Here there be grogs

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Phoenix - Rise from the A
4

Name: Terrence
Age: 22
Height: 5'8' (172.5 cm)
Weight: 221 lbs (100 kg)
Hair: Blond
Eyes: Blue
Handedness: Right

Characteristics: Int 0, Per +1, Pre 0, Com 0, Str +1, Sta +2, Dex +1, Qui +1

Virtues: Custos (Martial Abilities), Enduring Constitution, Tough
Flaws: Busybody, Judged Unfairly, Obsessed (Cygna's well-being)

Abilities: Athletics i[/i] 3, Awareness (keeping watch) 3, Bows i[/i] 4, Brawl i[/i] 4, English (native)i[/i] 5, Folk Ken (shield grogs) 1, Great Weapon i[/i] 3, Latin i[/i] 3, Single Weapon (short sword) 5.

Personality Traits: Protective +3, Meddlesome +3, Brave +2
Equipment: Full leather scale armor (Soak: +8), Peasant clothes (x2), Knife, Arrows, Bow (Short), Shield (Heater), Sword (Short)

Encumbrance: 3
Burden: 4

[table][tr][th][/th]
[th][u]Initiative[/u][/th]
[th][u]Attack[/u][/th]
[th][u]Defence[/u][/th]
[th][u]Damage[/u][/th][/tr]
[tr][td]Dodge[/td]
[td]+0[/td]
[td]--[/td]
[td]+5[/td]
[td]--[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Knife[/td]
[td]+0[/td]
[td]+7[/td]
[td]+6[/td]
[td]+3[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Bow, Short[/td]
[td]-2[/td]
[td]+8[/td]
[td]+5[/td]
[td]+7[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shield, Heater[/td]
[td]0[/td]
[td]0[/td]
[td]+3[/td]
[td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Sword, Short[/td]
[td]+0[/td]
[td]+9[/td]
[td]+10[/td]
[td]+6[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fist[/td]
[td]+0[/td]
[td]+5[/td]
[td]+5[/td]
[td]+1[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Kick[/td]
[td]-1[/td]
[td]+5[/td]
[td]+4[/td]
[td]+4[/td][/tr][/table]

Description: Terrence of Riversedge, while not particularly tall, is a burly brute of a man. He has shoulder-length blond hair and a beard that he tries to keep trimmed but all-too-often lets get unruly, and blue eyes that are always on the move. He tends to favor homespun when he's not “on-duty”, but he takes no chances with his arms and armor (among the best that Riversedge had to offer).

Personality: Terrence's first and last concern is Cygna. Most shield grogs are concerned with keeping their charges alive and in one piece. Terrence takes this a step further, and tries to protect her from everything, including herself. He's of a like age as Cygna, and has known her practically their whole lives; he remembers what she used to be like before her apprenticeship with her uncle Vucar and then with the fae-blooded Grus, and finally her involvement with Adorjan Megidézó. At times, when he is particularly exasperated with her, or wants to subtly remind her how much she's changed, he will call her by her given name. He is also prone to interfere in the lives of other people, possibly due to his view that being a shield grog places him at a (slightly) higher station than his peers. While his ideas may not always be useful, let alone practical, he does not let that deter his good intentions.

5

Marie, the second grog that'll be coming with Hiems

Covenant: Phoenix
Characteristics: Int 0, Per 0, Pre +2, Com -2, Str 0, Sta 0, Dex +3, Qik +1
Size: -1
Age: 16 (16), Height: 150 cm, Weight: 40 kg, Gender: Female
Black Hair, Green Eyes.
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Virtues and Flaws: Covenfolk, Puissant Bows, Second Sight, Warrior (50/50) / Continence, Fragile Constitution (Healing: -3), Small Frame
Personality Traits: Brave +1, Independent +2, Naive -2, Nervous Around the Opposite Sex +3
Religion: Jew
Combat:
Dodge: Init: +0, Attack --, Defense +5, Damage --
Fist: Init: +0, Attack +8, Defense +6, Damage +0
Kick: Init: -1, Attack +7, Defense +4, Damage +3
Dagger: Init: +0, Attack +9, Defense +5, Damage +3
Bow, Short: Init: -2, Attack +13, Defense +8, Damage +6
Soak: +2
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-4), -3 (5-8), -5 (9-12), Incapacitated (13-16)
Abilities: Athletics 2 (acrobatics), Awareness 2 (keeping watch), Bargain 1 (hard sell), Bows 4 (Bow, Short), Brawl 4 (Fist), Carouse 1 (staying sober), Covenant Lore: Clair de Lune Covenant 1 (personalities), Etiquette 1 (nobility), Folk Ken 2 (townsfolk), Hunt 2 (tracking), Occitan 5 (Mercantile terms), Second Sight 3 (invisible things), Stealth 4 (urban areas), Swim 1 (underwater maneuvering)
Equipment: Partial Metal Reinforced Leather Armor (Soak: 2) (Soak: 2; Protection: 2), bow, arrows, dagger.
Encumbrance: 2 (2)

