Yes, I like it very much. It makes sense for Valerian and all to try to plant a hole in ME, and this requires big enough cojones to be just about believable.
In fact, this ties into something that should be evident: We would be paranoid of any stranger, GM-introduced character, but we won't be of any stranger, PC-controlled.
How is that believable?
Believably, given the situation, I think that any new magi should have a convincing reason for us to join ME. Not that the magi would be opposed to the extra strength (like, we really need a Perdo expert...), so this help, but they should, IMO, do a minimum of screening given what happened, so any entrant needs something to be trusted, if only just good recommandations from PC allies he could have fooled before.
Tranquillina is a bit easier to handle. She has bona fides from Tria. Do you trust Tria? Sure, you'll be cautious. So Tria can make the introduction, say she knows and trusts Tranquillina. This is relatively easy and straightforward. Is there disagreement about this?
There are a couple of angles I'm working on for our prospective Bjornaer. It looks like the character is coming from the Rhein, so there is the possibility that Alexei and Isen know or know of the character, and has done something in your past that makes him trustworthy. There are other angles on this, but it requires stepping up the game a bit, too...
I greatly enjoy this vision of the dark secret. I do like him being a bit of an unwitting mole, in that he hasn't been exposed to the more sinister aspects of House Guernicus. As Eule has retreated into some form of twilight, I see my character as having some new Guernicus mentor, perhaps someone relatively highly placed, who is steering my character to Mons Electi for purposes of the house. I see my character as having great belief in the power of institutions, and therefore trusts the Quaesitors implicitly, for he sees them as a necessary part of the structure of the Order. He could not conceive of them having some more devious purpose. By the time he learns more about them, however, we will see where his loyalties lie.
In terms of the character himself, I do see him coming from the Rhine tribunal, likely finishing his apprenticeship at Fangheld. I have been having some thoughts about his build ... the weather-falcon aspect doesn't quite work as well in my mind with this new Quaesitorial direction. Speaking to the need for Perdo magic, I have been toying with a couple of concepts that may be appropriate.
The one I am particularly considering would have a wolf heartbeast and a focus on perdo corpus and vim magic. He will also have generous ranks in Order of Hermes Lore, as would help prepare for the tribunal. As Eule's other apprentice also has a wolf heartbeast, this could be the source of their rivalry. In addition he would employ rego and intellego animal spells to create a network of animal spies and information gatherers. Later in his career, when perhaps he becomes a Quaesitor, I enjoy the image of a dark terrifying wolf on the side of justice Perhaps the shadow-wolf given as an example in HoH:MC may be an appropriate inner heartbeast.
I will be out of town this weekend at a family gathering, but will attempt to rebuild a few things for early next week.
Perdo corpus overlaps gerg's character a bit. Not that it's a bad thing, it's just something to be consider. There is a distinct lack of Auram knowledge at Mons Electi, so this current build will fill the gap. There is also a lack of Intellego. So specialties of Intellego and Auram with additional Mentem is rather useful. Her other 3 known techniques are a bit on the high side, so some redistribution might be helpful. I also haven't run this character through MetaCreator yet...
Oh, and corpus is a fairly strong focus for this covenant, already. Korvin, Alexei and Fiona all have scores around 15. While that's not super high, it's also not low. A corpus specialist is going to have a lot of...overlap. That being said, if you're not feeling your concept, I understand. I just caution you to consider that there are a number of magi at Mons Electi already pretty good at something you suggest, and it definitely overlaps gerg's concept.
Good to know, I certainly want to avoid too much overlap. I'll toy with a few ideas ... Intellego and Mentem are certainly arts I'll want to focus on. I'm not sure if I'm feeling the Auram or not, I have to roll a few heartbeast concepts over in my mind first. Rego and Animal will probably also be involved ... as I like the idea of a Bjornaer Quaesitor using animals as investigators. Perhaps a cunning fox or noble stag? I've noticed that Bjornaer, my Bjornaer in particular, need to spend lots of experience on abilities, which necessitates a certain degree of specialization among arts, not wanting to spread oneself too thin.
One way or another, the basic story entertwining Diedne within House Bjornaer and their potential exploitation by sinister Quaesitors is one I want to pursue. I'm just reflecting on what sort of character would play the best role.
No, it's perfect! I suggested something similar
I was just searching for any vaguely believable way for our characters to just accept and trust him, given the situation.
And if he's from the rhine, yes, he can very reasonnably have met Isen before, Isen remembering his knowledge of the code and his respect for the law
(Of course, that may have been 20 years ago, and people change, so that doesn't tie him )
He is an intellego specialist, which is great! From Isen's POW, this is one of the things we really need, with a Perdo (eventually Vim) specialist
Winslow, I didn't want to stir you in another direction, since you're already covering bases we haven't. I was just talking about a reason why ME would, despite the situation, accept new magi. Keep it like this If it suits you, of course
(Why do people write so much? I can't follow it all! )
I just want to be clear here, since it is reading as a bit muddy to me. Tranquillina is gerg's character, who knows Tria (Isen wouldn't necessarily know her). This character that Winslow is working up is the one that Isen would know.
