Table Talk - Development

Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Light of Andorra
1061

Of course, no problem with this it's just that I assumed that, with the expended chargen of marko, we just took 10 as the easy way out, just as we took 10 for wasted seasons on initiations.

IIRC, it is, whatever the aura.

About Warping, 2/year is the guideline I used for Dimir Taar, and it seems I was righ (incredible, I actually managed to remember something correctly), at least by the rules:

Sure, you'll gain not a single point in four years, and then, you'll have this insane botch+twilight while in a divine aura :wink: T-T

1062

Yeah, foreign auras increase number of botch dice but on average, 10 botch dice should still only be 1 botch (usually works out to 1-3, but that is my luck) but most hostile auras aren't high. infernal auras generally only get to 5. Now that is 6 dice with likelihood of 1 - 2 end up 0 for botch (duce are perverse). Going into twilight though is not likely untl your warping starts to get up there and collect longevity. Considering most magi have 1-3 stamina + 1-3 vim bonus + 1-3 or more concentration, You are looking at 3-9+die vs warping points + aura. Usually a good bet to resist warping.

I usually don't do much warping until longevity potion. Admittedly one twilight can give you a lot of warping at once (botches generally don't, esp major botches in infernal auras since those tend to be fatal). Yeah a botch could give you 1-4 (depending on luck and such) points and the following twilight could give you 1-10 more.

1063

Okay, well if the one huge botch/twilight is inappropriate, how should I calculate the total warping points accrued? I read in the main book that 2/year is about average. But I would think that accounts for exposure to aura's and effects and such. With this character, due to supernatural virtues, I don't have to worry about warping from magical or faerie auras, so how should I calcualte an accurate warping score?

Again, your opinions are welcome and appreciated.

1064

Other things add botch dice as well; using a ton of vis while casting is where Antonio scored most of hs Warping from (Back in the day, Carmello who played the original Antonio had a habit of tossing vis into penetration all the time).

1065

So then I should just use the values I came up with? If so what should I do about the resulting twilight?

1066

use the points as you calculated them. as for the effects, I will ponder it. If you guys have ideas, feel free to share :smiley:

1067

Directly from a different forum

Mastro Kaloforo

Dear fellow mages. this is my character.
If it is approved, then the calculation will be put together.

Gerardo della FonteBianca was born out in as a sheperd' son in the commonality of Siena in 1189, until the age of 8, he over watched sheeps and in the meanwhile sculpted wooden statues and tools; his skills were raw and untrained, but they were sufficient to be noticed by a passing Florentine noble who appreciated his work and brought him to Florence, where the first studioes were developed. The artistic studio led by Mastro Vicentino taught to the new students various skills, like forging statues of various materials, painting and carving. There he developed his skills in carving and picked up painting skills. Quickly enough the curious boy learned that several people spoke about neoplatonism and other mysterious concept, and he observed that intellectuals and artists exchanged points of view. He also noticed that his patron was rather keen toward a certain group of person, who were accurately avoided by the rest of the city.

Soon these odd persons came for him, realising he was a fellow mage, and he was presented Mastro Kalomelan, who was a senior statue forger and a very avid and brilliant Verditius, and was very keen on taking on the new apprentice, having recognised his talents. Passed the fifteen years, the 23 years old Geraldo passed his Gauntlet and was allowed to choose a new name. As he was fond of the beauty of the Greek statue, he called himself Kaloforo, bringer of beauty. It was 1202, and the situation between Siena, Florence and the Heiglische Reich was becoming more and more tense. Kaloforo went to see his father and he wasn’t that fond to see the son of him to deal with Florentine people. Urged therefore to leave the native county, as he would not be welcomed back, Kaloforo followed his pater Mastro Kalomelan in Germany, where they settled in Mainz, working mainly as statue artists, and acquiring a certain wealth; for the discerning they would prepare some “specific” statue. The agreement the two had was more employer/employee and the young Kaloforo was with years passing becoming sicker and sicker of being on the wrong side of the stick. He therefore took several time and took a precise look at the Peripheral code to find the loopholes he needed to stop being the forge companion of his pater, finding them easily, he was able to get what he needed from him. When he heard of the possibility to go to Spain to study the works of the Arabic, he immediately took the chanche to get away from his uh so excellent pater (read rapacious).

His sigil is a pastoral sound of a chimney, but during an odd accident using vis in Mainz the sound developed into including olfactive ovine smells, the stronger the spell the stronger the smell (as per warped magic) and sound of sheeps. (much to is chagrin...). his hubris is devoloping into dealing with everything in secrecy, and in mystery, as in less is said the better it is. This copes disturbingly to his logical attitude, stricteness and sens of organisation which allows him to be very precise in detailing schemes and plans.