History:
The daughter of a minor noble that traded with the covenant. Her father raped her for the first time when she was 8.

Goliath first became interested in the girl at the age of 10, when he discovered she could see invisible things. When he learned the rape, he was far from happy. He punished the father, and took the girl into the covenant.
Once there, Marie tried to learn of to defend herself. It quickly became apparent that she had a knack with bows. She thus integrated the turb as a scout, sentry and archer. Nonetheless, although she learned to defend herself in a brawl, she flees personnal combat (it reminds her too much of her rape) and favors the security of the bow.
Although time healed her wounds somewhat, some emotionnal scars didn't totally, and she is still uneasy with men. She lost a lot of illusions, and, of course, sex is pretty out of question.

She was thus sent with Hiems, because of her promising skills, of course, but also because Goliath thought that a new place, far away, would help her forget the past and begin a new life.

Edit 1: Added picture
Edit 2: Added Religion

6

Name: Celestria (“the Willing”)
Age: 19
Height: 5'4' (162.5 cm)
Weight: 103 lbs (47 kg)
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Green
Handedness: Right

Characteristics: Int 0, Per 0, Pre +4 i[/i], Com +2, Str -1, Sta 0, Dex +1, Qui +1

Virtues: Covenfolk (free Social Status), Great Presence, Improved Characteristics, Satyr Blood
Flaws: Infamous i[/i], Lecherous, Offensive to Demons (HoH: MC, p. 87)

Abilities: Area Lore: Riversedge (secluded areas) 1, Athletics i[/i] 2, Brawl i[/i] 2, Charm i[/i] 5, Cooking i[/i] 2, English (native)i[/i] 5, Faerie Lore (nymphs & satyrs) 2, Folk Ken i[/i] 4, Guile (lying to boys) 4, Housemaid i[/i] 2.

Personality Traits: Brave +0, Reckless +1, Wanton +3
Reputations: -4 as Homewrecker
Equipment: Peasant clothes
Encumbrance: 0
Burden: 0

Description: Celestria is, frankly, make-you-forget-your-vows beautiful. She is slender and petite, with long brown hair, bright green eyes, flawless sandy-colored skin, and curves in all the right places. She usually dresses to accentuate her appearance, with gowns or tunics that are cut to accentuate her curves, and short enough to show off her legs.

Personality: She knows that she's incredibly beautiful, but doesn't let it get to her head. She is neither stuck-up nor excessively vain, but simply accepts her great beauty as a fact of life. She is not, however, above using her looks and her wiles to get her way. She has worked hard to earn the epithet “the Willing” in Riversedge, having seduced practically every able-bodied person in and around the covenant. Unfortunately, it didn't matter to her whether the man she was with was already in a relationship (or married). This would earn her the enmity of practically every able-bodied woman in the covenant. She has not let this deter her from having her fun, however – if the men were serious about their marriage, they could simply tell her “no.” Even the men she's not actively pursuing, she has a tendency to flirt with...witty banter, friendly touches, not-quite-sisterly pecks on the cheek. As of late, the women of Riversedge had started to band against her and made her life a little more difficult. Although she had only been a chambermaid for a short while, when Cygna announced that she would be leaving for Iberia, Celestria quickly offered to come with her.


