Going back over the numbers, I did the revisions necessary.
Firstly, I had taken 5 pts of skill too many from later life. I reduced Guile from 1 to 0 for this. I also reviewed spell selection to reach the full 120 levels.
I looked over the values for the post-apprenticeship progression. I accidentally forgot to count a season of intellego study for 10 xp, and counted a gain of code of hermes twice so I adjusted that. For the remaining XP I was short, I spent it on 25 levels of spells and 1 xp of magic theory as Octavian spent a season personalizing his lab (didn't have the xp leftover for 2 exposure xp, heh).
I also took the opportunity to make some slight aesthetic changes and changed some ability specialties. I can post a narrative if requested but I think the progression section does cover the points succintly enough. Here's the third and hopefully final draft:
[size=150]Octavian of Tremere [/size]
Characteristics: Int +2, Per +2, Str +1, Sta +1, Com -1, Prs +1(+2), Dex +1, Qik +1.
Size: 0
Age: 38 (Apparent Age 24)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift (Special), Hermetic Magus (Free Social Status), Minor Magical Focus [Certamen] (Free Hermetic), Entrancement (Major Supernatural), Fast Caster (Minor Hermetic), Improved Characteristics (Minor General), Keen Vision (Minor General), Piercing Gaze (Minor General), Strong Faerie Blood [Sidhe] (Major Supernatural) - Second Sight (Free Supernatural), Continence (Minor Personality), Favors [Terrace of Jerbiton] (Major Story), Judged Unfairly (Minor Personality), Study Requirement (Major Hermetic), Susceptibility to Divine Power (Minor Hermetic), Visions (Minor Supernatural). Obtained post-gauntlet: Hermetic Prestige [Quaesitor in Good Standing] (Minor Hermetic), Mentor [Tacitus of Guernicus] (Minor Story), Great Talisman (Minor Hermetic).
Personality Traits: Distant +3, Pragmatic +3, Polite +3.
Reputations: Quaesitor in Good Standing +3 (Hermetic Magi)
Combat:
Gauntlet: Init +1, Attack +4, Defense +5, Damage +3, Load 0.
Kick: Init +0, Attack +4, Defense +3, Damage +4, Load 0.
Dagger: Init +1, Attack +6, Defense +4, Damage +4, Load 0.
Soak: +3
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious.
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20).
Abilities: Artes Liberales 1 (Ritual Magic), Athletics 2 (Running), Awareness 2 (Alertness), Brawl 3 (Grapples), Code of Hermes 3 / 5 (Tribunal Procedures), Entrancement 3 (Magi), Etiquette 4 (Court), Folk Ken 2 / 10 (Magi), French 5 (Occitan dialect), Guile 1 (Concealing Emotions), Hunt 1 (Tracking), Iberia Lore 2 (Geography), Intrigue 3 / 10 (Information Gathering), Latin 4 (Hermetic Usage), Leadership 2 (Intimidation), Magic Theory 4 / 1(Inventing Spells), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (Personalities), Order of Seneca Lore 1 (History), Parma Magica 3 (Mentem), Penetration 3 (Rego), Philosophiae 1 / 5 (Ritual Magic), Second Sight 3 (Illusory Disguises), Spanish 3 / 10 (Castillian Dialect), Stealth 2 (Sneak), Survival 1 (Pyrenees).
Hermetic Arts: Cr 11 / 5, In 8 / 7, Mu 7, Pe 4, Re 7, An 0, Aq 0, Au 0,
Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 10 / 3, Me 7, Te 0, Vi 5 / 1.
Twilight Scars: None
Equipment: Partial Metal Reinforced Leather Armor, gauntlets, dagger x2, grimoire, Quaesitor cum auctoritate documentation, traveling clothing, ceremonial Tremere robes, Talisman ring, 5 pawns of Vim vis, 10 pawns of Corpus vis, 5 pawns of Rego vis, 5 pawns of Intellego vis, 5 pawns of Creo vis, 4 pawns of imaginem vis.
