gain some sort of lesser bonus.
Any magus can fight in the style of Inirelte. Essentially, it is just showing off. You are simply dueling while standing in magically created fire that cannot harm you because of your magic resistance.
The Dedicated followers of this school are the ones who can use their Mastery of this spell as a bonus.
The problem is that it is a school that applies only to a single Tech/Form combination. And the other guy doesn't have to stand in your circle if he doesn't want to. So it is highly limited. Every magus can choose a single school to follow, Roberto wasted his pick on this one. But in my experience in this and other games, players rarely employ Certamen schools anyway. Once in a while though, it will come up.
Roberto knows a rare school with a unique aesthetic quality based on a Minor Breakthrough. A curious Tremere might want to study this and develop a Major Breakthrough that expands the concept further somehow. But this is not something Roberto would ever do.
[hr][/hr]
This is where Roberto's natural recklessness overrides his cautiousness. He figures he has mastered spells and can play it safe, and figures Vibria is a young maga and is secure that his Parma can handle any slip ups she might make. He is also unaware of her Chaotic Magic.
You know Sword of the Avenger? I know that spell too!! Awesome!
We can give Dimicatio a try. In fact, let's give it a practice run. Toss a few spells at be and I'll deflect them. Let's see what you got.
I'll try to follow along best I can.
[hr][/hr]
[color=red]"Do you want to do it inside the Circle of Fire, or just a regular Dimicatio style?"
I do realize that I write to long, messy complicated and wordy. I am sure I could simplify the whole thing to just three sentences and it would make much more sense. But let us not worry about it.
[hr][/hr]
[color=red]"Do you want to do it inside the Circle of Fire, or just a regular Dimicatio style?"
[/quote]
Eh? Nah, that wouldn't work well. I'll just stand over here and you lob spells at me starting from over there. You can maneuver around, change your approach and obscure your movments. Be Apramorian. Remember, Apromor represents subtlety and patient strategy. Time Destroys all Things".
Vibria dons her dragon helm and sheathes her sword, then starts to circle to her left, slowly. After thinking for a moment, she realizes that the only spell she knows that would be appropriate for Dimicatio is Pilum of Fire (unless you're allowed to whack someone forcelessly with a flaming sword).
Her Init is Qui 1 – Enc 2 + die roll of 6 = 5.
Her Casting Total for the PoF is 38 + Aura 5 + die roll of 5 = 48.
Her Recognition Roll to determine the Form of Roberto's spell is Per 0 + Awareness 3 + die roll of 3 = 6.
Fast-Casting Speed is Qui 1 + Finesse 0 + die roll of 2 = 3.
(edited because I couldn't math when I wrote this. CT should be 48, not 43.)
Roberto's Initiative is (Quik +1 & Enc0 & die roll of 1d10=8) a total of 9.
Which is irrelevant because he is waiting for you to toss spells at him.
His attempt at Determining Form (Per 0 & Awareness 2 & die roll of 1d10=2 versus an ease factor of (15 + Magnitude -19)) is a complete failure.
Even though it is his signature spell 
So he will counter using Thwarting the Thaumaturgical Threat
Fast Cast Speed is (Quick +1 & Enc 0 & Finesse 3 (speed) & die roll of 1d10=3) a total of 8.
Casting Total 15 + Aura 5 + die roll [roll=Casting Roll (TtTT)]#4365011[/roll], then 1d10=8, then -10 for Fast Casting, totals to 16.
According to the write up for his counterspell, he has to equal or exceed twice the level of your spell with a SD + (level +10. Unraveling Mastery allows him to add 3 x his mastery to his roll, and his spell is level 15, so he rolls a SD + 34 versus an ease factor of 40, so he needs a 6 or better.
here we go...
1d10=4
Good job. Sun got in my eye's, so I couldn't tell what you were casting. Slipped one past me. Let's try that again.
Round 2: Vibria really needs to learn more offensive spells (that she can cast forcelessly).
Initiative is still 5.
CT for Pilum of Fire is 43 + die roll of 6 = 49.
Her Recognition Roll to determine the Form of Roberto's spell is 3 + die roll of 5) = 8.
Fast-Casting Speed is 1 + die roll of 9 = 10.
She's too busy concentrating on what she's doing (being a new experience and all) to engage in any repartee for the moment.
Roberto's Initiative is still 9. He was just going to play catch, but it seems obvious you are expecting him to throw back so he shall oblige 
Incantation of Paralyzation: CT 18, Aura 5, Die Roll 1d10=2; =25
Ease Factor to recognize Form is (15 - Magnitude of 4), or 11. The roll of 8 will not cut it unless you spend a point of Confidence.
Your Fast Cast Speed is sufficient though. You have this one in the bag if you are clever and don't screw up your roll
She will spend the Confidence to be able to get the fast-cast spell off.
She is going to go outside the box and create a CrIm to make a frellin' huge flash-bang...actually, make it a half-dozen really bright and loud sparklers going off right in front of Roberto, timed to go off when he's casting his spell so it disrupts his concentration and keeps it from going off. In theory.
Going for a base CrIm 2 (create an image that affects two senses), R: Voice +2, D: Momentary, T: Group +2, for a Target Level of 10.
Her CT is Sta 2 + Cr 10 + Im 0 + Aura 5 = 17 + die roll of 0 (regular botch check comes up a 9) = 17, halved is 8½. Can I spend a Confidence point to bump the roll to a 20, or can you not do two in one round?
And the Weird Magic botch check comes up a 4.
So, she's down one Fatigue Level, which puts her at Winded (-0).
You can spend points up to your Confidence Score per individual roll, even if there is more than one roll per round. You burn points fast that way though
It is successful enough to cause him to need to make a Concentration roll.
Which he fails [size=10](handwave here, nothing to see, move along)[/size].
Not bad. Innovative even. Remember that one and invent it proper later on. Then Master it.
[color=red]"Thank you."
Vibria then watches Roberto to see if he wants to continue or not.
You guys keep at it for a while, swatting spells back and forth. lots of boring dice rolling.
But then there is also banter and conversation
So I have heard it said that you are of the blood of dragons. That you are immune to fire and can breath flames. But I wonder if you have inherited the ferocity of dragons. You dress as a warrior and wield armaments. I would like to test swords against you. Practice swords, blunted blades. To the touch, one point per limb and two for the torso, head shots off limits. First to ten points wins and the looser owes them a bottle of wine.