(edited to add picture...and dangit, I just realized i got her hair color wrong, but I can't figure out how to actually save the pics in HeroMachine...I'm having to screen-shot, copy into Paint, and crop with HP Photosmart Essentials)
eta: apparently it's only in 3.0 that I'm stuck. I have Cygna saved in 2.5. So...um...looks like I'll be using 2.5 for a while)

7

Damien, Hiems shied grog (and final grog)

Covenant: Clair de Lune
Characteristics: Int -1, Per 0, Pre 0, Com -1, Str +1, Sta +3, Dex +1, Qik +1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25), Height: 168 cm, Weight: 70 kg, Gender: Male
Reddish-brown hair, brown eyes
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Virtues and Flaws: Custos, Lightning Reflexes (Initiative on Surprise Attack: +9), Martial Abilities, Tough (Soak: +3), Overconfident
Personality Traits: Brave +3, Loyal +3, Proud +1
Religion: Christian
Combat:
Dodge: Init: -1, Attack --, Defense +5, Damage --
Fist: Init: -1, Attack +5, Defense +5, Damage +1
Kick: Init: -2, Attack +5, Defense +4, Damage +4
Sword, Short: Init: +0, Attack +10, Defense +8, Damage +6
Sword, Short (With Shield) & Shield, Heater: Init: -1, Attack +10, Defense +11, Damage +6
Soak: +13
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Animal Handling 2 (Horses), Area Lore: Clair de Lune Covenant 1 (geography), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 3 (bodyguarding), Brawl 4 (Gauntlet), Carouse 1 (staying sober), Charm 2 (being witty), Climb 1 (Trees), Etiquette 2 (Magi), Folk Ken 1 (magi), Guile 1 (lying to authority), Intrigue 3 (alliances), Latin 3 (battle orders), Leadership 2 (intimidation), Occitan 5, Order of Hermes Lore 1 (personalities), Ride 2 (battle), Single Weapon 5 (Sword, Short), Soldier 1, Stealth 1 (hide)
Equipment: Full Metal Scale Armor (Soak: 13) (Soak: 13; Protection: 7); Shield, Heater (Init: 0; Atk: 0; Dfn: +3; Str: 0; Cost: Standard)
Encumbrance: 3 (4)

Damien was born and raised at Figeac, and, from a young age, he knew he was not destined to be a peasant like his neighbours but that his destiny laid elsewhere.
He had heard of the mysterious wizards near Saint Cirq Lapopie, and fantasized a lot about them. One day, he flew his parents house, decided to join the covenant. He could have died here and there in the wilderness, but was lucky to happen upon a Faerie that helped him achieve his goal, all happy that it was to tell the story of the errand boy that went working for the wizards.
One arriving at Clair de Lune, things didn't went as planned. Damien was not the chosen one, nor was he tutored by the magi. The turb hosted him for the night, gave him a meal, and was ready to send him out, but Damien managed to stuck there, proposing his services to the grogs, doing everything he could to be useful and accepted. No way was he coming back to his village!!! Anyway, it was just a matter of time before the turb and, yes, the magi themselves, recognised his talent and skill. He just had to hang on, and prove his worth.
Lucky for him, his spunk and determination managed to impress the turb captain, who took him in.

The rest is history. Fueled by his determination, Damien grew into a welcome addition to the turb, his toughness and fast reactions saving his life more than one. Unrelenting, he never backed down unless ordered to, finally managing to be noticed by the magi, who finally elevated him to the rank of Custos, just like he knew he would one day. That's also when he was given the task to assist Hiems as a Shield grog, and he hasn't left or failed his charge since then. He can't imagine failing, anymore than he can imagine dying in the line of Duty. He's just the best at what he does, and he knows it.