Encumbrance: 0
SPELLS KNOWN: (without Talisman bonuses)
Endurance of the Berserkers (ReCo 15/+8 )
Spellbinding Gaze of the Sorceror (ReCo 15/+8 )
Wizard's Sidestep (ReIm 10/+19) Mastery 1 / 5 (Fast Casting)
Pains of the Perpetual Worry (CrMe 20/+20) Mastery 1 (Still Casting)
Scent of Peaceful Slumber (ReMe 20/+15)
The Unseen Porter (ReTe 10/+8 )
Wizard's Communion (MuVi 15/+13)
Wizard’s Leap (ReCo 15/+8 )
Sight of the True Form (InCo 15/+9)*
Demon’s Eternal Oblivion (PeVi 10/+10)*
*Learned during post-apprenticeship progression.
APPEARANCE:
The raven haired magus appears to be in his early to mid twenties; much younger than his real age of 38 would suggest. For most of the year his skin is a pale color, contrasting with dark wisps of hair that frame his aquiline features. In the summer, he tans easily to a dark coppery tone that emphasizes his sinister ancestry. He carries himself with a serene albeit distant manner that is easy to overlook were it not for his terrible eyes. Eerie pupil less green orbs that hungrily flicker in the darkness or when he invokes spells leave all but the most stalwart of magi or pious of crusaders with a feeling of unease.
Octavian’s soft-spoken speech and non-confrontational tone are uncharacteristic with his vocation as a quaesitor and his involvement in the recent troubles in the Iberian Tribunal. He is unfailingly polite regardless of the circumstance but there is always a nagging distrust impressed upon others despite the sincerity of his words.
He commonly wears a customized version of the Tremere ceremonial robes as a knee-long jacket over trousers tucked into knee high boots, and a black leather tunic. When he expects trouble, he wears a metal reinforced jerkin beneath his jacket as well as matching gauntlets hidden by long billowing sleeves.
WIZARD’S SIGIL:
Octavian’s sigil manifests as a set of sinister glowing green pupils, a few shades darker than his own eyes, which briefly hypnotizes viewers into seeing a murder of crows.
BACKGROUND:
The magus that would become known as Octavian of Tremere was born in the year 1181 of our Lord in the city of Marseilles, France. The midwife of the birth, a hag embroiled in a feud with an unseelie court sidhe, switched the child with that of the sidhe offspring. The mortal parents were troubled by the faerie infant’s unnaturally malevolent green eyes. Fearful of demonic influence but unable to put the babe to death, they abandoned the child at the doorstep of one of the city’s orphanages. The caretakers reluctantly took the boy in after a particularly thorough and effective baptism and exorcism whose effects still linger on the soul. They named the child Marcel, a common name for orphans in Marseilles.
At the orphanage the young Marcel endured a difficult childhood. He did not age as quickly as the other boys and the nature of his eyes encouraged the others to ostracize or pick on him. The orphanage caretakers weren’t much better, often siding with the bullies. When Marcel began experiencing visions of things unseen, he quickly learned to keep quiet less he draw more disciplinary actions from the adults. Marcel withdrew within himself under the weight of constant loathing and mistrust.
By the time of his 9th birthday, the caretakers were seriously considering kicking the boy out. Fortunately for him, a mysterious man appeared at their doorstep inquiring about the children. To their shock and relief, the man chose to adopt Marcel. They made little fuss and quickly sent the boy off. For the very first time in his life, he felt a feeling of joy for being wanted. This was short-lived.
His master was an up and coming magus named Tiberius of Tremere. Tiberius laid out the rules of the parens-filius relationship: the child was not to expect any succor or fatherly love, but was expected to obey. He began by renaming his apprentice Garçon, or boy in French, declaring he had to prove himself worthy of a name.
The first ten years of his apprenticeship, Garçon traveled southern France with his master pursuing research, vis or the occasional adventure. He learned to rely only on himself as his master gave him increasingly difficult and arduous tasks. Many of the errands purposefully forced him to interact with non-magi as Tiberius felt dealing with mundanes to be beneath him. The boy coped by erecting emotional barriers to shield himself from others.
