Some (NPC) mage writeups (Saissac players, stay out)

Games Discussion Ars Magica
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I've been statting up some of the NPCs for my saga's Provencal tribunal, both canonical and not. Figured I'd toss them in here, both as a general resource and asking for feedback. So here goes:

Guillamette Ex Miscellanea
The parens of one of the players, and fancy sword mage + ring & circle magic.
Characteristics: Int +2, Per 0, Pre +2, Com -1, Str +2, Sta +2, Dex +1, Qik +1

Size: 0; Age: 65 (41); Decreptitude: 0; Warping Score: 6 (4); Confidence: 1 (3)

Virtues & Flaws: Greater Immunity: Iron Weapons1, Ring & Circle Magic1, Blatant Gift1, Enduring Constitution, Improved Characteristics x2, Inoffensive to Animals, Puissant Single Weapon, Secondary Insight, Strong-Willed2, Tough, Warrior, Animal Companion, Deficient Auram, Difficult Underlings, Dutybound2, Pious (major), Reckless, Social Handicap: outspoken woman

Personality Traits: Pious +3, Ardent +2, Crass +2
Reputations (Hermetic): Loyal to the Order 3

Abilities: Artes Liberales 1 (geometry), Athletics 3 (running), Awareness 5 (in combat), Brawl 5 (kicking), Concentration 4 (spellcasting), Craft: Illustrator 1 (Sympathetic connections), Dominion Lore 4 (divine creatures), Finesse 3 (targeting), Great Weapon 1 (spear), Guile 1 (fast talk), Infernal Lore 3 (demons), Latin 4 (hermetic use), Legion of Mithras Lore 2 (history), Magic Theory 6 (enchanting), Occitan 5 (Gascon), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (personalities), Parma Magica 4 (corpus), Penetration 2 (vim), Profession: Laborer 3 (hauling), Single Weapon 8+2 (round shield) ,Teaching 3 (one-on-one)
Combat:

  • Dodge: Init +0, Atk n/a, Def +6, Dam n/a
  • Kick: Init: -1, Atk +7, Def +6, Dam +5
  • Long Sword & Talisman (Round Shield): Init +2, Atk +15, Def +16, Dam +8
  • Soak: 14

Arts:
Creo 7, Intellego 12, Muto 13, Perdo 9, Rego 21
Animal 7, Auram 5, Aquam 5, Corpus 6, Herbam 11
Ignem 8, Imaginem 5, Mentem 6, Terram 11, Vim 12

Warping Scars: A faint halo of golden light, a sonorous echo to her voice, a golden sheen to her eyes, flowers bloom at her touch, objects she touches glow gold for a few minutes, objects randomly form circles when they are moved randomly (eg. by falling) near her
Spells:

  • Ward Against the Beasts of Legend (ReAn 15)
  • Ward Against the Faeries of the Waters (ReAq 15)
  • Ward Against the Faeries of the Air (ReAu 15)
  • Bind Wound (CrCo 10)
  • Eyes of the Cat (MuCo 5)
  • Wizard’s Leap (ReCo 15)
  • Endurance of the Berserkers (ReCo 15)
  • The Gift of Vigor (ReCo 20)
  • Repel the Wooden Shafts (ReHe 10)
  • Ward Against the Faeries of the Wood (ReHe 15)
  • Tangle of Wood and Thorns (ReHe 15)
  • Pilum of Fire (CrIg 15)
  • Aura of Ennobled Presence (MuIm 10)
  • Wizard’s Sidestep (ReIm 10)
  • The Call to Slumber (ReMe 10)
  • Snap of Awakening (ReMe 10)
  • Sword from the Unseen Scabbard (CrTe 15)
  • Fist of Shattering (PeTe 10)
  • The Unseen Porter (ReTe 10)
  • Invisible Sling of Vilano (ReTe 10)
  • Ward Against the Faeries of the Mountain (ReTe 15)
  • Demon’s Eternal Oblivion (PeVi 10)
  • Chamber of the Demon’s Demise (PeVi 10): as Demon’s Eternal Oblivion but damage -5 and in a circle; R:Touch, D:Ring, T: Circ, +1 Touch, +2 Ring
  • Chamber of the Faerie’s Fall (PeVi 10) as above
  • Chamber of Spirit’s End (PeVi 10) as above
  • Circular Ward Against Demons (ReVi 20)