Edit 1: Had forgotten the armor in the stats...
Edit 2: Added Religion

8

Cecilia, Cook and Spy (12 specialist points)
Characteristics: Int 0, Per +1, Pre +1, Com +3, Str 0, Sta 0, Dex 0, Qik -1
Size: 0
Age: 43 (43), Height: 165 cm, Weight: 90 kg, Gender: Female
Hair: Black-Grey. Eyes: Blue
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Virtues and Flaws: Affinity with Intrigue, Gossip, Social Contacts (Criminals) / Ability Block (Athletic), Meddler, Obese (Fatigue: -3)
Personality Traits: Analytical +2, Brave +1, Loyal +2
Religion: Christian
Combat:
Dodge: Init: -1, Attack --, Defense +1, Damage --
Dagger: Init: -1, Attack +5, Defense +2, Damage +3
Fist: Init: -1, Attack +2, Defense +1, Damage +0
Kick: Init: -2, Attack +2, Defense +0, Damage +3
Soak: 0
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Area Lore: Catalogne Area 2 (personalities), Awareness 2 (Spies), Bargain 3 (services), Brawl 2 (Dagger), Carouse 2 (staying sober), Charm 2 (servants), Cook 6 (Roasted Pork), Disguise 2 (peasants), Etiquette 2 (nobility), Folk Ken 4 (townsfolk), Guile 4 (lying to authority), Intrigue 9 (Agents), Leadership 4 (In the Kitchen), Legerdemain 2 (picking pockets), Occitan 4 (slang), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (politics), Spanish 5 (Catalan), Stealth 1 (hide)
Equipment:
Encumbrance: 0 (0)

A "local", so to speak, that was hired by Goliath Ex Miscellanea (Hiems parens and mentor) to assist him at Phoenix.
Born to a well-off family, she has worked at the frontier between spain and france, and know how to speak the 2 langages. She's a pretty decent cook, and can perfectly live with this, but her real use, one only Hiems and Goliath know, is as an advisor and spy master. The gossiping cook is just a facade, albeit a real one (she enjoys her work in the kitchen.
Her family has always traded both goods and information, working with criminal elements if need be, serving as a power broker if that could bring money. Thus, her extended family has both almost legitimate merchants and outright bandits using the reconquista for profit. Cecilia, being more of the cerebral type, and awfully good at intrigue and information gathering, spend years becoming the head of a little spy network in Zaragosa, until a bishop tried to kill her to silence her, which led to her flight.
She has worked extensively for the order before, but, as she is aging, she'd like to be given a longevity ritual.
She can start with 12 points of Agents, I'll edit later. That makes 4 of them: Her younger brother (a thug), a knight she blackmails for info (she knows he's not the rightful heir and is a bastard), her niece, serving as a maid in another covenant, and another (undefined).


Note: Doing obese character with clothes on is not really possible (clothes are designed for 90-60-90 women), so I had to work around. I'm proud of my ideafor the double chin, though)
Also note: The Chopper is for the kitchen, not for people!!!
Oh, another one: Although character designed as grogs don't normally count as specialist, I feel that some of them (basically, those with support skills or Teaching) should for high skills, like her and the doctor.

Edit 1: Added Religion
Edit 2: Added the cost in specialist points

9

Esteban, Doctor grog (13 specialist points)
Characteristics: Int +3, Per +2, Pre 0, Com +2, Str -3, Sta +1, Dex 0, Qik 0
Size: 0
Age: 41 (41), Height: 157 cm, Weight: 50 kg, Gender: Male
Hair: Grey. Eyes: Blue. Right-Handed
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Virtues and Flaws: Affinity with Medicine, Affinity with Artes Liberales, Educated (50/50) / Arthritis (Repetitive Movement: -3), Incomprehensible, Noncombatant
Personality Traits: Arrogant +1, Bitter +1, Helpful +2, Brave -2
Religion: Muslim
Combat:
Dodge: Init: +0, Attack --, Defense +0, Damage --
Fist: Init: +0, Attack +0, Defense +0, Damage -3
Kick: Init: -1, Attack +0, Defense -1, Damage +0
Soak: +1
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Apothecary 2, Art of Memory 1, Artes Liberales 9 (Inceptions), Awareness 3 (searching), Chirurgy 6 (binding wounds), Etiquette 2 (the church), Folk Ken 2 (townsfolk), Latin 4 (academic usage), Medicine 9 (Theriacs), Philosophiae 4 (Reagents), Spanish 5, Teaching 2 (Chirurgy)
Equipment:
Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Formulae (under good conditions, he can produce 2 to 3 of one of these per season, given a laboratory. These are non-magical effects):

