Character Creation for Bitter

All of Bitter's character creation discussions will take place here. Once a character has been finalized, it will be moved to a separate thread for evolution during play.

I'll probably play an Ibis Bjornaer from Iberian tribunal focusing primarily on elemental magic (probably aquam/auram mostly). He will be interested in hermetic politics related to the protection of the wild and will try to use the special rulings on "The Forest" to expand it to any place with a magic aura/and or a inhabited with a strong magical spirit.

Gustavo was born in the south-eastern Spain (in the actual province of Huelva). His parents were simple fishermen working around the Doñana wetlands. He spent his early childhood in this small fishermen's village playing around with kids in the countryside. He only went occasionally to Seville.

OOC: I don't have the tribunal book so i can't give details about the covenant or specific magus...

Later when his gift awakened he was given tasks that made him spend most of the day outside the village and even occasionally spend the night outside, investigating for new fishing site for example. This is during one of those time that he was discovered by a Bjornaer magus with a swan heartbeast named Ymbert who was keeping this almost untouched region under surveillance.

He began to make a contact with the child slowly explaining him why his family and friends were suddenly distant and how he would be part of a new community of people that, like him, had the hability to perform magic. After a few months and several encounters, the boy joined the his master and left his family leaving evidence of a fake drowning. He spent his first two years in the local sept being taught Latin by the different magus before his arts were opened.
His master taught him magic theory first and taught him the techniques he mastered the most, that is Creo and Muto. This was still during his sleeping years and he wasn't given a lot of choice in his teaching. Everything changed during the gathering of the twelve when he turned into a glossy Ibis for the first time.

Something probably went wrong during the ritual and his gift became unbalanced, he could no longer work magic while in human form but in compensation, while in Ibis form his magic was more controlled and more attuned to that of her heartbeast. He also discovered during this gathering that his master didn't exactly had the best reputation, even among Bjornaer his methods were considered very brutal while dealing with nature defilers. Even If it was never proved, many believe that he cold- bloodedly murdered settlers in an untamed forest a few league from his covenant.

Now a full member in the eyes of the Bjornaer he took the name Renatus. He still had 5 years to go before he could swear my oath. His master felt responsible for what happened in the gathering and helped him the best he could to meet his new study requirements. Indeed after the gathering he's spent most of my time as a wading bird, and felt the urge to be near bodies of water to study aquam and to fly, feeling the wind under his wings while studying auram. After a few seasons, they become his favorite forms.

His pater also helped him to master the new control he had over his spells, they seemed to last longer, very rarely botch and he could now cancel them at will.
The incident causes sympathy from the prima, who's also an aquam specialist, she sent him the copies of two spells she devised for herself when she heard he was studying a lot of aquam too.

When his 15 years of learning were finished, he swore the Oath and decided to seize the opportunity of the invitation to Fengheld to move to the tribunal of the Rhine where he will try to expand the ruling on the forest to other untamed land that deserve It.

Characteristics: Int +3, Per 0, Pre+1, Com +1, Str -1, Sta +1, Dex 0, Qik -1

Size: 0
Age: 25 (25), Height: 165 cm, Weight: 65 kg, Gender: Male

I'll make apparence another day and change this if needed.

Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Subtle Magic, Cautious Sorcerer (Bonus: Three fewer botch dice casting spells or in lab), Harnessed Magic, Enduring Magic (Effect: Roll simple die to increase spell duration), Flawless Magic (Spell Mastery Experience: Doubled), Minor Magical Focus (shaping water), Hermetic Magus, Affinity with Aquam, Heartbeast (Ibis)*, Inoffensive to Animals, Infamous Master (Cold-Blooded Killer (Among magi)), Study Requirement, Restriction (in human form), Visions, Deficient Form (Ignem), Obsessed (protect untamed land and ancestor's spirit)
Combat:
Dodge: Init: -1, Attack --, Defense -1, Damage --
Fist: Init: -1, Attack +0, Defense -1, Damage -1
Kick: Init: -2, Attack +0, Defense -2, Damage +2
Soak: +1
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)
Abilities: Heartbeast 1, Spanish 5, Area Lore: Area 1, Swim 1, Awareness 2, Athletics 1, Arabic 4, Concentration 1, Order of Hermes Lore 1, Magic Theory 4 (inventing spells), Parma Magica 1, Artes Liberales 1, Code of Hermes 1, Penetration 1, Latin 4, Bjornaer Lore 1, Etiquette 1, Folk Ken 1, Charm 1, Guile 1, Stealth 2, Survival 1
Arts: Cr 5, In 0, Mu 7, Pe 0, Re 5, An 1, Aq 9, Au 4, Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 1, Te 0, Vi 0
Equipment:
Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Spells Known:

The Voice of the Bjornaer Magus (MuAn 15) +11, Mastery 2 (quiet casting) ---> from HoH: MC
Neptune's Imprisoning Arms (MuAq 30) +25, Mastery 1 (multiple casting) ---> from GotF
Sculpt the Living Water (MuAq 20) +25, Mastery 1 (stalwart casting)----> from GotF

I know It makes 3 spells outside core book, you'll tell me if this is a problem...

Broom of the Winds (CrAu 15) +11, Mastery 1 (penetration)
Mighty Torrent of Water (CrAq 20) +16, Mastery 1 (penetration)
Circling Winds of Protection (Cr(Re)Au 20) +11, Mastery 1 (stalwart casting)

comments this is still a draft : I took vision because at first I was thinking clan Ilfetu not really sure it fits the backstory... circling winds of protection is probably dumb as is will prevent me from flying...

Glossy Ibis

cun -1
per +2
pre -1
com 0 (from imposing appearance)
str -6
sta 0
qik +6

qualities :
imposing appearance
accomplished flyer

skills :
brawl 2(dodging)
survival 3 (wetland)
awareness 4 (food)
athletics 5 (flying)

beak : init 0, Atk +3, Def +1, Dam +1. (from falco maybe i should decrease stats ?)

Heartbeast
int +3
per +2
pre 0
com 1
str -6
sta +1
dex +1
qik +5

abilities :
brawl 2(dodging)
survival 3 (wetland)
awareness 4 (food)
athletics 5 (flying)
Heartbeast 1
Spanish 5
Area Lore 1 (Andalusia)
Arabic 4
Concentration 1--> general ability but as it is used for spell I kept it ?
Order of Hermes Lore 1
Magic Theory 4 (inventing spells)
Parma Magica 1
Artes Liberales 1
Code of Hermes 1
Penetration 1
Latin 4
Bjornaer Lore 1

beak : init 0, Atk +3, Def +1, Dam +1. (from falco maybe i should decrease stats ?)

Dodge : Init +5, Atk--, defense +8, damage --
Beak : Init 0, Atk +6, defense +8, damage -5
soak +1

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0/0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-2), -3 (3-4), -5 (5-6),Incapacitated (7-8), Dead (9+)

Unless the spell doesn't penetrate your own MR? So you could cast it with no penetration and at least still protect yourself from mundane hostile flying objects. Then again, concentrating on a spell while flying may not be trivial.

As that Tribunal book is fairly old (dating to 3rd edition), that doesn't really matter. Feel free to invent the covenant he was apprenticed in and the name of a few magi as well.

That is one severe problem. I think in fact it is too extreme for Restriction -- which is described as being unable to use magic in uncommon conditions. Being in human form, IMHO, is much more common than that. Unless you plan on spending most of your time in ibis form? In which case interaction with others will be difficult, unless you always have Voice of the Bjornaer active (which would cause warping). It would also makes lab work very difficult, as you either wouldn't be able to manipulate objects (in ibis form) or unable to use magic (in human form). But none of this is taken into account in the Restriction flaw...

We could design a custom flaw for you, but this might have some effects you did not intend. For example, a major version of Deleterious Circumstances, where you'd halve all of you magic total when in human form. Due to the awkwardness of performing lab work (having to change back and forth), you'd also suffer from a -6 penalty to all lab totals.

This is just an initial proposal. I'm open to other suggestions and/or modifications to this.

Are you very attached to the name? There will be an NPC magus with that name as well. Just thought you should know. :laughing:

Although not stricly forbidden, it is usually bad form to take 2 major hermetic flaw... It means your pater was an incompetent magus who did not have enough knowledge (or was too careless) to open your Arts properly.

I am coming short 10 xp on the character.

