I'm not so sure. If it has the properties of steel, shouldn't it requires a Terram requisite? Strength, hardness and sharpness are all Terram attributes. Giving them for "free" based only on the Base 4 MuAq guideline for "very unnatural liquid" seems a stretch. The water isn't a liquid anymore if it has the strength of steel, it's a solid. Thus a Terram requisite, I think.
I think it depends on how many other qualities you choose to change. For instance, if it's hard enough to do the job it needs to do, but in other ways it's still a liquid - looks like water, your hand gets wet from holding it, if you leave it laying around for a while it might evaporate, if it gets cold it freezes - then no req. But if it becomes the other material in every discernible way, then yeah probably has the form req.
But I think it's a casting req anyway, not a req necessary for designing the spell, since the spell can make a variety of things and that will determine the form.
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I have updated the spell to include a Terram requisite and clarified the Base that is used. The spell turns water into an unrelated solid (meaning not ice), and that base clearly requires a Terram requisite. The fact that the item still looks like it is made from water is cosmetic, in my opinion.
Clusius spent a season studying Terram before creating the spell.
While having a walk a few minutes ago, I had the thought, "Didn't I give Clusius Deficient Terram? That would kind of screw up my plans! Should I retroactively change that Flaw?"
After checking, I am relieved to see that I gave him Limited Magic Resistance in Terram, not Deficient Terram. Crisis averted! 
Year 6 (1203 A.D.), Fall
Sometimes, when you are a guest, you are exposed to some awkward incidents. At the latest Council Meeting, I was witness to some rather strong disagreements between the magi of Triamore. I will not go into details, but it gave me some valuable insights into how heated things get get between us.
Nevertheless, things are beginning to get comfortable here. I have not petitioned the covenant to become a member, but I am thinking about it.
It was soon time for me to pay my dues to the covenant, so I decided to go on a vis hunt. Eustache had gathered some interesting stories in the nearby village about a strange creature that has been sighted a few miles south of the covenant. When I spoke of it to Remi, he said that it was close to one of Triamore's vis source, so any threat to it had to be investigated. Apparently, several decades ago one of the magi had killed a serpent living in the caves there. Any such creature was sure to pose great danger to Triamore's grogs when to are sent to harvest the source, so it might be best if he went with them. I offered to join them with Louis and Eustache.
Something new had indeed moved into the caves. Not only did we find and kill a troll, but also a pack of monstrous rats. It took us a few days time to hunt them all down. Our grogs suffered some wounds, but thankfully none were severe. We brought back a good haul of vis, both from harvesting the source and from the bodies of the slain creatures.
I spent the rest of the season training.
Advancement: 10 xp from adventure (5 in mastery of Mighty Torrent of Water and 5 in Single Weapon), 6 pawns of raw vis (3 Corpus, 3 Animal)
Year 6 (1203 A.D.), Winter
It has now been seven years since Leonardus disappeared into Twilight. Since he hasn't reappeared, his Twilight has been declared Final. Augustus Nero, as the Guernicus who registered it, has called his heirs at Triamore for the reading of his Hermetic will, opening of his sanctum and disposition of his belongings.
Though I was not an immediate heir of the older magus, I was present for the proceedings. There was a impressive amount of wealth in gold, raw vis, magical enchantments, books and notes, artifacts and mementos from past adventures. These were easily separated between Flavia, Wilhelm and Eduardus. I was to receive a few minor things, old travel notes and non-magical texts, as well as some mementos.
Things got really interesting when Augustus Nero explained that, amongst Leonardus' possessions were also a secondary sanctum that the old magus had establised away from Triamore. This was a place he went to when he wanted some quiet and tranquility, but he had also some important vis sources out there. It did pause some interesting problems, however, for it was located at almost the exactly between the Tribunals of Normandy, the Rhine and the Greater Alps. None of the vis sources had been registered to those Tribunals. Each Tribunal could (and probably would) claim that the place was within their jurisdiction, if only to get access to those vis sources.
Furthermore, Leonardus had built the kernel of a covenant there, with several buildings and mundanes already in place. He had also set a condition for the location and details of the vis sources be released to his heirs. A covenant had to be established there, and a magus of his line had to lead it and live there. Otherwise knowledge of the vis sources would pass directly to House Jerbiton (embodied by the Primus) and the heirs would have to relinquish any claim to them.