  • Has N told the Truth? (A&A p73: Reveal wether truth or falsehood is dominant in a given statement, given someone's horoscope)
  • How are the People of N reacting to NA? (A&A p 74: Given the horoscope of a group of people, reveals a brief summary of how they're likely to react to the event or person represented by a 2nd horoscope)
  • Is N in good Health? (A&A p 73: Answers by yes/no about the global health of someone, given his horoscope)
  • Mustard Plaster (A&A p78: Grant +3 to all recovery rolls for a patient's medium and light wounds)
  • Tonic of Gold (A&A p77: Restores a winded character to a non-fatigued state)
  • Tonic of Pure Gold [As tonic of gold, but restores a fatigue level to a Weary character]
  • Where is the Person N? (A&A p74: Reveals the location of a person, within a region of about 30 miles across, in relation to a particular feature)

Born in Saragosa, esteban was the son of a rich merchant, and was given the best education possible. Soon, his professor, a learned man who had attended the great universities of Mythic Europe, noticed his talents and began teaching him the basics of natural philosophy, while at the same time trying to convince Esteban's father than sending the youngster at Salerno would be a good move: Esteban was brillant, enough that no one could understand his insights or how his thoughts flowed from one subject to another.
Sadly, due to a series of bad sales (Some said these were more like traps organised by competitors), Esteban's father fell out of business, thus ruining any chance the boy would have had to attend university. Still, he had learned enough to set out a practice, and spend the next years buying as much books as he could to satiate his hunger for knowledge, while at the same time trying to develop more formulae.
It was thus that fate struck a second time: Esteban had tried to create a Theriac that would enhance his longevity. So sure was he of his skill that he drank the potion without having tested it before. But a huge mistake on his part had made it into the very contrary of what he had sought to achieve: He was left enfeebled, with arthritis comparable to a much older man.
Ruined, having invested all his money and time into the development of his failed potion, Esteban sought out the mysterious order of scholars he had heard rumors of, hoping to be accepted among their numbers. What he found wasn't what he hoped, but still, his talents were precious enough for him to be granted a place among a covenant.
When the call for Phoenix came, he was sent there as a gifted specialist, a precious boon to the new covenant by some mysterious sponsor. As his road mirrored that of Hiems, it was arranged so that the two would travel together, thus assuring the frail scholar that he'd reach Phoenix alive.

Edit 1: Added Religion
Edit 2: Added the cost in specialist points

10

All of the above grogs have been copy/pasted to the wiki.

11

What program are you guys using for the pictures?

12

Hero Machine 3.0 Alpha

BTW, I'll change esteban into a girl so as to have more gender imbalance.

13

As promised, here is our autocrat/steward! :smiley:

Raoudha Al'Jinmi, Autocrat
Characteristics: Int +2, Per +1, Pre +2, Com +1, Str -1, Sta 0, Dex 0, Qik 0
Size: 0
Age: 39 (39), Height: 169 cm, Weight: 60 kg, Gender: Female
Hair: Dark. Eyes: Brown
Religion: Muslim
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Virtues and Flaws: Gentlewoman, Educated (50/50), Intuition / Compassionate
Personality Traits: Brave +2, Cheerful +2, Just +1, Loyal +1
Combat:
Dodge: Init: +0, Attack --, Defense +0, Damage --
Fist: Init: +0, Attack +0, Defense +0, Damage -1
Kick: Init: -1, Attack +0, Defense -1, Damage +2
Soak: 0
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Arabic 5 (poetry), Area Lore: Hiberia 3, Area Lore: Cijara Area 5, Artes Liberales 1 (arithmetic), Athletics 1 (grace), Bargain 4 (household purchases), Charm 2 (courtly love), Civil and Canon Law 3 (Hiberian Laws), Covenant Lore: Phoenix 4 (politics), Etiquette 2 (nobility), Folk Ken 2 (nobles), Guile 1 (Non-interference with the mundanes), Intrigue 3 (alliances), Islamic Law 2 (Propriety Laws), Latin 4 (academic usage), Leadership 4 (inspiration), Occitan 4 (Catalan), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (personalities), Ride 1 (with grace), Steward 6 (Manor)
Equipment: Fine clothing
Encumbrance: 0 (0)

