Ars Magica Definitive Edition, Chapter Three: Characters
See Also
- The Ars Magica Reference Document
- The Ars Magica Definitive Edition Open Content page
- The Ars Magica Definitive Edition product page on this wiki
Chapter 3: Characters
Character Types
Player characters in Ars Magica fall into three categories, depending on their role in the story. Magi are members of the Order of Hermes, the powerful wizards around whom the game centers. Companions are important characters who are not magi, while grogs are minor characters.
Most players of Ars Magica have at least two characters, and often more, although they do not play all of them at once. The characters to be played depend on events in the saga, and this is discussed in more detail in the section on Troupe-Style Roleplaying, on page 528.
Magi
A magus (feminine maga, plural magi, feminine plural magae) is a powerful wizard, even when he has only just finished his training. Magi rule the covenant around which a saga revolves, and have the potential to become as powerful as any human being can. A magus player character belongs to a single player, who has complete control over that character's decisions.
Although magi are very powerful, they are also limited in important ways by The Gift, their ability to work magic (see pages 63 and 203). This means that there are some things that only non-magi can do effectively. In addition, magi are rarely skilled at anything other than magic, which means that they need help in everyday affairs.
Companions
A companion is an important non-magus. Like magi, player character companions belong to a single player, who controls that character's decisions. Beyond this, companions have little in common with one another. One might be a knight and veteran of the Crusades, another might be a wandering friar, a third an unGifted Redcap, still another a noblewoman. Because the Order of Hermes stands somewhat outside medieval society, it tends to attract those who do not fit in, so a companion could also be a woman who wants to serve as a knight, a priest who sees supernatural visions and has tipped into heresy, or a werewolf seeking someone who might be able to cure her affliction.
Although each player has a magus and a companion, they are almost never played together, and thus should not be linked to each other. Linking your companion to another player's magus is a good idea, though, as that provides two player characters with a reason to investigate things together. If you do link your companion to another player's magus, your companion should have abilities that complement those of the magus, rather than overlapping.
Companions should generally not have The Gift, unless you intend to play through apprenticeship so that they become magi at some point.
Mythic Companions
You may find, when playing Ars Magica, that you would like to play a character who is comparable in power to a Hermetic magus without actually playing a member of the Order of Hermes. There are many individuals in Mythic Europe who have strange and potent abilities, including non-Hermetic wizards, holy hermits and supernaturally strong warriors. In Ars Magica such characters are referred collectively as Mythic Companions. While Hermetic magi are normally still the most potent characters in terms of raw power, Mythic Companions approach them. However, as they are not members of the Order of Hermes, they cannot play the same social role in a saga as a magus.
If you wish to play a Mythic Companion, you should normally play it as an alternative to a magus character, though the troupe may disregard this guideline, depending on how your saga is being conducted. The troupe may also decide to not allow Mythic Companions in the saga at all, if they want to focus on a "standard" Hermetic covenant.
General guidelines for Mythic Companions, and some examples, are given at the end of this chapter, and many Ars Magica supplements include guidelines for further specific types. You may also create your own type of Mythic Companion, in cooperation with the troupe.
Grogs
Grogs are minor characters, often warriors who protect the magi and defend the covenant, but also including specialists such as bookbinders and teachers who are not important enough in the story to be created as companions.
As minor characters, grogs tend to have bad things happen to them. Warrior grogs die defending the magi, other grogs might be possessed by spirits, forced to marry a faerie lord, or die from a disease that threatens the covenant. In most versions of troupe-style play, grogs are played by many different players, and the storyguide sometimes simply tells the players what happened to a grog.
On the other hand, grogs are a great deal of fun to play. You don't need to worry too much about the consequences of your actions, because you probably won't be playing this character next week. You can ham up the acting, and have the grog do something stupidly heroic, or heroically stupid. If a grog charges into lone battle against a dragon, in order to defend a magus, he might die in a couple of rounds, in which case he is remembered fondly, or make some stupendously lucky rolls and kill the dragon, in which case he becomes a hero. With a grog, you can take that risk, while with a companion or magus you will probably want to be more cautious. Of course, it's also fun to play a grog who debates with the magus about the wisdom of staying to face a dragon.
Grogs are often generated from the grog templates, starting on page 31. They may be created by detailed character creation, but should have no Major Virtues or Flaws, and no more than three Minor Flaws, balanced by an equal number of Minor Virtues. In addition, grogs should not have Story Flaws, as they are supposed to be minor characters. Finally, grogs can never have The Gift. A character with The Gift is too important to be a grog.
Character Basics
This section outlines the way that the game rules describe characters.
Size
All Ars Magica characters have a Size score. However, almost all adult human characters have the same Size score, 0, as this represents an average adult human. Every three points of Size represents a ten-fold increase or decrease in mass, and adult humans can range from Size -2 to Size +2, if they take appropriate Virtues or Flaws. The effects of this are described in the Virtues chapter, page 61. Size is more important for non-human creatures, and is discussed in detail in the Bestiary chapter, page 426.
Virtues and Flaws
Virtues and Flaws are features of the character that are not shared by most people; special benefits in the case of Virtues, and disadvantages or hooks into stories for Flaws. They cover supernatural abilities, including The Gift, enemies, obsessions, and aptitudes, as well as much more. All Virtues and Flaws are listed in their own chapter, starting on page 61.
Characteristics
There are eight Characteristics in Ars Magica, each representing one of a given character's inborn attributes. Each Characteristic has a score that describes the degree of the character's aptitude. A score of 0 is completely average, and therefore positive numbers denote higher-than-average ability and negative numbers below-average ability. All but the most exceptional of individuals have Characteristics that fall between -3 and +3.
Since Characteristics represent your character's inborn potential, they cannot be increased by normal means. In rare circumstances, the storyguide may decide that drastic events warrant some sort of permanent change to a Characteristic, and powerful magic can also raise them, but for most characters, they are fixed.
Characteristic Descriptions
Intelligence (Int)
Intelligence represents the power to analyze and synthesize concepts, as well as simple memory. It is important for Abilities that require thought power and is paramount for the Hermetic Arts. A character with low Intelligence is not necessarily stupid—common sense, street savvy, wisdom, and the ability to learn are not described by Intelligence.
Perception (Per)
Perception quantifies the ability to notice things, as well as powers of intuition. While sometimes conscious, Perception often works intuitively — your character simply notices something. The storyguide may also let you roll Perception when checking various Knowledges, to see if you have insight into a certain fact or concept. Perception is important for Abilities such as Awareness, Hunt, and Folk Ken.
Strength (Str)
Strength measures physical power: lifting, pushing, shoving, heaving, and moving. Strength is important when hefting a melee weapon and when using brute, physical force against something or someone. People with high Strength are often bigger than those with low Strength, assuming they have the same Size.
Stamina (Sta)
Stamina represents the limits of a character's exertion, as well as how much physical punishment he can sustain. It is staying power, both mental and physical, and one of its most important components is simply the will to live. Spellcasting relies on Stamina. Stamina also measures someone's ability to carry a load for an extended period, ignore fatigue, and withstand wounds.
Presence (Pre)
Presence describes a character's appearance, demeanor, and charisma. It is important for making a good impression, as well as for leading people. Presence also measures how imposing or intimidating a person is. Even if not physically attractive, a person with high Presence might still have a demeanor that commands respect.
Communication (Com)
Communication represents the aptitude for self-expression. It is important when attempting to influence or communicate with someone, verbally or otherwise. A positive Communication score suggests a character who is comfortable with or confident in his relationships with other people.
Dexterity (Dex)
Dexterity means being able to move with agility and to manipulate objects accurately and skillfully. It includes hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, and bodily grace. Dexterity also helps determine how well your character swings a sword or throws a knife.
Quickness (Qik)
Quickness indicates reaction speed and reflexes, and helps determine who acts first when two people are trying to do something with great haste. It also describes how well your character does something in a hurry. Your effective Quickness is usually modified by your Encumbrance. See page 403 for more information on Encumbrance.
Abilities
Abilities are a character's learned skills. They usually do increase during the course of a saga. Characters in Ars Magica can choose from a wide range of Abilities, listed in the Abilities chapter starting on page 157, which are divided into five types: General Abilities, which can be learned by anyone, and Academic Abilities, Arcane Abilities, Martial Abilities, and Supernatural Abilities. A character can only learn Academic, Arcane, or Martial Abilities if he has an appropriate Virtue or Flaw, or is a magus.
Supernatural Abilities are even more limited, and a character can only learn one if she meets certain special conditions. The most common is the possession of the Virtue granting that Supernatural Ability, but The Gift allows characters to learn such Abilities, and other supplements describe other ways to access them. Unless a character has a feature that specifically says she can learn a Supernatural Ability, she cannot.
Finally, Spell Mastery Abilities are only available to Hermetic magi, and are described on page 158 and page 225.
Personality Traits
Personality Traits are a short description of important features of your character's personality. For major characters, such as magi and companions, they are normally nothing more than an aide memoire, and a reason to think about the character's personality during character creation, although there are a few specific rules that require Personality Trait rolls.
For grogs, they are more significant. As grogs are often shared between players, or at least played rarely (see Troupe-Style Roleplaying on page 528), the numbers attached to Personality Traits can be used as a concrete guide to playing the character. They can be positive or negative, and normally range between +3 and -3, although there are exceptions. A Minor Personality Flaw (see later) would normally be matched by a Personality Trait of +3 or -3, while a Major Personality Flaw, which a grog would not normally have, would justify a Personality Trait of +6 or -6. 'Loyal' is a particularly important Trait, as it reflects the grog's attachment to the covenant, while 'Brave' is just as important for warrior grogs. A third Trait should be something distinctive about that grog. You may decide to roll a grog's Personality Traits when you are unsure how he would react, or you may treat the numbers simply as a guide to roleplaying. If you do roll them, add nothing but the Personality Trait, and roll a stress die. Suggested Ease Factors are found on the table
Changing Personality Traits
Personality Traits can only be changed by the player who controls the character, and only between game sessions. However, they can be changed freely, possibly to reflect a series of exceptional rolls, or to reflect life events. For example, a cowardly grog who stands his ground and kills an impressive monster might well become braver.
Personality Rolls
| Ease Factor | Brave | Loyal | General |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Not really scary. Facing down a barking dog. |
Loyalty and self-interest coincide. Warning the magi that your enemy is planning to attack the covenant. |
Average people would always do this. |
| 3 | Hardly scary. Facing down an angry, but unarmed, peasant while armed and armored. |
Little loyalty required. Not denouncing the magi to the bishop passing through the local village. |
Average people would usually do this. People noted for a Personality Trait would always do this. |
| 6 | Scary. Facing down an apparently equal enemy. |
Average loyalty. Standing by the covenant when it is threatened. |
Average people do this about half the time. |
| 9 | Very scary. Facing down a clearly superior enemy. |
Loyal. Resisting a large bribe and offer of protection. |
Average people usually don't do this, and even notable people often fail. |
| 12 | Extremely scary. Facing down a dragon. |
Very Loyal. Staying loyal to the covenant under torture. |
Average people almost always fail Even people noted for the Trait do this rarely. |
Reputations
Reputations determine whether people are likely to have heard of the character, and what they have heard about him. They don't determine how people react to characters they have heard of, as that depends on what they think of what they've heard, nor do they necessarily aid in the identification of characters. Indeed, in some cases a high Reputation may make it difficult for a character to convince people that he is who he says he is.
("Oh, sure you're Sir Robert the Dragonslayer. Of course he'd be visiting my inn. Who are you really?")
Reputations have a score, a content, and a type. The score is a number, used as described below. The content is what the Reputation is for, a reputation for killing dragons, powerful fire magic, or learned interpretation of the Psalms, for example. The type determines who might have heard of the Reputation. The most basic type is a Local Reputation, which is one that anyone who lives near the character might have heard. The other two main types are Ecclesiastical and Hermetic Reputations, determining a character's reputation in the Church and Order of Hermes, respectively. The type of Reputation defines what counts as distance.
A random person has heard of a character with a Reputation if a roll of a stress die plus the Reputation equals or exceeds the Ease Factor given on the table below. The more he succeeds by, the more he has heard about the character. If the character's Reputation is largely accurate, so is what the person has heard. Conversely, a largely underserved Reputation brings lots of false beliefs with it.
Reputations can change over time. See the Long-Term Events chapter, page 386, for details.
Reputation Ease Factors
| Ease Factor | Local | Ecclesiastical | Hermetic | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Same village | Same parish/monastery | Same covenant | Everyone in these groups has heard of everyone else in them. |
| 6 | Same town | Same diocese | Same Tribunal | On average, people have heard of about half the people in this area, and of most people who have any sort of reputation. |
| 9 | Same county | Same province | Entire Order | In general, only people with a reputation are known in this group, but everyone knows a few other people. |
| 12 | Same country | Whole Church | N/A | Most people in this wider world are unknown, but those with outstanding reputations may be. |
Confidence
Important characters have a Confidence Score and Confidence Points. This includes both central player characters (magi and companions) and important NPCs, such as recurring antagonists and allies. These characters start with three Confidence Points. Most such characters start with a Confidence Score of one, but this can be modified by Virtues and Flaws.