This led to several days of arguments between Flavia, Wilhelm and Eduardus. Honestly, I was bored at first, until I remembered the last Tribunal meeting, Augustus' comments and the stories from Decem Libri Historiarum . I tried to pretend continued disinterest, which wasn't too difficult considering that my elders were essentially ignoring me.
Essentially, all of them wanted to claim the vis sources, but none of them wanted to exile themselves to the remote location and have to head a new covenant. I learned that Flavia had just been offered membership at Valnastium, a considerable honor. Wilhelm was hard at work building a trade empire in Cologne for his powerful covenant, Fenheld. Eduardus, for his part, just said he had no intention of abandoning his active life of intrigue for Montverte. They went at it again and again; they agreed those vis sources were just too valuables to let them go; none of them wanted to be become a simple warden for the others.
In frustration, someone mentioned that they should send the boy to do it – I don't know which one, for despite my best intentions I was drifting a bit. There was a silence, which jolted me back awake. All three were looking at me speculatively.
I almost was panicked. I am certain I stammered. I was no leader, I told them, nor equiped to perform that job. They insisted. I would be able to keep a good part of the vis for the covenant, they said. They pressured me and I had no choice but to comply.
So here I am, trying to come to terms with the fact that I am to create a new covenant. Augustus negociated with the others as to what the terms of my stewardship would be. What the charter of the covenant would be. How much vis would remain for the covenant and how much would be paid to them as a rent.
Privately, Augustus discussed the matter with me. We agreed that I should seek help; assemble a few other magi to help me defend the new covenant and the vis sources. There would be challenges, political and magical. But he was smiling wryly.
I have many letters to write, to seek out magi who will be interested in joining me. Now that the shock has passed, I think that will be fun!
Not sure yet what this season will provide advancement-wise. Clusius has one year before the saga starts to gather resources and magi, visit the site and prepare things for the arrival of the others.
EDIT: Augustus said he would come with me to visit Leonardus' refuge. This will give me a better sense of what resources the new covenant already has, and what I will need to obtain. Already, I have started negociations with Triamore to get some books copied for us, in exchange for a promised payment in raw vis.
Advancement: 5 xp in Bargain from Adventure
I've enjoyed reading this.
Is it more interesting for us to be acquainted with Clusius, or to be strangers? As far as him getting in touch to recruit us to the covenant?
I'd be fine either way. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a mix.
Some of your magi may have crossed path with Clusius. Even if I did not mention your magus or maga in my narrative doesn't mean they didn't cross path. Now you know were he was and when, so if you can work that in if you want it that way.
Second option is for your magus or maga to know of the heirs (Flavia, Wilhelm and Eduardus) or Augustus Nero of Guernicus. They mention you to Clusius or vice versa.
Last option is a general call from your magus/maga that he/she is looking for a covenant. Clusius hears about that and answers.
Whichever works for you is fine with me. 
Added a few more lines at the end of the last season.
Summary for the first 23 seasons:
- 205 xp gained
- 40 levels of spells learned or invented
- Rise of the Feathery Body (ReCo 10)
- Spasms of the Uncontrollable Hand (ReCo 5)
- Curse of the Unruly Tongue (ReCo 5)
- Shape the Implement of Neptune's Realm (MuAq 20, Te)
- 14 pawns of vis (3 An, 4 Aq, 3 Co, 2 Vi, 2 Mu)
- 2 Warping Points
- Books:
- Animal L6Q20 summa
- Mentem L5Q15 summa
- Vim L5Q15 summa
- Lab texts:
- Mighty Torrent of Water (CrAq 20)
- Sculpt the Living Water (MuAq 20)
- Bind Wounds (CrCo 10)
- Wizard's Leap (ReCo 15)
- Rock of Viscid Clay (MuTe 15)
- Wizard's Vigil (MuVi 20)
I have 4 more seasons for him before the saga starts, but these will all be related to his preparations for the covenant. So no more study or lab time for him until play starts. And probably some more Warping for fast travel.
Year 7 (1204 A.D.), Spring
With spring finally here, we embarked on a fairly long trip. There's no real direct route from Triamore to where we're going, so Augustus Nero had us travelling upstream along the Meuse for a while. When we reached the city of Verdun, astride on the border between the Normandy and Rhine Tribunals.