As Tiberius’ stock rose in the Tremere ranks, the pair traveled back to Ceoris in the Transylvanian Tribunal to complete Garçon’s apprenticeship. Despite the more welcoming atmosphere at the Domus Magna for those with unique talents, Garçon never truly settled in. Years of rejection and trauma still lingered.
Finally, on the Winter Solstice of 1205, Marcel met his master in ritual certamen. While he predictably lost, he was fully accepted as a newly gauntleted member of House Tremere. After years of denigration, he took the most impressive name he could think of, that of the Emperor Octavian. Octavian’s first assignment as a member of House Tremere was to accompany his parens from Ceoris to Jaferiya.
PROGRESSION:
1206 – Apparent age remains 15 – 36 XP.
Winter: Octavian remains at Ceoris with his teacher. When it is decided the two will travel to join an Iberian covenant. His pater, decides it wise to brush up on his filius’ parma magica as the high population of Flambeau in the Tribunal might try to take advantage. +10 XP Parma Magica.
Spring: Tiberius and Octavian travel to Greece to procure passage to Iberia. Octavian finds a trading ship that is set to land in Castile in a month’s time. They travel the remainder of the way to Jaferiya covenant on foot after hiring a guide that spoke enough French to understand the magi. Octavian and his pater spend most of the trip working on learning the Spanish tongue from the sailors and their guide as well as the villages they pass through. +8 XP Spanish.
[u[Summer[/u]: At their arrival, Tiberius is welcomed as a full member to the covenant while his former apprentice is allowed on a trial basis. Jaferiya’s leadership tasks Octavian to watch over the grogs’ duties to pick up more of the Spanish language as well as become familiarized with them. +8 XP Spanish.
Autumn: Octavian is allowed to study the art of Perdo this season from the covenant’s library. He takes his studies to a nearby orchard as the Fall takes root. +10 XP Perdo.
1207 – Apparent age +1 (16) – 40 XP
Winter: One of the Tremere at Jaferiya covenant is missing on a routine vis gathering during the Fall. The Flambeau magi attempt to downplay the disappearance to the remaining Tremere. Tiberius is suspicious and decides it prudent to further his filius’ parma magica. +10 XP Parma Magica
Spring: The missing Tremere has yet to return. Tiberius orders Octavian to covertly investigate. Venturing out in the wilderness, Octavian finds no signs of the missing magi. He concludes that he may have never even left the coven. Attempts to parlay or sneak into the missing Tremere’s sanctum meet with little success. +5 XP Hunt, +5 XP Stealth.
Summer: Tensions begin to rise between Tiberius and the Flambeau. The former begins to suspect something is amiss. He confides his suspicions to his filius in private. Octavian, borne mistrustful, concurs. Tiberius pens a letter to be delivered by his former apprentice to Terrace of Jerbiton to beseech the elder magus’ aid. The Jerbiton is skeptical, but eventually accedes to the request due to Octavian’s urging. Intrigue +5 XP, Etiquette +5 XP.
Autumn: Events of the 1207 Tribunal occur. Tiberius of Tremere dies assisting Terrace in escaping Jaferiya with evidence condemning the magi of the coven. Octavian is at the Tribunal proper as this occurs to not arouse suspicion upon his pater. While neither have obtained their sigil, Octavian is given instructions on how to act and what to say at Tribunal. Terrace vouches for the innocence of the young novice who does help the tribunal mages fight against Rasus and his followers. Parma Magica +5 XP, Code of Hermes +5 XP.
1208 – Apparent age 16 – 38 XP.
Winter: Now alone and without a covenant, Octavian spends the winter in Barcelona further expanding his knowledge of the Spanish language. He receives orders from House Tremere to join the March against Rasus and his followers. +8 XP Spanish.
Spring: Acting upon his orders, Octavian joins Karandos ex Flambeau’s March against his filius. Expecting a full fledged battle, Karandos organizes the magi as captains of grogs. The rag tag army spends most of the season training and readying itself for the fight ahead. +10 XP Leadership.
