Tacitus ex Tremere

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: A Dirge for the Order
1

Tacitus ex Tremere, updated as far as: 1260.1

Age: 57(36)
Size: 0
Gender: Male
Confidence: 1 (3)
Characteristics: Int 2, Per 0, Str 4, Sta 0, Pre 0, Com 0, Dex 0, Qik 0

Virtues: The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Minor magical focus – certamen(free), Affinity with Auram, Affinity with Intellego, Great Strength, Improved Characteristics, Puissant Finesse, Nature Lore (forests), Puissant Intellego, Skilled Parens, Warrior

Flaws: Ambitious(Major), Twilight Prone, Close family ties, Covenant Upbringing, Disjointed Magic

Personality Traits: Ambitious +6, Brave +3, Loyal +1

Abilities:
Area Lore: Bulgaria (covenants) 2
Language: Bulgarian (poetry) 5
Language: Latin (Hermetic terms) 5 (includes 15xp of childhood xp from covenant upbringing)
Organization Lore: Order of Hermes (covenants) 2
Athletics (climbing) 2
Awareness (forests) 2
Bows (crossbow) 4
Brawl (dodging) 2
Code of Hermes (loopholes) 2
Concentration (maintaining spells) 3
Finesse (aiming spells) 4+2
Great Weapon (two-handed sword) 2
Guile (feigning innocence) 2
Intrigue (tremere schemes) 2
Magic Theory (Intellego) 7
Parma Magica (Mentem) 5
Penetration (Mentem) 3
Survival (forests) 2
Swimming (rivers) 2
Thrown Weapons (rock) 1
Forest Lore (supernatural inhabitants) 6
Magical Arts: Cr 5, In 23*+3, Mu 5(2), Pe 5, Re 5, An 5, Aq 5, Au 11(9)*, Co 9, He 5, Ig 5, Im 9, Me 11, Te 5, Vi 14 * includes affinity

Wizard's Sigil: Quietness – sounds dim and a hush comes over the area affected by a spell.

Spells:
Call of the Rushing Waters InAq 15 +31
Whispering winds InAu 15 +37
Sailor's foretaste of the morrow InAu 20 +37
Revealed flaws of the mortal Flesh InCo 10 +34
Sight of the true form level 10 InCo 10 +34
Whispers through the black gate InCo(Me) +34
The Inexorable Search InCo 20 +35
Intuition of the forest InHe 10 +31
Shriek of Impending Shafts InHe15 +31
Vision of Heat’s light InIg 20 +31
Eyes of the flame InIg 35 +31
Frosty Breath of the spoken life InMe 20 +37
Posing the silent question InMe 20 +37
Thoughts within babble InMe 25 +37
Peering into the mortal mind InMe 30 +37
Eyes of the eagle InIm 25 +35
Summoning the distant image InIm 25 +35
Eyes of the Treacherous Terrain InTe 15 +31
Wizard’s Sidestep ReIm 10 +14
Invisible Sling of Vilano ReTe 10 +10 See HoH:S
Pit of the gaping earth PeTe 15 +10
Piercing the Faerie Veil InVi 20 +40
Piercing the Magical Veil InVi 20 +40
Piercing the Infernal Veil InVi 20 + 40
Scales of the magical weight InVi 5 +40
Sense of magical power InVi 2 +40
Sense the nature of vis InVi 5 +40
Sight of the aura InVi 15 +40
Sight of the active magics InVi 40 +40
Sight of the lazy parens InVi 40 +40
Demon’s Eternal Oblivion PeVi 5 +19

Character concept: Tacitus ex Tremere
Tacitus is a trusted magus who had been working his way up the Tremere hierarchy. He'd been getting ready to take an apprentice, had done postings both within and outside Transylvania. He has gained command of a magic vehicle (most build points will be going into this), and had been equipped with a couple of items or casting tablets from a zenodochium (see against the dark) so the vehicle could act as healing support to Tremere operations.

When the plague hit, the contingency was activated to send Tacitus' vehicle out to support. When it became clear no-one knew what the cause was, the contingency to either return home or evacuate was activated. As Transylvania is quarantined, evacuating to safety became his only option...

2

Character at gauntlet:
Tacitus ex Tremere
Analytical Intellego specialist

Background: Born in the forests of Bulgaria to a member of the Lineage of Muj, he was brought up preferring the forested hills and valleys to the mountains his magical forebears often lived in. Like them, he was strong and if his Gift had not clearly manifested he would have become a soldier. As his Gift appeared, he was apprenticed to House Tremere as is traditional. He disdained direct attack magics, preferring his aim with spell or with crossbow. He carries his own gear, rather than letting porters or grogs slow his pace. He is often found moving around the forests of the Transylvanian Tribunal looking for opportunities to prove himself.