There, we were able to retain the services of a redcap more familiar with the Rhine lands. Tristam (the redcap) led us east for a few days, moving from small towns to smaller villages between low mountains. This brought us to the Free Imperial City of Metz where we crossed the Moselle river. Several more days over land brought us to the Rhine river and the city of Strassburg.
From there we lost the services of Tristam, for he was headed into the Black Forest towards Durenmar. Instead, we turned south and travelled along the Rhine towards Basel. We could have taken one of the numerous barges moving along the river, but moving upstream was a lot faster on horseback. We went around Basel, for the redcaps there are apparently sensitive about having magi drawing attention to themselves there, particularly when they do not have a gentle Gift.
Instead, we moved further south, into the mountains that Augustus called the Jura. Here, the Alps loom large in the distance when the weather is clear. We followed a tributary to the Rhine into the mountains, where it flowed through a large valley. On the south side of the valley are several small streams trickling down from smaller folds in the mountains. It is in one of those, past a village called Castillion, that Leonardus established his refuge.
The place was a bit bewildering at first. A huge twisted oak dominate the entrance of the small valley, its trunk wide enough that it would take more than five men to surround it. Then, on the east side of the valley, a jumble of crawling up the side of the mountain, with several smaller huts below. Chaotic and confusing came to mind immediately when looking at the sprawling building. Several wings, towers and additions in different style. Some parts are imcomplete, others seem to be in the process of being modified or even torn down. Three or four people could be seen working on the buildings, like lonely ants trying to move a dead fish.
As we approached, a cry went out from a small tower above the main structure. A few men came out to meet us, armed with a variety of weapons hastily grabbed. They escorted us to the yard before the structure. Augustus and I were invited inside to meet the steward. The man spoke Latin, though with an accent. As Augustus explained our reason for being here, bent his head in sorrow, before asking me if I was the Heir. I think I stammered a bit, explaining that I was the filius of one of the heirs. Shaking his head, he asked again if I was the Heir. I said that well, yes, I supposed I was.
Going to a cabinet, he took out a locked box, which he opened with a key around his neck. He took out a flat rock, which he reverently placed on the table, before asking me for a drop of my blood. When the drop feel upon the rock, it glowed for a moment before absorbing the drop.
This confirmed me as the Heir to him. Over the next several weeks, he gave Augustus and I a tour of the place, providing me with an account of the resources available and the work they'd been doing since Leonardus' last visit eight years ago. The vis sources, the sources of income, the relationships with the locals. We also got to meet most of the inhabitants of Leonardus' refuge. An odd bunch, to be sure, gathered over several decades from people unable or unwilling to find a place in mundane society.
Far from enough for an operational covenant, I thought, but it was a decent start. Augustus helped me establish a list of the things – and people – I should look for. After setting things in motion at this end, we set to return to Triamore. Instead of taking the long way back, Augustus used a magical device to teleport us all back.
Advancement: 10 xp from Adventure (5 in the local Area Lore, 5 in Organization Lore: Order of Hermes), 1 Warping Point, arcane connection to the refuge
Year 7 (1204 A.D.), Summer
Quite busy this summer. I have to secure a multitude of things for the new covenant, so that it can be transported there before winter. There is the matter of the charter, which is being prepared by Augustus after consultation with my mater, Wilhelm and Eduardus. I have negociated with the magi of Triamore for copies of several books to form the kernel of the library. I put Adeline in charge of these, despite her young age.
On that front, like many others, the raw vis I brought back from the refuge made an excellent negociation tool.
The new covenant will also need additional mundanes to handle the countless tasks of maintaining and improving the covenant. The steward should be able to find some of those locally, but specialists will be harder to find. I spoke with the redcap who visit Triamore regularly, and he said he would pass the word around. With Basel so close to the refuge, I think the redcaps will be quite important as allies, so I offered him a few pawns for his services to be shared with those who could help.
I have more letters to write to potential candidates for becoming members of the new covenant. And replies to those few answer I got.
I am making lists and more lists – things to do, things to buy, people to contact, ideas. No time for study.
Advancement: 2 xp in Latin from exposure
I'd missed this. You don't need the Terram requisite in general for hardness if it's already solid. Consider Aegis of the Unbreakable Shield. But here you're making a liquid solid. But here I think you're right because you're changing the liquid into some other solid, and that guideline requires a Terram requisite.
That's what I ended up with.
Yes. I was agreeing that the new version sounds correct. I figured it was worth posting that agreement.
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I just wasn't sure if you had backtracked until the post where the (revised) spell was.
