OK sounds good, I'll start making the character and will send in the copy soon.
Yowza! Who lives in and around Chicago? Marko I think does if I recall. Getting socked in here with snow! The good news is I get to stay home and review my Ars again, which I haven't done in awhile.
I've sent in my concept to Arya, I'm going with that Flambeau idea I had of a giant blooded magus who might actually be a child of Muspelheim, at least that's what her Parens has been telling her all her apprenticeship. She's a solid Ignem wizard, and with the years after apprenticeship I said she was on the road and so practiced her skills instead of increasing her Arts or spells, so she's quite competent all around, but desperately needs to get back into the lab. Upon approval I'll post her, but I'd appreciate any input you might have for what the Covenant is looking for or could use, and if you think the concept is just an ill fit, by all means say so and I can adjust.
EDIT Added spells, had to shift some XP around under starting Arts to be able to get the spells, and changed Guile to Sneak.
2nd EDIT Editted background. Changed "Moloch" to Lamentus.
Meant to add this sooo much earlier - I mentioned to Arya I'm fairly indecisive and I went from creating a Brawler to a Range Specialist and ended up... at a Socialite Certaminist. I have no idea how. Anyways, here is his numbers - the Mercare related Virtues/Flaws are still pending approval/further discussion with Arya.
Magus Aequi
Birth Name: Nicholas de la Chauncey
Characteristics: Int +3, Per +2, Str +1, Sta +2, Pre +3, Com +3, Dex -3, Qik -1 (rolled, invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2847500)
Size: 0
Age: 34
Decrepitude: 0 [0]
Warping Score: 0 [3]
Twilight Scars: Eyes Reflection - the reflection in his eyes are always missing faces, to match his loss of face(honor) when he first entered Twilight.
Confidence Score: 1 [3]
Personality Traits: Nosy +2, Organized +1, Patient +3, Honorable +2
Reputations: n/a
Wizards Sigil: The brief electro-magnetization of metal items. Compasses spin crazily, jetons stick together, even copper coins briefly join, etc. Non-ferrous items build up a static charge. His voting sigil is a small pile of lodestone, usually configured into a geometric shape.
Virtues: The Gift[0], Hermetic Magus[0], The Enigma[0], Secondary Insight[3], Affinity with Creo[1], Affinity with Perdo[1], Gossip[1], Minor Magical Focus: Certamen[1], Puissant Bargain[1], Puissant Penetration[1], Social Contacts: Redcaps[1]
Flaws: Careless Sorceror[+1], Favors: owed to House Mercare[+3], Magical Animal Companion: Goat[+1], No Sense of Direction[+1], Twilight Prone[+3], Weird Magic[+1]
Combat -
Gauntlet - Init -1, Att -2, Def +2, Dmg +3
Soak: 2
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: Light -1 (1-5), Medium -3 (6-10), Heavy -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)
Abilities: Animal Handling 1(Goats), Artes Liberales 1(Logic), Athletics 1(Climbing), Bargain 4+2(Books), Brawl 1(Gauntlet), Carouse 1(Power Drinking), Charm 2(First Impressions), Enigmatic Wisdom 1(Twilight Comprehension), Etiquette 1(Tribunal), Finesse 1(Creo), Folk Ken 1(Magi), Intrigue 3(Alliances), All Languages Specialized in (Mercantile Terms) unless specified - Dutch 5[Native], English 2, Gaelic 1, Latin 4(Academic Usage), Welsh 1, Yiddish 1, Leadership 1(Inspiration), Magic Theory 3(Creo), Parma Magicka 1(Certamen), Penetration 2+2(Creo), Profession: Sailor 1(Knots), Profession: Scribe 1(Hermetic), Ride 1(Goats), Sneak 1(Sneaking), Swim 1(Long Distances)
Arts: Creo 9(30+15), Intellego 1(1), Muto 2(3), Perdo 9(30+15), Rego 1(1), Animal 2(3), Aquam 2(3), Aurum 2(3), Corpus 2(3), Herbam 2(3), Ignem 2(3), Imaginem2(3), Mentem 2(3), Terram 2(3), Vim 2(3)
Equipment: Riding Gear, Saddle Packs, Gauntlets, Sextant, Spyglass, a set of Troy, Tower, Mercantile, and London Pounds/Weights - Blue Bandanna, Blue Vest, Robes or Breeches, usually shirtless; a necklace of lodestones, strung together
Encumbrance: 0
Spells Known:
Phantom Gift's Curse CrVi Lvl 20
Range:Voice Duration:Moon Target:Individual
The target of the spell is cursed with "Magical Air" and people react to him/her as if he/she had the Gift for the duration of the spell.