Summer: The battle on the plains of Toledo against the Shadow Flambeau ends poorly for the Order. Karandos experiences a debilitating twilight experience and the March is defeated. While no magi are among the casualties, many grogs and consortes perish. Octavian distinguishes himself with his illusion magics as his unit suffers the fewest deaths. The magi expect the fighting to continue and thus retreat into the wilderness to gather their strength. They spend most of the season living off the land as they make their way to Toledo. Penetration +5 XP, Survival +5 XP.
Autumn: The remaining members of the March wait for further instructions in Toledo. The elder magi take it upon themselves to improve the novices’ battle skills; partially blaming their weakness for the defeat. +10 XP Penetration.
1209 – Apparent age +1 (17) – 33 XP
Winter: With the onset of winter, Karandos returns to his coven effectively disbanding the March. By then many of the grogs and some of the magi had already deserted or left for greener pastures. Octavian spends another winter improving his Spanish. +8 XP Spanish.
Spring: Rumors from the countryside of Toledo speak of infant kidnappings by vile demons. The possibility of the Shadow Flambeau’s involvement leads Octavian to investigate. He eventually finds the culprits to be mischievous goblins through Second Sight. He is able to parlay them into ceasing for the time being. +5 XP Second Sight, +5 XP Etiquette.
Summer: A new March forms to combat the Shadow Flambeau after one of the magi claims to have an arcane connection to one of the renegades. Octavian joins the group. The arcane connection proves weak however and they must enact a ritual to power a strong enough spell to locate their quarry. The magi spend most of the season improving their philosophiae in preparation of the ritual. When they finally cast the spell, they are shown the location of a lone tower on the peaks of a nearby mountain. +5 XP Philosophiae.
Autumn: Further scrying spells are unsuccessful. The tower’s highly defensible position makes it a difficult target. It is decided some scouts will be sent on a reconnaissance mission. Due to his special talents, Octavian is chosen among the group. His eyesight proves pivotal in saving the lives of many of his sodales as the tower was a trap left to collapse upon intruders. The mechanism concealed under imaginem magic. +5 XP Second Sight, +5 XP Stealth.
1210 – Apparent age +1 (18 ) – 38 XP
Winter: The March disbands leaving Octavian once more to spend the winter in the city to continue to improve his Spanish. Spanish +8 XP.
Spring: A new Wizard’s March forms under the command of one of the Duresca Guernicus. Octavian is recruited for his unique abilities as they track one of the Shadow Flambeau that has taken refuge in the city of Castille. Octavian is able to coerce information from locals without the use of magic and potentially drawing the attention of the renegade magi. The ex-Flambeau has set up a cult in the roman sewers. +5 XP Entrancement, +5 XP Intrigue.
Summer: The magi venture into the sewers to combat the cult. They find stiff resistance but eventually overcome the preliminary defenses and traps. Cornered in his own summoning room, the shadow Flambeau broke the binding circle containing the demon he had summoned to deal with the intruders. The demon repaid his warden by killing him before attacking the magi of the Order. The demon proved too much and had killed or incapacitated most of the magi. Desperately, Octavian gathered a handful of vis from a fallen corpse and invoked a spontaneous perdo vim spell. Wounded, the demon fled into the bowels of the city. Penetration +5 XP, Brawl +5 XP.
Autumn: Maltus, Praeco of Iberia, is found dead in his sanctum. The local magi are convened by the investigating quaesitor for questioning. After ascertaining his innocence, Octavian is asked to help investigate the site of the death. He finds nothing incriminating through his skills to the disappointment of the Quaesitor. Code of Hermes +5 XP, Second Sight +5 XP.
1211 – Apparent Age 18 – 35 XP
Winter: After news of his recent exploits, Octavian is invited to meet Terrace of Jerbiton. The elder magus is likely to become the next praeco and hopes to bolster his political position. He wishes for the young Tremere to rise through the Order but also become indebted to him for his help. Terrace recomments Octavian to Andorra covenant as a potential new member. Archmagus Antonio Perez of Flambeau consents under the condition that the Tremere spends a Vigil on the night of Winter Solstice in the Caves of Entropy when the unseelie fae are at their strongest. Octavian’s faerie heritage allows him to escape the night relatively unscathed. +5 XP Second Sight, +5 XP Etiquette.