The Al'Jimni family is a minor noble family, to whom the Cijara castle once belonged. When her father was killed by crusaders, her mother, to survive, made a bargain with Tyrion Lannister. As a result, the magi gained the land and an administrator, and the Al'Jimni family gained a haven against both the reconquista and the occasionnal noble who'd have liked to prey on a lonely widow.
As a result, Raoudha received the education that the hazards of war would have denied her otherwise, her mother grooming her to become the future autocrat of the covenant. She soon became a valuable asset, as her uncanny intuition allowed her to make the right choice when none seemed evident, thus helping out her mother a great deal.
At 39 of age, she is barely starting to age, but is still a beautiful, and was courted by many men. Sadly, her husband died at Las Navas de Tolosa, leaving her alone.
Despite her Islamic background, she is (mostly) accepted by the various factions, in no small part due to her cheerful composure and the kindness she shows everyone, be it christian, jew or muslim: Whatever the person, Raoudha doesn't make any difference, and helps everyone to the best of her ability. Maybe more than her competence, this is what make her the right steward for Phoenix.

14

She's a Grog, I take it? (as opposed to Companion?)

And is there a difference between "Steward" and "Autocrat" (even one who's only occasionally an autocrat)? And I'm confused as to what you mean by "occasional autocrat".

Also: nice touch putting her picture on a lozenge. Kinda makes up for the "Per chervron vert and vert, a snowflake azure" that made the herald in me go twitchtwitch :laughing:

15

Yes, a grog. It's enough. In fact, a lot of character concepts can be stripped down to grog level, which is a nice thing IMO.

Ah, I knew there was a difference but was unable to (quickly) find it. Can you give me a page référence so that I may make corrections? I thought steward = manages the covenant on behalf of someone while autocrat = rules the covenant on his own, but wasn't sure at all.

16

Tbh, I've never seen the word "autocrat" used outside of the SCA to refer to anyone who wasn't an absolute monarch or a dictator. Whereas a steward manages someone's property or finances (or some part) for them...this is what I think the better term to be for someone who manages the covenant for the magi.

Then again, that might just be my opinion :laughing:

17

Fine, since she's got Prof: Steward :smiley:

Thanks!

18

I didn't want to make any more characters just yet, I really didn't. But this one just got me in a rear naked choke and wouldn't let go until I tapped. So, here she is.

[size=150]Maria[/size]
Age: 39
Height: 5'9” (176 cm)
Weight: 169 lbs (77 kg)
Hair: Black, with streaks of grey
Eyes: Brown
Handedness: Ambidextrous*

Characteristics**: Int 0, Per +1(1), Pre 0, Com 0, Str +1(1), Sta +2(1), Dex +1, Qui +1

Virtues: Covenfolk i[/i], Enduring Constitution, Tough, Warrior
Flaws: Missing eye, Pessimistic, Social Handicap (sees the work of the Infernal in everything)

Abilities: Area Lore - Burgos 1 (military people), Area Lore - Riversedge 3 (strategic points), Athletics 2 i[/i], Awareness 3 (sentry duty, Bows 3 i[/i], Brawl 4 i[/i], English 4 i[/i], Folk Ken 3 i[/i], Leadership 6 i[/i], Profession – Sergeant 3 (leading attacks), Ride 2 i[/i], Single Weapon 7 i[/i], Spanish 5 (native)i[/i], Teaching 5 (single weapon).

Personality Traits: Brave +2, Pessimistic +2
Equipment: Full leather scale armor (Soak: +10), Peasant clothes, Knife, Arrows, Bow (Short), Shield (Heater), Sword (Short)

Encumbrance: 3
Burden: 4

[table][tr][td][u]Weapon/Attack[/u][/td]
[td][u]Init[/u][/td]
[td][u]Atk[/u][/td]
[td][u]Dfn[/u][/td]
[td][u]Dmg[/u][/td]
[td][u]Load[/u][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Dodge[/td]
[td]+0[/td]
[td]--[/td]
[td]+5[/td]
[td]--[/td]
[td]0[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fist[/td]
[td]+0[/td]
[td]+4[/td]
[td]+5[/td]
[td]+1[/td]
[td]0[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Kick[/td]
[td]-1[/td]
[td]+4[/td]
[td]+4[/td]
[td]+4[/td]
[td]0[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Knife[/td]
[td]+0[/td]
[td]+6[/td]
[td]+6[/td]
[td]+3[/td]
[td]0[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Short sword[/td]
[td]+0[/td]
[td]+11[/td]
[td]+10[/td]
[td]+6[/td]
[td]1[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Short bow[/td]
[td]-2[/td]
[td]+5[/td]
[td]+5[/td]
[td]+7[/td]
[td]2[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shield, heater[/td]
[td]0[/td]
[td]0[/td]
[td]+3[/td]
[td][/td]
[td]2[/td][/tr][/table]

