ok, groovy. Thanks! Will post the specs this weekend, and I'm going to desk check them so that they wrap up all the updates and advice thus far too.
OK, cool beans.
Scott
howdy folks,
A few distractions here, sorry for the delay. I've changed and checked the abilities so they are correct for a beginning Magus. Spread through initial XP is Abilities 270, Arts 90, Spells 120
Fray, ex Bonisagus, as a starting Magus.
Stat Block * Int +3, Per 0, Pre -3, Com -2, Str +2, Sta +3, Dex +1, Qik 0
Abilities - This time shown by years spent:
- Early Childhood (years 0-5, 45 xp) = Etiquette 1 (peasants), Charm 1 (being witty), Folk Ken 2 (peasants), Awareness 1 (searching), Athletics 2 (running), English 5 (scholars)
- Later Life (years 6-10, 75 xp) = Area Lore: Brittan 2 (side ways and paths), Brawl 4 (Fist), Hunt 1 (tracking), Concentration 1
- Apprenticeship (150 xp on abilities) = Latin 5 (hermetic usage), Artes Liberales 1 (ritual magic), Finesse 1, Magic Theory 5+2 (Muto), Parma Magica 1 (Corpus), Penetration 1, Order of Hermes Lore 1 (artefacts)
Then Virtues and Flaws (unchanged)
- Affinity with Magic Theory,
- +1 Affinity with Muto,
- +1 Book Learner (Book Quality: +3),
- +3 Flexible Formulaic Magic,
- +0 The Gift,
- +0 Hermetic Magus,
- +1 Inventive Genius (Invent Lab Totals: +3),
- +1 Minor Magical Focus (self transformation),
- +1 Personal Vis Source (Corpus) [Location: Rite of blood, performed annually],
- +1 Puissant Magic Theory,
- +1 Puissant Muto,
- -3 Deficient Technique (Intellego),
- -3 Difficult Longevity Ritual,
- -3 True Love [Wife],
- -1 Weird Magic (Botches on Stressed Casting: Extra botch die)
Arts
- Cr 3,
- In 0,
- Mu 12+3,
- Pe 0,
- Re 0,
- An 5,
- Aq 0,
- Au 0,
- Co 5,
- He 0,
- Ig 1,
- Im 1,
- Me 0,
- Te 0,
- Vi 0
Spells
- Bind Wound (CrCo 10) +11
- Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5) +8
- Cloak of Black Feathers (MuCo(An) 30) +23
- Disguise of the New Visage (MuCo 15) +23
- Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15) +23
- Eyes of the Cat (MuCo(An) 5) +23
- Gift of the Bear's Fortitude (MuCo 25) +23
- Preternatural Growth and Shrinking (MuCo 15) +23
Gear: Partial Leather Scale, Dagger, traveling clothes.
Then the advancement I had to alter to suit the new abilities and arts from the changes above, and I also removed some of the smallish level 5 spells, and took the updated from the discussion here for some of the custom spells.
Advancement
Year 1 (x2 warping)
o Winter - Study Summae Terram. Quality 14+3, now 5 (15)
o Spring - Study Summae Vim. Quality 14+3, now 5 (15)
o Summer - Story – Who Are My Magus Neighbours. A story based upon travelling to greet and meet the other members of the Stone Henge tribunal. Season is spent in the story and joining a small Spring covenant in Stonehenge. Sets up the use of correspondence for later seasons (10 xp, in +5 Parma, +5 Folk Ken), and starts the negotiation for trading lab texts. Now Parma 1 (10), Folk Ken 2 (20)
o Autumn - Study Tractus on Muto (1st). Quality 10+3. Muto now 13 (65)
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp, now 5 (51)
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Year 2 (x2 warping)
o Winter - Summae Herbam. Quality 10+3, now 7 (28)
o Spring - Story - Politic of Stone Henge. The new covenant begins its first tentative steps into the tribunal as a separate power, and trouble quickly follows. (10 xp, = +5 Hermes Lore, +5 Parma) Now OoHL 1 (10), Parma 2 (15)
o Summer – Study Summae Rego. Q14+3. Rego now 5 (15)
o Autumn – Study Summae Mentum. Q14+3. Mentum now 5 (15)
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp, now 5 (55)
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Year 3 (x2 warping – Warp 1)
o Winter - Study Summae Corpus, Quality 10+3. Corpus now 7 (28)
o Spring - Study Summae Corpus, Quality 10+3. Corpus now 8 (41)
o Summer – Study Summae Rego, Quality 10+3. Rego now 7 (28)
o Autumn – Study Summae Herbam. Quality 14+3, now 5 (15)
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp , now 5 (59)
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Year 4 (x2 warping)
o Winter - Study Summae Animal, Quality 10+3. Animal now 7 (28)
o Spring - Study Summae Animal, Quality 10+3. Animal now 8 (41)
o Summer – Study Tractus Animal (1st), Quality 10+3. Animal now 9 (54)
o Autumn – Study Tractus on Muto (2nd). Quality 10+3. Muto now 14 (78). No more Tractus allowed in Muto in this 5 year span.