Spring: The Archmagus Antonio Perez further stipulates that Octavian must learn the history of the Knights of Seneca before being accepted into the coven. After careful study of the knightly order, he is fully accepted in the covenant of Andorra. +5 XP Order of Seneca Lore.
Summer: As the war with the Shadow Flambeau continues to worsen, Terrace convinces Baruch of Guernicus to recommend Octavian to join the quaesitors. The novice travels to Magvillus for his interview with the Prima of House Guernicus. Bilera sees many of her own qualities in the Tremere and accedes. Etiquette +5 XP.
Autumn: Octavian remains at Magvillus and studies Intellego for his coming duties. +15 XP intellego.
1212 – Apparent Age +1 (19) – 55 XP.
Winter: Octavian studies a summae on the Code of Hermes while at Magvillus. +15 XP Code of Hermes.
Spring: As the spring thaw begins, Octavian is sent back to Iberia to pursue his training under the supervision of Tacitus of Guernicus. The situation in the Tribunal has worsened with the Shadow Flambeau magi amassing victories against the Order. Octavian practices his fighting skills with the crewmen of the ship and at the armory at Duresca in preparation for another March. +10 XP Brawl.
Summer: The demon released in 1210 resurfaced at the head of a growing cult. It is feared Church authorities may link its appearance with the Order. Tacitus and Octavian are sent to track it down. The pair is able to find and defeat the demon. Penetration +5 XP, Vim +5 XP.
Autumn: Octavian returns to Andorra and spends the season studying the Key of Bonisagus. +20 XP Magic Theory.
1213 – Apparent Age +1 (20) – 36 XP
Winter: Octavian practices Pains of Perpetual Worry in order to master the spell. Pains of Perpetual Worry Mastery +5 XP.
Spring: Octavian studies Junola’s Thaumaturgica on Vim. +11 XP Vim.
Summer: Tacitus and Octavian spend the season traveling the Tribunal in search of any leads on the Shadow Flambeau. +10 XP Iberia Lore.
Autumn: Octavian studies Apparitions and Phantasms. +10 XP imaginem.
1214 – Apparent Age (20) – 39 XP
Winter: Octavian studies the King’s Mirror. Intrigue +9 XP.
Spring: Octavian and Tacitus are able to ascertain that the Shadow Flambeau have assisted the Christian forces in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa after careful investigation and interrogation of participants. Folk Ken +5 XP, Entrancement +5 XP.
Summer: Pursuing their investigations, they uncover evidence that the Shadow Flambeau are in league with multiple Christian authorities throughout the region. Iberia Lore +5 XP, Intrigue +5 XP.
Autumn: Tacitus and Octavian revealed their findings at Tribunal causing a raucus. Terrace of Jerbiton is able to rally support under the threat of the renegade magi. It is eventually proposed in a landmark decision to erect Hermes’ Portals linking the covens of Iberia. Code of Hermes +5 XP, Intrigue +5 XP. Terrace appoints Tacitus and Octavian to lead a March next summer.
1215 – Apparent Age +1 (21) – 41 XP
Winter: Octavian spends the winter studying Sight from the Shroud’s Shadow. +8 XP Intellego.
Spring: Octavian studies Liberi de Creationé in the vineyards of Andorra. +15 XP creo.
Summer: Tacitus and Octavian gather their March in preparation for battle. News from other quaesitors reaches their ears about a new Christian offensive bolstered by Shadow Flambeau against the muslims. While Tacitus, a traditionalist is reluctant to act for fear of violating the Code on meddling in mundane affairs, Octavian is more pragmatic. He lets slip the information to their muslim sodales who tip off their muslim contacts. The Muslims score a sound victory on the Christians with the March rapidly swooping in to slay the Shadow Flambeau magi. Folk Ken +5 XP, Intrigue +1 XP, , Intellego +4 XP.
Autumn: Octavian pursues studying Sight from the Shroud’s Shadow. +8 XP Intellego.
1216 – Apparent Age +1 (22) – 34 XP
Winter: Octavian spends the winter studying Sight from the Shroud’s Shadow. +8 XP Intellego.