Appearance: A wide, muscular man with dark hair often found in armour.

Age: 25
Size: 0
Gender: Male
Confidence: 1 (3)
Characteristics: Int 2, Per 0, Str 4, Sta 0, Pre 0, Com 0, Dex 1, Qik 0

Virtues: The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Minor magical focus – certamen(free), Affinity with Auram, Affinity with Intellego, Great Strength, Improved Characteristics, Puissant Finesse, Nature Lore (forests), Puissant Intellego, Skilled Parens, Warrior

Flaws: Ambitious(Major), Twilight Prone, Close family ties, Covenant Upbringing, Disjointed Magic

Soak:0 / +1 (fur armour)/ +9 (Mail armour)
Combat:
Dodge Init 0, Atk n/a, Dfn 3, Dam n/a
Great Sword Init +2, Atk +8, Dfn +5, Dam +13
Cudgel Init +1, Atk +6, Dfn +3, Dam +11
Crossbow Init +5, Atk +9, Dfn +4, Dam +8

Personality Traits: Ambitious +6, Brave +3, Loyal +1

Abilities:
Area Lore: Bulgaria (covenants) 2
Language: Bulgarian (poetry) 5
Language: Latin (Hermetic terms) 5 (includes 15xp of childhood xp from covenant upbringing)
Organization Lore: Order of Hermes (covenants) 2
Athletics (climbing) 2
Awareness (forests) 2
Bows (crossbow) 3
Brawl (dodging) 2
Code of Hermes (loopholes) 1
Concentration (maintaining spells) 2
Finesse (aiming spells) 2+2
Great Weapon (two-handed sword) 2
Guile (feigning innocence) 2
Magic Theory (Intellego) 3
Parma Magica (Mentem) 1
Penetration (Mentem) 2
Survival (forests) 2
Thrown Weapons (rock) 1
Forest Lore (supernatural inhabitants) 1
Magical Arts: Cr 5, In 12*+3, Mu 2, Pe 5, Re 5, An 0, Aq 0, Au 5*, Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 5, Te 5, Vi 5 * includes affinity

Wizard's Sigil: Quietness – sounds dim and a hush comes over the area affected by a spell.

Spells:
Whispers through the black gate InCo(Me) +15
Intuition of the forest InHe 10 +15
Frosty Breath of the spoken life InMe 20 +20
Posing the silent question InMe 20 +20
Thoughts within babble InMe 25 +20
Wizard’s Sidestep ReIm 10 +5
Invisible Sling of Vilano ReTe 10 +10 See HoH:S
Pit of the gaping earth PeTe 15 +10
Piercing the Faerie Veil InVi 20 +20
Demon’s Eternal Oblivion PeVi 5 +10

Personal possessions: Full harness of mail armour, two-handed sword, crossbow (when ready for war) or Fur armour, cudgel, crossbow, grog pack (when hunting)
EDIT to correct characteristics

3

Age: 57(36)
Size: 0
Gender: Male
Confidence: 1 (3)
Characteristics: Int 2, Per 0, Str 4, Sta 0, Pre 0, Com 0, Dex 0, Qik 0

Virtues: The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Minor magical focus – certamen(free), Affinity with Auram, Affinity with Intellego, Great Strength, Improved Characteristics, Puissant Finesse, Nature Lore (forests), Puissant Intellego, Skilled Parens, Warrior

Flaws: Ambitious(Major), Twilight Prone, Close family ties, Covenant Upbringing, Disjointed Magic

Personality Traits: Ambitious +6, Brave +3, Loyal +1

Abilities:
Area Lore: Bulgaria (covenants) 2
Language: Bulgarian (poetry) 5
Language: Latin (Hermetic terms) 5 (includes 15xp of childhood xp from covenant upbringing)
Organization Lore: Order of Hermes (covenants) 2
Athletics (climbing) 2
Awareness (forests) 2
Bows (crossbow) 4
Brawl (dodging) 2
Code of Hermes (loopholes) 2
Concentration (maintaining spells) 3
Finesse (aiming spells) 4+2
Great Weapon (two-handed sword) 2
Guile (feigning innocence) 2
Intrigue (tremere schemes) 2
Magic Theory (Intellego) 7
Parma Magica (Mentem) 5
Penetration (Mentem) 3
Survival (forests) 2
Swimming (rivers) 2
Thrown Weapons (rock) 1
Forest Lore (supernatural inhabitants) 6
Magical Arts: Cr 5, In 23*+3, Mu 5(2), Pe 5, Re 5, An 5, Aq 5, Au 11(9)*, Co 9, He 5, Ig 5, Im 9, Me 11, Te 5, Vi 14 * includes affinity

Wizard's Sigil: Quietness – sounds dim and a hush comes over the area affected by a spell.