(Base 3, +2 Voice, +3 Moon)
Twilight's Gift CrVi Lvl 20
Range:Voice Duration:Momentary Target:Individual
Target of the spell gains two Warping Points and, if a magus, must resist Twilight.
(Base 10, +2 Voice)
Disguise of the New Body MuCo Lvl 15
Range:Touch Duration:Sun Target:Ind
The Magus changes the target's body to look however he wishes of similar size. This spell does not affect size. (Modified version of Disguise of the New Visage)
(Base 3, +1 Touch, +2 Sun)
Personal Veil of Invisibility PeIm Lvl 15
Range:Personal Duration:Sun Target:Ind
Modified version of "Veil of Invisibility" - only for the caster.
(Base 5, +2 Sun)
Aua of Enobled Presence MuIm Lvl 10
Range:Touch Duration:Sun Target:Ind
Same as in ArM5.
(Base 3, +1 Touch, +2 Sun)
Trust of Childlike Faith PeMe Lvl 10
Range:Eye Duration:Diam Target:Ind
Same as in ArM5.
(Base 3, +1 Touch, +2 Sun)
Lay to Rest the Haunting Spirit PeMe Lvl 10
Range:Voice Duration:Mom Target:Ind
Ghost Destroyer. Same as in ArM5. If penetrates, eliminates 10 points of Ghostly Might.
(Base 4, +2 Voice)
Demon's Eternal Oblivion PeVi Lvl 10
Range:Voice Duration:Mom Target:Ind
Demon Destroyer. If penetrates, eliminates 10 points of Might. Same as in ArM5
(Base 4, +2 Voice)
Slap of Logic and Reason PeVi Lvl 10
Range:Voice Duration:Mom Target:Ind
Magic Might Destroyer. Modified Demon's Eternal Oblivion for creatures of the Magic Realm. If penetrates, eliminates 10 points of Might.
(Base 4, +2 Voice)
Brief History: Nicholas de la Chauncey was born of English merchant couple chartered/captaining a Dutch ship. Being immersed amongst Dutch sailors he considers Denmark his home more than his parent's England and his English is similarly lacking. He learned to scale the masts and sails, properly stack and store goods, and even how to deal with livestock, though they never seemed to deal well with Nicholas. The Gift blossomed slowly in the young lad, and at first it was hard to tell what seemed an unnatural distrust from the natural distrust of any sailor and foreigner. His home onboard the sailing vessel, they rarely stayed in port long enough to notice a trend beyond normal mischief. A child of the waters and coin, he has his parent's refinement for appraisal and society, but the Dutch First Mate Konrad's ways with bars, wenches, and scampering for the hills when husbands or, in Nicholas' case, parents come a' knocking. The little skill Nicholas had in navigating the ship riggings was not enough to keep him from falling from the 2nd story window he was trying to climb out of to avoid an lovely Irish girl's drunk docksman father and was promptly beaten and arrested.