Description: Maria is a rather tall, stout (she prefers the term “brawny”) Spanish woman with black hair streaked with grey and dark brown eyes. She is almost always seen fully armed and armoured, but can on occasion be caught wearing light frilly clothing that reminds her of the home she had left behind when she went to England as a girl.

Personality: Maria was one of the casualties of Riversedge's first Infernal Incident in 1191, when she was a raw woman-at-arms of 17. The incident left its mark on her, both physically and emotionally. One of the imps clawed her eye out before it was destroyed. And she's been more dour ever since. While she's not really paranoid, she has been very quick to see the hand of the Devil himself in practically everything around her. Sunny day? The Devil is making us feel lackadaisical, so that we don't truly be prepared for his next attack upon our bodies and souls. Rainy day? The Devil's doing, so that we can grumble against the blessings of the Lord God. Et cetera. Some say that it was a miracle indeed that she ever married and had children; Maria would say that it was an infernal scheme to make her less vigilant, but since she's a lowly sinner she didn't mind as much as she should. Her husband died a year or two ago, and both of her children are married now, so she's found herself growing homesick for the land where she was born. When Cygna announced that she would be soon moving to Iberia, Maria told her that, as neither Cygna, Terrance, nor Celestria spoke Spanish, that she would need someone to travel with her who did. Maria has not yet told Cygna that she plans on staying in Castile...and after seeing the derelict guard duty that the locals were pulling at the docks, she's decided that they need someone like her to whip them into shape.

  • I actually cast lots to determine a character's handedness, a d20 and a d6. If the d20 is higher, the character's right-handed; if the d6 is higher, left. On a tie, the character is ambidextrous. For Maria, both dice came up 4, and I was rather surprised to find nothing in the rules about handedness (since several games I've had actually make ambidexterity an Advantage).

** The number in parentheses after the Characteristic value is the Aging Points that Characteristic has so far (Maria's made four Aging Rolls, and three have come up “One aging point in any Characteristic”).

19

I just noticed that Raoudha is a grog, but you've set up her background as a native of Cijara. I assumed she was a newcomer, arriving with Hiems. I've designed the setting assuming there was no functional leadership for Cijara beyond the vineyard manager.

Given Ravenscroft's interest in enforcing Gift reactions, I've been planning a fair number of grog-stories about the settling in process, which were centered around this assumption.

So, it seems like the options are:

  1. Keep her as written, and scrap the various stories/plots about re-establishing the Strong Community boon.
  2. Make her much younger (and less competent as a steward), and have her "naturally emerge" as the new steward (scraping some intended plots but keeping others)
  3. Keep her stats, but have her arrive with Hiems, so I can keep the setting and plots as I've written them out so far.

This becomes a choice about the number and type of concurrent threads for each season/chapter. With option 1, there will only be storylines about managing the residents when magi choose to pursue those plot threads. With option 2, the 1st season will include an extra (concurrent) thread about settling in to the town and appointing Raoudha as steward, and afterward magi, companions or grogs may choose to start threads/plots about settling in to town. With option 3, every season will include a thread about life in the covenant.

To be clear, not every player would be expected to contribute to these grog-threads, as they are meant to serve the wide range of posting-frequency preferences we have in this group.

20

I vote for this. Easier for you.
And it's easy to alter her background so that she was away and was recalled when her mother died. She can very well be known to the people here, but have been away, say, the last 5-10 years. The worst years, when the divide grew.