There is no limit to the number of Confidence Points that a character can have.
Using Confidence
A player may spend Confidence Points on most rolls to get +3 to the total per point spent. He may decide to spend the point after the dice are rolled and the putative result of the action is known. He may not spend Confidence on a roll that botched, but he may spend it on a roll of zero which was not a botch. A player may spend any number of points up to, but not exceeding, the character's Confidence Score.
Once a Confidence Point is spent, it is gone forever. Confidence Points are not recovered.
Confidence may not be spent on rolls which represent a whole season's activities, such as rolls for studying from vis.
Getting New Confidence Points
The storyguide for a session hands out Confidence Points to characters at the end of the session. To qualify for Confidence Points, the character must have been played for a significant length of time during that session, and must have made a contribution to the session.
Characters should be awarded one Confidence Point for each of the following that they managed:
- Achieve a personal goal.
- Contribute to achievement of a group goal, even if it wasn't a personal goal.
- Success in a difficult task. (Only one award per character per session.)
- Entertainingly well roleplayed. This means that the player portrayed the character well, and in a way that entertained and enhanced the fun of the other players.
- Bonus. This point is awarded if the storyguide thinks that the character or player did something that deserves a reward, but which does not fall under the above categories. You should only award one bonus point per character per session.
Typical characters should gain two or three Confidence Points per session.
Raising Confidence Score
A character's Confidence Score can only be increased by long-term story events which greatly increase the character's self-confidence and self-reliance. As a baseline, the fifteen grueling years of a Tytalus apprenticeship are enough to raise a character's Confidence Score by one point. Raises in play should follow on events of a similar magnitude and duration.
Character Templates
The quickest way to get started playing Ars Magica is to choose one of the characters presented in this section. All are fully generated, and just need a name and a bit of background to fit them into your saga. The second quickest way is to customize one of these characters. Finally, you can use the Detailed Character Creation rules, starting on page 43, to build your own character from scratch.
Format
Each template is presented in the same format, described below.
Characteristics: A list of the Characteristics and values. If the character has any aging points in any Characteristics, these are shown in parentheses after the Characteristic value. (See Long Term Events, page 391, for aging rules.)
Size: The character's size.
Age: The character's actual age, with the apparent age in parentheses. (See Long Term Events, page 391, for aging rules and apparent age.)
Decrepitude: The character's number of Decrepitude points, with the number of excess Aging Points in parentheses. These are gained from aging, and are described on page 391.
Warping Score: The character's Warping Score, with the number of excess Warping Points in parentheses. Warping Points measure a character's exposure to magic, and have bad effects if you gain too many. See Warping, on page 389, for more details.
Confidence Score: The character's Confidence Score, with the number of Confidence Points in parentheses. Grogs don't have Confidence, so this line is omitted.
Virtues and Flaws: All the character's Virtues and Flaws. These are all described in the Virtues and Flaws chapter, starting on page 61. The first Virtue listed is The Gift, if the character has it. The next is the character's Social Class. Then comes all other Major Virtues, Minor Virtues, Major Flaws, and Minor Flaws, each arranged alphabetically.
Personality Traits: The character's Personality Traits, and scores.
Reputations: Details of the character's Reputations, if any.
Combat: The combat statistics for modes of attack and weapons that the character uses often.
Soak: The character's Soak score.
Fatigue levels: A listing of the character's Fatigue levels and penalties, which represent how tired the character is. Fatigue is described on page 403.
Wound Penalties: Shows the penalties for wounds of varying severity, with the number of points of damage required to inflict a wound of that severity shown in parentheses.
Abilities: All of the character's Abilities, in alphabetical order. The format is Ability X(Z) (specialization), where X is the score in the Ability and Z is the number of experience points acquired towards the next level. If the Ability is written X+Y(Z), X is the score in the Ability, Y is a fixed bonus from a Virtue (usually Puissant Ability), and Z is the number of experience points acquired towards the next level.
Arts: The character's scores in the Hermetic Arts, in the format Art X (Z), where X is the score and Z the number of experience points acquired towards the next level. If the Art is written X+Y (Z), X is the score in the Ability, Y is a fixed bonus from a Virtue (usually Puissant Art), and Z is the number of experience points acquired towards the next level. The Arts are named according to the standard abbreviations, described on page 206. Non-magi have no scores in the Arts, and this section is omitted.
Twilight Scars: Long lasting effects of Wizard's Twilight. Only applicable to Hermetic magi, and described in detail on page 229.
Equipment: The character's stuff.
Encumbrance: The character's Encumbrance, with the character's Burden in parentheses. The rules for Encumbrance are on page 403.
Spells Known: A list of all the Hermetic spells the character knows. Obviously, this is omitted for non-magi. The spells are in the format: Spell Name (TeFo X/+Y) where TeFo is the Technique and Form of the spell, X is the spell level, and Y is the magus's Casting Total with the spell. If the magus has a mastery score in the spell, this is listed as Mastery Z, outside the parentheses, with the Mastery abilities listed (see the Magic chapter, page 225). If the Casting Total is higher than the spell level, the magus can cast it easily. If it's significantly lower, he might have problems. The spells are described in the Spells chapter, from page 301].
Customization Notes: Some notes on the character, and what can easily be changed if you want to customize it.
Grog Templates
These templates are intended for use as grogs. You could expand one into a companion fairly easily, though.
|
Characteristics: Int -2, Per -1, Pre -1, Com -1, Str +3, Sta +2, Dex +2, Qik +1 Customization Notes: The Berserker's Large Virtue could be swapped out for an Affinity or Puissant Ability with Great Weapons. In addition he could have another Flaw, and take one of those Virtues to balance it. Other than that, he is young, so most of his Abilities are dictated by the concept. The Abilities at 1 or 2 can be swapped around, though. |
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Characteristics: Int 0, Per 0, Pre -1, Com -1, Str 0, Sta + 1 (1), Dex + 2 (2), Qik + 2 (2) Customization Notes: The Grizzled Veteran has been around the covenant for years, but has never reached a formal position of leadership, because he has a tendency to talk back to the magi. On the other hand, he makes a good informal leader of the grogs. Age hasn't really slowed him down yet, but it is about to, and the years have already reduced his Presence and Communication to -1 each. He could take another two Flaws and a corresponding number of Virtues if desired, and his Ability scores can be moved around. The high set should probably be kept in combat, but he could specialize in a different sort of combat (you would have to recalculate Combat Totals), and the secondary abilities can be moved around at will. |
|
Characteristics: Int 0, Per +3, Pre -2, Com -2, Str 0, Sta +1, Dex +2, Qik +2 Customization Notes: The hunter is extremely useful in the wilderness, and can guide the party as well as take part in missile combat. He can also help to support the covenant by bringing in food. He doesn't work well in social situations, though. Note that the character's Bows score uses the bonus XP from Warrior, and thus cannot go below 4, but otherwise the values of his Abilities, apart from his Native Language, can be swapped freely. |
The Specialist
Characteristics: Int –1, Per 0, Pre –1, Com –4, Str +2, Sta +2, Dex +3, Qik +2
Size: 0 Age: 19 (19) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0)
Virtues and Flaws: Covenfolk, Affinity with Single Weapon, Puissant Ability (Single Weapon), Warrior, Afflicted Tongue (stammer), Obsessed (improving Single Weapon ability), Poor Communication
Personality Traits: Brave +3, Loyal +2, Quiet +1 Reputations: None
Combat: Axe & Heater Shield: Init +1, Attack +17, Defense +15, Damage +8 Fist: Init 0, Attack +8, Defense +7, Damage +2 Soak: +9 (full metal scale armor)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Area Lore 3 (warriors), Athletics 3 (running), Awareness 4 (in combat), Bargain 2 (weapons), Bows 1 (2) (short bow), Brawl 5 (dodging), Carouse 1 (drinking), Living Language 5 (talking about fighting), Single Weapon 7+2 (Heater Shield)
Equipment: Axe, Heater Shield, Full metal scale armor, pack containing gear to care for weapons and armor and establish camps when traveling.
Encumbrance: 2 (4)
Customization Notes: The Specialist can easily focus on a different Ability, although you might want to swap the Characteristics around as well if he does, and probably change Warrior for one of the other experience-point-granting Virtues, such as Educated or Well-Traveled. You can change Personality Traits freely, and assign the Ability scores to other Abilities. Similarly, the Flaws can be changed without changing the central concept of the character.
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Characteristics: Int -1, Per 0, Pre 0, Com 0, Str +1, Sta +1, Dex +2, Qik +2 Customization Notes: The standard soldier's Weakness can be chosen freely, and he makes a good base for creating a slightly non-standard grog, by adding Virtues and Flaws and rearranging his Abilities. |
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Characteristics: Int -1, Per 0, Pre +1, Com -1, Str +1, Sta +3, Dex 0, Qik +1 Customization Notes: The Tough Guy works well as a defender for a magus, because he can take a lot of punishment before dropping and making the magus vulnerable. The Virtues depend on the concept, but the Flaws can be changed freely, and his combat Ability scores can be swapped freely between the combat Abilities he has. |
Companion Templates
These templates are for central, but nonmagus, characters.
The Female Scholar
Characteristics: Int +5, Per +1, Pre +1, Com +2, Str -1, Sta -1, Dex 0, Qik +1
Size: 0 Age: 20 (20) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: Clerk, Apt Student, Book Learner, Good Teacher, Great Intelligence (x2), Improved Characteristics, Black Sheep, Driven (Major) (prove herself a greater scholar than any man); Social Handicap (outspoken advocate of the abilities of women)
Personality Traits: Scholarly +3, Independent +1,
Trusting –2
Reputations: Selfish shrew 2 (local)
Combat: Dodging: Init +1, Atk n/a, Def +1, Dam n/a
Soak: -1 (Stamina)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Arabic 1 (medical terms). Area Lore 2 (nunneries), Artes Liberales 3 (rhetoric), Charm 2 (scholars), Church Lore 2 (scholars), Civil and Canon Law 1 (rights of women), Folk Ken 2 (scholars), Guile 2 (lying to authority figures), Latin 5 (academic debate), Living Language 5 (debate), Medicine 1 (women's illnesses), Philosophiae 3 (moral philosophy), Teaching 3 (Artes Liberales), Theology 2 (status of women)
Equipment: Clothes, a slate or wax tablet for writing on.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Customization Notes: The female scholar has estranged herself from her family by refusing to marry a suitable man, and instead pursuing her bizarre interest in academia. She has probably come to the covenant because it is the only place where she can study freely, and she wants access to the covenant library if she doesn't already have it. Her current Virtues are very focused on scholarship, so changing one or two for Virtues that emphasize a different aspect of her life would be fine. Similarly, the emphasis of her studies could be moved to a different subject, as long as she still has a score of at least one in Artes Liberales, so that she is literate.
The Knight
Characteristics: Int 0, Per 0, Pre +1, Com +1, Str +1, Sta +1, Dex +2, Qik +2
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25) Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: Knight, Wealthy, Improved Characteristics, Puissant Single Weapon, Relic, Oath of Fealty, Proud (Major), Overconfident (Minor)
Personality Traits: Brave +3, Overconfident +3, Proud +6
Reputations: None.
Combat: Long sword and heater shield (mounted): Init +2, Atk +17, Def +17, Dam +7
Long sword and beater shield (on foot): Init +2, Atk +14, Def +14, Dam +7
Great sword (mounted): Init +2, Atk +16, Def +13, Dam +10
Great sword (on foot): Init +2, Atk +13, Def +10, Dam +10
Fist: Init +0, Atk +5, Def +5, Dam +1
Soak: +10 (chain mail, Stamina)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Animal Handling 2 (falconry), Area Lore 3 (nobles), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 3 (battle), Brawl 2 (punching), Chirurgy 1 (sword wounds), Etiquette (noble) 3, Great Weapon 5 (great sword), Hunt 2 (deer), Intrigue 1 (noble courts), Leadership 4 (soldiers), Music 1 (singing), Native Language 5 (giving orders), Ride 5 (in combat), Single Weapon 5+2 (heater shield), Survival 1 (forests)
Equipment: Full chain mail, long sword, heater shield, great sword
Encumbrance: 2 (3)
Customization Notes: The Knight's Wealthy Virtue gives him a lot of experience points, and so cannot be changed without effectively recreating the character from scratch. Oath of Fealty can be swapped for True Love and still be appropriate. In fact, both are so appropriate to a knight that the troupe may allow you to take both, as the character can still take three more points of Flaws. Note that the character regards himself as superior to just about anyone, unless you change the Major Personality Flaw, and doesn't have the Abilities to interact well with equals.