Age 33 Male Human/Senese, Catholic, Mastro, 1,55m, 62Kg, right handed, Black hairs, brown hairs,

Confidence:3(30)
Age 35

Verditius Great House Verdi
In+3(Logical) Str+1 (big hands) Pr:-1(uninspiring) Des:+1(precise)
Per0 Sta+1 (long winded) Com:0 Vel:-2 (slow)
Warping Score 3(30)+
Character traits

Strict +3 Keep to his mouth+1
Relaxed+1 Honest -1
Composed+1 Schemer -1
Organised +3
Hubris+1(Secretivity)

Virtues
Verditius Magic (F)
Hermetic Mage (F)
Skilled Parens
Adept Lab Student
Long Winded
Inventive Genius
Free Study
Slow caster
Personal Vis Source (Herbam)
Affinity w Intellego
Affinity w Craft Statue
Vices
Tempered
Grudge (toward the parens)
[i]Driven/i(outdo the parens)
Close family ties (to the Artistic studio in Florence)
Reclusive
Tempered
*Averse to Risk
**Limited Magic Resistance to Vim
***Necessary condition open flame
+Warped Magica

Mysteries
*Enchant Casting Tools (pag.123/124 HoH MC)
**Reforging Enchanted Item (pag.125/127 HoH MC)
***Automata (128/131 HoH/MC)
+due to warping(Bells and ovine smell)

Skills
Florentine(Village) 5
Profession: Shepherd 3(15)
Siena Lore (Countryside) 2
Athletics(Running) 1
Stealth (Countryside) 2(10)
Awareness (Wolves) 2
Craft Statue (wood) 6(50+36)
Craft Painter (sketch) 2(15)

Artes Liberales (logic) 1
Latin(artist) 4
Magic Theory(magic items) 4(+20)
Parma Magica(Intellego) 1

Philosophy (Neoplatonism) 2(15)
Organisation Art Guild(statue) 1(5)
Leadership(artistic field) 1(5)
Appraise (wood) 1(5)
Florence(Noble quarter) 1(5)
Verditius Mystery Cults 3(45)
Hermes Code 4(50)
Hubris 1(5)

Creo 01/01
Intellego* 12/55
Muto 04/10(+20)
Rego 08/40
Perdo 01/0

Au 0
Aq 0
Te 2/3
Ig 3/6
Vi 8/36
An 1/1
He 10/65
Im 9/51
Me 4 /10
Co 2/3

Spells
Whispering Wind (InAu 15)
The Inexorable Search (InCo 20)
Probe Nature Hidden Lore (InHe 5)
Converse with Plant and Trees (InHe25) S tot 65
Coils of entangling plants (ReHe20)
Repel the Wooden Shaft (ReHe10) (S tot 30)
Twist of the Wooden form (ReHe 25) (as Twist of the living tree, it differs as it is applied to dead wood)
Taumathurgical trasformation of the wood in iron(MuHe20)S tot 110
Scales of Magical Weight (InVi 5)
Sense the Nature of the Vis (InVi5)
Gather the Essence of the Vis (ReVi 15) S Tot 125
Mantaining the Demanding Spell (ReVi 25) Total 150+30 (skilled parens)
Formulas
formulaic: Te+Fo+1+x+d
ritual: Te+Fo+1+1+2+x+d
Spontaneous: (Te+Fo+1+x+d)/2; (Fo+Te+1+x)/5

Fast casting -2+0
Determining +0+1
Targetting +0+0
Concentration +1+0
Fast Casting not attempted

Lab Total:
Te+Fo+3+5+x*
*(+6 with lab texts, +3 when studying from raw vis, +3/+6 inventing spells, potions, magic item/experimenting)
Longevity Ritual: 1+8.

Combat
Run

Notes: His main concers in Spain could be:

During the trip Archmage Antonio and mastro Kaloforo discussed several iussues in a private manner.

The first concern discussed privately with Archmage Antonio was to put in the Arab field some nicely crafted wooden statuettes, of arabic taste; these statuettes could be enchanted in such a way they could transmit what they "listen" to a central point; these statues therefore could be registering some interesting conversations. Of course their use could not be limited to the Arabian.

the second iussue would have been the rescuing of some lab note which is in Mastro Kaloforo lab. What would constitute as his own and what constitutes as mastro Kaloforo own would be an interesting Law and Order set of adventure for any Quaesitoris.