Not at all. I like how my character is evolving, and I want to make sure he fits in well. I've been toying with how a Bjornaer can bring unique skills to the investigative role. Through spells like Bestial Senses InAn 30 and Commanding the Harnessed Beast ReAn 30 he can send out unobtrusive spies. More traditional InIm and InMe spells can be used for more direct investigation. I do like the wolf heartbeast for an investigator, and I may look at some of the pack spells such as Summon the Wolf Pack CrAn 40 for when he needs backup, and various MuAn buffing spells for them and myself.
A Quaesitor is primarily an investigator, and HoH:TL makes it pretty clear that when a Quaesitor thinks he needs backup they call upon hoplites. Also, consider your quarry, if you CrAn a mess of wolves for backup, they more than likely won't have a mess of penetration to be able to stand against a magus.
The original premise of a weather mage, can whip up a fierce wind, and can probably cast it with some decent degree of penetration. The only thing lacking is Maintian the Demanding spell, which could maintain concentration on the spell while you make a quick getaway, living to fight another day. What I'm saying is that a Quaesitor is primarily an investigator. If you have needs of marital abilities you can call on those more capable with martial skills.
Also, take a look at Anemone.
She's a bit of a hot mess, and I'm not entirely happy with her. She, of course, doesn't have Intellego score worth anything... With weather, you have control of wind. Wind attacks generally rely upon finesse, and can also bypass the need for penetration...
Interestingly, one of Tranquillina's enchantments turns her into a wolf (which of course cannot even remotely approximate the heartbeast). That could lead to some fun interactions between the two characters.
Which reminds me - I'm having trouble finding this in the rulebooks - when a maga uses MuCo(An) to transform herself into an animal, she can be affected by both Corpus and Animal spells, right? (for physical stuff - I know it's still Mentem for mental stuff) This is as opposed to the Bjornaer heartbeast, which IIRC is only Animal, no Corpus.
55 - Cr 10
140* - In 20 +3
21 - Mu 6
55 - Pe 10
105 - Re 14
55 - An 10
140*- Au 20 +3
105 - Vi 14
Spells:
Opening the Tome of the Animal's Mind InAn 25
Bestial Senses InAn 30
Toughen the Wolf's Pelt MuAn 20
Form of the Sanguine Heartbeast MuAn 20
Command the Harnessed Beast ReAn 30
Beast's Leap of Homecoming ReAn 35
Charge of the Angry Winds CrAu 15
Circling Winds of Protection CrAu 20
Catapult of the Mighty Winds Cr(Re)Au 30
Incantation of Lightning CrAu 35
True Sight of the Wind InAu 15
Whispering Winds InAu 15
Talons of the Wind Mu(Re)Au 20
Sight of the Active Magics InVi 40
Unravelling the Fabric of Animal PeVi 10 (Mastery 1: Fast Casting)
Unravelling the Fabric of Auram PeVi 10 (Mastery 1: Fast Casting)
Unravelling the Fabric of Corpus PeVi 10 (Mastery 1: Fast Casting)
Unravelling the Fabric of Ignem PeVi 10 (Mastery 1: Fast Casting)
Unravelling the Fabric of Mentem PeVi 10 (Mastery 1: Fast Casting)
Unravelling the Fabric of Terram PeVi 10 (Mastery 1: Fast Casting)
I think I'm going back to the falcon idea, but Moro (my new name) did have a rivalry with another wolf-heartbeasted apprentice, in addition to the general rivalry between alpha predator animals. I'm also experimenting with incorporating some measure of dispelling ability into my build. I know you have a perdo specialty, but it seems much more directed towards PeCo than PeVi. As a quaesitor in training, I could see some facility with dispelling, and Vim in general, being quite useful. In so doing, I've moved away from a facility with mentem.
I could be wrong, but I don't believe the transformed magus would be affected by Animal spells, as their essential nature is still human.
No problem with the changing ideas - this is the time to do it
Just curious - why did you spend 100xp on all those Unraveling spells when you can spont them all?
You'll notice that Anemone's unravelling spells are focused and they are mastered for fast casting. These spells cannot be fast cast as they are, which limits their combat utility.
I suppose I could spont them ... is there any virtue to having good penetration with unravelling spells? If not I'm sure I can find a better place for the experience.
If you are using these to respond for defensive purposes (how I designed Anemone) then spontaneous casting is difficult, because one must apply -10 after dividing and fatiguing oneself. Probably not going to work. If it isn't a matter of fast casting, then spontaneously casting some spells makes sense. I'd consider keeping the elemental forms, mastering for fast casting, so you can use these as defensive spells[1] and then redistributing xp to other places.
And no penetration isn't necessary as far as I understand.
Perhaps the shadow-wolf given as an example in HoH:MC may be an appropriate inner heartbeast.
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