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp , now 5 (62)
o Correspondence - Animal +1 xp. Should make Animal now 10(55)
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Year 5 (x2 warping)
o Winter – Season of dedicated work for another Magus to get Longevity potion crafted, as my own arts are far lower than needed.
o Spring - Story –Beginning of the Wars. A magus from his covenant and another start the first of many Wizards Wars, and it becomes clear that Stone Henge will be rife with politics and trouble. (10 xp. +5 Parma, +5 Order of Hermes Lore). Now Parma 2 (20), Now OoHL 2 (15)
o Summer – Study Tractus Animal (2nd), Quality 10+3. Animal now 10 (65)
o Autumn – Longevity potion created by longevity expert. Lab total unknown. Exposure XP Magic Theory +2 xp , now 5 (64)
o Correspondence - Animal +1 xp. Should make Animal now 11(66)
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp, now 5 (66)
o Correspondence - Corpus +1 xp. Corpus now 8 (42)
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Year 6 (x2 warping)
o Winter - Study Tractus Corpus (1st), Quality 10+3. Corpus now 10 (55)
o Spring - Study Tractus Corpus (2nd), Quality 10+3. Corpus now 11 (68)
o Summer – Study Tractus on Muto (1st). Quality 10+3. Muto now 16 (91).
o Autumn – Study Tractus on Muto (2nd). Quality 10+3. Muto now 17 (104).
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp . Now score 6 (70)
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Year 7 (x2 warping)
o Winter – Invent spells
- “Return of the Master’s Voice” (MuAn20). As per Voice for the Bjornaer, modified for touch. HoH-MCp36. (Base 5, +1 Touch, +2 Sun).
- Int3+MaTh8+SpecMaTh1+Aura5+Mu17+Invent3+An11 = LT 48
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Now score 6 (72)
o Spring – Invent spells
- “Shape of the Woodlands Prowler” MuCo/An20. A version of the normal spell, with target Personal. (Base: 10, +2 Sun)
- “Disguise of the Chameleon” MuAn10. Allows the caster to change the cosmetic appearance of their current animal form for a short period. Size is limited to affect up to size +1 creatures. (Base: 5 change an animal in a minor way so it is no longer natural, +1 Diameter).
- Levels 20+10 vs (Int3+MaTh8+SpecMaTh1+Aura5+Mu17+3+(Co/An11)x2 +similar3) LT=62.
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Now score 6 (74)
o Summer – Invent spells
- “Shape of Fearsome King” (MuCo25/An). Changes the magus into a Lion form. Base 10, +2 Sun, +1 due to extra size requirement of lion form.
- “The Incubus’s Trick” (MuCo5). As per HoH-S, p97 (Base 3, +2 Sun)
- (Int3+MaTh7+SpecMaTh1+Aura5+Mu17+3+(Co/An11x2)+Invent3+similar3) LT=64.
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Now score 6 (76)
o Autumn – Invent two spells
- “Unearthly Magnification of the Beasts” (MuAn30). This spell allows growth or shrinking of the magus’ animal form by up to 4 size levels, and may be cast on a creature of size 2 or smaller. I.e. size 2 becomes size 6, or size -3 becomes size +1. The spell is akin to an altered form of Beast of Outlandish Size combined with Preternatural Growth and Shrinking, specifically for casting while in an animal form, due to the Personal range.