I'd strongly prefer it if you kept it at 2.

But the spell selection makes me wonder about the minor magical focus. How do you interpret "shaping water"? At first glance, I was thinking it was a subset of ReAq, but it seems to be more about MuAq.

Indeed, clan Ilfetu may not fit the profile. You pater sounded more like a member of clan Midusulf, or perhaps Maruhs.

Circling Winds of Protection would still work as you fly. The protecting winds follow you as you move. It might make flying a bit less comfortable and more tiring, however.

As that Tribunal book is fairly old (dating to 3rd edition), that doesn't really matter. Feel free to invent the covenant he was apprenticed in and the name of a few magi as well.

This is what i thought too.

That is one severe problem. I think in fact it is too extreme for Restriction -- which is described as being unable to use magic in uncommon conditions. Being in human form, IMHO, is much more common than that. Unless you plan on spending most of your time in ibis form? In which case interaction with others will be difficult, unless you always have Voice of the Bjornaer active (which would cause warping). It would also makes lab work very difficult, as you either wouldn't be able to manipulate objects (in ibis form) or unable to use magic (in human form). But none of this is taken into account in the Restriction flaw...

We could design a custom flaw for you, but this might have some effects you did not intend. For example, a major version of Deleterious Circumstances, where you'd halve all of you magic total when in human form. Due to the awkwardness of performing lab work (having to change back and forth), you'd also suffer from a -6 penalty to all lab totals.

This is just an initial proposal. I'm open to other suggestions and/or modifications to this.

I'm a bit surprised because those restriction are proposed in HoH: MC p37 as "common flaws" among Bjornaer. I understand that this brings some complication, but that's the whole point of flaws
The way i see it in play is to spend most of my time with other magi in human form and if the need to cast spell arises, in combat for example, to lose the first round to transform into Ibis. This would be as bad as slow caster but only in the first round. Concerning the spell "voice of the Bjornaer", I usually take the virtue "unbound tongue" from HoH:MC but as it was off limit I tried to avoid the limitation the best I could. If you allow It I'll gladly drop the spell. We can use your version of the flaw as long as the penalty can be avoided with a servant maybe. Same goes with restriction IMHO.

Are you very attached to the name? There will be an NPC magus with that name as well. Just thought you should know. :laughing:

Well this means reborn in Latin so this fitted the character quite well, but I'll try to find something else.

Although not stricly forbidden, it is usually bad form to take 2 major hermetic flaw... It means your pater was an incompetent magus who did not have enough knowledge (or was too careless) to open your Arts properly.

once again I'm a bit surprised here, usually SG's frown upon when I take cheap personality/story flaws but ok I can probably drop study requirement for something else. I'll give you a second draft.

I am coming short 10 xp on the character.

I'd strongly prefer it if you kept it at 2.

But the spell selection makes me wonder about the minor magical focus. How do you interpret "shaping water"? At first glance, I was thinking it was a subset of ReAq, but it seems to be more about MuAq.

Alright, I'll drop the focus too then and replace It with unbound tongue provided you allow It, I'll also drop the voice of Bjorner magus and Neptune's imprisoning arms that i can't cast anymore.

Indeed, clan Ilfetu may not fit the profile. You pater sounded more like a member of clan Midusulf, or perhaps Maruhs.

Circling Winds of Protection would still work as you fly. The protecting winds follow you as you move. It might make flying a bit less comfortable and more tiring, however.

Let's make It clan Midusulf and I'll keep circling wind.

Maybe something like this ?
changes in color (unless i missed them ^^)

