Vulcanus of Flambeau comes from the renegade Verditian school of Valdarius. His master, Ívarr, searched for years to find a suitable apprentice to instruct in the mysteries of the line, and found the boy Anselm near Rothenburg.
His apprenticeship was quiet; Ívarr was a patient and kind master. While the parens was a renowned archer whose magic focused primarily on Herbam and Ignem, the student took to melee weapons and the study of Terram. Ívarr was primarily a woodcrafter, though he did have some skill at blacksmithing; when the boy's skill surpassed his master's, Anselm was sent to Spain to study with Andres Flambeau, the only other Valdarian in the Order. (~1207)
Anselm's gauntlet was the traditional Valdarian trial: abandoned in the wilderness, the boy had to create the item that would become his talisman, using only what tools he could forage and craft himself with what materials were available, or approximate with magic. The old Norse miles was not unkind, though; while he left Anselm on a frozen mountaintop, the mountain itself was rich with rare mineral deposits. The boy fashioned a forge out of iron summoned from the earth, pulled in enough firewood to last a year, and worked tirelessly for months until his suit of armor was perfected. He took the name Vulcanus-- a name which never fails to infuriate Verditius magi for its conceit. (1216)
Vulcanus stayed at Fengheld even after becoming a full magus, as the Valdarian lineage is tightly-knit. He continued to learn from his master, accompanying him on Crusade (1221), and collaborating with each other on projects. They remained close until Ívarr's death in 1227-- the old magus perished in a Wizard's War against his lifelong rival, Gudrun Verditius. Vulcanus swore to avenge his master, but Gudrun ignored all his demands for a duel. Two years later, when Vulcanus bound the magical warhorse Egon as his familiar (1229), Gudrun's filius Caduceus took great personal affront, and a battle of petty insults and personal slights began.
He maintains communication with Andres, and has occasionally adventured with the elder magus, whose skill in blacksmithing is unparalleled, but his skill with the blade has deteriorated with the magus' age. After guarding Andres on a jaunt through the Magic Realm (1220), the old Flambeau rewarded his young friend with a magical chess set. The red pieces move of their own volition in response to moves made a magus; occasionally, one of the black pieces becomes a pawn of Terram vis. Vulcanus does not know if the act of playing the chess games physically transforms the granite pieces into vis, or if the red pieces are moved by some invisible supernatural entity who rewards him by swapping out mundane pieces with vis. He has performed some experiments to try and find out, but thusfar all his attempts have been unsuccessful. If Andres knows the secret of the chessboard, he isn't telling-- the old magus only smiles enigmatically whenever Vulcanus asks.
Upon receiving a request for aid from Carmen of Flambeau, Vulcanus has made preparations to help rebuild the covenant of Andorra. He looks forward to living closer to Andres, and desires to discover the fate of his Hermetic cousin, Dimir Taar.
...Really, really, ridiculously good-looking.