Encumbrance: 1(3); Equipment: Longsword, chainmail, warhorse, talisman

Talisman: The Shield of Evalach, excellent (+2) roundshield of wood and leather inlaid with an iron band. Space used 8/18; Affinites: +5 defense, +4 affect dead wood, +7 harm or repel faeries.
Invested with:

  • Perceive the Striking Blade (InTe 9; Detects if a metal object touches the shield; Effect: Base 2 +1, Touch +2, Sun +1; 2 uses/day +3 environmental trigger)
  • Wood that Neither Bends Nor Breaks (MuHe(Te) 14; Constant effect; The wood of the shield becomes as hard as iron, and is virtually unbreakable by mundane means; Effect: base 4, +2 Sun; +1 2/day, +3 environmental trigger)
  • Turn the Blade Upon the Foe (ReTe (29); 6/day, repels metal objects which strike the shield, causing them to fly away with enough force to deal +10 damage. Requires an aiming roll, range increment 20 paces; Effect: base 15, +1 Touch; +3 linked trigger, +3 6 times/day)
  • Great Circle of Evalach (MuTe(He) 20; grow the shield from ~1 pace across to ~5.5 paces across; Effect: base 4, +1 Conc; +5 holds concentration, +10 unlimited uses)
  • The Floating Plaform (ReHe 28; the shield moves swiftly through the air; Effect: base 15 +1 Conc; +5 Holds Concentration, +3 3/day)

Notes: 1House Virtue/Flaw, 2Mystery Virtue/Flaw

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Rixenda Mistridge ex Jerbiton
Canonically, a member of Ostal des Exiles, a Mentem maga with a dream/nightmare focus

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

Size: 0; Age: 40 (38); Decreptitude: 0

Warping Score: 4 (13); Confidence: 1 (3)

Virtues & Flaws: The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Privileged Upbringing1, Affinity with Mentem, Deft Mentem, Dream Magic2, Gentle Gift, Inspirational, Minor Magical Focus: Dreams, Puissant Mentem, Special Circumstances (while asleep), Strong-willed, Motion Sickness, Obsessed (nightmares)2, Optimistic (major), Painful Magic, Slow Caster, Soft-Hearted, Warped Magic (dreamlike surrealism)3, Weakness (psychadelics)

Personality Traits: Forgiving +2, Optimistic +2

Reputations: None

Abilities: Artes Liberales 2 (rhetoric), Charm 2 (conversation), Code of Hermes 2 (wizard’s war), Concentration 3 (dream magic), Finesse 3 (mentem), Folk Ken 3 (magi), Guile 3 (seeming inconspicuous), Intrigue 2 (Order of Hermes), Latin 4 (hermetic use), Leadership 3 (covenfolk), Magic Theory 4 (mentem), Occitan 5 (Provencal), Order of Hermes Lore 3 (politics), Ostal des Exiles Lore 2 (personalities), Parma Magica 3 (mentem), Penetration 2 (mentem), Philosophiae 3 (rituals), Provençal Lore 2 (secret routes), Survial 2 (for a short time), Volshebnii Mechtateli Lore 2 (mysteries)

Combat:

  • Dodge: Init +0, Atk n/a, Def +0, Dam n/a
  • Soak: 1

Arts:
Creo 7, Intellego 0, Muto 10, Perdo 6, Rego 13
Animal 0, Auram 0, Aquam 0, Corpus 0, Herbam 0
Ignem 0, Imaginem 12, Mentem 18+3, Terram 2, Vim 1

Twilight Scars: Her dreams are hyperreal and upsetting, eyes shimmer like oil on water, people around her grow slightly calmer

Spells:
Memory of the Distant Dream (CrMe 20)
The Lucid Dreamer (Mu(In)Me 20, Mrev p. 104)
The Path to Lemnos (Mu(In)Me 30, Mrev p. 104)
Mind of the Beast (MuMe 30)
Perception of the Conflicting Motives (InMe 15)
The Call to Slumber (ReMe 10)
Snap of awakening (ReMe 10)
Confusion of the Numbed Will (ReMe 15)
Scent of Peaceful Slumber (ReMe 20)

Encumbrance: 0; Equipment: Mage’s Robes
Notes: 1House Virtue, 2Mystery Initiation, 3Twilight Scars

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Welcome to the Forum, Erik! Thanks for sharing.

