Character Creation: Lucius of Flambeau

[Arthur]

@Trogdor

Oops. Sorry. I had read this but forgot that I hadn't responded. I was away at the beach part of the weekend and was working the rest.

No worries.

@Trogdor

The character looks good. Correspondences are done properly per the books, but not for the modified way that I run them. See my comment above. Lucius should pick a subject that he gets xp with when he corresponds with his parens. This is the only subject he can correspond on (and he can do it every season) unless and until he gains a new correspondent. Basically it amounts to a free xp on that subject each season based on correspondence.

Ah, now I understand. 1 free xp per season per correspondent for the given subject. That's kind of huge over time! It does indeed change some things. Does this free xp happen no matter what other activities take place during the season? Only one subject of correspondence per season gives out xp?

How does correspondence affect a familiar? Does the familiar partake in that free xp, if it is on a subject thatcan benefit it? Does it need its own set of correspondents? Or does it simply not apply to the familiar?

@Trogdor

The polecat looks good. I particularly like Mark of the Angry Polecat. I assume that's temporary, though, unless the polecat permanently spends the Might cost. The target would be unable to get rid of it. But as soon as the polecat recovered the Might spent on the ability, the stench would go away on its own. (Same as with virtues granted.)

I am basing this power on the "Grant (Minor Flaw)" power described on page 38 of RoP:M, which states "The creature can decide to bestow the Flaw permanently or temporarily. If permanent, the power is a ritual-like power and costs points from the creature’s Might score as well as Might pool (see Ritual Power, below). If temporary, the Might points spent on this power are only recovered when its effects are withdrawn.

So yes, in most circumstances Terebrus would only use this as a temporary curse, but he could decide to inflict permanently. If temporary, the effect would only cease when he decides to withdraw the effect. At that point, he would recover the Might points. I am understanding this correctly?

@Trogdor

WRT the invisibility, I'm not sure you can just say that you can cancel it at will. It has a duration. Can you really just ignore that duration and say it has a duration of whenever?

The power has a Sun duration. But during the duration Terebrus can decide to reappear, which ends the effect. I accounted for this flexibility by adding 5 levels to the effect, and it still costs 1 Might point to activate.

@Trogdor

Also, why did his Int drop by 1?

Ah, at one point I raised his Int from +1 to +2 and forgot to edit that line. Fixing that now.

[Arthur]

@Arthur

@Trogdor

The character looks good. Correspondences are done properly per the books, but not for the modified way that I run them. See my comment above. Lucius should pick a subject that he gets xp with when he corresponds with his parens. This is the only subject he can correspond on (and he can do it every season) unless and until he gains a new correspondent. Basically it amounts to a free xp on that subject each season based on correspondence.

Ah, now I understand. 1 free xp per season per correspondent for the given subject. That's kind of huge over time! It does indeed change some things. Does this free xp happen no matter what other activities take place during the season? Only one subject of correspondence per season gives out xp?

How does correspondence affect a familiar? Does the familiar partake in that free xp, if it is on a subject thatcan benefit it? Does it need its own set of correspondents? Or does it simply not apply to the familiar?

Another question on correspondence. Would a correspondent on spell mastery be possible? Could it apply to different spells over time, or would it always be on the same spell?

[Trogdor]

@Arthur

Ah, now I understand. 1 free xp per season per correspondent for the given subject. That's kind of huge over time! It does indeed change some things. Does this free xp happen no matter what other activities take place during the season? Only one subject of correspondence per season gives out xp?

Yes, it did end up being a lot. But this was an experiment. In retrospect I should have put some kind of limit. I'd expected people to spread them out. But at least one player kept one correspondent the whole time and racked up a lot of xp. File it under "T" for things I'll do differently next time.

@Arthur

The file does not exist does correspondence affect a familiar? Does the familiar partake in that free xp, if it is on a subject that can benefit it? Does it need its own set of correspondents? Or does it simply not apply to the familiar?

It does not apply to your familiar.

@Arthur

So yes, in most circumstances Terebrus would only use this as a temporary curse, but he could decide to inflict permanently. If temporary, the effect would only cease when he decides to withdraw the effect. At that point, he would recover the Might points. I am understanding this correctly?

