I've been thinking more about companion character concepts and I have a proposal for one who is Domnall-linked (@Nithyn ):
The youngest son of a pretty well-to-do noble, he went to university to study medicine. But after a good number of years into it, he throws away a promising future career as a doctor and joins the Hospitallers to apply what he's learned in a context that matters more to him and to his soul. One main connection to Domnall would be through a shared interest in corpse reanimation, which he is trying to puzzle out through applying his own education and experience, and which is driven by the fact that he himself is Raised from the Dead after being struck down in the holy land. Which could potentially make him a curiosity for Domnall, though not one that would lead anywhere mechanically speaking, necessarily, given the Limit of the Soul. He'd be originally from Ireland or maybe Scotland, and Domnall could have encountered him during his traveling apprenticeship / macgnimartha, after the former Hospitaller returns there post-resurrection. The purpose/circumstances around his raising could be used to connect to Divine aspects, if there are any future story arcs of that nature. Alternatively, while the resurrection was Divine, maybe he's of Norse descent and is under the delusion that he was brought to Valhalla as an Einherjar, but sent back to the mortal realm for some purpose TBD. Overall, does this concept sound like something that could be interesting and that could fit both with Domnall and with the saga?
A quick note regarding the "delusion" comments here.
You should feel free given our stance on Realms and Realm Parity to make whatever religious affiliation/interpretation and events associated with the concept that you prefer, and that none of these need to be delusions. If there are problems/concerns we can discuss/address them individually. We as an SG-team do not endorse a "Supremacy of the Divine" view of Mythic Europe, though we acknowledge this is the canon stance in the books/setting.
Ok, thank you. I don't have a preference for which realm Raise the Dead is associated with, and given the flexibility to deviate from the flaw as written that you describe, I'm happy to implement whatever the entire troupe is most comfortable with. Apologies for any offense that I caused.
I like this one! Domnall is not a particularly nice man (Surprise, the necromancer isn't nice, more news at eleven), and someone who is a bit more... Christian, will likely struggle with some of his proclivities. I mean the man literally has a spell to rob graves after all! But yeah, very keen to see where ya go with the whole Einherjar bit. Could be a lot of fun given the whole Draugr bit too. Who needs living shield grogs for him to lead when you've got dead ones?!
Entirely your call mate! Though Faerie kinda feels apt? Given that the Greek Gods were/are associated with Faerie, it's not too much of a stretch to make the same assumption about the Norse. But again, your call!
Literally nothing to apologize for mate. The whole Divine/Infernal thing is something of a minefield of sorts, and one that we often tend to try and avoid. Hence our house rule on it. While it changes the tone of the game in some ways, it just makes our collective lives a lot easier, ya know?
None caused, to be sure. And it wasn't my intent to make it seem otherwise if that was the case. Best regards.
Alrighty, so I've got the basics for the companions I'm thinking about. Got a number of other things I'm trying to come to grips with first (charter and vis sources), but I'll try to at least get the virtues and flaws posted for the respective magi to review here in the next day or so.
It's all good, thanks. I'll aim to post more details on the resurrected Einherjar concept, along with proposed virtues and flaws, by the end of the weekend.
Alright, so here is what I've been thinking about so far - a young nobleman who has no hope of inheritance, and ends up going to a university to study. He attends Bologna or Salerno (his mom may have been from the area), and studies specifically Medicine, Profession Apothecary, and Chirurgy. He also falls in with a Learned Magician and is initiated in Mythic Herbalism. After 9 years at university, he abandons his studies and joins the Hospitallers as a Confrere, to practice his medical skills in a place where they can make more of a difference. Two years or so into his time with the Order, he's killed in a skirmish. He's brought to Valhalla by the Valkyrie Eir who patches him up and also expands his knowledge of the healing arts further. For a reason not yet clear to him, he's sent back to Midgard to puzzle out what to do with the rest of his existence. And it just so happens that his resurrection coincided in both time and place with one of Domnall's excursions to find bodies to raise, which is how the two first meet.
Here is a first draft of virtues and flaws:
Educated; Privileged Upbringing; Warrior; Puissant Single Weapon; Puissant Mythic Herbalism; Mythic Herbalism; Immunity to Cold (MoH 128); Arcane Lore [kind of a placeholder for now; would be nice to find something else that is more useful to him]; Hospitaller Confrere if it's ok to still have some ties to them / Wanderer if not
Raised from the Dead; Major personality flaw still tbd; Optimistic; Environmental Sensitivity (RoPM 48) [-3 to Stamina when in hot environment]; Offensive to Divine characters (RoP:M 50); Necessary Magic Aura for Mythic Herbalism (Gr 82)
It'd be great to get feedback when anyone has time.