Age: 38
Confidence: 1 (15)
Characteristics
Intelligence +5 (genius)
Perception -3 (preoccupied)
Strength +3 (burly)
Stamina +1 (enduring)
Presence +2 (handsome)
Communication -2 (gruff)
Dexterity +2 (Steady hands)
Quickness 0
Virtues and Flaws
Major magic focus: armaments, Items of Quality, Affinity with terram, Puissant terram, Inventive genius, Improved characteristics, Great Intelligence (x2); Personal Vis Source*, Verditius magic*, Iberian Runes*, True friend (Egon)*
Cabal legacy, Mentor (Andres of Flambeau), Bound Casting Tools, Spontaneous Casting Tools, Vendetta (Caduceus of Verditius), Proud (major); Hubris*
Abilities
Area Lore: Rothenburg 2
Artes Liberales 2 (ceremonial casting)
Athletics 2 (endurance)
Brawl 3 (fisticuffs)
Craft: Blacksmithing 5 (armor)
Craft: Glass 1 (lab equipment)
Finesse 2 (terram)
German 5 (Bavarian)
Latin 4 (hermetic)
Leadership 1 (lab assistants)
Magic Theory 6 (terram) (+23 exp)
Order of Hermes Lore 2 (Flambeau)
Parma Magica 4 (ignem)
Penetration 2 (terram)
Philosophiae 5 (Iberian runes)
Ride 2 (battle)
Single Weapon 5 (heater shield) (82 exp)
Survival 2 (15) (forest)
Valdarius Cult Lore 3 (30) (self-initiation)
Combat:
Dodge DFN +3
Artifex's Hammer + Oak and Iron: Init +1, Attack +14, Defense +16, Damage +12
Knight's Honour + Oak and Iron: Init +2, Attack +19, Defense +17, Damage +10
Soak 22 (1 Sta, 4 BC, 17 armor), +4 vs metal, +1 vs unarmed, +1 vs animals
Wizard's Sigil: forge-work
Voting sigil: a blacksmith's hammer of damascus steel with an ebony handle
Arts
Creo 7 (29), Muto 5 (15), Perdo 6 (21), Rego 14 (105), Animal 5 (15), Auram 21 (6), Corpus 5 (15), Herbam 6 (21), Ignem 1 (2) Terram 14 +3 (69/105 exp), Vim 7 (31)
Spells
Incantation of Lightning, CrAu35 CT: +14 (har har!). Vulc doesn't know how his sigil manifests for this spell, because he's never actually managed to cast it.
Bind Wound, CrCo10 CT: +13 Sigil: The target can smell molten metal, and his wounds feel hot
Chirurgeon's Healing Touch, CrCo20 CT: +21 Sigil manifests the same as Bind Wound, but with the sound of hammer on anvil during the casting.
Wizard's Leap, ReCo15 CT: +20 Sigil: The smell of molten metal and burning coal
Conjuring the Mystic Tower, CrTe35 CT: +33 Sigil: During casting, the sound of hammer on anvil rings out, and bystanders can smell burning coal and molten steel. Upon completion, and the tower erects in a cloud of steam, accompanied by the hissing of a finished weapon being plunged into water.
Laboratory of Bonisagus, CrTe45 (has lab text) CT: +33 Sigil: Same as CtMT
Miner's Keen Eye, InTe20 CT: +18 Sigil: the smell of molten steel and burning charcoal
The Damascene Shiv* (functions as Crystal Dart), MuTe(Re)10 CT: +28 Sigil: The sound of hammer on anvil, and the dart rises from the ground in a puff of steam.
Hauberk of Supreme Lightness, PeTe30 CT: +31 Sigil: The sound of hammer on anvil at the time of casting; while under its effects, the armor bears Vulcanus' maker's mark-- a development that leaves him reluctant to cast this spell on any armor not up to his own standards.
The Phantasmal Squire, ReTe25 (base 4, +2 metal, +1 Touch, +2 complexity). Transports armor up to 50 paces, placing it on or off the target. Int+Fin required for armoring up. CT: +46 Sigil: The sound of hammer on anvil
Gathering the Essence of the Beast, ReVi15 CT: +22 Sigil: The smell of molten metal and burning charcoal
Gear
The Warrior's Aegis, i[/i]. Full suit of toledo steel chainmail with bronze accents, encrusted with rubies. Excellent +2, item of quality. +17 Soak, 6 load. Iberian (Verditius) Runes: +5 to enhance the strength of the wearer. Elder Iberian Runes: "Ice" (Rego), "Steel" (Terram). Attunements: protect wearer +7, terram +3, +6 fire effects. Capacity: 30 pawns, 23 remaining.
Hauberk of Supreme Lightness, constant effect. Major side benefit: The wearer inspires those who follow him into battle, granting +3 to bravery rolls. (Base 5, +2 Sun, +2 metal = 25. +1 for 2 uses per day, +3 for environmental trigger, = 29, +10 for Elder Runes = 39. 4 pawns used.