Spells:
Call of the Rushing Waters InAq 15 +31
Whispering winds InAu 15 +37
Sailor's foretaste of the morrow InAu 20 +37
Revealed flaws of the mortal Flesh InCo 10 +34
Sight of the true form level 10 InCo 10 +34
Whispers through the black gate InCo(Me) +34
The Inexorable Search InCo 20 +35
Intuition of the forest InHe 10 +31
Shriek of Impending Shafts InHe15 +31
Vision of Heat’s light InIg 20 +31
Eyes of the flame InIg 35 +31
Frosty Breath of the spoken life InMe 20 +37
Posing the silent question InMe 20 +37
Thoughts within babble InMe 25 +37
Peering into the mortal mind InMe 30 +37
Eyes of the eagle InIm 25 +35
Summoning the distant image InIm 25 +35
Eyes of the Treacherous Terrain InTe 15 +31
Wizard’s Sidestep ReIm 10 +14
Invisible Sling of Vilano ReTe 10 +10 See HoH:S
Pit of the gaping earth PeTe 15 +10
Piercing the Faerie Veil InVi 20 +40
Piercing the Magical Veil InVi 20 +40
Piercing the Infernal Veil InVi 20 + 40
Scales of the magical weight InVi 5 +40
Sense of magical power InVi 2 +40
Sense the nature of vis InVi 5 +40
Sight of the aura InVi 15 +40
Sight of the active magics InVi 40 +40
Sight of the lazy parens InVi 40 +40
Demon’s Eternal Oblivion PeVi 5 +19
EDIT to add spells learnt from texts

4

First 10 years of post-gauntlet experience:
Year 1; 10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to 13(2)+3, 15xp into Im and Co to bring each to 5.
Year 2: 10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to 14(3)+3, 15xp into Mu and He to bring Mu to 5(2) and He to 5.
Year 3: 10 xp into Magic Theory to bring to 3(10), 15xp into Aq and Ig to bring each to 5.
Year 4: 10xp into Magic Theory to bring to 4, 15xp into An to bring to 5, 10xp into Parma Magica to bring to 2, 5 xp into Faerie Lore (forests) 1
Year 5: 10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to 15(3)+3, 15xp into Finesse to bring to 3+2, 15xp into Parma Magica to bring to 3.
Year 6: 10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to 16(2)+3, 10xp into Vi to bring to 6(4), 10xp into Magic Theory to bring to 4(10), 10xp into Bows to bring to 3(10)
Year 7: 10 xp into Magic Theory to bring to 4(20), 10 xp into Vi to bring to 7(7), 10xp into Auram (15 with Affinity) to bring to 7(2), 10 xp into Bows to bring to 4
Year 8: 10 xp into Magic Theory to bring to 5(5), 10 xp into Vi to bring to 9, 10xp into Auram (15 with Affinity) to bring to 9, 10 xp into Parma Magica to bring to 3(10)
Year 9: 10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to bring to 17+3, 10 xp into Vi to bring to 10, 10 xp into Parma Magica to bring to 4, 10 xp into Forest lore to bring to 2.
Year 10: 40xp into season not advanced - 1 season longevity ritual, 3 seasons inventing spells. Shriek of the Impending Shafts (InHe 15) In 20 + He 5 + Int 2 + MT 6 + aura 3 = 35, invent in 1 season. Piercing the Magical veil (InVi 20) In 20 + Vi 10 + Int 2 + MT 6 + aura 3 = 40, invent in 1 season. Piercing the Infernal Veil (InVi 20) In 20 + Vi 10 + Int 2 + MT 6 + aura 3 = 40, invent in 1 season.