Luckily, Magus Lamentus ex Criamon (a Criamon) was in the area due to some premonitions and tea leaves readings he had done on himself. Lacking the proper social skills to bargain for and extricate the boy, he created the illusion of a minor Wyld Hunt and preyed on the fears of the people to distract them while he appropriated the boy and took him back to Florensis, his Covenant and a Mercare House for his Tribunal. Lacking the physical manipulation and coordination of his parens, Nicholas applied much of Moloch's ideals to his mental prowess and the art of Hermetic duels of strength, or Certamen. Also, Moloch's fascination with divination (partially due to his own Premonitions) influenced his teaching style and presentation of ideas. Almost all of his lectures were coached in terms relating to a Major Arcana of the Tarot Deck. Even the questions posed to initiate the apprentices into Enigmatic WIsdom and the Counter-Alams and Hypostasi were coached through the 7th Arcana, the Chariot, and the 10th Arana, the Wheel of Fortune. With one major Arcana per year per concept, Nicholas's Gauntlet was questions related by Magus Moloch to the remaining 7 Arcanas. His shallow answers were accepted, and Magus Moloch taught Nicholas the Parma Magicka in relation to the Fool - open to all, greater than none, neither trumped by others nor greater than any, and reminded him to search for the connections amongst the shallow answers to the greater truth. Although more a teaching of Enigmatic Wisdom, this bewildering approach to learning Hermetic Theory has also given him a deeper understanding of the connections and similarities between the fifteen Arts.
Meanwhile, what little free time he had was spent mostly wandering through the Mercare House and enjoying the company of the Redcaps. Lamentus also fostered some of Nicholas's more generalized studies in Latin, theory, etc. to a minor school hosted by the Mercare. Nicholas found he related easier to the Mercare and developed his friendships and connections there, using many of the same skills and charms he had been taught to apply to merchants and girls. Redcap Aeneas fostered those skills and augmented them with tales of politics and alliances in the Tribunals that he had witnessed. One season, tired of staying at the Covenant and wishing to travel around with Aeneas, he playfully challenged a Redcap to an "apprentice's" version of Certamen for a steed unaffected by the Gift to ride and travel on, hoping for a famous Irish faerie horse. Instead, he got an angry Redcap William of Hourse Mercare, who promptly dragged him back to his parens. In a fit of incomprehensible justice, Lamentus proceeded to negotiate a "Certamen" for Nicholas to experience. Arranging for him to receive a steed, Lamentus set up two prices to be paid to House Mercare dependent on Nicholas's success or failure at his Certamen. He then promptly blasted Nicholas into the Hypostasis, or Twilight. He failed, and saw a horrific vision of his life as a failing merchant due to his pride with a different wife in every port and a disownment from the Chauncey's. Also, for his failure, Nicholas would be available to any Redcap of House Mercare for assistance in delivering messages or negotiating passage for a season once every two years as long as it did not interrupt any breakthroughs. Finally, the steed and mount provided by House Mercare was a goat. A giant, magical goat unaffected by the Gift, but not an animal commonly known for its rideability. Geoffries the Goat is slightly tempermental and usually requires food bribes, care, and attention. Also, he usually instinctively knows where he is and where he needs to go, but will happily let Nicholas lead him in the wrong direction until Nicholas is thoroughly lost and/or Geoffries gets bored.
Unlike Schmuel, who spent most of his spare time in the Library, Nicholas/Aequi went on "adventures" with the Redcaps. However, perhaps unaware of the Redcap's social standing as the bridge between mundame and the Order (he's aware of it intellectually, but not really aware of it) he's almost a little overly sheltered and naive, though he considers himself shrewd in most negotiating situations.
NOTE: all of the above subject to change and approval by Arya - spells will be added later
Might as well post my concept also and character also.