I also want to mention that I've been reading the Vitkir chapter in HMRE, and I'm also open to scrapping the above concept and developing something even more Norse-themed using those rules, if that's an option.
Well which one do you prefer? Before I get too much further in giving feedback that is.
That said, oh no, twist my arm! Personally, I've never thought that they should require the Gift, and that the various runes should be minor supernatural virtues. Think how the Gruagach have folks without the Gift who often know a few of the arts. So I'm amenable, but we'd need @Vortigern to jump in here.
I don't know 
The Mythic Herbalist-Hospitaller seems like a better fit for a companion-level character, and personally, I really like the former connection to a military order. And a university.
But a Vitkir would also be a lot of fun to play, with it's Futhark-inspired magic system. I also really like the stronger Norse connection. But a second magusish character doesn't fit as well with the troupe approach.
I guess I would lean toward the Vitkir, because it would be something totally new for me. Though I'm completely happy sticking with the Mythic Herbalist-Hospitaller.
So how does everyone feel about their character concepts in the reboot? If you are thinking of changing concepts you are not alone (I'm looking at you @Nithyn ), so no big deal there. If you have any ideas for new concepts by all means lets dig into them.
I'm pretty settled on Vorsutus as he is, so no changes in store from me there.
I still want to play Atheus, but I might tweek a couple of things.
I was in the midst of developing a companion for Vorsutus which, rereading, I'm still fond of, so I think I'll need a character development thread for him. My other companion development threads, as far as I'm concerned, can be deleted.
Can you sum up Altheus? I’d like to know how to work with other magi (companions) and avoid their niches (magi). I think I got the gist: Tytalus focusing on emotional connections. But I’m not sure I totally got that down, as the way of writing up characters is great from a story perspective but difficult from the summarization perspective. Thanks.
The keypoints are:
- Tytalus, normal gift
- Competent at social interaction and intrigue.
- Has an agency (network of merchants) which he manages through his personas (Persona virtue) and will use to:
- Acquire information (mainly mundane)
- Exert subtle influence over Ashenrise, sapping their mundane resources to make long-term existence inconvenient or even impossible
- Ensure his marriage to his True-Love (True Love major flaw)
- Arts-wise his focus is Corpus and Mentem, but he will develop in whatever direction is required to make the best use of his network (Mentem should remain as one of his main arts)
Companion-wise, both @Vortigern and @Nithyn were tinkering with concepts that work with him, but I'm not sure if they are going to pivot.
Dang mate, way to call me out like that! But yeah, I'm not 100% on what I want to do. Down to the main two at least! There's a Corguineach concept that I've got bouncing around my head, and have for a long time. Super flavorful and works great in the setting, but summoners require a lot of bookkeeping, and not everyone wants to play one as a companion etc. I've also got a Burning Acorn Tremere it could be a lot of fun because he'd be against his house (or rather just the exarch over in Stonehenge). Would be a Diedne Magic using generalist, which is something very new for me, so that's appealing too.
Currently digging myself out from under the end of the year nonsense that comes with teaching (to say nothing of my kiddos), but I should be able to sit down and focus on things tomorrow.
Yes, it’s a good location for the Corrguineach. I’ve had a Corrguineach idea bouncing around for a while. Yes, summoners, especially with spirits that keep switching out regularly, can be a pain.
I’ve strongly been considering a magical warrior, either Path of Strife Criamon using shape-shifting or a School of Apromor Flambeau focused in dispelling.
I think you want to play a summoner for as long as I have know you. XD
If you want to make one, count me in for playing the spirit as a companion.
I still wonder about not going Gentle Gift with this concept, but ultimately ... enough Mentem can work wonders!
Re: Companion
I will have to go back through each thread and look at things. I don't remember that Companion concept per se, but I certainly have no objection to tagging along for some skullduggery.
Vorsutus is intended to be a Raghallach School Flambeau, so dispelling is right up his alley as well, with a major focus in Vim meta-magic. His starting spell selection is more general/practical if you will, but that is where I intend for him to grow and apply the focus.
That said I have no objection to the overlap in any way if you go Apromor/Perdo. There is no reason the two couldn't be quite cooperative in fact. And there would be lots of other Apromor things that aren't things he would be doing.