- (Base 4 for change a creature of up to size 1 by +/-1 size rank, +1 to allow shrinking and growing, +1 D: Diameter, +1 to affect up to size 2 creatures instead of size 1 creatures, +3 to raise the size change by three extra size ranks above the base)
- (Int3+MaTh8+SpecMaTh1+Aura5+Mu17+3+(Co/An11x2)+Invent3+similar4) LT=66
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Now score 6 (78)
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp. Now score 6 (82)
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Year 8 (x2 Warping – Warp 2)
o Winter– Story - Hunting the Covenant’s Foes (10 xp. Parma 5, Mastery in Fearsome King 5) the story that starts the war proper, beginning the time where Fray’s life begins to change. Fray realises he needs more flexibility in his spells.
- Mastery chosen as fast casting, 1(5)
- Parma now 2 (20)
o Spring - Study Muto from vis, Quality (Aura 5+d=10). Muto now 18 (114)
o Summer – Invent spells
- “Disguise of the Transformed Image” (MuIm15). From written out version, as per ArM p146.
- “Disguise the Words as Written” (MuIm10) Allows the caster to change the contents of a letter or document, re-writing the message, changing seals, and altering signatures to create another message. The letter may also be rendered into jibberish. Useful for sending secret messages by mundane means, and also for altering official documentation (Base 1, +1 Touch, +3 Moon, +1 very complex image and text)
- (Int3+MaTh8+SpecMaTh1+Aura5+Mu18+3+Im0+Invent3) LT=41 (spent as 41-15 for the spell learnt from a written version = LT25 remaining, then still double the new spell invented.
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Now score 6 (84)
o Autumn – Study Terram from Summae. Quality 10+3. Terram now 7 (28)
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp
o Correspondence - Magic Theory +1 xp. Magic Theory now 6 (88)
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Year 9 (x2 Warping)
o Winter– Invent spell
- “Attire of the Selfish Desire” (MuAn30/HeTe). This spell changes the clothing and armour of the magus (all worn gear and attire, but not weapons, backpacks, etc) to match their desires. The spell is designed to include changing all non-precious metals, crafted materials of animals and plants and includes requisites for Herbam and Terram in the base spell for this reason. Purpose of the spell is to allow a quick outfit change should circumstances demand, and also so that the clothing of the magus will become appropriate foci for the Muto Corpus spells. It saves carrying around five different cloaks. (Base 5 change dirt to animal, +2 effect metals, +2 d: Sun, +1 highly complex clothing).
- Lab Total (Int3+MaTh8+MutoSpecalisation+1+Aura5+Mu18+3+(AnTeHe7)x2+Invent3)=55
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Magic Theory now 6 (90)
o Spring - Continue making spell, takes two seasons to complete.
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Magic Theory now 6 (92)
o Summer – Invent spell
- “Polymorph the Belligerent Rabble” (MuCo30/An) This spell changes the targets into sheep. (Base 10, +1 Touch, +1 Diameter, +2 Group).
- LT (Int3+MaTh8+MutoSpecalisation+1+Aura5+Mu18+3+Co/An11+Invent3)= 52
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Magic Theory now 6 (94)
o Autumn - Continue making spell, takes two seasons to complete.
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Magic Theory now 6 (96)
o Correspondence - Muto +1 xp
o Correspondence - Muto +1 xp
o Correspondence - Muto +1 xp
o Correspondence - Muto +1 xp, now 18(118)
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Year 10 (x2 Warping)
o Winter – Invent spell
- “Silence the Babbling Fool” (MuCo25). The target of this spell has their eyes and mouth close over, as if they were born that way. (Base 5 to change a person in a minor way so that they are unnatural, +2 Voice, +1 Diameter, +1 Part)
- LT (Int3+MaTh8+MutoSpecalisation+1+Aura5+Mu18+3+Co11+Invent3)= 52
- +2 Magic Theory xp from spell invention. Magic Theory now 7 (98)
o Spring – Writing - his custom spells for contribution to the Bonisagus library. Latin5x20 levels = 100 levels max. The following spells sent for copying and onto Bonisagus library.
- “Polymorph the Belligerent Rabble” (MuCo30/An)
- “Silence the Babbling Fool” (MuCo25)
- “Attire of the Selfish Desire” (MuAn30/HeTe)
- “Disguise the Words as Written” (MuIm10)
o Summer – Story called “Love Lost” in this story Fray is badly wounded and burnt while fighting magical enemies, including a Wizard’s Ware between two other proud magi that gets out of hand. Fray’s wife is killed during this story. (10 xp. Parma +5, Brawl +5).