Name: Lady Sinmore House: Flambeau Gender: Female Age: 29
Size: +2 Decrepitude: 0/0 Warping: Confidence: 1/3
Characteristics:
Int: +2 (Deductive) Str: +3 (Massive) Pre: +1 (Striking) Dex: -1 (Too large)
Per: 0 Sta: +4 (Tough) Com: +1 (Commanding) Qik: 0
Virtues:
Hermetic Magus: Social (Free)
The Gift (Free)
Puissant Ignem (Free)
Giant Blood (Major)
Greater Immunity: Fire (Major)
Improved Characteristics x2 (Minor)
Affinity with Ignem (Minor)
Skilled Parens (Minor)
Flaws:
Deficient Technique: Intelligo (Major)
Plagued by Supernatural: Magic (Major)
Wrathful (Minor)
Delusion: from Muspelheim (Minor)
Covenant Raised (Minor)
Warped Magic: Nearby items become hot (MInor)
Personality Traits:
Wrathful +2
Brave +2
Flirtatious +2
Impatient +2
Abilities: 170 (Apprenticeship)
Speak English (Threats) 5
Artes Liberales (Ritual Magic) 1
Latin (Hermetic) 4
Magic Theory (Ignem) 3
Parma Magica (Mentem) 2
Athletics (Running) 2
Brawl (Punch) 3
Occult Lore (Norse Giants) 3
Great Weapon (Sword) 4
Penetration (Ignem) 3
Finesse (Aiming) 3
Concentration (Combat) 3
Magic Lore (Muspelheim) 2
Carouse 1 (Drinking)
Awareness 2 (Keen eyes)
Leadership 2 (Grogs)
Arts: 190 (Apprenticeship) Casting Sigil: The Smell of burning hair
Creo 10 (55) Animal 0 Ignem 15+3 (120 with Affinity Bonus)
Intellego 1 (1) Aquam 0 Imaginem 0
Muto 0 Auram 0 Mentem 3(6)
Perdo 3 (6) Corpus 5 (15) Terram 0
Rego 6 (21) Herbam 0 Vim 3(6)
Spells: (Title, Level and Casting Bonus)
Ball of Abysmal Flame 35 +32
Circle of Encompassing Flame 35 +32
Pilum of Fire 20 +32
Blade of the Virulent Flame 15 +32
Arc of Fiery Ribbons 25 +32
Chirurgeon's Healing Touch 20 +21
Appearance:
Lady Sinmore is a towering eight feet tall with a ruddy complexion and lots of freckles. She has striking good looks aside from her tremendous height, with flaming red hair and brilliant green eyes, and an expressive face. She usually wears a leather cuirass with metal rings and wields an enormous great sword, which she carries on a sheathe at her hip as most men would store a normal sized sword. She often wears a large heavy cloak and can easily be mistaken for a huge man when doing so.
Background:
Tytalus is not the only House that likes a good challenge. Flambeau have a long history of awarding renown and prestige to their members that perform notable deeds. The flashiest spell, the most interesting familiar, slaying the most dangerous beast. For Willaim Du Soleil his accomplishment was in his claim that he actually brought back a giant child from the Magic Realm of Muspelheim and trained her as his apprentice. William claimed some renown for this alleged feat, but had a hard time actually proving it. She learned as much as she could about her alleged parents and people and land of her birth and also took on the name of Lady Sinmore, the bride and daughter of Surtur. Her apprenticeship ended with her succesful Gauntlet (which also destroyed several bandits and a swath of forest near York) and has studied while on the road as well as train as she seeks a new Covenant, but lacked a decent lab or library (I concentrated all her xp in raising and buying skills). She's been having strange dreams lately and feels that she's being watched and has a feeling of destiny that she's quite afraid of. She's not sure what she believes in, she was raised in her Covenant and told stories of Muspelheim by William, but all the other Magi she's spoken to (plus her own observances) have said that William was a braggart at best and a liar at worst. But she's begun to worry that Surtur will actually come to claim Sinmore as his namesake bride. She's seeking a new Covenant, but doesn't want to travel outside of the Stonehenge Tribunal at this time.
Experience:
Year 1: 3 in Penetration (30)
Year 2: 3 in Finesse (30)
Year 3: 3 in Concentration (30)
Year 4: 2 in Magic lore (15), Raise Parma to 2 (10), Carouse 1 (5)
Year 5: Awareness 2 (15), Leadership 2 (15)
So, any thoughts about these new characters and when they'd be able to join if they're acceptable?
Sorry guys, I'm recovering from surgery and haven't done much of anything for a few days.
At first glance they look fine, but it will take me a while to get back to you both on post-Gauntlet advancement. I need to not be on painkillers when I give you source qualities.
Ouch, sorry to hear that. Wishes of Creo Corpus be upon you.
Get well soon!