So far he has 50 build points, of which he can spend 5 on vis. He will spend 5 for 25 pawns, and buy a level 11 longevity ritual (7 base + 10 for first 10 magnitudes + 2 for 11th magnitude) leaving him with 6 pawns for other usage. He will soon want to enchant a talisman as soon as he gets his magic theory to 6 and can enchant a semi-precious stone (rock crystal +5 clairvoyance)

5

Second 10 years of post-gauntlet experience
11:10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to bring to 17(15)+3, 10xp into finesse to bring to 3(10)+2, 10xp into Vi to bring to 10(10), 10xp into Forest Lore to bring to 2(10)
12:10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to bring to 18(12)+3, 10xp into finesse to bring to 4+2, 10 xp into magic theory to bring to 5(15), 10xp into Vi to bring to 11(9)
13:10xp into magic theory to bring to 5(25), 10xp into Vi to bring to 12(7), 10xp into Co to bring to 6(4), 10xp into Forest Lore to bring to 3(5)
14:10xp into magic theory to bring to 6(5), 10xp into Me to bring to 6(4), 10xp into Auram(15 with affinity) to bring to 10(5), 10xp into Parma Magica to bring to 4(10)
15:10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to bring to 19(8)+3, 10xp into Vi to bring to 13(4), 10xp into finesse to bring to 4(10)+2, 10xp into Im to bring to 6(4)
16:10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to bring to 20(3)+3, 10xp into Me to bring to 7(7),10xp into auram (15 with affinity) to bring to 11(9), 10xp into Forest Lore to bring to 3(15)
17:10xp into Magic theory to bring to 6(15), 10xp into Vi to bring to 14, 10xp into Co to bring to 7(7), 10 xp into Im to bring to 7(7), 10 xp into Parma Magica to bring to 4(20)
18:10xp into Me to bring to 9, 10xp in Co to bring to 9, 10xp into Im to bring to 9, 10xp into forest lore to bring to 4(5)
19:20xp into magic theory to bring to 7. 20 xp into seasons not advanced - prepare a ring of hazel (size 1, wood x2) + rock crystal (size 1, semi-precious stone x12) for 14 pawns of vis. 1 season attuning it as talisman
20:40xp into seasons not advanced. All 4 will put enchantments in, attuning bonuses of +3 divination(hazel), +3 healing(rock crystal), +5 clairvoyance(rock crystal), +2 move self (jewellery).
1st effect: Wizard's levitation - ReCo base 5(move a body slowly in any direction you please), range personal, +1 duration concentration for total 10, +6 50 uses/day. Lab total Re 5 + co 9 + Int 2 + MT 7 + aura 3 + 2 shape (jewellery - move self) +5 talisman total 33
2nd effect Wizard’s stamina ReCo base 10(as per endurance of the berserkers) +1duration diameter, +1 2 uses/day for total 16. Lab total Re 5 + co 9 + Int 2 + MT 7 + aura 3 + 1 for other Re effect already installed +5 tailsman total 32 (not sure if healing or protecting wearer S&M bonuses apply)
3rd effect Eyes of the bat InAu25 +2 3 uses/day for total 27. lab total In 23 + Au 11 + Int 2 + MT 8 + aura 3 + talisman 5 total 54
4th effect Clear sight of the air – as true sight of the air but with range touch. InAu20 +6 50 uses/day. In 23 + Au 11 + Int 2 + MT 8 + aura 3 + talisman 5 total 54
EDIT to add the remaining effects in the Talisman, and add an extra use of eyes of the bat in case one use gets dispelled.
10 aging rolls with bonus 1 for spring/summer mage, 11 for longevity ritual total 12 - 5 age 36 to 40 so total is (roll -7), 5 age 41 to 45 so total is (roll -6)
roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=160006
rolls 4,7, 1 then 4 so 8, 6, 5, 7 , 9, 5 , 3 so in the first 9 years my apparent age increases 1 year, make one more roll which is a 7.
He now has a total of 100 BP of which 10 can be used for vis, or 50 pawns. He has used 19 on longevity ritual, 14 on opening a talisman, 10 on installing effects into the talisman so 43 used, leaving 7 towards the familiar he will soon be binding.