- Switch out the True Love (-3) flaw for Lost Love (-1), Disfigured (-1), Continence (-1).
- Parma now 2 (25)
- Brawl now 4 (50)
o Autumn – Recovery from wounds, no activity.
o Correspondence - Muto +1 xp
o Correspondence - Muto +1 xp
o Personal Vis - Corpus +3
Looks pretty much fine. My only comments are very minor nitpicks:
- It's Puissant MT rather than Affinity with MT that's your House virtue. This makes no actual difference to anything.
- With a speciality in Hermetic Terms, you have an effective Latin score of 6 rather than 5 for writing up lab texts, so can write up 120 levels if you want to (you could potentially make multiple copies to trade if you're running out of spells?).
Updated to show stats at the end of the advancement period, and fixed the writing of books to give the magus a copy of "Silence the Babbling Fool" to trade with.
Fray, Follower of Bonisagus
Characteristics: Int +3, Per 0, Pre -3, Com -2, Str +2, Sta +3, Dex +1, Qik 0
Size: 0, Age: 35 (35), Height: 180 cm, Weight: 90 kg, Gender: Male
Confidence: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: Affinity with Magic Theory, Affinity with Muto, Book Learner (Book Quality: +3), Flexible Formulaic Magic, The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Inventive Genius (Invent Lab Totals: +3), Minor Magical Focus (self transformation), Personal Vis Source (Corpus) [Location: Rite of blood, performed annually], Puissant Magic Theory, Puissant Muto, Deficient Technique (Intellego), Difficult Longevity Ritual, Weird Magic (Botches on Stressed Casting: Extra botch die), Lost Love, Disfigured (Burn marks and scars on face and torso), Continence
Personality Traits: Just +2, Patient +1, Curious +1
Combat: Dagger: Init: +0, Attack +7, Defense +4, Damage +5, Soak: +6
Abilities: Apprenticeship: Latin 5 (hermetic usage), Artes Liberales 1 (ritual magic), Finesse 1, Magic Theory 6+2 (Muto) (28), Parma Magica 3 (Corpus), Penetration 1, Order of Hermes Lore 2 (artefacts)Early Childhood: Etiquette 1 (peasants), Charm 1 (being witty), Folk Ken 2 (peasants) (5), Awareness 1 (searching), Athletics 2 (running), English 5 (scholars)Later Life: Area Lore: Brittan 2 (side ways and paths), Brawl 4 (Fist) (5), Hunt 1 (tracking), Concentration 1
Arts: Cr 3, In 0, Mu 18+3, Pe 0, Re 7, An 11, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 11, He 7, Ig 1, Im 1, Me 5, Te 7, Vi 5
Equipment: Partial Leather Scale Armor (Soak: 6) (Soak: 6; Protection: 3)
Encumbrance: 0 (2)
Spells Known:
Attire of the Selfish Desire (MuAn(HeTe) 30) +31
Bind Wound (CrCo 10) +17
Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5) +21
Cloak of Black Feathers (MuCo(An) 30) +35
Disguise of the Chameleon (MuAn 10) +35
Disguise of the New Visage (MuCo 15) +35
Disguise of the Transformed Image (MuIm 15) +25
Disguise the Words as Written (MuIm 10) +25
Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15) +35
Eyes of the Cat (MuCo(An) 5) +35
Gift of the Bear's Fortitude (MuCo 25) +35
The Incubus's Trick (MuCo 5) +46
Polymorph the Billigerent Rabble (MuCo(An) 30) +35
Preternatural Growth and Shrinking (MuCo 15) +35
Return of the Master's Voice (MuAn 20) +35
Shape of the Fearsome King (MuCo(An) 25) +47, Mastery 1 (fast casting)
Shape of the Woodlands Prowler (MuCo(An) 20) +35
Silence the babbling Fool (MuCo 25) +35
Unearthly Magnification of the Beasts (MuAn 30) +46
Vis: Vis: 30 Pawns of Corpus (); Physical Form: Marble sized red cubes;
Looks largely fine, although you've lost the minus signs on his characteristics again, and I think he should be 35 rather than 30 (childhood of 5 years, then 5 years pre-apprenticeship, then 15 years of apprenticeship, then 10 years post-gauntlet).
Scott, do you want to check you're happy with the sheet, and then tell him how to enter the saga?
Salutor is more meticulous than I am at checking the numbers, but I don't see anything wrong with him conceptually, or any Virtues or spells that ring alarm bells.