Anyway, nohing changes people's reaction to the gift (and with such an affluence of magi, prevailing loyalty sure will take a drop!!!), nor does any steward changes the conflicted nature of the covenfolk :smiley:
So you don't need to worry very much IMHO :wink:

21

Here are Augustus and Brigitte. Yes, Brigitte is being groomed to be a turb/leader, eventually. Please keep in mind when RPing them they are 15 and 13, respectively. Old enough by the Medieval paradigm, but most people should be looking down on them as "those meddlesome kids". Both were found and adopted by Molly in an abandoned orphanage on the verge of freezing to death in York, England. Brigitte is obviously Spanish, and speaks Catalan that she learned from her parents, but doesn't remember her parents at all.

Augustus, Shield Grog in Training

Characteristics: Int 0, Per +1, Str +2, Sta +1, Pre -2, Com +1, Dex +2, Qik +1
Size: 0
Age: 15
Decrepitude: 0 [0]
Warping Score: 0 [0]
Personality Traits: Brave +1, Lazy +1, Loyal +2, Reckless +3, Subtle -2

Virtues: Covenfolk[0], Apt Student[1], Warrior[1]
Flaws: Ability Block: Academic[+1], Reckless[+1]

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: Light 1-5(-1); Medium 6-10(-3); Heavy 11-15(-5); Incap 16-20, Death 21+

Abilities: Athletics 1[Running], Awareness 2[Alertness], Bows 3[Short Bows], Brawl 2[Gauntlet], Charm 1[Being Witty], Chirurgy 1[Binding Wounds], Etiquette 1[Magi], Folk Ken 1[Peasants], Great Weapon 2[Warhammer], Guile 1[Elaborate Lies], Hunt 3[Tracking], Language: English 5[Insults], Language: French 3[Martial Terms], Single Weapon 3[Axe], Stealth 3[Wilderness], Survival 2[Wilderness], Thrown Weapon 1[Javelin]

Equipment: Axe, Javelin(s), Warhammer, Shortbow and Quiver, Round Shield, Partial Leather Scale, Firebuilding Kit, Bedroll
Encumbrance: 12 (If carrying EVERYTHING - he usually brings either the Warhammer OR Axe and Shield combo, not both)

Brigitte, Shield Grog Leader in Training

Characteristics: Int 0, Per +1, Str +1, Sta +1, Pre +1, Com +1, Dex +1, Qik 0
Size: 0
Age: 13
Decrepitude: 0 [0]
Warping Score: 0 [0]
Personality Traits: Brave +3, Cheerful +3, Loyal +2, Organized +2,

Virtues: Custos(Academic)[1], Arcane Lore[1], Warrior[1]
Flaws: Carefree[+1}, Motion Sickness[+1], Offensive to Animals[+1]

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: Light 1-5(-1); Medium 6-10(-3); Heavy 11-15(-5); Incap 16-20, Death 21+

Abilities: Artes Liberales 1[Literacy], Athletics 1[Climbing], Awareness 2[Searching], Bows 3[Short bow], Brawl 1[Dagger], Charm 2[Flirting], Code of Hermes 1[Mundane Relations], Etiquette 1[Magi], Folk Ken 1[Magi], Great Weapon 2[Pole Axe], Hunt 2[Covering Tracks], Language, Native: Catalan 5[Expressive Terms], Language: English 2[Insults], Language: French 3[Martial Terms], Language: Latin 3[Martial Terms], Leadership 2[Inspiration], Lore: Dominion 1[Creatures], Lore: Faerie 2[Traps], Lore: Infernal 1[Undead], Lore: Magic 2[Creatures], Lore: Order of Hermes 1[Mundane Interactions], Magic Theory 1[Lab Assistance], Stealth 1[Hide]

Equipment: Daggers x3, Pole Axe, Short Bow, Partial Leather Scale, Firebuilding Kit, Bedroll, Bag of Cold Iron Nails, Cross, Pouch of Sea Salt,
Encumbrance: 7

I will not be able to post them onto the wiki until tomorrow.

22

Gerard will absolutely LOVE them.
Show them the life, train them, be a big brother figure... :smiley:

23

Augustus needs a Brave rating. Maybe even just give him Brave +0 ?

Can anyone with Magic Theory assist in a lab? Cuz, if so, we need to start a cult, er I mean, school.