Ward Against Heat and Flames ReIg20 (R: Per, D: Sun, T:Ind) 1x/day, +10 for Elder Runes = 30. 3 pawns used.
Fist of the Artifex, one-handed toledo steel military hammer with an electrum handle and a large ruby set into the base. 2 load. Open for enchantment, Excellent +2. Iberian (Verditius) Runes: +3 project missiles, +3 lightning. Capacity: 18 total, 16 remaining. Generally believed to be Vulcanus' talisman, erroneously.
The Artisan's Call, summons hammer to its owner, up to 50 paces. Base 3, +2 metal, +2 Voice, 24 uses per day, final level 20.
Thunderous Fury, casts Incantation of Lightning, unlimited charges, 20 penetration.
Oak and Iron, heater shield, bearing the crest of a winged hammer, impossibly wrought in wafer-thin strips of steel and bronze. Excellent +2, item of quality. +5 protection, 2 load.
27p Terram vis (granite chess pieces from the magical board)
10p Ignem vis
26p Creo vis (36 in wages, 5 paid for "Thunderous Fury," 5 paid to Bernhard)
1p Vim vis in the shape of a gingerbeard man
A translated lab text for "Laboratory of Bonisagus" by Archmagus Stentorius of Tremere, CrTe45
[i]The Tireless Servant[/i]
Creo summa, L16 Q15
Vim summa, L10 Q16
Specialist: Glassworker (skill 6)
Laboratory: blacksmith's forge with attached living quarters and studio; sanctum marker is a shield bearing the crest of a winged hammer (an exact image of Vulcanus' own shield).
Flawless Equipment, Flawless Tools, Spotless, Dedicated Building, Grand Entrance, Studio (+1 aesth), Precious Ingredients; +Tireless Servant
GQ +4, Upkeep +6, Safety +1, Warping 0, Health +1, Aesthetics +5, Items +2, Vis Extraction +2, Creo +1, Rego +1
Familiar, Egon the Destrier
Lab Total: 56, Bond: Gold 1, Silver 0, Bronze 4
Characteristics: Int +3, Per +1, Pre +2, Com +2, Str +7, Sta +3, Dex +3, Qik -1
Size: +3
Might: 12
Virtues/Flaws: Tough, Overconfident (minor)
Mundane Qualities: Fast Runner, Herd Leader, Imposing Appearance, Tough Hide
Magical Qualities/Inferiorites: Improved Characteristics x2, Gift of Speech, Greater Immunity (metal weapons), Greater Immunity (arrows), Focus Power, No Fatigue, Personal Power x2, Unaffected by the Gift, Improved Attack (hooves); Form Monstrosity (steel hooves), Proud (major)
Abilities: Athletics 5 (balancing), Awareness 4, Brawl 6 (hooves), Folk Ken 3, German 5, Latin 4, Leadership 5 (horses), Magic Theory 4 (terram), Profession: battle charger 3, Carouse 1, Survival 3, Swim 3
Combat: Hooves- Init +1, Attack +11, Defense +6, Damage +11
Soak: +7, or +16 when armored
Powers: Crafter of Terram, Gird the Warhorse (creates a set of chainmail barding or armor), Human Shape
Once the warhorse of the Holy Roman Emperor, Kaiser Otto der Große, Egon fled Kaiserpfalz in grief upon sensing his friend's death. The beast was lost for weeks, eventually losing his way in the Schwarzwald. He became trapped in crystal glen near Durenmar, where he was slowly transformed into a magical creature. He was found, starving and severely traumatized, by Artificer Gudrun Verditius. She brought Egon up to the covenant, where he was bathed and fed. Gudrun thought the warhorse would make a suitable familiar for her filius, Caduceus, but the beast did not take to the young magus, finding him too physically weak. Phillipus Niger then arranged for the noble beast to be introduced to a young Senecan Knight, and Egon found a kindred spirit in Sir Vulcanus.