Or you can be on more painkillers and come up with wonderful gems like an ability summae for Faerie Lore by Magus Gilderoy Lockehart ex Merinita of Level 2 Quality 25. That's right; 2/25 Faerie Lore Book. Written in Gaelic. It comes accompanied with a Living Language: Gaelic Ability Summae of Level 3 Quality 30... written in Gaelic.
And yes, had an ST give us that set before.
On a more serious note, definitely ouchies, and enjoy the painkillers while they last - may the after-effects of anesthesia be with you long and strong so you sleep past most of the healing.
I wasn't looking in all the threads, so I hadn't read this earlier. Get well soon!
Chris
OK, feeling a bit better.
For simplicity and expediency's sake, let's have both Sinmore and Aequi assume source quality 11 for all post-Gauntlet advancement. You should be between 3 and 7 years out of Gauntlet. As far as the availability of lab texts, let me know what you're interested in and we'll figure it out.
Notes on backgrounds:
*If Aequi is mostly Dutch, he was probably apprenticed at Fengheld, which is the major Mercere base in the Rhine in this saga. If this works for you, let me know, otherwise you need to choose a home Tribunal/Covenant.
*There are very few Flambeau in Stonehenge in this saga, due to certain factors you'll discover in the future. Sinmore's pater William should be either dead, or from Loch Leglean (or some other tribunal).
*qcipher, you do have the option of rolling for Characteristics, which might free up some virtue points. Details are in the House Rules thread, if you're interested.
I'll check the rolling rules and see, I'm concerned if I go random I could lose some of the specifics that I see Sinmore having. As for William, he was a travelling wizard, going through the British Isles and France. He was initially supposed to be an Englishman who took a French courtly name (William of the Sun) as was fashionable in some areas and scandalous in others. He could be dead, but Sinmore hasn't seen him since her gauntlet, I'll let you decide. Either way I'll redo her skills based on the Quality that you listed here and have her updated shortly.
EDIT I saw the rules again and will try rolling once I'm home from work, the website is blocked on my work PC. I remember this method from Ars 3 and 4 I believe. As long as I still have the fallback option of building the character this will work fine I think.
Regarding the source Quality, is that 11 per season or per year?
11 per season. Remember to allot a minimum of 1 season per year to covenant service, during which you'll pick up 3 exposure in either Scribe, Magic Theory, or an art, depending on where your mage's skills lie and what kind of things you'd be doing for service.
You may also apply 1 exposure in the local Language per season.
Is that one season per year in this Covenant? I had her travelling a lot, but that could mean she was travelling Covenant to Covenant and doing work at those before she came here.
Assume one season per year for whatever covenant you belonged to before, but no, service at Gallus Florensis is five seasons per seven year period. (Tremere-drafted charter... them's the breaks!)
Name: Lady Sinmore House: Flambeau Gender: Female Age: 29
Size: +2 Decrepitude: 0/0 Warping: Confidence: 1/3
Characteristics:
Int: +2 (Deductive) Str: +3 (Massive) Pre: +1 (Striking) Dex: -1 (Too large)
Per: 0 Sta: +4 (Tough) Com: +1 (Commanding) Qik: 0
Virtues:
Hermetic Magus: Social (Free)
The Gift (Free)
Puissant Ignem (Free)
Giant Blood (Major)
Greater Immunity: Fire (Major)
Improved Characteristics x2 (Minor)
Affinity with Ignem (Minor)
Skilled Parens (Minor)
Flaws:
Deficient Technique: Intelligo (Major)
Plagued by Supernatural: Magic (Major)
Wrathful (Minor)
Delusion: from Muspelheim (Minor)
Covenant Raised (Minor)
Warped Magic: Nearby items become hot (MInor)
Personality Traits:
Wrathful +2
Brave +2
Flirtatious +2
Impatient +2
Abilities: 170 (Apprenticeship)
Speak English (Threats) 5/20