The Priest
Characteristics: Int +1, Per +2, Pre +1, Com +2, Str 0, Sta 0, Dex -1, Qik 0
Size: 0 Age: 33 (33) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: Priest; Inspirational, Lesser Immunity (lightning), Relic, Sense Holiness and Unholiness, Social Contacts (minor clergy), Student of the Divine, Well-Traveled; Compassionate (Major), Plagued by Angel;
Clumsy, Vow of Celibacy
Personality Traits: Compassionate +3, Pious +3, Loyal +2
Reputations: None
Combat: Dodging: Init +0, Atk n/a, Def +2, Dam n/a
Soak: +0 (Stamina)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Area Lore 5 (churches), Artes Liberales 2 (rhetoric), Brawl 1 (dodging), Charm 5 (parishioners), Church Lore 3 (local diocese), Civil and Canon Law 1 (regulations for the clergy), Dominion Lore 3+2 (angels), Etiquette 3 (Church), Folk Ken 6 (people he knows very well), Intrigue 1 (parishes), Latin 4 (the Bible), Leadership 3 (preaching), Living Language 5 (preaching), Sense Holiness and Unholiness 4 (angels), Theology 2 (angelology)
Equipment: Priest's clothes, a missal.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Customization Notes: The Priest could take another two Minor Flaws and corresponding Virtues, if desired. He may be unaware of his immunity, or being struck by lightning and remaining completely unharmed may have been a central event in his past. If it happened, it should be. The nature of his Lesser Immunity can easily be changed, and even boosted to a Greater Immunity if you take two more Minor Flaws.
The Rogue
Characteristics: Int 0, Per +1, Pre 0, Com +1, Str -1, Sta 0, Dex +4, Qik +4
Size: 0 Age: 20 (20) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: Wanderer, Great Dexterity, Great Quickness, Improved Characteristics (x2), Light Touch, Perfect Balance, Puissant Legerdemain, Puissant Stealth, Avaricious (Major), Dark Secret, Compulsion, Night Terrors
Personality Traits: Avaricious +6, Daring +2, Sociable +2
Reputations: None
Combat: Fist: Init +4, Atk +7, Def +7, Dam -1
Soak: 0 (Stamina)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15),
Incapacitated (16–20)
Abilities: Area Lore 1 (rich people's homes), Athletics 3 (climbing), Awareness 3 (noticing whether he is observed), Brawl 3 (getting away), Charm 2 (people who think he's exciting), Folk Ken 1 (people in authority), Guile 1 (when caught red-handed), Legerdemain 5+2 (picking pockets), Native Language 5 (being polite), Stealth 5+2 (being quiet)
Equipment: Clothes, secret stash of money that he never spends.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Customization Notes: The Rogue's Dark Secret can be almost anything, but is most likely to be a particularly vile crime that he committed in the past, and now, probably, feels guilty about. The compulsion should be to commit some sort of minor criminal act, such as thievery, or to take risks to prove he can. This character is fundamentally fast and stealthy, although he can turn on the charm to a certain extent. By moving the numbers in Characteristics and Abilities, you can turn him into a charmer with some ability in stealth. Don't forget to change the Great Characteristic and Puissant Ability Virtues if you do this.
The Witch
Characteristics: Int +2, Per +2, Pre +1, Com +1, Str -1, Sta 0, Dex +2, Qik 0
Size: 0 Age: 30 (30) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: Wise One, Educated, Improved Characteristics, Premonitions, Second Sight, Student of Magic, Wilderness Sense, Compassionate (Major),
Enemies, Nocturnal
Personality Traits: Compassionate +3, Sociable -1, Trusting -2
Reputations: None
Combat: Dodging: Init +0, Atk n/a, Def +0, Dam n/a
Def +0, Dam n/a Soak: +0 (Stamina)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Area Lore 3 (medicinal herbs), Artes Liberales 1 (astronomy), Athletics 1 (climbing), Awareness 1 (animals), Charm 3 (peasants), Chirurgy 4 (farm accidents), Divine Lore 1 (relics), Faerie Lore 2 (curses), Folk Ken 3 (peasants), Guile 3 (clergy), Infernal Lore 1 (diabolists), Latin 4 (medical terms), Magic Lore 3+2 (regiones), Medicine 5 (accidental poisonings), Native Language 5 (choosing words carefully), Premonitions 3 (threats to others), Second Sight 3 (ghosts), Survival 3 (near farmland), Wilderness Sense 3 (weather)
Equipment: Old but sturdy clothes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Customization Notes: The Witch's magical powers are far, far weaker than a Hermetic magus's, but she doesn't have The Gift. She's an excellent healer, and people might not believe that her healing abilities are purely mundane. Intolerant clergy make good enemies, as do magical or faerie beings she has annoyed, although in that case you might want to change the Flaw to Plagued by Supernatural Entity or Supernatural Nuisance. She can take another Major Flaw, or three more Minor ones, along with corresponding Virtues.
Magus Templates
These templates are of a stereotypical member of each House, 25 years old and just out of apprenticeship. The asterisk in the Virtues list indicates the Virtue that the magus gets free from his House. See page 46.
Bjornaer
Characteristics: Int +3, Per 0, Pre 0, Com –1, Str 0, Sta +1, Dex 0, Qik +1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25) Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Ways of the Forest; Heartbeast*, Inoffensive to Animals, Quiet
Magic (x2), Subtle Magic; Blatant Gift, Tormenting Master; Deficient Form (Ignem)
Personality Traits: Brave +2, Status-seeking +2, Obedient +1
Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +4, Damage n/a
Soak: +1
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Area Lore 1 (forests), Artes Liberales 1 (grammar), Athletics 2 (endurance), Awareness 2 (people), Brawl 2 (dodge), Finesse 1 (targeting), Folk Ken 1 (hunters), Guile 1 (pretending to know less than you do), Heartbeast 2 (changing into a wolf), Hunt 2 (small animals), Latin 4 (Hermetic terms), Living Language 5 (talking about the wilderness), Magic Theory 3 (Animal), Parma Magica 1 (Animal), Penetration 1 (Muto), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (Bjornaer), Second Area Lore 1 (forests), Survival 3
Arts: Cr 0, In 1, Mu 10, Pe 3, Re 1, An 8, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 8, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 0, Te 0, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0) Spells Known:
(forests)
Transformation of the
Ravenous Beast to the Torpid Toad (MuAn 25/+19)
Agony of the Beast (PeAn 15/+12)
Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+10)
Viper's Gaze (ReAn 15/+10)
Eyes of the Cat (MuCo(An) 5/+19)
Gift of the Bear's Fortitude (MuCo 25/+19)
The Wound that Weeps (PeCo 15/+12)
Lifting the Dangling Puppet (ReCo 15/+10)
Customization Notes: The Bjornaer is much more comfortable with animals than with people, and may think of him or herself as just as much animal as
human. The combination of Blatant Gift and Inoffensive to Animals means that she gets along better with animals than with people. Ways of the Forest should be changed to a terrain appropriate to the actual heartbeast; a wolf is assumed for the example. Both Major Flaws can be changed freely, and while Deficient Form (Ignem) is very common in House Bjornaer, there is no particular reason for your character to have it. Note that Quiet and Subtle Magic allow the magus to cast in his heartbeast form without any penalty.
Bonisagus
Characteristics: Int +5, Per 0, Pre 0, Com +1, Str 0,
Sta 0, Dex 0, Qik 0
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25) Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus: Affinity with
Auram, Affinity with Creo, Book Learner, Free Study, Great Intelligence (x2),
Inventive Genius, Puissant Magic Theory*, Secondary Insight; Favors, Painful Magic; Driven (Minor), Weak Enchanter
Personality Traits: Brave –1, Driven +3, Studious +2 Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init +0, Attack n/a, Defense +0, Damage n/a
Soak: 0
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 (logic), Awareness 2 (when working), Charm 2 (equals), Concentration 3 (spell casting), Folk Ken 2 (magi), Latin 4 (Hermetic technical terms), Magic Lore 1 (non-Hermetic magic), Magic Theory 4+2 (Creo), Native Language 5 (educated talk), Order of Hermes Lore 2 (great discoveries), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem), Penetration 1 (Auram), Teaching 3 (Hermetic Arts)
Arts: Cr 12, In 0, Mu 0, Pe 0, Re 3, An 0, Aq 0, Au 12, Co 4, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 0, Te 0, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None
Equipment: Wizardly robes. Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Spells Known:
Charge of the Angry Winds (CrAu 15/+24) Clouds of Rain and Thunder (CrAu 25/+24)
Clouds of Summer Snow (CrAu 25/+24)
The Incantation of Lightning (CrAu 35/+24)
Purification of the Festering Wounds (CrCo 20/+16)
Customization Notes: The Bonisagus is most likely Driven to make some great discovery in magic. He or she is a so-called 'lab rat', a magus happier in his laboratory than in the outside world. However, the favors he owes and his drive to discover are likely to push him out. Similarly, enchanted items are very useful to him, but he is bad at making them for himself. That also tends to drive him into stories. This concept is built around the Virtues and the Driven Flaw; the other Flaws can be changed easily. He can also take two additional Minor Flaws, or make Driven Major, and take two additional Minor Virtues to balance them. Similarly, the Arts in which the character has an Affinity can be changed, but that also requires changing the spells he knows.
Criamon
Characteristics: Int +3, Per 0 Pre +2, Com -3, Str 0, Sta + 2, Dex 0, Qik + 1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25) Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Hermetic Magus; Flexible Formulaic Magic, The Enigma*, Magic Sensitivity, Puissant Enigmatic Wisdom, Side Effect, Study Bonus, Magic Addiction, Twilight Prone; Incomprehensible
Personality Traits: Enthusiastic +3, Friendly +2, Practical -3
Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +1, Damage n/a
Soak: +2
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 (rhetoric), Charm 5 (educated people), Concentration 3 (spell casting), Enigmatic Wisdom 3+2 (riddles), Folk Ken 1 (educated people), Latin 4 (Enigmatic terms), Magic Sensitivity 2 (auras), Magic Theory 3 (Vim), Native Language 5 (long words), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (mysteries), Parma Magica 1
Arts: Cr 4, In 6, Mu 4, Pe 4, Re 4, An 0, Ag 0, Au 0, Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 2, Me 1, Te 0, Vi 10
Twilight Scars: None (yet)
Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Spells Known:
Phantom of the Talking Head (Crlm 10/+8)
Aura of Ennobled Presence (Mulm 10/+8)
Piercing the Faerie Veil (InVi 20/+18)
Piercing the Magical Veil (InVi 20/+18) (see Piercing the Faerie Veil)
Unraveling the Fabric of Imaginem (PeVi 20/+16)
Wind of Mundane Silence (PeVi 20/+16)
Circular Ward Against Demons (ReVi 20/+16)
Customization Notes: The Criamon does not have her maximum allowance of Flaws, so could take an additional Major Flaw or three Minor Flaws, with corresponding Virtues, if desired. Her Charm and Folk Ken scores could be moved into other Abilities available in the first five years of life (see the Detailed Character Creation rules, page 43), possibly also moving her good Presence score as well.
Ex Miscellanea
Characteristics: Int +3, Per -Pre -1, Com 0, Str +4, Sta +4, Dex -2, Qik -2
Size: +2 Age: 25 (25)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Hermetic Magus; Giant Blood* Major Magical Focus (stone), Affinity with Terram*, Enduring Magic, Improved Characteristics, Puissant Terram, Tough, Generous (Major), Necessary Condition (touching stone)*, Plagued by Supernatural Entity, Deficient Auram
Personality Traits: Generous +6, Patient +3, Trusting +2, Vengeful +2
Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init -2, Attack n/a, Defense +1, Damage n/a
Grappling: Init –2, Attack +2, Defense +2, Damage n/a
Soak: +7
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious Wound Penalties: -1 (1-7), -3 (8-14), -5 (15-21), Incapacitated (22–28)
Abilities: Area Lore 3 (mountain trails), Artes Liberales 1 (astronomy), Brawl 3 (grappling), Concentration 3 (spellcasting), Finesse 2 (Terram), Latin 4 (Hermetic usage), Magic Theory 3 (Terram), Native Language 5 (being polite), Parma Magica 1 (Ignem), Penetration 2 (Terram), Survival 3 (mountains)
Arts: Cr 8, In 0, Mu 4, Pe 3, Re 5; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 1, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 0, Te 12+3, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0) Spells Known:
Wall of Protecting Stone (CrTe 25/+35) The Crystal Dart (Mu(Re)Te 10/+27) Rock of Viscid Clay (MuTe 15/+27) Earth that Breaks No More (MuTe 20/+27) Obliteration of the Metallic Barrier (Pe(Re)Te 20/+22) The Earth's Carbuncle (Re(Mu)Te 15/+27) Hands of the Grasping Earth (Re(Mu)Te 15/+23)
Customization Notes: This Ex Miscellanea tradition grants the Virtues Giant Blood and Affinity with Terram, and the Flaw Necessary Condition: Touching Stone. The stone in question can be a piece of stone worn on a belt, for example, but it must be at least the size of the magus's hand (the magus has big hands). The magus doesn't have his full allowance of Flaws, so you can take another Major Flaw, or three more Minor, and corresponding Virtues.
Flambeau
Characteristics: Int +2, Per +1, Pre 0, Com –1, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex 0, Qik +1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Greater Immunity (Fire), Major Magical Focus (Flames); Affinity with Creo, Affinity with Ignem, Life Boost, Puissant Ignem*; Enemies, Necessary Condition (must clap his hands), Wrathful (Major)
Personality Traits: Brave +3, Wrathful +6, Thoughtful –2
Reputations: None.