Year 7 (1204 A.D.), Fall
Augustus has gone back to Confluensis. In fact, he left early in the summer and I'd forgotten to mention it. We've agreed that he would visit the refuge next spring, to act as witness when all of the magi sign the Charter of the covenant.
One of the things I need to do is learn the local language of the valley. I cannot expect all of our covenfolk to speak Latin, and the mundanes of the valley certainly won't. So, in between writing more letters, securing more supplies, recruiting specialists and answering Adeline's questions about the books for the library, I am learning High German. It is different enough from the little bit of Flemish I learned in Ghent that there is very little that sounds the same. Thankfully, one of the scribes is from Strassburg, so he's teaching me in my spare time.
Eustache, Louis and Adeline are now on the road to Basel, along with the few specialist I was able to recruit locally, carrying all of the books, supplies and laboratory equipment. Redcaps will escort them most of the way, with Tristam accompanying them on the first part of the trip.
But I could not afford to spend a month on the road, so I asked Ulisterius if he could teleport me there. He warned me that I would incur some warping from the powerful spell. No help for it, at least until I can devise my own way of quick traveling over long distances. I needed to get back to the refuge before the supplies arrived, see how far the work had progressed and prepare for the next steps.
Advancement: 15 xp in Language: High German from teaching (including a single-person bonus), 1 point of Warping
Year 7 (1204 A.D.), Winter
The supplies arrived a bit later than planned. Eustache told me they were accosted by a band of armed men soon after leaving Triamore. Not brigands, exactly, but they still had to pay a tribute to pass through unmolested. He thinks this was a band of unemployed mercenaries who were preparing to winter in the Ardennes. This cost my people most of their food and a good part of their silver, which forced them to purchase more before resuming their trip. Tristam more than earned his wage by securing enough funds for them to continue on their way. I have arranged to pay him back. When they delivered my payment at the Copper Rooster inn, in Basel, Eustache and Louis were assured that we should get a redcap asigned to us soon.
While waiting for them, I worked with the steward and some of his people to start setting up several labs for my sodales when they arrive. Basic equipment and furniture had been commisionned locally since last spring. These allowed me to supervise our workers to provide at least a basic lab for most of the magi who will join me next season, and we have the supplies for each magus to complete them. Living quarters have also been arranged near each lab, for I know that most of my sodales prefer a unified sanctum that include both.
My own living quarters are in one of the towers, where Leonardus used to live. He used to have a lab here as well, but years of neglect made it worse for wear. No worry, I'll have time enough to clean it when the others have arrived!
Advancement: 8 xp in Language: High German from practice
Note: I deliberatedly avoided using a name for the steward, in case one of you want to use him as a companion. Though it would kind of make sense for me to handle him, as he probably is a good source of information about the locals, Leonardus and the valley. In the same way, I did not specify which specialists Clusius was able to hire, nor in what numbers. Same with the redcap who will be assigned to us.
Clusius is now ready for the arrival of the other magi in Spring 1205.
I have updated Clusius' stats up to the end of Winter 1204.
I also added an "Historical Stats" post in that topic to keep previous versions, as well as a "Custom Spells" post.
I found callen's mention that the Mystery Cult of the Matres & Matrones (from Faith & Flames) can initiate Gentle Gift interesting, but also frustrating. Here is a cult that initiates the one virtue that is most sought after by House Jerbiton. And as a possible result for the first level of Initiation, no less!
And yet there is no such script known to House Jerbiton described in any of the sourcebooks.
It would certainly be nice for Clusius if it was possible for him to gain Gentle Gift. I see three possibilities there:
- Such a Mystery Cult exists already (this is known within House Jerbiton) - This would be the easiest for my magus.
- Someone else is working to develop it (Clusius learns about it) - This would entail big risks, since he would probably end up being a test subject for new scripts.
- Leonardus had gathered texts at the refuge and started developping it (Clusius finds them) - This would be the more interesting story.
Clusius was never intended to become a Mystagogue (Pre 0), but he's got a good Int score, so he could work on developping new scripts. Unfortunately, my understanding is that Inventive Genius doesn't help there, as it's not a Lab Total.
There are several steps that I could take to make things easier (increase Pre to become a better Mystagogue, Leonardus leaving texts behind to start the Cult Lore, find test subjects for new scripts). But these all fall in troupe approval territory.
Any thoughts from the troupe?