Next step is deciding what brings him to Nova Castra, and what brings him here at this particular time. Once you tell me that, I can start a thread to introduce him, or insert him into an ongoing thread.
Scott
My thinking after reading the backstory of Nova Castra is pretty darn appealing to most people who like to discover things, and that it seems to have been created as a staging platform for entry into the unknown. I think this would appeal to a person who is seeking to leave their life behind. It is also almost the furthest point from Brittan that could be envisaged too and still be within the domain of the aura.
I'd guess that a covenant established in the wilds by a tribunal as a point of discovery would be something which would spread by the slow chatter of Redcaps. Perhaps an introduction starts with Fray speaking his mind to a Redcap as wishing "to just leave", "visit the edge of the order", and a Redcap then pointing out this odd covenant.
"A covenant tasked with discovering the unknown. I don't think such foresight and mischevious nature would ever develop in Stonehenge."
He's told about the basic premise of Nova Castra, and writes to the covenant to see if they would object to a visitor. (I''d like to try my hand at a letter. Shall I throw one together?)
Fray's motivation would be to go somewhere which was far away from what he knows, distract himself in something, and hope to be forgotten. A typical Bonisagus might lock themselves away from everyone, but Fray's manner has always been more immediate and direct; and he believes an idle mind is a dangerous thing. He would also know that his nature would not allow him to stay in Brittan long before his thoughts turned to consider revenge. Even having a goal however odd would distract him a little.
If traveling there is approved or perhaps a moot point, then he'd likely offer to accompany a Redcap on their travel east if that would suit them. There would be no sense in not doing that at least some of the way, and Fray would be happy to act as informal guard or messenger anyway. If he has to travel alone then he's likely travel lightly and quickly using his animal forms (Crow, Wolf, and Lion) to move about. Flying, running, even hunting in the changed forms as the crosses the span from England. There is not overly much that a magus can't acquire along the road if they are willing to be subtle or have no intention of staying. If trouble ever stirred Fray would switch his cosmetic appearance so that he'd not be recognised.
At the covenant I could see him helping it become more established, or better provisioned, and essentially being happy to give away his time for a while. All the study of his previous life left him ill prepared for what occurred, so in the back of his mind he knows a new approach is needed.
I'm not overly fussed about mixing in with the current threads if that will alter or upset the material/plans.
Or if you prefer Fray does get around a lot in animal forms, so is likely to be discovered, especially if overheard speaking to himself, or using the spells to change the animal's inherent size. He would probably only have a rough idea of where the covenant actually is, and it might take some wandering as wolf or crow to find the entry.
Go further?
Acting as a staging point for other visiting magi who want to explore the unknown is one of the express purposes of the covenant, so there shouldn't be any objections to him visiting or problems finding directions through the Redcap network (standard route is probably a ship via Constantinope, although I think Gregorius arranged for the Theban Redcaps to have a few arcane connections to the spot near the river bank for magi who want to use Leap of Homecoming).
One of our other new players, from whom we hadn't heard in a while, PM'ed me, and I'm waiting on him before we start.
Scott
Is there any progress on this? I'd be inclined to recommend introducing ironboundtome now, as it's presumably going to take a bit of time to get a character statted and approved, unless there's any particular reason to have the new magi enter play together?
I agree. I'll have something by tomorrow.
Scott
OK, ironboundtome, you're on. Sorry about the delay. Let's say that Fray arrives in the fall of 1226. If he comes straight from England, he might indeed have only a vague idea where the covenant is. How does he search for it?
Start a new thread under Chapter 2.
Scott
Excellent. Will do.
Just to check, but do you mean 1226, or 1228? My understanding was that we'd just all advanced to the beginning of 1228.
It doesn't really matter--it could happen any time after the previous activities, as long as the characters involved aren't involved in other stories.
Scott
A thread on general discussion has a side-point on creature size and magnitudes needed - if it is correct it would greatly change the size of the Muto spell I created recently. Tellus and Lasse Rohde have refs which link ruling on size to spell magnitude.
Should raise it here, or raise it as a new thread on the general forums?
Why don't you raise it on the forums and then link to it from here? That way we can maybe get some input from people who have some experience dealing with the issue.
Scott
Done, and appears that a slightly updated version complies with the forums thoughts.
Url: Confirm clarification on size ranks in spell effects