Combat:
Dodging: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +4, Damage n/a
Soak: +2
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, –1, –3, –5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11–15), Incapacitated (16–20)
Abilities: Area Lore 2 (hiding places), Artes Liberales 1 (logic), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 3 (in combat), Brawl 2 (dodging), Folk Ken 1 (people in authority over him), Guile 3 (claiming not to have done something), Hermes Lore 1 (House Flambeau), Latin 4 (insults), Living Language 5 (insults), Magic Theory 3 (Ignem), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem), Penetration 2 (Ignem), Stealth 1 (entering buildings or rooms), Survival 1 (woods)
Arts: Cr 12, In 0, Mu 0, Pe 4, Re 5; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 0, He 0, Ig 12+3, Im 0, Me 0, Te 1, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None
Equipment: Wizardly robes, smelling slightly of smoke.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Spells Known:
Palm of Flame (CrIg 5/+41) Pilum of Fire (CrIg 20/+41) Arc of Fiery Ribbons (CrIg 25/+41) Ball of Abysmal Flame (CrIg 35/+41) Circle of Encompassing Flame (CrIg 35/+41)
Customization Notes: The Flambeau is very much a one-trick pony. He can throw fire at opponents extremely effectively. His focused Arts and Magical Focus mean that he has some Penetration even for powerful spells. However, he is much weaker if he tries to do anything else. Wrathful and Enemies can be swapped out for other Flaws with no trouble, to break the stereotype a bit, as can his Greater Immunity. He can take another Minor Flaw, and balancing Minor Virtue.
Guernicus
Characteristics: Int +3, Per + Pre +1, Com 0, Str 0, Sta 0, Dex –2, Qik 0
Size: 0 Age: 25 (25) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 1 (3) Virtues and Flaws: The Gift,
Hermetic Magus; Affinity with Intellego, Clear Thinker, Great Perception, Hermetic Prestige*, Improved Characteristics, Puissant Intellego, Side Effect (lying is hard), Curse of Venus, Restriction (no magic for Sun duration after lying)
Personality Traits: Honest +3, Fair +2, Nervous around the opposite sex +2
Reputations: Quaesitor (Hermetic) 3.
Combat: Dodging: Init +0, Attack n/a, Defense +2, Damage n/a
Soak: +0
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 (logic), Awareness 3 (clues), Brawl 1 (dodging), Charm 2 (people you suspect), Code of Hermes 3 (the local Tribunal), Concentration 1 (observing people or places), Folk Ken 4 (liars), Guile 2 (concealing investigations), Latin 4 (Hermetic terms), Magic Theory 3 (Intellego), Native Language 5 (questions), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (legal cases), Parma Magica 1
Arts: Cr 0, In 12+3 (5), Mu 0, Pe 2, Re 0; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 5, He 0, Ig 0, Im 6, Me 6, Te 0, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0) Spells Known:
Physician's Eye (InCo 5/+20) Eyes of the Eagle (InIm 25/+21)
Summoning the Distant Image (InIm 25/+21) Invisibility of the Standing Wizard (Pelm 15/+8)
Frosty Breath of the Stoken Lie (InMe 20/ +21)
Peering Into the Mortal Mind (InMe 30/+21)
Customization Notes: If the Guernicus lies (says something she believes to be untrue as if it were true), she cannot use any magic until the sun next rises or sets. Anyone who wants to tell a lie in her presence soon after she casts a spell (within two minutes or so) must make a relevant Personality Trait check against an Ease Factor equal to the magnitude of the spell cast. If the check fails, he cannot bring himself to lie, although he can remain silent. The Guernicus could take four more points of Flaws, and corresponding Virtues.
Jerbiton
Characteristics: Int +3, Per + Pre +1, Com +1, Str 0, Sta 0, Dex +1, Qik 0
Size: 0 Age: 25 (25)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift,
Hermetic Magus, Gentle Gift, Free Expression, Improved Characteristics,
Privileged Upbringing, Puissant Music*, Venus's Blessing, Deficient Technique (Perdo), Necessary Condition (singing); Susceptibility to Infernal Power
Personality Traits: Friendly +3, Brave +2, Studious +1
Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init +0, Attack n/a, Defense +0, Damage n/a
Soak: +0
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 (music), Carouse 2 (maintaining dignity), Charm 3 (the opposite sex), Code of Hermes 1 (dealing with mundanes). Etiquette 2 (nobility), Folk Ken 2 (nobles), Guile 2 (fast excuses), Latin 5 (musical terms), Magic Theory 3 (Imaginem), Music 4+2 (singing) Native Language 5 (noble style), Order of Hermes
Lore 2 (Jerbiton), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem) Arts: Cr 6, In 1, Mu 6, Pe 1, Re 6; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 5, He 0, Ig 0, Im 10, Me 0, Te 0, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Spells Known:
Phantasm of the Talking Head (CrIm 10/+16) Phantasm of the Human Form (Crlm 25/+16) Discern Own Illusions (InIm 15/+11) Taste of the Spices and Herbs (MuIm 5/+16) Aura of Ennobled Presence (MuIm 10/+16) Notes of a Delightful Sound (MuIm 10/+16) Disguise of the Transformed Image (Mulm 15/+16) Illusion of Cool Flames (PeIm 10/+6)
Illusion of the Shifted Image (ReIm 10/+16) Wizard's Sidestep (ReIm 10/+16)
Customization Notes: The Jerbiton took Puissant Music as his free House-related Virtue. He is designed as a social creature who sees himself as an artist in music and magic. He can take up to three points more of Flaws, with the corresponding Virtues. Note that he has the Gentle Gift, and thus can interact with mundanes without any penalty.
Mercere
Characteristics: Int +2, Per 0 Pre 0, Com -1, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex +1, Qik +1
Size: 0 Age: 25 (25) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift.
Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (Weather); Affinity with Auram, Cyclic Magic (Positive) — Day, Puissant Auram, Puissant Creo*, Special Circumstances (during a storm); Ambitious (Major), Difficult Longevity Ritual; Cyclic Magic
(Negative) — Night
Personality Traits: Ambitious +6, Wanderer +3, Brave +2
Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +1, Damage n/a
Soak: +2
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Area Lore 3 (routes between settlements), Artes Liberales 1 (astronomy), Athletics 1 (hiking), Awareness 1 (weather signs), Hunt 2 (small game), Latin 4 (Hermetic terms), Magic Theory 3 (Auram), Native Language 5 (talking to travelers), Parma Magica 1 (Ignem), Penetration 2 (Auram), Stealth 3 (in woodland), Survival 4 (in bad weather)
Arts: Cr 6+3, In 4, Mu 4, Pe 3, Re 5; An 0, Aq 0, Au 12+3, Co 2, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 2, Te 0, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0) Spells Known:
Jupiter's Resounding Blow (CrAu 10/+26) Clouds of Rain and Thunder (CrAu 25/+35)
Clouds of Summer Snow (CrAu 25/+35)
Pull of the Skybound Winds (CrAu 30/+26) Wings of the Soaring Wind (Cr(Re)Au 30/+27)
Customization Notes: The Mercere can take another three points of Flaws and as many points of Virtues. He is quite capable of traveling alone, and probably prefers to do so. By moving scores from Hunt and Stealth into social Abilities such as Charm, he can be made more likely to travel with a group.
Merinita
Characteristics: Int +3, Per +1 Pre +1, Com +2, Str -1, Sta -1, Dex -1, Qik -1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25) Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Strong Faerie
Blood (Undine); Deft Imaginem, Faerie Magic*, Free Study, Puissant Imaginem, Student of Faerie; Chaotic Magic, Plagued by
Faerie, Faerie Upbringing
Personality Traits: Mercurial +3, Honest –2,
Reliable –3 Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init –1, Attack n/a, Defense –1, Damage n/a
Soak: -1
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 (rhetoric), Charm 2 (gaining trust), Faerie Lore 3+2 (water fay), Faerie Magic 1 (illusions), Folk Ken 2 (what people will believe), Guile 5 (sustained lies), Latin 4 (Hermetic terms), Magic Theory 3 (Imaginem), Native Language 5 (faeries), Penetration 2 (Mentem), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem)
Arts: Cr 5, In 1, Mu 5, Pe 2, Re 5; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 1, He 0, Ig 0, Im 10+3, Me 5, Te 0, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None
Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0) Spells Known:
Phantasmal Animal (CrIm 20/+17)
Phantasm of the Human Form (CrIm 25/+17)
Image Phantom (MuIm 20/+17)
Veil of Invisibility (Pelm 20/+14)
Wizard's Sidestep (ReIm 10/+17)
Panic of the Trembling Heart (CrMe 15/+9)
The Call to Slumber (ReMe 10/+9)
Customization Notes: The Merinita can take another three points of Flaws and as many Virtues. The type of Strong Faerie Blood can also be changed easily. They might look younger than 25, due to the influence of Strong Faerie Blood, but need not.
Tremere
Characteristics: Int +3, Per -2, Pre 0, Com 0, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex 0, Qik +1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25) Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0(0)
Confidence Score: 1(3)
Virtues and Flaws:
The Gift; Hermetic Magus;
Elemental Magic, Book Learner,
Cautious Sorcerer, Latent Magical Ability, Minor Magical Focus(certamen)*, Skilled Parens, Ambitious (Major), Weak Magic Resistance,
Susceptibility to Divine Power
Personality Traits: Ambitious +6, Authoritarian +3, Respectful +3, Brave +2
Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +1,
Damage n/a
Soak: +2
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 (arithmetic), Charm 2 (magi), Code of Hermes 1 (certamen law), Etiquette 2 (Hermetic), Finesse 2 (Terram), Folk Ken 3 (magi), Guile 2 (lying to underlings), Intrigue 2 (Hermetic politics), Latin 4 (Hermetic terms), Leadership 3 (running institutions), Magic Theory 3 (Creo), Native Language 5 (giving orders), Order of Hermes Lore 2 (Tremere), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem), Penetration 3 (Ignem)
Arts: Cr 5, In 5, Mu 5, Pe 5, Re 5, An 0, Aq 8 (3), Au 9 (1), Co 0, He 0, Ig 9 (1), Im 0, Me 1, Te 9 (1), Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None
Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0) Spells Known:
Circling Winds of Protection (Cr(Re)Au 20/+16)
Rain of Stones (MuAu(Te) 20/+16)
Pilum of Fire (CrIg 20/+16)
Soothe the Raging Flames (PeIg 20/+16)
Seal the Earth (CrTe 15/+16)
The Miner's Keen Eye (InTe 20/+16)
Earth that Breaks No More (MuTe 20/+16)
Pit of the Gaping Earth (PeTe 15/+16)
Customization Notes: The Tremere can take three more points of Flaws, and a similar number of Virtues. At the moment, he is a social and political creature, but the score in one of those Abilities could be moved into a Martial Ability to make him more of a fighter. Elemental Magic makes it difficult to move Art scores around. Initially, he was assigned scores of Aq 3, Au 6, Ig 6, and Te 6.
Aquam received an additional 33 experience points (from Auram, Ignem and Terram), for a final total of 39 and a score of 8 (3), and each of the other Arts received an additional 25 experience points, for a final total of 46 and a score of 9 (1).
Tytalus
Characteristics: Int +4, Per –1, Pre 0, Com 0, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex +1, Qik +1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 2 (5)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Hermetic Magus, Life-Linked
Spontaneous Magic, Great Intelligence, Improved Characteristics,
Life Boost, Piercing Gaze, Self-Confident*; Painful Magic, Tormenting Master, Weak Parens
Personality Traits: Argumentative +3, Brave +2,
Trusting –2
Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +4, Damage n/a
Soak: +2
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 (logic), Awareness 2 (ambushes), Bargain 2 (luxuries), Brawl 3 (grappling), Concentration 2 (spellcasting), Guile 2 (spur of the moment), Intrigue 2 (conspiracies), Latin 4 (Hermetic terms), Leadership 2 (long-time followers), Magic Theory 3 (Mentem), Native Language 5 (arguing), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem)
Arts: Cr 5, In 5, Mu 0, Pe 0, Re 5; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 9, Te 0, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None
Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Spells Known:
Pains of the Perpetual Worry (CrMe 20/+16) Posing the Silent Question (InMe 20/+16) Trust of Childlike Faith (PeMe 10/+11) Aura of Rightful Authority (ReMe 20+16)
Aura of Rightful Authority (ReMe 20+16) Scent of Peaceful Slumber (ReMe 20/+16)
Customization Notes: The Tytalus can take up to three more points of Flaws, and a similar number of Virtues.
Verditius
Characteristics: Int +3, Per 0, Pre 0, Com 0, Str -3, Sta + 1, Dex + 1, Qik 0
Size: -2
Age: 25 (25)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift. Hermetic Magus, Affinity with
Craft (metalsmith), Affinity with Craft
(stonemason), Affinity with Terram,
Faerie Blood (Dwarf), Puissant Craft (metalsmith), Puissant Craft (stonemason), Puissant Terram,
Verditius Magic*; Dwarf, Weak Spontaneous
Magic; Difficult Spontaneous Magic
Personality Traits: Disciplined +3, Perfectionist +3, Spontaneous –2
Reputations: None.
