Character Concept:
An illusionist and enchanter of gems, skilled in replicating things which he can perceive (or otherwise has an accurate model for). He carries the burden of his master’s reputation for unoriginality. He will meddle dangerously with faeries as he researches their Glamour in his struggle to create original hermetic work. In the meantime, he will apply his talents in illusion to combating the Order of Suleiman. All war is based on deception.
Why has he come to Caepernum?
Gaudius left Italy wanting to prove himself. Caepernum provides the perfect opportunity. Its rich vis sources will fuel his creations, the impotent local Quaesitors will leave him alone to his research, and fighting the greatest threat to the Order of Hermes will make his name. As a Christian, of course, he is well-disposed towards the Templars… but frankly, religion has never been his highest priority.
Appearance:
Gaudius is tall, with curly black hair and a well-groomed beard. His manner is authoritative and decisive, although his speech is not especially eloquent, and he relies as much on gestures as on words to communicate. It is apparent that he is more accustomed to demonstration than explanation. Gaudius typically dresses in a colourful knee-length tunic with flared sleeves - very much the fashion when he was last in Venice. He wears many rings and expensive-looking bejwelled pendants, which advertise his trade. When travelling Gaudius often chooses a completely different appearance to suit his environment. For example, he has found that openly wearing a king's ransom in jewelry can attract inconvenient attention.
Sigil:
On minute inspection, his spells tend to create fractal images; details and elements will resemble the whole.
Three new spells (the Jeweler's Skeptical Examination is one his master taught him; the others he invented):
His Gauntlet masterpiece:
Extended background:
Gaudius was taken from his family in Venice at a young age, and has not seen them since. After two years of testing his aptitudes, Vorpentius formally made him his apprentice. His parens was a masterful jeweler but a mediocre magus. Although his magic was not flawed in any dramatic fashion, Vorpentius simply lacked the creativity to devise new inventions. This was especially painfully apparent at the Verditius Contests every 18 years. Time after time, as his peers became respected elder magi, Vorpentius’ own creations were small-minded in concept, often simply implementing formulaic spells which were well-known across the Order.
At a fairly young age, when he was still a playful child, Gaudius created his first new spell, Show the Telling of the Tale. For several months, he used it at every opportunity to repeat his favourite faerie tale: Maestro Lattantio and His Apprentice Dionigi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maestro_Lattantio_and_His_Apprentice_Dionigi). This eventually attracted the attention of a highly cognizant fairy, which pretended to be Gaudius’ father, and briefly stole Gaudius away by implementing the tale in Gaudius’ life. Of course, Gaudius’ master was quick to recover his lost pupil. When Vorpentius discovered that this frivolity was what had been occupying his apprentice’s time, he admonished him very severely, and Gaudius did not attempt to invent another spell of his own until his apprenticeship had almost ended.
Nevertheless, Gaudius subsequently proved himself a capable apprentice, and was gradually given increasing responsibilities in the management of his master’s business. While Vorpentius’ magical reputation suffered, his mundane workshop prospered, forming contacts with merchants across the Mediterranean.
At the Verditius Contest of 1144, shortly before the completion of Gaudius’ apprenticeship, Vorpentius entered with a surprisingly impressive crown, capable of powerful and sophisticated Rego Vim effects, including extremely potent wards and metamagic. It did not win the Contest, but it attracted many votes. Only afterwards was it discovered that the crown’s design closely resembled a previous entry to the Contest, submitted some 36 years previously. Although Vorpentius claimed to have no memory of having seen the entry, and no proof was found that he had broken the rules, Vorpentius became extremely unpopular amongst his fellow Verditius magi.
For his gauntlet, Gaudius created a memory gem to store images of objects - something his master might have found a helpful aide memoire. His master thanked him for it, cordially, but the two parted on rather cool terms.