that would be fine(faerie lore/faerie magic) until you have books or other more defined resources you are studying from. He can find the covenant with 2 seasons of Novgorod exploration, how much tie you want to spend exploring/studying faerie during that is up to you.
So I assume being able to start a new story looking for the Mead is dependent on getting to a certain threshold of exploration?
I don't want to be demanding a story, but it is the character's focus to the point that it's not plausible for him to do a lot else first, unless there's an IC reason he knows he needs to wait.
Right now he has explored Faerie for two years, and he's got two seasons searching Novgorod for other magi because he's getting older and needs a longevity ritual. (at the end of 1197).
OOC the story has to wait for Novgorod to open. He may well spend seasons exploring trying to seek a story that he does not find, or that he backs away from quickly. After all if the first time he goes seeking mead he runs into a might 150 faerie deity who politely advises him that Odin is currently somewhere further Norse, with the clear implication that Odin will not part with the mead easily and is far more powerfull than the nice faerie deity, Hugh might well decide that his adventure needs further preparation...
@silveroak Is there a way for Hugh to gain the Faerie Speech virtue?
Unrelated; will you allow Arts lab specializations to add a bonus to vis study? (I'm pretty sure they don't by canon, but wanted to check.)
there are ways, even if I don't have them specifically defined at the moment- initiations, faerie boons, pilgrimages (though the last seems unlikely for Hugh)
I will allow the lab specializations to add to vis study- vis study seems pretty weak compared to most alternatives and tend to happen when a lot more xp is needed to advance, so I will allow it. (going to note house rules)
which lab specialisations? Only the relevant art? GQ? Experimentation?
House rules thread - specializations in an art
@silveroak Hugh is planning to study vis during the period from 1197 to 1201; is it ok to use vis from the income stream before deducting from stocks?
Also, about Sionnacliste (Hugh's familiar):
Am I right in thinking he can gain story xp as pretenses like a normal faerie (up to two seasons per year), but also gain xp through normal study methods because he is a familiar? There is a free faerie virtue that allows the latter (Faerie Trainer, ROP:F 63), so it is possible for faeries to do both, and it fits under the normal familiar rules.
Do the seasons Hugh spends exploring count as "story" for the purpose of Sionnacliste getting pretenses?
We should probably also address whether Sionnacliste agrees to be rebonded, although Hugh could just do it, he won't. (Hugh doesn't enchant the negative cords, so their familiar bond ages over time, but it doesn't create the resentment the negative cords would). He basically gives the familiar free reign, although with the strength of the magic creatures in Novgorod he may not feel great about wandering too far.
Vis study is a bit of an odd situation, in that your character is in play while the covenant is not during the time under discussion. However this is the Novgorod tribunal, so go ahead and assume that what vis you need for study is available-
I am putting in a season to adopting lab, and using the lab; is that ok despite the covenant not being in play?
that is fine- others are using and adapting their lab in season assignments prior to start.
Want to preserve these.
Hugh intends to pursue these leads and exhaust them before he resorts to approaching Odin and swearing fealty. I know you don't want me asking for a bunch of stories, nor do I want to.
Granted these aren't all exactly leads, but breakdown:
- Mimir's head sits in Odin's realm, which must be reached through Asguard, via the Bifrost bridge
Will wait, that's basically asking to see Odin
- Mimir resides in a Venir forest in Northern rus, marked by spiral drawings upon the ground
Wants to search in bird form
- A vat of Mimir's mead, brewed when odin hung from the Ygdrassil tree to gain the wisdom of the runes sits in a Viking temple in Uppsland.
Wants to search in bird form
- Mimir's head has been captured by a Muspelli mage and sits in his stronghold in the Kjolen mountains
Wants to search in bird form
- The recipie for Mimir's mead is engraved on a rock that was left by Viking travelers in either Iceland, Greenland, or Vinland
Wants to search in bird form
- Mimir hides in Denmark, masquerading as a human within dominion.
Probably impossible but may work out a way to use divination.
- Mimir dwells in the faerie realm at Baeg's well, and the mead is made from its waters
Hugh has been here already, right?
- Mimir has reclaimed his head and fled to Africa to avoid the Jotun so they cannot gai the secret of the runes.
Probably impossible but may work out a way to use divination.
Hugh has been to Baeg's well- in Hibernia.
For the paces he wants to explore in bird form decide how many seasons he wants to spend exploring, and go ahead and give yourself the appropriate area lore at 7xp per season. When you reach level 3 we can start making rolls for searching for more concrete hints.
I just noticed Vinland in there; I take it it's just a name he heard and Hugh has no idea what they're talking about?
Probably. It would certainly be beyond his ability to gain area lore by exploration. He might know it is "somewhere beyond greenland" but nothing more.
So Hugh is starting to explore Greenland. Below are the spells he's using; he will take breaks in between moons during which he returns to the covenant for a couple of days. Checking this with you @silveroak
MuCo(An) 25 [Base 20 Per/Conc +1/Ind; Caster is transformed into a White-Tailed Eagle]
Sustained for Moon with Sustain the Demanding Spell
MuVi 25 to increase the effect of Sustain the Demanding Spell (significant change, +1 mags to allow it to effect a level 25 spell)
InVi 30 [Base 5 Per/Conc +1/Sight +4; Detect any active magic (no details)
Sustained for Moon with Sustain the Demanding Spell
MuVi 50 to increase the effect of Sustain the Demanding Spell (total change, +2 mags to allow it to effect a level 30 spell)
MuVi fatiguing spont casting total [Sta 2 Mu 29 Vi 29 Diedne 29] so 0-2 fatigue levels from LLSM
MuIm 5 [Base 1 Per/Moon +3/Ind to look like the sky +1 changing image]
The InVi is essentially Sight of the active magics, but without the +2 magnitudes to detect form and technique, and will only detect active spells. Beyond this it is fine.
Your MuCo spell needs an animal requisit.
If it involves a stress die it must be rolled, not assumed to succeed.
with all of this you will be able to gain are lore greenland as per the rules for exploring an area for a season, and will certainly have updated information about where settlements are, as well as some information about the area which the Norwegian government and the settlers themselves are unaware.
The Norse settlements remain as in history, the Innuit however are not part of (my version of) Mythic Greenland.
Is there any mechanical benefit to keeping the InVi up?
Over a period of exploration it will give you an idea where there any spellcasters since presumably that is where the active spells are...