6

21: 5xp into Parma Magica to bring it to 5, 15xp into Intrigue 2(Tremere schemes), 10xp into Forest Lore to 4(15), 10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to bring to 20(18)+3
22: 10xp into Forest Lore to 5, 10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to bring to 21(12)+3, 10xp into Bows to 3(10)
23: 10xp into Vi to 14(10), 10 xp into Bows to 4, 10xp in Me to 10, 10xp in Penetration to 2(10)
24: 10xp into Vi to 15(5), 10xp into Forest Lore to 5(10), 5xp in Penetration to 3, 15xp in Concentration to 3
25: 10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to bring to 22(5)+3, 10xp in Forest Lore to 5(20), 11xp into Vi to 16, 9xp into Mu to bring to 6(5)
26: 10xp into Intellego (15 with affinity) to bring to 22(20)+3, 15xp into Swim 2, 11xp in Me to 11, 9xp in Vi to 15(14)
27: 2xp into Intellego (3 with affinity) to bring to 23+3, 10xp in Forest Lore to 6, 18xp in Vi to 17, 10xp into Code of Hermes to bring to 2.
28:40xp into seasons not advanced – 1 season find familiar (owl), 1 season to Bind – In 26 + Me 11 +Int 2 + MT 8 + aura 3 =50 – gold cord 3, silver cord 1, bronze cord 2. 1 season installing mental communication with images and emotions as per ArM p106 – level 15. As I bound the owl with InMe, I get +10 to instal InMe powers, so lab total is 60 – can do two level15 effects in 1 season so we have two-way communication. 1 season shared senses vision (InMe 30), 1 season shared senses hearing (InMe 30). Total 19 pawns of In and Me vis spent this year.
29:40xp into seasons not advanced. Research sight of the active magics (InVi 40) In 26 + Vi 17 + Int 2 + MT 8 + aura 3 = 56 – takes 3 seasons. 1 season researching small InVi spells – with a lab total of 56 I can get 28 levels, so I take Sense of magical power InVi 2, Scales of the magical weight InVi 5, Sense the nature of Vis InVi 5, and use the remaining 16 levels researching “sight of the aura” InVi base 2 determine the power of a mystical aura range personal duration diameter +1 target vision +4 for a total of 15 – allows you to tell just by looking how powerful auras within your visual range are. EDIT: Apparently Jonathan is happy for us to have lab texts for spells in the ArM5 main book during character creation, so I can do "sight of the active magics" in one season. With the other two, I learn "Eyes of the flame" InIg35 and "Peering into the mortal mind" InMe 30, freeing up 13BP of texts.
30; 40xp into seasons not advanced. Research Sight of the lazy parens (InVi 40) from Apprentices page 33. Lab total 56 – takes 3 seasons. 1 season research Eyes of the Eagle InIm 25 – In 26 + Im 9 + Int 2 + MT 8 + aura 3 =50.

EDIT to add:
31 – 40xp into seasons not advanced. 1 season on Call of the Rushing Waters InAq 15, 1 into whispering winds InAu 15, 1 into researching The inexorable search InCo 20 Hey, this is only 3 season's worth - I appear to have deleted an intellego spell! Maybe sailor's foretaste of the morrow?
32 – 40xp into seasons not advanced. 1 season on learning Revealed flaws of mortal flesh InCo 10 and Sight of the True form level 10, 1 season into Vision of Heat’s light, 1 into Summoning the Distant Image InIm 25, 1 into Eyes of the Treacherous Terrain InTe 15
12 aging rolls – 5 at (roll -6), 2 at (roll-5), then the familiar is bound so next 5 at (roll-7).
roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=161735 – 4, 7, 6, 5, 0, 4, 2, 6, 7, 3, 6, 3 – no increase to apparent age.
Total 32 seasons = 160BP, can use 16 for vis = 80 pawns. 62 used so far, leaving 18 free – taking 9 Intellego and 9 Corpus.
Lab texts – Enchantment of the scrying pool InAq30, The Eye of the sage InCo 30, Veil of Invisibility PeIm 20, = 16BP. EDIT:13BP freed up from lab texts
Mentem Summa The faculties of mankind Level 18 quality 12 = 30BP
Finesse tractatus Combat without breaching the parma Q10 = 10BP
EDIT: Parma Magica tractatus "Psychic self-defence" Quality 10 = 10BP
Vis sources – The seidhr’s pool (a pool locally famous because it occasionally shows reflections of strange images)– 4 pawns Intellego Vis. The dragon’s bones (strange formations of white rock that look like giant bones) – 6 pawns Vim Vis. The giant’s seat –(in a small hollow between two hills said to represent a giant’s buttocks) – 2 pawns Corpus vis. 12/year = 60BP
3 specialist at 5BP each – Tremere trained specialist grogs - 1 hunter with survival 5 and virtues wilderness sense/ warrior/ hermetic experience flaws dutybound/ craving for travel/raised in the gutter, 2 watchmen with single weapon 5, some awareness and concentration and virtues second sight/warrior/ hermetic experience and flaws 1 personality and 2 general. Hermetic experience is from grogs, gives 50xp for latin/magic lore/order of hermes lore so they can understand magi and know about magical beasts(hunter) or invisible opponents (watchmen).
EDIT:3BP left over, will add silver to our cash reserves.