1 Like
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Thank you!

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Gilbert ex Flambeau
Canonically the leader of Ostal des Exiles, and potentially a Mystagogue in the Order of the Green Stone. I had a hard time figuring out what to do with his Talisman, tbh - because of his mystery it should be a shield, and consummate talisman seemed the most appropriate mystery, but being (canonically) a Perdo guy I couldn't really find a good use of it for him - thoughts? (In general, spell choices are the hardest part of this for me - I'm using these statting excercises as a way to learn the rules better, so I'm lacking in practical experience)

Characteristics: Int +1, Per 0, Pre +4, Com -1, Str +1, Sta +1, Dex +1, Qik +1
Size: 0; Age: 95 (40); Decreptitude: 0
Warping Score: 7 (24); Confidence: 1 (3)
Virtues & Flaws: The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Pussiant Perdo1, Affinity for Perdo, Consummate Talisman2, Free Expression2, Gentle Gift, Great Presence, Hermetic Synthemata2, Improved Characteristics, Knight2, Performance Magic: Music2, Privileged Upbringing, Social Contacts (Faidit nobles), Strong-Willed, Temporal Influence, Deleterious Circumstances (when not touching talisman)2, Dutybound2, Driven (major, defeating the crusaders), Enemies: in the Order, Higher Purpose, Restriction: lies and deceit, Vow (Chivalry)2
Personality Traits: Aloof +3, Vengeful +2, Genteel +1

Reputations: None
Abilities: Animal Handling 2 (horses), Artes Liberales 3 (arithmetic), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 2 (in combat), Brawl 2 (punching), Carouse 4 (drinking songs), Charm 5 (courtly love), Civil and Canon Law 1 (Provençal), Code of Hermes 3 (political intrigue), Concentration 3 (spell concentration), Etiquette 4 (nobility), Finesse 3 (precision), Folk Ken 5 (nobility), Green Stone Lore 6 (initiations), Guile 2 (elaborate lies), Hunt 2 (tracking), Intrigue 4 (alliances), Latin 4 (Hermetic use), Leadership 4 (inspiration), Magic Theory 6 (perdo) Music 7 (harp), Occitan 5 (Provencal), Order of Hermes Lore 4 (personalities), Parma Magica 3 (mentem), Penetration 3 (perdo), Provençal Lore 1 (legends), Ride 4 (speed), Single Weapon 5 (heater shield), Stealth 1 (natural areas), Survival 2 (Provençal), Teaching 2 (one-on-one)

Combat:

  • Dodge: Init -1, Atk n/a, Def +0, Dam n/a
  • Long Sword & Talisman (Heater Shield): Init+1, Atk+11, Def+11, Dam+7
  • Soak: +10

Arts:
Creo 5, Intellego 7, Muto 15, Perdo 27, Rego 10
Animal 8, Auram 5, Aquam 5, Corpus 10, Herbam 9
Ignem 5, Imaginem 8, Mentem 5, Terram 7, Vim 16

Warping Scars: Metal objects rust at his touch; pursued by ominous ravens; seemingly always illuminated by an errant sunbeam; animals bow respectfully to him; every mention of his name echoes painfully in his head; people around him grow angry and defiant

Spells:

  • Beast of Outlandish Size (MuAn 15)
  • Soothe the Ferocious Bear (ReAn 10)
  • Blunt the Viper’s Fangs (PeAn 20)
  • Quiet the Raging Winds (PeAu 20)
  • Gift of the Bear’s Fortitude (MuCo 25)
  • Touch of the Goose Feather (PeCo 5)
  • The Wound that Weeps (PeCo 15)
  • Invocation of Weariness (PeCo 20)
  • Clenching Grasp of the Crushed Heart (PeCo 40)
  • Spasms of the Uncontrolled Hand (ReCo 5)
  • The Gift of Vigor (ReCo 20)
  • Taste of the Spices and Herbs (MuIm 5)
  • Aura of Ennobled Presence (MuIm 10)
  • Notes of a Delightful Sound (MuIm 10)
  • Wizard’s Sidestep (ReIm 10)
  • Lay to Rest the Haunting Spirit (PeMe 15)
  • Edge of the Razor (MuTe 20)
  • Obliteration of the Metallic Barrier (PeTe 20)
  • Hauberk of Supreme Lightness (PeTe 30)
  • Strip the Faerie’s Glamour (PeVi 5)
  • Demon’s Eternal Oblivion (PeVi 5)
  • Strip the Faerie’s Glamour (PeVi 20)
  • Demon’s Eternal Oblivion (PeVi 20)
  • Disenchant (PeVi 25)
  • Unravelling the Fabric of Ignem (PeVi 25)
  • Unravelling the Fabric of Imaginem (PeVi 25)
  • Unravelling the Fabric of Mentem (PeVi 25)