Combat: Dodging: Init +0, Attack n/a, Defense +0,
Damage n/a
Soak: +1
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1(1-3), -3(4-6), -5(7-9),
Incapacitated (10–12)
Abilities: Artes Liberales 1 (geometry), Awareness 3 (flaws in stone and metal work), Athletics 2 (endurance), Craft (metalsmith) 5+3 (iron), Craft (stonemason) 4+3 (decorations), Faerie Lore 2 (dwarfs), Latin 4 (Hermetic terms), Magic Theory 3 (Terram), Native Language 5 (talking about metal and stone), Parma Magica 1 (Terram), Philosophiae 1 (natural philosophy)
Arts: Cr 7, In 3, Mu 5, Pe 3, Re 5; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 0, Te 12+3, Vi 0
Twilight Scars: None
Equipment: Wizardly robes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Spells Known:
Seal the Earth (CrTe 15/+23)
Touch of Midas (CrTe 20/+25)
Wall of Protecting Stone (CrTe 25/+23)
The Crystal Dart (Mu(Re)Te 10/+21)
Edge of the Razor (MuTe 20/+21)
Pit of the Gaping Earth (PeTe 15/+19)
Hands of the Grasping Earth (Re(Mu)Te 15/+21)
Customization Notes: The Verditius can take another three Minor Flaws, or one Major, and balancing Virtues. In addition, her Craft Abilities can be changed for different crafts without changing the concept much. Finally, not everyone descended from dwarfs is as small as they are, so that Flaw could be swapped for others without affecting the character on a fundamental level.
Detailed Character Creation
The first step in creating a new character from scratch is creating a character concept. Your magus might be a fire wizard, a magical spy, or a magus desperate to get away from the diabolism practiced by his parens. A companion might be a woodsman with supernatural powers, a Muslim scholar exploring western Europe, or a werewolf seeking a cure for his curse. A grog can be any type of warrior, or a member of the covenant staff, such as a washerwoman, butler, or stablehand.
Detailed Character Creation Summary
- Pick a character concept.
- Hermetic Magi Only: Pick a House. (See page 13)
- Pick Virtues and Flaws. Minor Virtues and Flaws are worth one point, Major Virtues and Flaws three points each.
- Grogs: Up to three Minor Flaws, and the same number of Minor Virtues.
- Companions and Magi: Up to ten points of Flaws, and the same number of points of Virtues.
- Buy Characteristics. Start with 7 points. See page 27 or 48.
- Early Childhood. 75 experience points in Native Language (normally granting a score of 5), and 45 experience points spread between Area Lore (for the place or places the character is growing up), Athletics, Awareness, Brawl, Charm, Folk Ken, Guile, Living Language (other than the character's native language), Stealth, Survival, and Swim.
- Later Life. 15 experience points per year (until apprenticeship for magi), spread between any Abilities the character can learn, based on the Virtues and Flaws he has. Characters with the Wealthy Major Virtue get 20 experience points per year, those with the Poor Major Flaw get 10.
- Hermetic Magi Only: Apprenticeship. Divide 240 experience points between Hermetic Arts and any nonSupernatural Abilities (or Supernatural Abilities, if the magus has the relevant Virtue). Take 120 levels of spells, of no higher level than Technique + Form + Intelligence + Magic Theory +3. Apply any relevant Virtues and Flaws when calculating this total.
- Hermetic Magi Only (Optional): Years after apprenticeship. Divide 30 points per year between experience points in Arts, experience points in Abilities, and levels of spells.
- Personality. Pick a few words to describe your character, and assign a number between +3 and -3 to each.
- Grogs should all have a score in Loyal.
- Warriors should all have a score in Brave.
- Reputation. If the character has a Virtue or Flaw granting a Reputation, decide on the reputation.
- Companions and Magi Only: Confidence. Your character starts with a Confidence Score of 1 and 3 Confidence Points, unless he has a Virtue or Flaw modifying this.
- Equipment. Give your character equipment he could reasonably have acquired and retained.
Once you have a concept, decide whether the character is a magus, companion, or grog. It is obvious if the character is a magus; he has The Gift and has been trained in Hermetic magic. Before creating a magus character, you should have an understanding of the magic rules. Without at least a basic grasp of the way that magic works, you may make choices that will weaken your initiate magus and curtail his potential for future development. It's probably best to use one of the templates for your first magus.
If the character is not a magus, but is intended to be a central character in the saga, he is a companion. If he is intended to be a bit part, he is a grog. A stablehand intended to be a central character is a companion, and a woodsman with one or two minor magical powers might well be a grog. The rules for character creation differ slightly between the three character types, but they are basically the same. However, there are enough separate steps for magi to make it worth treating them separately.
Starting Character Age
The detailed character creation rules allow you to create characters of any age. This is obviously very useful for storyguides, but it raises the question of the appropriate age for new player characters.
The first thing to bear in mind is that a character over the age of 35 must make aging rolls (see page 392) before the game begins. It is possible for such a character to die of old age before play, although if that happens you can always go back to the previous year.
The second issue is that older characters are more powerful than younger ones. This is particularly marked for magi, who gain experience points and spell levels more quickly once they are out of apprenticeship and no longer need to spend time serving their masters.
The final issue is that older characters take longer to create, because there are more experience points to allocate.
The troupe or storyguide should make a decision on starting ages, bearing these factors in mind. There are a few guidelines worth following, however. First, new players should create magi who are just out of apprenticeship. Magi have a lot of choices, and until you have played the game a bit you won't know which choices suit your playing style.
Second, in most troupes all magi should be approximately the same number of years out of apprenticeship. Actual ages are relatively unimportant, as magical abilities tend to overshadow mundane. If you decide not to do this, it should be because the whole troupe wants to play in that sort of saga, not because one player has a cool concept for an older magus.
Third, it's a good idea to create companions at a fairly young age (under 30), so that they have several years of play in them. The importance of this varies depending on the speed of your saga (see page 527), but an old companion runs the risk of dying of old age before he's been played a dozen times.
Finally, grogs can be created at any age, and probably should be. Grizzled veterans and eager novices make equally fine concepts, and even characters partially crippled by old age can contribute to stories set at the covenant.
Child Characters
Creating children using these rules requires the application of a bit of common sense. Abilities can be generated and treated as normal, but a seven-year-old child is not going to be stronger than most adults, even if she has Strength +3. Similarly, some Virtues and Flaws will only become applicable as the child ages, rather than starting out usable.
To generate a child, use the normal rules, and then modify all Characteristics as follows:
| Age | Modifier | Size Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| 6 - 7 | -4 | -2 |
| 8-9 | -3 | -2 |
| 10-11 | -2 | -2 |
| 12-13 | -1 | -1 |
| 14+ | None | None |
Much more information about playing child characters is provided in Apprentices, including how to handle Virtues and Flaws and how they change as the character ages. If you do not have access to that book, use your best judgement.
Magi Only: Hermetic House
The next step in creating a Hermetic magus is choosing his House. The twelve Houses are described starting on page 12, and summarized in the nearby table. Membership in a House grants a particular benefit at character creation, which is listed in the table. A magus can only be a member of one House.
Hermetic Houses Summary
The Hermetic Houses are described in more detail starting on page 12. Members of each House get a particular benefit at character creation, listed in the following table.
| House | Type | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bjornaer | Mystery Cult | Magi who are animals as well as humans | Heartbeast (page 85), beginning score of 1 in Heartbeast Ability. |
| Bonisagus | True Lineage | Divided between researchers and politicians | Puissant Magic Theory (researchers) or Puissant Intrigue (politicians). |
| Criamon | Mystery Cult | Mystical philosophers and masters of riddles | The Enigma (page 78), beginning score of 1 in Enigmatic Wisdom. |
| Ex Miscellanea | Societas | Many magi from different traditions, not all fully Hermetic | A free Minor Hermetic Virtue, a free Major non-Hermetic Virtue, and a compulsory Major Hermetic Flaw, representing the particular tradition within the House. These Virtues and Flaws are in addition to the normal allowance. |
| Flambeau | Societas | Martial masters of fire and destruction | Puissant Perdo or Puissant Ignem. |
| Guernicus | True Lineage | Investigators, lawyers, and mediators | Hermetic Prestige. |
| Jerbiton | Societas | Nobles, scholars, and artists | A Minor Virtue relating to scholarship arts, or mundane interaction. |
| Mercere | True Lineage | Messengers of the Order | Puissant Creo or Puissant Muto. Note that unGifted Redcaps are created as companions, and take the Redcap Major Status Virtue. Gifted Redcaps take the Hermetic Magus Status Virtue, and do not take the Redcap Major Status Virtue. |
| Merinita | Mystery Cult | Faerie magi | Faerie Magic (page 79), beginning score of 1 in Faerie Magic. Any magus in this House without a faerie-related Virtue or Flaw has a Warping Point, inflicted to allow initiation into the Mystery. |
| Tremere | True Lineage | A hierarchical and disciplined House | Minor Magical Focus (certamen). |
| Tytalus | Societas | Magi who thrive on conflict of any sort | Self Confident. |
| Verditius | Mystery Cult | Crafters of enchanted items | Verditius Magic (page 114). |
Example: Darius of Flambeau
Niall is creating an experienced magus for use in a new saga. He decides on the name 'Darius', and his concept is a scary-looking magus who specializes in Perdo magic and in hunting down the enemies of the Order. Looking at the Houses, Flambeau and Tytalus both look appropriate, but Puissant Art (Perdo) fits the concept better than Self-Confident, so he goes with House Flambeau. Darius is now Darius of Flambeau.
Virtues and Flaws
As many Virtues and Flaws deal with the character's place in the story, the rules for them differ the most between the character types.
All characters must take a Social Status. There are a number of default Social Statuses that cost no points; see page 65. In particular, all Hermetic magi take the Social Status Hermetic Magus, which costs no points. No other characters may take this Status, because they are not, after all, Hermetic magi.
Grogs are somewhat limited in their choice of Virtues and Flaws, to ensure that they remain minor characters. They may have up to three points of Flaws, and a corresponding number of Virtues. Grogs should have only Minor Virtues and Flaws. In addition, grogs may not have The Gift (having The Gift makes you an important character), and may not have Story Flaws, as those Flaws make characters central to stories, and that is not the role of the grogs.
Companions may, in principle, choose any Virtues and Flaws. They may have up to ten points of Flaws, and a corresponding number of points of Virtues. Major Virtues and Flaws are worth three points each, Minor Virtues and Flaws are worth one point each.
Companions who do not have The Gift may not choose Hermetic Virtues or Flaws. Companions may have The Gift, and thus take Hermetic Virtues or Flaws. However, this should be extremely unusual; the main reason for creating such a companion is that you want to play through the apprenticeship of a magus. The Gift is, however, free, even if taken by a companion. Bear in mind that, unless the character can get access to magical training, it is almost entirely a Flaw, because of its effects on social interactions.
Mythic Companions get more Virtues for their Flaws, as described in the rules on page 63.
Like companions, magi may take up to ten points of Flaws, and the same number of points of Virtues. Major Virtues and Flaws cost three points each, Minor ones one point. All magi must have The Gift. Without it, they cannot work magic, and thus cannot be magi. In addition, all magi should have at least one Hermetic Flaw. Nobody fits perfectly into Hermetic theory.
The rules for taking Virtues and Flaws are summarized in the Virtues and Flaws chapter, on page 63.
Choosing Virtues and Flaws
There are a lot of Virtues and Flaws available in this game, and it may be difficult to decide what to choose. The first thing to remember is that you do not need to choose the maximum number of Flaws.
Every player should consider Personality Flaws, and Story Flaws for companions and magi, as these make the game more engaging and enjoyable for you by telling the rest of the troupe what sort of stories you want to experience with the character. They do not hinder your character, but rather get them involved in enjoyable plots.
Most Virtues and Flaws are not necessary for any concept, even if the name suggests that they might be. For example, a pagan character does not need to have the Pagan Flaw — the Flaw indicates that their religion creates stories or shapes their personality, and that might not be your plan for the character. This means that, in general, you can pick Virtues and Flaws that look appropriate, and do not need to worry that you have missed something vital by not checking all the others.
There are two exceptions. One is that a character must have a Virtue to buy Academic, Arcane, Martial, or Supernatural Abilities at character creation. Educated, Arcane Lore, and Warrior, respectively, are the easiest options for the first three groups, although other Virtues (and some Flaws) also grant access to some of these Abilities. In most cases, access to each Supernatural Ability is granted by a separate Virtue.
The second concerns social status. If you want your character to be a knight, with all the social standing that implies, you must take the Knight Social Status. On the other hand, you do not need that Virtue to be an armored and mounted warrior (although you would need Warrior or another Virtue that gives you access to Martial Abilities). In most cases, social status does not define the way that other members of the covenant see you, so if your character is not concerned about wider society, you do not need to worry about this.
Finally, a lot of the Virtues and Flaws are very specialized, to support particular types of character found in Mythic Europe. You can safely ignore these, until you decide that you want to play that sort of character.
Quick and Easy Virtues and Flaws
If you want to get started really quickly, use the following highly simplified guidelines.