Spring: Octavian studies Liberi de Creationé in the vineyards of Andorra. +15 XP creo.
Summer: Octavian is given his first solo investigation. Rumors surface around one of the survivors of the failed Christian offensive of last year. Octavian tracks the survivor down and finds one of the Shadow Flambeau grogs. The man has little information to offer and is made to throw himself from a cliff. Entrancement +5 XP, Intrigue +5 XP.
Autumn: Octavian returns to Andorra and takes steps to personalize his laboratory. Magic Theory +1 XP
1217 – Apparent Age (22) – 55 XP
Winter: Octavian spends the winter studying Apparitions and Phantasms +10 XP Imaginem.
Spring: Octavian spends the Spring studying Apparitions and Phantasms +10 XP Imaginem.
Summer: Investigations turn up a bound demon in Barcelona much like the one found in the secret enclave within Jaferiya. After Octavian confirmed noticing links emanating from the demon akin to those of a familiar, the gathered quaesitors decide to use the demon as an arcane connection and enacted a ritual of slaying on both the demon and the connection. The activities of the Shadow Flambeau begin to peter out after this. Second Sight +5 XP, Philosophiae +5 XP.
Autumn: Tacitus teaches Octavian the following spells: Demon’s Eternal Oblivion (PeVi 10), Sight of the True Form (InCo 15).
1218 – Apparent Age +1 (23) – 30 (40) XP
Winter: Octavian is made to question several captured grogs formerly of Jaferiya. He uses the opportunity to experiment with his entrancement powers to break their wills. +10 XP Entrancement.
Spring: Octavian studies Liberi de Creationé in the vineyards of Andorra. +15 XP creo.
Summer: Octavian travels to Magvillus to be fully accepted as a quaesitor in good standing and allowed a chance to meet other members of House Guernicus briefly before traveling to Ceoris to attend House Tremere’s Decennial. While there, he is permitted to challenge his grand-parens for his sigil. He fails, but is nevertheless rewarded with a facsimile navaratna ring crafted for him by Tremere Artificers. +5 XP Order of Hermes Lore.
Autumn: Upon his return to Iberia, Octavian spends the season attuning the Navaratna ring as his talisman.
1219 – Apparent Age +1 (24) – 30 XP (40)
Winter: Octavian is bid by the magi of Duresca to monitor the Knights of Seneca for any signs of corruption. After the scare of the Shadow Flambeau, the quaesitors are concerned about further corruption within the Tribunal. Acting upon his orders, Octavian approached Archmagus Antonio Perez and spoke of a desire to join the Order of Seneca. Skeptical of the Tremere’s intentions, he reluctantly accepts to initiate him seeing as he did manage to escape the Cave of Entropy relatively unscathed. The initiation is scheduled for the Spring. +5 XP Guile, +5 XP Intrigue.
Spring: It is decided to initiate Octavian into the mystery of the Great Talisman as it isn’t the most secretive of mysteries and would serve as a test of his sincerity.
Summer: Through the Great Talisman virtue*, Octavian opens his talisman to an attunement. Octavian studies On the Wizard’s Sidestep mastery tractatus. Wizard’s Sidestep Mastery +10 XP
Autumn: Through the Great Talisman virtue*, Octavian opens his talisman to an attunement. Octavian trains Entrancement. Entrancement +10 XP.
TALISMAN:
Octavian’s Talisman was crafted by Tremere artificers inspired by their observations of a gypsy astrologer. They had observed the gems used held some astrological relevance seeing as the configuration was different for each individual. In some cases they had to substitute gems due to cost or unavailability. The Tremeres’ limited understanding of Hindu astrology not withstanding.
The brass ring contains nine gems encased in an electrum setting. Eight gems are aligned in a circle surrounding an opal (replacing the blue sapphire) and are in no particular order: Topaz (replacing the yellow sapphire), Ruby, Pearl, Jade (cheaper than Emerald), Coral, Cat’s Eye and Diamond and Amber (replacing hessonite that can only be found in Sri Lanka).
So far Octavian has attuned the following shape and material bonuses:
Electrum – Deception +3 – HoH: MC p137
Opal – Images +2 – HoH: TL p139