Encumbrance: 2(3); Equipment: Chainmail, Longsword
Talisman: The Questing Companion, wooden heater shield with iron rim, brass studs, and hide straps. Space used 14/20.

  • Affinities: +5 Protection, +7 Harm or Repel Faeries, +3 Music, +3 affect living wood, Attune +4 affect dead wood,+4 demons, devils, and angels.
    Invested with:
  • Invisibility of the Questing Knight (PeIm 17, 3/day, R: Per, D: Conc, T: Ind; as Veil of Invisibility, Talisman holds concentration)
  • Break the Chains of Mentem (PeVi 23, 3/day, R:Per, D:Mom, T:Ind. Cancel any Mentem effect of level 20 or lower affecting the user)
  • Break the Shackles of Corpus (PeVi 23, 3/day, R:Per, D:Mom, T:Ind. Cancel any Corpus effect of level 20 or lower affecting the user)
  • Ward Against Wood and its Barbs (ReHe(Te) 20, 1/day, R: Per, D:Diam, T:Ind, Protects against non-magical wood and metal arrowheads)
  • Ward Against Striking Metal (ReHe(Te) 20, 1/day, R: Per, D:Diam, T:Ind, Protects against metal weapons)
  • Wood that Neither Bends not Breaks (MuHe 14, Constant Effect, R:Per, D:Sun, T:Ind, Makes wood as tough as iron

Notes: 1House Virtue, 2Mystery Virtue/Flaw

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Garsenda Lariander ex Tremere
Canonically, an Imaginem focused maga who may be an initiate of the order of the green stone. In my saga she's the main go-between for the player covenant with the Ostal des Exiles

Characteristics: Int +3, Per 0, Pre +1, Com -1, Str 0, Sta +1, Dex 0, Qik 0

Size: 0; Age: 35 (35); Decreptitude: 0; Warping Score: 3 (10); Confidence: 1 (3)

Virtues & Flaws: The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Minor Magical Focus: Certamen*, Affinity with Imaginem, Flexible Formulaic Magic, Free Expression**, Inoffensive to Animals, Puissant Imaginem, Student of Faerie, Ways of the Forest, Dark Secret: Caused Lariander’s destruction, Driven (major), Dutybound**, Faerie Friend: White Ladies, Seeker, Social Handicap: Nervous and Irritable, Weak Enchanter

Personality Traits: Troubled +2, Brash +2, Vengeful +1

Abilities: Animal Handling 2 (horses), Artes Liberales 1 (rhetoric), Athletics 1 (hiking), Awareness 1 (searching), Code of Hermes 1 (major crimes), Concentration 2 (maintaining spells), Faerie Lore 3+2, Green Stone Lore 2 (legends), Latin 4 (hermetic use), Magic Lore 2 (creatures), Magic Theory 3 (imaginem), Music 1 (song), Occitan 5 (Languedoc), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (personalities), Parma Magica 2 (mentem), Provencal Lore 3 (forest), Ride 3 (speed), Single Weapon 2 (Sword), Stealth 2 (forest), Survival 2 (forest)

Combat:

  • Dodge: Init +0, Atk n/a, Def +0, Dam n/a
  • Long Sword: Init +2, Atk +4, Def +1, Dam +6
  • Soak: 0

Arts:
Creo 6, Intellego 5, Muto 6, Perdo 5, Rego 5
Animal 0, Auram 0, Aquam 0, Corpus 5, Herbam 5
Ignem 0, Imaginem 14+3, Mentem 1, Terram 0, Vim 10

Warping Scars: Always in soft focus, her voice has a discordant echo, colors seem more vibrant around her
Spells:

  • Phantasm of the Human Form (CrIm 25) +23
  • Prying Eyes (InIm 5) +22
  • Eyes of the Eagle (InIm 25) +22
  • Summoning the Distant Image (InIm 25) +22
  • Aura of Ennobled Presence (MuIm 10) +22
  • Image Phantom (MuIm 20) +22
  • Veil of Invisibility (PeIm 20) +22
  • Wizard’s Sidestep (ReIm 10) +22
  • The Captive Voice (ReIm 25) +22
  • Image from the Wizard Torn (ReIm 30) +22
  • Piercing the Faerie Veil (InVi 20) +15
  • Unravelling the Fabric of Imaginem (PeVi 25) +15

Encumbrance: 0; Equipment: Outlaw’s apparel; Notes: *House Virtue, **Mystery Virtue/Flaw

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Bausanna the Goat Witch, the Giant's daughter
The first season of the game, the players slew a local giant for his skull (full of vis). The companion pet nobleman has Curse of Venus, so clearly i had to have the giant's giantess folk witch daughter come and do a Skadi and demand the lord's hand in marriage as a blood price. With the help of the local (Intelligence -4) Knight Templar companion, she acquired a lock of the lord's hair and cast the Curse of Emotion on him to have him blindly love her (Life Linked Folk Witch Magic is a trip, i tells ye), which means that soon Chateau Saissac will be ruled by her in all but name.

Of course, as a folk witch not in the order i expect she'll suffer a grim fate. On the other hand, she's already the Lady of the lands whose peasants have shunned her for all her life, so for the time being things are looking up for Bausanna.

Characteristics: Int +2, Per 0, Pre +2, Com +0, Str +3, Sta +4, Dex +2, Qik -3
Size: +2; Age: 31 in 1220 (31); Decreptitude: 0; Warping Score: 2 (1); Confidence: 1 (3)

Virtues & Flaws: Folk Witch, The Gift, Life Linked Folk Witch Magic, Giant Blood, Puissant Cursing, Magical Blood, Inoffensive to Animals, Improved Characteristics, Ambitious (major), Proud (minor), Enemies (Father Jordas), Susceptible to Divine Power, Deleterious Circumstances (church bells), Infamous, Animal Healing1

Personality Traits: Vengeful+2; Ferocious+3; Proud+2
Reputations (local): Evil Witch 2; Respected Giantess 3

Abilities: Animal Handling 2 (goats), Athletics 2 (flight), Awareness 1 (lost animals), Brawl 2 (punching), Concentration 2 (weaving), Craft: Weaver 5 (wool), Folk Witch Lore 1 (personalities), Folk Witch Magic Theory 3 (cursing), , Leadership 3 (goats), Penetration 3 (curses), Magic Lore 1 (giants), Occitan 5 (coarse language), Profession: goatherd 3 (shearing), Survival 2 (mountains)

Combat:

  • Dodge: Init -3, Atk n/a, Def -1, Dam n/a
  • Punch: Init -3, Atk +5, Def +0, Dam +3
  • Ladle: Init: -3, Atk +6, Def -1, Dam +5
  • Dagger: Init -3, Atk +6, Def -1, Dam +6
  • Soak: +5 (Quilted)
  • Wound Penalties: –1 (1–7), –3 (8–14), –5 (15–21), Incapacitated (22–28), Dead (29+)

Folk Witch Magic

  • Animal Ken 4 (goats)
  • Cursing 4+2 (beast)
  • Dowsing 2 (animal)
  • Animal Healing 1 (goats)
  • Flight 2 (fetish)
  • Healing 2 (potions)
  • Shapeshifter 3 (goat)
  • Second Sight 3 (fae)

Witch Moon scars: Folk Witch magic XP; gained the Animal Healer minor virtue
Notes: Has a lock of Arnald de Saissac’s hair, woven into a Curse tapestry for the Curse of Emotion (worshipful love towards herself). 1Virtue from Witch Moon.

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One of the most amusing uses of Perdo is to remove the memory of the last 5 minutes of conversation with somebody when it goes poorly, thus re-initiating the social interaction with additional information. Ideas for Perdo.

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Yeah, PeMe is very fun.
For the character in particular however, he's also supposed to be mostly an honorably chivalric knightly sort what with the order of the green stone and all. Perdo, at lower magnitudes in particular, kind of feels like the jerk technique

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Fair enough. PeTe pit creation, then, good for combat or creating improvised trenchs. Also better versions of the fist of shattering (better range, able to target parts of weapons or armors).

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