Renatus v2
Covenant: Fengheld
Saga: Price of knowledge
Characteristics: Int +3, Per 0, Pre +1, Com +1, Str -1, Sta +1, Dex 0, Qik -1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25), Height: 162 cm, Weight: 60 kg, Gender: Male
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Subtle Magic, Cautious Sorcerer (Bonus: Three fewer botch dice casting spells or in lab), Harnessed Magic, Enduring Magic (Effect: Roll simple die to increase spell duration), Hermetic Magus, Major Magical Focus (fresh water), Affinity with Aquam, Heartbeast (Ibis)*, Inoffensive to Animals, IF ALLOWED : Unbound Tongue, Infamous Master, Oversensitive (Nature defiler), custom Deleterious circumstances (in human form), Deficient Form (Ignem), major Driven (Protect the untamed land and the ancestor spirit)), Deleterious Circumstances (When in presence of a natural predator)
Reputations: Pater Cold-Blooded Killer (Among magi) 3
Combat:
Dodge: Init: -1, Attack --, Defense -1, Damage --
Fist: Init: -1, Attack +0, Defense -1, Damage -1
Kick: Init: -2, Attack +0, Defense -2, Damage +2
Soak: +1
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)
Abilities: Heartbeast 1, Spanish 5, Area Lore: Area 1, Swim 1, Awareness 2, Athletics 1, Arabic 4, Concentration 1, Order of Hermes Lore 1, Magic Theory 4 (inventing spells), Parma Magica 1, Artes Liberales 1, Code of Hermes 1, Penetration 1, Latin 4, Bjornaer Lore 1, Etiquette 1, Folk Ken 1, Charm 1, Guile 1, Stealth 2, Survival 1
Arts: Cr 5, In 0, Mu 7, Pe 0, Re 5, An 1, Aq 9, Au 5, Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 1, Te 0, Vi 0
Equipment:
Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Spells Known:
Sculpt the Living Water (MuAq 20) +25
Broom of the Winds (CrAu 15) +12
Mighty Torrent of Water (CrAq 20) +21
Circling Winds of Protection (Cr(Re)Au 20) +12
Lungs of the Fish (MuAq(Au) 20)
Push of the Gentle Wave (ReAq 15) +21
Clear Sight of the Naiad (InAq 5) +11
Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5) +8

I hadn't realized that HoH:MC suggested that as a valid Restriction. Still seems to me as if that not being able to use magic in human form exceeds the definition of "uncommon conditions", but if you're willing to go with that I'm good with it.

I'd rather you take Voice of the Bjornaer than the Unbound Tongue virtue. As I mentioned, each magus can have up to 2 spells outside of those of the core book. This would qualify as one of those.

As I wrote, I just felt you should know. The confusion caused by having two magi with the same name can also be fun. :laughing:

Personality/story flaws may not have a direct mecanical impact in the game, but believe me their effect can be far worse.

It is more the social stigma attached to having more than one major hermetic flaw -- it is interpreted by other magi as you having had an incompetent pater and they expect no better from you.

My comment about the minor focus was for me to understand how you saw it, not a request for you to change it. I simply need to be able to evaluate its scope.

Let me know if the revised version is still what you wish to go with, before I comment on it.

[edit : ]Complaining for no reason, not worth reading.

[strike]Well I know I chose the flaw myself but this is making things way more complicated than I anticipated let's see how I can deal with the "talking bird dilemma" in your ruleset :

1 / I have to invest a lot of 30 xp and take warping just to be able to cast magic normally : 15 lvl of the spell + mastery to offset the penalty for no voice 15xp (or a mix of 4 animalem 10 xp and mastery 1 5xp) and I'm also really fragile against anyone cancelling this spell. Anyway I'll probably choose this one If I can't do otherwise as the other option is worse.
or
2/ If I go the quiet casting *2 route then I can skip the spell but it means that I can't speak as a bird but I can't really benefit from these virtues because I can't take variants of spells with eye, touch or sight to make full use of it cause they're not core unless I also take flexible formulaic magic instead of the focus. The other problem is that I'll have to turn naked and maybe lose a round (depending on your interpretation of heartbeast transformation) just to talk in case of emergency. This is probably a bad option because every time we do a combat (which can take some tome in pbe) I can't post anything except rolls for my actions....[/strike]

I agree this is probably more than uncommon even if I plan to be in bird form when alone most of the time. concerning your proposal of flaw or the "real" one, I don't really care both fit the concept quite well. I'll probably take the "real" restriction[strike]only if unbound tongue is allowed otherwise I'll take the easy way[/strike]

You haven't really answered (or i missed it) do you agree to offset the lab penalty by using a servant in the lab ?

I'll keep it then for now unless I find something that appeals me.

well the minor focus was probably bad anyway as the spells I selected were probably the only MuAq ones in the whole game that fitted the description without a requisite...