- Grogs: Take a Minor Personality Flaw that reflects how you want to play the character. Social Status is Covenfolk. Take Warrior for a grog who fights, Educated for a grog who is educated, Arcane Lore for a grog who knows about the supernatural, and Puissant Ability in the character's specialty for any other type of character.
- All Companions: Take a Major Personality or Story Flaw that reflects the types of stories you want your character to be involved in. Social Status is Covenfolk.
- Martial Companions: Take Warrior, and Puissant and Affinity with the same Martial Ability.
- Learned Companions: Take Educated, and either Puissant with two Academic Abilities, or Puissant and Affinity with the same Academic Ability.
- Social Companions: Take any one of Gossip, Piercing Gaze, Social Contacts, Well-Traveled, or Venus Blessing. Take Puissant with two Social Abilities.
- Magical Companion: Take one Minor Supernatural Virtue that grants a Supernatural Ability, and Puissant and Affinity with that Ability.
- Magus: Take a Major Personality or Story Flaw that reflects the types of stories you want your character to be involved in, and Deficient Form in a Form that you are not interested in. Social Status is Hermetic Magus. Choose a Minor Magical Focus that does not rely on your Deficient Form. Choose one Technique that overlaps with your Minor Magical Focus, and take Puissant and Affinity in it. Choose one Form that overlaps with your Minor Magical Focus, and take Puissant in it.
Example: Darius of Flambeau
Niall starts by looking for appropriate Flaws to fit his concept. Driven seems like a good Personality Flaw, Darius cannot help hunting down enemies of the Order at all times. Similarly, those activities are likely to produce Enemies, and Niall picks a Renounced magus and his cronies to be the enemies in question. Blatant Gift fits well with the scary image Niall wants, and he didn't imagine the character being able to interact much with mundanes anyway. That's three Major Flaws, so nine points already. Blatant Gift is a Hermetic Flaw, so that requirement is met. Finally, Niall takes Disfigured (facial burns) as a Minor Flaw, reinforcing the image and giving him ten points of Flaws.
Then it's time to buy good stuff. As a magus, Darius already has The Gift and Hermetic Magus, and Puissant Art (Perdo) came free as a Flambeau. Niall takes Affinity with Perdo to back up Darius's specialty. He decides that Darius has done his job well, so he takes Hermetic Prestige to reflect his reputation in the Order. Hunting magi is a very dangerous game, so he also takes Premonitions and Second Sight, making it hard to take Darius by surprise. Similarly, shooting first is an advantage, so he takes Fast Caster. That's five Minor Virtues, leaving Darius with five points to spend. Niall has a look at Major Virtues, and decides that Flawless Magic will be extremely useful. It will let him cast spells more quickly, and with higher Penetration, which is a very good thing when facing other magi. That uses another three points, but he still has two Minor Virtues to buy. He chooses Strong-Willed and Enduring Constitution, which fit the image and provide a bit more breadth.
Characteristics
Characteristics are bought on the following table. You start with seven points to spend. All characters buy Characteristics in the same way.
For Hermetic magi, you should note that Intelligence is central to Hermetic laboratory work, and thus magi should seriously consider taking a positive score in it. Similarly, Stamina is very important for spellcasting, and so a negative score there is best avoided. Communication is vital if you want your character to write good books.
| Score | Cost |
|---|---|
| +3 | 6 |
| +2 | 3 |
| + 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 |
| -1 | Gain 1 |
| -2 | Gain 3 |
| -3 | Gain 6 |
Example: Darius of Flambeau
Niall starts by giving Darius an Intelligence of +3, spending six of his points right away. Following on with the idea that Darius is hard to surprise and good at hunting, he spends the seventh point on a Perception of +1. However, he doesn't want everything else to be zero. Fortunately, the concept practically demands a negative score in Presence, so Niall drops that to -3, and Communication to -1, giving him seven more points to play with.
Stamina is the other score most useful for magi, so Niall makes a deliberate decision to leave it at zero. The character will be more interesting if he has strengths in other areas, he thinks. Instead, he buys Quickness +2 (good for dodging), Strength +2 (he can hit hard), and Dexterity +1 (making him better than average in combat). It looks like Darius will occasionally use physical combat, which makes sense; steel can get through Magic Resistance without any trouble.
Abilities
Abilities represent a character's learned abilities. For grogs and companions they are acquired in two blocks: early childhood, and later life. For magi, there are two more periods to consider: apprenticeship, and life as a magus after that.
Your character's age determines the maximum score she can have in any Ability at character creation, although some Virtues raise this limit. These limits do not apply to characters in play, and there is no cap on Abilities during play. In practice, most Abilities will not rise above 10, but there may be exceptions.
| Age | Maximum Ability |
|---|---|
| under 30 | 5 |
| 30-35 | 6 |
| 36-40 | 7 |
| 41-45 | 8 |
| 46+ | 9 |
Early Childhood
In the first five years of life, characters gain 75 experience points in their native language (see page 167 for the Language Ability), which normally gives them a score of 5, and 45 experience points to divide between Area Lore (for the place or places the character is growing up), Athletics, Awareness, Brawl, Charm, Folk Ken, Guile, Living Language (other than the character's native language), Stealth, Survival, and Swim. You do not need to put points into all of these Abilities; choose the ones that best fit your conception of the character. This represents what the character picks up as she plays as a child.
Sample Childhoods
The following Ability packages can be taken to speed up character generation. Each represents a particular sort of childhood. Note that you can spend the 45 experience points for yourself, as well.
- Athletic Childhood: Athletics 2, Brawl 2, Native Language 5, Swim 2
- Exploring Childhood: Area Lore 2, Athletics 1, Awareness 1, Native Language 5, Stealth 1, Survival 2
- Mischievous Childhood: Brawl 2, Guile 2, Native Language 5, Stealth 2
- Social Childhood: Charm 2, Folk Ken 2, Guile 2, Native Language 5
- Traveling Childhood: Area A Lore 1, Area B Lore 1, Folk Ken 2, Living Language 1, Native Language 5, Survival 2
Later Life
After early childhood, the character gains 15 experience points per year, which may be placed in any Abilities, as long as the character has a Virtue that permits her to learn those Abilities. Academic, Arcane, and Martial Abilities require a Virtue, as do Supernatural Abilities.
Characters with the Wealthy Virtue get 20 experience points per year, while characters with the Poor Flaw get 10 experience points per year. Note that only companions can take this Virtue or Flaw.
Example: Darius of Flambeau
Darius has a number of free Abilities from his Virtues, so Niall notes them first: Premonitions 1, Second Sight 1, Mastery of All Spells 1.
The next issue is his early childhood. Niall chooses German as Darius's native language, and, at this point, Uwe as his original name, so that gives him German 5. He then spends 15 exp on Bavaria Lore 2, 15 exp on Awareness 2, and 15 exp on Folk Ken 2, bringing Uwe/Darius to the age of 5.
Now he needs to decide when the boy became an apprentice, and he picks 10 as a nice, round number. He has 75 experience points to spend from those five years, and he spends 15 exp on Brawl 2, 15 exp on Guile 2, 5 exp on Athletics 1, 5 exp on Concentration 1, 5 exp on Etiquette 1, 5 exp on Intrigue 1, 5 exp on Leadership 1, 5 exp on Stealth 1, 5 exp on Survival 1, and 5 exp on Swim 1. That leaves him with 5 experience points, which he decides to spend on Order of Hermes Lore 1. It's a general Ability, so he can, and he rationalizes the decision by assuming that his future master took him to the covenant some time before his apprenticeship actually began.
Advancement Table
| Score | ART To Buy | To Raise | ABILITY To Buy | To Raise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 10 |
| 3 | 6 | 3 | 30 | 15 |
| 4 | 10 | 4 | 50 | 20 |
| 5 | 15 | 5 | 75 | 25 |
| 6 | 21 | 6 | 105 | 30 |
| 7 | 28 | 7 | 140 | 35 |
| 8 | 36 | 8 | 180 | 40 |
| 9 | 45 | 9 | 225 | 45 |
| 10 | 55 | 10 | 275 | 50 |
| 11 | 66 | 11 | 330 | 55 |
| 12 | 78 | 12 | 390 | 60 |
| 13 | 91 | 13 | 455 | 65 |
| 14 | 105 | 14 | 525 | 70 |
| 15 | 120 | 15 | 600 | 75 |
| 16 | 136 | 16 | 680 | 80 |
| 17 | 153 | 17 | 765 | 85 |
| 18 | 171 | 18 | 855 | 90 |
| 19 | 190 | 19 | 950 | 95 |
| 20 | 210 | 20 | 1050 | 100 |
To Buy: The number of experience points required to raise a score from zero to that number.
To Raise: The number of experience points required to raise a score by one point to that number.
Magus Only — Apprenticeship
The fifteen years of apprenticeship give the character 240 experience points, and 120 levels of spells. These experience points can be spent on Arts or Abilities, including Arcane, Academic, and Martial Abilities. Note that magi can only spend experience points on Arcane, Academic and Martial Abilities before apprenticeship if they have a Virtue which allows them to do so. A sensible division is to spend 120 experience points on Abilities and 120 on Arts.
Magi must have the following minimum Abilities: Parma Magica 1, Magic Theory 1, Latin 1. Characters with lower scores would not be admitted to the Order. A character without a Latin score of least 4 and an Artes Liberales score of at least 1 is unable to read the books of the Order. This will seriously weaken the character relative to other
Example: Darius of Flambeau
Spending the apprenticeship XP is fairly easy. Niall spends 50 exp for Latin 4, 50 exp on Magic Theory 4, 30 exp on Artes Liberales 3, 5 exp on Finesse 1, 15 exp on Penetration 2, 5 exp on Profession — Scribe 1, 5 exp on Chirurgy 1, 5 exp on Faerie Lore 1, 5 exp on Infernal Lore 1, 5 exp on Philosophiae 1, and 5 exp on Magic Lore 1
Then he looks at Hermetic Arts. He has 60 experience points left. He spends 37 points on Perdo, which his affinity turns into 56 points, so that he has Perdo 10 (1), and a bonus of +3 from Puissant. Then he puts almost all of the rest into Creo and Corpus: 15 exp on Creo 5, 3 exp on Corpus 2.
Darius adds 11 to his Technique + Form to determine the highest level spell he can learn (his Magic Theory specialty in "inventing spells" applies). He chooses to take all Perdo spells, selecting The Wound that Weeps (PeCo 15), Dust to Dust (PeCo 15), Parching Wind (PeAq 20), Soothe the Raging Flames (Pelg 20), Veil of Invisibility (Pelm 20), Calm the Motion of the Heart (PeMe 15), and Loss of But a Moment's Memory (PeMe 15).
Because of his Flawless Magic Virtue, Darius has a Mastery Score of one in each spell, and thus Niall has to choose a special ability for each.
Finally, just before Gauntlet, he spends his last 5 exp on Parma Magica 1.
magi, and you should be aware of this before designing such a character. A character with a Latin score of less than 5 cannot write books, which may also be important. A Magic Theory score of below 3 is weak, and, in particular, means that the magus cannot set up his own laboratory. Very few magi have a score in Parma Magica over 1 immediately after apprenticeship, as this Ability is normally the last thing taught. Indeed, the magus is not taught the final secret to raising a Parma until after he has sworn the Oath. Magi should also seriously consider putting points into Code of Hermes, Concentration, Finesse, Order of Hermes Lore, Penetration, and Profession (Scribe).
Hermetic Magi Recommended Minimum Abilities
Artes Liberales 1
Latin 4
Magic Theory 3
Parma Magica 1 (should be no higher if the magus is just out of apprenticeship)
Total Cost: 90 experience points
Do not forget that casting totals add a Technique and Form together, and that you will get a higher total by splitting experience between a Technique and a Form than by putting all the experience points in one or the other.
The highest level spell you can learn is equal to Technique + Form + Intelligence + Magic Theory +3, where the Technique and Form are the Technique and Form of the spell in question. If the spell has requisites (see page 311), they apply to this total as well. This is the appropriate Lab Total, assuming an aura modifier of +3, and thus any Virtues and Flaws your character has apply to this total if they would apply to a Lab Total in play.
Magus Only — After Apprenticeship
If you want to generate a magus who is some time out of apprenticeship, the rules change again. You might want to wait until you are familiar with the game system before doing this, however. There are a lot of options and considerations, which could easily seem overwhelming.
For every year, the magus gets 30 points. Each point can be an experience point in an Art or Ability or one level of spell. The maximum spell level a magus may know is limited as before. Thus, a magus who is 20 years out of apprenticeship could have a highest Art of 15, while a magus 120 years out of apprenticeship might have a highest Art of 40.
Of course, you may not want your experienced magus to have spent all his time studying Abilities, Arts and spells. If you wish to have your magus engage in other lab activities (such as creating items, enchanting familiars, and in particular creating Longevity Rituals) you will need to know more about the circumstances in which he has been working. These are ultimately up to the storyguide, but a typical situation might be as follows:
- The magus' covenant (for Aging rolls) gives a Living Conditions modifier of +1 (see Aging, page 391).
- The magus' lab is of only average quality, giving a modifier to Lab Totals of 0.
- The covenant has a Magic aura of 3.
- The magus may use a maximum number of pawns per year equal to Magic Theory x 5, of the Arts required. It is not possible to accumulate pawns from year to year, because this number already represents vis the magus has saved while studying from books and inventing spells.
Statistics for familiars and apprentices should be agreed with the storyguide, if required.
For each season that your magus spends working on a lab project, the character loses 10 points from the yearly 30 experience points, to a minimum of 0 if three or four seasons are spent on lab work. Thus it is most cost effective to have the magus engage in a full year of lab work at a time. It is suggested that you advance your magus year by year, spending several on study, then taking years out to do lab work as the character's statistics reach appropriate levels.
Example: Darius of Flambeau
Darius will be out of apprenticeship when the saga starts, so Niall takes him further. For the eight years from 26 to 33, inclusive, he just lumps all the experience points together. This gives him 240 experience points to spend in various ways. First, he spends 25 exp raising Parma Magica to 3, as a magus-hunter needs decent Magic Resistance. Then he spends 5 exp on Great Weapon 1, and gives Darius a spear. Next, he spends 88 exp to raise Corpus to 13. He reasons that Darius wants to devise his own Longevity Ritual, and have a decent Penetration with PeCo spells. Next, he goes for a bit more versatility, spending 30 exp to raise Creo to 10, 60 exp to raise all of Aquam, Ignem, Imaginem, Mentem, Terram, Vim to 4, and 1 exp each on Rego and Intellego, for scores of 1 in each. That leaves him 30 exp, which he spends on Winter's Icy Touch and a level 20 version of Rusted Decay of Ten-Score Years (PeTe 10, Target increased to Group = +2 Magnitudes). Again, he needs to pick a mastery ability for the spell.
Niall then decides that Darius will spend the next year in the laboratory, so he gains no experience points in that year. See the Laboratory Chapter from page 249 for details of these activities. Season 1: Opens spear haft (staff) for enchantment (8 pawns vis); Season 2: Attunes spear haft as a talisman; Season 3: Creates Longevity Ritual (7 pawns vis, Lab Total 35, for a +7 bonus against aging); Season 4: Instill the talisman with the effect 'The Wound that Weeps' (PeCo 15), with 0 penetration and 50 uses per day. Open the talisman to the attunement "+4 Destroy things at a distance", because a spear is still basically the shape of a staff.
From this point, Niall advances Darius a year at a time, because aging results might have an impact on his study and development. In Darius's 35th year he spends 15 exp on Hunt 2, 5 exp on Civil and Canon Law 1, and 10 exp on raising Animal to 4. At this point, Niall decides that Darius would have risked suffering a Twilight, as he is the sort of magus who is likely to botch from time to time. Darius has a Warping Score of 2, with five Warping Points left over, because he is ten years out of apprenticeship. He makes the roll to control the magic, and succeeds, so that Darius does not actually go into Twilight at this point.
Niall then continues aging Darius to the age of 87, but that's enough example.
Older magi can learn spells more quickly than these guidelines suggest. You may therefore want to use these rules to have a magus learn spells as a lab project if you are advancing him more than forty years or so beyond apprenticeship.
Remember that you should also make aging rolls for the character each year from the age of 35. Thus you will probably want your magus to have acquired a Longevity Ritual (see page 261) by then. Some skilled magi offer their services creating Longevity Rituals for others, and you may decide that your character has bargained for one such ritual, especially if you are not interested in studying the Arts of Creo or Corpus. The precise details of such bargains and the bonus given by the resulting ritual should be agreed with the storyguide.
Magi of Hermes contains 15 magi detailed with full statistics immediately after apprenticeship and every 15 years thereafter, including details of any spells they invented or magic items they created. These can serve as a source of ideas, or be used as-is in the saga, even as player characters.
Personality
Choose a few words to describe your character's personality, and attach a value between -3 and +3 to each. These are your character's Personality Traits (see page 28). If you have a Minor Personality Flaw, you should represent that by a Personality Trait with a score of +3 or -3, and a Major Personality Flaw should have a Personality Trait of +6 or -6.
Grogs should have a score (positive or negative) in Loyal, and warriors should have a score in Brave. Most warriors will have a positive score in Brave, but not all.
For companions and magi, they are normally nothing more than a guide to roleplaying, although you can roll them if you really want to, so you shouldn't worry too much about them. A few specific rules do require rolls on Personality Traits, however.
Example: Darius of Flambeau
Niall picks Brave, Dedicated to Cause, and Efficient as Darius's Personality Traits, and gives him scores of +3 in each. Darius is quite an extreme individual, but the numbers are unlikely to have much impact on play.
Example: Darius of Flambeau
Darius does have a Reputation, thanks to his Hermetic Prestige Virtue. It's a reputation with Hermetic magi, and it has a level of 3. Niall picks 'Dedicated Hoplite' as the content. (The Hoplites are the enforcers of the Order of Hermes. It's an informal grouping, but its members are respected.)
Reputations
Characters only start with a Reputation if they choose a Virtue or Flaw that grants one, but all characters can develop them in play. See page 28 for rules on Reputations.
Confidence
Grogs do not have Confidence Points. Like Story Flaws, Confidence Points indicate a central character.
Companions and Magi start with a Confidence Score of 1 and 3 Confidence Points, unless they have a Virtue or Flaw that indicates otherwise.
Confidence Points can be spent to gain a one-off +3 bonus to any die roll, and a maximum number of Confidence Points equal to the character's Confidence Score may be spent on a single roll. More details on Confidence can be found on page 29.
Equipment
Your character may start with any equipment or possessions she might reasonably have acquired and retained over her career. You need not list all her possessions.
Example: Darius of Flambeau
Darius starts with the normal Confidence Score of 1 and 3 Confidence Points. His only noteworthy piece of equipment is his talisman-spear; Niall can assume that Darius has any mundane material he needs.
With the statistics completed, Niall finishes filling in the details of Darius's appearance and background, preparing him for play in the saga.
Characteristics: Int +3, Per +1, Str +2, Sta 0, Pre -3 (2), Com -1, Dex +1, Qik +2
Age: 87 (64), Hermetic age 62 yrs past Gauntlet.
Decrepitude: 0(2) Warping Score: 6 (19) Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Puissant Art Perdo) (free Virtue), Flawless Magic, Affinity with Perdo, Enduring Constitution, Fast Caster, Hermetic Prestige, Premonitions, Second Sight, Strong-Willed; Blatant Gift, Driven (Hunt Enemies of the Order), Enemies (Renounced Magus and his Lackeys); Disfigured (Facial Burns)
Personality Traits: Brave +3, Dedicated to Cause +3,
Efficient +3
Reputations: Dedicated Hoplite +3 (Hermetic magi)
Combat: Fist: Init +2, Atk +5, Def +6, Dam +2
Kick: Init +1, Atk +4, Def +4, Dam +5 Long Spear: Init +5, Atk +9, Def +8, Dam +9
Soak: +0
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, 0, -2, -4, Unconscious Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20) (* accumulated wound penalties
reduce by 1 for Enduring Constitution)
Abilities: Artes Liberales 4 (Grammar), Athletics 2 (Running), Awareness 3 (Alertness), Bargain 2 (Books), Bavaria Lore 2 (Geography), Brawl 3 (Punching), Chirurgy 2 (Bind Wounds), Civil and Canon Law 1 (Local Customs), Code of Hermes 3 (Wizards' Marches), Concentration 3 (Spells), Dominion Lore 2 (Divine Creatures), Etiquette 2 (Merchants), Faerie Lore 2 (Faerie Forests), Finesse 4 (Precision), Folk Ken 2 (Peasants), German 5 (Merchant Slang), Great Weapon 4 (Long Spear), Guile 3 (Fast talk), Hunt 2 (Tracking), Infernal Lore 2 (Demons), Intrigue 3 (Plotting), Latin 4 (Hermetic), Leadership 3 (Intimidation), (Local Area) Lore 3 (Personalities), Magic Lore 2 (Creatures), Magic Theory 5 (Inventing Spells), Order of Hermes Lore 4 (Criminals), Parma Magica 5 (Corpus), Penetration 6 (Perdo), Philosophiae 2 (Moral Philosophy), Premonitions 3 (Enemy Magi), Profession - Scribe 2 (Speed), Second Sight 3 (Invisibility), Stealth 2 (Shadowing), Survival 2 (Forests), Swim 2 (Rough Water)
Arts: Cr 10, In 6, Mu 4, Pe 18+3 (15), Re 9; An 5, Aq 6, Au 6, Co 15, He 6, Ig 6, Im 5, Me 6, Te 6 (4), Vi 8
Twilight Scars: The shadows in Darius' hood are unusually deep, hiding his face; Nearby, non-magical items decay when Darius uses magic (as the Warped Magic Flaw).
Equipment: Long Spear with haft enchanted as a talisman. instilled with the effect The Wound that Weeps (PeCo 15, penetration 0, 50 uses per day), attuned to a +4 bonus to spells that destroy at a distance, Longevity Ritual: Lab Total 35, +7 aging bonus
Encumbrance: 0(2)
Spells Known:
Cripple the Howling Wolf (PeAn 25/+27*).
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
Parching Wind (PeAq 20/+28*), Mastery 1 (Penetration)
Curse of the Desert (PeAg 25/+29*),
Mastery 2 (Penetration, Magic Resistance)
The Chirurgeon's Healing Touch (CrCo 20/+32),
Mastery 1 (Penetration)
Whispers through the Black Gate (InCo (Me) 15/+13),
Mastery 1 (Quiet Casting)
The Inexorable Search (InCo 20/+22),
Mastery 1 (Penetration)
Gift of the Bear's Fortitude (MuCo 25/+20),
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
Dust to Dust (PeCo 15/+37*), Mastery 1 (Penetration)
The Wound that Weeps (PeCo 15/+37*),
Mastery 1 (Penetration)
Incantation of the Milky Eyes (PeCo 30/+37*),
Mastery 1 (Penetration)
Twist of the Tongue (PeCo 30/+37*),
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
Clenching Grasp of the Crushed Heart (PeCo 40/+38*).
Mastery 2 (Penetration, Magic Resistance)
Endurance of the Berserkers (ReCo 15/+25),
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
Lifting the Dangling Puppet (ReCo 15/+25),
Mastery 1 (Penetration)
Seven-League Stride (ReCo 30/+25),
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
The Leap of Homecoming (ReCo 35/+25),
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
The Great Rot (PeHe 25/+28*),
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
Winter's Icy Touch (Pelg 10/+28),
Mastery 1 (Penetration)
Soothe the Raging Flames (Pelg 20/+28),
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
Ward Against Heat and Flames (Relg 25/+16),
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
Veil of Invisibility (Pelm 20/+28),
Mastery 2 (Quiet Casting x 2)
Tip of the Tongue (PeMe 5/+29),
Mastery 2 (Fast Casting, Magic Resistance)
Calm the Motion of the Heart (PeMe 15/+28),
Mastery 1 (Quiet Casting)
Loss of But a Moment's Memory (PeMe 15/+30*),
Mastery 3 (Quiet Casting x 2, Still Casting)
Blessing of Childlike Bliss (PeMe 25/+30)
Mastery 3 (Quiet Casting x 2, Still Casting)
Rusted Decay of Ten-Score Years (PeTe 20*, Target
increased to Group/+28*), Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
Demon's Eternal Oblivion (PeVi 30/+30*).
Mastery 1 (Fast Casting)
Wind of Mundane Silence (PeVi 30/+30),
Mastery 1 (Magic Resistance)
\* If Darius is holding his Talisman, he has a + 4 bonus to cast spells which "Destroy things at a distance". This should be added to these spells if he is holding it.
Appearance: Darius is a frightening individual. A bony figure swathed in a black, all-encompassing robe and carrying a black-hafted spear, he is reminiscent of medieval perceptions of the physical embodiment of death. This image is further emphasized if his hood falls away from his face, for Darius is bald, with a mass of scar tissue for a face and no eves.
Darius is content to cultivate his sinister image; he is a hoplite and an expert with Perdo magic, dedicated to the discovery and execution of traitors within the Order. However, it was not always thus; Uwe, the boy who would eventually become Darius, was born into a merchant family living in Bavaria. He enjoyed a comfortable life in a moderately prosperous household. However, shortly after Uwe reached puberty strange things began to happen. His books would fall apart, furniture he sat on would break, and the family cat died in his arms. His family became aware that there was something unsettling about the boy and were only too happy to see him taken away as an apprentice by the mysterious scholar who visited them soon after.
Thus Uwe became the apprentice of the hoplite Xerxes, who indoctrinated his filius to become a hunter of evils within the Order of Hermes. A lab accident early during apprenticeship burned away Uwe's eyes and the flesh on his head, but Xerxes restored Uwe's sight, although he refused to do anything about his filius' appearance. Fifteen years later Uwe became a magus of the Order of Hermes named Darius and joined the ranks of the hoplites, its guardians. He has continued to maintain contact with his (aging) pater, but they only see each other on rare occasions when they can share information; Xerxes is now too frail to take part in combat.
Darius travelled to the covenant to establish a base from which he could seek out and destroy its enemies. He pursued this vocation with an enthusiasm that impressed his colleagues, and when the previous leader of the covenant recently passed into Final Twilight he accepted the position of head, seeing in this an opportunity to instill his values into the new, younger members swelling its ranks. Darius has been too busy to train an apprentice, but now he feels the need to pass on his legacy soon, as he suspects that he may have encountered his bane; he recently fought a powerful Renounced magus and his followers and was nearly killed, only "escaping" when a magical maelstrom sent him physically into Twilight. The traitor is still at large; Darius intends to kill him in the next confrontation and is even prepared to sacrifice himself to achieve this aim.
Option: Extremely Complex Character Generation
It is possible to generate a character by working out exactly what he has done in every season he has been alive, and using the rules in the Laboratory and Long-Term Events chapters to determine the results. This is how magi and important companions are normally advanced in play, but it takes a very long time for character generation. It tends to produce characters who are close to those generated using the detailed rules, but with a lot more character.
Even if you do generate a character this way, you should still use the normal guidelines for the first five years of life, and you assign Virtues, Flaws, and Characteristics in the normal way. However, age-based limits on Abilities do not apply, and all Virtues and Flaws have their normal effect on character advancement. You must discuss with your troupe the resources that the character has available; with sensible choices, it is usually hard to raise Abilities above the age-based limits, which is why they exist in Detailed Character Creation.
Characters with Might Scores
Characters with a Might Score are not human, strictly speaking. No being with a Might Score can have Virtues which affiliate them to another realm, for they are full members of the supernatural realm which gives them their Might. This includes The Gift, True Faith, Faerie Blood, and Blood of the Nephilim; but also Supernatural Virtues which draw on sources from a different realm than that of their Might. They may not even take corrupted versions of these Virtues, such as The False Gift.
If a character receives Magic Resistance from more than one source, these totals do not stack, even if they derive from the same Realm (Infernal Might and an infernal power, for example); you simply use the higher total.
Characters with a Might Score are immune to all Warping (see Warping and Non-Humans, page 389). They may, however, spend a point of their Might Pool to use any Ability or power which normally incurs Warping.
Those with a Might Score are immune to supernatural backlashes of their realm — Twilight, Hubris, Vituperation, and so forth — but still suffer any other consequences of a failed or botched roll when using their powers.
Mythic Companions
Mythic Companions are generated in the same way as other Companion characters, with some important exceptions:
- All Mythic Companions take a Free Virtue which specifies their status. These Virtues are incompatible with each other, and with The Gift, and are not available to grogs.
- You gain a free Minor Virtue, normally specified by the Mythic Companion Virtue. In addition, you may take up to ten points of Flaws, and each point of Flaws is worth two points of Virtues. This produces a maximum of 21 points of Virtues and 10 points of Flaws. Most Mythic Companion Virtues require you to take some particular Virtues and Flaws, these count against your maximum of 20 points of Virtues and 10 points of Flaws.
- You should also agree with the troupe on a minimum set of Ability scores that the character should have by the time character generation is complete. As for Hermetic magi, this set of Abilities should come to a total of 90 experience points. Note that this is not an additional 90 points to spend; it is rather a restriction on how about 90 of your experience points may be spent. (The set will often include Supernatural Abilities in which the character gets an initial score of 1 from the Virtue granting it, and you will not need to spend experience points for the first point of those Abilities.) While most Mythic Companion types make suggestions for these Abilities, you may create a character with a different spread of Abilities if you can convince the troupe that it is a good idea.
The following types of Mythic Companions cover all the supernatural realms. You should consult the troupe before choosing one of these, as a Nephilim and Devil Child might not work well together in the same saga.
Devil Child
Devil Children are the creations of particularly powerful demons, who create them for a specific task. They are tragic figures; potent with Hellish powers but doomed to live a short life being manipulated by their demonic parent. However, their souls do not belong to Hell despite their ancestry, and they have the free will to choose for good or evil. Created as weapons in the conflict between Heaven and Hell for the souls of mankind, Devil Children can be a powerful tool of evil, and a firm hand is kept on them by their demonic creator. However, they also have the potential to be a great tool of good if they seek redemption, and should they come to the attention of Heaven's forces, they may well be targeted for either salvation or destruction. This often results in the Plagued by an Angel or Supernatural Nuisance Story Flaws.
Note: Devil Children are very powerful and are recommended for high-powered sagas or sagas with elder magi.
Required Virtues:
All Devil Children must take the following Virtues:
- Devil Child (Free Mythic Companion virtue)
- Demonic Blood (Major, Supernatural)
- Demonic Might or Demonic Powers (Minor, Supernatural — free with Devil Child)
- Puissant Guile (Minor, General)
Required Flaws:
All Devil Children must take the following Flaw, or a suitable substitute agreed with the troupe:
• Tragic Life (Major, Supernatural)
Devil Children may take three more points of Virtues at no cost (to balance the compulsory Major Flaw with six Virtue points), and may take an additional seven points of Flaws, each point granting two Virtue points.
Devil Children do not have any common required Abilities, because their involvement in their demonic heritage varies from one individual to another. Their Abilities should reflect the task for which they were created.
Faerie Doctors
If humans are to dwell in regions haunted by the fae — such as the rural areas which provide the food of nations — then they must learn to come to an amicable relationship with their good neighbors. In lands historically connected to Saxon cultures (principally England, Frisia, and Saxony) a faerie doctor may act as an intermediary between the humans and the fae, leaving the region blessed indeed. Also called a lybman (who practices lybcraeft, magical healing and surgery), the faerie doctor is a human who speaks to the faeries on behalf of the peasants, explaining their concerns and wishes. Likewise, the local faeries know that the faerie doctor supports their flow of vitality by reinforcing the tales and lore of their kind within his region of influence. The faerie doctor takes it upon himself to keep the memory of the local fae alive through stories, and to ensure that their homes are not violated. Should a dispute between humans and faeries arise, the faerie doctor attempts to mediate. ensuring that there are no misunderstandings on either side; but he must attempt to remain a neutral party. In addition to his job as mediator and storyteller, the faerie doctor also administers directly to his human charges through use of faeriegranted supernatural powers, such as the removal of blights, banes, and diseases through his Curse-Throwing power. Faerie doctors are also adept at locating water and lost things through dowsing.
The faerie doctor is trained from birth by a relative, often an uncle, for the calling tends to run in families. Faerie doctors are almost exclusively male, although women can be taught the art if no other relative can be found. The apprentice is taught the lore of the faeries, and has direct and personal contact with all the Good Folk in the local region. As the boy enters puberty, he acquires a companion from amongst the fae, a friend who provides him with unique insights into faerie-kind and warns him if he is about to make a social faux pas. These faeries usually have a high Cognizance, and this proves useful in explaining the actions of other fae. Apart from this, the faerie friend can take any form — it may be a willowy nymph, a talking animal, a wizened dwarf, or any number of other types of faerie. Upon acquiring his companion, the faerie doctor's apprenticeship is complete. He either takes over his mentor's practice, goes into partnership with him, or moves to a new area to strike out on his own.
Faerie doctors often accompany their oath to not take sides in conflicts between humans and faeries with other oaths that reflect their status as having a foot in both realms. The most common oaths are to never cut one's hair, to never grow a beard, to wear women's clothes, and to remain celibate. Such oaths represent the distance the faerie doctor must keep from the rest of humanity to maintain his close connection with the fae. Unsurprisingly, a faerie doctor may clash with the priesthood who see his 'clients' as demons or evil spirits, however, the faerie doctor is rarely pagan himself. He simply realizes the true place of the fae in the daily lives of those under his care.
Faerie Doctors as Mythic Companions
Players wishing to play a magus-level faerie doctor should take the following Virtues and Flaws
Required Virtues:
All Faerie Doctors must have the following Virtues:
- Faerie Doctor (Free, Mythic Companion)
- Dowsing (Minor, Supernatural Free with Faerie Doctor)
- Wise One (Minor, Social Status)
- Curse-Throwing (Major, Supernatural)
Required Flaws:
All Faerie Doctors must have the following Flaws, or suitable substitutes agreed with the troupe:
- Faerie Friend (Minor, Story)
- Dutybound obey the oaths of a faerie doctor (Minor, Personality)
Minimum Ability Scores:
Faerie Doctors should begin play with the following minimum Ability scores:
- Curse-Throwing 4
- Dowsing 1
- Faerie Lore 3
- Profession: Storyteller 1
The Student of Faerie Virtue and the Faerie Upbringing Flaw are very common amongst Faerie Doctors, and a high number are Gender Non-Conforming. Many of them possess enhanced abilities to resist many curses and diseases (such as a Greater or Lesser Immunity, or Rapid Convalescence Virtues). Other useful Virtues include Free Expression, Purifying Touch, and Second Sight.
A character can be a faerie doctor without being a Mythic Companion, but they are understandably less powerful. They still take the compulsory Virtues and Flaws listed above, but must balance Virtues and Flaws in the normal manner.
Sin-Eating
In some cultures, the supernatural power of Curse-Throwing is called Sin-Eating. A sin-eater uses this power to take on the sins of the dying or recently dead, often acquired by eating a ritual meal of bread, salt, and ale over the body of the sinner. It is believed that the Sin-Eater not only saves the deceased from Hell, but also prevents their spirit from wandering the world as a ghost. The magnitude of the unforgiven sin should be considered to be a Minor, Serious, or Major Affliction as appropriate. The effect of Sin-Eating on the soul of the practitioner or the fate of the mortal soul remains unknowable, but Sin-Eating does prevent the spirit of the deceased from becoming a ghost due to unrepented sins. A sin-eater can still use his Supernatural Ability in the standard fashion, and most commonly takes the curse onto himself. Sin-eaters are often outcast from society, shunned because of the sins they accumulate through their career. The Church regularly excommunicates sin-eaters, not only because of the burden of sin which they carry but also because they encroach on the territory of the clergy to administer to the dead. A particularly evil sin-eater might transfer the sins of the dying onto an otherwise innocent child in return for pecuniary gain.
Sin-Eating stems from a similar tradition to Curse-Throwing, and thus is most common in cultures descended from Saxon people — in England, Flanders, Frisia and Saxony. Analogous traditions exist in other cultures, such as the Bavarians and the people of the Balkan Peninsula. An intriguing variant of sin-eating is part of the Jewish atonement rituals. Jewish practitioners of a version of Curse-Throwing aligned to the Divine Realm still conduct the rite of the scapegoat. A goat is loaded with the sins of a community on Yom Kippur, and driven into a place of desolation. Incorrectly identified as a propitiatory sacrifice to Satan, the scapegoat (and this is the origin of that phrase) is an act of obedience to God as detailed in Chapter 16 of Leviticus.
Story Seed: A Bjornaer magus comes to the characters for help. He was unwittingly part of the scapegoat rite when observing Jewish practices in his goat heartbeast, and now seeks a way to unburden himself from the community's sins.
Nephilim
Nephilim are the divine giants and heroes of ancient myth. While older nephilim rarely venture from their divine regiones, a few younger nephilim occasionally leave their homes to wander the earth and experience new things. Most "young" nephilim are about eighty years old, which is the start of their adulthood.
Note: Nephilim are very powerful and are recommended for high-powered sagas, or sagas with elder magi. If your troupe is worried about game balance, ensure that age levels for characters are roughly parallel.
Required Virtues:
All Nephilim must take the following Virtues:
- Nephilim (Free Mythic Companion Virtue)
- Blood of the Nephilim (Major, Supernatural)
- Greater Immunity: Disease (Major, Supernatural)
- Great Stamina (Minor, General)
- Great Strength (Minor, General)
- Improved Characteristics (Minor, General)
- Sense Holiness and Unholiness (Minor, Supernatural)
- Strong Angelic Heritage (Minor, Supernatural — free with Nephilim)
- Nephilim must take five points of Flaws to pay for these virtues and may take an additional five points of Flaws, which grants a further ten points of Virtues.
Minimum Ability Scores:
Nephilim should begin play with the following minimum Ability scores:
- Dominion Lore 4
- Hebrew 1
- Penetration 1
- Sense Holiness and Unholiness 3
Spirit Votary
A spirit votary is a devoted worshiper of a magical spirit. In pre-Christian days, these individuals would be high priests and priestesses, and form a cult to venerate their spirits, similar powers could be found among a number of different cultures. Today, a spirit votary tends to be a solitary figure railing against the overt superiority of the Dominion of God.
Required Virtues:
All Spirit Votaries must take the following Virtues:
- Spirit Votary (Free Mythic Companion Virtue)
- Second Sight (Minor, Supernatural free with Spirit Votary)
- Spiritual Pact (Major, Supernatural)
- Either one more Major Supernatural Virtue or three Minor Supernatural Virtues
Required Flaws:
All Spirit Votaries must take the following Flaw, or a suitable substitute agreed by the troupe:
• Pagan (Major, Personality)
Minimum Ability Scores:
Spirit Votaries should begin play with the following minimum Ability scores:
- Local Area Lore 1
- Magic Lore 4
- Penetration 1
- Second Sight 3
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