The third iussue is that as an artist he might be responsable for some wealth and public good standing with the nobles. It would be a matter of producing some sample and sending them to the local nobles. See if they like it, and some commission would come to the artist, therefore to the covenant. The more pleased the noble, the better the attitude with the nobility and church. As the artist has already worked in the Heiglische Reich for some noble and church, he does not see why it should not work.
Banning some faerie interference...

The Herbam vis source he has is due to some seed he brings with him in a small sacket. When planted they grow quite rapidly but for the rest they are a normal pine tree. The first yeat, they produces these odd pine cones; when frantumed and mixed with pure water and let boil at bagnomaria overnight they give 3 point of vis of mana.

Hope you might enjoy it.
Best regards
Marco

1068

I would have expected a bunch of magic items in your collection by now, or at least the lab notes for items you may have made for others and sold. I can help with ideas if you would like.

1069

Everyone,

Go ahead and start roleplaying your character in the "Back at Home" thread, we can refine as we go. You came along with a large group of visitors that accompanied Archmagus Antonio.

1070

I apologize. I am having an emergency in RL (elderly parent fell) and can't join a game at this time. Marko, I apologize. Thanks for considering me, but I wouldn't want to hold up someone else who could join in right away. As it stands, I may be out for a month or so.

1071

Good luck.

Scott

1072

God Bless

1073

If you did notice in the main history of the character, he was "used" as a lab assistant by the pater. Sensing that, he felt the necessity to go away.

But regarding lab and stuff, he did not have much because he actually earned the money, for his boss...

Noticing that, he felt living in a golden cage, because the boss gave him a lot to live with and gave him thr access to mysteries he wanted, but still he did not give him permission to use magic, as much as he wishes; perhaps this is correlated to an accidente which caused him the explosion of a side aspect of his magical sigil.

When he started using magic, associated to his spell casting that was a minor thing something like a small distant bell in distance. During an accident with vis handling, this bell twinkling had become stronger and oddier, and when the spell is high level (15-20) it is possible to smell an odd perfume, like one left out from ovine source... on level 25 the smell is very fastidious... Imagine the frustration.

1074

:wink:

I get you. Makes sense to me. Lets put him in the mix and see what happens.

1075

This is my companion.

Baron Don Fernando Alonso Martines de Avril y Albertini

In+1(Attentive) Str+1 (big hands) Pr:+1(inspiring) Des:+3(precise)
Per0 Sta+1 (long winded) Com:+1(commanding) Vel:-2 (slow)
Virtues
Landed Noble (G)
Wealthy (G)
Social Contact(Aragon Nobility)
Inspirational
knight
Self confident
Vices
Oath of Fealthy(G) (to the king of Aragon)
Dependant(G) (the grandmother)
Ambitious
Close Family Ties (representing the various familiar troubles from sons, wife, cousins, brothers...)
Proud
Vow( to throw the Muslims aways from Spain)
Traits
Corteous+2
Politician+1
Pompous+3
Brave+3

Skills
Aragonese 5(Court)
Single Weapon 5(Sword and Shield)
Ride 4 (Joust)
Great Weapon 4 (Lance & Shield)
Etiquette 4(Aragon Court)
Charm 4 (Women)
Avril Feud lore 3 (castles)
Guile 3(Women)
Awareness 3 (keeping guard)
Folk Ken 3 (fighters)
Intrigue 3 (Court)
Athlethic 2 (running)
Brawl 2 (knives)
Swim 2( river)
Leadership 2 (fighters)
Carouse 2(staying sober)
Osca Lore 2(noble mansions)
Animal Handling 2 (horse)
Music 1 (sing)
Bargain 1 (weapon)
Hunt 1 (with greayhound)

A bit of research showed up these families existed and they ended up in Sicily.

So this guy was the second born of the Albertini family, pity that the first born was a daughter. Hence he was designed to become the inheritor of the feud of the father. At the age if six he started trained with the Duke of Osca, by doing the usual apprentinceship, as a valet- Began training bringing food and fighting mock battles with the other valets. Being of a certain good aspect and good ability gave him a good, distinctive advantage in the various field of valet ship- Oddly enough the young Fernando was not very keen on hunting.

So he made the ritual vigil of one night at the age of 18 and so was awarded the status of knight, and he fought in the small skirmish war between Moors and Christians, all along the frontiers. He went rather lucky and at the age of 20 was married, and at the age of 27 had two children. Now getting older and older he is relagated to more administrative roles; To better manuever against the enemy Aragon would like to enlist the aid of the small Andorra state with its mighty covenant. As Custata and Don Fernando Alonso Martines de Avril y Albertini got along a LONG time ago during a minor quarrel, and under the assumption the two might have kept contact, he was dispatched as an ambassador to the Andorra covenant, to discuss what could be useful to both counties.