I realized that flawless magic wasn't bringing anything spectacular to my char so I tried this Major focus instead, I'm not sure this one is good either...I find It hard to define a focus that makes sense with the bird backstory and is still at least a bit usefull. Maybe I should simply drop my focus and pick Flawless magic back instead...

I have slept on the problem, warping isn't going to be an issue before a long time (and depending on how you interpret my use of harnessed magic probably dosen't cause warping at all, the chances of botch are almost inexistant too (-5 botch dice)) so I'll deal with it and the other issues were just xp sink so I took an xp virtue... Changes in color as usual.

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Subtle Magic, Cautious Sorcerer (Bonus: Three fewer botch dice casting spells or in lab), Harnessed Magic, Enduring Magic (Effect: Roll simple die to increase spell duration), Hermetic Magus, Major Magical Focus (fresh water), Affinity with Aquam, Heartbeast (Ibis)*, Inoffensive to Animals, Skilled Parens, Infamous Master, Oversensitive (Nature defiler), Restriction (in human form), Deficient Form (Ignem), MAJOR Driven (Protect the untamed land and the ancestor spirit)), Deleterious Circumstances (When in presence of a natural predator)

Driven +3, Respect for Authority -1, Status-Seeking +1
Reputations: Pater Cold-Blooded Killer (Among magi) 3

Abilities: Heartbeast 1, Spanish 5 (specific dialect), Area Lore: Area 1 (geography), Swim 1 (underwater maneuvering), Awareness 2 (determining effect), Athletics 1 (running), Arabic 4 (specific dialect), Concentration 3 (spell concentration), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (personalities), Magic Theory 4 (inventing spells), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem), Artes Liberales 1 (astronomy), Code of Hermes 1 (mundane relations), Penetration 2 (Creo), Latin 4 (hermetic usage), Philosophiae 1 (ceremonial magic), Magic Lore 1 (creatures), Bjornaer Lore 1 (initiating self), Etiquette 1 (nobility), Folk Ken 1 (magi), Charm 1 (first impressions), Guile 1 (lying to authority), Stealth 2 (hide), Survival 1 (specific locales)
Arts: Cr 5, In 0, Mu 7, Pe 0, Re 5, An 1, Aq 9, Au 5, Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 1, Te 0, Vi 0

Spells Known:
Not so salty Neptune's Imprisoning Arms (MuAq 30) +24
Broom of the Winds (CrAu 15) +12
Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5) +8
Air's Ghostly Form (CrAu 5) +12
Mighty Torrent of Water (CrAq 20) +21
Circling Winds of Protection (Cr(Re)Au 20) +12
Push of the Gentle Wave (ReAq 15) +21
The Voice of the Bjornaer Magus (MuAn 15) +11, Mastery 2 (quiet casting × 2)
Lungs of the Fish (MuAq(Au) 20) +18
Clear Sight of the Naiad (InAq 5) +11

My first reaction would be that no, a mundane assistant doesn't negate the penalty. An untrained servant would require constant supervision (slowing things down) and would commit mistakes, thus the only advantage of such a servant would be those described in Covenants (under the "Servant" virtue on p.116). Same thing with a trained assistant (i.e. an apprentice), which would provide benefits based in the standard rules, which would simply offset the penalty (not negate it and then add on top).

So I'm guessing you'll take the regular Restriction. :mrgreen:

Now, reviewing the new version of the character, it looks great.

Only a few small details:

  • By my calculations, you still have 5 xp unspent. Perhaps you forgot that Heartbeast 1 was free?
  • You would need to have learned a variant of Neptune's Imprisoning Arms that only works on fresh water for you focus to apply to it. This shouldn't be a problem, as your pater was also focused on those Arts, so he may simply have adapted the spell to your focus as he taught it to you. Simply put a note on the spell (you may want to rename it to something suitable as well).
  • EDIT: You may put a note or indication that Driven is major.
  • EDIT: What would be the natural predators of the ibis?

Well I used metacreator so i'm quite confident about my calculation 8) (315 abilities (including 15 xp mastery), 105 arts, 150 spells), maybe I made a mistake when modifying the presentation before posting. I'll post final version with pics, sigir, personality trait soon.

Wow nice caught ! I'll edit it.