Artes Liberales (Ritual Magic) 1
Latin (Hermetic) 4
Magic Theory (Ignem) 3/3
Parma Magica (Mentem) 2/1
Athletics (Running) 2
Brawl (Punch) 3
Occult Lore (Norse Giants) 3
Great Weapon (Sword) 4
Penetration (Ignem) 3/3
Finesse (Aiming) 3/3
Concentration (Combat) 3/3
Magic Lore (Muspelheim) 2/7
Carouse (Drinking) 1
Awareness (Keen eyes) 2
Leadership (Grogs) 1/1
Profession: Scribe (Copying) 2/3
Arts: 190 (Apprenticeship) Casting Sigil: The Smell of burning hair
Creo 10 (55) Animal 0 Ignem 15+3 (120 with Affinity Bonus)
Intellego 1 (1) Aquam 0 Imaginem 0
Muto 0 Auram 0 Mentem 3(6)
Perdo 3 (6) Corpus 5 (15) Terram 0
Rego 6 (21) Herbam 0 Vim 3(6)
Spells: (Title, Level and Casting Bonus)
Ball of Abysmal Flame 35 +32
Circle of Encompassing Flame 35 +32
Pilum of Fire 20 +32
Blade of the Virulent Flame 15 +32
Arc of Fiery Ribbons 25 +32
Chirurgeon's Healing Touch 20 +21
Appearance:
Lady Sinmore is a towering eight feet tall with a ruddy complexion and lots of freckles. She has striking good looks aside from her tremendous height, with flaming red hair and brilliant green eyes, and an expressive face. She usually wears a leather cuirass with metal rings and wields an enormous great sword, which she carries on a sheathe at her hip as most men would store a normal sized sword. She often wears a large heavy cloak and can easily be mistaken for a huge man when doing so.
Background:
Tytalus is not the only House that likes a good challenge. Flambeau have a long history of awarding renown and prestige to their members that perform notable deeds. The flashiest spell, the most interesting familiar, slaying the most dangerous beast. For Willaim Du Soleil his accomplishment was in his claim that he actually brought back a giant child from the Magic Realm of Muspelheim and trained her as his apprentice. William claimed some renown for this alleged feat, but had a hard time actually proving it. She learned as much as she could about her alleged parents and people and land of her birth and also took on the name of Lady Sinmore, the bride and daughter of Surtur. Her apprenticeship ended with her succesful Gauntlet (which also destroyed several bandits and a swath of forest near York) and has studied while on the road as well as train as she seeks a new Covenant, but lacked a decent lab or library (I concentrated all her xp in raising and buying skills). She's been having strange dreams lately and feels that she's being watched and has a feeling of destiny that she's quite afraid of. She's not sure what she believes in, she was raised in her Covenant and told stories of Muspelheim by William, but all the other Magi she's spoken to (plus her own observances) have said that William was a braggart at best and a liar at worst. But she's begun to worry that Surtur will actually come to claim Sinmore as his namesake bride. She's seeking a new Covenant, but doesn't want to travel outside of the Stonehenge Tribunal at this time.
Here are the updated totals, with 165 xp (33 per year) for 5 years, plus 15 xp for Covenant duties; 1 season of Covenant duties a year for 5 years at 3 xp per Covenant season.
Experience:
Local language (English) 1 xp per Season for 5 years = 20 xp In Speak Language: English (Threats)
Year 1: 33 in Penetration 3 (3 seasons of training), 3 in Profession Scribe (Copying) Covenant Duty
Year 2: 33 in Finesse 3 (3 seasons of training), 3 in Profession Scribe (Copying) Covenant Duty
Year 3: 33 in Concentration 3 (3 seasons of training), 3 in Leadership (Grogs) Covenant Duty
Year 4: (22) in Magic lore 2 (2 Seasons training), (11) to Raise Parma to 2 (1 Season Training), 3 in Leadership (Grogs) Covenant Duty
Year 5: (22) to Awareness 2 (2 Seasons training), (11) in Leadership (Grogs) (1 Season Training), 3 In Magic Theory Covenant Duty
Post-Gauntlet advancement should be done season by season; you can't re-assign "leftover" experience in other abilities. (It would be lower source qualities for a flat amount of points.)
OK I'll correct that.
It's edited.