1076

Hello everyone,

I've been reading the stories thus far and they are great.

I'm going to post my character concept here. I haven't made up the statistics yet and I'm working on the background now :slight_smile:

Kallista, ex Marinita; Songbird of Thebes
Character history:

Kallista was born in Greece near the bay at Prevetza. Little is known of her father, except her mother loved him. Kallista is raised near the faerie regio that surrounds her mother's spring, to which her mother is tethered. Her mother is a Naiad, Nymph of a spring that feeds into the bay near Prevetza.

As was common among the Nymphs and Satyrs of the area, Kallista was taught how to make music for the purpose of swaying the hearts of Man. She has been most interested in Singing and the Lyre. As a child she was as precocious as her brethren, sometimes wandering to nearby towns to play with mundane children.

Playing pretend was always more interesting with Kallista than without. For this she was welcomed by other children of Prevetza. Being naturally charismatic she would lead the games; occasionally she would need to assert her control with a fist to the nose of a bully.

Kallista was 8 that she first met Ardonis, a smart, but sheepish boy. Many times she would defend Ardonis from bullies, but it only seemed to make things worse. They were thick as thieves and occasionally she would bring him back to where she lived. During one summer at the age of 11, their mischievousness did not go unnoticed, and Kallista was captured by the superstitious town folk; thought to be a demon for her ability to control the hearts of people with her song.

She had been dared to lure people out of the market and have them "love each other" since Ardonis did not believe her explanation of the act. As fate would have it, a covenant mate of Kallista's future Pater had been looking in the area for a familiar. Instead he found Kallista and took her to his covenant. It did not take long however for her mother to find where she went and to demand Kallista be given a season a year to visit and treated well.

It would be a few years before meeting Ardonis again. He was following in his father’s footsteps in endlessly toiling with the earth. He had not forgotten their fun and the stories they told, privately he has been a poet, composing odes to Kallista, whom he thought he would never see again. After a short summer, Kallista persuades her Pater, to have him brought into the covenant.

It takes time but Kallista is able to show that Ardonis is capable and deserving of an education. Though a large favor to ask, given Adonis’s age, it is granted.

Ardonis immerses himself in reading and lore, interested in tales of heroes and love and when time will allow it, he writes poems and songs. He works with Kallista to create short performances, attempting to rework Greek plays he has become fascinated with.

When Kallista passes her gauntlet she takes Ardonis as a companion and they set out to find bards and players to travel Europa for a few years. A few years have passed, much drunken revelry has ensued as well as near misses with “meddling with mundanes”. Their performances are grand, incorporating illusions and magic into the plays.

They have traveled 6 years now and their daughter Daphne is 4. During the time they have performed at various covenants.

1077

I have a question about skills, since this is my first 5th edition game i'll play...

What skills would include Storytelling, Acting, and Poetry?

Would they be a combination of other skills, like: Artes Libres, Guile, and Language ?

I'm hoping it is :slight_smile:

Oh.. since Music is one skill, should i write down which intruments that I can play, maybe like 1 per skill level (kinda like Artes Libres, each skill is a possible language you can read)? or do i take one skill per instrument?

1078

For storytelling, you use a combination of skills; Language, Folk Ken (gotta read your audience), and so on.Acting is Guile. Poetry is Language & Artes Liberales (?). Music covers all music, but music theory is covered by Artes Liberales. You can play multiple instruments, specialize in one.

1079

I will be retiring Jehan and replacing her with a character similiar but with the actual skill levels that Marko demands if you want to be considering for fighting at Andorra. Appearantly all military character (warriors and such) must have 5 in two weapon skills, a 6 in one and preferrably pussiant. If you don't have to that level, you aren't allowed in the guard save in some special role Marko picks whether it fits the character or not.

Keep this in mind if you make a companion that has military skills.

1080

That is only a draft... i am taking forever... I kept trying to kill off her true love Ardonis, but it was too cheesy. So i kept him alive :slight_smile:

Anyway i had originally had down Pagan as a flaw, but it is a story flaw, and two major story flaws would be bad, since i am trying to work in a Dependant.

Also i was thinking of taking 2 minor mysteries:
Perfomance magic and the folk mystery, i think charms? ug no book atm.

I know they each take a season, but do you take a flaw with them too? If you do, those don't count toward the 10 original flaws right?