Sure

well in natural environment mostly bird of prey and alligator (which doesn't really make sense in the tribunal) so that would be eagles, big Owls and falcon etc.. If you believe it is too narrow you can add a few land animals, but they mostly feed on eggs and youngs (snakes, wildcat, ferret, marten ...)

[size=150]FINAL VERSION[/size] (hopefully)

(modified the part with study requirement and corrected grammar mistakes)

Gustavo was born in the south-eastern Spain (in the actual province of Huelva). His parents were simple fishermen working around the Doñana wetlands. He spent his early childhood in this small fishermen's village playing around with kids in the countryside. He only went occasionally to Seville.

Later when his gift awakened he was given tasks that made him spend most of the day outside the village and even occasionally spend the night outside, investigating for new fishing site for example. This is during one of those time that he was discovered by a Bjornaer magus with a swan heartbeast named Ymbert who was keeping this almost untouched region under surveillance.

He began to make a contact with the child slowly explaining him why his family and friends were suddenly distant and how he would be part of a new community of people that, like him, had the ability to perform magic. After a few months and several encounters, the boy joined the his master and left his family leaving evidence of a fake drowning. He spent his first two years in the local sept being taught Latin by the different magus before his arts were opened.
His master taught him magic theory first and taught him the techniques he mastered the most, that is Creo and Muto. This was still during his sleeping years and he wasn't given a lot of choice in his teaching. Everything changed during the gathering of the twelve when he turned into a glossy Ibis for the first time.

Something probably went wrong during the ritual and his gift became unbalanced, he could no longer work magic while in human form but in compensation, while in Ibis form his magic was more controlled and more attuned to that of her heartbeast. He also discovered during this gathering that his master didn't exactly had the best reputation, even among Bjornaer his methods were considered very brutal while dealing with nature defilers. Even If it was never proved, many believe that he cold- bloodedly murdered settlers in an untamed forest a few league from his covenant.

Now a full member in the eyes of the Bjornaer he took the name Renatus. He still had 5 years to go before he could swear his oath. His master felt responsible for what happened in the gathering and helped him the best he could to adapt to his new status. This included teaching him the voice od Bjornaer magus and making sure he was enough trained to be able to cast It reliably. Indeed after the gathering he's spent most of his time as a wading bird, and felt the urge to be near bodies of water and to fly, feeling the wind under his wings. After a few seasons, they become his favorite forms.

His pater also helped him to master the new control he had over his spells, they seemed to last longer, very rarely botch and he could now cancel them at will.
The incident causes sympathy from the prima, who's also an aquam specialist, she sent him the copies of two spells she devised for herself when she heard he was studying a lot of aquam too.

When his 15 years of learning were finished, he swore the Oath and decided to seize the opportunity of the invitation to Fengheld to move to the tribunal of the Rhine where he will try to expand the ruling on the forest to other untamed land that deserve It

Name : Renatus
Covenant: Fengheld
Saga: Price of knowledge

Characteristics: Int +3, Per 0, Pre +1, Com +1, Str -1, Sta +1, Dex 0, Qik -1

Appearance: An athletic man, with noble posture, wearing a long blue/greyish tumic.
Wizard's sigil : Target feels a feather's caress
Voting sigil : a griffin's talon engraved with house motto in Gothic.

Size: 0
Age: 25 (25), Height: 165 cm, Weight: 64 kg, Gender: Male
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Subtle Magic, Cautious Sorcerer (Bonus: Three fewer botch dice casting spells or in lab), Harnessed Magic, Enduring Magic (Effect: Roll simple die to increase spell duration), Hermetic Magus, Major Magical Focus (fresh water), Affinity with Aquam, Heartbeast (Ibis)*, Inoffensive to Animals, Skilled Parens, Infamous Master, Oversensitive (Nature defiler), Restriction (in human form), Deficient Form (Ignem), Driven (Major) (Protect the untamed land and the ancestor spirit)), Deleterious Circumstances (When in presence of a natural predator)