Yes. If he made it permanent, he'd never recover the Might. But if he withdraws it, the Might will recover. (I think it has to recover naturally; it doesn't pop back immediately.)

@Arthur

The power has a Sun duration. But during the duration Terebrus can decide to reappear, which ends the effect. I accounted for this flexibility by adding 5 levels to the effect, and it still costs 1 Might point to activate.

I understood what you did; I just question whether you're allowed to do it. In a standard spell, you can't just add a magnitude to allow it to be dismissed at will. That requires Harnessing, which in turn requires either a Virtue or a Mastery. If you can't do it for a spell, why can you do it for an ability. It's a huge benefit to allow you to just cancel a power at any time at will. I'm just curious where that comes from in the rules. In familiars I've made, I've always given them another power to allow them to cancel their invisibility (or whatever).

[Arthur]

@Trogdor

@Arthur

So yes, in most circumstances Terebrus would only use this as a temporary curse, but he could decide to inflict permanently. If temporary, the effect would only cease when he decides to withdraw the effect. At that point, he would recover the Might points. I am understanding this correctly?

Yes. If he made it permanent, he'd never recover the Might. But if he withdraws it, the Might will recover. (I think it has to recover naturally; it doesn't pop back immediately.)

RoP:M mentions that the Might could be recovered slowly, after a season spent in a magical aura or by consuming vis. "This lost Might may return over time, at the storyguide’s discretion, but at a much slower rate than recovering lost Might Points. For example, each point of lost Might Score could require the character to rest for an entire season in a Magic aura of no less than (its Might Score / 5), or perhaps to consume vis of the same type as its Might, a number of pawns equal to its original Might Score." It that something that you will be inclined to do?

@Trogdor

@Arthur

The power has a Sun duration. But during the duration Terebrus can decide to reappear, which ends the effect. I accounted for this flexibility by adding 5 levels to the effect, and it still costs 1 Might point to activate.

I understood what you did; I just question whether you're allowed to do it. In a standard spell, you can't just add a magnitude to allow it to be dismissed at will. That requires Harnessing, which in turn requires either a Virtue or a Mastery. If you can't do it for a spell, why can you do it for an ability. It's a huge benefit to allow you to just cancel a power at any time at will. I'm just curious where that comes from in the rules. In familiars I've made, I've always given them another power to allow them to cancel their invisibility (or whatever).

Considering that Terebrus is a magical creature aligned with Perdo, it seemed to make sense that he could cancel his Personal Power by adding a magnitude. Different arguments can be presented on this:

• First track argument: There is a precedent of some Hermetic spells allowing the target to end a MuCo effect (see the MuCo guidelines), though such spells require a prop when casting.
• Second track argument: It's a bit like adding a Vim requisite to the spell, by adding a secondary (although clearly related) PeVi effect to the core PeIm power. These 5 levels are essentially purchasing a PeVi 2 effect (Base 1 Unravelling the Fabric of Imaginem, +1 Touch) that is tacked unto a personal power which is already Perdo.
• Third track argument: You can see this as using 5 levels to gain the mastery ability Harnessed Casting, although I did not formulated it like this. Sure, I could add a seperate power to do this, but that seems an awfully expensive way to do something that should be relatively easy for a Perdo magical creature (which is not bound by the limits of Hermetic Magic).

[Arthur]

@Trogdor

Yes, it did end up being a lot. But this was an experiment. In retrospect I should have put some kind of limit. I'd expected people to spread them out. But at least one player kept one correspondent the whole time and racked up a lot of xp. File it under "T" for things I'll do differently next time.

Just thinking out loud on this. The cost to add an additional correspondent is fairly high (a season outside the lab), while the cost of letting the extra xp accumulate in the same Ability or Art is inexistent. So this encourage players to select an Art or an Ability that keeps providing additional benefits.

For example, what incentive would a lab rat have to select something other than Magic Theory? Or a specialist, one of his specialization Arts? Over 6 cycles, that extra xp per season ends up being 168 xp. That's a score of 7 in an Ability (17 in an Art), not even accounting for an Affinity (which would be 9 and 20). And any optimizer worth his salt would select the subject in something where he has an affinity.

Which brings me back to my other question:

@Arthur

Another question on correspondence. Would a correspondent on spell mastery be possible? Could it apply to different spells over time, or would it always be on the same spell?

[Trogdor]

@Arthur

Just thinking out loud on this. The cost to add an additional correspondent is fairly high (a season outside the lab), while the cost of letting the extra xp accumulate in the same Ability or Art is inexistent. So this encourage players to select an Art or an Ability that keeps providing additional benefits.

For example, what incentive would a lab rat have to select something other than Magic Theory? Or a specialist, one of his specialization Arts? Over 6 cycles, that extra xp per season ends up being 168 xp. That's a score of 7 in an Ability (17 in an Art), not even accounting for an Affinity (which would be 9 and 20). And any optimizer worth his salt would select the subject in something where he has an affinity.

As I said. that's something I'd do differently were I to start over from scratch. But what's done is done.

@Arthur

Another question on correspondence. Would a correspondent on spell mastery be possible? Could it apply to different spells over time, or would it always be on the same spell?

Why not. The barn door's already wide open.

[Arthur]

I could limit myself to 1 xp of correspondence per year if you want.

P.S. Did you see my suggestions re Terebrus' invisibility power? I shouldn't post twice consecutivelu.

[Trogdor]

@Arthur

I could limit myself to 1 xp of correspondence per year if you want.

No, this cat's out of the bag already.

@Arthur

P.S. Did you see my suggestions re Terebrus' invisibility power? I shouldn't post twice consecutivelu.

I did. I'm thinking on it.

[Andern]

Heh, give us players an inch, and we'll take a mile.

[Arthur]

@Andern

Heh, give us players an inch, and we'll take a mile.

True

Trogdor, if you don't want to allow it it's no problem for me. Invisibility is not a central power for my polecat. I can simply rework it by bringing the duration down to Diameter and lower the Might cost to 0. So he'll be able to disappear at will for short periods of time, which is thematically fine.

This would give the following power:

The Invisible Polecat (0 point, Init +5, Imaginem): Terebrus can make itself (or something he touches) invisible for a short period of time. (PeIm 15, R: Touch, D: Diam, T: Ind, 10 levels to reduce cost to 0) -- Based on Veil of Invisibility (reduced to D:Diam).

[Trogdor]

No, it's a reasonable power given what the other familiars can do. Go ahead and take it.

[Arthur]

Modified the advancement for the 1st cycle to take into account the saga's rules on correspondence. Moved a few things around as well.

Note that affinities are not applied to the xp indicated in the table.

[tableborder][tr][th][left]Cycle[/left][/th][th][left]Year[/left][/th][th][left]Season[/left][/th][th][left]Activity Description[/left][/th][th]SQ[/th][th][left]SQ Modifiers[/left][/th][th][left]Result[/left][/th][th]Raw Vis[/th][th]MP[/th][/tr]
[tr][td]1[/td][td]1[/td][td]Spring[/td][td]Adventure - Meet friend (Procorus of Flambeau, Parma Magica)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]7[/td][td]+3 Ind.Study[/td][td]5 xp to Org.Lore: Order of Hermes
5 xp to Finesse
1 xp to Perdo[/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]1[/td][td]Summer[/td][td]Study Herbam (L6Q21 summa)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]21[/td][td][/td][td]21 xp to Herbam
1 xp to Perdo[/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]1[/td][td]Fall[/td][td]Study Imaginem (L6Q21 summa)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]21[/td][td][/td][td]21 xp to Imaginem
1 xp to Perdo[/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]1[/td][td]Winter[/td][td]Study Creo (L10Q19)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]19[/td][td][/td][td]19 xp to Creo
1 xp to Perdo
4 pawns gained (1 Te, 3 Vi)
3 MP gained[/td][td]1 Te
3 Vi[/td][td]3[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]2[/td][td]Spring[/td][td]Adventure - Vis find
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]7[/td][td]+3 Ind.Study[/td][td]4 xp to Parma Magica
6 xp to Mastery: Stone to Falling Dust
1 xp to Perdo
5 pawns gained (Te)[/td][td]6 Te
3 Vi[/td][td]3[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]2[/td][td]Summer[/td][td]Adventure - Familiar (Terebrus the polecat)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]7[/td][td]+3 Ind.Study[/td][td]5 xp to Animal
5 xp to Magic Lore
1 xp to Perdo[/td][td]6 Te
3 Vi[/td][td]3[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]2[/td][td]Fall[/td][td]Lab - Bind familiar
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]2[/td][td][/td][td]2 xp to Perdo
1 xp to Perdo
1 pawn spent for lab (Vi)
6 pawns spent for familiar (Te)[/td][td]2 Vi[/td][td]3[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]2[/td][td]Winter[/td][td]Study Magic Theory (L5Q20)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]20[/td][td][/td][td]20 xp to Magic Theory
1 xp to Perdo
4 pawns gained (Vi)
3 MP gained[/td][td]6 Vi[/td][td]6[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]3[/td][td]Spring[/td][td]Adventure - Meet friend (Iustus of Flambeau, Spell Mastery)
Correspondence - Procurus (Parma Magica)[/td][td]7[/td][td]+3 Ind.Study[/td][td]5 xp to Org.Lore: Order of Hermes
5 xp Finesse
1 xp to Parma Magica[/td][td]6 vi[/td][td]6[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]3[/td][td]Summer[/td][td]Study Auram (L6Q21 summa)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]21[/td][td][/td][td]21 xp to Auram
1 xp to Perdo[/td][td]6 vi[/td][td]6[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]3[/td][td]Fall[/td][td]Study Vim (L6Q21 summa)
Correspondence - Procurus (Parma Magica)[/td][td]21[/td][td][/td][td]21 xp to Vim
1 xp to Parma Magica[/td][td]6 Vi[/td][td]6[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]3[/td][td]Winter[/td][td]Train in Great Weapons
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]15[/td][td][/td][td]15 xp to Great Weapons
1 xp to Perdo
2 MP spent for a better trainer
4 pawns gained (Vi)
3 MP gained[/td][td]10 Vi[/td][td]7[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]4[/td][td]Spring[/td][td]Study Leadership (L5Q20 summa)
Correspondence - Procurus (Parma Magica)[/td][td]20[/td][td][/td][td]20 xp to Leadership
1 xp to Parma Magica[/td][td]10 Vi[/td][td]7[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]4[/td][td]Summer[/td][td]Study Rego (L6Q21 summa)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]21[/td][td][/td][td]20 xp to Rego (max score of book)
1 xp to Perdo[/td][td]10 Vi[/td][td]7[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]4[/td][td]Fall[/td][td]Study Intellego (L6Q21 summa)
Correspondence - Procurus (Parma Magica)[/td][td]21[/td][td][/td][td]21 xp to Intellego
1 xp to Parma Magica[/td][td]10 Vi[/td][td]7[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]4[/td][td]Winter[/td][td]Study Magic Theory (L5Q20)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]20[/td][td][/td][td]20 xp to Magic Theory
1 xp to Perdo
4 pawns gained (Vi)
3 MP gained[/td][td]14 Vi[/td][td]10[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]5[/td][td]Spring[/td][td]Study Org.Lore : Order of Hermes (L4Q18)
Correspondence - Iustus (Spell Mastery)[/td][td]14[/td][td][/td][td]18 xp to Org.Lore: Order of Hermes
1 xp in Spell Mastery[/td][td]14 Vi[/td][td]10[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]5[/td][td]Summer[/td][td]Covenant services
Correspondence - Procurus (Parma Magica)[/td][td]2[/td][td][/td][td]2 xp to Language: Latin
1 xp to Parma Magica
3 pawns gained (Vi)
2 MP gained[/td][td]17 Vi[/td][td]12[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]5[/td][td]Fall[/td][td]Study Parma Magica (L5Q20 summa)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]20[/td][td][/td][td]21 xp to Parma Magica
1 xp to Perdo[/td][td]17 Vi[/td][td]12[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]5[/td][td]Winter[/td][td]Study Parma Magica (L5Q20 summa)
Correspondence - Iustus (Spell Mastery)[/td][td]20[/td][td][/td][td]20 xp to Parma Magica
1 xp to Spell Mastery
4 pawns gained (Vi)
3 MP gained[/td][td]21 Vi[/td][td]15[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]6[/td][td]Spring[/td][td]Study Perdo (L16Q15 summa)
Correspondence - Procurus (Parma Magica)[/td][td]15[/td][td][/td][td]20 xp to Perdo
1 xp to Parma Magica[/td][td]21 Vi[/td][td]15[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]6[/td][td]Summer[/td][td]Study Perdo (L24Q11 summa)
Correspondence - Severus (Perdo)[/td][td]11[/td][td][/td][td]11 xp to Perdo
1 xp to Perdo[/td][td]21 Vi[/td][td]15[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]6[/td][td]Fall[/td][td]Study Perdo (L24Q11 summa)
Correspondence - Iustus (Spell Mastery)[/td][td]11[/td][td][/td][td]11 xp to Perdo
1 xp to Spell Mastery[/td][td]21 Vi[/td][td]15[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]6[/td][td]Winter[/td][td]Study Perdo (L24Q11 summa)
Correspondence - Procurus (Parma Magica)[/td][td]11[/td][td][/td][td]11 xp to Perdo
1 xp to Parma Magica
4 pawns gained (Vi)
3 MP gained[/td][td]25 Vi[/td][td]18[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]7[/td][td]Spring[/td][td]Study Perdo (L24Q11 summa)
Correspondence - Iustus (Spell Mastery)[/td][td]11[/td][td][/td][td]11 xp to Perdo
1 xp to Spell Mastery[/td][td]25 Vi[/td][td]18[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]7[/td][td]Summer[/td][td]Adventure - Learn something (Tribunal meeting)
Correspondence - Procurus (Parma Magica)[/td][td]12[/td][td]+3 Ind.Study[/td][td]5 xp to Org.Lore: Order of Hermes
5 xp to Org.Lore: Legion of Mithras
5 xp to Finesse
1 xp to Parma Magica[/td][td]25 Vi[/td][td]18[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]7[/td][td]Fall[/td][td]Purchase normal longevity ritual)
Correspondence - Iustus (Spell Mastery)[/td][td]2[/td][td][/td][td]2 xp to Magic Theory
1 xp to Spell Mastery
24 pawns spent (Vi)
Longevity Ritual (+12)[/td][td]1 Vi[/td][td]18[/td][/tr]

[tr][td]1[/td][td]7[/td][td]Winter[/td][td]Study Perdo (L24Q11 summa)
Correspondence - Iustus (Spell Mastery)[/td][td]11[/td][td][/td][td]12 xp to Perdo
1 xp to Spell Mastery
4 pawns gained (Vi)
3 MP silver gained[/td][td]5 Vi[/td][td]21[/td][/tr][/tableborder]
Library used so far:

• Arts: L24Q11 (Pe) L16Q15 (Pe) L10Q19 (Cr) L6Q21 (In Re Au He Im Vi)
• Abilities: L5Q20 (Magic Theory, Leadership, Parma Magica) L4Q18 (Org.Lore : Order of Hermes)

[Arthur]

At the end of cycle 1, the following stats have changed.

Abilities: Finesse 2 (+5 xp), Great Weapons 2, Language: Latin 4 (+2 xp), Leadership 4, Magic Lore 1 (+5 xp), Magic Theory 4 (+24 xp), Org.Lore: Order of Hermes 3 (+8 xp), Org.Lore : Legion of Mithras 1, Parma Magica 4 (+7 xp)

Arts: Cr 8 (+4 xp), In 6, Mu 0, Pe 19+3 (+14 xp), Re 6, An 5 (+5 xp), Aq 5, Au 6, Co 5, He 6, Ig 6, Im 6, Me 0, Te 5, Vi 6

Spell Mastery: added 18 xp (including effects of Affinity), distribution to be determined

Regarding his previously stated goal of being able to enchant a flying boat, his lab total are now:

• PeTe(He): Int 2 + MT(Perdo) 5 + Pe 22 + Te/He 5 + Aura 5 + Terebrus(Perdo) 7 = 46. The target effect level is 28, so he's almost there (10 points to invest in a single season).
• ReTe(He): Int 2 + MT 4 + Re 6 + Te/He 5 + Aura 5 + Terebrus 6 = 28. The target effect level is 24, so there's more work needed there (20 points to invest in a single season).
• CrAu: Int 2 + MT 4 + Cr 8 + Au 6 + Aura 5 + Terebrus(Perdo) 7 = 32. The target effect level is 20, so he is getting there (8 points to invest in a single season).
• PeIm: Int 2 + MT(Perdo) 5 + Pe 22 + Im 6 + 4 similar spell + Aura 5 + Terebrus(Perdo) 7 = 51. The target effect level is 34 so he's getting closer as well (17 points to invest in a single season).

EDIT: Modified the lab total to reflect the Aura 5 at Fengheld and Terebrus' assistance.

[Trogdor]

Looks good to me.

[Arthur]

Final stats for Terebrus the Polecat right after he is bound as a familiar.

Magic Might: 18
Characteristics: Int +2, Per +1, Str -6, Sta +1, Pre +1, Com -2, Dex +2, Qik +6
Size: -4
Virtues: Magic Animal, Greater Purifying Touch (poison), Improved Characteristics, Lesser Immunity (poison), Reserves of Strength +1, Unaffected by the Gift +1, True Friend (Lucius of Flambeau)
Flaws: Mute, No Hands, Ambitious (major), Offensive to Animals -1, Poor Concentration -1 (RoP:M p.50), Proud (minor), Social Handicap (smell)
Personality Traits: Brave +1, Disciplined -2, Loyal (Lucius of Flambeau) +3, Polecat* +3, Proud +2

Abilities: Animal Resistance (claws) 1, Athletics (running) 4, Awareness (food) 3, Brawl (bite) 6, Hunt (tracking) 3, Stealth (sneak) 4, Survival (forest) 3, Swim (river) 1
Magic Qualities: Gift of Speech, Lesser Power: Stink of the Polecat, Improved Power: Stink of the Polecat, Focus Power: Destructive Streak, Improved Power: Destructive Streak, Lesser Power: The Invisible Polecat, Ritual Power: Mark of the Angry Polecat, Animal Resistance, Minor Virtue: Unaffected by the Gift, No Fatigue
Magic Inferiorities: Reduced Might

Combat Stats:
Teeth: Init +6, Atk +11, Def +14, Dam -5
Soak +1 (+2 vs Animal attacks)
Fatigue Levels: Not applicable
Wounds: Light (1), Medium (2), Heavy (3), Incapacitating (4), Dead (5+)
Powers:
Stink of the Polecat (0 points, Init +9, Auram): Makes the surrounding air stink horribly of polecat liquid. All those within fifty paces of the target point must make Stamina stress rolls of 6+ or act with a –3 penalty on all rolls. Anyone who botches the roll vomits and is incapacitated for (10 – Stamina) rounds. The smell lingers in the area affected for days, although not potently enough to have debilitating effects. (CrAu 10, R: Voice, D: Diam, T: Ind, 10 levels to reduce cost by 2, 5 levels and 5 mastery points to increased Init by 6) -- Based on Stench of the Twenty Corpses.

Destructive Streak (magnitude -3 points, Init +1, Terram): Terebrus can generate spontaneous effects of up to level 25, to destroy non-living objects. He often uses it to tunnel into the ground to enter a prey's warren. (Focus Power, PeTe 25, 2 mastery points to increase max level, 3 mastery points to reduce cost)

The Invisible Polecat (1 point, Init +1, Imaginem): Terebrus can become invisible. He can cancel this effect at any time. (PeIm 20, R: Per, D: Sun, T: Ind, 5 levels to reduce cost by 1) -- Based on Veil of Invisibility (range reduced to Per, but can cancel at will).

Mark of the Angry Polecat (5 points, Init -4, Vim): Terebrus can impose the flaw Social Handicap on his target, who acquires an unpleasant body odor that cannot be washed off. (No Hermetic equivalent: Ritual Power; R: Touch, D: Mom, T: Ind, Ritual)

EDIT: Added Gift of Speech and Reduced Might

[Arthur]

1st cycle advancement for Terebrus.

During the following seasons, Terebrus studied with Lucius:

• Year 2, Winter: Study Magic Theory (L5Q20)
• Year 4, Spring: Study Leadership (L5Q20)
• Year 4, Winter: Study Magic Theory (L5Q20)

That leaves it with 28 seasons that are abstracted at 5 xp per season. This includes the 2 extra seasons per year he gets for the No Fatigue quality. These abstract seasons are spent as follow:

• 25 xp to raise Animal Resistance to 3
• 5 xp to gain Artes Liberales 1
• 20 xp to raise Awareness to 4
• 5 xp to gain Code of Hermes 1
• 15 xp to gain Folk Ken 2
• 15 xp to gain Magic Lore 2
• 10 xp to raise Magic Theory to 4
• 30 xp to gain Org.Lore: Order of Hermes 3
• 5 xp to gain Org.Lore: Legion of Mithras 1
• 10 xp to raise Swim to 2

At the end of the cycle, his abilities are: Animal Resistance (claws) 3, Artes Liberales (logic) 1, Athletics (running) 4, Awareness (food) 4, Brawl (bite) 6, Code of Hermes (familiars) 1, Folk Ken (servants) 2, Hunt (tracking) 3, Leadership (familiars) 2 (+5 xp), Magic Lore (creatures) 2, Magic Theory (Perdo) 4, Org.Lore: Order of Hermes (familiars) 3, Org.Lore: Legion of Mithras (initiation rites) 1, Stealth (sneak) 4, Survival (forest) 3, Swim (river) 2

[Arthur]

Realized while working on the second cycle that I forgot to have Lucius give Terebrus a way to communicate with him. I doubt that his familiar can be as useful without it, and he would probably grow frustrated if he's limited to writing out stuff for Lucius to read. And one does not want Terebrus to become angry inside a covenant!

So I will swap some seasonal activities to take this into account. Seems like the best bet for a magus with a Muto deficiency is to go with mental communication. I would have preferred Creo Imaginem so that Terebrus can talk to other people, but that is not something I can enchant into the bond, I think.

Otherwise, it could be a power that Terebrus develops through Transformation, but I'm not certain how that works. I'm guessing that I cannot simply use the abstracted seasonal xp to purchase the minor quality Gift of Speech. How much raw vis would be involved?

[Trogdor]

@Arthur

Otherwise, it could be a power that Terebrus develops through Transformation, but I'm not certain how that works. I'm guessing that I cannot simply use the abstracted seasonal xp to purchase the minor quality Gift of Speech. How much raw vis would be involved?

Tenebrous could consume 15 vis to get him 1d10+5 xp toward a transformation that could give him a new Quality (with a chance of botch). 10 xp will give him a new Quality.

He could also gain Practice xp, at 4 xp per season to get that 10 xp, but then he has to overcome the Might Penalty. That would be 8 vis to gain 4 xp, 7 vis to gain 3 xp. So if he spent 24 vis (and three seasons of not getting 5 xp), he would gain 12 xp and could spend 10 xp to get a new Quality. He'd even have 2 transformational xp left over.

(See, RoP:M pp. 51-52)

[Arthur]

Because of his Size -4, his Might is actually 19. Does that mean he needs to consume 19 pawns of vis or does the Size adjustment to Might not considered when looking at Transformation?

Also, from what I understand of RoP:M, 5 xp would buy a Minor Magic Quality and a Minor Magic Inferiority. It would take 10 xp for him to get a Minor Magic Quality only.

Is it too late to give him Gift of Speech before he is bound as a familiar?

[Trogdor]

@Arthur

Because of his Size -4, his Might is actually 19. Does that mean he needs to consume 19 pawns of vis or does the Size adjustment to Might not considered when looking at Transformation?

Also, from what I understand of RoP:M, 5 xp would buy a Minor Magic Quality and a Minor Magic Inferiority. It would take 10 xp for him to get a Minor Magic Quality only.

Is it too late to give him Gift of Speech before he is bound as a familiar?

If you want to go back and give him GoS before binding, go ahead.

But yes, it would be 19 Might consumed for transformation or 10 to offset the MIght penalty.