Personality Traits: Driven +3, Respect for Authority -1, Status-Seeking +1

Reputations: Pater was a Cold-Blooded Killer (Among magi) 3

Combat:
Dodge: Init: -1, Attack --, Defense -1, Damage --
Fist: Init: -1, Attack +0, Defense -1, Damage -1
Kick: Init: -2, Attack +0, Defense -2, Damage +2
Soak: +1
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Heartbeast 1, Spanish 5 (specific dialect), Area Lore: Area 1 (geography), Swim 1 (underwater maneuvering), Awareness 2 (determining effect), Athletics 1 (running), Arabic 4 (specific dialect), Concentration 3 (spell concentration), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (personalities), Magic Theory 4 (inventing spells), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem), Artes Liberales 1 (astronomy), Code of Hermes 1 (mundane relations), Penetration 2 (Creo), Latin 4 (hermetic usage), Philosophiae 1 (ceremonial magic), Magic Lore 1 (creatures), Bjornaer Lore 1 (initiating self), Etiquette 1 (nobility), Folk Ken 1 (magi), Charm 1 (first impressions), Guile 1 (lying to authority), Stealth 2 (hide), Survival 1 (specific locales)

In green : abilities that remain as heartbeast

Arts: Cr 5, In 0, Mu 7, Pe 0, Re 5, An 1, Aq 9, Au 5, Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 1, Te 0, Vi 0

Equipment: Long bluish tunic; Wax Tablet
Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Spells Known:
NOT SO SALTY Neptune's Imprisoning Arms (MuAq 30) +24
Mighty Torrent of Water (CrAq 20) +20
Circling Winds of Protection (Cr(Re)Au 20) +11
Lungs of the Fish (MuAq(Au) 20) +18
The Voice of the Bjornaer Magus (MuAn 15) +11, Mastery 2 (quiet casting × 2)
Broom of the Winds (CrAu 15) +11
Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5) +7
Air's Ghostly Form (CrAu 5) +11
Push of the Gentle Wave (ReAq 15) +20
Clear Sight of the Naiad (InAq 5) +10

[size=85]Glossy Ibis

cun -1
per +2
pre -1
com 0 (from imposing appearance)
str -6
sta 0
qik +6

qualities :
imposing appearance
accomplished flyer

skills :
brawl 2(dodging)
survival 3 (wetland)
awareness 4 (food)
athletics 5 (flying)

beak : init 0, Atk +3, Def +1, Dam +1.[/size]

[size=150]Heartbeast[/size]
int +3
per +2
pre 0
com 1
str -6
sta +1
dex +1
qik +5

abilities :
brawl 2(dodging)
survival 3 (wetland)
awareness 4 (food)
athletics 5 (flying)
+arcane and language abilities in green above

Natural weapon :
beak : init 0, Atk +3, Def +1, Dam +1.

Dodge : Init +5, Atk--, defense +8, damage --
Beak : Init 0, Atk +6, defense +8, damage -5
soak +1

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0/0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-2), -3 (3-4), -5 (5-6),Incapacitated (7-8), Dead (9+)

Ok, let's say that eagles, buzzards and vultures.

Strange that he would use the talon of his predator (grffin=eagle) as his voting sigil. :laughing:

No need.

No need to repeat knowledges, languages and arcane abilities Under the Ibis shape. We can always refer back to the main stats for them.

Do ibises actually swim? I'm simply asking as I know fairly little about them.

Ok, let's say that eagles, buzzards and vultures.

Sure

Strange that he would use the talon of his predator (grffin=eagle) as his voting sigil. :laughing:

"keep your friends close and your enemies closer"

No need.

edited

No need to repeat knowledges, languages and arcane abilities Under the Ibis shape. We can always refer back to the main stats for them.

edited

Do ibises actually swim? I'm simply asking as I know fairly little about them.

To be honest now that you ask probably very rarely, I thought "water bird --> let's take amphibious" but the whole point of long legs and toes is to walk in he mud without falling. I should probably skip amphibious. Can I keep 1 rank in swimming ?

Found the answer here (under Features). Seems that wading birds do not swim. My guess is that they don't have the oïl glands that allow aquatic birds to waterproof their plumage.

So no score in swim. :wink:

The text says rarely as i told you but sure no score in swim it is.

In the examples they don't give it to swan so you're probably right.

What happens if you can't swim and use lungs of the fish ? can you still move in water ?

Yes, but clumsily. You can walk at the bottom of the lake/river/sea. :laughing:

Don't tempt me or i'll ask the blacksmith to forge me cast iron boots for my Ibis ! :laughing: