Ars Magica Definitive Edition

The extensively revised and expanded deluxe version of Ars Magica 5th Edition.

Markdown Version Specifics

Open License Markdown version by OriginalMadman, https://github.com/OriginalMadman/Ars-Magica-Open-License

[Completion state: Done. All text and formatting manually fixed and reviewed at length. Definitive Edition is now in excellent readable format including complete TOC/Virtues list/Flaws list/Ability list/Spells Index/Bestiary Index/Traditional Index links. It should be content complete with several fixes (see below). Remaining: Full pass review by others; Minor details such as Stat Blocks and Bestiary and a few more sections have fully corrected text/headings/tables but retains simple formatting that could be improved with br's, italic, bold etc; Character Sheet will likely not be done in markdown (lol)]

For readability in Markdown, the Uppercase headings (originally in a font suitable for that) throughout have been replaced with Chicago Manual of Style Title Case headings (except headings denoting spell LEVEL sections)

Based on the material for Ars Magica, ©1993–2024, licensed by Trident, Inc. d/b/a Atlas Games®, under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license 4.0 ("CC-BY-SA 4.0"). Order of Hermes, Tremere, Doissetep, and Grimgroth are trademarks of Paradox Interactive AB and are used with permission.

Markdown Version Quick Convenience Links

Table of Contents
Detailed Character Creation
List of Virtues
List of Flaws
Ability List

Arcane Experimentation
Spell Design

Animal Spells
Aquam Spells
Auram Spells
Corpus Spells
Herbam Spells
Ignem Spells
Imaginem Spells
Mentem Spells
Terram Spells
Vim Spells

Reference Guide
Combat Rules Reference
Magic Rules Reference
Laboratory Rules Reference

Spells Index
Spell Guidelines Index
Bestiary Index
Traditional Index

Identified Issues From Source PDF Release

Some identified issues present in source PDF (latest release as per march 2026). Note that a few more than these were fixed on the fly (unfortunately didn't start listing them until later in the process): - Ocasionally missing punctuation at section ends, in tables, lists (some fixed). - Style inconsistency with hyphenation: Long-Term/Long Term/longterm (partly fixed); as well as Brother-Knight, Long-Winded, Simple-Minded and likely some more (none fixed). - Inconsistent use of "unravelling" (British spelling) and "unraveling" (American spelling). Three of each throughout the book (not fixed, but we probably should due to linkage) - Often inconsistent use of punctuation in lists (only occasionally fixed). - p16: House Tremere voting sigil reference to p314 likely should be p224 (fixed) - p31-43: Mixed use of both semicolon and comma under Virtues and Flaws throughout all Character Templates (not fixed) - p38: The spell "Phantom of the Talking Head" should be "Phantasm of the Talking Head" (fixed, thanks to garin1000) - p76: Early in first column "The character many learn..." should of course be "The character may learn". (fixed) - p118: The virtue Folk Magic is erroneously listed in Flaws (fixed, thanks to garin1000) - p236: Weird trailing colon at "Script Bonus: +15:" (fixed) - p263: Casting Tablets" section is weird have the table within the text (fixed) - p275: Extraordinary results section looks a bit jumbled in source (cuts from investigating an enchanted item by experimentation straight into overall results w/o heading, David Chart: "The heading got taken into the insert, and not replaced in the main text.", flow problem is fixed in the markdown) - p279: "Having deciding" should be "Having decided" (fixed) - p279: "your must add" should be "you must add" (fixed) - p296: Extra "an" in 2nd paragraph Regio: "...there is an another regio level" (fixed) - p325: Creo Auram Guidelines: Bottom bullet points are indented under Level 25 (fixed) - p372: Circular Ward Against Demons grammar: "equal to or less than or equal to the level" (fixed) - p401: Extra "is" in "Fist: This is includes..." (fixed) - p524: Extra "a" in "...enforce a myriad rules" (fixed) - p528: Fast Saga grammar garble: "Virtues and Flaws that affect only a character's starting scores are much less important, and should probably be made reclassified or made more effective if they are to be balanced." (not fixed) - p544: Repeated word: "1 pawn of vis per per spell magnitude" (fixed) - p546: Spelling error: "accomodate" (fixed)

Found Index Issues (p558-568): - Arcane Lore listed as Ability instead of Virtue in Index (fixed) - Casting Tablet entry in index pointing to p180 which only covers covenant resource, the rules are on p263 (fixed) - Corrupt Beasts misplaced in Index (fixed) - Enchanting (Ability) (Ability) missing from Index (fixed) - Premonitions (Virtue) missing from Index (fixed) - Index Satan points to p21 - there is no Satan there (but mentioned 6 other times in the book, not fixed) - Secretive (Flaw) is twice in the index - the first one is correct (fixed) - Sense Holiness and Unholiness (Virtue) is missing in index (fixed, it's page 107) - Sense Passions (Ability) is missing in Index (fixed, it's page 170) - Templar Confrere or Consoseur (Virtue) has a typo. The correct spelling is "Consoeur" - in the chapter it's correct.

Step into a Medieval World of Magic & Myth

In Ars Magica, the superstitions of the common folk are all true. Faeries drink milk left on doorsteps, demons roam the countryside, and wizards wield magic beyond the ken of mortals.

Step into this magical medieval world as a powerful magus of the Order of Hermes, as their talented companion, or as a loyal grog who protects them.

The Definitive Edition of the award-winning Ars Magica RPG is the ultimate roleplaying experience. It's a heavily expanded version of the Fifth Edition core rulebook.

Credits

Ars Magica Creators: Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein•Hagen

Definitive Edition Credits

Producers: Michelle Nephew & Ben Hartfield

Revision & Project Management: David Chart

Graphic Design & Layout: Ben Hartfield

Artists: Christian Bravery, John Cobb, Liz Danforth, Thomas Denmark, Jaume Fabregat, Eric Hotz, Tom Kyffin, Jackie Sue Lozano, Steve Luke, Jeff Menges, Eneko Menica, Emilia Nephew, Josephine Nephew, J. Scott Reeves, Pam Shanteau, Doug Shuler, Mark "Jock" Simpson, Christian St. Pierre, Dominic Reardon, Adam Rex, Grey Thornberry, Bryon Wackwitz, Mike Weaver, Katherine Wyman, and many talented but unattributed medieval artists.

Cross-Chapter Story: Michelle Nephew

Design Contributions: Tom Dowd, Jörg-Peter Friederich, Rich Gentile, Andrew Gronosky, Andrew Mitchell, Mark Shirley, Andrew Smith, Kevin Sours, David Woods

Errata Documentation: Christopher Allen and the online Ars Magica community

Indexing: Ross Waataja

Proofreading: Woody Eblom, Jenae Floerke, Jackie Sue Lozano, John Nephew, Ross Waataja

ArM5 Proofreading: Sheila Thomas

ArM5 Vital Technical Support: Matthew Seidl

Publishers: John & Michelle Nephew

Fifth Edition Line Authors

The following people all contributed to books in the Ars Magica Fifth Edition line, and some of their work has found its way into this definitive edition. Ars Magica would not be what it is without them.

Christian Rosenkjaer Andersen, Jason Brennan, Volker Bürkel, Evangeline Cheng, Niall Christie, Camo Coffey, Erik Dahl, Mark Faulkner, Timothy Ferguson, Tim Goldbeck, Andrew Gronosky, Lachlan Hayes, Daniel Kemler, Jeff Kyer, Mark Lawford, Richard Love, David MacGregor, Ben McFarland, Phil Masters, Pitt Murmann, John Post, Xavier Requejo, Saul Roberts, Christian Jensen Romer, Matt Ryan, Christoph Safferling, Mark Shirley, Nick Simmonds, Andrew Smith, Neil Taylor, Paul Tevis, Sheila Thomas, Erik Tyrrell, Alexander White, David Woods

Fifth Edition Playtesters

First Round: John Bull, Lloyd Graney, Pete Hiley, Christian Jensen-Romer, Kevin Sides, David Woods, Eric Grove-Stephensen, Dean Scothern, Richard Slattery, Eric Kouris, Yves Leblanc, Stéphane Paquet, Hubert Quatreville, Chris Blake, Joel Coldren, Mike Daumen, Mike Graves, Ann Harper, Jason Morningstar, Patrick M. Murphy, Steve Segedy, Tom Zito; Matt Ryan, Jessica Ryan, Roland Ryan, Sarah Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Jesse Koennecke, Asif Chaudhry, Robert Ahrens; Ian Radford, Mary Woodcock-Kroble, Derek Middlemiss, James Girdwood, Jerry Braverman, Kim Braverman, Erik Dahl, Mike Charlesworth, David Chart, Phil Masters, Neil Taylor, Sheila Thomas, Pete Windsor, Mathias Betge, Jörg-Peter Friederich, Joachim Kroenke, Olaf Mahl, Ulrich Willmünder, Greg Gibbs, Donna Giltrap, Malcolm Harbrow, Aaron Hicks, Richard Love, Dawn Hansen, Michael Hansen, David Henderson, Laura Henderson, Grier Johnson, Mark Pascual, Katharine Sauceda, Laura Saunders, Steve Saunders

Second Round: Niall Christie: Jerry Braverman, Kim Braverman, Erik Dahl, Thomas L. Scott; Eric Grove-Stephensen, Dean Scothern, Richard Slattery, Timothy Ferguson, Breyt Coakley, Eugene Dashevsky, Rich Gentile, Andrew Gronosky, Mike Longfritz, Andrew Mitchell, Vesna Gronosky, Arwen Warlock, Greg Gibbs, Donna Giltrap, Malcolm Harbrow, Aaron Hicks, Richard Love, Angus MacDonald, Kevin Sours, Luke Miller, Sean Winslow, Stephanie Sours, Michael Bors, Brock Close, Gary N. Mengle, Sean Mitchell; Matt Ryan, Jesse Koennecke, Roland Ryan, Robert Ahrens, Sarah Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Matthew L. Seidl; Camo Coffey, Roddy Hale, Mark Shirley, Andrew Smith, Andrew Walton; Mike Charlesworth, David Chart, Phil Masters, Neil Taylor, Sheila Thomas, Pete Windsor, Mathias Betge, Andrea C. Cofalik, Jörg-Peter Friederich, Joachim Kroenke, Olaf Mahl, Anette Springorum, Ulrich Willmünder; Jack Fairchild, Matthew Law, Paul "Polly" Stephenson, Alexander White, Erik Hendrickson, Scott Kieffer, Brian Malcolm, Jeffrey Miller, David Woods, Peter Clark, Lloyd Graney, Luke Price, CJ Romer, Kevin Sides, Ed Woods, Frédéric Clap, Eric Kouris, Yves Leblanc, Stéphane Paquet, Hubert Quatreville, Dale Beach, Joel Coldren, Mike Graves, Jason Morningstar, Scott Morningstar, Patrick M. Murphy, Steve Segedy, Enno Siemsen, Tom Zito

Third Round: Lloyd Graney, Pete Hiley, Chris Jensen-Romer, Paul Jenchowski, Luke Price, Kevin Sides, Ed Woods; Timothy Ferguson, Breyt Coakley, Eugene Dashevsky, Rich Gentile, Andrew Gronosky, Vesna Gronosky, Mike Longfritz, Andrew Mitchell, Arwen Warlock; Greg Gibbs, Donna Giltrap, Malcolm Harbrow, Aaron Hicks, Richard Love; Frédéric Clap, Eric Kouris, Yves Leblanc, Stéphane Paquet, Hubert Quatreville; Michael Bors, Richard Alan Brentar, John Burrell, Richard Burrell, Skip Engle, Joe Freistuhler, Gary N. Mengle, Sean Mitchell, Curtis Mustain, Michael Simone; Alexander Bader, Tanja Bader, Nina Baur, Stefan Ehret, Alexander Gerber, Jochen Gutjahr, MaPhi Messner, Jens Oesterle, Mirjam Rösen-Oesterle; Matt Ryan, Roland Ryan, Robert Ahrens, Jesse Koennecke, Sarah Ferguson-Wagstaffe; Matthew L. Seidl; Camo Coffey, Roddy Hale, Mark Shirley, Andrew Smith, Andrew Walton, David Woods; Mike Charlesworth, David Chart, Phil Masters, Neil Taylor, Sheila Thomas, Pete Windsor; Sean Winslow; Dan Baseman, Robert Jankovich, Jeff Schmidt, Erik Tyrrell; Dawn Hansen, Michael Hansen, David Henderson, Laura Henderson, Grier Johnson, Mark Pascual, Katharine Sauceda, Laura Saunders, Steve Saunders

Fourth Round: Niall Christie: Chris Jensen-Romer, Peter Hiley, Paul Jenchowski, Luke Price, Lloyd Graney, Kevin Sides, Ed Woods, Jerry Braverman, Kim Braverman, Erik Dahl, Thomas L. Scott, Eugene Dashevsky, Rich Gentile, Andrew Gronosky, Vesna Gronosky, Andrew Mitchell; Michael Bors, Richard Alan Brentar, Richard Burrell, Skip Engle, Joe Freistuhler, Gary N. Mengle, Sean Mitchell, Michael Simone, Alexander Bader, Tanja Bader, Nina Baur, Stefan Ehret, Alexander Gerber, Jochen Gutjahr, MaPhi Messner, Jens Oesterle, Mirjam Rösen-Oesterle, Robert Ahrens, Sarah Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Daniel Ilut, Jesse Koennecke, Matt Ryan, Roland Ryan, Miriam Wallace, Camo Coffey, Roddy Hale, Mark Shirley, Andrew Smith, Andrew Walton, Mike Charlesworth, Phil Masters, Gary Parden, Neil Taylor, Sheila Thomas, Pete Windsor, Mathias Betge, Andrea C. Cofalik, Jörg-Peter Friederich, Joachim Kroenke, Olaf Mahl, Anette Springorum, Ulrich Willmünder, David Woods, Dawn Hansen, Michael Hansen, David Henderson, Laura Henderson, Grier Johnson, Mark Pascual, Katharine Sauceda, Laura Saunders, Steve Saunders

Fifth Round: Niall Christie, Chris Jensen-Romer, Peter Hiley, Kevin Sides, Luke Price, Lloyd Graney, Paul Jenchowski, Polly Draper, Samuel Bidal, Anne-Gaëlle Darmont, Jérôme Darmont, Gilles Marcvincent, Miguel Peca, Didier Rabour, Quetta Garrison, Wendell Joyner, Angus MacDonald, Sarah MacDonald, Dan Shull, Brian Watson, Kaynek Young, Alexander Bader, Tanja Bader, Nina Baur, Stefan Ehret, Alexander Gerber, Jochen Gutjahr, MaPhi Messner, Jens Oesterle, Mirjam Rösen-Oesterle; Camo Coffey, Roddy Hale, Mark Shirley, Andrew Smith, Andrew Walton, Mike Charlesworth, Phil Masters, Gary Parden, Neil Taylor, Sheila Thomas, Pete Windsor, Andrea C. Cofalik, Ulrich Willmünder, Tod Gelle, Roberta Olson, Jeff Schmidt, Erik Tyrrell, Andrew Gronosky, Vesna Gronosky, Andrew Mitchell, Trond Løkke, John Henry Nordlien, Petter Stolba, Jon Sederqvist Østmoe, Tom Fraser, Philip Gardner, Ben Wright, Keith Dalzell, Sarah Doss, Paul Eastlund, Roy Pollock, Paul Tevis: Charlton Wilbur, Jason Burkins, Margaret Halpert, Chris Aylott, Fr. Tom Dowd

... and thanks to all the people who playtested later supplements and contributed errata over the years since the rules were originally published. All of you helped to make this book what it is.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to our crowdfunding backers, who made this project possible! And especially our Make Your Character Magical backers whose depictions are featured in the Bestiary chapter illustration: Tiphaine & Olivier Gourinchas' Titoo-Marie of House Bjornaer, James Astacio's Cerritulus of House Ex Miscellanea, Marsha & Martin Woodbury's Marosa of House Ex Miscellanea, and Chris Lankford's Elianus of House Jerbiton.

Special thanks to Doug Shuler, whose chapter illustrations are an incredible labor of love.

Special thanks to Ars Magica's founders: Woody Eblom, Nicole Lindroos, John Nephew, Mark Rein•Hagen, Lisa Stevens, Jonathan Tweet.

And special thanks to Peter Adkison for entrusting Ars Magica to Atlas Games so long ago!

Copyright & Trademark Notice

©2025 Trident, Inc., d/b/a Atlas Games®. All rights reserved. Ars Magica and Mythic Europe are trademarks and Atlas Games is a registered trademark of Trident, Inc. Order of Hermes, Tremere, Doissetep, and Grimgroth are trademarks of Paradox Interactive AB and are used with permission. This work is protected by international copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher.

1st Printing, 2025. Atlas Games, 202 3rd Ave, Proctor MN 55810, USA.

Ars Magica players participate in a vibrant fan community on discussion forums hosted by Atlas Games and Discord, by compiling archives of game material via Project Redcap at redcap.org, and by publishing their own work under the Ars Magica Open License at patreon.com and drivethrurpg.com. To learn more, visit us at ...

ATLAS-GAMES.COM/ARSMAGICA

ISBN: 978-1-58978-251-8

Made of FSC®-certified paper that was responsibly sourced.

Memorials

Spanning nearly 40 years, Ars Magica is an intergenerational game that has sparked long-lasting communities across the globe. Our crowdfunding campaign comments were filled with memories of loved ones gone to Final Twilight, for whom Ars Magica was a significant part of their lives. Here we pay tribute to the memory of those Ars Magica players we've lost. Vale sodales.

FATHER JOHN ALEXIS
IVAN BALABUCK
RHIANNON BATES
CHRIS BOMMERSHEIM
HAL BOWMAN
OTIS DANIEL BROPHY
JOHN FRANCIS BULL
KITTY "ISIS REGULON" CARLISLE
FRANCESCO CHERSTICH
LUDOVICO CONTI
JERRY CORRICK
AETHEL DE DIEDNE
ØYVIND ELIASSEN
TIM ELLIOT
CHRISTOPHER EVANS
CONNOR FRASER
MIGUEL ÁNGEL GARCÍA
PATRICE GERMAIN
YOSSI GURVITZ
SERENITY HALL
AARON HARMON
DONNA HECK
SHAWN HICKEY
DR. KATH HODGES
ANDREW JONES
ROBERT MAJOR
ERIK/DANIEL MARKSTEDT
FREDRICK OTTO MOEHRLE
EDUARD MONTER
ALBERTO PAGNOTTI
TONY POINTON
NICK POST
WADE RACINE
PAUL ROCCI
RUSSELL "WOMBLE" SAKNE
JAMES SANHEIM
RUSSELL MORRIS SCHOOLS, JR.
LO SMILODONTE
ROLAND SPEITH
JEROEN STOKMAN
JULIUS STONIS
DAVID H. TERNES
MARGO TOTH
KITE UNION
GIULIANO VERTUAN
BEN LUCIUS WALSH
STEWART WIECK
KARA WENDT
RICHARD B. WHITE

Preface

There's so much to love about Ars Magica, and it's gratifying to see it find an enduring place in the hearts of so many gamers. Mark Rein•Hagen and I put everything we had into this game, and it shows.

I love the core promise of the Ars Magica — wizards done right. In real-world lore, wizards are beyond the limits of regular mortals, while in RPGs they are typically on par with warriors and thieves — just one more class. I love how various elements of the game, such as houses and covenants, support this central promise.

I love how each covenant is a character in its own right, with its own origin and destiny. I love how they support long-term play and how creating a covenant sets a tone for what the campaign is going to do. I love how covenants have more-powerful magi as NPCs, reinforcing the idea that only thing more powerful than a magus is another magus. I love how they give magi the towers, libraries, laboratories, and more that genuine wizards are supposed to have.

I love the houses and how they help ground a magus both in an ancient tradition and in the politics of the day. I love how the various houses provide players and Storyguides with plenty of narrative leverage, both for conflicts and for connections. Ars Magica's houses were inspired by the cults of RuneQuest, and in turn they inspired the various factions that become popular in '90s-era RPGs. Taking sides seems to appeal to something deep in our nature.

I love spontaneous magic. Without the ability to do little things, like light a campfire with the snap of a finger, can you be a genuine wizard?

I love the verb-object system for magic arts. I love how 15 magical arts overlap to make 50 verb-object pairs. I love the sound of "creo ignem."

I love how the game uses Latin. I'm a word-root geek.

I love the grogs, how they play up the power of the magi, help the companions shine, and make character death more palatable.

I love the companions and how readily a player can build the companion that they want. I love how they operate in a middle position between the arcane magi and the mundane population at large.

I love the core dice mechanic. It's so straightforward that I later repurposed it as the core mechanic for D&D 3rd Edition.

I love the 1-3-6-10 scaling system for buying skills and arts.

I love how in 2nd edition we redefined the setting as Europe in the Middle Ages. As Ken Hite says, one sure way to improve your RPG campaign is to set it on Earth.

I even love the title. "Ars Magica" is an unfortunate title for a game that no one's ever heard of before, self-published by two nobodies. But a classic game, one that has stood the test of time and has earned its recognition — for that game it's a perfect title.

And I love that you now have this amazing edition in your hands. Enjoy!

Jonathan Tweet Ars Magica Co-Creator December 2024

Table of Illustrations

Public Domain Artworks

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Credits
Memorials
Preface
Table of Illustrations
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: The Order of Hermes
Chapter 3: Characters
Chapter 4: Virtues and Flaws
Chapter 5: Abilities
Chapter 6: Covenants
Chapter 7: Hermetic Magic
Chapter 8: Laboratory
Chapter 9: Spells
Chapter 10: Long-Term Events
Chapter 11: Obstacles
Chapter 12: Realms
Chapter 13: Bestiary
Map of Mythic Europe
Chapter 14: Mythic Europe
Chapter 15: Stories
Chapter 16: Sagas
Appendix A: Editor's Note
Appendix B: Ars Magica Open License
Appendix C: Fourth Edition Conversion
Appendix D: Reference Guide
Appendix E: Spells Index
Appendix G: Traditional Index
Appendix H: Character Sheet
Appendix I: Fifth Edition Line

A flash of bronze scales against a cerulean sky! Its shadow has been our fleeting companion for days, but now the monstrous creature descends upon our small band. Our magus’s eyes blaze with arcane power, our sturdy grog grips his sword, and I keep my arrow nocked and at the ready. The distant covenant, perched high in the soaring heights of the far mountainside, watches over our perilous journey, as church bells call out a warning from below. A desperate message secreted in my bag must reach its destination before nightfall! Our journey has only just begun, through this land of myth and magic, where the mundane world fades into the embrace of legend.

Chapter 1: Introduction

On the day the faeries came to burn the village, Walter was repairing the thatch on his roof. As he worked, he kept half an eye on the strangers who had arrived the previous evening. Walter didn't like the look of them, particularly the woman. She looked like the sort who sold watered ale, then robbed and killed men while they slept.

The group seemed to be waiting for something, and when the faeries rode out of the woods Walter thought he knew what. The grass blackened and smoked in the hoofprints left by the shining crimson horses, and the hands of the faerie nobles were swathed in flames, as always. Menacing storm clouds gathered in their wake. Walter shouted the alarm, and the villagers ran for the church. He shifted to get off the roof, and his leg went straight through the damaged thatch, trapping him. His warning shouts changed to cries for help, but the other villagers knew the rules.

Run straight for the church. Stay in the church until the faeries have gone. Do not come out to help anyone, no matter who it looks and sounds like.

Helpless, Walter watched his death approach as the priest began to ring the church bell. The strangers split up, the woman moving forward by herself and calling to the faeries in a language Walter didn't understand. For a moment, he thought she was a spy for the faeries, but then the leader threw a bolt of flame, and Walter thought she was merely dead.

She wasn't. The fire that could destroy a house in a moment had left the woman completely unharmed. She spoke again, more loudly this time, gesturing at the faerie leader's horse as she did so. A moment later the horse shrieked, a dreadful, high sound that went on and on, and bucked its rider off. The faerie got to his feet as the horse rolled, still screaming in agony, igniting small fires as it writhed.

The woman spoke again, and this time the faerie listened. Walter couldn't understand what they were saying. The discussion went on for some time, as the horse got to its feet, seemingly unharmed, and the woman's companions came forward to join her. In the end, some sort of agreement was reached, and the faeries turned and rode back into the forest.

Walter watched the woman, clearly a witch of some sort, approach his house, looking up with an unpleasant smirk on her face. She spoke and gestured again, and Walter felt some force grab him. He was lifted off the roof, but then placed gently, standing, on the ground in front of the witch. She spoke to one of her escort, who then spoke to Walter.

"My mistress would like to talk to the priest and bailiff. Please bring them here."

Walter did not feel like arguing, and ran to the church, shouting that the faeries were gone.

Welcome to Ars Magica

Dragons lair in the mountains, angels watch over the Church, faeries dance in the forests, and demons tempt men and women to their ultimate downfall. The magi of the Order of Hermes live in a world of mythic power, the world of Mythic Europe. Welcome to that world.

Ars Magica is a roleplaying game, wherein you and your friends tell the stories of a group of powerful wizards, magi of the Order of Hermes, and their allies in the world of Mythic Europe. Mythic Europe is much like the Europe of 1220, the middle ages, but dragons, demons, angels, and faeries are all unquestionably real, and no aspect of society is untouched by myth.

Ars Magica is a game about magic, and its rules for magic are widely regarded as the best in any roleplaying game. They combine flexibility and rigor, allowing you to create powerful wizards who can do almost anything, while providing clear guidelines on just how powerful a wizard needs to be to do anything you can think of. The rules also cover the creation of enchanted devices, binding familiars, and training apprentices to carry on your magical legacy. The time an Ars Magica magus spends in his laboratory is at least as important to him as the time he spends on adventures.

This book is the core rulebook for the Fifth Edition of Ars Magica. Some of you will have played previous editions of the game, and will find much here that is familiar, although improved. For others, this is your first encounter with Ars Magica, so everything will be new and wonderful.

Basic Ideas

In many ways, Ars Magica is very similar to most other tabletop, or pen-and-paper, roleplaying games. Players have characters, who are defined by a set of numbers, and control their character's actions by telling the other players what they do. One player, called the storyguide in Ars Magica, handles most of the world, deciding what antagonists and extras do. Conflicts, or tasks that might be beyond a character's capabilities, are resolved according to the rules described in this book, and a die roll.

There are also a number of differences. None of these features are unique to Ars Magica, but they are rare enough that you can have played roleplaying games for years without encountering them.

First, the available character types are not equal in power. Hermetic magi are more powerful than other possible player characters, far more powerful in many cases. Power does not necessarily correspond to how interesting a character is to play, and The Gift that allows magi to work magic also causes them problems in most social situations.

Second, most players have more than one character. This is called troupe-style roleplaying, and is discussed in detail in the Sagas chapter. The role of storyguide may also pass around the group, or troupe, and player characters are divided between central characters (magi and companions) and supporting cast (grogs). A player would normally only play one central character at a time, but might play several grogs at once. This means that every player can have one of the powerful characters, but that those characters need not all be involved in every story.

Third, the game is normally centered around the place where the characters live, called a covenant, rather than around a wandering group of adventurers. This opens up a whole set of new story possibilities, and the covenant is as much a character in the game as any of the human beings.

Finally, characters in Ars Magica improve over years of game time, and most sagas cover at least a few years of game time. Adventures are occasional interruption in their lives, not everyday activities, and consequences that come years down the road can still have an impact on an ongoing series of connected stories, called a saga. Characters gain experience depending on how many seasons they have lived, not how many adventures they have been on. In many sagas, families grow, children grow up, and characters die of old age. Ars Magica's rules provide plenty of support for the ways that characters can study, learn, and improve over time.

Ars Magica is particularly well-suited to long running sagas, but it can also be played as a one-off, one-session game, or a mini-series of connected stories. Similarly, though the official setting is very similar to historical medieval Europe, apart from all the mythic power around the place, the rule system works well for a magic-centered campaign in any fantasy setting. The Mythic Europe, Stories, and Sagas chapters discuss ways to run the game, and provide hints to help you do whatever you want with it.

In the last analysis, Ars Magica is a game. If you have fun with it, you are doing it right.

Structure of the Book

This is a big book, as it needs to be to explain all the rules and background for Ars Magica. The first chapter, this Introduction, provides a quick overview of the game, and explains the basic die-rolling mechanic.

Chapter 2, Order of Hermes, describes the order of wizards that is central to the game.

Chapters 3, 4 and 5, Characters, Virtues and Flaws, and Abilities contain all the information necessary to create a character. Chapter 6, Covenants, deals with creating the place where the characters live. Chapters 7, 8, and 9, Hermetic Magic, Laboratory, and Spells, describe Hermetic Magic. Chapter 10, Long Term Events, covers things that happen to the characters improvement, aging and death, and Warping by supernatural power. Chapter 11, Obstacles, details the things that might harm the characters, most notably combat.

Chapter 12, Realms, explains the four different sorts of supernatural power in Mythic Europe, the Divine, Faerie, Infernal, and Magical Realms. Chapter 13, Bestiary, provides a sample of creatures from each of these Realms. Chapter 14, Mythic Europe, provides hints on making your game feel like it happens in the mythic world.

Chapters 15 and 16, Stories and Sagas, provides advice on using the preceding material to actually make a game that the troupe enjoys.

Glossary

The following terms are some of the more important in the game, and they come up repeatedly in what follows.

Bonisagus: The brilliant eighth-century magus who developed the Parma Magica, and with the help of the other Founders, the whole of Hermetic Magic. The founder of House Bonisagus.

The Church: All Christians, whether priests or not. Also used in this book to refer specifically to the organizational structures of the Church in Western Europe.

companion: A game term, not used by characters, referring to central characters who are not magi.

Code of Hermes: The laws governing the Order of Hermes.

Covenant: Strictly, a group of magi bound together by an agreement going beyond the Code of Hermes. By extension, the place where those magi live, and all the other people who live there with them. Almost all Ars Magica sagas center on a single covenant.

The Divine: The greatest power in the universe, generally believed to be the creator and sustainer of all existence. It backs the Church, the Jews, and the Muslims.

Faerie: One of the four supernatural realms. Faeries always care about humans, sometimes in the way a torturer cares about his victims.

filius/filia: A magus trained by a given magus. Only used after apprenticeship. After the Gauntlet, a new magus becomes the filius of the maga who trained him.

Formulaic magic: Spells that have been worked out in detail ahead of time. They have one effect each, but allow magi to use their full power.

The Founders: The twelve magi who founded the Order of Hermes in the eighth century: Bonisagus, Bjornaer, Criamon, Diedne, Flambeau, Guernicus, Jerbiton, Mercere, Merinita, Tremere, Tytalus, and Verditius. In many modern accounts, Diedne's name is replaced with Trianoma's.

Gauntlet: In full, the Apprentice's Gauntlet. The final test administered to an apprentice to determine whether he is ready to become a magus; it differs significantly between Houses.

The Gift: The ability to use almost any form of magic, with proper training. All magi have The Gift. The Gift makes people around a character uneasy.

grog: A game term referring to supporting player characters. Characters also use it, but mainly to refer to warriors employed by a covenant.

Hedge magic: A contemptuous term used within the Order of Hermes for any magic other than Hermetic magic.

Hermetic magic: The extremely powerful and flexible magic practiced by the members of the Order of Hermes.

The Infernal: One of the four supernatural realms. Infernal creatures seek to corrupt and destroy people.

maga/magus: A member of the Order of Hermes who can use Hermetic magic. Used by both players and characters. 'Maga' is the feminine form, 'magus' the masculine. The neuter is 'magum', while the plural form used in the Order is 'magi'.

Magic: One of the four supernatural realms. Magical creatures often do not care one way or the other about humans.

Mythic Europe: The world of Ars Magica. Much like medieval Europe in 1220, except that the myths are true.

Order of Hermes: An order of wizards stretching across the whole of Mythic Europe, bound by an oath that keeps them from fighting each other or trying to rule the mundanes. One of the most central organizations in the game.

parens: The magus who trained another magus. This title is only used after apprenticeship; at Gauntlet, the master becomes the parens of the new magus.

Parma Magica: A ritual learned by all Hermetic magi at the conclusion of their apprenticeship, which allows them to resist magic. The first of Bonisagus's great discoveries.

Quaesitor: The investigators of the Order of Hermes, they find Hermetic criminals and present evidence of their crimes at Tribunal.

Redcap: One of the messengers of the Order of Hermes. Most do not have The Gift.

Ritual magic: Particularly powerful spells that take hours to cast and require the use of vis. They allow magi to use their full power.

The Schism War: A war in the early eleventh century in which House Diedne was eliminated, and which nearly tore the Order apart.

sodalis (pl. sodales): The normal term used by magi to refer to other magi. It is a term used between equals, and emphasizes that all Hermetic magi are equal within the Order.

spell: An individual use of magic, generally Hermetic magic. There is no real limit on the number of spells a magus can cast in a day, although casting too many in quick succession is likely to exhaust him.

Spontaneous magic: Magic created by a magus on the spur of the moment, to meet an immediate need. Generally much weaker than Formulaic magic, but much more flexible.

Trianoma: The maga who met Bonisagus soon after he invented the Parma Magica. She took on the political mission of bringing Europe's wizards together in a single Order.

Tribunal: 1) One of the thirteen areas into which the Order of Hermes divides Mythic Europe. 2) The meetings of the magi in one of those areas, normally held once every seven years.

Vis: Raw magic. The most valuable thing to most magi.

Die Rolls

The success or failure of most actions in an Ars Magica story is determined by rolling dice. For non-magical actions, the roll is normally Characteristic + Ability + Die Roll against an Ease Factor. If the total equals or exceeds the Ease Factor, the action succeeds. The amount by which the result exceeds the Ease Factor gives some indication of how successful the action was. Magic uses the same basic rules, but there are special rules for determining what to add to the die roll, and the number that the total must beat.

Simple Die

Roll a ten-sided die. Each number counts for its value, except that a zero counts as ten.

Stress Die

Stress dice are rolled when a character is under stress, and thus might succeed spectacularly, or fail with equal flair. Such a significant failure is called a botch, and always has serious effects.

For a stress roll, roll a ten-sided die. One and zero have special meanings, but the other numbers count for their value, as normal. On a roll of one, roll again and double the number rolled. If the reroll is also a one, roll again and quadruple. On second and subsequent rolls, a zero counts as ten. If a player rolled ten consecutive ones, the number rolled on the eleventh throw would be multiplied by 1024. Stress die totals in the hundreds are likely to happen a handful of times in a long-running saga.

On the first roll, zero counts as zero, and you must normally roll for a botch. Roll a number of ten-sided dice determined by the situation, called the botch dice, and if any of them show a zero, you have botched. If you roll no zeroes on the botch dice, the die roll is simply a zero.

Some stress rolls cannot botch. In that case, a zero on the initial roll is simply a roll of zero. Similarly, if a character has qualities that reduce the number of applicable botch dice to zero, the stress roll cannot botch.

On a botch, your total for the roll is never any higher than zero, in addition to any other consequences. If you roll a zero but do not botch, the total is calculated as normal, adding zero from the die roll. If your modifier for the die roll is negative, the total is equal to your modifier (and therefore less than zero), and something particularly bad still happens.

For example, consider a character with a Characteristic + Ability total of 9 making a stress roll.

If the roll comes up 6, he has a total of 15, 9 from the Characteristic + Ability total, plus 6 from the die roll.

If the first roll comes up a 1, he re-rolls and doubles the result. If the second result is also a 1, he does so again. So, if he rolls two 1s and then a 5, he has a final total of 29: 9 from Characteristic + Ability, and 20, from multiplying the final 5 by 4.

If the first roll comes up a 0, he needs to check for a botch. If none of the botch dice come up 0, his total is 9, the Characteristic + Ability total, plus 0 from the die roll. If any of the botch dice come up 0, his total is 0. The Characteristic + Ability total is also negated by the botch.

Botch Dice

Botch dice represent the chance that something will go seriously wrong in an activity. The number of botch dice should reflect how likely a problem is, and the number of botch dice that come up zero determine how badly something has gone wrong.

There are some situations where, although a character could do very well, he could not do very badly. This applies, for example, if the character is making something, but has time to do it again if the first attempt goes badly wrong. A disaster might happen, but would not be the final result, so a botch is not really possible. In such cases, no botch dice should be rolled.

The base for most situations is a single botch die. For example, a person climbing a cliff in fair weather would get a single botch die. Factors making a disaster more likely increase the number of botch dice. A strong wind might add a single botch die to the climber, while a weak and crumbling surface might also add a botch die.

The nearby insert gives the chance of a botch for a given number of botch dice. Note that, as the character must first roll a zero on the stress die, the chance of a botch can never be higher than 10%.

Multiple zeroes on the botch dice indicate that things have gone very wrong indeed. Three or more zeroes indicate that things have gone about as wrong as they could. The consequences of this depend on what the character is doing.

For example, consider the character climbing a crumbling cliff in a high wind. If he botches, he falls, as that is the obvious disaster. A single botch indicates that he falls fairly early in the climb, and takes only a little damage. A double botch indicates that he falls a bit over half way up, while a triple botch indicates that he gets almost to the top, and then falls. The damage in each case will depend on the height of the cliff and what is to be found at the base.

Ease Factor

Notes: An average character has a score of 0 in the relevant Characteristic, while a highly talented character has a score of +3. Moderate skill is a score of 3 in an Ability, 'Skilled' means a score of 6, and 'Very Skilled' means 9.

Rounding

The rules for Ars Magica sometimes involve division. In most cases, a rule specifies whether you should round up or down, but if it does not, round down.

Chapter 2: The Order of Hermes

The Order of Hermes is an organization of magi that spans the whole of Mythic Europe, even reaching some distance beyond. It has about 1200 members, living in thirteen Tribunals which divide up the continent. In the Magical Realm, no single group can even think to challenge the Order as a whole, but the power of God is far beyond even Hermetic magi. This chapter lays out the history and current state of the Order of Hermes, to which Ars Magica characters are almost all affiliated in some way.

The History of the Order

The practice of magic and wizardry goes back to the very beginnings of civilization. Gifted individuals have always found ways to utilize their power, often dominating the unGifted for a time, before the envy, suspicion, and hatred engendered by tyrannical behavior and the effects of The Gift brought them down.

Three things worked against the formation of magical societies or orders of wizards. The first was the effect of The Gift. Wizards who did meet naturally mistrusted one another, and could rarely agree to work together. Even if they agreed once, future meetings often planted the seeds of betrayal. This was compounded by the second factor: the lack of magic resistance. This almost guaranteed that the wizard who struck first would destroy his opponent, and thus encouraged pre-emptive strikes. Finally, every wizard had his own understanding of magic, and sharing this knowledge was a long and troublesome process. There was little that could be shared easily.

One of the few even partial successes in this regard was the Roman Cult of Mercury. Its members rarely met in person, communicating by letter or messenger, except when they needed to gather to perform the great rituals that gave the Cult its power. Further, the rules of the Cult specified that anyone who killed a Cult member should be hunted down and killed by the other members. This rule was enforced quite strictly, greatly reducing the incentive to pre-emptive strikes. Finally, the Cult of Mercury had access to a number of magical effects which could be learned relatively easily, even by someone who already knew many of them. This gave the wizards some motivation to share knowledge.

Nevertheless, suspicions grew within the Cult that some members were hoarding knowledge, ready for a major strike against the other members. Soon after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Cult tore itself apart in internal conflict, leaving isolated wizards scattered across Europe. Magic entered a dark age, from which it emerged with the foundation of the Order of Hermes, more than three centuries later.

The Foundation of the Order

The Order of Hermes owes its existence to Bonisagus, without question the greatest magical genius yet to live. He made two great discoveries, either of which alone would have ensured his place in magical history. The first was the discovery of the Parma Magica, which defended a wizard from the magic of others and shielded him from the antipathetic effect of their Gifts. Safe behind a Parma Magica, a wizard could talk to another Gifted individual with little fear of attack and without having to constantly fight the natural tendency to lapse into envy, suspicion, and hostility.

The true potential of the Parma Magica was first recognized by the sorceress Trianoma, who willingly studied under Bonisagus despite her own power. She realized that the Parma Magica would make a true society of magi possible, a society where wizards could meet to resolve their differences, and live and work together. Bonisagus, already working on his next project, a unified theory of magic, was happy to go along with Trianoma's grand vision.

Trianoma & Viea

Trianoma had a twin sister, Viea. They were trained in magic together, and as they grew, Viea interpreted Trianoma's visions. One of these visions suggested that the isolated magi of Europe would bring about a disaster, unless the sisters could defeat a particular powerful wizard. They searched for this wizard for years, and finally a dragon, said to be in the temple of the Hesperides beyond Ethiopia, told them to seek out a cave in the Alps.

That wizard was Bonisagus. The Parma Magica protected him from their assault, and he captured them, demanding that they taught him their magic, while he taught them in return. Viea refused, but Trianoma agreed, hoping to use the opportunity to defeat Bonisagus. As they studied together, however, she came to have great respect for him. Viea became increasingly jealous, and after a particularly violent fight with her sister, she stole some valuable texts and fled. Trianoma forbade Bonisagus to seek vengeance, realizing that her vision might have meant that she would fight her sister and bring about the disaster. Instead, she proposed founding an order of magi within which such theft would be forbidden.

Viea's fate remains unknown.

Trianoma traveled across Europe, seeking out the most powerful wizards. The Parma Magica made her immune to their attempts to drive her off, and her demonstrations of her offensive power left many in no doubt that she could, if she wished, eliminate any wizard without fear of consequences. Some ran and hid, hoping to avoid her nefarious plans. Others listened to her dream of a unified order, and agreed to meet with Bonisagus.

From these discussions, Bonisagus drew a great deal of knowledge. From the traditions of the Cult of Mercury he developed Formulaic and Ritual Magic, and from the traditions of the druids, brought by Diedne, a woman cast out from that religion, he learned to create magical effects spontaneously. Verditius taught him the secrets of binding magic into items, and Merinita the arts of binding animals.

From each of the eleven wizards who came to him, Bonisagus learned something, and to each he taught the Parma Magica.

The result of these studies was Bonisagus's second great discovery, the theory of Hermetic Magic. In 767 the thirteen wizards gathered at Durenmar in the Black Forest, and swore to the Code of Hermes, creating the Order of Hermes at the first Tribunal.

The Houses of Hermes

The first magi of the Order are always referred to as the Twelve Founders, for all that there were thirteen magi at the first Tribunal. Trianoma refused to put herself on an equal footing with Bonisagus, or the other magi she had brought to him, an astute political move that left her free to mediate power struggles rather than being drawn into them. Each of the Twelve Founders established a House. The current House Ex Miscellanea was founded later in the Order's history, and in the beginning House Diedne made up the complement. House Diedne were bound together by their adherence to an ancient pagan religion, which they soon came to dominate completely.

The Order immediately entered a period of rapid growth. The founders of the True Lineages recruited apprentices, and their Houses grew organically. The founders of the Mystery Cults initiated more members, recruiting eagerly from among those other wizards who seemed congenial. House Merinita was not yet a Mystery Cult, and recruited magi with an interest in the wilderness. House Diedne sought converts to its religion. House Jerbiton extended the reach of the Order into the higher culture of the mundane world, even making overtures to Charlemagne himself. And the magi of Houses Flambeau and Tytalus criss-crossed the continent, giving all magicians they found a simple choice: Join, or Die.

Within forty years the Order of Hermes dominated the magical landscape of Europe.

Crises in the Order

That domination persists until the present day, 1220. Nevertheless, an Order that has endured for well over four hundred years has naturally faced its share of crises and problems.

Damhan-Allaidh and the Ordo Miscellanea

In the early years of the ninth century Damhan-Allaidh (DAH-van ALL-ath), a powerful and evil wizard resident in the British Isles, led an organized resistance to the Order of Hermes. Rather than face Hermetic wizards in magical combat, his followers cursed and harassed their followers, set traps, and used mundane assassins to halt the progress of the Order. For a number of years these tactics were effective, and some began to think that the Order would be stopped at the English Channel.

Tytalus the Founder entrusted Pralix, his most gifted apprentice, with the task of defeating Damhan-Allaidh. She brought as much cunning to the task as her opponent, and in a series of devious raids and spectacular magical battles she was able to defeat Damhan-Allaidh and bring many of his followers over to her side. Despite the victory, rumors persist to the present day that Damhan-Allaidh was not destroyed, and still plots revenge against the Order.

As the Order prepared to welcome the victor home, it received a message. Pralix had established her own Order, the Ordo Miscellanea, which would serve as a competitor to the Order of Hermes, keeping it strong. Flambeau wanted to march against her immediately, but Tytalus, impressed by his filia's nerve, forced a negotiated settlement. In 817 the Ordo Miscellanea joined the Order of Hermes as a thirteenth House, House Ex Miscellanea.

The Domination of House Tremere

House Tremere had been slowly building its power since the foundation of the Order, with Tremere himself keeping close control over his line. Through the careful use of certamen and the building of political alliances, the House gained effective control over several Tribunals, and was poised to take over more. When Jerbiton died, leaving Tremere as the sole remaining Founder, the House was ready to move to dominate the entire Order, turning it into a tool for their larger plans.

At that point, a group of magi whose identities are still unknown broke the minds of Tremere's closest lieutenants. This event, known as 'the Sundering', also broke the power structures that the House had built, as obligations to those magi and threats posed by them ceased to be a concern. Tremere himself met with the magi responsible for the Sundering, or perhaps their representatives, and some sort of agreement was forged. While Tremere himself died soon afterwards, the House has kept to the agreement, and has never again tried to dominate the Order.

The Corruption of House Tytalus

House Tytalus has always sought challenges. In the late tenth century, leaders of the House went too far, seeking to control demons and instead being corrupted by them. They were engaged in a subtle campaign to corrupt the rest of the Order as well when their corruption was uncovered by another Tytalus maga. She alerted the Quaesitores, and the Order turned with great efficiency to purging the diabolists from their midst. The Prima of House Tytalus, Tasgillia, was the most prominent victim, but the House lost many of its members, and never again recovered the relative size it had in the early years. To this day, many magi wonder whether the House has completely escaped this taint.

The Schism War

Just after the turn of the millennium, the Order of Hermes began to descend into anarchy. The corruption of House Tytalus made magi more paranoid about the secret activities of other magi, even without the incitement of The Gift. Magi also became more concerned about attempts to pry into their secrets, and thus rebuffed attempts at investigation. Many disputes reached Tribunal, where the voting was deadlocked as magi refused to get drawn in. In this period, many Tribunals were inquorate, as magi were reluctant to leave the security of their own covenants.

Magi who felt themselves threatened resorted to Wizards' War, and even to illegal raids on other covenants. The Quaesitores, Redcaps, Bonisagi, and other magi interested in keeping the Order together were stretched too thin, and found that they could not impose order on magi who did not want it.

The anarchy grew, and for a while it looked as though the Order of Hermes would fall to the same threat as the Cult of Mercury before it.

Then House Tremere declared war on House Diedne. The pagans of that House had always been somewhat distant from the rest of the Order, which was, as it always had been, largely Christian. Dark rumors about their religious rites had spread in the wake of the corruption of Tytalus, and few trusted them. When the Primus of House Tremere, Cercistum, accused the Diedne of human sacrifice and called on the Order to help eliminate the diabolists, House Flambeau eagerly joined the battle. Many members of House Jerbiton, who had long been concerned that the Order harbored a pagan cult, also joined in. Members of many Houses stepped forward to join the Tremere, and no-one publicly supported the Diedne.

Seizing the opportunity, the Bonisagi and Quaesitores called an emergency Grand Tribunal, at which the whole of House Diedne was declared Renounced, so that it was the duty of all Hermetic magi to hunt them down and slay them.

The war that followed was bloody and destructive, and wiped the House out. Its leaders, however, were never found, and while the Order hope that their spells killed them, the fear remains that they fled to some magical regio, biding their time and waiting for revenge.

With the destruction of the Diedne, the Schism War came to an end. The Quaesitores had been able to enforce the Code during the final stages of the War, as all members of the Order were theoretically united against a single enemy. The experience of chaos and destruction convinced most magi that they never wanted to see such a thing again, and once again Tribunals were respected, and the rule of law returned to the Order.

Since the Schism War, the Order has existed in a state of relative peace and co-operation. However, by 1220 the last magi who can remember the War have died or passed into Final Twilight, and memories of that terrible time are fading.

The Houses of Hermes

The Order of Hermes is divided into twelve Houses, all but Ex Miscellanea descended in some way from one of the Twelve Founders. This section provides a brief overview of the Houses, but it is important to remember that individuals within a House can vary widely.

The twelve Houses fall into three groups. Four (Bonisagus, Guernicus, Mercere, and Tremere) are true lineages, made up of those trained by someone trained by someone (etc) trained by the founder of the House. It is not possible to join those Houses later. These Houses are described in the supplement Houses of Hermes: True Lineages. Four (Biornaer, Criamon, Merinita, and Verditius) are Mystery Cults, and magi can join those Houses by being initiated into the cult. Such initiations teach the Outer Mystery of the cult, the only cult ability that is not kept largely secret. Their secret Mysteries, and much more detail of the Houses, are detailed in Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults. The last four (Ex Miscellanea, Flambeau, Jerbiton, and Tytalus) are gatherings of magi with common interests. It is relatively easy to join these Houses after training, and magi who feel that they do not fit in to their old Houses often do. Ex Miscellanea, in particular, will take anyone with The Gift, a smattering of Latin and Magic Theory, and the ability to raise a Parma Magica — and many members will teach the last three to potential recruits. The interests and activities of these Houses are discussed in Houses of Hermes: Societates.

It is only possible to be a member of one House at a time.

House Bjornaer

Magi of Bjornaer (BYORE-nayr) concern themselves primarily with beasts and the animalistic side of human nature. Because of this emphasis in their training, each Bjornaer magus can take the form of an animal, known as his "heartbeast." Understanding the heartbeast in particular and animals in general is considered more important than Hermetic magic by many in this House. Despite this close association with shapeshifting, Bjornaer magi avoid any kind of shapeshifting other than their heartbeast, and have hostile relations with some other shapeshifters, for reasons that other magi do not fully understand.

Due to their nature, Bjornaer magi are unable to forge the necessary links to have a familiar, and the very concept is alien to them. Some Bjornaer deride magi who take familiars, which they call "substitute" heartbeasts. On the other hand, other magi are wary of followers of Bjornaer because of their fascination with the bestial. Furthermore, House Biornaer is less respected than it might otherwise be because its founder was from a Germanic rather than a Roman magical tradition.

The House is divided into six clans. Clan Arelie is concerned with remembering the past, Clan Ilfetu is responsible for Initiating members of the House, Clan Maruhs seeks self-realization, Clan Midusulf leads, Clan Sirnas protects, and Clan Wilkis nurtures magi and strengthens the House. Philosophically, the House is divided between Harmonists, who want to see humans and nature live in harmony, and Wilderists, who want to drive humans back to the cities, restoring the wilderness to its dominance. The Wilderist philosophy was the original philosophy of the House, while the first Harmonist was Hérisson, a magus of the tenth century whose ideas only became popular after the Schism War.

The Prima of the House is Falke, and its domus magna is Crintera, in the Rhine Tribunal, described in Guardians of the Forests, page 92. The former Primus, Archmagus Urgen, is the chief of Clan Midusulf, and still important in the House, sitting on its council and residing at Crintera.

This House is a Mystery Cult, and the ability to take the form of the heartbeast is the Outer Mystery (see page 233).

House Bonisagus

House Bonisagus is split into two strands, the political and the theoretical. Theoretical Bonisagus magi concentrate on pushing back the boundaries of Hermetic magic, and are the undisputed masters of Magic Theory. Political Bonisagus magi, often called 'magi Trianomae', concentrate on keeping the Order together, and excel at politics.

The current Prima is Archmaga Murion, a consummate politician, who resides at Durenmar in the Rhine Tribunal (see Guardians of the Forests, page 51). The House typically remembers its researchers better than its politicians: figures such as Notatus, the first Primus, who created the Aegis of the Hearth, and Conciatta, who extended Hermetic magic to directly affect the other supernatural powers (Divine, Faerie, and Infernal) (see Legends of Hermes, Chapter Two). Among contemporary members, Archmagus Relisius is well-known for his Christian faith and advocacy of harmony between Magic and the Divine (see Tales of Power, Chapter Four: Encroaching Dominion).

House Criamon

This very secretive House is known for its obscure philosophy, its disdain for simple power, and its members' habit of marking their faces and bodies with arcane symbols. Followers of Criamon (KREE-ah-mone) are an enigmatic and otherworldly group of magi, generally having little interest in the politics of the Order.

Magi of Criamon seek the "Enigma", which other magi characterize as some sort of mystical experience. For followers of Criamon, understanding the Enigma is about releasing all souls from some sort of imprisonment. Their philosophy is inspired by the ancient Greek thinker Empedocles, and has something to do with the nature of time. They have a unique perspective on right and wrong action, but those outside the House find it very difficult to understand this. Indeed, magi outside the House often stereotype them as tattooed weirdos whose actions make no sense.

Even among the Mystery Cults, House Criamon is difficult for outsiders to comprehend.

Its Prima is Muscaria, who is resident at the domus magna, the Cave of Twisting Shadows in the Tribunal of the Greater Alps. She is a young and intensely practical maga, little like the common image of her House. Important past magi include Vederis, who wrote the Travels of Fedoso, an allegorical, or at least esoteric, text that is popular in the House and beyond, and Abdkypris, who found important links between the Mysteries of the House and the beliefs of the Sufis, a tradition within Islam. St Nerius (see Realms of Power: The Divine "Revised Edition", page 91), a magus famous for his Christian devotion and sanctity, is generally said to have been a member of House Criamon.

This House is a Mystery Cult, and the Mystery at the heart of the cult is the Enigma (see page 233).

House Ex Miscellanea

This is a large, diverse, and highly disorganized collection of magi. Though originally founded by Pralix as a rival to the Order of Hermes, this association was accepted as a House of its own. It accepts wizards of all kinds, some only nominally Hermetic, whose magic comes from many disparate traditions. Magi Ex Miscellanea (EKS mis-kel-LAH-nav-ah) are often called hedge wizards by their many detractors within the Order, although most can use Hermetic magic just as well as any other magus.

Magi of Ex Miscellanea have very little in common, belonging to many different traditions within the House, each tradition having its own strengths and weaknesses. Many of these traditions are described in more detail in Houses of Hermes: Societates.

The Primus of the House is Ebroin, a relatively young magus who was elected four years ago when the previous Prima, Immanola, was declared to have entered Final Twilight. He has ambitions to revitalize the House from its domus magna of Cad Gadu, in the Stonehenge Tribunal.

One of Pralix's closest allies was Colomen, from a tradition of warding wizards now known as the "Columbae", or "pigeons". He taught his tradition's magic to other magi, and those insights formed the basis of most of the wards created by Hermetic magic.

Most magi would be hard-pressed to name any magus Ex Miscellanea they did not know personally including most members of the House.

House Flambeau

While most followers of Flambeau (flahm-BOH) specialize in fire magic, some study spells of simple annihilation as a more subtle alternative. Flambeau the Founder was known for his mastery of fire, while his apprentice, and the first Primus, Apromor, favored Perdo. Thus, both of these traditions are respected within the House. These aggressive and ferocious magi often cause trouble within the Order and frequently anger mundanes. However, their fearlessness and love of destruction make them invaluable when the Order requires the application of martial force.

House Flambeau is a gathering of kindred spirits. While most followers of Flambeau believe in direct action and combat, there is also a strong tradition of honor and chivalry in the House, making them in many ways the Order's knights. This is particularly true under the current Primus, Garus, who leads the House from its domus magna of Castra Solis in the Provençal Tribunal (see Faith & Flame, page 67). The House's original domus magna was Val Negra, also in the Provençal Tribunal, but it has been lost in a regio for decades, if not centuries. Flambeau's second apprentice, Elaine, carried on his tradition of fire magic, and served as a Hoplite (see House Guernicus, next). She was also an important scholar and author, and wrote several texts that are still important today, including Ars Flambonis, a summa on Ignem (level 14, quality 12) that is peppered with anecdotes of the Founder and particularly popular within the House.

Among its contemporary members, the Archmaga Geirlaug of Montverte covenant in the Normandy Tribunal is particularly notable, as much for her great age as her great power. She is rarely seen outside her tower these days, but is a master of Ignem and still has a firm grip on the direction of her covenant (see The Lion and The Lily, page 58).

House Guernicus

House Guernicus (GWAIR-neekuss) is a true lineage, all its members descended from Guernicus the Founder, who believed that the Order needed strictly enforced rules if it was to survive. Members of this House are the judges of the Order, investigating wrongdoing and bringing cases against those who transgress the Code of Hermes and the Peripheral Code. They believe the Order will collapse through internal conflict without their fierce stewardship. The House is sometimes known informally as House Quaesitor (KWAEsee-tor), as 'Quaesitor' is the title of those magi empowered by the Order to investigate crimes.

Although House Guernicus trains and inducts their own apprentices, other magi can also join the ranks of the Ouaesitores, and one of the highest honors in the Order is to be invited by the elders of House Guernicus to become a Quaesitor. Such magi invariably retain membership in their original House. A starting maga can only be a Quaesitor if she was trained in House Guernicus.

Ouaesitors are sometimes asked to investigate possible crimes, or to mediate disputes between magi or covenants. While this does take time, the custom of the Order is that the Ouaesitors be given a few pawns of vis as a gift, in return for their efforts. These investigators are often supported by magi known as Hoplites, who are often from other Houses. Hoplites are skilled in defeating the things that might threaten a Quaesitor, which means that they are strong in magical combat.

The House has an important philosophical split between Traditionalists, who believe that the Code should be preserved as it has been since the Founding, and the Transitionalists, who believe that it should be revised to better suit modern realities. The Transitionalist movement started with Simprim of Guernicus in the mid-twelfth century, and seeks greater legal powers for the Quaesitores.

The Prima of the House is the Archmaga Bilera, a maga with a long history of fine service to the House and, importantly, a largely neutral stance on the Traditionalist/ Transitionalist debate. She resides at the domus magna of the House. Magvillus, in the Roman Tribunal. Guernicus himself was a master of earth magics, and taught Bonisagus much of the knowledge incorporated into the Hermetic Art of Terram. A tradition of such magic remains in the House, and its most famous living representative is Ausculator, the leader of the covenant of Hedvosmos in the Theban Tribunal. Hedyosmos is located in a labvrinth of caves, and is rumored to possess a portal to the underworld, something that would be very appropriate to the tradition (see The Sundered Eagle, page 66).

House Jerbiton

House Jerbiton (YARE-bih-tahn) is interested in the arts and the mundane world, and sometimes assumes the duty of keeping the Order on good terms with the nobility and Church. This inclination in its members often stems from a noble background—apprentices are sometimes taken from the aristocracy, and these magi maintain ties afterwards. Other members are taken from skilled artists and craftsmen who have The Gift. The Gentle Gift (page 82) is particularly common in this House.

Many members of other Houses believe that followers of Jerbiton are too closely bound to the mundane powers to be trusted. On the other hand, Jerbiton magi fear that members of the Order have become isolated from humanity, risking bloody conflict with the mundanes. They try energetically to heal this rift, and pursue aesthetic and Classical knowledge with a passion. The fall of Constantinople to the Fourth Crusade in 1204 has inspired the Primus, Andru, to rally the House to its original values, the defense of civilization, a call that the younger generation of magi have heeded. The domus magna of House Jerbiton is Valnastium, in the Tribunal of the Greater Alps. Two historically important Primi were Petrus, in the tenth century, who advocated life within mundane communities, and Mattieus, in the twelfth, who believed that Jerbiton should live with other magi and serve as their ambassadors to the mundanes. These two philosophies remain strong within the House.

Members of House Jerbiton are trained in mundane study, the arts, and politics, and the House is held together by these common interests. The House is not tightly organized, and its magi group themselves into leagues based on a common interest. A maga may join many leagues, to find companionship with other magi who share her interests. Examples of leagues include The Gastronomers, who cooperate to hold a lavish party every year (this is a very popular league, and has members from other Houses), The Silent Ones, who are led by a magus of House Bonisagus and seek to remove the need for words and gestures from Hermetic magic, and The Humble Brethren, who work to subtly influence the College of Cardinals and ensure that no one with strong anti-magic opinions is elected Pope.

Fortunata of Jerbiton was a powerful spirit master of the eleventh century who defeated many non-Hermetic enemies and gathered knowledge and power from many Mysteries. She was forced into exile by Hermetic enemies, and disappeared into Final Twilight shortly after 1120. Her writings are rumored to contain information on how to gain the power that she had (see Legends of Hermes, Chapter Three for more information).

In the present, Archmagus Mathieus of Constantinople, who is named for the city where he was trained but has lived in Paris for many years, is known for having given up the study of magic as not worth his time. For many years he seemed to have no purpose in life, but since the fall of Constantinople he has become much more active (see The Lion and the Lily, page 87). Archmagus Edward of Milton, on the other hand, is famed for heading the covenant of Schola Pythagoranis in Cambridge, which claims to have served as the nucleus for the new university in that town (see Art and Academe, page 112).

House Mercere

The founder of this House lost his magical powers but remained involved in the Order. He assumed a non-magical role valuable to other magi — that of messenger. His followers continue to fulfill that role. All members of House Mercere (mare-KAY-ray, or mare-SARE in vulgar Latin), regardless of whether they possess The Gift, are officially recognized as magi of the Order. Even un Gifted Mercere spend 15 years in apprenticeship like other magi.

Followers of Mercere are more commonly known as Redcaps because of the headgear they wear as a badge of office. Redcaps are permitted to attend Hermetic Tribunals, but by convention they only vote if they have The Gift. Some unGifted Mercere have powerful supernatural abilities, which are generally attributed to descent from the heroes of classical myth. Whatever the truth of that, these Redcaps are particularly respected within the House.

House Mercere is a true lineage. Mercere trained two apprentices before he lost his Gift, and thus there is a small Gifted tradition in this House, which is composed almost entirely of blood descendants of Mercere. Many magi of this House have had a strong interest in the magic of the ancient Cult of Mercury.

The most famous member of House Mercere, apart from the Founder himself, is Belin, Mercere's last apprentice. She was renowned for her devotion to the Order and her dedication to getting messages to their destination, and despite having no Gift she is, even today, held up as an ideal in the House.

The Prima of House Mercere is Insatella, an unGifted Redcap who inherited the role from her father and skillfully manages the affairs of all Mercere from the domus magna at Harco, in the Roman Tribunal. As she does not have The Gift, she tries to stay out of Hermetic politics as far as possible, thus reinforcing the House's reputation for neutrality.

House Merinita

This House is focused on the world of faeries, and its members tend to be just as strange as the creatures they study. Merinita (meh-rih-NEE-tah) magi frequently remain isolated, having little to do with the rest of the Order, except to defend faeries from the assaults of other magi. Those of this House eschew the merely mortal, and seek answers within the mysterious world of Arcadia.

Although the House was founded by Merinita, she herself was not particularly interested in faeries. This was the work of her first apprentice, Quendalon, who had been raised among faeries and had always believed that they had much to offer. Merinita disappeared at the end of the eighth century, and soon after Quendalon announced that he was going to study with the faeries, leaving Merinita's second apprentice, Myanar, in charge of the House.

Quendalon returned two years later, his eyes replaced by rubies, and announced a new direction for the House. This was resisted by Myanar, and war broke out within the House. Ultimately, Quendalon was victorious, and the Merinita turned to the study of faerie. Quendalon served as Primus, at least in name, until the end of the tenth century, although he had little contact with his House in the latter half of that century. Some magi even now suspect that the returned Quendalon was actually a faerie.

The current Primus is Handri, who lives at the domus magna of Irencillia in the Rhine Tribunal. The previous Prima, Vinaria, also lives there. In 1202, she vanished much as Quendalon had done, leaving Handri in charge. However, when Vinaria returned in 1209, she made no moves to regain control of the House, and still lives quietly at Irencillia (see Guardians of the Forests, page 104).

Lucian the Scholar is an elder magus who lives in the covenant of Aegea, on the floor of the Aegean Sea in the Theban Tribunal. He is renowned for his deep knowledge of the literary traditions of the Byzantine Empire and ancient Greece, and is rumored to have been Initiated into secrets of story magic (see The Sundered Eagle, page 81). Dama, the Praeco of the Provençal Tribunal, was born in 993. She fell into Twilight in 1061, but emerged 19 years later, and remains active today. She is one of only two members of the covenant of Mimizan, and is rumored to lead a Mystery Cult that is not part of House Merinita (see Faith & Flame, pages 29 and 64).

House Merinita is a Mystery Cult, and magi of Merinita are all initiated into the Outer Mystery of Faerie Magic (see page 236).

House Tremere

Members of House Tremere (tray-MARE-ay or tray-MARE) emphasize the importance of judgment, strategy, and detailed planning. They believe in respect for superiors and in asserting authority over minions. Dignity is of the utmost concern.

House Tremere is considered one of the more sensible and stable Houses, providing strength and courage when needed and refraining from action when peace better serves the Order.

House Tremere is a true lineage. All of its members can trace a chain back through their masters and their masters' masters, and so on, back to Tremere the Founder. It is not possible to join the House from outside. Certamen, a safe method of magical dueling between magi, was invented by Tremere the Founder, and his House retains a great deal of interest in it.

In addition, Tremere magi hold their filii's voting sigils (see page 224) until the filius beats the parens in certamen, or until the parens dies. If a Tremere magus who does not hold his own sigil trains an apprentice, the new magus' sigil is held by the parens of the training magus, assuming that that magus holds his own sigil. If he does not, the sigil is passed back up the chain until it reaches a magus who does hold his own sigil. As a result of this custom, House Tremere's votes are concentrated in a very limited number of hands.

The domus magna is Coeris, in the Transylvanian Tribunal, and the Prima is Poena. She is said to know the names, magical strengths, and preferences of every member of her House, and of any other magus she thinks may be of use. Whatever the truth of that, she certainly manages the projects of the whole House with unusual efficiency (see Against the Dark, page 21). The House's second-in-command (unlike other Houses, Tremere actually has such a post) is Archmaga Monica Ierne, a maga originally from the Stonehenge Tribunal and a master of combat magic. She is unsuited to the post of Prima, and has publicly acknowledged this, but she is an excellent field commander (see Against the Dark, page 30). Archmagus Stentorius is exactly what other magi think of when they imagine an older, powerful member of House Tremere. He is the leader of Fengheld, the largest covenant in the Rhine Tribunal, and holds three-fifths of the sigils of the Tremere magi of that Tribunal, as well as commanding the House there. Even in a Tribunal that holds the domus magnae and Primi of Houses Bonisagus, Bjornaer, and Merinita, he may hold more political power than any other individual magus or maga (see Guardians of the Forests, page 84).

House Tytalus

The philosophy of Tytalus (TIE-tah-loos) magi is to master all forms of conflict. To this end, they promote innovation in all sorts of contests. They do not feel alive unless they are in a constant state of struggle, perpetually testing the strengths and weaknesses of others.

House Tytalus is almost the opposite of House Tremere. Where the Tremere believe in stability and respect for elders, Tytalus magi believe in constant change, and in challenging your elders repeatedly until you can finally win. The Founders of the two Houses were trained by the same wizard, Guorna the Fetid, and often fought over their contrasting visions of how to live.

In their never-ending search for conflict, the leaders of House Tytalus went too far in the 10th century, falling prey to demonic machinations. Those masters of intrigue arrogantly believed they could master the dark forces, but despite their skill, were unable to outwit Hell. The leaders were executed for their crime of diabolism, and House Tytalus has been distrusted ever since. This has not been helped by the fact that two magi, Buliste and Harpax, both claim to be Primus (or Prima, in Buliste's case). Buliste was the ninth Prima, but passed into Twilight. Harpax then claimed the right to be tenth Primus. However, Buliste emerged from Twilight, and refused to acknowledge his position; he, of course, refused to yield. The two are still fighting for control of the House, and of its domus magna, Fudarus, in the Normandy Tribunal (see The Lion and the Lily, page 41). The magi of House Tytalus choose sides, but most of them seem to do so simply for the sake of the challenge, and not because they have any real loyalty to one or the other.

House Verditius

Magi of House Verditius (ware-DEE-tee-oos) have unsurpassed skill at creating enchanted items, making them invaluable to other magi and non-Gifted persons.

Almost all, unfortunately, have also inherited their founder's magical Flaw, making them unable to cast Formulaic spells without the aid of casting tools. Followers of Verditius are sometimes considered inferior to other magi because of this weakness. They do not measure themselves by this standard, however, seeing themselves as superior to other magi — this hubris is a side effect of the Inner Mysteries of their House.

While the Code forbids magi to sell enchanted items to mundanes, the mundane employees of magi may do so, and almost all magi of this House have such associates, known as venditores. The magi sell items directly to other magi, of course, and can become wealthy in both magical and mundane terms.

Magi of House Verditius often become involved in vendettas with other magi of their House, antagonizing each other until one admits that the other is superior. As that is rare, vendettas tend to last a long time. The House believes that such contests are honorable and admirable, but magi of other Houses may not agree. These vendettas reflect the politically fragmented nature of the House, in which the Primus is the only official position.

Every eighteen years, the House holds a grand Contest, at which enchanted items are judged to determine the best created since the previous Contest. Every magus of the House is allowed to enter a single item, and many magi spend years preparing their entries.

The Primus of House Verditius is chosen by strict primogeniture: the eldest living filius of the previous Primus becomes Primus. There is almost no opposition to this in the House, as most magi do not care who their Primus is, and appreciate a system that means they need not worry about choosing a new one. The current Primus is Stouritus, who does not live at the domus magna of Verdi in the Roman Tribunal. He is a member of the covenant of Ingasia in the Theban Tribunal, and would like it to become the domus magna so that there would be no need for him to move (see The Sundered Eagle, page 86).

House Verditius is a Mystery Cult, and all members are initiated into the Outer Mystery of Verditius Magic (See page 240).

Covenants

Covenants are as important to the Order of Hermes as Houses, and magi can, and do, spend hours debating which is more important in the end.

Strictly speaking, a covenant is any group of magi who agree to a set of rules that go beyond the Code of Hermes, and that allow them to share resources and co-operate more easily. In the overwhelming majority of cases, covenants are formed by magi who want to live in the same place, sharing access to a Magic aura, buildings, and servants. Thus, the term 'covenant' has come to refer to a place where a number of magi live together, as well as to the group of magi making the agreement.

A typical covenant has about half a dozen magi as members, but they range from two magi to large organizations with over two dozen magi and hundreds of mundane staff. Most Ars Magica sagas center around a single covenant, and ensuring that the covenant prospers is as important as individual advancement. After all, characters belonging to a well-supplied covenant will advance more quickly than those who must rely on their own resources.

The physical form of covenants varies, but towers and castles are common. In addition, covenants are normally located some distance from major mundane settlements, in large part because that is where most Magic auras are found.

The Code of Hermes

The foundation of the Order of Hermes as an organization is the Code of Hermes. This short text, also called the Hermetic Oath because all members of the Order recite and swear to it when they are admitted, sets the structure of the Order and fixes certain limits on what its members may do. It was drafted to give magi as much freedom as possible, while protecting them from each other.

The degree to which magi obey the Oath varies from magus to magus, covenant to covenant, and Tribunal to Tribunal. Magi who violate the Oath and get caught, however, usually find themselves in trouble with their Tribunal.

The Code of Hermes, first sworn by Bonisagus, can be found on the next page. Since he was the first to swear it, his name is recorded whenever it is written down. There is a slight difference between the Code that members of House Bonisagus swear and the Code that members of other Houses swear. The difference is marked.

The Code of Hermes

"I, Bonisagus, hereby swear my everlasting loyalty to the Order of Hermes and its members.

"I will not deprive nor attempt to deprive any member of the Order of his magical power. I will not slay nor attempt to slay any member of the Order, except in justly executed and formally declared Wizards' War. I hereby understand that Wizards' War is an open conflict between two magi who may slay each other without breaking this oath, and that should I be slain in a Wizards' War, no retribution shall fall on he who slays me.

"I will abide by the decisions made by fair vote at Tribunal. I will have one vote at Tribunal, and I will use it prudently. I will respect as equal the votes of all others at Tribunal.

"I will not endanger the Order through my actions. Nor will I interfere with the affairs of mundanes and thereby bring ruin on my sodales. I will not deal with devils, lest I imperil my soul and the souls of my sodales as well. I will not molest the faeries, lest their vengeance catch my sodales also.

"I will not use magic to scry upon members of the Order of Hermes, nor shall I use it to peer into their affairs.

"I will train apprentices who will swear to this Code, and should any of them turn against the Order and my sodales, I shall be the first to strike them down and bring them to justice. No apprentice of mine shall be called a magus until he first swears to uphold this Code.

Followers of Bonisagus: "I shall further the knowledge of the Order and share with its members all that I find in my search for wisdom and power."

All Others: "I concede to Bonisagus the right to take my apprentice if he should find my apprentice valuable to him in his studies."

* The Peripheral Code extends Bonisagus's right * to claim apprentices to followers of Bonisagus.

"I request that should I break this oath, I be cast out of the Order. If I am cast out of the Order, I ask my sodales to find me and slay me, that my life not continue in degradation and infamy.

"The enemies of the Order are my enemies. The friends of the Order are my friends. The allies of the Order are my allies. Let us work together as one and grow hale and strong.

"This oath I hereby swear on the third day of Pisces, in the nine hundred and fifth year of Aries. Woe to they who try to tempt me to break this oath, and woe to me if I succumb to the temptation."

In witness here of:

Lex Hermae

"Ego, Bonisagus, me ordinem sodalesque fideliter adiuvare me vivo hac re iuro.

"Quemquam sodalem ordinis potentia magica non privabo vel privare conabor. quemquam sodalem ordinis non necabo vel necare temptabo, bello magorum iure effecto excepto. bellum magorum pugnam apertam magorum duorum esse, atque si in bello magorum interficiar, poenam nullam in magum qui me necaverit cadere intellego.

"Decretis in tribunale suffragio aequo factis stabo. suffragium unum in tribunale habebo, cauteque utar. aequa suffragia ceterorum in tribunale habebo.

"Ordinem ab actionibus non periclitabor. rebus quotidianorum non interveniam et ab ea re sodales pessum dabo. cum diabolis non ageam, ne animum meum animosque sodalium quoque in periculum adducturus sim. nymphas non vexabo, ne ultio sodalibus quoque nocitura sit.

"Arte magica non utar ut sodales ordinis Hermae speculer.

"Filios qui in hanc legem iurabit docebo, et si ullus animum ab ordine sodalibusque alienaturus sit, primum feriam. filius nullus meus magus appellabitur donec in hanc legem iuraverit.

"Scientiam ordinis augebo atque omnem quam me sapientiam potentiamque quaerente invenero cum sodalibus meis communicabo.

"Hortor ut, si hanc fidem fefellero, ex ordine expellar. si expulsus ero, sodales meos hortor ut me inveniant necentque, ut viva mea in dedeco infamiaque non pergat.

"Hostes ordinis hostes mei sunt. amici ordinis amici mei sunt. socii ordinis socii mei sunt. tamquam unus laboremus firmemurque.

"Id hac re iuro in die tertia Piscium Geminorum in anno nonacentensimo quinto Arietis. dolor illis qui ut hanc fidem fallam inlicere conabuntur sit, et dolor mihi si inlecebra cecidero sit.

The Peripheral Code

The Peripheral Code consists of all decisions made in Tribunal since the foundation of the Order. Its formal authority derives from the clause in the Code requiring magi to abide by the decisions made at Tribunal, but as every case is different later Tribunals are not bound by the decisions of earlier Tribunals. Indeed, there are contradictory precedents throughout the Peripheral Code, and few magi outside the Quaesitores are familiar with all of its details. Some points are widely known, however, and worth discussing in this section.

In theory, the only penalty for breaking the Code is death. In practice, Tribunals only rarely impose that, instead settling for vis fines, time spent in service, or other lesser punishments. These punishments are backed up by the ultimate sanction, however, and refusing to submit to the punishment imposed by a Tribunal is always taken as reason for the death penalty. This is enforced by declaring a Wizard's March, which casts the offender from the Order and thus deprives him of the Code's protection. This is called 'Renouncing', and magi subject to a Wizard's March are known as 'renounced magi'. Since the criminal's possessions are, by tradition, granted to those who kill him, powerful magi are often interested in helping to hunt down the offenders.

Much more information about the Peripheral Code and its enforcement can be found in Houses of Hermes: True Lineages, starting from page 45.

Depriving of Magical Power

This clause is often invoked to punish actions against a magus that fall short of physical harm, such as damaging his laboratory or killing grogs. The justification is that, by depriving a magus of the resources he needs to study, the miscreant is depriving him of some of the magical power he would otherwise enjoy. The core meaning of the clause, though, is that magi must not try to damage each other's Gift.

Wizards' War

The Code allows for a conflict between two magi to escalate to open conflict in certain conditions. When those conditions are met, the two magi involved may step outside the bounds of the Code temporarily to settle their differences. One magus initiates a Wizards' War by sending a declaration of war to the other. The message must arrive on the next night of the full moon. The war then begins on the rise of the following full moon, and lasts until the rise of the next full moon after that.

Unjust or constant use of Wizards' War is discouraged by the majority of level-headed magi. Occasionally, those who declare war too often find themselves victims of a Wizard's March.

Tribunals

Tribunals are central to the political life of the Order, as was always Trianoma's intent, and thus they are discussed in detail in their own section, below. This clause is vital, however, as it gives Tribunals some authority to make new rules and interpret the clauses of the Code to fit changing situations.

Interfering with Mundanes

The clause forbidding interference with mundanes is probably the most controversial clause in the Code. Covenants have to deal with mundanes repeatedly in order to exist, and fortified dwellings containing substantial numbers of warriors tend to draw the attention of local nobles. As a result, the second half of the sentence, 'and thereby bring ruin on my sodales', is brought into most debates. As long as dealings with mundanes do not harm other magi, nor seem likely to cause such harm, they are permitted. Many precedents, however, have established that working as a court wizard is a violation of the Code.

Dealing with Demons

The Order hunts down and kills any member found dealing with demons. This is the only clause enforced absolutely. Trying to destroy demons is normally acceptable, but even then drawing a demon's attention to the Order is frowned upon.

Molesting the Faeries

Interpretation of this clause rests heavily on what counts as molestation. Faerie places are good vis sources, so few magi have been willing to argue that charging into a faerie area spells blazing, stealing large amounts of faerie property, and retreating to your covenant, counts as molestation. This has made it rather difficult to say what is, and prosecutions under this clause tend to come down to politics, and whether other magi have suffered. Unlike the mundane and demonic clauses, however, it does not prohibit friendly dealings with faeries, at any level.

Magical Creatures

Notably missing from the Code is a clause granting protection to magical creatures or other wizards. This was deliberate, as Trianoma wanted the Order to be able to use force to compel people to join. Excessive interference with powerful magical beings, however, can still fall under 'endangering the Order by my actions'.

Scrying

This prohibition is enforced with surprising rigor. Tribunals have ruled that it is illegal to scry on a non-magus, if by so doing you learn about the magus's activities, that simply walking around invisible is magical scrying, and that you can be punished for using Intellego magic on a magus even if you didn't know that he was a magus. There are also contrary rulings on many of these points, but in general Tribunals have taken a very strict view of what constitutes magical scrying.

Apprentices

By contrast, the clause on apprentices is hardly enforced at all. Magi do not have to train apprentices, and the obligation on the parens to join a Wizard's March against his filius is treated more as a social expectation than a legal duty.

The special right of Bonisagus magi to take apprentices from other magi is upheld, however, as is the duty of Bonisagus magi to share their work.

Tribunals

In origin, a Tribunal was any formal gathering of magi that made decisions by a majority vote of those present, and kept a record of those decisions. As the Order grew, however, the Peripheral Code rapidly provided more definition. The Tribunals of the Order are now the Grand Tribunal, and any other Tribunals formally established by it. In 1220, the regional Tribunals are the only ones so established.

A legal Tribunal must be attended, in person, by at least twelve magi from at least four different covenants. There must be one Quaesitor present to oversee the legality of the proceedings, and while the Quaesitor does not vote, he does count towards the quorum. Magi may vote by proxy, giving their voting sigils to someone who is attending on their behalf, who may or may not be required to use them in a certain way, depending on the agreement with the person granting the sigil.

The Tribunal is chaired by the Praeco, the oldest magus present, and while he also cannot vote, except to break ties, he does have the power to choose the order of business and, in extreme circumstances, silence a magus or eject him from the Tribunal. If the ejections render the Tribunal inquorate, or deprive it of a presiding Quaesitor, the Tribunal ceases to be valid. At the end of the Tribunal, the presiding Quaesitor must certify it as valid, and this is the main check on the Praeco abusing his power.

The Grand Tribunal

The most important Tribunal of the Order is the Grand Tribunal, held every 33 years and drawing magi from the whole Order. The Grand Tribunal is always held at Durenmar, the domus magna of House Bonisagus and the birthplace of the Order. Three representatives are sent from each of the regional Tribunals (see later), and the Primi of all Houses also attend. The Primus of House Bonisagus serves as Praeco, even if older magi are present, and the Primus of House Guernicus as Presiding Quaesitor.

The Grand Tribunal discusses matters affecting the whole Order, and its decisions are generally given far more weight than the decisions of lesser Tribunals. In addition, it is the only Tribunal with authority over the whole Order, and thus the forum where inter-Tribunal disputes must be settled.

Regional Tribunals

Each regional Tribunal is composed, in theory, of all the magi living in a certain area of Europe. These areas are roughly fixed by Grand Tribunal decisions, but the magi in them can change the name of the Tribunal at will, and set the membership requirements freely. In general, you don't change Tribunals if you visit a covenant in a different Tribunal, and different Tribunals might have different rules on just how long a visit can be. Regional Tribunals meet once every seven years, and the Redcaps are required to ensure that every magus in the Tribunal has received an invitation. Otherwise, they follow the normal rules for Tribunals.

For the borders and names of the Regional Tribunals, see the map on page 494. Note that the borders are only approximate, as no disputes have yet arisen requiring them to be precisely fixed. Six of the Tribunals have been described in detail in supplements for Ars Magica 5th Edition: Guardians of the Forests (the Rhine Tribunal), The Lion and the Lily (the Normandy Tribunal), The Sundered Eagle (the Theban Tribunal), Against the Dark (the Transylvanian Tribunal), The Contested Isle (the Hibernian Tribunal), and Faith & Flame (the Provençal Tribunal).

The Order and Society

Most Hermetic magi want society to leave them alone to get on with their research, and in return they are perfectly happy to leave society alone. Life is, of course, not that simple, and magi are often forced to interact with many parts of society. Some even want to do so.

Peasants

Most peasants are afraid of magi, and stay away from their covenants. This fear is generally reasonable, as covenants are almost invariably founded in Magical areas, where strange and dangerous things happen. Further, magi themselves, due to The Gift and their ability to turn people into frogs, tend to inspire fear in the uneducated. Local legends may grow up around a covenant, and older legends or legends from distant places may be attached to it, giving it a very strange, and largely undeserved, reputation.

On the other hand, a covenant in a remote location which keeps to itself might well be almost unknown among the peasants. They have no particular reason to want to know about it, and there is no reason for them to hear about it. In this case, they are probably still scared of the region, which almost certainly has a Magical aura, but may not even know that there are magi living there.

Most covenants rely on some peasants to grow food, just as the nobility and clergy do. These peasants find the magi creepy, due to The Gift, but are likely to accept them as lords as long as they treat their charges fairly well. Indeed, they might even be seen as better lords than most, as magi can do something about bad weather, plagues, or rampaging dragons. Sensible covenants will have an unGifted official in charge of direct interaction with the peasants, but there is no reason why the local peasants shouldn't feel a certain degree of affection for 'their' wizards, as long as they don't have to deal with them in person too often.

Finally, peasants who don't fit into Mythic European society for whatever reason may seek sanctuary at the covenant. Women who want to be scholars or warriors, serfs who want to be free, and people fleeing the consequences of a single misjudgment are all potential recruits. As a rule, people join a covenant because they have a good reason not to be somewhere else, rather than because they particularly want to live with wizards.

The Church

Relations between the Order and the Church are officially non-existent. The Order is well aware that the Church, with God's backing, could wipe them out with no problem. The Church is well aware that Hermetic magi are very powerful, and that at least some are good Christians. The Order's tendency to harbor heretics draws suspicion, but as long as magi stay out of ecclesiastical affairs, the Church is not willing to take official action.

Individual clergy, however, run the full range of attitudes, from self-righteous certainty that magi are devil worshipers who must be destroyed, to enthusiastic collaboration with them as fellow scholars, albeit scholars with unusual talents. Most covenants try to establish good relations with the local parish clergy, at least, and most succeed at that. Again, using unGifted intermediaries is generally a good idea.

Tribunals tend to treat interfering with the Church as a very serious crime, simply because the Church is the only organization with the potential to wipe out the entire Order. Friendly, or at least neutral, relations are encouraged; magi who launch attacks on the Church can expect to be renounced and Marched before they can inspire a Crusade.

Nobility

Most nobles are aware of the existence of the Order of Hermes, and all local nobles will quickly become aware of a standard covenant, with its castle and armed troops. Most nobles also have some vague recollection that these powerful wizards aren't allowed to swear fealty to them, or serve them as court wizards, and thus they apply a bit more subtlety in trying to forge relationships with their powerful new neighbors.

Again, individual attitudes run the full gamut, from eager, sycophantic fawning in the hope of magical assistance, to outright hostility in the hope of convincing the magi to set up somewhere else, a long way away. Most covenants, again, try to establish good relationships with the local nobility, but many fail to win over everyone, thus leaving a constant rival as a thorn in their side. Few nobles are stupid enough to mount a direct assault on a covenant, and those who are tend to die, but equally any covenant that deliberately wiped out a noble rival would be hauled before Tribunal and Marched, post-haste.

The Peripheral Code has tended to rule that deals with nobles that don't involve service or permanent magical aid are not a violation of the clause against interfering with mundanes. This is only a tendency, though, and covenants with extensive mundane involvement need to pay close attention to their Hermetic relationships as well, lest they find themselves isolated and condemned at Tribunal.

Cities

Most covenants and magi stay away from cities. In a city, The Gift is a major handicap, and most cities have Dominion auras that interfere strongly with magical research. On the other hand, cities contain scholars, merchants, and all kinds of mundane resources, and even simple magic can support an effective trade, so some magi, particularly of House Jerbiton, enjoy living there.

City covenants try to find a Magic aura, ideally a regio, in which they can undertake laboratory work without undue interference, and often offer their services as go-betweens for more remote covenants who want to deal with an urban area. For most magi, however, cities are an interesting place to visit, but they wouldn't want to live there.

Magical Items

In the early days of the Order, magi were allowed to sell enchanted devices or other magical services to mundanes without restriction, as long as they were never at the beck and call of a mundane. This changed in 1061, with a series of Tribunal rulings making it illegal to accept money or other mundane goods as payment for arcane services from anyone other than a member of the Order of Hermes or a Hermetic covenant. The rulings also make it clear that any magic sold in this way to a non-magus must eventually lose its power, whether because it is a charged item, or because the effect has a limited duration.

There are two obvious loopholes in this ruling. The first is less important, mundanes can pay with other arcane items, or with vis. Very few mundanes have access to vis, and the Order is quite keen to gather permanent enchanted devices in return for temporary ones. A mundane offered a temporary item which will last for his and his son's lifetime might be quite willing to trade a rather weaker permanent item for it. Trades of this sort are actually encouraged by the Quaesitores, as they take permanent items sold before the ruling out of mundane circulation.

The second loophole is so glaring that it must have been deliberately designed. There is nothing to stop a mundane covenant member from selling an enchanted item on, or, indeed, to stop him from accepting a commission to obtain a particular item. Thus, the main effect has been to stop magi from dealing directly with mundanes.

Other Wizards

Hermetic magi may be the most powerful users of magic in Europe, but they are far from the only ones. People with supernatural abilities are much more common than people with The Gift, and not everyone with The Gift becomes a Hermetic magus. The official policy is still that all wizards must join the Order, or die. However, this is rarely enforced, particularly if the wizard in question is weak, or a member of the Church, or a noble.

Powerful, isolated wizards are strongly encouraged to join, and may well be killed if they refuse, but other wizards may merely be threatened with dire consequences if they cause trouble for the Order. Since other wizards have no equivalent of Parma Magica, these threats can easily be backed up.

There is one case in which the 'Join or Die' policy is rigorously enforced. Any non-Hermetic wizard who learns the Parma Magica, or any other form of general magic resistance, must join the Order of Hermes or be hunted down. The Order is virtually unanimous in its opinion that this monopoly must be preserved.

More information about non-Hermetic wizards can be found in Hedge Magic Revised Edition and Rival Magic, and in the regional sourcebooks for areas outside Mythic Europe: The Cradle and the Crescent, Between Sand and Sea, and Lands of the Nile.

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 page 63 and page 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.

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.

Personality Rolls

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.

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

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.

The Berserker

Characteristics: Int -2, Per -1, Pre -1, Com -1, Str +3, Sta +2, Dex +2, Qik +1

Age: 15 (15)

Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 0 (0)

Virtues and Flaws: Covenfolk, Berserk, Large, Short Attention Span, Wrathful (Minor)

Personality Traits: Angry +3, Brave +3, Loyal +1

Reputations: None

Combat: - Pole Axe: Init +2, Attack +13, Defense +7, Damage +14 - Kick: Init +0, Attack +6, Defense +4, Damage +6

Soak: +9 (Stamina, full metal scale armor)

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious

Wound Penalties: -1 (1-6), -3 (7-12), -5 (13-18), Incapacitated (19–24)

Abilities: Area Lore 1 (streams), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 3 (attackers), Brawl 3 (kicking), Guile 1 (apologizing), Great Weapons 5 (pole axe), Native Language 5 (insults), Single Weapon 1 (heater shield), Survival 3 (hills)

Equipment: Pole Axe, Full metal scale armor, pack containing gear to care for weapons and armor and establish camps when traveling.

Encumbrance: 0 (3)

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.

The Grizzled Veteran

Characteristics: Int 0, Per 0, Pre -1, Com -1, Str 0, Sta + 1 (1), Dex + 2 (2), Qik + 2 (2)

Size: 0

Age: 45 (45)

Decrepitude: 1 (2)

Warping Score: 0 (0)

Virtues and Flaws: Covenfolk, Warrior, Weakness (talking back to magi)

Personality Traits: Loyal +3, Cheeky +2, Brave +1

Reputations: None

Combat: - Axe & Heater Shield: Init –1, Attack +15, Defense +14, Damage +6 - Kick: Init –3, Attack +6, Defense +5, Damage +3

Soak: +8 (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 A Lore 4 (monsters), Area B Lore 2 (monsters), Awareness 5 (in combat), Bows 5 (longbow), Brawl 3 (kicking), Carouse 3 (with fighting friends), Folk Ken 1 (magi), Great Weapon 5 (pole axe), Guile 2 (getting extra rations), Leadership 3 (in combat), Living Language 5 (military talk), Order of Hermes Lore 3 (grogs), Single Weapon 8 (heater shield), Stealth 3 (when armored), Survival 1 (when in a group), Thrown Weapon 4 (knife)

Equipment: Axe, Heater Shield, Full Metal Scale Armor, pack containing gear to care for weapons and armor and establish camps when traveling.

Encumbrance: 4 (4)

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.

The Hunter

Characteristics: Int 0, Per +3, Pre -2, Com -2, Str 0, Sta +1, Dex +2, Qik +2

Size: 0

Age: 20 (20)

Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 0 (0)

Virtues and Flaws: Covenfolk, Warrior, Pessimistic Personality Traits: Brave +3, Loyal +1, Pessimistic +3

Reputations: None

Combat: - Short Bow: Init –1, Attack +9, Defense +6, Damage +6

Soak: +3 (partial leather armor, 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 4 (game trails), Athletics 1 (climbing), Awareness 5 (woodlands), Bows 4 (shooting from cover), Hunt 5 (deer), Native Language 5 (talking about forests), Stealth 2 (hunting), Survival 4 (woodlands)

Equipment: Partial heavy leather, short bow, arrows, survival kit.

Encumbrance: 2 (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.

The Standard Soldier

Characteristics: Int -1, Per 0, Pre 0, Com 0, Str +1, Sta +1, Dex +2, Qik +2

Size: 0

Age: 25 (25)

Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 0 (0)

Virtues and Flaws: Covenfolk, Warrior, Weakness

Personality Traits: Brave +3, Loyal +2, Garrulous +1

Reputations: None

Combat: - Axe & Heater Shield: Init +0, Attack +12, Defense +11, Damage +7 - Fist: Init –1, Attack +7, Defense +7, Damage +1

Soak: +8 (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 (taverns), Athletics 3 (running), Awareness 3 (in combat), Bows 4 (short bow), Brawl 4 (punching), Carouse 3 (drinking), Charm 2 (opposite sex), Etiquette 2 (magi), Great Weapon 4 (pole axe), Guile 2 (avoiding duties), Native Language 5 (rude words), Single Weapon 5 (heater shield), Survival 1 (for a short period)

Equipment: Axe, Heater Shield, Full metal scale armor, pack containing gear to care for weapons and armor and establish camps when traveling.

Encumbrance: 3 (4)

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.

The Tough Guy

Characteristics: Int -1, Per 0, Pre +1, Com -1, Str +1, Sta +3, Dex 0, Qik +1

Size: +1

Age: 19 (19)

Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 0 (0)

Virtues and Flaws: Covenfolk, Large, Tough, Warrior, No Sense of Direction, Overconfident (thinks he can't really be hurt), Weakness (drinking)

Personality Traits: Brave +3, Loyal +2, Overconfident +3

Reputations: None

Combat: - Axe & Heater Shield: Init -1, Attack +10, Defense +10, Damage +7 - Fist: Init -2, Attack +3, Defense +4, Damage +1

Soak: +13 (full metal scale armor + Tough)

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious

Wound Penalties: -1 (1-6), -3 (7-12), -5 (13-18), Incapacitated (19-24)

Abilities: Area Lore 2 (brewers), Athletics 1 (running), Awareness 3 (in combat), Bows 1 (shortbow), Brawl 3 (grappling), Carouse 4 (drinking), Charm 3 (when drunk), Folk Ken 1 (magi), Great Weapon 3 (pole axe), Guile 1 (lying to magi), Living Language 5 (talking about fighting), Music 1 (drinking songs), Single Weapon 5 (heater shield), Survival 1 (on rivers), Thrown Weapon 2 (axe)

Equipment: Axe, Heater Shield, Full metal scale armor, pack containing gear to care for weapons and armor and establish camps when traveling.

Encumbrance: 3 (4)

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 non-magus, 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 heater 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

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 (forests)

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: - 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: - Phantasm of the Talking Head (CrIm 10/+8) - Aura of Ennobled Presence (MuIm 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 -1, 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 +4, 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 (PeIm 15/+8) - Frosty Breath of the Spoken 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 +1, 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 (CrIm 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 (MuIm 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 (PeIm 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) - 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

1. Pick a character concept.
2. Hermetic Magi Only: Pick a House. (See page 13)
3. 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.
4. Buy Characteristics. Start with 7 points. See page 27 or page 48.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Reputation. If the character has a Virtue or Flaw granting a Reputation, decide on the reputation.
11. 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.
12. 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:

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 13, 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.

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 61.

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.

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.

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

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 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).

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 (PeIg 20), Veil of Invisibility (PeIm 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.

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.

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.

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.)

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 (PeIg 10/+28), Mastery 1 (Penetration) - Soothe the Raging Flames (PeIg 20/+28), Mastery 1 (Fast Casting) - Ward Against Heat and Flames (ReIg 25/+16), Mastery 1 (Fast Casting) - Veil of Invisibility (PeIm 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

The worn cobblestones lead our party past the keep and through a bustling town market. A vibrant hub of trade and exchange, here the merchants of distant lands hawk their wares and diverse folk crowd the stalls. The air buzzes with the sound of haggling and the aroma of exotic spices, while two sages passionately debate philosophy. Our magus rolls his eyes at their hubris, then with a flick of his wrist conjures a shimmering illusion to delight a small child, just out of mundane sight. But infernal eyes watch us from the shadows of a nearby alley, their intent veiled and unsettling.

Chapter 4: Virtues and Flaws

Almost all characters have some particular talents and some particular problems, represented in the game by Virtues and Flaws.

Virtues and Flaws are either Minor or Major. Virtues cost points, while Flaws grant points. Major Virtues cost three points, while Major Flaws grant three points. Minor Virtues and Flaws cost and grant (respectively) one point. Players start with no points for buying Virtues and Flaws, and thus must take Flaws if they want Virtues. A central character may have up to ten points of Flaws, but no more than five Minor Flaws.

Virtues provide a benefit to the character, pure and simple. Players rarely try to avoid getting the benefits they have paid for, so the main problem is making sure that they do not try to get benefits in areas they shouldn't.

Flaws come in two broad types. General, Hermetic, and Supernatural Flaws hinder the character, while Personality, Social Status, and Story Flaws enhance stories. The first category do not have to enhance stories, and the second do not have to hinder the character. If a General, Hermetic, or Supernatural Flaw will not hinder a character, it is not a Flaw, and the character should not be allowed to take it. Similarly, if a Story, Social Status, or Personality Flaw will not enhance stories, a character should not be allowed to take it. Thus, if you do not want to involve demons in your saga, no character can take Plagued by Demon as a Flaw. Conversely, a player who takes a Story Flaw is saying that he wants his character to be involved in that sort of story, so he should make sure that that is true.

Note that Flaws are not 'things you would not want to have were you the character'. They may be things you would very much like to have, but because they are a hindrance or a story hook, they still count as Flaws. This means that some characters may be extremely keen to keep their Flaws. Even more so, a game Flaw need not be a moral flaw, and a game Virtue need not be a moral virtue. Indeed, most moral virtues work well as Personality or Story Flaws, because they get the character involved in stories.

Some Flaws, such as Blind or Mute, could be fixed using Hermetic magic. A character with easy access to such magic can only take such a Flaw if there is some reason why it cannot be fixed, such as that it is part of a character's Essential Nature (see page 210). In general, characters cannot take Flaws which will quickly be removed in play.

Choosing Flaws

Your choice of Flaws, particularly Story and Personality Flaws, is a way of indicating the stories that you want to tell about your character. Particular concepts may suggest particular Flaws, or vice versa, but there is almost always flexibility.

For example, suppose that you came across the story of Saint Marina the Monk, and were inspired by it. A very brief summary of the story is as follows.

A monk at a certain monastery was accused by the daughter of an innkeeper of getting her pregnant. He refused to defend himself by accusing her of lying, and confessed that he had sinned, and so the abbot assigned strict penances, which he performed without complaining for several years, until he died. After his death, the brothers laying him out discovered that the monk was a woman. Everyone marveled at her humility and obedience. Miracles were performed at her tomb, and she was venerated as a saint. (This is a genuine medieval story, and a web search will provide more detail.)

Social Status Virtues and Flaws

Social Status Virtues and Flaws represent a character's standing in society. In Mythic Europe, no one is completely outside society, and so every character must have one of these, to represent the way that society sees them. In general, these Virtues and Flaws are only available for sagas that take place in the relevant society — this chapter contains the Virtues and Flaws for characters from Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East, as well as for Jews, who could live in any of those areas. If your character is from somewhere a long way from the covenant, you should probably take Outsider or a Social Status related to the Order of Hermes, although it might be interesting to note what their status would be "back home". (Foreign Upbringing might well also be appropriate, although that is not a Social Status.)

A significant number of Social Statuses are only available to men. This is because the societies of medieval Europe, on which those of Mythic Europe are closely based, were not gender equal. Because these are social statuses, the Virtues and Flaws with a male requirement are available to characters who are perceived by society as male (or as meeting any other requirement given). For example, a female character presenting as male may take these statuses, as long as society believes her to be a man. (You may want to give her Flaws to represent the complexity of her situation — see the nearby insert on Choosing Flaws.)

This only applies to Social Statuses. All other Virtues and Flaws are available to characters of any race, gender, or background, although some may be more common in particular groups. For example, Warrior is a General Virtue, and thus may be taken by female characters, even though most trained fighters in Mythic Europe are men.

Which Flaws Would You Take?

The obvious choices for Saint Marina the Monk are Dark Secret (Biologically Female) and Gender Nonconforming, both as Major Flaws. The troupe might say that they overlap too much and require you to reduce Gender Nonconforming to Minor. However, these are not the only choices.

You might take Monastic Vows as your Major Story Flaw, Pious as the Major Personality Flaw, and Gender Nonconforming as a Minor Personality Flaw (because the character is, and might as well get a point for it). In this case, the stories focus on the character's commitment to the monastic vocation, rather than the gender nonconformity.

You might also take Curse of Venus as the Major Story Flaw, Pious as the Major Personality Flaw, and, again, Gender Nonconforming as a Minor Personality Flaw. In this case, the character became a monk to get away from all the importunate men. The Flaw is still there, though, so the problems have not gone away. A serving woman gets a crush on the monk, and claims to have been made pregnant.

Another option is to take Enemies as the Major Story Flaw, and Optimistic as the Major Personality Flaw. She became a monk to get away from a match chosen by her father, whom she does not like at all. The abbot, and select other monks, are perfectly aware that she is a woman, and approve of her decision to run away. They aren't quite as sure as she is that everything will work out. In this case, you might not take Gender Nonconforming at all, because the character just thinks she is in disguise. The stories in this case are likely to tend towards farce.

There are many other options, and the same is true in general. These Flaws should serve as inspiration, but you should not feel forced, by a character concept, to take any particular Flaw — not even the Flaw that originally inspired the concept.

Virtues and Flaws Rules and Guidelines

A Virtue or Flaw may be taken more than once only if the description explicitly allows it. Most Virtues and Flaws may only be taken once.

All characters must take one Social Status, and may only take more than one if the descriptions of the Virtues or Flaws explicitly note that they are compatible.

A character should not have more than one Story Flaw. This is a guideline, and may be violated with the whole troupe's agreement. The risk is that one character will be central to too many stories.

A character may not have more than one Major Personality Flaw. A character should normally not have more than two Personality Flaws in total, as more risks him becoming a caricature.

Grogs

• You may take up to 3 points of Flaws, and an equal number of points of Virtues
• You must take one Social Status
• You should not take Story Flaws
• You should not take more than one Personality Flaw
• You may not take Major Virtues or Flaws
• You may not take Hermetic Virtues and Flaws
• You may not take The Gift

Companions

• You may take up to 10 points of Flaws, and an equal number of points of Virtues
• You may not have more than 5 Minor Flaws
• You must take at least one Social Status
• You should not take more than one Story Flaw
• You should not take more than two Personality Flaws, and may not take more than one Major Personality Flaw

You may not take Hermetic Virtues and Flaws, unless you have The Gift (this would be highly unusual)

Mythic Companions

• You make take up to 10 points of Flaws, and 2 points of Virtues for every 1 point of Flaws, for a maximum of 20 points of Virtues
• You may not have more than 5 Minor Flaws
• You must take the Free Virtue defining which type of Mythic Companion you are
• You gain a free Minor Virtue, normally defined by the type of Mythic Companion
• You may be required to take some particular Virtues and Flaws. These cost, or grant, points as normal
• You must take at least one Social Status
• You should not take more than one Story Flaw
• You should not take more than two Personality Flaws, and may not take more than one Major Personality Flaw

Magi

• You may take up to 10 points of Flaws, and an equal number of points of Virtues
• You may not have more than 5 Minor Flaws
• You may not have more than one Major Hermetic Virtue
• You must take The Gift and the Hermetic Magus Social Status Virtue
• You receive one free Minor Virtue from your choice of House, which you need not balance with a Flaw
• You should take at least one Hermetic Flaw
• You should not take more than one Story Flaw
• You should not take more than two Personality Flaws, and may not take more than one Major Personality Flaw

Types of Virtue and Flaw

There are several specific types of Virtue and Flaw. These are described here, and every Virtue and Flaw lists its type.

The Gift

The Gift is a special Virtue, because it has no cost. The character suffers all the penalties of The Gift, just as magi do (see page 203), but can be taught Supernatural Abilities without having to take the corresponding Virtues (see page 383 for rules). Most importantly, the character can be taught Hermetic Magic, so all magi must have this Virtue. A character with The Gift, even if he is not a magus, may take Hermetic Virtues and Flaws which relate to intrinsic ability rather than background or training.

Characters may take Virtues that grant Supernatural Abilities without taking The Gift, and such characters do not suffer the penalties imposed by The Gift. However, such characters may not learn new Supernatural Abilities in the course of the saga, although they may improve the ones they already have. It is possible for unGifted characters to Initiate new Supernatural Abilities through a Mystery Cult, but even this is harder for them than for the Gifted.

Characters who have The Gift may start play with a single Supernatural Ability, without having to take any other Virtue, but if they wish to learn others they must find opportunities to do so in the course of the saga. They may also take Virtues granting Supernatural Abilities if they wish to have more Abilities at character creation. Note that it is harder for a character with Supernatural Abilities to become a Hermetic magus (see Training Your Apprentice on page 270), so you may not wish to take any such abilities if you plan for the character to become an apprentice. The ability to cast Hermetic magic is the single supernatural ability possessed by Hermetic magi in virtue of The Gift; again, they may take more Supernatural Ability Virtues if they wish.

Grogs can never have The Gift, as a character with The Gift is too important to be a grog. As a rule, companions should only have The Gift if they are intended to become magi, or if they are members of one of the other magical traditions described in Ars Magica 5th Edition supplements. Troupes should not allow any other Gifted characters unless they are absolutely sure that they want them.

Hermetic

Only characters with The Gift can take these Virtues and Flaws, and some are only applicable to Hermetic magi who have already completed their training.

If a character has enough Supernatural Virtues for Flaws that affect all of them to be of comparable scope to those affecting a magus's Hermetic Magic, the troupe may allow the character to take appropriate Hermetic Flaws as Supernatural Flaws. In most cases, Hermetic Virtues are still not applicable, but the troupe may choose to allow some.

Social Status

These Virtues and Flaws indicate your place in society, something that is very important in the hierarchical world of Mythic Europe. Some Social Status Virtues are Free, which means that they do not cost any points to buy.

Social Statuses by Culture

Because Social Status Virtues and Flaws refer to a character's place in society, the available options vary depending on the society they live in. The "societies" given on page 65, are not precisely defined, and not, in most cases, closely tied to geography. Western Christendom is mostly in western Europe, but includes the Crusader States, while Islamic includes the southern Iberian peninsula, and the Jews live everywhere.

All Cultures

Western Christendom

Eastern Christendom

Islamic

Hibernia

Iberia

North Africa

Provençal

Jewish

Supernatural

Supernatural Virtues and Flaws provide the character with some benefit that goes beyond the mundane. All Supernatural Virtues and Flaws are associated with one of the four realms, Magic, Faerie, Infernal, and Divine. The most common association for player characters is with the Magic realm, and this should be the choice if the character concept does not suggest another option. Some Virtues are always associated with other realms, such as Faerie Blood and Strong Faerie Blood, which are always associated with Faerie. A Virtue's description notes if it is limited in this way. The Faerie realm is an appropriate source for most Supernatural Virtues, and in some cases, with the troupe's approval, Divine or Infernal sources may be appropriate. Note that Divine and Infernal Supernatural Virtues create more complex roleplaying situations than those associated with Magic or Faerie, and troupes may wish to avoid them for that reason.

The realm of a Virtue or Flaw determines how it interacts with supernatural auras (see page 410), and provides important background color. In addition, a character with a Supernatural Virtue or Flaw is immune to Warping caused by living in a high aura associated with the same realm (see page 389).

Personality

A Major Personality Flaw is an aspect of the character's personality that defines them and drives stories. You should suggest projects that your character might have to the troupe, so that the storyguide can use them to create plots if everyone likes the idea. Similarly, the troupe or storyguide can suggest that this might be a good moment for the character's Flaw to get the better of them. (Conversely, the storyguide can certainly say that this would be a really bad moment, and then you should keep the Flaw under control, to avoid spoiling the game for everyone.)

For this reason, a Major Personality Flaw should always be something that makes the character act. Depression and angst are unsuitable as Major Personality Flaws, as they will make the character sit moping at home, and keep the player from having fun. On the other hand, these Flaws need not be things that other characters think badly of. A Pious character who wants to go on a pilgrimage, or a Compassionate character who wants to build an orphanage, are just as driven by their Personality Flaws as a character with Hatred who wants to commit murder, or one with Avaricious who aims to steal the local lord's treasure.

In any case, a Personality Flaw leads to stories driven by your character's actions, so choose one that reflect actions you want your character to take.

A character may not have more than one Major Personality Flaw, as the Personality Flaw should be what people think of immediately when they think of the character.

Minor Personality Flaws are aspects of a character's personality that strongly color much of what he does, but do not really interfere with or guide his life. The character can always ignore a Minor Personality Flaw when following it would be inconvenient, and certainly when it would clearly cause serious problems. Because you should choose a Flaw you want play, however, it should have a substantial effect at other times.

Most characters should not have more than two Personality Flaws, Major or Minor, lest they move from entertaining to profoundly irritating.

A Major Personality Flaw drives your character to act and get involved in stories, while a Minor Flaw merely provides color.

Story

Story Flaws are background features which can drag the character into stories. Most count as Major Flaws because they give the storyguide a way to drive your character to get involved in a story, no matter how inconvenient it might be. Most of the time, however, they are merely background color. You should not take more than one Story Flaw, Major or Minor, to avoid having a single character unduly dominate the saga.

When creating your own Story Flaws, bear in mind that they should always depend on someone or something outside the character, so that the storyguide can decide when your hook drags you off on an adventure. An internal Story Flaw is really a Personality Flaw (see earlier).

Minor Story Flaws are much the same as Major Story Flaws, except that the character gets some solid benefit from the situation as well as being dragged into stories at inopportune moments.

Note that, when you take a Story Flaw, you are promising the rest of the troupe that you will play in those stories. Your character may not like the events that the Story Flaw leads to, but you should choose one that will lead to stories you want to play.

Personality & Story Flaws

In a typical saga with five players, each of whom has a companion and a magus, there may be ten Major Personality and ten Story Flaws. This means that a given Flaw will probably only have a significant effect in one story in twenty. If you are planning to run multi-session stories, or a short saga, you may, therefore, want to limit the number of such Flaws that the players can take, because otherwise they may never come into play.

General

General Virtues and Flaws cover everything else. Most provide bonuses or penalties to mundane activities.

Tainted Virtues and Flaws

Tainted Virtues and Flaws are associated with the Infernal realm, and can be granted through corruption by demons (see Realms of Power: The Infernal, chapter 9). They can also be taken at character generation, although no more than half a character's Virtues should be tainted, and similarly for Flaws. (That is, no more than five points of Tainted Virtues, or ten for a Mythic Companion, and no more than five points of Tainted Flaws.) Supernatural abilities granted by Tainted Virtues or Flaws are always Infernal powers.

At the troupe's discretion, non-tainted versions of some of these powers may also be available, and associated with the Magic or Faerie realm.

List of Virtues

The Gift

Hermetic, Major

Diedne Magic
Elemental Magic
Faerie-Raised Magic
Flawless Magic
Flexible Formulaic Magic
Gentle Gift
Leper Magus
Life-Linked Spontaneous Magic
Major Magical Focus
Mercurian Magic
Mythic Blood
Potent Magic

Supernatural, Major

Amorphous
Bee King
Blood of the Nephilim
Command Animals
Corpse Magic
Curse-Throwing
Demonic Blood
Embitterment
Entrancement
Focus Power
Greater Benediction
Greater Immunity
Greater Power
Greater Purifying Touch
Hex
Immune to Disease
Induction
Ritual Power
Sense Passions
Shapeshifter
Skinchanger (Dove)
Spiritual Pact
Strong Faerie Blood
Summon Animals
Supernatural Beauty
Whistle Up The Wind

Social Status, Major

Archieunuch
Capo
Cathedral School Master
Doctor in (Faculty)
Guild Dean
Landed Noble
Lasiq
Magister in Artibus
Magister in Medicina
Master Bard
Muqtaʿ
Partner
Redcap
Rosh Beth Din
Senior Clergy
Senior Master
Templar Commander
Venditor

General, Major

Death Prophecy
Ghostly Warder
Giant Blood
Guardian Angel
License of Absence
Magian Lineage
Magical Warder
Powerful Relic
True Faith
Ways of the (Land)
Wealthy

Hermetic, Minor

Adept Laboratory Student
Affinity with Art
Atlantean Magic
Boosted Magic
Cautious Sorcerer
Clan Ilfetu
Cyclic Magic (positive)
Deft Form
Enduring Magic
The Enigma
Exotic Casting
Extractor of (Form) Vis
Faerie Magic
Fast Caster
Free Study
Gorgiastic
Guest of House Criamon
Harnessed Magic
Heartbeast
Hermetic Prestige
Imbued with the Spirit of (Form)
Inoffensive to (Beings)
Inventive Genius
Life Boost
Magical Memory
Mastered Spells
Masterpiece
Method Caster
Minor Magical Focus
Mystical Choreography
Performance Magic
Personal Vis Source
Potent Magic
Puissant Art
Quiet Magic
Secondary Insight
Side Effect
Skilled Parens
Special Circumstances
Spell Improvisation
Study Bonus
Subtle Magic
Tethered Magic
Verditius Magic
Withstand Casting

Supernatural, Minor

Amorphous
Animal Ken
Crafter's Healing
Demonic Might
Demonic Powers
Dowsing
Dust Devil
Enchanting (Ability)
Eye of Hephaestus
Fabric Ripper
Faerie Blood
Familiarity with the Fae
Feather Messenger
Folk Magic
Font of Knowledge
Frightful Presence
Gender Shift
Homing Instinct
Immunity to Cold
Infernal Heirloom
Kassalan Exorcism
(Land) Regio Network
Leather Ripper
Lesser Benediction
Lesser Immunity
Lesser Power
Lesser Purifying Touch
Magic Sensitivity
Magical Blood
Maker of Textured Vessels
Maker of Water Vessels
Master of (Form) Creatures
Muse
Persona
Personal Power
Premonitions
Ripper
Second Sight
See in Darkness
Sense Holiness and Unholiness
Skinchanger
Strong Angelic Heritage
Sufi
Unaging
Unbound Tongue
Variable Power
Voice of the (Land)
Wilderness Sense
Wisdom from Ignorance

Social Status, Minor

ʿAlim
Almogaten
Almogavar
Baccalaureus
Beadle
Brother Chaplain
Brother Knight
Brother Sergeant
Bureaucrat
Clerk
Custos
Emir
Eunuch
Factor
Failed Apprentice
Falconer
Fidaʾi
Forge-Companion
Gentleman/woman
Guild Apprentice
Guild Master
Ineslemen
Journeyman
Jurist
Knight
Lone Redcap
Mamluk
Marshal
Master of Kennels
Mazdean Priest
Mendicant Friar
Mercenary Captain
Merchant Adventurer
Notary
Perfectus
Priest
Rabbi
Religious
Senior Bard
Shadchan
Simple Student
Sufi
Templar Administrator
Templar Office Holder
Templar Specialist
Town Magistrate
Troubadour/Trobairitz
University Grammar Teacher
Wise One

General, Minor

Academic Concentration (Subject)
Affinity with Ability
All According to Plan
Alluring to (Beings)
Apt Student
Aptitude for (Sin)
Arcane Lore
Aristotelian Training
Berserk
Book Learner
Cautious with (Ability)
Clear Thinker
Craft Guild Training
Common Sense
Convoluted Mind
Educated
Educated (Bardic)
Educated (Hebrew)
Educated (Islamic)
Educated (Vernacular)
Enduring Constitution
Enticer of Multitudes
Falls Like a Cat
Famous
Ferocity
Finding Hidden Loot
Free Expression
Forgettable Face
Good Teacher
Gossip
Great (Characteristic)
Hermetic Experience
Improved Characteristics
Independent Study
Indescribable Face
Inoffensive to (Beings)
Inspirational
Intuition
Jack-of-All-Trades
Just an Instant
Keen Sense of Smell
Keen Vision
Knows People
Large
Latent Magical Ability
Learn (Ability) from Mistakes
Light Touch
Lightning Reflexes
Linguist
Long-Winded
Luck
Magian Lineage
Magic Items
Magical Mount
Mentored by Demons
Mild Aging
Natural Leader
Rapid Convalescence
Perfect Balance
Perfect Eye for (Commodity)
Physician of Salerno
Piercing Gaze
Prestigious Student
Privileged Upbringing
Protection
Puissant Ability
Rat Up a Drainpipe
Relic
Reserves of Strength
Schooled in Crime
Self-Confident
Sharp Ears
Skilled Smuggler
Social Contacts
Strong-Willed
Student of (Realm)
Tainted Treasure
Templar Prestige
Temporal Influence
Tough
Trained Assassin
Troupe Upbringing
True Love (PC)
Unaffected by The Gift
Venus' Blessing
Warrior
Well-Traveled

Mythic Companion, Free

Devil Child
Faerie Doctor
Nephilim
Spirit Votary

Social Status, Free

Apprentice
Bard
Covenfolk
Craftsman
Domestic Animal
Hermetic Magus
Laborer
Male Guild Sponsor
Merchant
Nuntius
Paid Rights
Peasant
Shamash
Sofer
Templar Confrere/Consoeur
Templar Servant
Wanderer

Supernatural, Free

Commanding Aura

Virtues

Academic Concentration (Subject)

Minor, General
The character has concentrated in one of the seven subjects of Artes Liberales, in preference to the other six. He may add +3 to his Artes Liberales score for that subject. However, he must subtract 1 from Artes Liberales rolls and totals for the subjects he did not concentrate in. Include the bonus and penalty modifier in every total that Artes Liberales is used for, including writing books. This Virtue is incompatible with the Virtue Puissant Artes Liberales. Puissant Artes Liberales means a character is particularly adept with all seven liberal arts, while Academic Concentration means the character focused on one liberal art in preference to the others.

With troupe approval, this Virtue could be extended to Philosophiae. It is not allowed for any other Ability besides Artes Liberales and Philosophiae.

Adept Laboratory Student

Minor, Hermetic
You digest the instruction of others quite easily. You get a +6 bonus to Lab Totals when working from the lab texts of others, including when reinventing spells.

Affinity with Ability

Minor, General
All Advancement Totals for one Ability are increased by half, rounded up, as are any experience points you put in that Ability at character creation. You may only take this Virtue once for a given Ability, but may take it again for different Abilities. If you take this Virtue for an Ability, you may exceed the normal age-based cap during character generation (see page 48) by two points for that Ability.

Affinity with Art

Minor, Hermetic
Your Advancement Totals for one Hermetic Art are increased by one half, rounded up. At character creation, any experience points you put into that Art are also increased by one half (rounded up), and you may exceed the normal recommended limits. You may take this Virtue twice, for two different Arts.

'Alim

Minor, Social Status
You are a member of the religious elite. You may be a minor official, such as a mu'adhdhin or an imam, or you may be a major figure, such as a mufti (MUF-tee, someone formally entitled to give a legal opinion) or a qadi (QAW-dee, judge). You may purchase Academic Abilities during character generation. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

All According to Plan

Minor, General
Once per session, a player whose character has this Virtue can reroll a botch die. The character has prepared, in advance, for this exact failure and has a contingency plan, which the player must describe.

Alluring to (Beings)

Minor, General
This Virtue is associated with one of three classes of beings: mundane animals, faeries, or magical beings. These last two include characters associated with Faerie or the Magic realms, respectively, through Supernatural Virtues or Flaws, as well as beings with Faerie or Magic Might.

These beings are strangely drawn to the character, and generally trust or obey her without thinking. She gets +3 on Communication and Presence rolls to affect them. Characters who are Offensive to beings of this sort cannot take this Virtue, including those who have The Gift or Magical Air, though characters who are Inoffensive to them or have the Gentle Gift may.

Note that while Alluring to Magical Beings can affect Hermetic magi, the Parma Magica protects against this effect as part of resisting the social penalties of The Gift. Might and other forms of general Magic Resistance do not hinder this effect.

Almogaten

Minor, Social Status
The character is the leader of a band of Almogavars, chosen by his fellows for his skill and experience. He commands a dozen men, and he is responsible for their welfare and prosperity. He has Standard Armaments and may take Martial Abilities.

Similar to the Mercenary Captain Virtue, you may choose Wealthy or Poor to represent the fortunes of the Almogaten and his soldiers. If he is Poor, he leads only a half-dozen men and he has hit hard times lately. Some of his men only have Inexpensive Armaments, but his main concern is finding the next meal. If he is Wealthy, he leads a company of two dozen men, and can afford to upgrade their armaments. The band might own several horses, and perhaps some herd animals.

These characters are from the Iberian Peninsula, and if they are particularly far from home the troupe may rule that this is not available as a social status.

Almogavar

Minor, Social Status
The character is a member of a band of mercenaries and raiders, living a life of adventure according to a code of honor and discipline. He shares a bond of solidarity with his fellows, and they can depend on each other's loyalty. He has Standard Armaments, and may take Martial Abilities. He may choose to be the Adalil, the second-in-command, at no additional cost, getting an increase in both authority and responsibility. He is supported by his unit, and may not take the Poor Flaw or Wealthy Virtue.

These characters are from the Iberian Peninsula, and if they are particularly far from home the troupe may rule that this is not available as a social status.

Amorphous

Major or Minor, Supernatural, Tainted
The character is able to take on any human form, so long as it does not identifiably belong to a particular human being. The character develops this ability because his body has adopted the almost-gaseous property of demonic flesh, so any apparent changes in size or fitness are cosmetic, and do not affect the character's statistics. Some amorphous people can select a single shape at midnight, which is the Major form of the Virtue. Its Minor form allows the character to change shape only after having performed a significant act linked to the Obsession of the sponsoring demon. The character may only change to his birth form by selecting it once the conditions of transformation have been met, or involuntarily changing shape when dying or entering holy ground.

Animal Ken

Minor, Supernatural
You can communicate with animals as if they were human beings. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Animal Ken 1 (page 159).

Apprentice

Free. Social Status
This Virtue may be taken by a child character who has the Gift and who has been accepted by an experienced Hermetic magus, with the troupe's approval. You are a discipulus and will receive extensive magical training, having the potential to become a Hermetic magus in your own right. However you must obey the dictates and fulfill the errands of your master and endure his or her rigorous training, and may be treated no better than a slave.

Apt Student

Minor, General
You are particularly good at learning from others. When being taught or trained by someone else, add five to the Source Quality.

Aptitude for (Sin)

Minor, General, Tainted
This catch-all Virtue is for those minor effects which demons grant to their victims to allow them to sin more effectively, and so more often. Each Aptitude for a particular sin adds +3 to all rolls in a very limited circumstance linked to a demon's Obsession. As examples, characters may have aptitudes for picking pockets, for committing adultery skillfully, or for poisoning people.

Arcane Lore

Minor, General
You may take Arcane Abilities during character generation. Unless you have The Gift, you cannot learn Parma Magica. You get an additional 50 experience points, which must be spent on Arcane Abilities.

A Gifted character who is not a Hermetic magus and knows Parma Magica must take the Major Story Flaw Enemy: Entire Order of Hermes, as magi are bound by their Oath to slav the character on sight, unless he immediately joins the Order. Such a character cannot be played in a normal saga, as the other player characters have to kill him.

Archieunuch

Major, Social Status
You have risen to enjoy the status and privilege associated with the most important and talented eunuchs, the archieunuchs. Although you are not a ruler in your own right, a ruler likely depends on you to govern effectively and has thus granted you considerable authority to act in his stead. Due to this status and importance, you wield significant influence among the lesser nobility. You might serve either as a regional administrator, an important courtier, or a general, and there are numerous servants and possibly other subordinate eunuchs under your command. You have been granted a residence, either within a castle or palace, or elsewhere. Due to your education, you may take Academic Abilities during character creation. This social status is found in the eastern Roman empire, with its capital at Constantinople, and does not exist in western Europe or much of the Muslim world. This Virtue is only available to male characters, who must also be eunuchs.

Aristotelian Training

Minor, General
The character is trained in the New Aristotle, having received his instruction from a teacher using recently translated texts of Aristotle in preference to the normal curriculum. The character gains a +1 bonus on Artes Liberales rolls for grammar, logic, and rhetoric, as well as a +1 bonus when calculating Disputatio Totals (see Art and Academe, page 103, for details). A magus with this Virtue may add +1 to his Lab Totals if attempting to synthesize the New Aristotle with Magic Theory (as described on page 11 of Art and Academe). This Virtue is compatible with Puissant Artes Liberales.

Atlantean Magic

Minor, Hermetic
The magus, or an ancestor in his lineage, has studied the magic of exiled Atlanteans and has developed several useful extensions to Hermetic magic.

The magus has access to a special Range: Water-way, a special Duration: Storm, and a special Target: Body-of-water, that he may utilize with Spontaneous magic and in Formulaic or Ritual spells.

Water-way (Range): The magus can target anyone, or anything, on (or in) the same water-way as him. For example, a river, canal, lake, or sea is a water-way. Tributary streams of a river are the same waterway as the main river, but are not the same water-way as other tributaries to the main river. In some cases the troupe will need to decide precisely where one water-way begins, and another ends.

The magus must touch the water-way, when casting the spell, and the target must be either also touching the water-way or floating on it (in a boat, for example). A person on the bank of a river cannot be targeted by this spell. The magus need not be able to see the target, but he must be able to sense it in some way, unless the spell is an Intellego effect intended to determine whether something is in the water-way.

For determining the spell level, water-way is the same Range level as Sight.

Storm (Duration): A spell with this duration must be cast during a storm and lasts until the end of the storm. Normally, a storm lasts a number of minutes or hours, but some large storms may last for days. The form of the spell must be either Aquam or Auram, but the spell is not necessarily cast on the storm itself. The length of an entirely natural storm can be quickly estimated by rolling a stress die and dividing the result by 2 — this gives the number of hours that the storm will last. A botch has no consequence, excepting that the storm will dissipate in a number of minutes. The storyguide should secretly determine how long the storm will last — although an InAu spell, or Wilderness Sense Ability Roll could easily reveal this information.

For determining the spell level, Storm is the same Duration level as Concentration.

Body-of-water (Target): A spell with this target targets an entire body-of-water, whether this is a lake, a river, or a sea. Use the same guidelines as water-way to determine where a body-of-water begins and ends.

For determining the spell level, Body-of-water is the same level of Target as Structure (remember to increase the spell magnitude to affect a very large body-of-water, like a sea or the ocean).

Possible Abuses of Storms

A ReAu spell with Storm duration intended to "keep a storm raging" will not result in a storm that lasts indefinitely. It will keep the storm raging for whatever its original lifetime was. A ReAu spell with a duration of Sun can be used to keep to a storm raging for a day, of course, and repeated castings of such a spell will keep the storm present until the caster gives up.

Similarly, a CrAu spell with Storm duration will not create a storm that lasts indefinitely. It merely creates a storm that lasts for the duration of whatever storm existed prior to the casting of the spell. That is, if no storm previously existed this spell will have no effect. A CrAu spell with a duration of Storm cast on an existing storm will, however, help to prevent the storm from being dissipated by PeAu effects before it should naturally expire. A CrAu spell with a duration of Sun can be used to create a storm with a duration of a day, of course.

Baccalaureus

Minor, Social Status
The character has completed a three-year program at a university to receive a baccalaureus artium (Bachelor of Arts degree). He is typically between 16 and 19 years old, and has 90 experience points that he may spend on Latin and Artes Liberales — 30 experience points per finished year of studies. His future decisions are varied once he gains his degree: he can extend his university career, teaching extraordinary lectures as he works toward his Magister in Artibus Degree; teach in a cathedral or secular school; become a private tutor for a noble family; or find work in ecclesiastical or secular circles. The character has an Academic Reputation of 1.

This Virtue is compatible with the Hermetic Magus, Mendicant Friar, and Priest Virtues, and can be taken by a female character, but only if she is (or was) studying to be a physician at Salerno.

Rard

Free, Social Status
The character has attended a bardic school and has passed the examination after four years, earning him the title of fili at the rank of Dos. This accords him some respect among the native Irish, amounting to a Local Reputation of 1. He should be no younger than 20. You should take the Educated (Bardic) Virtue to represent the learning he has received. This Social Status only applies in Ireland.

Beadle

Minor, Social Status
The character is an assistant to a university dean. He is a townsman or student of merit employed by the university to carry the university's insignia in parades, collect dues and fines, read mandatory announcements at university congregations, and announce disputationes. The character may purchase Academic Abilities at character generation. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Bee King

Major, Supernatural
Bee Kingship is the result of descent from particular faeries, and thus a form of faerie blood. It grants the following advantages:

Bee Kings do not appear to age after reaching maturity, but every Bee King not killed by circumstances dies of a rapid illness precisely a century after birth.

Any Bee King may command any group of bees to perform any action of which they are physically capable, even if it will lead to their deaths. Usual instructions like attacking people, increasing the population of the hive, or constructing objects from wax continue to be performed until the instruction is countermanded (Penetration 50). Simple commands of a sentence or less long can be given orally.

Bee Kings may communicate complex messages to bees by having a single bee land on the Bee King's tongue. This bee then acts as the king's representative to the hive. Bee Kings can understand the speech of hives, and can read the minds of bees that they are touching.

Bee Kings are never stung by any variety of biting insect. An attacking bee swarm is treated as an environmental effect, rather than an opposing mêlee group. The swarm does +10 damage automatically each round. This damage may be Soaked normally.

Note that, in Mythic Europe, bees have kings, not queens, but a female character with this Virtue may choose to call herself a Bee Queen.

This is a Supernatural Virtue, and you cannot lose it when being trained as a magus (see page 269). If your master cannot preserve the ability, you cannot be trained.

Berserk

Minor, General
You are capable of entering a blinding rage when in combat or frustrating situations. You automatically gain the Personality Trait Angry +2 (or more, at your option). Any time you take a wound or wound an enemy, roll a stress die and add your Angry score. A roll of 9+ means you go berserk. The storyguide can also call for a roll when you are strongly frustrated. You may deliberately try to go berserk. In this case, you only need a 6+ when you take a wound or wound an enemy, or a 9+ if you have not been wounded or caused a wound. While berserk, you get +2 to Attack and Soak scores, but suffer a -2 penalty to Defense. While berserk, you cannot retreat, hesitate to attack, or give guarter. If you are still berserk when there are no enemies present, you attack your friends. You may roll once per round to calm down if you desire, requiring a stress die + Perception – Angry against an Ease Factor of 6. You may learn Martial Abilities at character creation.

Blood Of The Nephilim

Major, Supernatural

You have the blood of angels in your veins and descend from the great heroes of the Antediluvian Age, the Nephilim. Unless you take the Mythic Companion Virtue, your heritage is somewhat diluted, although still significant.

Your Size is increased to +1, and this increases by +1 for every century you are alive.

You may learn Dominion Lore during character creation without needing to take the Arcane Lore Minor Virtue.

You age incredibly slowly, and may live for hundreds of years. You need make an aging roll only once every ten years after the age of 150, and receive a –5 to Aging Rolls. You gain no benefit from Longevity Potions or any magic or supernatural power that slows or relieves Aging or Decrepitude. Once you gain your first Decrepitude Point, it becomes increasingly difficult for you to learn new things: subtract your age ÷ 10 from all Advancement Totals, although the Advancement Total for a season cannot drop below 1.

Due to your great size, you must eat vast amounts of food (equal to what three normal people would eat in a day), and have the Minor Personality Flaw Greedy (which counts as one of your normal Flaws). If you go without food for even a single day you fall into a deep slumber, a kind of supernatural hibernation. You will starve to death in (2 + your Divine Might) days unless you are fed your own body weight in food. After awakening, you suffer a number of lost Long Term Fatigue Levels equal to the number of days you went without food. (Note that this Virtue does not itself grant Divine Might; see Strong Angelic Heritage, later.)

You may not take The Gift or True Faith, Hermetic Virtues or Flaws, Methods or Powers (see Realms of Power: The Divine, Revised Edition, pages 46-56), Virtues such as Giant, Mythic, or Faerie Blood, Flaws such as Age Quickly or Lycanthrope, or Virtues or Flaws that affect your Size. A descendant of the Nephilim without Divine Might could, in theory, learn supernatural powers (other than Divine Methods and Powers) from any realm, but that is very rare. Magi and Grogs may not take this Virtue.

Book Learner

Minor, General
You have a talent for comprehending the writings of others. When studying from books, treat them as if they were three Quality levels higher than they actually are.

Boosted Magic

Minor, Hermetic
By spending a pawn of vis when casting Formulaic spells you may "boost" the Range, Duration, Target, or size of the effect by one magnitude. You can do this multiple times for the same spell.

For example, boosting Range from Touch to Sight and Target from Individual to Group would cost you four pawns of vis. You may not reduce any of the parameters of the spell, nor may you exceed the limits of Formulaic magic. Casting success, Fatigue loss, and Penetration are all calculated based on the original level of the spell, but you do add one additional botch die for each pawn of vis used. This has no effect on Spontaneous or Ritual spells, though you can still use vis to boost your Penetration as normal.

Brother Chaplain

Minor, Social Status
You are a priest of a crusading order, which is like other priests except that your vow should include obedience and poverty, in addition to chastity. Outside of your order you are answerable only to the pope. You may purchase Academic Abilities during character generation. You wear the distinctive symbol of your order on your surcoat, which is usually colored green. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Brother Knight

Minor, Social Status
You are a knight in a holy crusading order, and it is your duty to be ready to fight the infidel at any time. You have sworn a lifelong vow of obedience, poverty, and chastity, and are answerable only to your superiors and the pope. Unless you are Poor, you may have highquality weapons and armor, and two horses. You may take Academic and Martial Abilities during character generation. You wear the symbol of your order on your distinctive surcoat, which is usually pure white (Templars, Hospitallers) or golden (Teutonic knights). This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Brother Sergeant

Minor, Social Status
You are a member of a crusading order, but not a knight or a nobleman. You have sworn a lifelong vow of obedience, poverty, and chastity, but this may not be enforced as strictly for you as it would be for a brother knight. You are answerable only to your superiors in the order and the pope. Unless you are Poor, you may have high-quality weapons and armor, and two horses. You may also take Martial Abilities during character generation. You wear the distinctive symbol of your order on your surcoat, which is usually colored black or gray. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Bureaucrat

Minor, Social Status
You are a member of the civil administration, probably a katib (KEH-tib, scribe or secretary) or watha'iqi (wa- THEH-i-qee, writer of legal documents). You may take Academic Abilities during character creation. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Capo

Major, Social Status
The character manages a trading company that has branches in at least two cities. City and Guild, Chapter 7 gives more details of what this involves. A capo who is also a partner in the business does not select the Partner Virtue, instead selecting Poor or Wealthy, as appropriate to his circumstances.

Cathedral School Master

Major, Social Status
The character teaches at a cathedral school, one of the many that dot Mythic Europe. He is at least (30 – Intelligence) vears old and must have scores of 5 in Latin and Artes Liberales, and a Teaching score of at least 3. He may learn any Academic Ability, and may teach it to his students. He is typically not a university man, but was instructed at a cathedral school. He receives 240 additional experience points, which may be spent on Academic Abilities and Teaching. The character has an Academic Reputation of 2.

This Virtue is compatible with the Baccalaureus and Priest Virtues. Characters with higher university degrees should take those Virtues instead; a magister or doctor gains no additional status from teaching at a cathedral school. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Cautious Sorcerer

Minor, Hermetic
You are very careful with magic, and are less likely to fail spectacularly if you do fail. You roll three fewer botch dice when casting spells (whether ritual, formulaic, or spontaneous), and when working in the laboratory. This Virtue may not reduce the number of botch dice rolled below one. However, its effects are applied before any other effects which reduce botch dice, such as Spell Mastery (see page 225), and they may reduce the number of botch dice to zero.

Cautious with (Ability)

Minor, General
You are very careful with a specific Ability, and are less likely to fail spectacularly if you do fail when using it. You roll two fewer botch dice than normal whenever you are required to roll botch dice for that Ability. This may mean that you roll no botch dice. This Virtue may apply to any Ability, even one you cannot learn at character creation.

Clan Ilfetu

Minor. Hermetic
The character is a member of Clan Ilfetu within House Bjornaer, and has received extra training in the rituals of the House. You receive 50 extra experience points that may be spent on House Bjornaer Lore, Magic Lore (with a specialty in the Great Beasts), and Gothic, the dead language that the House uses for all of its rituals. It is possible that the magus has also been Initiated into the Esoteric Mystery of Divination and Augury (see The Mysteries Revised Edition, page 58); if so, that Virtue must be purchased with the normal allowance of ten points of Virtues and Flaws. Clan Ilfetu teaches the Divination method of haemagmomancy, which is divination by observing the blood splatters of wounded animals; this gives the following bonuses to Divination: +5 family, +3 Corpus. See Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, page 12, for more details on House Bjornaer and the role of Clan Ilfetu.

Clear Thinker

Minor, General
You think logically and rationally. You get a +3 bonus on all rolls to resist lies, confusion, befuddlement, and subterfuge — whether magical or mundane.

Clerk

Minor, Social Status
You are a member of the literate class and are either a professional scribe, accountant, lawyer, student, or functionary. Due to your training, you may take Academic Abilities during character generation. If you are male, you may be in minor orders (acolyte, exorcist, lector, or doorkeeper), in which case you may marry and still benefit from being a member of the clergy and as such subject to canon rather than secular law. Male characters may also be sub-deacons or deacons, the lesser two holy orders, in which case they would normally be expected to be unmarried. However, if they were already married, and promise complete sexual abstinence, they may still be ordained to these orders. A man may not marry after ordination to holy orders. Those in holy orders are also subject to canon, rather than secular, law. The Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw affect you normally. This Virtue is available to male and female characters, but female characters may not be in minor or holy orders.

Command Animals

Major, Supernatural, Tainted
The character has the ability to mentally command mundane examples of a species of animal usually associated with the demon who tainted him or her. At any time, the character may command up to 12 human-sized animals, and may instruct them to do suicidal things. Smaller animals can be commanded in far greater numbers, so some characters can command swarms of insects, or hundreds of rats.

Commanding Aura

Free, Supernatural
This supernatural power is granted to characters by either the pope, or the Divine directly. It is an inherent benefit of Church office. Most characters with this Virtue also have the Senior Clergy Social Status Virtue.

The character has a power equivalent to the Hermetic spell Aura of Rightful Authority (page 357), but with Voice Range; this power has no cost, and no Penetration. The character also has a Magic Resistance and a Soak bonus that depend upon his rank in the Church. If the character carries a relic, this Magic Resistance is added to that of the relic.

Pope: Magic Resistance 25, Soak bonus +5.

Cardinal, or legatus a latere: Magic Resistance 20, Soak Bonus +4.

Legatus missus: Magic Resistance 15, Soak Bonus +3.

Archbishop: Magic Resistance 10, Soak Bonus +2.

Papal legates are the representatives of the pope. If the legatus missus — a lower grade with limited powers — delays or deviates from his mission, then his Commanding Aura ceases to work until he completes penance. The Commanding Aura is also lost when a legatus missus completes his mission.

Some lay rulers ordained by the pope (mostly kings and emperors) also have a Commanding Aura. See Realms of Power: The Divine, Revised Edition, page 42.

Common Sense

Minor, General
Whenever you are about to do something contrary to what is sensible in the game setting, common sense (the storyguide) alerts you to the error. This is an excellent Virtue for a beginning player, as it legitimizes any help the storyguide may give.

Convoluted Mind

Minor, General, Tainted
The character has been exposed to the machinations of demons so often that he has developed a sense of how their minds work. The character gains a +3 bonus on all Infernal Lore rolls to determine what a demon will do, and has a feeling, similar to the Common Sense Virtue, that prevents him from doing stupid things when dealing with demons.

Corpse Magic

Major, Supernatural
This Virtue gives the character the Supernatural Ability of Corpse Magic, at a score of 1.

Covenfolk

Free, Social Status
You are a member of the covenant staff, and may have lived there all your life. You are supported by the covenant, and so your standard of living is determined by the covenant's resources rather than your own. You may not take the Wealthy Major Virtue or the Poor Major Flaw.

Craft Guild Training

Minor, General
This character has received above-average training during his apprenticeship, from a craft master or professional guild. Like Warrior and Educated, this Virtue gives a bonus of 50 experience points. These must be spent on any Craft or Profession Abilities, Bargain, or Organization Lore: Guild.

Crafter's Healing

Minor, Supernatural
Like the smiths of ancient lore, the character can magically heal wounds by touching them with the tools of his trade. This is a rare and mysterious power that Hermetic magi cannot understand or duplicate, and it is common for this Virtue to follow familial bloodlines. Selecting this Virtue gives the character the Crafter's Healing Ability at a score of 1.

Craftsman

Free, Social Status
You live by making and selling goods. You are probably a free resident of a town, but you may be from a rural area. The Wealthy Major Virtue and Poor Major Flaw affect you normally.

Curse-Throwing

Major, Supernatural
Characters with this Virtue are able to cure diseases and remove curses by transferring them to another person. Choosing this Virtue confers the Supernatural Ability Curse-Throwing 1.

Custos

Minor, Social Status
You are an employee of a covenant, but you have high status within the walls. You may be a grog, or a specialist, or a manager. You may take one group of restricted Abilities during character generation, either Martial, Academic, or Arcane Abilities. If you choose Martial or Arcane Abilities, you may still learn to speak Latin, although you cannot read or write it. As a covenant employee, your wealth is determined by the covenant's prosperity, and you may not take the Wealthy Virtue or Poor Flaw. This Virtue is available to male and female characters.

This Virtue may also apply to employees of other institutions, such as a noble household or a monastery.

Cyclic Magic (positive)

Minor, Hermetic
Your magic is attuned to some cycle of nature (solar, lunar, or seasonal, for example) and as such, is more potent at specific times. At those times, you receive a +3 bonus to all Casting Scores. The bonus also applies to Lab Totals if the positive part of the cycle covers the whole season. The cycle of your magic must be regular and approved by the storyguide. Furthermore, the length of time when the bonus applies must be equal to the amount of time when it does not.

Death Prophecy

Major, General
You have been blessed or cursed as to your fate. Someone (a magician, a faerie, or other supernatural creature) has put a condition on your death, and until the condition is met, you will not die, though you can be seriously injured. You heal normally, but cannot die as a result of wounds or old age. Unfortunately for you, fate or bad planning can bring about the conditions in unexpected ways. If, for instance, your death condition is to fear only boars, you should be wary of men bearing boars on their coats of arms or of inns named after boars, in addition to the purely mundane creature. This symbolism may not be obvious: a man known as a pig in his village might also count as a boar.

The storyguide must keep the prophecy in mind and give fair warning of items related to the prophecy. This is a Major Virtue because the character knows he can get away with insane risks; sneaking his prophecy up on him is an unfair way of negating the value of the Virtue. Players may only take this Virtue with the agreement of the storyguide or troupe.

Deft Form

Minor, Hermetic
You are particularly skilled with one Form. You suffer no penalty to the Casting Total casting spells in that Form when using non-standard voicings/gestures (see page 216), including using no voice or gestures because you are in a non-human form. Voice Range spells still have a Range based on how loudly you are speaking.

Demonic Blood

Major, Supernatural, Tainted
The character has a demon as a parent, and was conceived for a specific task by her Infernal mother or father. Because of this, she is an Infernal being and possesses an Infernal Might (Corpus) score of 5. This grants her Magic Resistance. Her body also contains one pawn of Corpus vis, which can only be extracted once she is dead. She is immune to Warping of any kind, need not eat or drink, and cannot produce a child; however, she suffers the natural urges associated with these activities, and may be required to make Personality rolls to overcome her desires.

She has up to 30 levels of Infernal Powers that may be invoked by spending Might Points. Design the effects using Hermetic spell guidelines, or the maleficia guidelines (see Realms of Power: The Infernal, Chapter 10: The Maleficia), taking into account the Powers of the demon parent. The Might cost for each Power is equal to its magnitude divided by two, rounded down (but always at least one point). These may be constant effects designed in the usual fashion (Sun duration, two uses per day, and an Environmental Trigger, see page 257), her Might Pool is always reduced by the cost of such a Power, and she cannot turn these Powers off. The Initiative total of each Power is the character's Quickness.

She may be unaware of her true heritage, in which case she probably has either the Delusion or Manufactured Ignorance Flaw to explain her remarkable capabilities. She has the close attention of Hell, and thus should offset this Virtue with a Story Flaw to reflect that attention, such as, Tragic Life. The character may learn Infernal Lore during character creation without needing to take the Arcane Lore Minor Virtue.

She is attended at nearly all times by a minor demon, which tends to remain in spiritual form, watching over her; if necessary, it protects her on behalf of her creator/parent. This demon is a ruach, who can use its Misfortune Power to blight her enemies. If she is unaware of her demonic heritage, she either considers herself exceedingly lucky, or believes the attending demon to be a Magical or Divine spirit. However, this attendant demon means that her demonic parent can always find her, and is kept apprised of what she is up to.

A Demonic Blooded character's life span is short — roughly half that of a pure-blooded human. Her effective age (which applies as if it were her real age when creating a Longevity Ritual and when making rolls on the Aging Table) increases two years for every year that passes, and you must make two aging rolls each year once her effective age reaches 35. There is no way to halt or slow this other than Longevity Rituals, if she can convince someone to make one for her. However, she does not show the effects of aging; any Aging Points acquired do not get applied to her Characteristics, although they do still count as experience points towards Decrepitude.

You cannot take the Infernal Blessings Virtue described in Realms of Power: The Infernal; the Demonic Powers Virtue replaces that Virtue for the demon-blooded. You may not take any Virtue that affiliates her with a realm other than the Infernal. Also, you cannot take the Unaging Virtue or the Age Quickly Flaw. She may not have children, and so cannot have Dependents of this sort.

Demonic Might

Minor, Supernatural
You may only take this Virtue if your character has the Demonic Blood Virtue. Her Infernal Might increases by 2 points. Upon her death, her body contains a number of pawns of Corpus vis equal to her (Infernal Might / 5), rounding up. You may take this Virtue more than once, though it can account for no more than half of the character's total Virtues.

Demonic Powers

Minor, Supernatural
Only a character with the Demonic Blood Virtue may have Demonic Powers. He gains an extra 20 levels of Infernal Powers in addition to the levels granted by Demonic Blood. You may also take this Virtue more than once, though it can account for no more than half of the character’s total Virtues.

Devil Child

Free, Mythic Companion
This Virtue has no cost, and can only be taken for a Mythic Companion who has been born with demonic parents. The character gets the Demonic Might or Demonic Powers (player's choice) Minor Virtue free.

Diedne Magic

Major, Hermetic
Your magic lineage and traditions are from the druids and the vanquished former house of Diedne, making you especially skilled with Spontaneous magic. When you cast a Spontaneous spell without expending Fatigue, you may choose to divide by 5 or by 2. If you choose to divide by 5, you need not roll a stress die, and cannot botch, just as normal. If you choose to divide by 2, you must roll a stress die, and may botch.

When you expend Fatigue on casting a spontaneous spell, the lowest applicable Art is doubled before the whole total is divided by two. You still roll a stress die, and may botch.

You must keep your lineage hidden from the Order, giving you a Major Story Flaw — Dark Secret is an obvious choice, but you may choose a different one with troupe approval. This is in addition to your normal allowance of Flaws, and does not grant you any points with which to buy Virtues.

Doctor in (Faculty)

Major, Social Status
The character has graduated from one of the higher faculties of a university, in medicine, civil or canon law, or theology, having already received his magister in artibus license, and may instruct fellow students. The character may teach anywhere, even at a university that he did not attend. This is the highest educational license in Mythic Europe. A doctor of medicine is also titled magister in medicina, having typically been taught in one of the southern universities.

A character starting the game with this Virtue must be at least (27 Intelligence) years old. He must have a score of 5 in Latin. Artes Liberales, and the Ability that correlates to his faculty degree. The character has spent ten years at a university and receives an additional 300 experience points, which must be spent on Latin and Academic Abilities. He also begins the game with an Academic Reputation of 3.

Like other working characters, he must spend two seasons a year practicing his profession, either teaching or working in a secular or ecclesiastical court. Both the Wealthy Virtue and the Poor Flaw are allowable, but players must decide what calamity befell such an erudite scholar if he is Poor, for which he receives a Bad Reputation at a level of 2.

This Virtue is compatible with the Hermetic Magus, Mendicant Friar, and Priest Virtues. It is only available to male characters, with the exception of Doctors in Medicine who graduated from Salerno. That university does train female physicians.

Animal Characters

An animal can have personality and add greatly to stories, just as a human can. Despite their obvious limitations, it can be a great deal of fun to play one as a grog, probably while running human grogs as well. More details on animal characters are given in Grogs, page 136,

but players should feel free to simply use the statistics for a mundane animal given in Chapter 13. Supernatural animals are more complex, and rules for them are given in the Realms of Power supplements, particularly Realms of Power: Faerie (page 50) and Realms of Power: Magic (Chapter 5).

Domestic Animal

Free, Social Status, animals only
The character is an animal who is the property of a covenant or character, and is supplied with food and shelter. He is expected to serve his master in return for this provender, as a mount, beast of burden, hunter, or so forth.

Dowsing

Minor, Supernatural
You have the ability to find things nearby through the use of a dowsing rod (usually a forked stick) and your own intuitive sense. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Dowsing 1 (page 164).

Dust Devil

Minor, Supernatural
This variant of the Skinchanger Virtue allows the character to adopt the shape of a tamzawit, or dust devil, a small whirlwind carrying dust. She becomes a dust devil of Size +1, can assume the form at any time, and can direct her movement. Rather than a cloak or animal skin, the focus object of this Virtue is a glass amulet formed from sand taken from a Magic aura.

Educated

Minor, General
You have been educated in a grammar school, and may have attended a university or cathedral school. You may purchase Academic Abilities during character generation. During character generation you get an additional 50 experience points, which must be spent on Latin and Artes Liberales.

Educated (Bardic)

Minor, General
The character has attended one of the great bardic schools in Hibernia, either to receive an education (in which case he need not have attempted the punishing examination) or to commence training as a bard (in which case you should also take an appropriate bardic Social Status Virtue). For Senior or Master Bards this Virtue represents additional years of study. You receive 50 extra experience points to spend on Art of Memory, Profession: Storyteller, Profession: Poet, any Area Lore, or any Organization Lore.

Educated (Islamic)

Minor, General
You have been educated in a mosque or Qur'an school, and may purchase Academic Abilities during character generation. You get an extra 50 experience points at character creation, which must be spent on some or all of Arabic, Persian, Greek, Latin, Theology: Islam, Islamic Law, and Artes Liberales.

Educated (Hebrew)

Minor, General
Your character has been educated in a beit ha-midrash or yeshivah and may purchase Academic Abilities at character generation. Your character gains 50 extra experience points to be spent on some or all of the following: Hebrew, Aramaic, Theology: Judaism, and Judaic Lore. Characters from Iberia or the East may also spend some of these points on Arabic.

Educated (Vernacular)

Minor, General
This form of secular instruction, given by tutors to the scions of merchant houses, emphasizes practical skills likely to make the student suited to a leadership role in the family business. The character may purchase Academic Abilities during character creation. She also gains 50 additional experience points, which must be spent on Academic Abilities, Bargain, the Organization Lore of the character's company, Profession Merchant, or the language of trade in the company's region (usually Latin, Greek, or Arabic).

Elemental Magic

Major, Hermetic
You have been trained in the ability to manipulate raw elemental Forms (Aquam, Auram, Ignem, and Terram), and view them as a connected whole rather than four separate Arts. Whenever you gain experience from a source dedicated to one of these Arts. you gain half the Source Quality (rounded up) in experience points in each of the other three Arts. For example, if you studied Ignem from a book with a Source Quality of 13, you would gain 7 experience points in each of Aquam, Auram, and Terram.

During character creation, assign all your experience points in Arts. Then assign half the experience points assigned to each of the elemental Forms to each of the other elemental Forms. Do not actually add these experience points to the Form in question until you have finished calculating all the bonus experience points. For example, if you assign 10 experience points to each of Aquam, Auram, and Terram, and 21 experience points to Ignem, then you should assign 15 bonus experience points to Ignem (5 from each of Aquam, Auram, and Terram), and 21 bonus experience points to each of Aquam, Auram, and Terram (11 from Ignem, and 5 each from the other two Forms).

In addition, if a spell with one of these Forms as its primary Form has another element as a requisite, you use the primary Form to calculate totals, even if the requisite is lower.

Embitterment

Major, Supernatural
You may make someone hostile to a target of your choice. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Embitterment 1.

Emir

Minor, Social Status
This is the same as the Knight Virtue, though due to the rather different upbringing of Muslim emirs, you are likely to be as skilled with hunting, religious teachings, and culture as you are with martial pursuits.

Enchanting (Ability)

Minor, Supernatural
When you set your mind to it, you can magically induce emotions and beliefs in others with a particular kind of artistic expression: music, dance, drawing, storytelling, even craftwork. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Enchanting (Ability) 1 (page 164).

Enduring Constitution

Minor, General
You can withstand pain and fatigue. Decrease the penalties for reduced Fatigue levels by one point, and reduce your total penalty from wounds by onespoint (but not below zero). You also get +3 on rolls to resist pain.

Enduring Magic

Minor, Hermetic
The effects of your spells tend to last longer than usual (though Concentration, Momentary, and Ring spells remain just that). The storyguide secretly rolls a simple die; multiply the spell's normal duration by the number rolled. This is usually, but not always, a good thing. This Virtue does not affect the duration of Ritual spells.

The Enigma

Minor, Hermetic
You have been initiated into the Outer Mystery of The Enigma (see page 235), and thus are a member of House Criamon. You have a score of 1 in Enigmatic Wisdom. Note that all Criamon magi get this Virtue free at character creation.

Enticer of Multitudes

Minor, General, Tainted
The character has a version of the Inspirational Virtue that can only be used to manipulate people toward evil acts. The character appears demagogic rather than heroic, and cannot control a group once he has whipped it into a frenzy. The enticer forces individuals in a group to make Personality Trait rolls for the particular sin they are attempting to evoke, with a bonus of +5 or more.

Entrancement

Major, Supernatural
You have the power to control another's will by staring into their eyes and giving them a verbal command. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Entrancement 1 (page 164).

Eunuch

Minor, Social Status
You have been educated and trained to serve the Byzantine nobility as a courtier, steward, chamberlain, scribe, lawyer, or accountant. You are likely employed by a court, a lesser noble, or a covenant. It is also possible for you to pursue a career in the eastern Church, and some monasteries accept eunuchs. Due to your education, you may take Academic Abilities during character creation. This Virtue is only available to male characters, who must be sexually incapable, rather than simply inactive. This may be due to castration (see the Castratus Flaw on page 122), but need not be.

Exotic Casting

Minor, Hermetic
The magus uses non-Hermetic methods to cast Hermetic spells. While he still needs to employ obvious ritual actions, these are not the same words and gestures taught as part of Magic Theory within the Order, and other magi who are unfamiliar with the magus's tradition find it very hard to recognize which spell he is casting. Any attempt to determine the Form of his magical effect (page 217) is made against an Ease Factor of 15, without the magnitude of the effect being subtracted from this Ease Factor as normal. If the character has any Supernatural Abilities, then he uses the same methods to cast his Hermetic magic as he does to use his non-Hermetic magic. The magus cannot choose to use the standard Hermetic methods instead of those of his native tradition, but can choose to reduce or forgo words and gestures in the usual fashion (page 216).

Extractor of (Form) Vis

Minor, Hermetic
The magus can extract (Form) vis from a Magic aura, but only if the features of the aura exemplify the Form. For example, an aura on the shores of a lake might exemplify Aquam, an aura at a burial-site exemplifies Corpus, etc. Extracting vis in this way is a Laboratory activity; the magus extracts a number of pawns of Vis equal to a tenth of his Creo Vim (Form) Lab Total (round up). Obviously, he needs to have a Laboratory in the aura too, and, of course, the magus can choose to extract Vim vis instead (see page 250). This Virtue may be taken multiple times (once for each Form).

Eye of Hephaestus

Minor, Supernatural
The character can innately tell the quality of a manufactured item. If the item is somehow flawed he is instantly aware of that by merely touching it. He also has a chance to tell if an item is magical. For supernatural items made by a craftsman, make a Perception + Awareness + stress die roll against an Ease Factor of 9. If successful, the character knows the power of the item. For Hermetic enchanted items, or those made by other sorcerers, make a Perception + Awareness + stress die roll against an Ease Factor of 12. If successful, the character knows the item is enchanted, but has no idea how, or what its powers might be. Botching either roll results in false information. This Virtue does not offer any information about the actions or commands necessary to trigger an item's powers.

Hephaestus was a pagan god of craftsmen, primarily metallurgists. Calling this Virtue the Eye of St. Dunstan is more appropriate for Christian characters.

Fabric Ripper

Minor, Supernatural
The character has the supernatural ability to tear any manufactured thing made from plant or animal fibers. This allows her to destroy sails, break the strap holding on individual pieces of armor, snap the tack of a horse, burst a sack, and tatter a pair of pants with her mind. She spends a Fatigue level to activate the ability, and may only target one object per Fatigue level spent. This is a PeAn(He) 25 effect with +0 Penetration, and does not require any words or gestures.

Factor

Minor, Social Status
The character manages the interests of a trading house in a single city. This gives the character a strong social position and connections to many other regions; see City and Guild for more details. Many factors are junior partners in their companies, and they choose the Partner Virtue, not this one.

Faerie Blood

Minor, Supernatural
Somewhere in your ancestry there is a faerie, and this relation gives you an intuitive grasp of the motivations and personalities of those supernatural folk. Faeries are more comfortable around you than around other humans, and given time, may even forget the mortal blood in your veins.

You are resistant to aging, and get -1 to all aging rolls.

Characters with Faerie Blood can learn Faerie Lore at character generation.

Type of Faerie Blood (pick one, or create a similar one):

Blood of the Bee King: The descendants of Bee Kings may give simple instructions to bees they touch, and may understand the thoughts dominating hives of bees. They are unable to give bees instructions that will kill them, except to command warrior bees to attack, since warrior bees are so willing to die (Penetration 25).

Dwarf Blood: You are descended from the master craftsmen of the fay, and get a +1 bonus to any total including a Craft Ability.

Goblin Blood: Your ancestors were the sneaky inhabitants of the shadows underground, and you get a +1 bonus on all totals involving stealth.

Satyr Blood: The satyrs are notoriously lecherous. You get a +1 bonus to Communication and Presence totals when dealing with sexually compatible characters.

Sidhe Blood: You are descended from one of the noble fay who rule the lands of Summer and Sunlight. Because of the striking and unusual qualities of your nature add +1 to your Presence, but not to more than +3. Many mortals may consider you fascinating or alluring.

Stinnen Blood: A character who has Spinnen Blood can convert his or her own body weight of fiber into cloth per day, simply by touching it. Old cloth, or products made of cloth fibers, can be unwoven using the same ability, but this counts toward the maximum weight of cloth a character can alter per day. Some Spinnen, particularly those who have served as companions to magi, create other useful objects, like tents, ropes, or sails in lieu of the same weight of cloth. These characters are from a single family line that originated near Ghent; see The Lion and the Lily, page 97, for details of how most of the family live.

Undine Blood: The undines are the faeries of the water, and you get a +2 bonus to any action taken underwater, which will partially offset any penalty applied.

Faerie Doctor

Free, Mythic Companion
This Virtue makes you a Faerie Doctor and a Mythic Companion (page 63). You get the Dowsing Virtue for free.

Faerie Magic

Minor, Hermetic
You have been initiated into the Outer Mystery of Faerie Magic (see page 236), and thus are a member of House Merinita. You have the Ability Faerie Magic 1. Note that all Merinita magi gain this Virtue for free at character generation.

Faerie-Raised Magic

Major, Hermetic
The character's experience with faeries and the Faerie realm has conditioned him to invent spells very quickly; to him, Formulaic spells seem like inherent powers that you can learn through observation and experimentation.

Because of this, he can teach himself spells outside of the laboratory. You may spend experience points from Exposure, Adventure, and Practice on spells you could normally invent that mimic faerie powers or other supernatural effects your character has observed that season.

To invent a spell in this way, the magus's Technique + Form + Intelligence + Magic Theory must at least equal (the spell's level – 10), and you must spend a number of experience points equal to (the spell magnitude + 4). Spells of level 5 or less cost their level in experience points (but always at least 1). For example, a level 2 spell costs 2 experience points, and a Level 15 spell costs 7 experience points. The magus cannot invent Ritual spells in this way.

If the magus already knows a spell that is similar to one he wishes to invent (see Similar Spells, page 260), any experience points you spend towards learning that spell are increased by one-half, rounded up. This means that a level 25 spell would cost 6 experience points instead of 9, for example.

This Virtue also includes the Virtue Spell Improvisation. That is, you may add the magnitude of a known Formulaic spell as a bonus to your character's Casting Total when spontaneously casting a spell that is similar to it.

If you take this Virtue during character creation, you should normally take the Faerie Upbringing Flaw. Because the magus's master also had to teach him about human society, he probably had less time to teach him Hermetic magic. It is possible that the apprentice invented Formulaic spells quickly enough on his own to compensate for this, but you might take the Weak Parens Flaw to suggest this limitation of his apprenticeship.

Failed Apprentice

Minor, Social Status
You were once apprenticed to a mage, but something kept you from completing your studies. Perhaps your Gift was incomplete or some grievous mishap robbed you of it altogether. You may still work for your former master or for the covenant in some other capacity. Magi welcome you and have compassion for you those who are given to such emotions, anyway. You may learn Academic, Arcane, and Martial Abilities during character creation, and you are familiar with the lives of magi. You may not have The Gift, but if your Gift was not completely destroyed, you may have some Supernatural Abilities. The Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw affect you normally.

Falconer

Minor, Social Status
The character trains hawks and falcons for a noble patron, and is responsible for the training, breeding, and health of the animals. He often has a personal servant to assist, and is an important member of the noble household, treated with great respect. He should possess the Ability Profession: Falconer, which governs the care of the birds, treatment of their diseases, and acquisition and breeding of hawks and falcons. The Ability Animal Handling is used for the training of the hawks. A specialist in non-falcons, such as the hawks, is called an austringer.

A falconer receives 50 extra experience points at character generation to spend on the Abilities: Animal Handling, Area Lore, Etiquette, Hunt, Latin, Profession: Falconer, and Ride. Many falconers are also Educated.

Falls Like a Cat

Minor, General
The character is not injured by falls of up to three times his height, or six times his height if he can soften his fall by catching on windowsills, breaking through awnings, or hitting branches on the way down. At greater heights the character suffers Impact damage of +1 for every additional foot, if landing on a hard surface, or for every additional four feet, if landing on a soft surface.

Familiarity with the Fae

Minor, Supernatural
You have a natural understanding of faerie ways, perhaps due to spending time among them. You get a +2 to all rolls involving social interaction with faeries. You also gain the effects of the Common Sense Virtue, but only when the situation pertains to faeries. You may purchase Faerie Lore at character generation, even if normally unable to take Arcane Abilities.

Famous

Minor, General
You have a good Reputation of level 4. Choose any reputation you like (it need not be justified), and one type.

Fast Caster

Minor, Hermetic
Your magic takes less time to perform than that of other magi. You gain +3 to Initiative to cast spells in combat and +3 to rolls to determine fast casting speed.

Feather Messenger

Minor, Supernatural
This Virtue is only available to a character who can take the form of a bird (which may be her natural form). She can painlessly separate a feather from her body, and use it to write as a quill, controlling its movements telepathically while it remains within sight. The quill doesn't need ink; it provides it magically. After she finishes writing, the character can reattach the feather if in bird form. The quality of the character as a scribe does not differ between human and bird forms. The character can also pull off feathers in bird form, turn into a human, and still mentally control the dropped feathers. This Virtue is particularly associated with a north African magical tradition called the Daughters of Four Fathers (see Between Sand & Sea, page 107).

Ferocity

Minor, General, animals only
Like companion and magus characters, this character has Confidence points. However, these Confidence points may only be used in situations where its natural animal ferocity is triggered, such as when defending its den or fighting a natural enemy. Describe a situation which activates the Confidence for its species, and take 3 Confidence points and a Confidence Score of 1 to use when those circumstances are met.

Fida'i

Minor, Social Status
The character is an assassin of the Nizari Isma'ilis. A fida'i is a devout member of the sect who is prepared to die on its orders, and as such he should consider taking either the Oath of Fealty or Dutybound Flaw. When not on a mission, a fida'i wears white, with a red girdle, cap, or boots. He has been trained in precise placement of daggers and blades, as well as disguise. Fida'i may take Martial Abilities at character creation. He can expect to become a lasig if he proves his loyalty to the sect.

This Social Status Virtue may be taken by a character who is living far from the home of the Nizaris, as the assassins are sent on missions, and may be sent far away. Such a character should have a Story Flaw representing his mission, and choose the Social Status he is pretending to have. See The Cradle and the Crescent, from page 162, for more detail on the Nizaris.

Finding Hidden Loot

Minor, General
A character with this Virtue gains a +9 bonus to Awareness rolls when searching a confined space for hidden items, provided they can move the contents of the space about undisturbed.

Flawless Magic

Major, Hermetic
You automatically master every spell that you learn. All your spells start with a score of 1 in the corresponding Spell Mastery Ability. You may choose a different special ability for every spell you have. Further, all your Advancement Totals for Spell Mastery Abilities are doubled.

Flexible Formulaic Magic

Major, Hermetic
You can vary the effects of Formulaic spells to a slight degree, while still getting the benefits of casting known magic. You may raise or lower the casting level of the spell by one magnitude to raise or lower one (only) of Range, Duration, Target category, and Target size by one step, as long as this does not violate any of the normal limits on Formulaic magic. You may instead change one (only) of those parameters to another parameter at the same level, without modifying the casting level, as long as this does not violate any of the normal limits on Formulaic magic. Casting success, Fatigue loss, and Penetration are all calculated based on the final modified level of the spell. You cannot manipulate Ritual magic in this way.

Focus Power

Major, Supernatural
The character has a supernatural power with a narrow range of effects, like the ability to cast Spontaneous spells that are associated with a single type of magic. This power is like a magical focus, in that all of the possible effects have to be related to a specialty that is smaller than a single Hermetic Form. The examples for Major Magical Focus show the scope of this power.

This Virtue grants a pool of 25 points. The maximum level of effect and Penetration both start at zero. It costs 2 points to raise the maximum level of effect by 1, and 1 point to raise the Penetration by 1. Thus, 25 points can allow a maximum level of 10 with a Penetration of 5, or a maximum level of 5 with a Penetration of 15, or combinations in between. The power has an Initiative score equal to the character's Quickness – the maximum magnitude of the effect. The character may create any effect within the scope of the power, up to the level of the effect.

It costs one Fatigue level to activate this power for an effect of level 25 or lower, two Fatigue levels to activate it if the effect has a level of 26 to 50, and three for 51 to 75.

This Virtue may be taken more than once, and the points gained may be combined.

This Virtue may be associated with any supernatural realm. If you have access to other books, such as Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, Realms of Power: The Infernal, Realms of Power: Faerie, or Hedge Magic Revised Edition, you may want to base the power on a different system of supernatural powers, to get something more appropriate to the character. If you do, remember that the levels of effects may work on different scales for different systems, and you may want to change the cost of a level of effect. The power must be associated with the same supernatural realm as the system on which it is based. (If you have access to other books, you may want to restrict powers based on Hermetic magic to the Magic realm.)

Folk Magic

Minor, Supernatural
The character is capable of performing very minor acts of magic through his knowledge of scraps of occult lore. Choose one (Realm) Lore that is the key Ability for this magic, he may learn this Ability at Character Creation even if he is normally unable to take Arcane Abilities. The choice of (Realm) Lore also determines which supernatural realm his magic is aligned to for the purposes of aura modifiers. He can only create spells in one narrow area, which must be one of the following four options:

Abjuration: Creates a ward against animals or supernatural creatures. Uses the Rego Animal or Rego Vim guidelines.

Divination: Acquire magical senses that detect health, wealth, and mental state. Uses Intellego Corpus, Intellego Mentem, and Intellego Terram guidelines.

Healing: Grants a Recovery bonus for either wounds or diseases, and aids the birthing of children and livestock. Uses the Creo Corpus or Creo Animal guidelines. Infernal Lore cannot be used to produce this type of effect.

Evil Eye: Causes minor acts of mischief like pain, blight of crops, hair loss, sneezing, and so forth. Uses the Perdo Corpus, Perdo Animal, or Perdo Herbam guidelines. Divine Lore cannot be used to produce this type of effect.

To cast a spell the character must expend a Fatigue level, whether the spell succeeds or fails. He must also spend at least 15 minutes preparing the spell, during which time he needs unbroken concentration and access to his "magical" materials (while necessary, these materials offer no benefit to the casting). The spell is designed exactly like a Hermetic spell. The Casting Total is equal to (Stamina + (Realm) Lore + Aura modifier + stress die) / 2. Penetration is calculated in the normal fashion: Casting Total - Spell Level + Penetration modifiers. You may pick this Virtue more than once, to acquire expertise in a different category of spells. Each time you choose this Virtue, you can align it to the same Realm as before or pick a different one, although a character cannot have access to both the Divine and Infernal Realms.

Font of Knowledge

Minor, Supernatural
You have supernatural access to information you have never learned. This Virtue bestows the Ability Font of Knowledge 1.

Forge-Companion

Minor, Social Status
The character is an unGifted craftsman attached to a Verditius magus and working for him in his lab. You receive 50 additional experience points, which you can use to raise the particular Crafts her master practices. As a member of his household, she receives protection and support, but she is not protected by any of the legal codes of the Order of Hermes.

Forgettable Face

Minor, General
Never will this character be the one noticed or picked out of a crowd. Moments after speaking with him, very few people can give an adequate description of him. He often gets away with things because people are not sure it was actually him. If other characters must make a roll to identify him, it is at –3. On the downside, this trait is incompatible with great beauty, charisma, or commanding presence. Virtues like Venus' Blessing or Inspirational are prohibited, although Curse of Venus could work.

Free Expression

Minor, General
You have the imagination and creativity needed to compose a new ballad or to paint an original picture, and have the potential to be a great artist. You get a +3 bonus on all rolls to create a new work of art.

Free Study

Minor, Hermetic
You are better at figuring things out for yourself than you are at poring over books. Add +3 to the Source Quality when studying from raw vis.

Frightful Presence

Minor, Supernatural
You are capable of instilling great dread through your appearance. This can work in one of two ways: you are either able to contort your face into a vision of terror (common if Presence is less than zero); or else radiate an aura of awe and splendor that makes others weak at the knees (common if Presence is greater than zero).

Everyone witnessing you displaying your Frightful Presence must make an immediate Brave Personality roll against an Ease Factor of 3. Add your Presence to the Ease Factor, ignoring any negative sign (for example, a Presence of +3 or –3 makes the Ease Factor 6). A failure means that they either attempt to flee your immediate vicinity, or else are cowed before your glory.

If the targets remain within your presence (because they are awed or because they are trapped), they can reattempt the Brave roll every two minutes. Once a person has been affected by the Frightful Presence and recovered from its effects, he cannot be affected again; although you will acquire an appropriate Reputation (such as Fearsome or Awesome) at a score of 2 among those you have affected, which will color your dealings with them.

This effect has a Penetration Total of 0.

Gender Shift

Minor, Supernatural
Each midnight, the character may choose to change genders. The character's male and female forms are consistent across transformations, and usually appear to be blood kin of each other. The character's Personality Traits may vary slightly between forms. Pregnant characters may not use this ability.

Gentle Gift

Major, Hermetic
Unlike other magi, whose Magical nature disturbs normal people and animals, your Gift is subtle and quiet. You do not suffer the usual penalties when interacting with people and animals.

Gentleman/woman

Minor, Social Status
You are a minor member (possibly illegitimate) of a noble family. You do not stand to inherit from your relatives, but are still treated as one of their own and may be addressed as "Lord" or "Lady." You probably reside near the covenant with your relatives. Although you do not want for anything, you have no vast wealth of your own. You may occasionally ask your family to buy expensive equipment for you, but you will need a convincing rationale. You are expected to wait on your relations much of the time or you will lose the benefits of family (though you will keep your social standing if you can otherwise maintain your normal lifestyle). The Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw affect you normally.

Ghostly Warder

Major, General
A ghost watches over you. It might be a grandparent, a childhood friend, or anyone else who cares for you enough to stay around after death. The ghost is invisible and silent to all but you and those with Second Sight (see page 170). It can see and hear what is going on around you and makes an excellent spy, since it can leave your presence once per day for up to half an hour. However, death does not leave people in their normal state of mind, so the ghost probably has some quirks that make it less than dependable — it might even encourage you to join it on the other side. The ghost has 300 experience points in various Abilities that it can use to advise you, and ghosts may take any Abilities. See page 457 for an example of a ghostly warder. This is a more specific version of Magical Warder (see later), and is an example of that Virtue.

The Gift

Free, Special
You have the ability to work magic. See earlier, page 63, for full details.

Good Teacher

Minor, General
You can explain new concepts and skills with great facility. Add three to the Quality of any books that you write, and five to the Source Quality for anyone who studies with you.

Giant Blood

Major, General
The blood of the ancient race of giants flows in your veins. Though you are not as large as your ancestors, you are up to eight feet tall and can weigh as much as 500 pounds. Your Size is +2, so you take wounds in 7 point increments, rather than the normal 5 (see page 404). You also gain +1 to both Strength and Stamina. This bonus may raise your scores in those Characteristics as high as +6. You cannot take this Virtue and Large (page 89), Small Frame (page 145), or Dwarf (page 126).

Gorgiastic

Minor, Hermetic
These magi, or their ancestors, have rejected the teachings of House Criamon and left the House. These magi may have Enigmatic Wisdom and House Criamon Lore scores after character creation. The character's Enigmatic Wisdom Score cannot exceed 4 without the assistance of Criamon magi, or a magical breakthrough. House Criamon attempts to convince Gorgiastic magi to rejoin. Gorgiastic magi do not usually have Criamon markings, but develop them if they begin to delve into the causes of things; for more details, see Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, House Criamon.

Gossip

Minor, General
You have regular social contacts in the area that provide you with all kinds of information about local social and political goingson. On a simple roll of 6+, you hear interesting news before almost everyone else. You treat all local Reputations as twice their actual level. With some well-placed words, you may be able to bestow new Reputations (whether deserved or not). You quite likely have a Reputation too — as a gossip.

Great (Characteristic)

Minor, General
You may raise any Characteristic that already has a score of at least +3 by one point, to no more than +5. Make sure you describe what it is about you that causes that increase (such as sheer bulk, a lean build, or extreme charisma). You may take this Virtue twice for the same Characteristic, and for more than one Characteristic.

Greater Benediction

Major, Supernatural
You have been blessed by some supernatural power. The effects of the benediction should be comparable to other Major Virtues. (See insert for examples.)

Greater Benediction Examples

Flight

You are able to fly without the need of wings. Every time you take to the air, you lose a Long-Term Fatigue Level, and can remain airborne for a maximum of an hour, traveling up to fifty miles in this hour. Once you touch the ground, your current flight ends regardless of how much of your hour has elapsed. You require a prop to fly, such as a carpet or staff, but any prop of the appropriate type suffices.

True Sight

You are rarely fooled by glamour or illusions that change the appearance of something (although a false image that does not change any particular thing's appearance, such as from a Creo Imaginem spell, still fools you). Further, you can always detect the true form of a shapechanged creature (although not members of House Bjornaer, since both their human and animal forms are "true" forms). This power has a Penetration of 20.

Universally Liked

Everyone who knows you is your friend. You receive a +3 bonus to all social rolls with people who have known you more than one month. Anyone who tries to act against you by swaying the emotions or opinions of others has +3 added to all Ease Factors. This effect has a Penetration of 0.

Greater Immunity

Major, Supernatural
You are completely immune to one hazard which is both common and potentially deadly. For example, you might be immune to fire or to iron (and only iron) weapons. You may not take immunity to aging — see the Unaging Minor Virtue (page 114) instead. This immunity applies to mundane and magical versions of the thing. If you are immune to fire, you are also immune to magically created fire.

One important possibility is immunity to deprivation, which means that you suffer no loss of Fatigue or wounds from going without air, food or drink. However, you cannot regain long-term Fatigue without rest and sustenance, and if you are injured deprivation could cause your wounds to worsen.

You may take this Virtue more than once, with a different immunity each time.

Greater Power

Major, Supernatural
The character has a supernatural power that he can activate at will. If you take the Virtue once, this is a single power, equivalent to a Formulaic Hermetic spell with a level of 50 or lower. You may also spend levels one-for-one to give the power Penetration; otherwise, it has a Penetration of zero.

This Virtue may be taken more than once, and the levels added together to create several powers. For example, a character who took the Virtue twice could have a power with a level of 60 and a Penetration of 0, and a second power with a level and Penetration of 20 each. By default, there should be one power per Virtue, as this Virtue is intended for powers that are individually significant. See Lesser Power (page 90) if you want your character to have multiple minor powers. However, the troupe may allow the character to take more powers if they have a strong thematic link.

The power has an Initiative equal to the character's Quickness - (power magnitude/2) (rounded down). It costs one Fatigue level to activate if its level is less than or equal to 50, or two Fatigue levels if its level is 51 to 100. Higher level effects are unlikely to make sense.

This Virtue may be associated with any supernatural realm. If you have access to other books, such as Realms of Power: The Divine, Revised Edition Realms of Power: The Infernal, Realms of Power: Faerie, or Hedge Magic Revised Edition, you may want to base the power on a different system of supernatural powers, to get something more appropriate to the character. If you do, remember that the levels of effects may work on different scales for different systems, and you may want to change the number of levels of effect. The power must be associated with the same supernatural realm as the system on which it is based. (If you have access to other books, you may want to restrict powers based on Hermetic magic to the Magic realm.)

Greater Purifying Touch

Major, Supernatural
You can, with a touch and the expenditure of a Fatigue level, cure a single serious disease. This disease should be either life-threatening or seriously disabling, and should be one from which people do not normally recover by themselves. You must choose the disease that you can cure when you take this Virtue, and you can only cure that disease. You can only choose a disease, not other types of injury or misfortune. See page 406 for more information on diseases, and Art and Academe, page 45 for more detail.

Guardian Angel

Major, General
You have learned to hear the words of a divine watcher who gives you practical and spiritual advice. The angel whispers in your ear and tells you what is best for you spiritually, rather than materially. He approves of violence only when there is a holy reason — often difficult to demonstrate. If you act against the angel's advice, he may leave you until you correct your ways. The angel has only a limited awareness of your thoughts, but when you speak aloud, he can hear and converse with you.

Your guardian angel can also help in two practical ways. First, he can grant you a +5 bonus to Soak. Second, he can grant you a Magic Resistance of 15. This Magic Resistance is not compatible with a magus's Parma Magica, or Magic Resistance from most other sources, but it does add to the Magic Resistance resulting from Faith Points (see page 419). The angel only grants you these bonuses if you are acting in accordance with God's will.

Guest of House Criamon

Minor, Hermetic
Magi with this Virtue are, politically, members of House Criamon, but may be created using the rules for any other House. Guests are offered membership, which Criamon see as a political formality, for many reasons. The troupe and player should determine why the character found it necessary to find sanctuary with this House.

Guild Apprentice

Minor, Social Status
The character is a youth between the ages of 10 and 20 who is learning his trade from a guild master or journeyman. He has entered into a contract with his master that guarantees his training. The character is not able to benefit from either the Poor Flaw or the Wealthy Virtue, since he is essentially the property of his master, until he moves to the journeyman rank. Most of his time is spent in ways determined by his master.

Guild Dean

Major, Social Status
The character is the ultimate authority of his guild, the man who decides many of the important decisions that face the guild and represents it politically. The character is involved in town politics, long-term trade contacts, and negotiations with other guilds and local craftsmen. The town's population views him as an important and prestigious member of their community. You may select Academic Abilities at character generation.

Guild Master

Minor, Social Status
The character is a guild master and may legally practice his trade in town, and hire journeymen to work for him. He participates in guild activities and is considered a member in good standing. You may select Academic Abilities at character generation.

Harnessed Magic

Minor, Hermetic
You have great control over your spells. You are able to cancel any of your spells simply by concentrating. You can even cancel the magic in magic items which you created. The act of canceling your magic should be treated as if you were casting a spell for timing and concentration purposes. If you are distracted and fail a Concentration roll, another attempt may be made in a later round. Spells and magic items can be canceled out over any distance, but once they have been canceled, you must recast a spell or reinvest a power in a magic item to start the effect again.

The drawback is that when you die, all of your spells and magic items sputter out.

Heartbeast

Minor, Hermetic
You have been initiated into the Outer Mystery of the Heartbeast (see page 233), and thus are a member of House Bjornaer. You start with the Ability Heartbeast 1. Note that all Bjornaer magi gain this Virtue for free at character creation.

Hermetic Experience

Minor, General
The character has experience with the magi of the Order of Hermes. Maybe he is currently employed by a covenant, once served in the retinue of a magus, or has had other dealings or disputes with them. In any case, you have an additional 50 experience points to spend on Order of Hermes Lore, Magic Lore, or Latin. You cannot spend other experience points on Magic Lore or Latin unless the character has another Virtue or Flaw permitting this. This Virtue may be taken by any grog or covenfolk, or those who have had an exceptionally close relationship with the Order of Hermes. It may be taken by a magus, but there is usually no point.

Hermetic Magus

Free, Social Status
You are a member of the Order of Hermes. All magi must take this as their Social Status, and only magi may take it.

Hermetic Prestige

Minor, Hermetic
Because of something in your background, other magi look up to you even if you haven't earned their respect. Some envy you, and most will certainly expect more from you than from others. You gain a Reputation of level 4 within the Order.

Hex

Major, Supernatural
The character has the ability to curse her enemies, making dire predictions about their future, which tend to come true. This gives her the Supernatural Ability Hex at 1. This Virtue is most often associated with the Infernal realm.

Homing Instinct

Minor, Supernatural
The character always knows precisely how to get from where she is to a number of locations equal to her Intelligence Score (a minimum of 1). To add a location to the character's repertoire she must be at that location, the location must be open to the air (so it cannot be inside, for example), and the player must make an Intelligence + Concentration Roll against an Ease Factor of 6. If this would increase the number of known locations beyond the character's limit, then another location must be "forgotten."

In addition, the character has a fixed Arcane Connection to locations that she knows, which may be exploited in the usual ways (page 219). This Arcane Connection is an artifact of the mind, and so may not be given to another character.

Imbued with the Spirit of (Form)

Minor, Hermetic
The magus has absorbed some of the powers of an elemental or other magic object (perhaps by consuming it). This act taints the magus, so that any being with a Magic Might associated with the Form of this Virtue can sense his nature when nearby. Typically, weak creatures will be afraid of the magus and powerful ones will attempt to kill him.

Whenever casting a spell or performing a Laboratory Activity that requires vis of the chosen Form, the magus may substitute Long-Term Fatigue Levels for the vis. Each Long-Term Fatigue Level lost reduces the vis requirement of the spell or effect by 1. When casting a spell the Fatigue Levels are lost after the spell is cast. For Laboratory Activities the Fatigue loss lasts for the duration of the Laboratory process (that is, at least a season), and Fatigue Levels substituted for vis do not count towards the magi's limit of vis expenditure in a season. The magus takes the Fatigue Penalty to his Lab Total.

Note that studying vis is not a Laboratory activity, so the magus may not substitute Fatigue Levels for vis when studying.

For example, a magus casting an Enchantment of the Scrying Pool ritual (InAq 30, page 322), requires 6 pawns of some combination of Intellego and Aquam vis. If the magus is Imbued with the Spirit of Aquam, he may tire himself (losing three Long Term Fatigue Levels), and reduce the vis requirement by 3.

Immune to Disease

Major, Supernatural, Tainted
The character is marked as the property of a very powerful demon, and the lesser demons that cause most diseases refuse to harm him. Even characters who turn against their masters retain this protection, because the mark is indelible, and disease demons are not usually very bright. A few diseases, for example, those sent as scourges by God, affect the character normally.

Immunity to Cold

Minor, Supernatural
Normal cold does not harm you, nor does it make you feel uncomfortable. You do not need warm environments to remain healthy. Extreme, magically created cold, such as the effect of Wizard's Icy Grip (page 346), still affects you normally.

Improved Characteristics

Minor, General
You have an additional three points to spend on buying Characteristics, but you are still limited to a maximum score of +3 in any single characteristic unless you take the Virtue Great Characteristic. You may take this Virtue multiple times.

Indescribable Face

Minor, General
After meeting this character, other characters usually find it hard to describe him sufficiently well to separate him from others. Some forgettable characters are just average height and weight, with unremarkable features. Others have a particular feature which is so striking it crowds out other memories. He has an ostentatious hat. She was carrying a little dog. The characters can recall the striking feature, but little else. A player who selects this Virtue for his character needs to select which form of the Virtue his character has.

A character who is simply average is always forgettable. He can't turn the ability off and may use props when building a Reputation among other criminals. He may be "that guy in the black gloves who strangles people," for example, although no-one recalls precisely what he looks like. Intimately related characters can eventually become sufficiently used to the character's forgettable face that they remember it.

A character who distracts with a prop is memorable when she wishes to be. She can simply not use her devices of distraction if she wishes to make an impression. She can also switch her distracting prop. For example if she hears that someone is looking for a lady with a curious dog, she might switch to a baby, or a curious hat. A character who distracts with props is usually not recognized by random people in crowds (whose eves also follow the prop, not the face), but this protection is less perfect than a truly forgettable face.

Independent Study

Minor, General
The character develops new skills extremely quickly on his own. When he is studying through Practice, add two to the Source Quality, and add three to the Source Quality of his Adventure experience.

Induction

Major, Supernatural
The character has the supernatural power to make people experience things that are not there. She gains the Supernatural Ability Induction (page 166) with a score of 1.

Ineslemen

Minor, Social Status
This character is a member of one of the designated religious tribes of the Tuareg and is therefore accorded some authority over disputes and immunity from the usual feudal demands of the nobles. He may purchase Theology: Islam, Islamic Law and (Realm) Lore during character generation and gains an additional 50 XP to spend on these Abilities. The character begins with the Minor Flaw Noncombatant, which does not yield any points for buying Virtues. This Social Status only exists in North Africa.

Infernal Heirloom

Minor, Supernatural, Tainted
Infernal heirlooms are magical items that the character inherits from a diabolist, or, more rarely, finds. The character has the use of the item, without having to deal with the demon that created it. The item is extremely useful in some way, but each use draws its owner closer to the character, as the demon attempts to reclaim its treasure.

Most Infernal heirlooms have only a single effect, and they are usually triggered by a minor act of, or intention to, sin. As a guideline, each heirloom may create an effect once per day that is equivalent to a Hermetic spell of level 25. Items that produce less powerful effects may be used more frequently at the troupe's discretion.

Inoffensive to (Beings)

Minor, General and Hermetic
This Virtue is associated with one of five classes of beings: animals, divine beings, faeries, demons, or magical creatures. These last four include characters associated with the Divine, Faerie, Infernal, or Magic realm, respectively, through Supernatural Virtues or Flaws, as well as beings with Might.

The character's Gift does not bother beings of this sort, although it still has the normal effects on others. For example, Inoffensive to Animals makes it easier for her to get along with mundane beasts. Animals who react positively to The Gift still react positively to her, since she does have The Gift, but those that do not are not disturbed by her presence.

You may not take this Virtue more than once; characters who are Inoffensive to more than one type of being should take Gentle Gift instead. UnGifted characters may take this Virtue only if they have the Flaw Magical Air.

Note that Inoffensive to Mundane Humans is not available as a Minor Virtue; take Gentle Gift instead.

Inspirational

Minor, General
You are a stirring speaker or a heroic figure, and can urge people to great efforts. You give targets a +3 bonus to rolls for appropriate Personality Traits.

Intuition

Minor, General
You have a natural sensitivity that allows you to make the right decisions more often than luck can account for. Whenever you are given a choice in which luck plays a major role (such as deciding which of three unexplored paths to follow), you have a good chance of choosing correctly. The storyguide should secretly roll a simple die. On a 6+, your intuition kicks in and you make whatever might be considered the "right" decision. Otherwise, you fail to get any flash of insight and must make the decision without aid.

Inventive Genius

Minor, Hermetic
Invention comes naturally to you. You get +3 to your Lab Total if you are not using a Laboratory Text or being taught. If you experiment, you get +6.

Jack-of-All-Trades

Minor, General
The character is capable of turning his hand to almost anything. He suffers no additional botch dice for attempting an Ability roll for an Ability that he has no score in (see page 157). If it is an asterisked Ability, then he can attempt a roll as if he had a score of zero with three extra botch dice, if and only if he is normally able to take Abilities of that type. Characters without this Virtue cannot even attempt rolls on an asterisked Ability without at least one experience point in it. For example, he must have a Virtue permitting him to take Arcane Abilities to attempt an unskilled Magic Lore roll. Some Abilities are excepted from this Virtue, including those that are not rolled (such as Parma Magica or Penetration), and all Supernatural Abilities (which require a specific Virtue for each Ability, rather than the type). The troupe may make other exceptions on a case-by-case basis, but this Virtue is supposed to allow the character to attempt things that would normally require training.

Journeyman

Minor, Social Status
The character is a trained guild craftsman and may practice his trade in town under guild supervision. He works for a master for a wage.

Jurist

Minor, Social Status
The character is a judge, advocate, or procurator essentially a medieval lawyer in some capacity. At character generation he may purchase the Abilities Latin, Artes Liberales, and Civil and Canon Law. He is not necessarily university trained, as he may have obtained his education through private schools, tutors, or a cathedral school, and need not have a degree. If he is a cleric, he works in an ecclesiastical setting: the papal curia, the College of Cardinals, or a bishop's or archbishop's office. If he is a layman, he works for a secular prince or town municipality.

This Virtue is compatible with the Baccalaureus, Magister in Artibus, and Doctor in (Faculty) Virtues, as a jurist may have a university education. It is also compatible with the Priest and Mendicant Friar Virtues. It is only available to male characters.

Just an Instant

Minor, General
A character with this Virtue, who has had a few seconds to look about a room, does not need to make Awareness checks to detect or remember anything of interest on the room's exposed surfaces. Some characters use this Virtue to discover the layout of a space so they can navigate it in the dark, while others use it to save time while stealing. Characters with this Virtue are also useful lab assistants, because they know where everything is, and are aware of experiments about to critically fail.

Kassalan Exorcism

Minor, Supernatural
You are capable of performing minor exorcism spells through your knowledge of the rites of the Mortuary Society of Kassala in Alodia, the most remote of the three Nubian kingdoms on the southern reaches of the Nile. You can cast spells in a very limited focus, namely wards against ghosts and the physical dead (using the Rego Corpus or Rego Mentem guidelines), and spells to strip Might from these same beings (using the Perdo Vim guidelines). You cannot create spells that affect other spirits or creatures who are not the walking dead, but your spells are equally effective against creatures from any Realm. Wards created with this Virtue need not be circular. but can instead block the threshold(s) of a room; this is still treated as a Duration: Ring, Target: Circle spell for level calculations.

To cast a spell you must expend a Fatigue level, whether the spell succeeds or fails. You must also spend at least 5 minutes preparing the spell, during which time you need unbroken concentration and expend one handful of Kassalan Dust. The spell is designed exactly like a Hermetic spell; if affecting a ghost you must be able to sense your target. Your Casting Total is equal to (Stamina + Organization Lore: Mortuary Society + Aura modifier + stress die) / 2. Penetration is calculated in the normal fashion: Casting Total – Spell Level + Penetration modifiers. Kassalan Exorcism is aligned to the Magic Realm.

Kassalan Dust

Made by the Mortuary Society of Kassala, this dust has powdered gold as its main component, with myrrh and other spices making up the rest. Twenty handfuls contain about a Mythic Pound's worth of gold dust.

Kassalan Dust is necessary for Kassalan Exorcism, but grants no bonus. A handful also adds +3 to uses of the Corpse Magic Supernatural Ability to command a corpse to return to its grave or prevent it from being affected by Corpse Magic. Multiple handfuls provide no additional effect. Kassalan Dust has a Shape & Material bonus of +3 against the dead. The recipe is known to anyone with Organization Lore: Mortuary Society.

More details on the Kassalan Mortuary Society can be found in Lands of the Nile, from page 88.

Keen Vision

Minor General
You can see farther and more clearly than most. You get a +3 bonus to all rolls involving sight, not including attacks with missile weapons.

Keen Sense of Smell

Minor, General
The character's nose is more sensitive than normal for a human. He gets a +3 bonus to all rolls involving his sense of smell, including following tracks with the Hunt Ability.

Knight

Minor, Social Status
You are a knight, a member of the noble classes and one of the elite warriors of Europe. Unless you are Poor, you may have high quality weapons and armor, and a horse. Typical armaments for a mid-13th century knight are lance, sword, heater shield, a complete mail suit, and a warhorse. You may take Martial Abilities during character generation. The Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw affect you normally. This Virtue is only available to male characters, and is compatible with the Landed Noble Virtue.

Knows People

Minor General
Your social contacts are not important for what they give you directly: they are important because they allow you to match up the desires of your various friends. A skilled socialite is a middleman, who is owed gratitude for bringing opportunities to his friends, not someone who demands favors based on friendship.

Once per story or session, a character with this Virtue may ask for a bait for a non-player character. A bait is the beginning of a scene or short, secondary story, outside the main story being told, which if completed allows the character to gain aid from the nominated target. For example, if the player characters are unable to gain the assistance of a nobleman, a player may demand a bait. In the game, this means the character uses his social skills to determine the needs of the nobleman, and to hint that he may know a third person with a solution. If the troupe then plays out a brief scene in which the nobleman's problem is sorted out, he becomes more biddable.

Troupes may veto any use of these connections which spoils the tension and pace of the game.

Laborer

Free Social Status
The character is a trained worker who practices a trade that is a valuable service to his community, but by which no finished good is produced. Unlike a peasant, who is an agrarian worker who works at a variety of jobs, a laborer concentrates on one specific endeavor to earn his livelihood, be it hauling wood, washing clothes, cleaning latrines, carrying luggage, or serving food.

(Land) Regio Network

Minor, Supernatural
The character has access to an extensive network of regiones, perhaps located in the depths of many lakes throughout Mythic Europe, or hidden above the clouds in the sky, or buried in subterranean caves under the ground. The character is associated with one particular type of regio network.

Once the character is in such a regio he may travel to any other regio in the network; travel time is one Diameter regardless of geographic distance. To determine whether the character knows the location of a networked regio in a particular locale an Intelligence + (Area) Lore roll is made against an Ease Factor of 9. The character knows how to enter these regiones and can, if he chooses, guide other characters into the regiones — although other characters must be able to survive in the environment of the regio.

Access to the network may be ultimately controlled by other characters or powers.

Landed Noble

Major, Social Status
You owe fealty and service to a higher noble, and control land, serfs, and men-at-arms. You have half a dozen servants at your manor house, including a couple of bodyguards. Your servants should be controlled by the rest of the troupe. You have sworn an Oath of Fealty, and so it would be reasonable to balance this Virtue with that Flaw. You get the normal points for Oath of Fealty if you do. You are wealthier than most characters, but have no additional free time. You have the power to enforce the law within your fief, but you may not impose the death penalty, nor may you mutilate criminals. Floggings and fines are the normal penalties you impose.

If you are Poor, your fief is either very small, or in a poor area for farming with few other resources. You must spend every season managing it, or it may collapse completely, leaving you effectively landless. You are no wealthier than most average characters, and you have only a couple of servants.

Wealthy Landed Nobles control more than one fief, and have bailiffs or stewards for each, so that they do not need to devote any time to looking after their lands. You are significantly richer than most Wealthy characters, and could afford to build a small castle or a large chapel within a cathedral. You have around fifty servants, including a significant number of warriors.

This Status Virtue is compatible with the Knight Minor Status Virtue, but unlike that Virtue it is available to male and female characters.

Large

Minor, General
Your Size is +1 instead of 0, so you are between six and seven feet tall. This means that the severity of wounds you take increases in six point intervals rather than five point intervals. (See page 404). You cannot take this Virtue and Giant Blood (page 83), Small Frame (page 145), or Dwarf (page 126).

Lasiq

Major, Social Status
The character is an experienced assassin of the Nizari İsma'ilis, having successfully completed seven murders at the orders of his grand master, and commands a small band of up to six fida'is. Lasiq may take Martial Abilities at character creation. As for a fida'i, a lasig may be far from home on a mission, either alone or with some fida'i. In such as case, he is pretending to have some other social status, which you should choose. For more details on the Nizaris, see The Cradle and the Crescent, from page 162.

Latent Magic Ability

Minor, General
You have a magical quality that has not yet manifested itself. You probably do not realize you have this capacity; if you are a magus, your master failed to detect it during your apprenticeship. At the storyguide's discretion, this quality might appear spontaneously or because of some relevant event (like drinking faerie wine). This is not The Gift, and the latent ability is more limited than that.

Learn (Ability) From Mistakes

Minor, General
You are able to improve a particular Ability through the expedient of repeated failure. The first time in a given game session that you botch a roll or fail by exactly one point, you gain five experience points in the Ability. The roll must have come up naturally in the course of the story. You may take this Virtue several times, once for each Ability chosen.

Leather Ripper

Minor, Supernatural
This character has the supernatural ability to destroy a group of leather objects. This causes metal armor to fall away, as the strips holding it together disintegrate. It destroys the tack of a horseman, forcing a Ride roll, with penalties of up to -9 depending on how dangerous his current maneuvers are. It can destroy the scabbard, belt and boots of a foe, allowing the ripper to flee or attack. This is a PeAn(He) 30 effect with +0 Penetration. The character must concentrate for a moment and spend a Fatigue level to activate the power, but does not need to speak or gesture.

Leper Magus

Major, Hermetic
This Virtue describes the mystic legacy passed on from Tytalus to Hariste's line through the vector of leprosy. This Virtue can only be bought if the character also has the Leprosy Flaw, and is only available to magi trained in House Tytalus. It allows him to draw upon the strength of his body to increase the power of his magic, granting the Life Boost Minor Virtue. He can also draw even deeper into this power if he desires, mortifying his disease-ridden flesh to produce vis to power his own spells. The vis generated in this way can only be used by the magus himself, in spellcasting or laboratory activities (but not study), and cannot be stored in any way — in fact, it never leaves his body. By accepting a Light Wound, the magus can infuse a single magical working with three pawns of vis, of any Technique or Form. A Medium Wound supplies six pawns, a Heavy Wound nine pawns, an Incapacitating Wound 12 pawns, and a Deadly Wound (killing the magus) 15 pawns. Any vis that is produced beyond the magus's capacity to use in the current magical activity is lost, as is any vis surplus to the requirements of the activity to which this power is applied. Leprotic wounds open on the magus's body as he calls upon this power, but not quickly enough to affect the Casting Total of a non-Ritual spell affected by this power. All Lab Totals suffer the wound penalty as normal, as do the Casting Totals of spells that take more than one round to cast (such as Ritual spells). The character makes no Recovery rolls for this wound until the magical activity that the vis is being used for is complete (i.e., at the end of the casting of the spell, or the end of a season for lab work). While this means that the wound cannot get better, it also means that it does not risk worsening. Since the power is expressed from the pain of this wound, magic used to negate that pain also negates the benefits of this Virtue. A wound taken in this fashion must heal completely before the power may be used again, and any character using this power more than three times a year must make an extra Aging roll in winter.

Lesser Benediction

Minor, Supernatural
You have been blessed by some supernatural power. The effects of the benediction should be comparable to other Minor Virtues. (See insert for examples.)

Lesser Benediction Examples

Gift of the Gab

You are a very convincing speaker, anyone attempting to detect untruth in your words receives a -3 penalty to their rolls.

Green Fingers

Plants always prosper under your care. Your crops never suffer from natural diseases or pests so long as you personally tend to them, and you can therefore get half as much again in terms of yield as others.

Pricking Thumbs

If you are in the presence of someone who bears you ill will, you feel a pricking sensation in your thumbs. You cannot distinguish one enemy from a crowd with this ability.

Unusually Fecund

Every sexual encounter with a partner of the opposite sex results in conception.

Lesser Immunity

Minor, Supernatural
You are immune to some hazard which is either rare, or not deadly, or both. See Greater Immunity, page 83.

Lesser Power

Minor, Supernatural
The character has a supernatural power that he can activate at will. This is one or more powers. equivalent to Formulaic Hermetic spells with total levels of 25 or lower. Each power has an Initiative equal to the character's Quickness - (twice power magnitude). It costs one Fatigue level to activate if its level is less than or equal to 25. two Fatigue levels if its level is 26 to 50, and so on. Note that powers with a level of 26 or higher cost less Fatigue if created using the Greater Power Virtue. You may also spend levels onefor-one to give the power Penetration; otherwise, it has a Penetration of zero.

This Virtue may be taken more than once, and the levels added together to create several powers. For example, a character who took the Virtue twice could have a power with a level of 30 and a Penetration of 0, and a second power with a level and Penetration of 10 each.

This Virtue may be associated with any supernatural realm. If you have access to other books, such as Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, Realms of Power: The Infernal, Realms of Power: Faerie, or Hedge Magic Revised Edition, you may want to base the power on a different system of supernatural powers, to get something more appropriate to the character. If you do, remember that the levels of effects may work on different scales for different systems, and you may want to change the number of levels of effect. The power must be associated with the same supernatural realm as the system on which it is based. (If you have access to other books, you may want to restrict powers based on Hermetic magic to the Magic realm.)

Lesser Purifying Touch

Minor, Supernatural
You can, with a touch and the expenditure of a Fatigue level, heal a specific illness. This illness should be one that people often recover from on their own, or one that is not particularly serious. You can only choose an illness, not an injury or other misfortune. See page 406 for rules on diseases, and Art and Academe, page 45 for more detail.

License of Absence

Major, General
This priest character has a license of absence that relieves him from some duties. The license might be valid for only a few years or it could be valid indefinitely. The character has an extra free season each year, but sometimes it is expected that the extra season is used for study. This Virtue is compatible with the Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw. A Wealthy priest with a license of absence thus has the whole year free; a character can never have more than four free seasons in a year. A license of absence may only be taken by a character with the Priest Social Status. It may not be taken by Senior Clergy.

Life Boost

Minor, Hermetic
You may boost your Formulaic or Ritual spell casting totals by expending additional Fatigue levels. Each Fatigue level gives you an additional bonus of +5 on the roll, which can yield very impressive Penetration totals. You may burn more Fatigue levels than you possess. If you do, you must Soak damage, without the help of armor. The Damage total is 5 for every additional Fatigue level spent, plus a stress die. Thus, if you spend three additional levels, you must Soak a damage of 15 + stress die, with your Soak (no armor) + stress die. Fatigue levels spent in this way are spent regardless of the success or failure of the casting roll, and any wounds taken are similarly taken even if you fail to cast the spell. You can kill yourself doing this. The total number of Fatigue levels to be used must be committed before the casting roll is made.

Life-Linked Spontaneous Magic

Major, Hermetic
You can do more with spontaneous magic than most magi at the cost of your own life energy. When you decide to use this ability in casting a spontaneous spell, you declare the level of effect you wish to produce before rolling. This level may include a number of levels of Penetration (see page 169). For example, you can choose to cast a level 10 effect at level 20, to give a Penetration of 10 plus your Penetration score.

Roll to cast a Fatiguing Spontaneous spell. If your result after division is higher than the level you declared, you spend only one Fatigue level as usual. If your result after division is less than the level you declared, you must expend one additional Fatigue level per five points (or fraction thereof) by which you missed the target level. If you run out of Fatigue levels, you take a wound. The number of levels still needed for the spell is treated as the amount by which a Damage total exceeds your Soak, and you take the corresponding wound. You can kill yourself this way.

A maga with this Virtue may still cast Fatiguing Spontaneous spells normally.

Light Touch

Minor, General
You have especially good handeye coordination and great proficiency for using your hands in precise, fast ways. You gain +1 to all rolls involving subtle manipulation of objects (like picking pockets) and roll one less botch die than you normally would in such activities (minimum of one). This bonus does not apply to archery, but does apply to playing musical instruments.

Lightning Reflexes

Minor, General
You respond to surprises almost instantly. In fact, your reflexes are sometimes so fast that you don't have a chance to think about how you are going to respond. Whenever you are surprised or startled, roll a stress die + Quickness. If you get a 3 or better, you respond reflexively. You must tell the storyguide on each occasion what one type of action (attacking, blocking, running, etc.) you would like to respond with. If attacking in response, you gain +9 to your Initiative Total. The storyguide is the final arbiter of what happens (though it is always in the best interests of your immediate selfpreservation). You only react to threats that you are not fully aware of, so you don't get a bonus against an assassin you watch sneak up on you. Note that you do not get a choice about whether to react. You could just as easily skewer a friend sneaking up in fun as you would an assassin about to strike. Also note that you must perceive an action to react to it — you can still be easily killed in your sleep. This Virtue gives you no special powers of perception.

Linguist

Minor, General
You are extremely proficient learning new languages. All Advancement Totals for any Language are increased by a quarter, rounded up, as are any experience points you put into any language at character generation. Both Living and Dead languages are augmented with this Virtue.

Lone Redcap

Minor, Social Status
You are a Redcap who does not maintain ties to a Mercer House, and thus do not receive magic items or Longevity Rituals. You still begin with 300 experience points for your fifteen years spent as an apprentice, and receive the benefits of the Well-Traveled virtue, but you are estranged from the other Redcaps in your area, and have a poor Reputation at level 2 within your House.

You must still devote two seasons each year carrying messages and performing other services for the Order, for if you do not there is the possibility you will be declared Orbus and thrown out of your House. This work pays enough for you to live on if you do not belong to a covenant, unless you take the Poor flaw and must work a third season as well. If you take the Wealthy virtue, you can maintain your position with only a single season of effort each year.

This social status is compatible with any other mundane Social Status Virtue that would reasonably allow you to do your job as a Redcap, such as Merchant or Mendicant Friar.

Long-Winded

Minor, General
You can last longer when exerting yourself than most, and gain +3 on all your Fatigue rolls. This bonus does not apply to casting spells.

Luck

Minor, General
You perform well in situations where luck is more of a factor than skill or talent. You get +1 to +3 (storyguide's discretion) on rolls in such situations, depending upon how much luck is involved. You do well at games of chance, but may be labeled a cheater if you play them too often.

Lupus (the Wolf)

Minor, Social Status
The character is employed by a university to watch over the students and ensure that they speak only Latin in their colleges and hostels. He is a member of the urban community where the university is located. He may begin play with scores in Latin or Artes Liberales, although a score of more than 1 in Artes Liberales would be rare. He may live with the students if he is unmarried, but if he has a family then he lives with them, possessing keys to the students' housing to allow unannounced entry. It would be very unusual for such a character to be female, but it is not impossible.

Magian Lineage

Minor or Major, General
This Virtue makes the character a true blood descendent of the Median tribe of Magians, the original priestly caste of Persia. Many mobeds, the priests of Zoroastrianism, possess this Virtue, either Minor or Major, but it is not a requisite. Details about Mythic Zoroastrianism can be found in The Cradle and the Crescent, Chapter 5.

Minor: Your character's lineage is weak, although he or she is still ethnically Magian, and gains a strong constitution due to his purity. The character gains a -1 bonus to Aging rolls and a +3 bonus to resist the effects of disease.

Major: In addition to the benefits of the Minor Virtue. your character has an affinity with the ancient prophetic and other mystical arts of their ancestors. The player must choose three Arcane or Supernatural Abilities which the character need not start play with, and which cannot be True Names. These Abilities are considered connected, so that whenever your character gains experience from a source dedicated to one of these Abilities, he gains half the Source Quality (round up) in experience points in each of the other two Abilities. A character must have access to a Supernatural Ability in one of the normal ways, such as taking the Virtue at character creation or Initiating it later, in order to put any experience points into it. If you choose a Supernatural Ability that your character does not yet have access to, any experience points generated for it by this Virtue before the character gains access to the Ability are lost.

Magic Items

Minor, General
You begin with 25 more starting levels of magic items than you would otherwise, and the rate at which your items are improved is increased by one level per year. This is probably because of your exceptional devotion to the House, or because you have inherited a number of items from other Redcaps. You must be a Redcap to take this Virtue, and you may take it more than once, though no single effect in any of your items can be greater than Level 30.

Magic Sensitivity

Minor, Supernatural
You are often able to identify a place or object as magical. However, your sensitivity makes you more susceptible to magical effects: subtract your Magic Sensitivity score from your Magic Resistance. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Magic Sensitivity 1 (page 168).

Magical Memory

Minor, Hermetic
Your memory has been developed to remember magical rather than mundane things. You need not keep laboratory texts (see page 262) of your creations to get the benefit of a Lab Text when reproducing them. If you have created an effect by following another magus's Lab Text once, you may get the same benefit in future without needing to have the text available.

Magical Blood

Minor, Supernatural
The character's essential nature has been improved through exposure to the Magic realm, often from a magic being, which gives her true form special supernatural properties. This typically changes the character's appearance enough that others can recognize that there is something unusual about her, and people might say that she has magical blood — or "faerie blood" (since many people in Mythic Europe do not understand the differences between the Magic and Faerie realms).

The character may learn Magic Lore during character creation, and is resistant to aging, receiving a –1 bonus to all of her Aging rolls. In addition, she receives a minor physical advantage appropriate to one of the four different types of magic beings (magic animals, magic humans, magic spirits, and magic things), the one that is associated with the character's background. Some examples are below, or you can make up your own.

Magic Animal: The character has a physical feature normally associated with animals, such as wings, scales, gills, teeth, or claws. These give as much as a +3 bonus to appropriate activities, or may allow the character to perform actions that a normal character could not manage (such as fly, or breathe underwater). This feature is very difficult to hide, making the character obviously different from other humans.

Magic Human: The character may increase one of his Characteristics by 1, but not above +3. This is often Strength or Stamina (to represent the blood of giant ancestors), or Presence (to represent the blood of god-like beings). This often gives the character an otherworldly appearance. The character also has a positive Reputation at level 3 among others of his bloodline.

Magic Spirit: The character gains an appropriate Supernatural Ability (one associated with a Minor Virtue), such as Magic Sensitivity, Premonitions, Second Sight, or Wilderness Sense, with an initial score of 1, though whenever the character uses this Ability, her appearance becomes obviously supernatural. For example, her eyes might turn black, she might rise a foot from the ground, or her hair might be blown about by a wind no one else can feel.

Magic Thing: The character has a Lesser or Personal Power associated with an object or thing. Whenever she activates the effect, her appearance also changes in a way appropriate to the form of the power. For example, a power that protects against flames would cause her skin to become dark with soot and smell like smoke, and a power that lets her walk on water might cause her to become semitransparent, like water.

Magical Mount

Minor, General
The character has a mount, beast-of-burden, or "guard dog," a creature that has Cunning instead of Intelligence and a Magic Might Score of up to 25. It has an extra Personality Trait (Loyal 0) and will obey simple verbal commands. If it has a positive Cunning score, the creature is also able to perform limited acts on its own initiative. If the character is incapable of training the creature himself, it must have been a gift from another character (probably a powerful magus) and the character must take a Major Story Flaw to represent the consequences: Favors, to represent his debt to his patron, is the simplest, but Enemies, if the mount was lured away, is also a possibility. In this case, only a companion or magus-level character can take this Virtue.

Magical Warder

Major, General
The character has a magical being that accompanies him, watches over him, and sees that he comes to no harm. It does not require anything from the character in return for its service, but note that the more powerful the warder, the less willing or able it is to help the character, and the less often it is available to protect him.

A classic example is the ghost of someone close to the character. The ghost is invisible and silent to anyone but you, unless they have Second Sight or some other supernatural means of detecting it. It can see and hear what is going on around you, and leave your presence for up to half a day, so it makes a good spy. See page 457 for example statistics for such a Magical Warder.

Design this being as a magic character, using the guidelines in Chapter 13, or in Realms of Power: Magic — a ghostly warder is a good example of a companion character; it is less powerful and basically an extension of the character's will, while a more powerful Warder's assistance is rarer and even more circumstantial.

Magister in Artibus

Major, Social Status
You have incepted Master of Arts in one of the universities of Europe (Paris, Bologna, Oxford, Cambridge, Montpellier, Arezzo or Salamanca) and completed your two years' regency of compulsory teaching. You are entitled to be addressed as Magister, are subject only to canon law, and may teach anywhere in Europe.

You are at least (25 – Int) years old, and must have scores of at least 5 in Latin and Artes Liberales. You have, however, spent eight years in a university, and gain an additional 30 experience points in each of those years, for a total of 240 additional experience points over and above your allowance based on age. You may buy Academic Abilities during character generation, and must spend your additional experience points on Academic Abilities or Teaching. You have an Academic Reputation of 2.

You must spend two seasons teaching to maintain yourself and your reputation as a dependable instructor. These two seasons are spread between September and June, so you are genuinely free in the summer. If you take the Poor Flaw, you are still genuinely free in the summer. If you take the Wealthy Virtue, you can maintain your reputation with a single season's teaching.

This Virtue is only available to male characters, and is compatible with the Hermetic Magus, Mendicant Friar, and Priest Virtues.

Magister in Medicina

Major, Social Status
The character has achieved a doctorate in medicine from one of the medical schools of Europe (Salerno, Cremona, Montpellier, or Bologna), and completed his two years' compulsory teaching. This Virtue offers the same benefits as Doctor in (Faculty). This Virtue is compatible with the Hermetic Magus, and Priest Virtues. Note that this Virtue is available to female characters, although they must have graduated from Salerno, male characters may have graduated from any of the medical schools.

Major Magical Focus

Major. Hermetic
Your magic is much more potent in a fairly limited area, such as weather, necromancy, birds, or emotions. This area should be smaller than a single Art, but may be spread over several Arts necromancy, for example, covers both Corpus and Mentem effects. You cannot be focused on laboratory activities, although a focus does apply to laboratory activities.

When you cast a spell or generate a Lab Total within your focus, add the lowest applicable Art score twice. If a spell has requisites, the lowest applicable score may be one of the requisites, rather than one of the primary Arts. Thus, if a magus with a focus on birds was casting a spell to turn a bird into pure flame, MuAn (Ig), with Muto 14, An 18, and Ig 10, his final total would be 34 + other modifiers: 14 from Muto, and 20 from adding Ignem twice. If he was casting a spell to turn a bird into another sort of bird, MuAn with no requisites, his total would be 46 + other modifiers, 18 from Animal and 28 from adding Muto twice.

A character can have only one Magical Focus, either major or minor, regardless of the source of the focus.

Sample Major Magical Foci

This list is merely exemplary. Other foci are possible.

• Animal: Birds, or mammals, or domesticated animals.
• Aquam: Salt water or fresh water.
• Auram: Weather.
• Corpus: Men or women.
• Herbam: Trees or food plants.
• Imaginem: Visual images, auditory images, tactile images, or taste and smell together.
• Mentem: Emotions or memories.
• Terram: Metals or stone.
• Necromancy: Corpus and Mentem as applied to the bodies and spirits of dead people.
• Damage: Any Art, as long as the effect does damage directly, either by inflicting a wound or doing a certain amount of damage which can be soaked.
• Disguise: Changing the appearance of something, by any means.

Maker of Textured Vessels

Minor, Supernatural
Textured vessels are those which have mystical patterns impressed into their surfaces before firing. A character with this Virtue has a repertoire of shapes: one shape per level in the Craft: Potter Ability. Each shape corresponds to an Ability, and the character gains additional shapes as the Craft skill increases. The character takes one season to learn each added shape when her Ability increases, and requires the assistance of someone who already knows the new shape desired.

Crafting a vessel costs one Long-Term Fatigue level. Each vessel grants a +3 bonus in a single Ability. The materials used while attempting the roll must have been stored inside the vessel. Storing materials for Abilities in pots does not cause Warping. The first time a character uses a pot in this way, it accepts the user as its owner, and provides no bonus for anyone else. A pot is an Arcane Connection to its master. Characters with Magic Resistance cannot be claimed by pots, and gain no benefit from them.

A separate version of this Virtue allows the character to make leather vessels, and relies on Craft: Leatherworker. It is otherwise identical. In the African cultures where this Virtue is most common, the pottery version is associated with women, and the leather version with men, but this does not limit which characters can take either Virtue.

Maker of Water Vessels

Minor, Supernatural
A character who drinks from a magical water vessel made by a character with this Virtue may swap one Ability score for the Craft: Potter score of the crafter at the time the vessel was made. This effect lasts for one scene or three minutes, whichever is longer. Each vessel is tied, at its creation, to a particular Ability, by its shape.

Each character knows a variety of vessel shapes, each shape corresponding to a single Ability. A starting character knows a number of shapes equal to her Craft: Potter score. The character takes one season to learn a new shape when her Ability increases, and requires the assistance of someone who already knows the new shape desired. Making a vessel costs a Long-Term Fatigue level.

After a vessel is drunk from the first time, it takes the drinker as its owner. Other drinkers gain no benefit from the vessel, and it becomes an Arcane Connection to its owner. Characters with Magic Resistance cannot be claimed by vessels. The first drink from an unowned vessel, which establishes ownership, causes Warping, unless the drinker has Supernatural Virtues. Similarly, drinking from a vessel one does not own causes Warping, unless the drinker has Supernatural Virtues. A separate version of this Virtue allows the character to make leather vessels, and relies on Craft: Leatherworker. It is otherwise identical. In the African cultures where this Virtue is most common, the pottery version is associated with women, and the leather version with men, but this does not limit which characters can take either Virtue.

Male Guild Sponsor

Free, Social Status
The character's father or husband is a guild craftsman and she has been allowed entry into his field of work, which is otherwise restricted to men. The character may work at her trade, following the same procedures as the regular male workers. Every guild allows such members, so she may practice any craft she desires. The character must select a separate guild Social Status Virtue as well as this free Virtue to represent her status in the guild system. This Virtue is only available to female characters, and is compatible with all Social Status Virtues

Mamluk

Minor, Social Status
You are a former military slave, bought as a child, trained at a military school and educated in Islam, and then freed upon reaching adulthood. You are probably Turkish, but you may also be Mongol or even Greek. You are likely to have been trained in the use of lances, bows, shields, chainmail, and lamellar armor (same statistics as chainmail) and one or two swords, both on foot and on horseback, though this does not necessarily mean that you will own these at the start of the game (storyguide's option).

You may take Martial Abilities at character creation, and as a special case you may also take the Ability Theology: Islam, even if you do not have the Minor General Virtue Educated. This Virtue is only available to male characters, and (for Companion characters only) is compatible with both the Emir and Muqta' Virtues, as many Mamluks have climbed high in the Muslim hierarchy.

Marshal

Minor, Social Status
A noble's stables require a specialist to coordinate the care, feeding, and welfare of the animals. This person is called a marshal, and the title holds considerable honor. The Marshal of England is the king's official in charge of his cavalry, but even the marshal of a baron is an important personage, given the vital roles played by horses in warfare and hunting, as well as routine travel.

A marshal should take the Ability Profession: Marshal, which deals with understanding, purchasing, and caring for horses. It functions as the Ability Medicine for the purpose of treating veterinary diseases, and for surgery involving these animals. A marshal receives 50 extra experience points at character generation to spend on the abilities Animal Handling, Etiquette, Hunt, Latin, Profession: Marshal and Ride, and may take Martial Abilities freely.

A marshal may overseen other specialists, including farriers who make horseshoes; leatherworkers who produce tack, harness, and saddles; and the trained staff who administer day-to-day grooming and mucking out of the stables.

Master Bard

Major, Social Status
The character has spent at least nine years of study at a bardic school and is a master of the trade, called an Anruth. He has a teaching position at a prestigious school, or else an official position with an Irish clan chief; either way this earns him a Local Reputation at level 3. If resident at a school, he has an obligation to teach for at least two seasons a year; if he works for a lord, two seasons are instead spent composing praise poems and stories for his patron.

The character should be at least 25 years old, and must have a Profession: Storyteller or Poet of at least 5, and also a 5 in at least one of Area Lore, Organization Lore, Faerie Lore, or Magic Lore. You can spend experience points on Arcane Abilities at character creation, and have an extra 240 experience points to spend on Art of Memory, Profession: Storyteller, Profession: Poet, any Area Lore, any Organization Lore, Faerie Lore, or Magic Lore. This Social Status is only available in Ireland.

Master of (Form) Creatures

Minor, Supernatural
The character can tame animals and other unintelligent beings whose Magic Might is aligned with a particular Form. During character creation, the character may take Magic Lore, and this Virtue may be taken multiple times, once for each Form. See page 384 for rules for training magical (and mundane) animals.

Master of Kennels

Minor, Social Status
The character manages the kennels for a noble patron, and is responsible for the training, breeding, and health of the animals. He has an appropriate staff under him, depending on the size of the kennels, and often possesses the privilege of riding with the hunt. He may be considered an intimate and important member of the noble household, despite his common birth, and be treated with commensurate respect. He is also expected to organize the huntsmen — that is, the dog handlers — and train servants or locals to perform that role. He should possess the Ability Profession: Master of Kennels, which governs the care of the dogs, treatment of their diseases, and acquisition and breeding of hounds. The Ability Animal Handling is used for the training of the animals. A master of kennels receives 50 extra experience points at character generation to spend on the abilities Animal Handling, Etiquette, Hunt, Latin, Profession: Master of Kennels, and Ride, and may take Martial Abilities freely.

Mastered Spells

Minor, Hermetic
You have fifty experience points to spend on mastering spells that you know. (See page 225 for rules on mastering spells.) You may take this Virtue if you also have Flawless Magic, to give you more experience points to spend on mastering your spells. You may take this Virtue multiple times.

Masterpiece

Minor. Hermetic
For some benevolent reason, the magus's parens has allowed him to keep the lesser enchanted item he made to prove himself a magus and pass his Gauntlet. This masterpiece must be a lesser enchanted item. You should design a lesser enchanted item that your character could make based on his Lab Totals at character generation, following the regular rules for construction of such a device. You ignore vis costs, as the magus's parens provided those from her laboratory stores. This Gauntlet test is standard for House Verditius, but a maga from another House may have chosen to impose it.

Mazdean Priest

Minor, Social Status
Your character is an ordained Mazdean priest, initiated as a mobed. This means that the character may carry out the various rituals and ceremonies, such as the Yasna, Vivevdat, Navjote, marriage, burial, official prayers, purification rituals, lighting of sacred fires, and initiation of new priests. In Mazdean communities, your character is held in high regard and treated with great respect. The character wears pure white clothes and, when performing ceremonies, covers his face with a white veil to protect the sacred flame from his breath and saliva. See The Cradle and the Crescent. Chapter 5 for more details on Mythic Zoroastrianism.

As a mobed, your character resides in a community that likely has a fire temple. This means that your character has arduous and time-consuming religious and ceremonial duties. Most of your time is spent praying, performing ritual purification rites and tending to the sacred fire. If you are Wealthy, you have several ervads (junior priests) who perform many of the more arduous tasks. If you are Poor, it likely reflects the poor station of Mazdeans in the community in general, and you may also possess the Outsider Flaw.

Your character may take Academic Abilities at character generation. Most such characters take the Minor Personality Flaw Vow to reflect your constant state of ritual purity, and dedication to your community. This can only be your character's social status if he lives in a Mazdean community, all of which are to the east of Mythic Europe, and most of which are in Persia. A Mazdean priest in exile in Europe should take a different Social Ŝtatus Virtue or Flaw, as discussed earlier. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Mendicant Friar

Minor, Social Status
You are a follower of St. Francis or St. Dominic going among the rich and poor, spreading the word of God and giving comfort to the sick, homeless, hungry, or dying. You are sworn to serve the Church for the rest of your life, but your wandering habits are considered suspect by the local bishop and parish clergy, and you lack political influence within the organization. Like all clerics, however, you are only subject to canon law.

Due to your training, you may take Academic Abilities during character generation. If you wish, you may be an ordained priest and may officiate at marriages, baptisms, funerals, and the Mass, though the parish clergy may resent your interfering on their "turf." You do not need to take the Priest Virtue in addition to this one if you do want to be ordained.

You have sworn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, which could together constitute a Major Story Flaw (Monastic Vows, see page 138), and which would be a natural choice if you take this Virtue. You may not take the Wealthy Virtue or Poor Flaw. This Virtue is only available to male characters, and is compatible with the Magister in Artibus Major Virtue.

Mentored by Demons

Minor, General, Tainted
A character mentored by demons learns faster than is possible for those studying with human teachers, but demons only teach those Abilities that suit their plans for the character. Characters trained by demons may exceed the maximum skill level for a given age provided by the character creation rules. Students of demons may also have Abilities that are usually restricted to suitable backgrounds. People mentored by demons do not recognize the supernatural nature of their teachers — many consider their exceptional skills an expression of their innate superiority to others. This attitude is particularly common in children afflicted with Pride. Mentored characters have an additional 50 experience points to spend on any Ability. Characters may purchase this Virtue multiple times, and gain 50 further experience points each time. Characters trained to this extreme know that their teachers are supernatural figures, but often have the Manufactured Ignorance Flaw.

Mercenary Captain

Minor, Social Status
You lead a small company of mercenaries (5 to 10), for hire to the highest bidder. You are much like a knight-errant, only without the prestige. During your travels you have gained great wealth — and squandered it — several times over. You may take Martial Abilities during character generation.

If you are Poor, you lead only a couple of other mercenaries, but you and they may have armor and weapons available to normal characters. If you are Wealthy you lead about twenty mercenaries, and can delegate some of the work to sergeants. This Virtue is available to male and female characters.

Merchant

Free, Social Status
You live from the buying and selling of goods. You may be a peddler, if you are relatively poor, a shopkeeper, or a traveling merchant. The Wealthy Major Virtue and Poor Major Flaw affect you normally.

Merchant Adventurer

Minor, Social Status
The character is in command of a ship, and a crew. The character has sufficient capital for a cargo, but may have substantial debts, which may be represented by the Favors Flaw. See City and Guild for more details on trade. A merchant adventurer who owns a share of the company he works for should select the Partner Virtue instead of this one.

Mercurian Magic

Major, Hermetic
Your magical lineage and traditions are from the Roman priests of Mercury, which predate the Order of Hermes, making you especially skilled with Ritual Magic and magic used in conjunction with others. In addition to your standard spell allocation, you also know Wizard's Vigil (page 370) at a level equal to the highest level of Ritual spell that you know, and should you invent or learn a Ritual spell of higher level, you automatically invent a Wizard's Vigil spell of the same level, without needing to spend extra time.

When casting a spell using Wizard's Vigil (page 370) or other spells, such as Wizard's Communion (page 369), with the same function, you may add your Mastery score (page 225) in the spell being cast and your Mastery score in Wizard's Vigil to the effective level of the Wizard's Vigil.

Finally, any Ritual spells which you cast have only half the usual vis requirement. If cast as part of a Wizard's Vigil, all the participants need to have this Virtue to gain this benefit.

All known members of the Mercurian lineage also have the Minor Flaw Ceremonial Spontaneous Magic.

Method Caster

Minor, Hermetic
You are excellent at formulaic spells, as you have perfected a consistent and precise method for casting them. You gain a +3 bonus to the Casting Total of any Formulaic or Ritual spell you cast. However, if you vary at all from your precise method (by altering your gestures or voicing), you do not get this bonus.

Mild Aging

Minor, General
The character's aging rolls benefit from a +1 bonus to the Living Conditions Modifier, in addition to whatever his social standing normally offers him. Furthermore, he receives a +3 bonus to rolls to survive an aging crisis. He may be dedicated to living a healthy life, or else have been blessed by some supernatural being.

Minor Enchantments

Minor, Supernatural
The character has one or more items in his possession that have magical powers. These should be designed as Hermetic enchantments, and the total levels of powers in all the items, after adjustment for uses per day and so forth, must be 25 or less. The character may take this Virtue more than once: add the total levels together, but no single power can be greater than 30th level. If he loses the item or it is destroyed, then it is gone for good.

Minor Magical Focus

Minor, Hermetic
Your magic is particularly attuned to some narrow field, such as self-transformation, birds of prey, or healing. In general, the field should be slightly narrower than a single Technique and Form combination, although it may include restricted areas of several such combinations. Healing, for example, is a part of Creo Corpus, Creo Animal, and possibly Creo Herbam, You cannot be focused on a laboratory activity, such as creating charged items, although a focus does apply to laboratory activities.

When you cast a spell or generate a Lab Total within your focus, add the lowest applicable Art score twice, as for a Major Magical Focus (page 94).

A magus may only have one Magical Focus, whether major or minor, regardless of the source of the focus.

Sample Minor Magical Foci

This list is merely exemplary; other foci are possible.

• Animal: Birds of prev, canines, mustelidae.
• Aquam: Stagnant water, small streams.
• Auram: Wind, rain, lightning.
• Corpus: Aging, disease.
• Herbam: Fruiting, wood.
• Imaginem: A particular color or sound
• Mentem: Anger, lust, erasing memories, changing memories.
• Terram: Creating metals, destroying stone.
• Healing: Applies to people, animals, and plants.
• Self-transformation: Applies to both Corpus and Mentem.

Muqta' (Muq-Ta')

Major, Social Status
You are an important emir, entrusted with an iqta' (iq-TAW', similar to a feudal fief). All rules for the Landed Noble Virtue apply, except that most Muslims take the Minor Status Virtue Emir, rather than Knight.

Muse

Minor, Supernatural
A muse possesses that rare beauty that encourages others to rise to worthiness. A character with this Virtue may grant Free Expression to a single other character, or can double the effect of Free Expression that a single character already possesses, while the muse is with him. The artist typically holds the muse in such high regard that he feels the need to continually improve, both in artistic technique and as a person, to be worthy of the muse's attention. Muses may be of either sex, and need not have beautiful bodies.

Mystical Choreography

Minor, Hermetic
The magus's skill at manipulating the shape and movement of the body allows him to reduce the amount of time required to perform Ceremonial Magic. The character performs ceremonies as per page 217, but requires only five minutes per magnitude. If the character has a prepared space, no matter how temporary, this falls to one minute per magnitude.

This Virtue is particularly important to those Jerbiton magi who use ceremonial casting to overcome the penalties associated with the Dominion.

Mythic Blood

Major, Hermetic
You are a blood descendant of either a wizard of legend (possibly one of the Twelve Founders, or some other ancient and powerful sorcerer) or a supernatural being (such as a dragon).

Your potent Gift means that you do not lose Fatigue levels if your Casting Total falls short of the level of a formulaic spell by ten points or less, although you do lose Fatigue if the spell fails completely. When casting Ritual spells, lose three fewer Fatigue levels than normal. This means that you lose no Fatigue levels if you succeed, or fail by ten points or less. You must expend Fatigue normally to cast Spontaneous magic, and if you fail to cast a Formulaic spell you lose the normal number of Fatigue levels.

Additionally, you may choose one special magic feat which you can invoke at will and cancel at will, as often as you like. Invoking this feat takes as long as fast-casting a Mastered Formulaic spell (see page 213), and requires the same level of concentration. The effect should be designed as a non-Ritual Hermetic effect, with a level + Penetration limited as below. The Penetration of the effect is not modified by the magus's Penetration Ability score, and cannot be negative, so that the highest possible level of the effect is 30.

This Virtue includes a Minor Magical Focus in an area related to your legendary ancestor and a hereditary Minor Personality Flaw (both at no extra cost). Mythic Blood is not particularly uncommon in the Order of Hermes, so this Virtue does not grant any Reputation.

Natural Leader

Minor, General
The character is a dominant person with a demeanor that encourages others to do what he says. His self-assured manner gives him a +3 bonus to rolls in social situations in which he takes the lead; people are more likely to follow his orders or do as he suggests. If he is Gifted, this bonus can temporarily help to overcome the social penalty of The Gift, due to the strength of his domineering personality.

Nephilim

Free, Mythic Companion
You are one of the Nephilim, and a Mythic Companion (page 63). You receive the Strong Angelic Heritage Virtue free.

Notary

Minor, Social Status
Notaries are legal officials employed by lords or towns. Your responsibilities include drawing up contracts, witnessing charters, verifying transactions and documents, and affixing a specially designed seal. Notaries generally receive their salary from their employer on Christmas. Notaries only have jurisdiction in specific realms or towns, such as the County of Nimes or the city of Montpellier. The Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw affect you normally. Due to your training, you may take Academic Abilities during character creation; however, notaries may not be members of the clergy and are subject to secular law.

Nuntius

Free, Social Status
The character is a nuntius (messenger), charged with delivering messages, mail, and monetary donations between students and their families. He is employed by a university nation and is not necessarily educated. He is affected by the Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw as normal. The character can be either male or female, although travel is obviously more dangerous for a lone female.

Paid Rights

Free, Social Status
Medieval society has many prohibitions against women holding authority, reflected in the restriction of many Social Status Virtues to men. These provisions need to be enforced for them to be effective, and a woman with sufficient wealth can often buy an exclusion from enforcement, or even permission to do something that is normally forbidden. All a woman need do, if she wishes to be a baroness in her own right, is pay the king enough money that he allows it. All a woman need do if she wishes to hold a smaller fief in her own right, not marry as directed, and not be in wardship, is pay a large enough fine to her guardian.

A player may take this Virtue to note that a female character has paid for the right to do a certain thing that is generally forbidden for women. She may also take a Story Flaw that represents her family's displeasure at this use of her funds, the frustrations of suitors who would take her land by marriage, or other forms of social opprobrium, although this is not required.

There are, however, a few prohibitions that a woman cannot pay a fine to ignore. She cannot pay a fine to do anything that only men are permitted to do in the administrative structure of the Church, which includes universities and cathedral schools. She could pay a fine to be allowed to study at a university, but not to graduate and gain the accompanying social status. Similarly, a woman cannot pay a fine to be ordained into Minor or Holy Orders, for example as a priest. It is also difficult for a woman to gain the rank of knight. There are some examples of female knights in folklore, so it is not impossible. But a female knight needs an unusual back story, and really ought to have a Story Flaw reflecting that.

This Virtue is only available to female characters, and is compatible with any Social Status that is normally restricted to men, and any Social Status compatible with the Social Status acquired through the paid rights.

Partner

Major, Social Status
The character has a large financial stake in a wealthy trading company. This provides sufficient income for the character to live as well as a minor member of the nobility, but without military trappings. The company's capo is answerable to his partners, and they are permitted, when practicable, to take their profits in service from the house's captains and factors, if they wish. A partner may act in any of the roles of the house without taking the Virtue that corresponds to that role, save the role of capo, with the permission of the troupe. That is, a partner who is also a factor, merchant adventurer, local carrier, or urban merchant need not purchase that Virtue if she has this one.

Peasant

Free, Social Status
You live by working the land. You may control quite a lot of land and hire people to work it, if you are wealthy, or be one of the people who is hired, if you are poor. You are free, rather than a serf. The Wealthy Major Virtue and Poor Major Flaw affect you normally.

Perfect Balance

Minor, General
You are skilled at keeping your balance, especially on narrow ledges or tightropes. Add +6 to any roll to avoid falling or tripping.

Perfect Eye for (Commodity)

Minor, General
For one commodity, and products manufactured from it, the character never fails to make an accurate assessment of value. A character who has a perfect eye for wool, for example, can class wool by touch and always estimate its price accurately. The character can also price woolen cloth and woolen embroidery. A character with a perfect eye for gemstones can always spot fake, cracked, and illusory stones. Characters with this Virtue are prized employees, and are occasionally paid as consultants by other merchants. So long as they trade exclusively in the commodity that matches this Virtue, the character is very successful. If you are using the trading rules in City and Guild, they gain an extra (3 x Wealth Multiplier) Labor Points per year.

Perfectus

Minor, Social Status
You are one of the leaders of the Cathar heretics, found mainly in southern France. Your responsibilities include preaching the Gospel, abstaining from eating meat and dairy produce, from sex and romance, and from other acts that ensuare you in the sinful world. You should normally take the Flaw: Vow to represent your solemn religious obligations. You may not take the Wealthy Virtue, as you are supported by the tithes and contributions of your congregations. As a heretic you are at great risk from the Church, which will execute you if you are caught and refuse to recant your beliefs. Due to your training, you may take Academic Abilities during character creation. You may take the Purity and Transcendence Supernatural Abilities from Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition (page 53) if your character has the True Faith Virtue, but these are not free Virtues. You may, however, take them as Virtues, as normal. More details on the Cathars can be found in Faith and Flame, from page 13.

Example

Orlando is a musician and magus, and knows Sorcerous Music and Subtle Magic. He may cast spells while he sings (with no penalty for no gestures), plays his lute, or sings and plays. If he sings or plays quietly, he suffers the normal –5 penalty. He can cast spells silently, but only by not using Sorcerous Music.

His friend Furioso, another Sorcerous Musician, lacks Subtle Magic. If he has no instrument with him, then, unlike Orlando, he must use normal Hermetic gestures or suffer the penalty for no gestures.

Performance Magic

Minor, Hermetic
In Mythic Europe, many Hermetic magi have learned how to disguise their magical practices by incorporating them fully into a mundane task or action at which they excel. This Virtue lets the magus conceal spellcasting by using the actions or words of some Ability to replace the normal Hermetic gestures and words, and lets him maintain a spell without needing Concentration rolls.

When the Virtue is acquired, specify the Ability to which it applies. You may choose any Craft, Profession, or other Ability with a clear verbal or physical practice. You may not choose any Language, Supernatural, Academic, or Arcane Ability.

There are distinct Virtues for each possible Ability, as each allows different methods to work its actions into magic: knowing one method of Performance Magic does not let the magus use any other Ability in magic.

It is the action or words of the practice that are the focus of this Virtue, not the products of craft-working. An Ability that is verbal (such as storytelling) replaces the words of spellcasting, similarly, an Ability that is physical (such as hunting) replaces gestures. An Ability that encompasses both verbal and physical aspects (such as music, or mumming (acting)) allows the performer more flexibility.

The magus must actually perform the Ability to count as using this Virtue, and other Virtues or Mastery Abilities do not remove that requirement. For example, he cannot sing silently, although he can hunt silently.

Words or gestures that are not being replaced by Performance Magic remain as normal mystical components of spell-casting: use the normal rules and adjustments (including Virtues such as Quiet Magic and Mastery Abilities such as Still Casting).

The magus may choose to vocalize loudly, or move exaggeratedly, and gain the equivalent bonuses as for loud words or exaggerated gestures. Bystanders may notice this as unusual activity, and take interest where they might not otherwise.

Performance (Duration): The spell lasts as long as the caster performs the Performance Ability. Performance is equivalent to Concentration Duration.

To cast a Performance Duration spell, the magus must succeed in a roll (simple or stress die, according to circumstances) of Characteristic (varies with Ability) + Ability against an Ease Factor of 3.

The spell fails if this fails, and botches if the roll botches. The spell ends when the magus ceases to perform the Ability, but no Concentration or Ability rolls are needed to maintain the spell while the performance continues.

Formulaic spells must be devised with the new Duration to use this Ability, if so designed, the spell cannot be cast without performing.

Example

Harold knows Performance Magic (Hunt), casts Hunter's Tracks of the Faerie Glow (a variant of Tracks of the Faerie Glow), and succeeds with his simple Hunt roll. His magically enhanced vision persists as long as he keeps up the hunt, even if he is distracted by chatter or other spellcasting.

Orlando sings while he casts a Sung Lamp Without Flame. The light continues while he continues to sing, however badly, but ends when he stops singing. Needing to convey urgent instructions to a recalcitrant grog, he uses an enchanted device with Maintaining the Demanding Spell to maintain the spell while he stops to shout at the grog, before the Maintaining effect ends he resumes his sung performance.

Performance Abilities

Of the Abilities listed in this book, the following qualify for Performance Magic (although not all are particularly effective, and some may be hard to use effectively):

Physical: Athletics, Brawl, Chirurgy, Hunt, Legerdemain, Ride, Stealth, Swim, Bows, Great Weapon, Single Weapon, Thrown Weapon

VERBAL: Bargain, Charm, Guile, Intrigue, Leadership, Teaching

VERBAL AND PHYSICAL: Animal Handling, Carouse, Music

Variable: Craft (Type), Profession (Type)

While Brawl and Martial Abilities may be used in Performance Magic, the magus needs to perform semi-ritualistic movements to cast spells, responding to the needs of the spell, not to the actions of an opponent. If the magus is in combat, then he may only use Performance Magic (Brawl or Martial Abilities) if the player rolls a stress die with three extra botch dice, and treats all nonbotches as die rolls of zero. (This represents ignoring the opponent and casting the spell.)

Sorcerous Music (Performance Magic)

Performance Magic (Music) is often known as Sorcerous Music.

Music is unusual among Performance Magic Abilities perhaps because instrumental music is similar to the human voice — in that playing a tune on an instrument can freely replace either or both of gestures and words. The magus needs to play an instrument in order to replace gestures, but has a free choice as to whether he sings or plays a tune to replace mystical words. Indeed, wind instruments require that he play a tune to replace words, as he cannot sing while playing a whistle!

Sorcerous Music can be performed as singing-only and not replace gestures (with normal spellcasting penalties or the benefits of Subtle Magic), or can be performed without singing (if the magus plays an instrumental tune), but cannot be performed silently.

When using Voice Range with Sorcerous Music, the spell carries as far as the music (song or instrument) could be heard. For some loud instruments, this may be a long way.

Recognizing Performance Magic

Most people do not recognize performing an Ability as spellcasting, so the performer may act more openly than most magi, even other Hermetic magi do not automatically recognize his actions.

If a Hermetic magus contemplates Fast Casting to oppose a spell and the caster is using Hermetic words and gestures, a magus may determine the Form automatically (page 217). In other circumstances, the magus must work the Form out.

DETERMINING THE FORM OF A MAGICAL EFFECT: Stress Die + Perception + Awareness vs. 15 – effect magnitude

If the spell is being cast with mundane words or gestures, the Ease Factor is adjusted as follows:

-3 if Hermetic words are spoken (and can be heard) +0 if Hermetic gestures are made (and seen) +3 if both words and gestures are mundane

Persona

Minor, Supernatural
The character may adopt one or more flawless disguises, changing both his physical appearance and mannerisms. Choosing this Virtue confers the Supernatural Ability Persona 1.

Personal Power

Minor, Supernatural
The character has a supernatural power that he can activate at will. This is a single power, equivalent to a Formulaic Hermetic spell with a level of 25 or lower. The power has an Initiative equal to the character's Quickness – (power magnitude/2). It costs one Fatigue level to activate if its level is less than or equal to 50, and two Fatigue levels if its level is 51 to 100. You may also spend levels one-for-one to give the power Penetration; otherwise, it has a Penetration of zero.

The effect must meet at least one of the following criteria:

The effect must be Range: Personal, OR The effect must be constant

This Virtue may be taken more than once, and the levels added together to create several powers. For example, a character who took the Virtue twice could have a power with a level of 30 and a Penetration of 0, and a second power with a level and Penetration of 10 each. Note that many powers with a Personal Range do not need a Penetration score, as they do not need to Penetrate the caster's Magic Resistance (if any), and cannot affect any other target. If the character is likely to want to affect creatures with Magic Resistance while under the effect of the Personal Power, then Penetration may be valuable (see the Hermetic Magic chapter for further details on the functioning of Penetration).

This Virtue may be associated with any supernatural realm. If you have access to other books, such as Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, Realms of Power: The Infernal, Realms of Power: Faerie, or Hedge Magic Revised Edition, you may want to base the power on a different system of supernatural powers, to get something more appropriate to the character. If you do, remember that the levels of effects may work on different scales for different systems, and you may want to change the number of levels of effect. The power must be associated with the same supernatural realm as the system on which it is based. (If you have access to other books, you may want to restrict powers based on Hermetic magic to the Magic realm.)

Personal Vis Source

Minor, Hermetic
You have exclusive access to a supply of raw vis. Determine the amount and type with the help of your troupe, the yield should be about one tenth as much as the player covenant expects to gather per year at the beginning of the saga. The yield of your source does not normally change over the course of time, even if the covenant uncovers new sources.

Physician of Salerno

Minor, General
The character has attended the famed School of Salerno, the pre-eminent source of medical learning. Not only does he carry the reputation of the school with him (granting a Reputation of Physician of Salerno 2), but he has also learned some unique medical procedures such as the preparation of anesthetics. This Virtue grants an additional 50 experience points to spend on Medicine, Philosophiae, and medical formulae (if you are using the rules in Art and Academe, Chapter Five). To take this Virtue, you must be able to take Academic Abilities.

Piercing Gaze

Minor, General
By staring intently at people you make them feel uneasy, as if you are peering into their souls. Those with ulterior motives, uneasy consciences, or lying tongues must make rolls against an appropriate Personality Trait, Guile, or whatever the storyguide deems appropriate, to remain calm. Furthermore, you gain a +3 to rolls involving intimidation. Faeries and demons are unfazed by your power.

Potent Magic

Minor or Major, Hermetic
The maga's magic is particularly attuned to a narrow field, much as in a Magical Focus. The benefits of Potent Magic are compatible with a Magical Focus, unlike a Magical Focus, unlike a Magical Focus, a maga may have more than one area of Potent Magic, although only one Potent Magic Virtue applies to any single activity.

Potent Magic provides the maga with a bonus in her field of magic, and permits her to devise Potent spells that gain a casting bonus from the sympathetic magic in shapes and materials. Potent Magic can be taught as an alternative to a Magical Focus.

Minor Potent Magic covers the same narrow fields as a Minor Magical Focus, and grants a +3 bonus to Lab Totals and Casting Score.

Major Potent Magic covers the same wide fields as a Major Magical Focus, and grants a +6 bonus to Lab Totals and Casting Score.

A maga with Potent Magic may also invent new Potent spells within the field of her Potent Magic, and may vary spells she knows.

How Potent Magic Works

Potent Spells

A Potent spell has a bonus known as its Potency, which is arrived at by combining one or more Casting Items into the design of the spell. Casting Items use the factors given in the Shape and Material Bonus table (page 282): each Casting Item provides one bonus. (If more than one bonus is possible, the spell design states which one is used.)

POTENCY SCORE: Sum of Bonus from each Casting Item

POTENCY BONUS: Add Potency to Casting Score

Potency is part of the spell design; a Lab Text for a Potent spell includes the specified Casting Items and Potency Score. A magus teaching a Potent spell teaches the formula he knows, including the Casting Items and Potency Score. The level, for the purposes of inventing it as well as for casting, of a Potent spell is unaltered by the Potency Score. However, a magus may not invent a Potent spell with a Potency higher than his Magic Theory score, even with the aid of a Lab Text or teacher.

Any magus can learn a Potent spell from a Lab Text or teacher, and apply Potency to his Casting Score; the Potent Magic Virtue is required to design a Potent spell from scratch, but not to reproduce one from a Lab Text.

To cast a Potent spell, the caster must touch the specified Casting Items. The items need not be large; they may be small and symbolic (for example, a shield-shaped brooch is still symbolically a shield). If the caster does not have the Casting Items available, the spell cannot be cast at all.

For example, a wand provides several bonuses including +2 "repel things" and +4 "control things at a distance." A Potent version of Disguise of the Putrid Aroma could use either bonus in its Potency. Combining it with magnetite (+3 Animal) allows a design with either Potency 5 (requires Magic Theory 5) or Potency 7 (requires Magic Theory 7). The caster must hold a wand and piece of magnetite (or a wand set with magnetite) to add the Potency to his Casting Score.

Potency applies only to Formulaic spells — Spontaneous Magic allows Ceremonial Casting to produce similar results, and enchanted devices use Shape and Material Bonuses during enchantment.

Potent Magic and Potent Spells

A magus with Potent Magic may create new Potent spells or alter Potent spells to vary the Casting Items.

When inventing a spell within the field of his Potent Magic (including from a Lab Text), the magus simply chooses Casting Items for the design, and then invents the spell as normal. Each chosen Casting Item (up to the limit of Magic Theory) adds a single Shape or Material Bonus to Potency; if more than one bonus might apply to the spell, choose one and note it in the design. The total Potency may not exceed the magus's Magic Theory.

A Lab Text written for this spell includes the Casting Items and Potency, and is usable by any other magus.

In addition, a magus who knows a spell within the field of his Potent Magic may invent a variant spell with different Casting Items (including a variant with no Casting Items). If the only difference is a change in Casting Items, he may invent the variant as if in possession of a Lab Text. If, for any reason, his current Lab Total is lower than the level of the spell, he may still invent the variant in a single season.

Powerful Relic

Major, General
You own an unusually powerful relic with a True Faith score of 3. The relic also has one power, which should be agreed upon with the storyguide (see Relics, page 419). As with the Minor General Virtue Relic, the item may be built into any other item that you possess, like a sword or a pendant.

Owning such a powerful relic is a great responsibility, and your character should behave in an appropriate manner. If you ever behave impiously (as judged by the storyguide) your relic will cease to function until suitable penance is made.

Premonitions

Minor, Supernatural
You intuitively sense whenever something is wrong, or is likely to go wrong soon. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Premonitions 1 (page 170).

Prestigious Student

General, Minor
The character is a son of a nobleman or a prosperous merchant, matriculated in a university that specializes in either Civil Law or Medicine. He has a small group of retainers with him, two or three servants who attend to his needs while at the university. He was trained in Artes Liberales and Latin by a private tutor, and may purchase Academic Abilities at character generation. The character must take a Social Status Virtue to reflect where he is in the educational process.

Priest

Minor, Social Status
You have been ordained a priest, which means that you can carry out the sacraments of the Mass, Penance, and Extreme Unction. By your words, you can cause the Son of God to manifest in bread and wine. As a priest you come under the protection of canon law, meaning that you cannot be prosecuted by secular authorities. You are accorded considerable respect due to your position, and few people are willing to insult you.

You may be a parish priest. If you are, you cannot take the Poor Flaw. Your normal duties involve hearing confession, preaching to your flock, and ministering to their spiritual needs. If you are Wealthy, your parish is rich enough to pay for a curate to do some of the work for you, and you may be a pluralist, holding the benefices of several parishes. Reform-minded churchmen do not approve of pluralism.

If you are not a parish priest, the Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw affect you normally. You may be employed as a curate to a parish priest, or a chaplain to a wealthy individual, or in any other capacity requiring education.

You may purchase Academic Abilities during character generation. If you are a priest in the western Church, under the Pope in Rome, you would normally take the Minor Personality Flaw Vow (see page 150) as one of your normal Flaws, for your vow of celibacy. Priests in the eastern Church, under the Patriarchs in Constantinople and elsewhere, need not be celibate. This Virtue is only available to male characters, and is compatible with the Magister in Artibus Major Virtue, and with some other Virtues, as noted in their descriptions.

Privileged Upbringing

Minor, General
You grew up in an environment where you had access to teachers and free time for study. You have an additional 50 experience points, which may be spent on General, Academic, or Martial Abilities. You may not, however, buy Academic or Martial Abilities with your normal pool of experience points unless you have another Virtue or Flaw permitting that. The most common reason for this Virtue is that your family was wealthy while you were a child, but if you are wealthy now, you should take the Wealthy Virtue (page 115).

Protection

Minor, General
You are under the aegis of a powerful person, usually a noble or high-ranking Church official (though other options are possible, if the storyguide approves). Those who know of your favored status treat you carefully, those who do not often pay the price. You have a Reputation (good or bad, your choice) of level 3, which could be higher if your protector is particularly great or well-known.

Puissant Ability

Minor, General
You are particularly adept with one Ability, and add 2 to its value whenever you use it. Note that you do not, in general, use an Ability when learning it, writing about it, or helping someone else to improve it. You may only take this Virtue once for a given Ability, but may take it more than once for different Abilities.

Puissant Art

Minor, Hermetic
You add 3 to the value of one Art whenever you use it. This means all totals in which the score of the Art is part of the total. It does not apply when learning, teaching, or writing about the Art. You may take this Virtue twice, for two different Arts. If a spell has requisites, include the bonus from Puissant Art with that Art when calculating which Art is higher. If the Puissant Art is higher, the bonus does not apply to the requisite.

Quiet Magic

Minor, Hermetic
You can cast spells using only a soft voice at no penalty, and at only a –5 penalty if you do not speak at all. You gain no benefits from using your voice normally but gain the normal benefit for using a booming voice. The range of Voice Range spells is determined normally, based on how loud your voice is.

You may take this Virtue twice, and eliminate the penalty altogether.

Rabbi

Minor, Social Status
Your character is an ordained Rabbi, a teacher and wise man of the Jewish community. He is afforded the respect due from all within his community, who look to him for leadership and guidance. As a rabbi, your character is expected to teach students, to study and write upon the law, and to pass judgment upon cases brought before the Jewish court.

The rabbi must take the Educated (Hebrew) Virtue to provide the required Academic Abilities. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Rapid Convalescence

Minor, General
Your body can heal quickly. You get a +3 bonus on all rolls to recover from wounds.

Rat Up a Drainpipe

Minor, General
Using a mixture of acrobatics, climbing and dodging, this character can run through urban areas as if unobstructed. This gives a substantial advantage in opposed Athletics rolls which represent being chased.

Redcap

Major, Social Status
Although you do not have The Gift and cannot work Hermetic magic, you are a full member of the Order of Hermes and of House Mercere (see page 15). There are Gifted members of House Mercere, but they do not take this Virtue, taking the Hermetic Magus Social Status (page 85) instead.

You deliver messages for the Order, and you possess a number of enchanted devices to help you do this. A newly-Gauntleted Redcap has enchanted devices with fifty levels of effect, including modifications to the level due to factors such as the number of uses per day (see the Laboratory chapter, page 256, for details).

These levels are invariably split between two or more effects useful for delivering messages. New Redcaps are never given items capable of killing, wounding, or ensorcelling large numbers of mundanes; the risk of abuse bringing trouble on the Order is too great. These will be upgraded and replaced in return for good service, on average an extra two levels per year. You are trained in a similar manner to magi, and may take Academic. Arcane, and Martial Abilities during character generation. You have spent fifteen years as an apprentice, and gained a total of 300 experience points in those fifteen years. (See Detailed Character Creation, page 43.) In addition, you have the Well-Traveled Virtue (page 116) at no cost. When you start to age, a magus with a Lab Total of at least fifty will devise a Longevity Ritual (see page 261) for you free of charge, if you wish. If you make suitable contacts in the course of the saga, this ritual may be devised by a more powerful magus. Redcaps created some years past Gauntlet get improved enchanted devices, as described above, and, if applicable, a Longevity Ritual.

You are supported by your covenant, so you cannot take the Wealthy Virtue or Poor Flaw. You may not take The Gift. You must spend two seasons per year delivering messages for the Order. Your other two seasons are, however, genuinely free, and you may do whatever you wish. This Virtue is available to male and female characters.

Relic

Minor, General
You own a holy relic, such as the finger bone of a saint, with a True Faith Score of one. This can be built into any other item you possess (a sword, for instance). The relic does not possess any additional powers. See Chapter 12: Realms for rules for relics and True Faith.

Religious

Minor, Social Status
The character is a monk, a nun, a beguine, an anchoress or anchorite, a holy hermit, or similar. You may take Academic Abilities for the character during character generation. The Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw are unlikely to be appropriate.

Note that for a friar character you should take the Mendicant Friar Virtue instead. Monks ordained as priests should instead take the Priest Social Status. Senior monks and nuns should instead have the Senior Clergy Social Status.

Reserves of Strength

Minor, General
Once per day, when in need, you can perform an incredible feat of strength. For the duration of the action, add +3 to your effective Strength score. Afterwards, though, you must make two Fatigue rolls.

Ripper

Minor, Supernatural
A ripper has two powers. He can destroy a single piece of cloth, or disembowel a single animal, by spending a Fatigue level, at Sight range, without words or gestures. These are a PeAn(He) 25 and a PeAn 45 effect, each with +0 Penetration. Note that this description is deliberately limiting: a ripper can't break a horse's leg or send it blind. A ripper cannot sever a rope. A ripper cannot cleanly slice things with his mind. The ripper has two, entirely inflexible, effects.

Ritual Power

Major, Supernatural
The character has a supernatural power that he can activate at will. This is a single power, equivalent to a Ritual Hermetic spell with a level of 25 or lower. The power has an Initiative equal to the character's Quickness – (twice power magnitude). It costs one Fatigue level to activate if its level is less than or equal to 25, two Fatigue levels if its level is 26 to 50, and so on. In addition, you must spend one Confidence Point for every magnitude of the effect. You may also spend levels onefor-one to give the power Penetration, otherwise, it has a Penetration of zero.

This Virtue may be taken more than once, and the levels added together to create several powers or a single stronger power.

This Virtue may be associated with any supernatural realm. If you have access to other books, such as Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, Realms of Power: The Infernal, Realms of Power: Faerie, or Hedge Magic Revised Edition, you may want to base the power on a different system of supernatural powers, to get something more appropriate to the character. If you do, remember that the levels of effects may work on different scales for different systems, and you may want to change the number of levels of effect. The power must be associated with the same supernatural realm as the system on which it is based. (If you have access to other books, you may want to restrict powers based on Hermetic magic to the Magic realm.)

Rosh Beth Din

Major, Social Status
The Rosh Beth Din, or Head of the Court, presides at the Beth Din rabbinic court. Your character must be (30 – Int) years old to take this Virtue and have scores of at least 5 in Hebrew, Rabbinic Law, and Theology: Judaism. Your character may purchase Academic Abilities at character generation and gains 50 extra experience points to be spent on the required Abilities.

The Rosh Beth Din gains the +2 good Reputation Rosh Beth Din, which applies across his country. This Virtue also includes the effects of the Social Contacts Virtue and you are able to find contacts within any Jewish community that supports a yeshivah. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Schooled in Crime

Minor, General
The character has been trained extensively in the criminal arts, and has 50 additional experience to spend on Abilities related to thievery. Area Lore, Athletics, Awareness, Bargain, Brawl, Charm, Guile, Legerdemain and Stealth are all suitable, and other Abilities may be added to this list with troupe approval.

Second Sight

Minor, Supernatural
You are able to see through illusionary concealment and disguise, including invisibility, and can also see naturally invisible things such as spirits and the boundaries between regio levels (see page 421). Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Second Sight 1 (page 170).

Secondary Insight

Minor, Hermetic
Your method of magical study is especially versatile. When you spend a season studying one of the magical Techniques from a book, a teacher, or raw vis, you also gain a single experience point in any 4 Forms of your choosing. When studying one of the magical Forms, you also gain a single experience point in any 2 separate Techniques of your choosing. You may not put more than one bonus experience point into a single Art, and may choose different Arts to receive the bonus experience points in each season, even when continuing to study the same Art from the same source. These bonus experience points are not increased by Affinities or any other factors.

See in Darkness

Minor, Supernatural
You can see in complete darkness. Other than that, your eyesight is not more acute than ordinary people's, and you do not see farther than normal people would see in daylight.

Self-Confident

Minor, General
You have firm confidence in your own abilities, and have a Confidence Score of two. You also start with five Confidence Points, rather than the usual three. (See page 52 for Confidence rules.)

Senior Bard

Minor, Social Status
The character has spent five or six years at a bardic school, and is ranked a Cano or Cli respectively. The character has a Local Reputation of 2 representing his fame as a storyteller.

The character has a minimum age of 22, and you can spend experience points on any Realm Lore at character creation even if otherwise unable to take Arcane Abilities. The character should have at least one Area Lore, Realm Lore, or Organization Lore at a score of 5, and has an extra 90 experience points to spend on Art of Memory, Profession: Storyteller, Profession: Poet, any Area Lore, any Organization Lore, Faerie Lore, or Magic Lore. This Social Status is only available in Hibernia.

Senior Clergy

Major, Social Status
The character is an archbishop, bishop, abbot, abbess, or other senior member of the Church. He has access to the resources of the Church and may have additional duties and powers according to his office.

You may make take either the Wealthy or Poor Virtue/Flaw for the character. This does not necessarily represent the status of the character's diocese instead it represents the personal wealth of the character. Senior clergy can amass wealth by receiving the benefice of several offices. Indeed, it is not unusual for a character to receive the benefice from various parishes scattered throughout Mythic Europe. He may never even visit some of the dioceses in which his parishes are located, although obviously the character needs to employ a curate to discharge the actual priestly duties in these remote parishes.

The character has a Reputation of level 4, either good or bad, in both the local community and the Church.

You may purchase Academic Abilities for the character during character generation.

Senior clergy are subject to canon law, and must be celibate and tonsured (if male). Note whether the character has been ordained as a deacon, priest, bishop, etc. Abbess is the only common position available to women with this Virtue, and even such women are not ordained. The Paid Rights Virtue does not enable women to take any of the other positions.

Senior Master

Major, Social Status
The character has been a prosperous guild master for a number of years and has risen to a position of authority in his guild. He has knowledge of guild affairs and participates in the self-governing of the guild. He may own multiple workshops and employ a large number of workers. You may select Academic Abilities at character generation.

Sense Holiness and Unholiness

Minor, Supernatural
You are able to feel the presence of good and evil. In auras of particularly strong divine or infernal influence, your sensitivity may overwhelm you. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Sense Holiness and Unholiness 1 (page 170).

Sense Passions

Major, Supernatural
The character can see into the hearts and minds of others, learning their weaknesses, fears, and evil thoughts. This gives her the Supernatural Ability Sense Passions at 1 (page 170).

Shadchan

Minor, Social Status
The shadchan is a marriage arranger, trusted by prospective parents to find the best matrimonial match for their sons and daughters. The shadchan will ensure a match of backgrounds, wealth, education, and character. They are able to do this by forging relationships with all the families in the community, and because of this the shadchan should be both honest and a good judge of character. The role of shadchan is open to both men and women alike and this Virtue is compatible with any other Minor or Free Social Status Virtue.

The shadchan receives an extra 50 experience points to be spent on social Abilities and an Area Lore appropriate for their community.

Shamash

Free, Social Status
The shamash is the servant of the synagogue and responsible for its well-being. He must ensure that the synagogue is clean and in good repair that it is available for all the community. He is also responsible for waking the community early each morning so that they can attend prayers and for making announcements concerning services, births, marriages, and deaths.

As a shamash, the character must have the Educated (Hebrew) Virtue.

Shapeshifter

Major, Supernatural
You may change your shape into that of one or more mundane animals. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Shapeshifter 1 (page 171).

Sharp Ears

Minor, General
You hear better than most. You get a +3 bonus to all rolls involving hearing.

Side Effect

Minor, Hermetic
Your magic has some incidental feature that is generally useful, though occasionally annoying. The intensity of the side effect increases with the level of the spell. Examples include a commanding presence when casting that translates into a temporary +1 Presence bonus for a short time after casting, or a calm state of mind derived from casting which allows a bonus on Concentration rolls for a short time after casting.

Simple Student

Minor, Social Status
The character is a university student who is has not yet taken a degree. He is typically between 14 and 16 years old and somewhere along his university program. He receives 30 experience points per finished year that he can apply to Latin or Artes Liberales. If he has finished his second year of studies, he is in the liminal position of either applying for work or continuing his education. Female characters can only take this Virtue if they are studying to be physicians at Salerno, although the Paid Rights Virtue would allow them to take this Virtue elsewhere. However, at other universities they would not be able to graduate.

More than half of all university students are Simple Students.

Skilled Parens

Minor, Hermetic
Your parens was more powerful, or a better teacher, than is common. You gain an additional 60 experience points and 30 spell levels during apprenticeship. This Virtue has no effect on your study after apprenticeship, but you still have a close relationship with a powerful magus.

Skilled Smuggler

Minor, General
The character can hide one item on his person, and attempts to find it suffer a –9 penalty on Awareness rolls. The item cannot be larger than a dagger, and the character may swap which items are hidden with a few minutes of work. Wealthy characters often procure collapsible tools to use in conjunction with this Virtue.

Skinchanger

Minor, Supernatural
You have a magical cloak, animal skin or similar item made from an animal. While in physical contact with it, you may transform into the form of the animal represented by the item. The transformation takes one full round, and you retain both intelligence and sentience while in animal form. Clothing and possessions (save the animal item) do not transform, and you may be seen as a transformed human with InAn or InCo, or similar spells. If the item is stolen, the new owner has an Arcane Connection to you, and you may not transform until the item is retrieved. If the item is destroyed, you can make a new one over the course of a season. although the method varies depending on what the item is. Skinchangers may transform into any non-magical animal between Size -10 (robin) and Size +2 (bear). The character has the normal physical characteristics of the animal, except that +3 is added to the character's Soak score (in animal form only).

Skinchanger (Dove)

Major, Supernatural
This is a more powerful variant of the Minor Virtue above.

The character does not need to carry a bundle of feathers to use as a skinchanger's cloak. She can, over the course of a week, prepare any artistic representation of a feather, or a single real feather, to act instead of a bundle of feathers. She may have several feathers prepared at one time, and may use feathers prepared by any other character with this Virtue. Most own several small pins or brooches, and in the city where such characters are active, they have hidden additional pins in accessible places, like the baths. Characters may also use little pieces of stone with feathers engraved on them, which they swallow. These lodge in the crop of the dove form, and can be regurgitated into the mouth at will.

The character's garments and equipment change into feathers when she shifts shape, so she appears modestly clothed when the transformation ends. This also allows her to carry tools and weapons in dove shape, although they cannot be used until the human shape is resumed.

The character has the statistics of a common dove when in animal form, save that her Soak is +3 higher than usual.

This Virtue is particularly associated with an all-female magical tradition called the Daughters of Four Fathers, found in north Africa (see Between Sand & Sea, page 107).

Social Contacts

Minor, General
You have a broad range of acquaintances in a specific social circle (specified when this Virtue is purchased), accumulated over years of travel and socializing. Almost everywhere you go, you meet someone you know, or can get in touch with someone who can help you. Whenever you are somewhere new, you can contact someone on a simple Presence roll against an Ease Factor of 6. The storyguide may modify this target number upward for very small areas or areas where it is extremely unlikely that you would know someone. You may purchase this Virtue more than once, each time specifying a different social group.

Sofer

Free, Social Status
The sofer is the scribe whose role it is to create a new Sefer Torah, or repair any fading or damage to an existing scroll, as required. The sofer must be educated and able to read and write Hebrew as the act of scribing the Sefer Torah requires knowledge and understanding of the text.

As a sofer, the character must have the Educated (Hebrew) Virtue.

Special Circumstances

Minor, Hermetic
You are able to perform magic better in certain uncommon situations (such as during a storm or while touching the target), gaining a +3 bonus to your Casting Scores and Magic Resistance. (A character only gains a bonus to Magic Resistance if she has Magic Resistance from another source.) You may take this Virtue more than once, but you only gain a +3 bonus even if more than one set of circumstances applies.

Spell Improvisation

Minor, Hermetic
The magus may add the magnitude of a Formulaic spell he knows as a bonus to his Casting Total when Spontaneously casting a spell that is similar to it (see Similar Spells, page 260). This includes fast-casting a spell that is the same as or very similar to one of his Formulaic spells, though he does not get this bonus if he has the Fast Cast Ability for a mastered spell, since in that case you add his Mastery Ability instead. This bonus does not stack with other bonuses to his Casting Total, nor does it stack with itself if the magus happens to know several similar spells.

Spirit Votary

Free, Mythic Companion
Taking this Virtue at character creation makes the character a Spirit Votary, a kind of Mythic Companion (page 63). This Virtue grants the Second Sight Virtue for free, and allows the character to have two points of Virtues for every point of Flaw.

Spiritual Pact

Major, Subernatural
The character has made a pact or agreement with a powerful Magical spirit, and in return for loyal service, is granted access to that spirit's power. The pact serves as an Arcane Connection to the character of indefinite duration, which the spirit can use to make itself aware of the current location and state of health of its servant.

The character can channel the power of the spirit by spending a Confidence Point. Make a Presence + Magic Lore + stress die roll: this is the amount of Magic Might Pool that the character acquires from his spiritual master. The Might points acquired are always less than the current Might points of the spirit, regardless of the roll's result. On a botch, the character loses all current Confidence points. This action is equivalent to spellcasting with regard to the concentration it requires. The character can spend these Might points on any of the spirit's powers. Penetration is calculated in the usual way for magical creatures using the initial Might Pool in place of Magic Might, and including the character's Penetration Ability, if any.

The character using this power does not have a Might score, just a Might pool. He does not gain Magic Resistance from the use of this power, nor does he leave behind vis if he is slain. He cannot be affected by Vim spells (or similar magics) that target the Might score of supernatural creatures. Without a Might score, the pool does not replenish; once the character has spent all of his Might points this power ends. All powers used have their duration lapse when the character uses his last point of Might Pool. If this power is evoked again while the character still possesses Might Pool, then the new points gained replace the points left over; the two pools do not add. The points acquired by the character are lost from the spirit's Might pool and cannot be returned by the character, but the spirit regenerates the spent points as normal.

While the connection to the spirit is active, there is some visual manifestation of this, which makes it clear that some supernatural effect is taking place. For example, if contacting a fertility spirit, fruits and grains might spring from around the character's footsteps. While in contact with a war spirit, a character might appear to be clothed in ghostly armor. When the character is actively channeling the spirit, he acts as an Arcane Connection to the spirit of indefinite duration, although this connection lapses when the Might Pool is exhausted.

The storyguide should decide upon the powers of the spirit. With the agreement of the troupe, this Virtue could be used to channel the power from a spirit of a different Supernatural Realm; or from a group of closely related spirits, such as a small pantheon of pagan "gods," but care should be taken not to grant the character too much flexibility with this one Virtue. A character can only have a single pact.

Strong Angelic Heritage

Minor, Supernatural
Your angelic heritage is purer, granting you a Divine Might score and supernatural powers. This Virtue may only be taken if you have the Major Virtue Blood of the Nephilim.

You are a divine being and possess a Divine Might (Corpus) score equal to your age divided by 20, which increases as you grow older. This grants you a Magic Resistance score. You contain a number of pawns of Corpus vis equal to your Divine Might divided by 10 (rounded down, but always at least one pawn) that can only be extracted if you are dead. You are immune to Warping of any sort, and may not have any supernatural powers that derive from a realm other than the Divine.

You have up to thirty levels of holy powers that may be invoked by spending Might points. Design the powers' effects using the Hermetic spell guidelines (or the guidelines for Holy Powers in Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, from page 46). The Might cost for each power is equal to its magnitude divided by two (rounded down, but always at least one point). The Initiative score of the power is your Quickness.

You may take this Virtue multiple times. Each additional time you take it increases by thirty the number of levels of holy powers you may invoke, but has no other effect; in particular, it does not increase your Divine Might.

Strong Faerie Blood

Major, Supernatural
The blood of the fay is strong in you. Perhaps one of your parents was actually a faerie, or maybe you were conceived or born in a place of great faerie power. This ancestry grants you several abilities.

First, you have natural longevity. You start making aging rolls at the age of fifty, rather than the normal 35, and get –3 to Aging Rolls, cumulative with any other bonuses.

Second, you have faerie eyes. This gives you the Virtue Second Sight (see page 106) at no cost, and you can see normally in total darkness or semi-darkness, such as in deep woods or at night. Your eyes look mostly normal, but are an unusual and vivid color.

Third, you may learn Faerie Lore during character generation.

Finally, you get the benefits of a particular type of fay heritage, as given in the Virtue Faerie Blood (page 79). Your specific fay heritage is clearly visible. Choose one physical quirk, such as small horns, literally blue blood, or eyes without irises and pupils, appropriate to the faeries from which you are descended.

You may not have both Faerie Blood and Strong Faerie Blood.

This is a Supernatural Virtue, and you cannot lose it when being trained as a magus (see page 64). If your master cannot preserve the ability, you cannot be trained.

Strong-Willed

Minor, General
You cannot easily be coerced into activities, beliefs, or feelings. You get +3 on any roll which may require strength of will.

Student of (Realm)

Minor, General
You have been trained in the mystical aspects of one of the four realms of power (Divine, Faerie, Infernal, or Magic), and you have a +2 bonus on all uses of the appropriate Lore. You may take that Lore at character generation even if you cannot learn other Arcane Abilities. You may take this Virtue multiple times, for a different realm each time. You may not take Student of (Realm) and Puissant Ability for the same Lore.

Study Bonus

Minor, Hermetic
When given the opportunity to study an Art from books or raw vis in the presence of the Form or Technique, your surroundings give you new insights into your studies. Add two to die rolls to study from vis, or two to the Quality of any text you study from. Your current Art score determines the magnitude of the surroundings you require to get the bonus. See the table for some guidelines.

Study Bonus Examples

Art Score	Minimum Presence of Art
0	A candle flame (Ignem), a magic aura (Vim), a dying insect (Perdo)
5	A pond (Aquam), a painting (Imaginem), a caterpillar and butterfly (Muto)
10	A breezy place in the open air (Auram), a live animal at least the size of a cat (Animal), half a dozen plants at different stages of growth (Creo)
15	An area of bare natural rock, such as a mountainside (Terram), a human corpse to dissect (Corpus), at least one book on each of a dozen mundane subjects (Intellego)
20	In a forest (Herbam), at a gathering of scholars (Mentem), at a law court (Rego)
25	In a boat on a large body of water (Aquam), in a strong (6+) magic aura (Vim), in a hospital full of people dying of pestilence (Perdo)
30	In the middle of a large fire (Ignem), in a building covered with elaborate figured decoration in many media, where music is constantly played (Imaginem), in the presence of a magical shapeshifter whose transformations you can control (Muto).
35	Flying in the middle of a hurricane (Auram), while dissecting several magical animals (Animal), while surrounded by scrying devices showing every detail of the country for miles around (Intellego)

Subtle Magic

Minor. Hermetic
You may cast spells without using gestures at no penalty. You gain no benefits from using normal gestures but gain the normal benefit for exaggerated gestures.

Sufi

Minor, Social Status, Supernatural
You are a Muslim mystic, seeking a closer union with God through asceticism and rituals. You are a member of a tariga of Sufis led by a shaykh. While the group supports you in times of need, your shaykh expects equal commitment from you to him or her and the other members: you should choose an appropriate Minor Story Flaw, such as Mentor, which does not yield any points for buying Virtues. See Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, page 116, for details of the supernatural powers wielded by some Sufis. It is also possible to be an entirely mundane Sufi, in which case you should take this Virtue as a Social Status Virtue.

Most Muslims treat you with respect for your pious lifestyle. You may purchase the Abilities Theology: Islam, Islamic Law, and Dominion Lore at character creation.

This Virtue may be taken by both male and female characters, either as a Minor Social Status Virtue or a Minor Supernatural Virtue.

Summon Animals

Major, Supernatural
You are able to summon animals to your side. This Virtue grants a score of 1 in the Supernatural Ability Summon Animals.

Supernatural Beauty

Major, Supernatural
The character possesses that style of mystical beauty that, when threatened, calls royal power, folk magic, and heroism to its defense. A player may use this Virtue, once per story, to ask a storyguide to insert a fortunate coincidence, of the storyguide's choice, into a scene. The troupe may veto the use of the Virtue in any situation where supernatural aid seems profoundly unlikely. Characters with this Virtue are frequently assisted by passing knights of chivalrous inclination, often find magic weapons, and frequently have their jailers, or their jailers' daughters, fall in love with them.

Faeries frequently assist characters with this Virtue. Faeries understand the classic forms of aid that beauty evokes in stories, and so many of the magical steeds and wandering princes the character encounters are actually faeries, watching the story unfold from the inside.

A character lacking a positive Presence score may not have this Virtue.

Tainted Treasure

Minor, General, Tainted
The character has inherited or acquired a vast amount of treasure, but it is cursed to cause harm. This treasure might come from an ancestor who made a deal with demons, or tricked them out of money. It might have been stolen from one of the secret caches that demons maintain, so that they have wealth nearby to tempt humans. A tainted person who rebels, and swaps the Tragic Life Flaw for the Plagued by Supernatural Entity Flaw, might be tempted to retain some of the valuable props provided for their role. The treasure is sufficient that the character could transform it into a source of the Wealthy Virtue. As examples, the character could buy a ship and become a trader, or buy land in a city and become a landlord.

The difficulty is that the wealth is cursed, so it lacks the natural increase in bounty that is a gift from God. If traded for other items of value, the curse moves to these items. Any venture into which it is invested will, eventually, fail. Any building it is used to purchase will, eventually, burn down. If it is used for a nonsinful purpose, the treasure destroys itself: gold given to charity turns to sand, ships used to ferry supplies to the starving steer themselves onto rocks.

The wealth may be used to purchase the services of people, who, because they have souls, choose their own fates. The limitation that the wealth only allows itself to be spent sinfully remains, however, so it is likely to be given to amoral, covetous, envious, dangerous people.

The Knights Templar

The Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon, the Knights Templar, are an extremely important and influential order in Mythic Europe. Women cannot pay a fine, with the Paid Rights Virtue, to take a role in the order that is restricted to men. For full details, see Chapter 7 of The Church.

Templar Administrator

Minor, Social Status
The character is technically a brother-knight or brothersergeant for the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon, but is really an administrator for the order's many holdings and activities. While he has sworn the Templar oath and vows, and lives a monastic life, his many duties mean he is likely to never see active combat. He is answerable only to his superiors in the order and to the pope. He may have considerable influence and access to enormous resources, but no additional time. You may take Academic Abilities during character creation. This Virtue can replace the Brother-Knight, Brother-Sergeant, and Brother-Priest Status Virtues. This Virtue is only available to male characters.

Templar Commander

Major, Social Status
The character is a commander within the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon and has authority over all aspects of the order in a province or preceptory. This Virtue also grants the Temporal Influence Minor Virtue, as the character has the ear of any important nobles or clergymen in the area. He also has access to the considerable wealth of the Templars, including any funds, lands, and resources, although he has no extra time. He may levy taxes and tithes over the lands he controls as if he were a landed noble or bishop, and charge service fees on monies he lends, and he may even act as a judge for minor lay crimes committed on his lands. Because of his high position, he is a wellknown figure and has a Reputation of level 3 in his area. He is expected to support the order's crusading efforts if he is in the West, and if he lives in the East he is expected to participate directly. Should the grand master die and the character lives in the East, he has the right to participate in choosing a new grand master. This Virtue includes the effects of the Brother-Knight Virtue, and likewise can only be taken by male characters.

Templar Confrere or Consoeur

Free, Social Status
The character is an associate member of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon, and has taken one or two of the Templar vows. His membership is generally temporary (although it need not be), and he may possess other Social Status Virtues or Flaws to reflect his true station, such as Clerk, Knight, Landed Noble, Peasant, or even Hermetic Magus. His former outside status affects his treatment in the order — knights and nobles receive more respect than commoners. Women may also become associate members (consoeurs), although they are housed separately from the men. Associates are governed by the same rule as full members, although they have fewer rights. Some associates may hold important positions within a particular Templar commandery, especially if they possess a valuable skill.

Templar Office Holder

Minor, Social Status
The character holds a position within the local hierarchy of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon, such as the deputy commander, marshal, or infirmarer. He may give orders to brothers in his region, is accorded the considerable respect due to his position, and has the power to enforce the rule and its various laws, although he answers to the local commander. Because of his high position, he is a well-known figure and has a Reputation of level 2 in his region. You may take this Virtue with any of the Templar Status Virtues, as your character may be a senior brothersergeant or senior Templar chaplain. This Virtue is compatible with the Temporal Influence Minor Virtue. If you take this virtue with the Templar Commander Major Virtue, then your character holds one of the few exalted ranks within the Templars, such as grand commander or grand marshal, or a rank that has authority over the Eastern or Western region of the order, in which case you likely reside in Acre, Paris, or London.

Templar Prestige

Minor, General
A member of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon, the character enjoys great respect and admiration among his fellow brothers. This may be because of a great act of heroism or piety, or because of the rank or station he possessed before he joined the order. He starts with a Reputation of level 4 within the Templars.

Templar Servant

Free, Social Status
The character is a servant working at a commandery of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon. He is supported by the Templars, and probably lives in the commandery itself or close by. He also receives payment as befits his profession. As a servant of the Templars, he is covered by the papal bull exempting him from secular and lay authority, and is generally accorded some respect by non-Templars.

Templar Specialist

Minor, Social Status
The character works as a skilled employee of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon, filling a crucial role for which the Templars have no full or associate member, such as craftsmen, blacksmiths, artisans, notaries, squires, soldiers, scribes, or translators. You may take one restricted group of Abilities during character creation, such as Academic or Martial Abilities. As a servant of the Templars, the character is covered by the papal bull exempting him from secular and lay authority, and is generally accorded some respect. This Virtue may be taken by Muslim characters, who will typically act as translators (and who should also take the Outsider Flaw or similar).

Temporal Influence

Minor, General
Through blood or a position of trust, you enjoy some political weight in society. You have the ear of a leader and may yourself lead common folk at times, if they respect your position. The more influence you have, the more responsibility, and the harder it is to work unopposed with magi. Grogs may not take this Virtue.

Tethered Magic

Minor, Hermetic
You can pass control of your non-Ritual spells to others, just as if they were the caster, "tethering" the magic to them for the spell's duration. You may also tether a spell to an object, which can then transfer the spell to an appropriate target when it comes into range. This can even be done whenever you activate an effect in a magic item. However, a side effect of this sort of magic is that all of your spells and the effects of any magic items you activate are Arcane Connections to you.

Tough

Minor, General
You can take physical punishment better than most people. You get a +3 bonus on your Soak score.

Town Magistrate

Minor, Social Status
The character has a position of judicial responsibility in a town, with a small staff of minor officials (up to five individuals). The character must be a citizen of the town, have a score of at least 3 in the Civil and Canon Law (or Common Law) Ability, and is paid a wage or gains special privileges in return for his services. Being a magistrate occupies the character for two seasons each year, but he is free for the remaining two seasons. Academic Abilities may be bought for the character, during character generation.

Trained Assassin

Minor, General
This Virtue is only available to characters with one of the Social Status Virtues of the Nizaris. He has completed several missions on behalf of his masters, giving him 50 additional experience points that may be spent on any Martial Abilities as well as Athletics, Guile, or Stealth.

Troubadour/Trobairitz

Minor, Social Status
Troubadours are wandering minstrels and poets ("trobairitz" is the feminine form). The tradition originated in southern France (see Faith and Flame, page 12), but has spread across much of western Europe.

You are not tied to any community and survive by performing, entertaining, or doing other casual work. You may take Academic skills during character creation and should have a reputation regarding the sort of material you produce and your adherence to the tenets of courtly love. The Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw affect you normally, although if you are wealthy, you are supported by someone. Your supporter does not question your activities in any way, however.

Troubadour characters often possess Virtues such as Famous, Free Expression, Inspirational, Puissant Performance, Social Contacts, True Love, and Well-Traveled.

Troupe Upbringing

Minor, General
You were raised among a group of entertainers, spending much of your childhood traveling from town to town. Rolls involving Abilities in a selected area (which you should have approved by the storyguide) receive a +2 modifier. Examples might include tumbling and acrobatics, knife throwing and juggling, or storytelling and acting.

True Faith

Major, General
Through piety and holy devotion you have faith that can move mountains. You have a True Faith score of 1 and can gain more. For more about True Faith, see page 419.

True Love (PC)

Minor, General
You have found the one person meant for you in all of creation, and the bond between the two of you cannot be sundered. Whenever you are suffering, in danger, or dejected, the thought of your love gives you strength to persevere. Thus, you may add +3 to appropriate Personality Trait rolls, and add additional bonuses as allowed by the storyguide (never in excess of +3) to activities that will return you to your love, or save her life. In dire need, she may even come to rescue you. On the other hand, you are tied to your lover, to whom you must return frequently. If you do not, you may suffer penalties to most actions requiring spirit due to melancholy. If any enchantment keeps you from your true love's side, the power of your devotion can probably break it. Your True Love is another player character, who must also have this Virtue. True Love is never one-sided.

This Virtue may be renamed 'True Friend' to cover equally close attachments which are not romantic.

Turb Trained

Minor, Social Status
This character has grown up at the covenant, been trained to fight in the turb, and picked up a few things from the magi's trusted servants. At character creation, he is allowed to learn Martial Abilities. He may also learn whichever single dead language the magi speak in addition to his local tongue. His fortunes are tied to the turb, and he is thus prohibited from being Wealthy or Poor.

Unaffected by The Gift

Minor, General
The character is not affected by the negative effects of The Gift or Magical Air in others. Even a Blatant Gift does not especially bother the character.

Unaging

Minor, Supernatural
You do not suffer the effects of age. In game terms, your aging points do not decrease your Characteristics, only building up to give you Decrepitude points. If a crisis is not potentially fatal, you suffer no ill-effects. You may die from terminal and potentially fatal crises, according to the normal rules. You are not enfeebled when you reach four Decrepitude points, but you die as normal when you reach five. You may choose your apparent age freely, although if you are basically human it should be less than or equal to your actual age.

Unbound Tongue

Minor, Supernatural
Whenever the character is transformed into a non-human form (whether by spell, magic item, curse, or a heartbeast) he may speak any human languages he knows with no impediment. If he is a magus, he may use his voice as normal to cast spells.

University Grammar Teacher

Minor. Social Status
The character is employed by a university to teach its younger members grammar. The character can be of any age or gender. They may purchase the Academic Abilities: Latin and Artes Liberales at character generation, and should have a score in Teaching. They must teach two seasons out of the year.

Variable Power

Minor, Supernatural
One of the character's magic powers (Greater, Lesser, Personal, or Ritual) becomes more powerful over time, based on either (age / 10), (Might Score / 5), Warping Score, or his score in an appropriate Ability. (Age and Warping should not be allowed as variables if the character is immune to their effects.) For example, an effect that allows the character to change his shape into an animal might be associated with a special Ability, and his score in that Ability would determine how many different animals he could become.

Generally speaking, a single power can have its effect level increased by five, or include another effect of the same level that is similar the original, for each level of variance. For a character with Variable Powers based on his age, for example, this would mean the effectiveness of one of his powers would be increased by a total of five magnitudes after he has lived for 50 years.

This Virtue may be taken more than once, if the character has more than one power, but it only applies once to a single power.

Venditor

Major, Social Status
The character is a venditor, a selling-agent for a Verditius maga, bartering her goods to other interested mundane parties. He is most likely a minor noble, ousted merchant-guild master, or defrocked cleric. He may select Academic Abilities at character generation. You also receive 50 additional experience points that you can put in Bargain, Charm, Folk Ken, Guile, Intrigue, or any Living Language.

Venus' Blessing

Minor, General
People are often attracted to you. You get +3 on Communication and Presence rolls with sexually compatible characters in appropriate situations. At times you can put this to good use. At other times it's an annoyance.

Verditius Magic

Minor, Hermetic
You have been initiated into the Outer Mystery of Verditius Magic (see page 240), and thus are a member of House Verditius. Note that all Verditius magi gain this Virtue for free at character creation.

Voice of the (Land)

Minor, Supernatural
The character can speak with any creature whose natural habitat is a particular environment associated with this Virtue (including animals and magic beings), and the character is not normally perceived as either a threat or a prey object by these creatures.

Wanderer

Free, Social Status
You are not tied to any community, and survive by doing casual work of some sort. The Wealthy Major Virtue and Poor Major Flaw affect you normally, although if you are Wealthy you are supported by someone or some institution. Your supporter does not question your activities in any way, however.

Warrior

Minor, General
You have been trained to fight, and may have spent some time campaigning, perhaps on one of the Crusades. You may acquire Martial Abilities during character creation, and gain an additional 50 experience points which must be spent on Martial Abilities.

Ways Of The (Land)

Major, General
You have a deep understanding of a type of terrain, feeling more natural and at home there than anywhere else. Examples include Ways of the Forest, Ways of the Mountain, Ways of the Steppe or Ways of the Town. You get a +3 bonus to all rolls, including combat and Casting Scores, that directly involve that area and its inhabitants; mundane, magical, or faerie. In addition, you roll one fewer botch die than normal (which may mean you roll no botch dice) in rolls that pertain to your area of understanding. You are not normally molested by animals of the terrain, and though particularly vicious creatures may still attack you, at least they'll accord you proper respect. (For Ways of the Town, this still applies to town animals, of which there are plenty in the medieval world, rather than people. The +3 bonus does apply to people.) You may choose this Virtue multiple times, for different types of terrain.

Wealthy

Major, General
You are a rich member of your class. You may spend three seasons per year on study or adventuring, as you can pay people to look after your interests, and these seasons are genuinely free. Exactly how wealthy you are depends on your social class; a noble would have at least a dozen servants, including some bodyguards, while a wealthy townsman would have a good house and maybe three servants. Whatever your class, you are wealthy enough to afford goods generally associated with a higher class, and thus risk being labeled a vulgar social climber. Wealthy characters may live at a covenant, but they are not supported by the covenant. As all Hermetic magi are supported by their covenant, no magi may take this Virtue.

Well-Traveled

Minor, General
You have journeyed extensively in this part of the world and find it easy to get along with people throughout the area. You have fifty bonus experience points to spend on living languages, Area Lores, and Bargain, Carouse, Charm, Etiquette, Folk Ken, or Guile.

Whistle Up The Wind

Major, Supernatural
You can create winds by whistling. This Virtue grants a score of 1 in the Supernatural Ability Whistle Up The Wind.

Wilderness Sense

Minor, Supernatural
You are mystically attuned to the ways of the wilderness. Choosing this Virtue confers the Ability Wilderness Sense 1 (page 172).

Wisdom from Ignorance

Minor, Supernatural
One school of Sufis found in Egypt is particularly interested in calligraphy, and the aesthetics of the enigma. By this, they mean that pondering texts which have been structured as meaningful, but which the viewer cannot read, can be used as a form of meditation which brings enlightenment. They are able to use books as sources of training provided they are unable to read the language they are written in.

The sufis use this ability to gain understanding of spiritual matters, so players should create Ability books normally, and when sufis use this Virtue, switch the Ability learned from the book to Theology Organisation Lore: Sufis or similarly uplifting subjects. A sufi using this Virtue may occasionally gain experience in materially practical Abilities, but this only occurs in the context of overcoming specific challenges on spiritual journeys. Directly applicable learning like this is considered a miracle by the sufi, and troupes should police this like any other miracle.

Wise One

Minor, Social Status
You belong to a broad class that includes mystics, seers, healers, and the like. You are probably magical, and will probably want to purchase a Virtue that gives you some sort of supernatural ability. You are well regarded in the community, although your presence may cause fear as well as awe or respect. If you lack such good standing, though, you are most likely a wanderer or an outcast. You may take either Arcane or Academic Abilities, but not both, at character creation. The Wealthy Virtue and Poor Flaw affect you normally. This Virtue is available to male and female characters.

Withstand Casting

Minor, Hermetic
If a magus has this Virtue, then whenever he is about to lose Fatigue from casting a spell, he loses 1 less Fatigue level than normal, with a minimum of 1 Fatigue level — but if the spell would have been cast without Fatigue loss, then he still loses no Fatigue.

A magus may take the Virtue more than once, and withstand 1 Fatigue level for each level of the Virtue, although the minimum Fatigue loss remains. If he has Withstand Casting (3), he may withstand up to 3 Fatigue levels lost, with a minimum of 1 level lost.

The Virtue decreases the severity of the Fatigue lost in the exact manner of the existing Fatigue loss. Thus, if the magus casts a Formulaic spell, the Fatigue is short-term Fatigue, easily recovered, and if he runs out of Fatigue levels he is rendered unconscious, loss of extra Fatigue levels results in him being unconscious for one hour for each overflowing level, and the respite of Withstand Casting lessens this. If, on the other hand, he casts a Ritual spell, then the Fatigue is long-term Fatigue, and losing more Fatigue than he has remaining causes wounds the respite of Withstand Casting reduces the severity of wounds, and this may result in him taking no wounds (with the minimum Fatigue lost rendering him unconscious).

You may not start your character with both Vulnerable Casting and Withstand Casting. However, she may acquire both in the course of play (Withstand Casting from Initiation rituals or beneficial Twilight effects; Vulnerable Casting from Ordeals or bad Twilight effects). If this occurs, apply the extra loss from Vulnerability first, then withstand the increased loss.

Some Virtues, such as Life Boost and Life-Linked Spontaneous Magic, actually use the magus's life-force to power the spell: the lost Fatigue powers the spell, and without that loss, no power boost is possible. While a magus may choose to apply Withstand Casting to such a spell, if he does then he loses the benefits from withstood levels.

Example: Vita, a maga with Life-Linked Spontaneous Magic, aims to cast a level 20 spell, but falls short and only generates a level 16 result. She will lose 2 Fatigue levels (1 for spontaneous casting, 1 for the shortfall in Life-Linked Magic).

Although she has Vulnerable Casting (1) (from past Twilight experiences) so suffers an extra Fatigue level loss, she also has Withstand Casting (3) (from Initiations), and can use this to withstand the Fatigue lost to the Vulnerable Casting.

She has another 2 levels of Withstand Casting, but if she eliminates the Life-Linked loss, the shell will fail (and she will still suffer any remaining Fatigue loss). She cannot Withstand the base Spontaneous casting Fatigue.

It is, however, useful to have the Withstand Casting Virtue even with Life- Linked Spontaneous Magic, in case that shortfall is extreme; for example, if the magus botches and the Casting Total is reduced to zero.

Example: Some time later, Vita tries again, hoping to cast another level 20 spell. However, she botches, and her Casting Total is zero. She would normally lose 6 Fatigue levels (1 for spontaneous casting, plus 1 for Vulnerable Casting, plus 4 for the shortfall in Casting Total), but she can withstand 3 Fatigue levels lost, and only suffers a net loss of 3 Fatigue levels. The spell fails, but she is still conscious.

List of Flaws

Hermetic, Major

Blatant Gift
Chaotic Magic
The Constant Expression
Deficient Technique
Difficult Longevity Ritual
Environmental Magic Condition
Magic Addiction
Monastic Vows (Hermetic)
Necessary Condition
Painful Magic
Restriction
Rigid Magic
Short-Ranged Magic
Study Requirement
Suppressed Gift
Twilight Prone
Unnatural Magic
Unstructured Caster
Vulnerable Magic
Waster of Vis
Weak Magic Resistance
Weak Spontaneous Magic

Personality, Major or Minor

Ambitious
Avaricious
Compassionate
Compulsion
Compulsive Lying
Depraved
Driven
Envious
Gender Nonconforming
Generous
Greedy
Hatred
Higher Purpose
Lecherous
Meddler
Obsessed
Optimistic
Overconfident
Oversensitive
Pagan
Pious
Proud
Rebellious
Reckless
Vow
Weakness
Wrathful

Story, Major

Abandoned Apprentice
Beloved Rival
Bigamist
Black Sheep
Curse of Venus
Dark Secret
A Deal with the Devil
Dependent
Diabolic Past
Difficult Underlings
Enemies
Envied Beauty
Evil Destiny
Excommunicate
Favors
Feud
Fury
Indiscreet
Many Marriageable Daughters
Mistaken Identity
Monastic Vows
Oath of Fealty
Plagued by Supernatural Entity
Raised from the Dead
Rector/Proctor
Servant of the (Land)
Supernatural Nuisance
Suppressed Gift
Tainted Offspring
Tormenting Master
Tragic Life
True Love (NPC)
Tzadik Nistar
Unbaptized
Unhappily Married
University Dean
Vendetta
Vengeful Powers
Wanderlust

Social Status, Major

Outlaw
Outsider

Supernatural, Major

Age Quickly
Blatant Magical Air
Bound to (Realm)
Bound to (Role) Role
Broken Vessel
False Power
Greater Malediction
Horrifying Appearance – Snake Legs
Hunger for (Form) Magic
Lycanthrope
Raised from the Dead

General, Major

Blind
Crippled
Deaf
Dwarf
Enfeebled
The Falling Evil
Leprosy
Low Self-Esteem
Magical Air
Mute
No Hands
Poor
Repellent

Hermetic, Minor

Bound Casting Tools
Bound Magic
Brutal Artist
Careless Sorcerer
Ceremonial Spontaneous Magic
Clumsy Magic
Consumed Casting Tools
Corrupted Arts
Corrupted Spells
Creative Block
Cyclic Magic (negative)
Deficient Form
Deleterious Circumstances
Difficult Spontaneous Magic
Disjointed Magic
Disorientating Magic
Exciting Experimentation
Fettered Magic
Flawed Parma Magica
Harmless Magic
Hedge Wizard
Incompatible Arts
Inconstant Magic
Infamous Master
Limited Magic Resistance
Loose Magic
Offensive to (Beings)
Poor Formulaic Magic
Primogeniture Lineage
Short-Lived Magic
Slow Caster
Spontaneous Casting Tools
Stockade Parma Magica
Susceptibility to Divine Power
Susceptibility to Faerie Power
Susceptibility to Infernal Power
Unbearable to (Beings)
Unimaginative Learner
Unpredictable Magic
Vulnerable Casting
Vulnerable to Folk Tradition
Warped Magic
Weak Enchanter
Weak Magic
Weak Parens
Weak Scholar
Weird Magic

Personality, Minor

Busybody
Carefree
Church Upbringing
Continence
Covenant Upbringing
Delusion
Depressed
Dutybound
Faerie Upbringing
Fear
Fickle Nature
Follower
Foreign Upbringing
Grudge
Humble
Imagined Folk Tradition Vulnerability
Lost Love
Magical Fascination
Noncombatant
Pessimistic
Poor Memory
Reclusive
Secretive
Seeker
Short Attention Span
Simple-Minded
Sheltered Upbringing
Slothful
Soft-Hearted
Temperate
Weak-Willed

Story, Minor

Animal Companion
Beloved Rival
Blackmail
Close Family Ties
Demonic Familiar
Employed by Company
Faerie Friend
Heir
Hermetic Patron
Impious Friend
Magical (Being) Companion
Manufactured Ignorance
Mentor
Primogeniture Lineage
Visions
Weak Personality

Social Status, Minor

Branded Criminal
Companion Animal
Failed Journeyman
Failed Master
Failed Monk/Nun
Gabai
Outcast
Outlaw Leader
Outsider
Surgical Empiricus
Usurer

Supernatural, Minor

Baneful Circumstances
Corrupted Abilities
Curse of Slander
Cursed Guile
Deteriorating Power
Evil Eye
Exiled Atlantean
Flawed Powers
Fluctuating Fortune
Folk Magic
(Form) Monstrosity
Inscribed Shadow
Lesser Malediction
Manifest Sin
Monstrous Blood
Necessary (Realm) Aura for (Ability)
Prohibition
(Realm) Stigmatic
Restricted Power
Slow Power
Stigmatic Catalyst
Susceptibility to Sunlight
Susceptibility to Warping
Unruly Air
Viaticarus
Visions
Warped by Magic

General, Minor

Ability Block
Afflicted Tongue
Anchored to the (Land)
Apostate
Arthritis
Careless with (Ability)
Castratus
Clumsy
Craving for Travel
Curse of Slander
Devoted Parent/Child
Dhimmi
Disfigured
Environmental Sensitivity
Failed Student
Feral Scent
Feral Upbringing
Fish Out of Water (Terrain)
Flashbacks
Fragile Constitution
Frail
Gullible
Hallucinations
Hobbled
Hunchback
Incomprehensible
Independent Craftsman
Infamous
Jinxed
Judged Unfairly
Lame
Lingering Injury
Low Tolerance
Master of None
Missing Ear
Missing Eye
Missing Hand
Motion Sickness
Night Terrors
No Sense of Direction
Nocturnal
Obese
Offensive to (Beings)
Palsied Hands
Poor (Characteristic)
Poor Concentration
Poor Eyesight
Poor Hearing
Poor Living Conditions
Poor Student
Primitive Equipment
Raised in the Gutter
Regular
Restricted Learning
Rolling Stone
Savantism
Short of Breath
Sleep Disorder
Slow Reflexes
Small Frame
Social Handicap
Stuck in Your Ways
Tainted with Evil
Unbearable to (Beings)
Uncertain Faith
Uncontrollable Strength
Uninspirational
Unlucky
Unspecialized
Warped Senses
Weak Characteristics
Witch Marks

Flaws

Abandoned Apprentice

Major, Story
The character was abandoned by his master midway through his Hermetic training. He knows Hermetic magic and can cast spells and enchant items like other magi. He is not a member of the Order of Hermes, however.

Some Tribunals rule that an apprentice has a year to find another parens before he is hunted down and slain like a Marched magus. Most Tribunals rule that abandoning an apprentice is a low crime, and if the character makes his situation known his parens may face legal action.

Decide at what age the character was abandoned. Create the character as a regular apprentice up until that age, and then give him experience points based on his age and other Virtues for his life past being abandoned. If the character knows the Parma Magica, he must join the Order or be slain.

Even if the character joins the Order, his background continues to cause problems for him.

Ability Block

Minor, General
You are completely unable to learn a certain class of Abilities, for some reason. This may be Martial Abilities, or a more limited set of the others. A profound inability to master logic would rule out Artes Liberales, Philosophiae, any Law, Medicine, and Theology. Alternatively, you might be unable to learn any languages other than your native tongue. It must be possible for your character to learn the abilities in question in the absence of this Flaw, but she need have no intention of doing so. You may only take this Flaw once.

Afflicted Tongue

Minor, General
You have a speech impediment, such as a lisp, stutter, or missing teeth. You suffer a -2 penalty to all rolls involving the voice, and all Casting Scores if you cast the spell using words. If you are a magus, you must also roll an extra botch die when casting a spell using words.

Age Quickly

Major, Supernatural
Probably due to a curse or a magical disaster, you age twice as fast as normal people. Your effective age (which applies as if it were your actual age when creating a Longevity Ritual, and when making rolls on the aging table) increases two years for every year that passes, and you make two aging rolls each year. It is possible to halt or slow the decline by supernatural means, such as Longevity Rituals, but they must deal with your effective age, not your chronological age.

Ambitious

Major or Minor, Personality
You want to be the most successful or powerful person in the world in some respect. You will not be distracted into doing things that do not contribute to your ambition, and are very eager to do things that advance it.

Anchored to the (Land)

Minor, General
The character suffers from feelings of loneliness and depression when she cannot see or hear a particular type of environment. In game terms, the character has a -3 penalty to all rolls when traveling through any other sort of environment (it is assumed that once the character has time to recover from the journey, she will find some reminder of her natural environment to help her rest). For example, a character who is Anchored to the Sea would suffer the penalty when traveling overland, but once settled can easily comfort herself — with the sound of the sea heard in a seashell, perhaps.

Animal Companion

Minor, Story
You are accompanied by a loyal, intelligent (but mundane) animal that can obey simple commands. Your relationship with it is very close. If it should die, you would be profoundly upset.

Apostate

Minor, General
You have converted from one faith to another or from one set of beliefs to another. You have a bad Reputation at 4 among members of your previous faith, and you may receive some slight distrust from your new faith as well, depending upon how sincere your conversion seems.

Arthritis

Minor, General
Your joints are stiff and often painful, making almost any prolonged movement difficult. You are at -3 to rolls involving repetitive movement, sustained over time. Occasionally, the pain is so great that you are seriously disabled. On any movement or combat botch, one of your joints may "lock up," making the limb effectively useless (-6 to all rolls involving it) until you have a chance to rest it for a day or two.

Avaricious

Major or Minor, Personality
You want money, lots of money. When you have it, you do not spend it, but hoard it so that you can count it. You can be avaricious about physical things other than money, such as books or raw vis. In this case, you do not use the things you hoard, nor do you allow others to use them.

Baneful Circumstances

Minor, Supernatural
Something about the character's supernatural nature weakens him in relatively common circumstances, such as when touching the ground or when in the presence of women. At these times, the character cannot recover Fatigue, heal wounds, or recover Might, and if at the end of the year the character has spent more than half of his time subject to these conditions, he must make an additional Aging roll even if he is normally immune to aging because of a Longevity Ritual or Might Score.

Beloved Rival

Minor or Major, Story
For a Minor Story Flaw, the character has a rival who is both fiercely protective of him and obsessed with opposing him at every turn. For Tytalan magi, this rival is usually an older maga, most likely the magus's former teacher, or possibly an elder apprentice of the character's master. Much like the Enemies Flaw, the rival periodically causes trouble for the magus; however, she jealously guards the privilege of making the magus's life a misery, and often steps in to remove obstacles that are not of her own making. The rival genuinely believes that her opposition benefits her victim, and desires to see him prosper through adversity.

If the character takes on the role of the beloved rival for another character, then this is a Major Flaw. The character generates stories by causing trouble for their rival, and also has to react when someone else tries to harm them.

Such relationships are a tradition of House Tytalus, and may be mutual. When the rivalry is mutual, the troupe may allow the character to take both the Minor and Major versions of this Flaw. This will mean that the rivalry will be a very important feature of the whole saga, and thus the whole troupe must consider whether they want that.

Bigamist

Major, Story
The character has two entirely separate lives, in two cities, and moves between the two on some pretext, most likely trade. Bigamists have two spouses, and maintain two households, which they must pay for. If you are using the rules in City and Guild, the merchant's annual cost of maintaining his business rises by (6 x Wealth Multiplier) Labor Points. Some bigamists mitigate this expense by pretending to be of lower status in their alternate life, which reduces the additional Labor Point cost by half (to 3 x Wealth Multiplier).

Black Sheep

Major, Story
You come from a prestigious family, but you have somehow estranged yourself from your relatives. They have nothing to do with you, unless they wish to punish you somehow or make use of you. Those who resent your family's power can take safe revenge by assaulting you. You begin the game with a bad Reputation of your choice at level 2, among those who respect your family.

Blackmail

Minor, Story
You have information that some powerful person would prefer kept hidden. You receive payments or services in return for your silence, and you may occasionally demand special favors. Don't push your luck your victim may decide it isn't worth the cost, or silence you permanently. This benefit has a yearly value of about 50 silver pennies, possibly more if you keep the pressure on. You should detail and record the specifics of this arrangement.

Blatant Gift

Major, Hermetic
People immediately realize that there is something strange about you, even if they do not know you are a magus. Animals are extremely disturbed, frightened, and possibly enraged by your presence. You suffer a –6 penalty on all interaction rolls with normal people and animals, and should see page 203 for further discussion of this Flaw's effects.

Blatant Magical Air

Major, Supernatural
Only characters with a Magical Air or The Gift may take this Flaw. The character is especially disturbing to others, so much that they can barely tolerate its presence. The character suffers a –6 penalty to social actions, and is immediately hated and feared by members of the mundane population. This effect is the same as the Blatant Gift, and a character may not have both Flaws.

Blind

Major, General
You have little or no sight. Using missile weapons is futile, reading is impossible, and navigation in unknown territory is difficult to say the least. Blind magi can detect targets by other senses, and thus are less limited than people trying to use missile weapons. However, blind magi cannot aim spells without magical aid.

Bound Casting Tools

Minor, Hermetic
The magus's casting tools, as used by House Verditius, are so personal that they become lasting Arcane Connections to him. Regular casting tools remain as Arcane Connections for a few weeks, his last years.

Bound Magic

Minor, Hermetic
When you die, all of your spells end abruptly and any magic items that you created cease to function. You cannot take this Flaw with Harnessed Magic (page 85), as that Virtue already includes this effect.

Bound to (Realm)

Major, Supernatural
The character is no longer able to survive in the mundane world, and sickens if it is outside a particular sort of supernatural aura for an extended period of time. The character must live in a supernatural aura of 5 or greater to remain healthy; if it spends most of a season outside such an aura, make a Stamina Roll against an Ease Factor of (9 – Size). If you fail the roll, the character sustains a Heavy wound, unless the previous season it also failed such a roll, in which case it sustains an Incapacitating wound instead. Choose the realm (Divine, Faerie, Infernal, or Magic) to which the character is bound when you take the Flaw.

Bound to (Role) Role

Minor, Supernatural
This character is physically bonded to some form of device, whether through a mystic event, long years of exposure and warping, or the ministrations of an experimental magus. The degree of the bonding is for the troupe to define, but the bonding may be physical, such as a locksmith whose fingers are picks, files, and keys, or mystical, such as a watchman who is confined to his watch tower as though contained by an unbreakable ward.

The manner of this bonding determines the kind of life that the character may live. A watchman unable to leave his tower may make it his home, while a coachman who has become part of his coach cannot survive for long once separated from it.

If separated from the bonded device or place in any way, the character must make deprivation checks as though deprived of food (i.e., a check every three days). The effects of this are canceled if the character is brought into contact with the device or returned to his bound place, at which point they rebond.

This Flaw also includes the effects of the Unaging Virtue, but the character's apparent age advances in line with their physical age. Role-Bound characters retain the need to sleep and breathe and those not physically bonded to a device, such as those bound to a place, retain their other physical needs.

This Flaw may originate from any of the Supernatural Realms: a magical origin might represent the expression of an Essential Trait, a faerie origin could show that the character occupies an archetypal role, ready to play his part in the wider story, while divine and infernal origins may represent eternal punishment on Earth.

This Flaw may only be taken by grogs and is suitable for the Warping to a Pattern Minor Site Hook presented in Covenants, page 11.

Branded Criminal

Minor, Social Status
As punishment for some crime in your past, a mark has been burned into your cheek. This adversely affects your ability to function in society. You may not take the Wealthy Virtue, but you may take Martial Abilities at character creation. You may choose not to take such abilities, if your crime was not violent.

Broken Vessel

Minor, Supernatural
The character is constantly aware that her supernatural powers may only be temporary. Failures using those abilities represent the ebbing away of the power that sustains them. When a zero is rolled on any Stress Roll (not Simple Roll) for any of her Supernatural Abilities, Powers, or in casting spells, she loses 5 experience points from that Ability or an Art involved in the Power or Spell. If the roll then botches, the character automatically loses enough experience points to reduce her score in the affected Art or Ability by one full level (or 5 experience points, whichever is greater). Characters may only take this Flaw if they have at least one Supernatural Ability or Art normally improved through experience points.

Brutal Artist

Minor, Hermetic
This Flaw is only available to magi of House Jerbiton. The magus creates and enjoys art that is ugly, according to his Housemates. He suffers a -3 penalty on social rolls with Jerbiton magi, and cannot develop a positive Reputation in the House, because his mind is so obviously disturbed. This restricts his involvement in the leagues (see Houses of Hermes: Societates, page 53). Over time, the character might convince his sodales that his work is not ugly, but this requires stories, much as removing any other Flaw.

Busybody

Minor, Personality
You usually know everything that is going on among your friends and acquaintances, especially in private matters. You are always interested in rumors and gossip, and are frequently able to extract personal secrets from people. Among magi the language is more dignified, but the idea is the same: you keep tabs on the Hermetic community (your covenant, your House, and nearby covenants — at the least). However, magi probably don't have much knowledge of what's going on among the lower-class members of their covenant unless they choose to apply this Flaw specifically to such people at character creation.

Carefree

Minor, Personality
You are unshakably cheerful and happy in all circumstances.

Careless Sorcerer

Minor, Hermetic
You are slapdash in your use of magical power, and must roll two more botch dice than normal when casting spells. Note that if you would normally roll no botch dice, you still roll none.

Careless with (Ability)

Minor, General
The character is particularly reckless when it comes to a particular Ability, chosen when this Virtue is taken. This Ability should be one that is important to the character, or the troupe may veto the choice of this Flaw. When she fails, she does so dramatically. Whenever she rolls a zero when using the Ability, that zero is treated as a botch. She may need to roll extra botch dice depending on the circumstances, but she always suffer the effects of at least a single botch. This Flaw may be taken more than once; each time, it applies to a different Ability.

Castratus

Minor, General
You were castrated before puberty, leaving you beardless and somewhat effeminate compared to most men. Social rolls involving characters from Latin culture suffer a -3 penalty. Under Byzantine law you may not marry, although you may adopt children. In Byzantine culture, this may have been an astute career move on your guardians' part, as eunuchs can attain positions of power. Elsewhere, it was probably the result of an accident or an assault. This Flaw is only available to characters who were born with testicles.

Ceremonial Spontaneous Magic

Minor, Hermetic
You need time and effort to focus your Spontaneous magic. You can only cast Spontaneous spells using the rules for Ceremonial Casting (page 217). This Flaw is not compatible with Difficult Spontaneous Magic or Weak Spontaneous Magic.

Chaotic Magic

Major, Hermetic
Your magic is very wild. When you cast a spontaneous spell, you must specify a desired level of effect. If you fall short of or exceed that target by more than one level, the spell still works, but its effects are beyond your control—the storyguide decides the results. The level of effect includes any levels you assign to Penetration.

Church Upbringing

Minor, Personality
This Flaw covers children schooled by the Church and mostly raised by clerics as well, a fate befalling some orphans, bastards, Gifted children, and other misfits. The Church may act out of charity or a wealthy individual may have paid to discreetly get a difficult child out of the way. This secluded upbringing leaves the character less knowledgeable about the rest of society, which he finds unstructured, uncouth, and confusing. The player must spend 25 experience points from the normal budget on Artes Liberales, Latin, Music, Organization Lore: Church, or Theology. Unless the character has a Virtue that permits it, no other experience points may be spent on Academic Abilities.

Close Family Ties

Minor, Story
Your family is one of the most important things in your life, and still supports and aids you whenever possible, even at personal risk. Family members do not hesitate to do you any favor that is within their power, and can call on their friends and neighbors to help you. It works both ways, however; your family will require help from you some day.

Clumsy

Minor, General
You are not very graceful and tend to drop things — you are at –3 in all related rolls. Furthermore, roll an extra botch die when taking actions related to Dexterity. Roleplay your clumsiness.

Clumsy Magic

Minor, Hermetic
You have trouble targeting your spells accurately. Any aiming roll is subject to disastrous failure: an aiming roll of 0 is automatically a botch. (Aiming rolls do not count as mystical rolls for the purposes of gaining Warping Points.) You receive a –3 penalty to any rolls involving Finesse.

Companion Animal

Minor, Social Status, animals only
The character is the Animal Companion of another character (either a player character or a storyguide character) and therefore has little control over his own life. He is largely dependent on his master for food and shelter, and has an additional Personality Trait of "Loyal to Master" which represents this bond. Among people who know his master, the character is treated better than he would be, perhaps as that person's pet or bodyguard. Others most likely treat him as a brute or a dumb beast.

Compassionate

Major or Minor, Personality
You help anyone who is wounded or in trouble. You cannot bear to see suffering in others, although you happily drive yourself to exhaustion.

Compulsion

Major or Minor, Personality
You have an unfortunate urge that you have trouble resisting. Examples include drinking, sex, perfection, bragging, or gambling.

Compulsive Lying

Major or Minor, Personality
Telling the truth is really hard for this character. This does not apply in situations where the answer is evident and any lie would be transparent, he does not claim that the sky is green under normal conditions. However, when he cannot be immediately caught out, he finds it hard to avoid embellishing stories, or simply making them up. Perhaps he wants to make himself look good, perhaps he wants to downplay his own part in a conflict, or perhaps he just loves the power of confusing people.

The Constant Expression

Major, Hermetic
The maga forms the center of a magical maelstrom, perpetually casting non-fatiguing Spontaneous magic effects. The resulting effects are minor due to the nature of non-fatiguing Spontaneous magic but are likely to cause distraction and/or other problems. Though nonfatiguing, the effort of marshaling the magic into less dangerous forms is tiring and the maga is considered to have lost one long-term Fatigue level which cannot be regained through sleep.

The effects produced by the constant expression may target anything that the maga could normally target with spontaneous spell, including herself, although they are more likely to target things touched by or seen by the maga.

The maga may actively concentrate in order to suppress this automatic magic entirely, making an initial Stamina + Concentration simple roll against Ease Factor 3 + (Warping Score). On a failure, a further roll is allowed every two minutes after the maga has composed herself. If the magic has been suppressed, the maga may cast Spontaneous and Formulaic spells normally.

In order to cast Ceremonial or Ritual magic the maga must make a Concentration roll as described above. One attempt can be made every 15 minutes, a successful attempt sufficient to cover the duration of the casting. Nevertheless, the maga suffers a number of additional botch dice equal to her Warping Score.

The constant expression of magic also makes laboratory work inherently risky. Any laboratory the maga works in is treated as having a free Flaw providing a Safety penalty of –3 (see page 288).

Penalties from foreign auras, or from effects such as Aegis of the Hearth, may dampen the constant expression. Where the penalty reduces the casting total to 0, no magic is expressed.

The player should decide, based on personality, sigil, and favored arts, how the constant expression most often manifests, though the storyguide may vary the actual effect scene-by-scene.

Conciatta of Bonisagus, a brilliant theorist of the tenth century who extended Hermetic magic to affect the Divine, Faerie, and Infernal realms, famously suffered from this Flaw, which is otherwise extremely rare. Other magi may assume that a character who has it has some connection with her. More details of Conciatta can be found in Legends of Hermes.

Consumed Casting Tools

Minor, Hermetic
The character's casting tools are magically consumed after he uses them. It takes an hour to make a new casting tool. Regular casting tools do not allow the magus to make multiple copies of them, so he may not stock up on casting tools. Making a casting tool for a spell that already has a casting tool erases the magical connection from the existing tool to the spell. The magus does not need a laboratory to make casting tools. This Flaw may only be taken by Verditius magi.

Continence

Minor, Personality
You do not engage in sexual activity. This may be due to a vow of celibacy, or simply personal choice.

Corrupted Abilities

Minor, Supernatural, Tainted
One or more of the character's Abilities was taught to her by a demon, or came through some other corrupted source of study. Use of a corrupted Ability for a selfish or sinful action receives a +3 bonus to the roll. Succeeding in a roll because of this bonus (that is, when without it the roll would have failed) means that the character immediately acquires 5 experience points in that Ability. However, uses of the Ability that are neutral or selfless receive a –3 penalty, and if you fail the roll because of this penalty, the character loses 5 experience points in the Ability.

Any use of a corrupted Ability is an unholy act, which can be sensed by Divine Powers. You may only take this Flaw once, though you can choose to have it affect multiple Abilities if you wish.

Corrupted Arts

Minor, Hermetic, Tainted
The character has studied one of the Hermetic Arts from a corrupted source. Use of a corrupted Art for a selfish or sinful action receives a +3 bonus to the character's Casting Total. Succeeding in a roll because of this bonus (that is, when without it the roll would have failed) means he immediately acquires 5 experience points in that Art. However, uses of the Art that are neutral or selfless receive a -3 penalty, and if you fail the roll because of this penalty, he immediately loses 5 experience points in the Art.

Any use of a corrupted Art taints the character's magic, causing it to appear unholy. You may only take this Flaw once, though it can affect multiple Arts.

Corrupted Spells

Minor, Hermetic, Tainted
The character has learned at least 30 levels of formulaic spells from a source that has been corrupted in some way. Use of a corrupted spell for a selfish or sinful action receives a +3 bonus to the character's Casting Total and Penetration Total. Succeeding in a roll because of this bonus (that is, when without it the spell would have failed or cost Fatigue) means he immediately acquires 5 experience points towards mastery of that spell. However, uses of the spell that are neutral or selfless receive a -3 penalty, and if you fail the roll or he fatigues himself because of this penalty, he immediately loses 5 experience points. If this would result in negative experience, he forgets the spell completely.

Any use of a corrupted spell is tainted and appears unholy. You may only take this Flaw once, though it can affect as many of the character's spells as you wish.

Covenant Upbringing

Minor, Personality
You were raised in a large, old covenant that has little contact with the outside world. You might have very strange religious beliefs, and you certainly find medieval social and political structures very odd. You may take Latin at character creation, and are likely to have a score in Order of Hermes Lore. While Latin cannot be your native language, you may speak a language closely related to Latin that is spoken only at your home covenant.

Craving for Travel

Minor, General
The character suffers from feelings of loneliness, boredom, and depression if he does not expose himself to new experiences. He can stave off the boredom for a while, but if he remains in one place for more than a season, he suffers a -1 penalty to all rolls and totals until he experiences a change in scene. This penalty rises to -3 after a year of boredom. This character is probably the first to volunteer for a mission beyond the covenant gates, and may even spend part of each year in a different location such as the nearby wood. This Flaw might seem to make the character unsuitable for life at a covenant, so you should decide what it is at the covenant that means he keeps coming back. Perhaps it is the love of his life, the camaraderie, or perhaps just the feeling that he fits in here.

Creative Block

Minor, Hermetic
You have problems creating new things in the lab. You take a –3 penalty to all Lab Totals unless you are using a Laboratory Text or being taught. If you experiment, roll twice as many dice on the experimentation table.

Crippled

Major, General
You either have no legs, or your legs are completely useless. You may have lost them in an accident or as a punishment. You cannot walk, although you may drag yourself along the ground, or push a trolley around with a stick.

Curse of Slander

Minor, General or Supernatural
Wherever he stays, unpleasant rumors and ill-favored stories about this character begin to spread within a short time. This can be due to bad luck, or it could be something supernatural, like a curse. The slander is centered on one specific section of mundane society — the nobility, the church, guilds, peasants — and it seriously hampers his working life. After staying one season in an area, he gains a bad Reputation at level 1, usually a Local Reputation. He gains one point toward raising the Reputation in each further season, or more if he is involved in disturbing or strange events. Truly remarkable deeds can halt the increase for one season, but they will be forgotten come next season. At a covenant, people are used to strange things and deviant behavior. The Reputation is gained and increases in intervals of years rather than seasons, giving the poor victim more time before he becomes completely shunned. If the character leaves an area, the Reputation stops increasing, and may even fall, at the troupe's discretion.

Curse of Venus

Major, Story
You are very attractive to people whom you do not wish to attract. People you detest keep getting crushes on you, and will not be dissuaded. Furthermore, you tend to fall in love with inappropriate people, and in inappropriate circumstances. Those people you are interested in tend to think you are vain and shallow.

Cursed Guile

Minor, Supernatural
This is the Flaw for "the boy who cried wolf," and probably results from Infernal influence. The character has three extra botch dice when using Guile. More importantly, the character is rarely believed, even when he is being honest. He must make a Communication + Guile roll against an Ease Factor of 9 in order to be believed when he tells the truth at important moments. For example, if the character is returning from a scouting mission, and you fail his Guile roll when he reports back, the maga may assume that he has been deficient in his duties; perhaps she thinks that he never went scouting at all, but instead went to the nearest town to entertain himself. This character may prefer the company of animals to that of people, as they do not respond to subterfuge.

Cyclic Magic (negative)

Minor, Hermetic
As with the Hermetic Virtue, your magic is attuned to some cycle of nature and is less potent at specific times. You have a –3 penalty to all Lab Totals and Casting Scores during that time. The penalty applies to Lab Totals even if the negative period does not cover the whole of the season. The length of time during which you are at a disadvantage must be equal to the time when there is no penalty.

Dark Secret

Major, Story
You are haunted by something that would lead to shame, rejection, and possibly revenge if discovered. Hints about the secret continually arise, and there might be others who know it and could betray you. This makes you avoid certain places, dislike certain people, or fear certain things.

Deaf

Major, General
You cannot hear at all. You may be able to speak, but you cannot understand spoken language, which makes communication difficult. Magi with this Flaw must roll an extra two botch dice when casting spells with a spoken component, as they cannot hear what they are saying.

A Deal with the Devil

Major, Story
The character has sold his soul to the devil and now finds himself destined to infernal damnation. This Flaw includes the effects of Plagued By Supernatural Entity as Hell’s agents goad and cajole the character, reminding him of the bargain he made and tempting him with offers of possible release in return for just one more small service. The character is called upon to undertake an inherently sinful action, but the reward is always snatched away on some technicality of the agreement or simply because of the duplicitous nature of the infernal. Note that the character can, in fact, repent and get out of the deal by God's grace, but the repentance must be genuine, and the forces of Hell will try to stop it, thus generating stories that way.

Deficient Form

Minor, Hermetic
Almost all totals (including Casting Totals and Lab Totals, but excluding Magic Resistance) to which a particular Form is added are halved. Advancement Totals are not halved. Experience points required are based on the actual value of the Technique, before halving.

Deficient Technique

Major, Hermetic
All totals, including Lab and Casting totals, including a particular Technique are halved. Advancement Totals are not halved. Experience points required are based on the actual value of the Technique, before halving.

Deleterious Circumstances

Minor, Hermetic
All your magic totals, excluding Magic Resistance, are halved under certain uncommon circumstances. This can be your state, such as sitting or wet, the target of the magic, such as wild animals or iron, or the place where you are casting the magic, such as a city or high up a mountain.

Delusion

Minor, Personality
You believe wholeheartedly in something that just isn't so. Examples include that you are a magus (if you are not), that you are the Pope's child, or that your imaginary friend is real.

Demonic Familiar

Minor, Story
The character is bound to a famulus, a familiar demon that possesses an animal and can lend the character its senses, or mask the evil taint of her Powers. This demonic familiar is not loyal to the character or concerned about her well-being, and often has its own goals and needs. The character may occasionally need to bargain with it or even threaten it to receive its aid.

At the storyguide's discretion, this Flaw may be taken to represent other sorts of demons with which the character has a close relationship, such as a warder, teacher, or paramour. The more powerful the demon, the more the character will be expected to do to earn its assistance, and the less involved it will be with her on a daily basis.

Dependent

Major, Story
You feel responsible for someone, and bound to help if they are in trouble. This person may be a relative or friend, but should be relatively weak and a non-player character. If your Dependent passes beyond your ability to help, or becomes too powerful, you should substitute another Story Flaw. Possibilities include taking the children of the old Dependent as new dependents, taking the killers of the Dependent as Enemies, or taking the Dependent as a True Friend.

Depraved

Major or Minor, Personality
The character seeks to undermine religion whenever possible, and generally tries to avoid the Dominion. He might sin in public, teach misinformation about the tenets of the faith, or show obvious disdain for holy things. He is not necessarily an infernalist; it could be that he simply despises organized religion, dislikes the Divine realm, or does not believe in God. He might even be persuaded to attend services, though he does not take any of it seriously and is likely to disrupt the ceremony with his discomfort and ignorance.

Depressed

Minor, Personality
You have a dark outlook on life, seeing little point in acting and taking no pleasure in anything that happens.

Deteriorating Power

Minor, Supernatural
Like the Variable Powers Virtue, this Flaw reduces the effectiveness of one of the character's powers (Greater, Lesser, or Ritual) over time. This penalty is linked to either the character's (age / 10), (Might Score – Might Pool / 5), or Warping Score. For example, a magic character with Deteriorating Powers linked to age and an age of 25 would have one of his powers reduced by 3 magnitudes.

This Flaw may be taken more than once, if the character has more than one Power.

Devoted Parent/Child

Minor, General
The character is extremely attached to a parent or child. Where he goes, she goes also. Separation of more than a day causes anxiety, and gives a -1 penalty to all rolls due to stress.

Dhimmi

Minor, General
You are a non-Muslim living under Muslim rule. If you are adult and male, you must pay the jizya head tax, and all dhimmis must abide by certain social restrictions (described in the sourcebooks for these areas of Mythic Europe — see Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, The Cradle and the Crescent, Between Sand and Sea, and Lands of the Nile), in return for which they receive tolerance and protection from the Muslim authorities. The actual amount a dhimmi has to pay in iizva varies, but rarely exceeds a dinar (a gold coin) per year.

Diabolic Past

Major, Story
You were associated with diabolists, and though you have escaped their evil ways, you are still haunted by your upbringing and the memory of acts best left unspoken. Perhaps your parents were diabolists, although you were not, or maybe you joined a cult but soon repented and fled. Your former associates still take an interest in your activities and whereabouts. Unfortunately. You may purchase the Ability Infernal Lore, even if you are normally not permitted to buy Arcane Abilities.

Difficult Longevity Ritual

Major, Hermetic
Something in your magical nature makes it difficult to create an effective Longevity Ritual for you. Anyone (including yourself) creating a Longevity Ritual for you must halve their Lab Total. You may create Longevity Rituals for others without penalty.

Difficult Spontaneous Magic

Minor, Hermetic
Spontaneous magic is always an effort for you. You cannot cast Spontaneous spells without exerting yourself. However, when you do exert yourself, you cast spells as any other magus.

This Flaw may be combined with Weak Spontaneous Magic (page 153) to create a magus who cannot use Spontaneous magic at all.

Disjointed Magic

Minor. Hermetic
You cannot use previous knowledge to help you with magic. You gain no benefit from knowing a spell that is similar to one you are learning or inventing, and you gain no enchantment bonuses from Techniques and Forms already invested in an item.

Difficult Underlings

Major, Story
You may only take this Story Flaw if your character has, and will keep, underlings of some sort or another. No matter how many people you fire, or how carefully you vet new candidates, your underlings always cause problems for you. The nature of the problems may change, but you are repeatedly drawn into dealing with the trouble they have caused. If other people give the same underlings orders, they have no problem. It's not them, it's you.

Disfigured

Minor, General
A visible disfigurement makes you ugly and easy to recognize. Presence rolls that involve good looks and gaining respect from most people are at -3. You probably have a cruel nickname that refers to your unfortunate appearance. You might have a large, visible burn scar, or an enlarged and deformed eye (an 'evil eye'), or even be albino.

Disorientating Magic

Minor, Hermetic
After casting a spell, you must spend a round doing nothing but recovering your mental faculties.

Driven

Major or Minor, Personality
You have some goal which you are determined to bring about. This has to be the sort of big goal that could shape an entire life, but if you do accomplish it you will immediately turn to a new project.

Dutybound

Minor, Personality
You adhere to a restrictive code of conduct that forbids certain behavior, probably including prohibitions against lying, killing prisoners, stealing, and other occasionally useful actions. You follow this code out of guilt or fear rather than high-flown moral standards, and may spend more time justifying yourself than keeping your conduct pure.

Dwarf

Major, General
You are the size of a child. Your comfortable walking speed is twothirds that of a normal person. Your Size is -2, so the severity of wounds you take increases in three point increments rather than five point increments (see page 404). You take a -1 penalty to each of Strength and Stamina, which may reduce each Characteristic as low as -6. You cannot take this Flaw and Giant Blood (page 83), Large (page 89), or Small Frame (page 145).

Employed by Company

Minor, Story
Characters with this Flaw are salaried employees, answerable to an employer, which is normally a merchant company. They may be merchants who travel on behalf of a company, or administrators who are answerable to the partners. On the other hand, they are also backed up by the resources of the company. This Flaw may also be used for salaried employees of other organizations.

Enemies

Major, Story
Someone is causing trouble for you, such as a local baron or bishop, a band of outlaws, or a really nasty innkeeper. The enemy must be powerful enough to endanger you — this is best agreed on with the storyguide and the rest of the troupe.

Enfeebled

Major, General
You cannot exert yourself for longer than a few seconds. Any need for rapid movement, such as combat or a chase, leaves you helpless. Long hikes are likewise beyond your capability. You are unable to learn Martial Abilities or any other skills involving physical exertion, since you cannot train in them. If you are a magus, you lose double the normal number of Fatigue levels from casting spells, but you may carry out Laboratory activities as normal.

Envied Beauty

Major, Story
The character's beauty draws revulsion and jealousy. This envy does not strike everyone, but vain persons of the character's gender are particularly susceptible to it. Characters with this Flaw may avoid its penalties by refusing to reveal their beauty to the world, which creates its own complications. A character lacking a positive Presence score may not have this Flaw.

Envious

Major or Minor, Personality
You believe that everyone has it better than you do, and that they don't deserve their good fortune, while you do. Thus, you try to ruin their lives and take their goods for yourself. (This is not a good Flaw for a player character, as it is likely to lead to conflict with the other players.)

Environmental Magic Condition

Major, Hermetic
All of the character's Casting and Lab Totals are halved in certain common conditions related to his environment, for example, whenever he is inside. Note that this should be significantly more restrictive than the Hermetic Flaw Deleterious Circumstances.

Environmental Sensitivity

Minor, General
The character is unusually sensitive to an uncommon environmental feature, such as bad air, salt water, or extreme temperatures. Whenever the character is exposed to these conditions, he has a –3 penalty to his Stamina for any debilitation checks (page 406).

Evil Destiny

Major, Story
The Infernal realm has taken an interest in the character, but he does not know how or why. Perhaps one of his Powers is actually Infernal, or demons are plotting against him, or he is convinced that he is being stalked by something evil.

He cannot discuss this openly for fear that he will be accused of infernalism, but must be always on his guard against the dark forces that he knows will come for him one day.

The storyguide will use this Flaw to subtly work the Infernal realm into your character, leaving you unaware of the specifics. You might have other Flaws that relate to the Infernal, but not (yet) know what they are, such as Corrupted Abilities. The character could also simply be Plagued by Demons or Susceptible to the Infernal. Through the course of the story you may eventually discover what his Flaw is, but until then you are only haunted with the knowledge that something about him is not right.

Evil Eye

Minor, Supernatural
You character bears the Evil Eye, the uncontrolled potential to bring harm to others around her. Characters making stress rolls in her presence are subject to an additional botch die. Characters may protect themselves through the use of an amulet or a ritual, decided upon by the troupe, which does not need to be magical or supernatural in nature. A Magic Resistance of 0 or more, including the effect of the Aegis of the Hearth, is also sufficient to guard against this effect.

Exciting Experimentation

Minor, Hermetic
Your character's experiments tend to have a flair for the ... dramatic. When rolling on any of the experimentation tables, roll two dice instead of the normal one. The storyguide then chooses and applies the more amusing of your two results.

Excommunicate

Major, Story
For your crimes against God and the Church, you have been cast out of your faith, undoing your baptism and driving you from your religious community. You have a bad reputation at level 3 within the Church, and cannot benefit from the sacraments.

Exiled Atlantean

Minor, Supernatural
The character is an exiled Atlantean, she is tainted by her contact with the surface world, and cannot return to her magic regio. This exile is enforced by the very nature of the magic regio to which the Atlanteans are native, so there is no authority figure to which she may appeal, or any obvious method of returning to favor. The exile applies even if the Atlantean left her native magic regio involuntarily. More details about the Atlanteans can be found in Realms of Power: Magic, page 90.

Faerie Friend

Minor, Story
You have an ally among the fay. How much assistance you can get depends on the power of the friend — a small faerie with (relatively) minor powers can accompany you on a day to day basis. Powerful faeries have other business, and may only be available to answer questions and provide guidance, not to accompany you around on your adventures. Your ally is fully sentient, has its own powers, and can speak when it chooses. You may want to have another player act the part. While a faerie companion can be a great boon, it can also be a terrible burden. If it is nasty or mischievous, it could cause trouble for you everywhere. Characters with this Flaw can purchase the Arcane Knowledge Faerie Lore, even if they are normally restricted from purchasing it.

Faerie Upbringing

Minor, Personality
Perhaps you were abandoned by your true kin, and the faeries found you. Maybe your family actually lived in a faerie forest, or faeries took you as a babe. Though you are now back in human society, you feel at home with and have an enhanced understanding of faeries, magic, and other strange things. However, you find human society, including religion, bizarre. You may learn Faerie Lore at character generation.

Failed Journeyman

Minor, Social Status
The character has been expelled from a guild due to past illegal or questionable practices. He may not practice his trade in town nor sell his goods there. The character is expected to find another means of livelihood, although no other guild will accept him, so many such men must find a way to practice their trade illegally. He has a bad Reputation of 2 in town.

Failed Master

Minor, Social Status
Either through faulty management or illegal business practices, the character has run his workshop into the ground. He must work as a journeyman if he wants to practice his trade legally in town. The character has a bad Reputation of 4 in town, and it will be difficult for him to regain his legal status as a master.

Failed Monk

Minor Social Status
You were once a member of a cloistered order, but were cast out for some great sin or gross incompetence, or perhaps you ran away and your abbot might allow you to come back after a suitable punishment. Because of this, you have a poor Reputation at level 2 in the local area and within the Church. You no longer need to observe your monastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, though you may still practice them as they might be ingrained in your nature. You may take Academic Abilities during character creation. Female characters may take this Flaw as Failed Nun.

Failed Student

Minor, General
The character has studied for a specific university license and failed his final examination. If he passed earlier exams, he may have a scholastic Social Status Virtue showing how far he got. (Obviously, this cannot be Doctor in (Faculty).) The character has a Bad Academic Reputation of 2.

The Falling Evil

Major, General
The character occasionally suffers convulsions and blackouts. Convulsions occur randomly and infrequently; for any given event, the storyguide should secretly roll a stress die, and if the result is 9 or more then a convulsion will occur at some point during that event, as chosen by the storyguide. This spasm causes random movements and hallucinations, leaving the character temporarily Incapacitated. She collapses to the ground and twitches, and you can make a Stamina roll against an Ease Factor of 9 every round; success means that the convulsion ends, although the character is reduced to the Dazed Fatigue level following a fit. The Falling Evil is usually caused by possession by demons (Art & Academe, page 48), but that form of the illness is usually temporary in nature. The character does not seem to have a disease, and cannot naturally recover from this affliction. It may be that it stems from a different source. In Ancient Greece and Rome, it was called the "divine illness," as it was believed that the gods spoke to those who had such fits.

False Power

Major, Supernatural, Tainted
One of the character's Supernatural Virtues is associated with the Infernal realm, in addition to the realm with which it would normally be associated, which causes it to appear unholy when subjected to Divine or Infernal investigation. This quality could be because of something inherent to the Power, or perhaps because of the interference of Infernal agents. This Flaw can apply to Supernatural Virtues that define the character's background, like Faerie Blood, Diedne Magic, or even The Gift. In these cases, falsehood permeates the whole of the character's being, causing everything she does to seem unholy to those with the ability to sense it The False Power is often subtly changed by its Infernal aspect, making it more sinister or negative. Here are some examples:

(False) Premonitions: The taint of the character's Premonitions Power leaves it vulnerable to Infernal manipulation, even if the character has Magic Resistance. Many of the character's premonitions are accurate, and pursuit of the stories they evoke is usually worthwhile. These valuable insights often lead characters to trust lies that a demon offers through the Power in order to manipulate their response to pivotal events.

(False) Second Sight: The character is particularly likely to see through an illusion or deception when what he sees would lead him to sin. Sometimes he may see through mundane obstacles, if the information gained would tempt him to sinful acts.

(False) Shapeshifter: The character can change his shape, but only into animals typically associated with the Infernal, such as a cat, a wolf, a raven, or a rat. When in these shapes, he seems unholy to those can recognize that quality.

It is quite possible that the character does not know that his Power is false. Once he does, he may find himself in a moral dilemma. Most people consider it a sin to use Powers associated with the Infernal realm for any reason, and would label him an infernalist if they discovered the nature of his Power. Yet his Power is also associated with another realm, making it more difficult to recognize it as Infernal, and leaving it unclear whether the Power is inherently evil or simply tainted by association. Perhaps the character believes it is not wrong for him to use his Powers, so long as he does not pursue evil ends with them.

Once the character recognizes that the Power has an unholy aspect, he may choose to treat it as an Infernal Power at any time, using the Infernal Power column of the realm interaction chart and thus giving him a bonus in Infernal auras. This may also grant him other benefits: like other infernalists he can boost his casting total with sacrifices, and use an Infernal Ceremony to include others in the activation, as described in Realms of Power: The Infernal, page 91. However, doing this removes any illusions about the Power's realm — even magical and faerie Powers can recognize that it is Infernal.

If the character realizes his Power is corrupted, he may decide to seek help from the Divine. Sincere repentance and participation in a form of ceremonial absolution allow the character to lose this Flaw, though this also takes away the Virtue it modifies. This is a heavy penance, but it is the only way to exorcise the evil influence of the Infernal realm, and of course there are far greater rewards in Heaven.

This Flaw may be taken multiple times, once for each appropriate Supernatural Virtue that the character possesses, but in each subsequent instance as a Minor Flaw rather than a Major one. Also note that this Flaw cannot apply to Supernatural Virtues that are affiliated to the Infernal realm in the first place, and the troupe may not allow it to apply to Virtues derived from the Divine.

Favors

Major, Story
You owe a boon to someone (or to a great many people), and may be called upon to return the favor at any time. The consequences of ignoring such a request can range from mild to deadly serious, at the storyguide's discretion.

Fear

Minor, Personality
You are scared of something that you are likely to encounter fairly often. Its presence makes you edgy and very uncomfortable.

Feral Scent

Minor, General
Perhaps due to his beast blood or feral upbringing, the character has the strong natural smell of a wild animal. Humans tend to avoid being too close to him, and may be on edge in his vicinity without knowing why. He may well spook domesticated animals if he surprises them. He suffers a -1 penalty to social interactions (which stacks with the penalties imposed by The Gift, if he has it), and develops a negative Reputation of Unclean at level 2. However, if he has Initiated the Sensory Magic Mystery (described in Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, page 27), any spells he casts with a Scent Target have twice their normal area of effect.

Feral Upbringing

Minor, General
You grew up in the wilderness, either raised by wild animals or surviving on your own. For much of your life you could not speak, and knew nothing of human ways. Now that you have joined human society (or the covenant), you have learned to understand some basic spoken phrases, but civilized life is still a mystery you want little part of. You may only choose beginning Abilities that you could have learned in the wilds. In particular, you may not start with a score in a Language. In your first five years you gain 120 experience points, which must be split between (Area) Lore, Animal Handling, Athletics, Awareness, Brawl, Hunt, Stealth, Survival, and Swim.

Fettered Magic

Minor, Hermetic
All of your spells and the effects of any magic items you activate are Arcane Connections to you. You cannot take this with the Virtue Tethered Magic, as the Virtue already includes this effect.

Feud

Major, Story
Your family is involved in a feud. The opposing family or families are roughly of equivalent strength to your family and its allies. You are liable to be ambushed or attacked by opposing clansmen, and your family expects you to join raids against your enemies.

Fickle Nature

Minor, Personality
The character swings between two types of personality behaviors that are directly opposite. There is no middle ground, so the character is always either displaying traits of one behavior or the other. Select a Personality Trait at +4, and its opposite at +4. Typical Personality Traits are: Happy and Sad, Energetic and Lazy, Confident and Diffident, or Proud and Humble.

Fish Out of Water (Terrain)

Minor, General
This character has an affinity with one type of terrain, whether this is at sea, in the woods, the rolling hills, or in the urban landscape of towns and cities, and feels uncomfortable and awkward when away from where he wants to be. The character suffers a –1 penalty to all stress rolls taken outside of their favored terrain and also rolls one more botch dice than normal in those situations.

Appropriate areas may be Cities & Towns, Villages, Rivers, The Sea, Mountains, Woodland, Desert, etc.

This Flaw may only be taken once, because taking it more than once makes it less serious, rather than more.

Flashbacks

Minor, General
When engaged in combat, or a similar violent and tense situation, the stress might trigger a flashback to the horrors of past battles, which left this character mentally scarred. The hallucinations seem so real that it is hard to avoid reacting to them. When an event appropriate for the Flashbacks occurs, roll a stress die against an Ease Factor of 9. On a failure, the character panics and reverts to his past nightmares. At the storyguide's discretion, modifiers from -1 to -5 could apply, for things like full-scale battle, fires, or stampeding animals. In addition, add or subtract any relevant Personality Traits, depending on whether they might lessen or worsen the effects of this Flaw.

Bear in mind that positive traits like loyal, reliable, lawabiding, or calm should be helpful in avoiding this affliction. Similarly, negative traits like selfish, angry, or corrupt subtract from the roll, making him more likely to succumb. Often, his actions hurt, embarrass, or offend comrades, employers, or other important people, and might have social repercussions. On a botch, he'll get into real trouble — it could result in someone being seriously hurt or killed, in valuables being broken or in him failing in his duty at a critical time.

For magi, this Flaw should not involve flashbacks to Twilight episodes, spell botches or laboratory disasters. Since most of these situations won't get worse by applying a penalty to the rest of the scene, it won't be enough of a Flaw. But magi can be affected by combat, house fires, or cave-ins just as much as other character types.

Flawed Parma Magica

Minor, Hermetic
Your Parma Magica is defective and provides only half the normal Magic Resistance against a certain Form. You may purchase this Flaw more than once for different Forms.

Flawed Powers

Minor, Supernatural
The character must have at least one Major Supernatural Virtue to take this Flaw. The character's supernatural powers are limited or restricted in some fashion. She suffers the effects of a Major Hermetic Flaw (commonly Restriction or Necessary Condition), but it is applied to her Supernatural Virtues rather than to her Hermetic magic (if any). Any Flaw that is only appropriate to Hermetic Magic (for example, Deficient Technique or Unstructured Caster) cannot be taken with this Flaw. Note that the restriction on the supernatural power is not a separate Major Flaw: this Minor Flaw represents the fact that a Major Supernatural Virtue is less central to a character's activities than Hermetic magic is to a magus.

Fluctuating Fortune

Minor, Supernatural
The character's finances rise and fall like the tide, regardless of how successful he is or what preventative measures he takes. He is considered to have the Wealthy Virtue one year, followed by the Poor Flaw the next. Besides monetary concerns, this means that the character will have to only work one season in one year, followed by a year in which he has to work three, all to maintain his livelihood. This cycle of feast and famine continues throughout the character's life, always in opposition to his financial desires. When he needs money most, he has none, and has an abundance of funds when they are superfluous.

Follower

Minor, Personality
The character is a follower, not a leader. He rarely takes the initiative, but is usually happy to follow the direction of a forthright and decisive person. If he finds a leader, he tends to stick with her.

Foreign Upbringing

Minor, Personality
This Flaw is somewhat similar to Covenant Upbringing, but means that the character is a foreigner and comes from a remote or isolated corner of Mythic Europe. He appears and sounds nothing like the locals, has odd customs, habits, and religion (although he need not be pagan), and is quite confused by local society. However, he is not an Outsider, and has been accepted — for the most part. His Native Language is one foreign to the saga, and he needs to learn another language in order to communicate with the rest of the turb. The maximum scores at character creation for locality-dependent Abilities like Language, Area Lore, or Organization Lore, as well as some social Abilities, are half (round up) that which his age normally allows.

(Form) Monstrosity

Minor, Supernatural
This Flaw is primarily intended for animal characters, but may be taken for characters who are basically human with the approval of the troupe. The character is a monstrosity with a monstrous feature, or mutation, which corresponds to a magical Form. The feature may be beneficial in limited circumstances, but generally gives the character no advantage over its non-mutated peers.

Animals are not usually bothered by monsters — the character still has the correct scent, and behavior — and a single monstrous bull might be found happily living among a herd of otherwise normal cattle, for example. People, on the other hand, are highly troubled by the appearance of monstrosities, which they invariably attribute to malign influence: obviously monstrous animals are usually killed by peasants. Often, 1 pawn of Muto vis may be extracted from the corpse of a monstrous character, found concentrated in the monstrous feature.

Some examples of possible monstrosities are listed nearby, but the troupe may devise their own, as required:

Monstrosity Examples

Form	Monstrosity
Animal	an additional head
Aquam	gills, or webbing on land animals
Auram	wings on a land or sea animal
Corpus	human-like limbs or eyes
Herbam	a branch for a tail
Ignem	fiery breath, or an extremely elevated body
Imaginem	unnatural hide (tiger fur on a horse, for example)
Mentem	sensitivity to spirits (animal can both sense and is afraid of spirits)
Terram	teeth or claws of stone
Vim	sensitive to magic (animal feels pain when in a magical aura)

Fragile Constitution

Minor, General
You are sickly and weak. You suffer a –3 penalty on all rolls to recover from wounds and diseases.

Frail

Minor, General
The character is weak of build and easily hurt when undertaking physical activities. He has a -3 penalty to his Soak score.

Fury

Major, Story
A violent temper sometimes overwhelms you, sending you into a destructive, uncontrollable rage. You are likely to be provoked by some sort of specific event, such as being insulted, being hurt, or hearing the Order of Hermes disparaged. Roll 9+ on a stress die to avoid flying into a rage when such an event occurs, with another roll every round to try to calm yourself should you fail the first. On a botch, you try to kill everyone around you. While enraged you get +3 to Damage, but -1 on all other scores and rolls.

Gabai

Minor, Social Status
Appointed by the community council, the gabai is the local tax collector. It is his responsibility to ensure that Jewish taxes, payable to the community on such things as wine and meat, are collected from all adult males. The gabai has a –2 negative Reputation of "Tax Collector" in his community. This Flaw is compatible with any other Free Social Status Virtue.

Gender Nonconforming

Major or Minor, Personality
You do not conform to the expected behavior for a person of the gender that your society would assign to you in the absence of social cues such as clothes and behavior. This may mean, for example, that you dress as a member of another gender, or that you structure your life in a way considered appropriate to another gender, or that you are sexually attracted to members of the same gender. It does not necessarily mean that you disagree about what your gender is, although it may. As a Minor Flaw, it does not normally cause you problems, whether because your society accepts your behavior, or because you can turn people who object into newts, or for some other reason. As a Major Flaw, it does cause you problems.

Generous

Major or Minor, Personality
You willingly give away your property to anyone who expresses a desire for it, even if they are not particularly deserving. If something is very important, you might not give it to someone, but you will certainly share it.

Greater Malediction

Major, Supernatural
You have been cursed by some supernatural power, in a way that greatly hinders you. The effects of the curse should be comparable to those of other Major Flaws. Indeed, almost any Flaw could be the result of a curse.

Greedy

Major or Minor, Personality
You like to eat and drink, and do so to excess whenever given the chance. You are probably fat, but may not be if you rarely have the chance to indulge.

Grudge

Minor, Personality
For some reason, based on a past event, the character holds a strong grudge against someone who is part of his normal social circles, and with whom he would be expected to have cordial relations. He is constantly interested in what the other person is doing, what they are working on, and how he can outdo them.

Gullible

Minor, General
There is one born every minute - and it is this character! He is an easy victim of ruses, stories and teasing lies. People lying to him get a bonus to their Guile rolls of +1 to +3. Depending on how bright or sharp-witted he is, he might not fall for obvious lies, denials of things that are evident or common knowledge. However, he most likely falls for lies that are even remotely plausible, and if he has no idea whether or not something is true, he is almost certain to believe it. This could, for instance, be whether or not there are mischievous faeries under the bridge. If you really want the character to not fall for something, make an Intelligence + Folk Ken Stress roll against an Ease Factor equal to the Communication + Guile roll of the person telling the tall tale. Recommended modifiers to the Ease Factor are +0 for obvious lies (ones that someone without the Flaw would certainly not believe), +6 for outlandish tales and +9 for things which could be true, or lies told by someone in authority, or who has expert knowledge of the subject at hand.

Hallucinations

Minor, General
The character is afflicted by vivid hallucinations which seem to be true visions, but rather than coming from a higher power, they are figments of her imagination and fantasy. She finds these visions particularly troublesome, and seeks meaning in them where there is none to be had. Coincidence might mean that some part of her hallucinations comes to pass, which only furthers her belief that there is meaning within them. If the character also has the Visions Flaw, then some of her visions are true, but most of them are meaningless jumbles of nonsense generated from within her mind.

Harmless Magic

Minor, Hermetic
The character's Perdo spells cannot permanently destroy anything; they temporarily disrupt the target, like Perdo Imaginem magic, but as soon as the duration has passed the target returns to its natural state as if nothing had happened, like a Muto effect. This means that a version of The Wound that Weeps (PeCo15), for example, briefly causes a painful, bleeding wound that immediately closes again. Likewise, Fist of Shattering (PeTe10) causes an object of stone or weaker material to briefly break apart, but then fuse itself together again. The character's Ritual Perdo spells function normally, however.

This weakness can be a boon to a crafty character. A maga might invent a spell to destroy a heavy rock at Concentration Duration, she could then cast it and lie in wait. When her enemy walks into the vacant space, she could release her concentration and crush her victim beneath it when it reforms. However, in most cases this limitation is a minor hindrance, as useful Perdo magic requires longer Durations.

Hatred

Major or Minor, Personality
You hate someone or some group so much that hurting them dominates your life. The target of your hatred must not be someone you could easily overcome.

Hedge Wizard

Minor, Hermetic
Because of your esoteric magic, other magi distrust you, and more importantly, grant you no respect. You start with a negative Reputation within the Order of Hermes at level 3 as a hedge wizard, even though you are a member of the Order.

Heir

Minor, Story
You have little power or wealth now, but you stand to inherit land and possibly money. You need do nothing special to remain in your position, but others may occasionally attempt to remove you from the line of succession — one way or another. When you finally win your inheritance you gain its responsibilities as well, so your freedom may be restricted.

Hermetic Patron

Minor, Story
You must be a Redcap or magus to take this Flaw.

You are watched over by an older magus or a more established Redcap, who considers you his charge and helps you out from time to time. This patron must be an NPC. Because of your special relationship, he is willing to do additional favors for you that cost him little, such as casting spells on you, lending you magic items, allowing you access to his books, providing you with mundane materials, supporting you financially for a season or two, or even adopting you into his House. However, in return he will expect special attention from you, and may periodically send you on missions or assign you important tasks.

You may take this Flaw with a large group of magi as your patrons, though the more numerous your benefactors, the more you will be expected to do for them.

Higher Purpose

Major or Minor, Personality
Let others concern themselves with petty matters, you have a nobler goal. This purpose should be altruistic, like freeing an oppressed people or bringing peace between the Order of Hermes and society.

Hobbled

Minor, General
Both of the character's legs are severely damaged. She may not walk unless assisted by crutches or other devices, with which she can only move a mere half mile per hour. Any roll that requires moving quickly is penalized by –9. Her Dodge and other combat rolls are penalized by –6, and you roll double the normal botch dice in combat situations.

Horrifying Appearance – Snake Legs

Major, Supernatural
You have no legs, and instead your hips give rise to two or more snake-like tails; you should consider how you survived childhood with this horrific deformity. Your movement is not hindered under most circumstances. You can hide this deformity under clothing, but you cannot move without revealing it, leaving you feigning being crippled as well.

Humble

Minor, Personality
You are humble, always willing to believe that others are more skilled and better than you. You do not necessarily underestimate your own abilities, you just think others are better.

Hunchback

Minor, General
You have a deformed body that gives you a grotesque appearance and hinders your movements. You are at -3 to all rolls involving agility and balance. Communication rolls that involve good looks are at -3.

Hunger for (Form) Magic

Major, Supernatural
The character has been repeatedly exposed to magic and has thus become dependent upon magic to survive. The character must consume 1 pawn of vis each season, corresponding to the Form that it has been mostly exposed to. If the character is unable to consume a pawn of vis in a season, it loses a Long-Term Fatigue Level that cannot be regained until a pawn of the appropriate vis is consumed. For example, a character that has Hunger for Ignem Magic and has not consumed a pawn of Ignem vis for a whole year will have lost 4 Long-Term Fatigue Levels, and so be Dazed with a -5 penalty to activities. If the character then consumes 1 pawn of Ignem vis, it will regain a Fatigue Level and become Tired after an hour has elapsed.

Imagined Folk Tradition Vulnerability

Minor, Personality
Although this flaw closely resembles a Delusion, Imagined Folk Tradition Vulnerability has other game mechanical effects as well. This character utterly and sincerely believes that he has been touched by the fay, and that they have granted him his special skills — whether or not any such exist. So, naturally, he is convinced that he is as vulnerable to traditional wards and folk magic as the fey. Whenever there is talk about such folk remedies, or people around him try to perform them, he does his best to dissuade them. If he can get away with it, he removes or sabotage such wards; for instance, he sneaks around at night and removes any warding marks or materials at doorways. Finally, he exhibits strange behavior around active wards or ritualistic actions. This could be refusing to shake hands with a person right after they have drawn the sign of the cross, or flinching whenever salt is flung over someone's shoulder. On the plus side, this Flaw allows the character to purchase a score of 1 (but no more) in Faerie Lore at character creation. This is because he needs a rudimentary knowledge of the fay and the wards against them in order to be able to act this way. Without such knowledge, his behavior is based on what he thinks such wards might be.

Impious Friend

Minor, Story, Tainted
A minor demon poses as a friend of the character. The demon takes a pleasant form but is usually invisible to anyone, other than its charge, who lacks appropriate supernatural abilities. Many of these demons are introduced to the tainted people they will defend and control during infancy. They become childhood playmates.

The tainted person has not bargained for the services of the demon. Instead, the character receives the services of his friend as part of its master's plan to guide the character toward a tragic destiny. If the demon feels the character's life is threatened, it may seek additional assistance from its master. The tainted person believes the demon wishes only the best for him. Many are ignorant of the demon's true shape.

Incompatible Arts

Minor, Hermetic
For some reason you are completely unable to use two combinations of Techniques and Forms. For example, you may be unable to use Intellego Herbam and Intellego Animal. You may not use these Arts together even if one or both are requisites. This Flaw may be taken repeatedly with different combinations, but may not be combined with a Deficiency (see page 125).

Incomprehensible

Minor, General
You are almost completely unable to convey the knowledge and understanding that you have. Anyone trying to learn from you or from a book you have written must halve their Advancement Total (or Lab Total, if you are a magus and have written Lab Texts on some spells or enchanted items). If you are a magus teaching spells, halve all applicable Lab Totals, both yours and the student's.

Inconstant Magic

Minor, Hermetic
The character's magic is easily distracted, and it stutters and starts. Spells that require his guidance (e.g. concentration, or aimed spells) after being cast are not immediately responsive, as if the character must focus the spell's attention, and spells that are triggered by a condition (such as Waiting Spells or enchanted devices) take about two minutes to activate, as if the magic had wandered off when the caster was not watching it carefully. Any magic items he creates with constant effects are interrupted at sunrise and sunset; the magic is not seamless. The character suffers a -3 penalty to all Finesse rolls.

Independent Craftsman

Minor, General
This character has his own way of working and doesn't like other people getting in his way. This character always treats his Leadership and Craft or Profession Abilities as three levels lower when working with others on a given task. For Craftsmen, this means that whether he is working as an assistant or working with assistants his Craft Ability has a penalty of -3. This affects the number of assistants he can employ in the workshop and the benefit that he provides when working as an assistant. If you are not using the rules in City and Guild (page 73), treat this is a Personality Flaw.

Indiscreet

Major, Story
You are unable to keep a secret. You must tell all to the first interested party you meet in an effort to be helpful or to demonstrate that you are in-the-know, unless you succeed on an Intelligence-based stress roll against an Ease Factor of 9. If you botch, you may have to be physically restrained by your companions from answering any questions put to you for the remainder of the encounter.

Infamous

Minor, General
People know you well and curse you in their prayers. You have a level 4 bad Reputation, specifying the horrible deeds that earned you such ill will.

Infamous Master

Minor, Hermetic
Your master was a diabolist, bumbler, fool, widely despised, or held in contempt for some other reason. Most magi expect little better from you. Even if you've done nothing wrong, you are treated as though you don't deserve to be a member of the Order. You have a bad Reputation of the appropriate type at level 3 among magi.

Inscribed Shadow

Minor, Supernatural
The character's stigmata are reflected by glowing symbols in the character's shadow. This causes alarm among nonmagicians and makes the character's stigmata extremely easy for other Criamon magi to read (+3 on all rolls). The shadow's glowing symbols do not vanish when there is insufficient light to form a shadow — they burn brighter. Characters who use magic to hide their stigmata are not acting aptly. Only characters with stigmata may have this Flaw, which normally means that they must be magi of House Criamon.

Jinxed

Minor, General
The character is a magnet for any bad luck. He is not personally the cause of the bad luck, and so need not roll any extra botch dice or suffer any penalty to die rolls. However, whenever chance determines who will be affected by misfortune, the odds are biased against him to be the one affected. For example, if it has been determined that a rope used for climbing will break, it is more likely to do so when the jinxed character makes the climb. If determining when the bandits will attack the camp at night, it is more likely to happen right at the moment when the character is relieving himself. If the storyguide is rolling dice to determine the target of a random event, a jinxed character should be affected half of the time, and his comrades between them the other half. His bad luck does not tend to spill over onto others; in fact, other characters may prefer to keep him around to deflect any bad luck from themselves.

Judged Unfairly

Minor, General
Somehow you come across the wrong way to people, and they universally distrust and underestimate you. You catch no one's eye, impress no one, and can get no one to take you seriously. If you ever find an exceptional someone who sees you as you want to be seen, you will cling to that person. You cannot gain a positive Reputation in any community, and this Flaw is incompatible with any Virtue that gives you such a Reputation.

Lame

Minor, General
One of your legs is weakened, whether since birth or through some accident. You move slowly and clumsily. Your base speed is a mere one mile per hour, and anyone can outrun you. You suffer a –6 penalty on rolls involving moving quickly or with agility, –3 on Dodge, and –1 on other combat scores.

Lecherous

Major or Minor, Personality
You seek sexual contact with as many people as possible. Note that you need not be any good at seduction; skill here merely changes the kinds of problems you encounter.

Leprosy

Major, General
The character has leprosy. A leper has a permanent -2 modifier to her Living Condition (with an additional -1 if she lives in a leper colony), and whenever she undergoes an Aging Crisis (page 392) the leper sustains a Heavy Wound in addition to any other result. Lepers cannot gain a positive Reputation due to a pungent rotting smell that they emit.

Lesser Malediction

Minor, Supernatural
You have been cursed by some supernatural power. The effects of the curse should be about as bad as other Minor General Flaws.

Limited Magic Resistance

Minor, Hermetic
You are less able to resist magic than other magi. You gain no bonus from one of your Form scores to Magic Resistance, though if you are caught without your Parma Magica, you retain a Magic Resistance of 0. You may take this Flaw multiple times, for multiple Forms.

Lingering Injury

Minor, General
The character suffers from an old injury that won't heal properly, resulting in a –1 penalty to all rolls involving physical activity. If he botches a physical action, he aggravates the injury and the penalty becomes –3 (recovery from aggravation is as for a Light Wound). This condition worsens with age, so multiply whatever the penalty is by 1 + (Decrepitude Score).

Loose Magic

Minor, Hermetic
Your Advancement Total is halved whenever you try to Master spells.

Lost Love

Minor, Personality
You have lost your true love to death, distance, or marriage. You take little joy in life's pleasures and give up easily in the face of difficulty, since you've already lost the most important struggle. On those occasions when you forget yourself and have a good time, you inevitably feel sorrow afterwards, thinking about how it could have been if your love were with you.

Low Self-Esteem

Major, General
You have a deflated opinion of your own self-worth. You begin the game with no Confidence Score, and never have any Confidence Points.

Low Tolerance

Minor, General
The character cannot easily withstand pain and fatigue. Increase the penalties for reduced Fatigue levels by one point, and increase the total penalty from wounds the character has received by one point. You also suffer a –3 penalty on rolls for the character to resist pain.

Lycanthrope

Major, Supernatural
You have been cursed to change form into a dangerous predator (such as a wolf, lynx, or bear) on nights of the full moon (or similar, monthly, astrological events). No items or clothing transform between shapes, and it takes one full round for the full transformation to take effect. You are not immune to normal weapons, and the curse does not infect bite victims. The animal may be detected as a cursed human with an InAn or InCo spell.

You have the intelligence of an animal while changed, react to all stimuli as an animal, and do not retain any memory of actions taken in animal form, save occasionally in dreams. You may not even realize that you are under this curse. You can still recognize both friends and enemies when changed.

Lycanthropes may transform into a non-magical animal between Size –1 (wolf) and Size +2 (bear). You have the normal physical characteristics of a shapeshifter (see page 107), except that +3 is added to your Soak score (in animal form only). Furthermore, you are fully healed of all wounds incurred in animal form upon resuming human form (which happens at dawn).

Magic Addiction

Major, Hermetic
You crave the rush of casting and holding power over magic. Whenever you cast a spell, you have a difficult time stopping yourself from casting again and again until you drop from exhaustion. Whenever you use a stress die in spellcasting, you must, whether or not the spell succeeds, make an Intelligence + Concentration stress roll, against an Ease Factor of half the level of the spell (or, if you botched, the level you were attempting). If you fail, as your next action you must either cast a Formulaic spell of at least the same level as the previous spell, or cast any spontaneous spell, expending Fatigue and not reserving levels for Penetration. You must roll again to control your addiction, based on the level of the spell you just cast, but you get a +3 bonus to the roll for every spell you cast after the first. If you botch, you continue casting spells until you fall unconscious.

Magical Air

Major, General
People and animals react to you as if you had The Gift. You may not take this Flaw if you actually do have The Gift; see The Blatant Gift (page 120) instead.

Magical (Being) Companion

Minor, Story
The character is accompanied by an intelligent magical being, one that is smart enough to follow orders or disobey them on its own initiative, which the character must regularly look after. This might be an animal, a spirit, a human-like creature, or even an animate object. Realms of Power: Magic contains extensive rules for designing such characters, but they can also be made following the guidelines and examples in Chapter 13 of this book. A grog-level character might be essentially an extension of the character's will, while a companion-level character might follow instructions but often do what it thinks is best, and a magus-level character might be condescending or wild, and rarely act except on its own initiative.

A particularly common example is a magical animal that's smart enough to follow your orders or to disobey them on its own initiative. The smaller and more innocuous the creature, the more intelligent it is. A ferret or crow is as intelligent as a human, a wolf is very cunning, and an animal the size of a horse is simply more intelligent than normal. The creature has a Magic Might score of 10 – Size.

Magical Fascination

Minor, Personality
This character is intensely interested in supernatural and magical phenomena, to the exclusion of all other motivations. It is as if his life is hollow and drab without these experiences. He will involve himself in any supernatural investigation, social encounter, or confrontation. He must try and find out as much as he can about it, and he is curious and has busy hands, definitely trying to take souvenirs. To represent the scraps of knowledge he has, he is allowed to have a score of 1 (but no more) in either Magic or Faerie Lore at character creation. But most of the time, he is filling in the blanks himself and making it up as he goes along, enthusiastically.

Manifest Sin

Minor, Supernatural
A sin or crime this character has committed in the past stains his spirit and is manifest to those who can perceive things hidden to mortal senses. Characters with Second Sight, Sense Holiness & Unholiness, or similar Supernatural Powers or Abilities perceive the sin through one or more senses.

The manifestation of the sin or crime should be chosen by you and the storyguide together, and should always be appropriate to the sin or crime in question. For instance, the perpetrator of a violent crime may appear to have blood on his hands, or be accompanied by the sobbing of his victim, while lustful sins may be seen to play across the sinner's leering face.

In addition, the character suffer a -1 penalty to all social interaction rolls or totals as the intangible aura of their past sins affects those with whom they interact.

While his spirit is tainted and the manifestation will always be with him, he may spend a Faith Point, including Faith Points gained from taking Holy Communion and from relics, to banish the manifestation for Sun duration. While banished, the sin cannot be perceived and the social penalty is also suspended.

This Flaw originates from either the Divine or the Infernal Realm, as a mark of punishment, penitence, or temptation.

Manufactured Ignorance

Minor, Story, Tainted
The tainted person has a delusion, but his mistaken belief is sustained by a group of minor demons that provide a stream of supporting evidence. Different groups of demons create varying delusions for tainted people. Many such people believe they have a glorious destiny, and the world smiles at their efforts, because the demons make it appear so. Hermetic demon hunters have found more than one child who believed he was the final scion of a noble house.

In each story, the character receives one minor, fortunate occurrence that confirms his rosy view of life. Minor fortunate occurrences are situations demons can arrange surreptitiously ahead of time. They may include a character arriving at an inn where the last room is available, finding an important door unlocked, or a coal from the fireplace mysteriously extinguishing itself on the floor rushes.

Many Marriageable Daughters

Major, Story
The character has a lot of daughters and needs to participate in stories to marry them off suitably. In most sagas, this Flaw is most suitable for characters of high social status, as their stories are more likely to involve the covenant, and thus other characters.

Master of None

Minor, General
Either by choice or circumstance, this character never seems to be able to stick at a task or job for longer than a season, usually following the work as it moves through the year. As a result, this character can't apply any experience points earned through an Advancement Total to an Ability or Art that they have already applied experience points to this year. Where they can't be applied to a different Ability or Art, the experience points are lost. Experience points gained through other means, such as Secondary Insight, are unaffected and may be applied normally.

Meddler

Major or Minor, Personality
You want to fix other peoples' lives: arrange matches, teach children to sew "properly," or tend the sick. You waste a lot of time and energy on such endeavors, and people usually resent it.

Mentor

Minor, Story
A person of some importance, wealth, or wisdom has taken an interest in your life, and at times provides you with minor material aid and advice. However, at some point your mentor will have a small favor or two to ask of you. He might not necessarily like your relationship with the covenant — perhaps you must keep it a secret. The Mentor must be an NPC.

Missing Ear

Minor, General
You cannot accurately locate the direction of sounds, and suffer a penalty of –3 to hearing rolls.

Missing Eye

Minor, General
You cannot judge close distances easily and get –3 on Attack rolls for missiles and targeting rolls for spells. In melee combat you suffer –1 on Attack rolls because your field of vision is limited. You also have a blind side from which people can approach unseen. This Flaw can be combined with Poor Eyesight, but the penalties are cumulative.

Missing Hand

Minor, General
Perhaps it was an accident or a punishment in your past that cost you one of your hands. Climbing, combat, and other activities normally requiring both hands are at a penalty of -3 or greater.

Mistaken Identity

Major, Story
Someone, who looks exactly like you and whom you and your companions will most likely never meet, lives near you, and is responsible for an ongoing variety of violent, illegal, obscene, or embarrassing acts. You often have to explain who you are, and sometimes have to deal with the consequences of the other person's acts.

Monastic Vows

Major, Story
You have taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to a religious superior. This covers the vows taken by mendicant friars, as well as those taken by monks and nuns strictly speaking.

Monastic Vows (Hermetic)

Major, Hermetic
You have taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to a religious superior, which means that you cannot own vis and must only possess functional magic devices. You cannot marry, and many magi might interpret that as prohibiting binding a familiar. You must do what your master commands in service of your order, though in return you can expect aid and assistance when needed.

Monstrous Blood

Minor, Supernatural
The character's essential nature has been changed through exposure to the Magic realm, often because of a relationship to a magic being, which gives her true form unfortunate supernatural properties. This changes the character's appearance enough that others can immediately recognize that there is something wrong about her, and people might say that she has tainted blood. The character is more resistant to age and receives a -1 bonus to all Aging rolls, and may learn Magic Lore during character creation.

However, the character also gains a minor physical deformity appropriate to the Magic being type that is associated with the character's background. Some examples are below, or you can make up your own.

Magic Animal: The character has a physical feature normally associated with animals, such as wings, scales, gills, sharp teeth, or claws. These are not usable by the character, and give a –3 penalty to appropriate activities (such as running or climbing) as these deformities get in the way.

Magic Human: The character must decrease one of his Characteristics by 1, but not below –3. This might be Strength or Stamina to represent weakened blood, or Presence to indicate a dowdy appearance. The character also has a poor Reputation of level 3 among other magic beings.

Magic Spirit: The character has a mental block against many activities that are not supernatural, possibly due to a noticeable difficulty with retaining memories. Subtract 3 from all of the character's Intelligence and Perception rolls that do not involve a Supernatural Ability or Art.

Magic Thing: The character has a constant Lesser Power that is mostly detrimental to it in some way, such as a ward that prevents it from picking up wooden objects, or that causes books it touches to burst into flame. The effect normally occurs involuntarily, but the character can spend a Confidence Point to prevent it from triggering.

Motion Sickness

Minor, General
Riding a horse, in a cart, or sailing on a ship makes you violently ill. When not traveling on foot, you suffer double the fatigue loss on long journeys, with a minimum loss of two Fatigue levels. Violent jostling over a period of a few hours could conceivably lead to unconsciousness.

Mute

Major, General
You cannot speak; perhaps your tongue was cut out. You probably use rudimentary hand gestures and grunts to communicate your needs. You can still understand languages perfectly well, and may learn to read and write if you have an appropriate Virtue. Note that magi with this Flaw get a -10 penalty to all spellcasting, although this may be offset by taking the Quiet Magic Virtue (page 105). A magus with this Flaw can be assumed to be able to make sounds, which are sufficient to allow normal use of the Voice Range.

Necessary Condition

Major, Hermetic
In order for your magic to work, you must perform a specific action while casting any spell. This should be something simple, such as singing or spinning around three times. If you cannot perform the action, you cannot cast spells at all.

Necessary (Realm) Aura for (Ability)

Minor, Supernatural
Due to some connection with a given supernatural realm, the absence of a given supernatural aura has a pronounced effect upon the character's ability to focus on certain tasks. The character has a -3 penalty to any totals he generates with a particular Ability when not in the right aura. A character may take this Flaw once for any particular Ability. The chosen Ability should be one which the character is likely to use frequently, such as in service to the covenant or to support his day-to-day activities.

When applied to Craft or Profession Abilities, this Flaw also reduces the character's capability to support himself by reducing the number of Labor Points (as described in City & Guild) he accumulates each season when not working within the appropriate aura.

Troupes should think carefully about how a character would be limited by taking Magic (which covers most covenants) or Dominion (which covers most other human settlements) aura. If the character would not be limited, the Flaw should not be allowed.

Night Terrors

Minor, General
This character is plagued far too often by horrible nightmares and fits of screaming in his sleep. The character must make a Stress Roll against an Ease Factor of 9 in order to avoid suffering terrors. The storyguide may call for modifiers of -1 to -3 if he has faced eerie or terrifying events recently, like meeting a demon or battling the undead.

Suffering from terrors means that the character wakes up often and in a panic during the night. Situations might occur where he overreacts or reacts in unfortunate ways, if forced awake during such nights. The morning leaves him with a Long Term Fatigue Level lost. These Long Term Fatigue Levels are cumulative, so several bad nights leave him in bad shape. Subtract the character's Fatigue penalty from the Ease Factor to avoid night terrors, to represent how a truly exhausted victim will at some point sleep through the nightmares due to sheer exhaustion. If a night of terrors renders the character Unconscious, he slips into deep, dreamless sleep. He sleeps for an entire day and night, and wakes up at Winded, ending the string of Night Terrors. A character with this Flaw may not also take the Sleep Disorder Flaw

This Flaw normally makes seasonal Laboratory work impossible, and so is not suitable for magi.

No Hands

Major, General
You have no hands. Any activity requiring hands is impossible, and magi with this Flaw take a – 5 penalty to all Casting Scores. This may be offset by taking the Subtle Magic Virtue (page 110) or the Still Casting Spell Mastery ability.

No Sense of Direction

Minor, General
You are completely unable to follow directions. North, south, east, and west have no meaning to you, and you often confuse right and left. You frequently get lost while traveling unfamiliar paths by yourself, or with others following your lead, and often have to reason your way home or to your destination from first principles. This Flaw is incompatible with the Well Traveled Virtue.

Nocturnal

Minor, General
Your natural body rhythms try to keep you sleeping until noon. You are at –1 on all rolls made between dawn and midday. Conversely, you have little difficulty staying up at night. Though you enjoy no special benefits in the dark, your companions may decide to saddle you with night guard duty on a regular basis to use your attributes to best effect.

Noncombatant

Minor, Personality
You have no interest in combat, nor do you have any ability with it. You might be unreasonably afraid of combat, or a complete pacifist, or prone to freezing and doing nothing.

Oath of Fealty

Major, Story
You have sworn an oath of loyalty and support to someone outside the covenant, and sometimes they call on you to uphold your vow. Magi are forbidden from taking Oaths of Fealty by the Hermetic Code. Some don't let that stop them.

Obese

Minor, General
You are large because of fat, not muscle. You are at –1 to all rolls that involve moving quickly or gracefully and at –3 to all Fatigue rolls. You are not so large that your Size is increased, and you may take this Flaw along with the Virtues and Flaws that change your Size.

Obsessed

Major or Minor, Personality
You are fixated on some prized object, action, or ideal. This interferes with your accomplishment of more immediate tasks. Examples might include obsessive protection of magi to the point that you attack those who insult them, or obsessive neatness where you keep yourself spotless and deride those who do not.

Offensive to (Beings)

Minor, Hermetic and General
This Flaw is associated with one of six classes of beings: animals, mundane humans, divine beings, faeries, demons, or magical creatures. These last four include characters associated with the Divine, Faerie, Infernal, or Magic realm, respectively, through Supernatural Virtues or Flaws, as well as beings with Might.

Beings of the chosen category react badly to the character, as if he had The Gift, which makes them very uncomfortable around him and gives him a –3 to all social interaction rolls with them.

You may not take this Flaw more than once, characters who are Offensive to more than one kind of being should take Magical Air instead. Characters with The Gift may take this Flaw only if they have the Gentle Gift, which makes this type of being react to them negatively while others are unaffected. Characters with Magical Air may not take it at all.

If you are offensive to animals, animals with a Might score react in different ways. In general, those that react negatively to The Gift react negatively to you, while those that react positively do not, unless you actually have The Gift.

Optimistic

Major or Minor, Personality
You are convinced that everything will turn out for the best. This is not overconfidence, as you accept that you might well fail. Even if you do, however, you are sure that circumstances will mean that everything works to your benefit.

Outcast

Minor, Social Status
You have the rough task of making it on your own—normal society rejects you and you are not attached to a covenant. Perhaps you have a magical nature, a supernatural background, some disfigurement, or a tremendous scandal in your past. You may not take the Wealthy Virtue.

Outlaw

Major, Social Status
You have been outlawed, and must live by your wits outside society. You may take Martial Abilities at character generation, and have a Reputation at level 2 for whatever got you outlawed. Outlaw followers created as grogs should take the Branded Criminal, Outcast or Wanderer social status.

Outlaw Leader

Minor, Social Status
You command a small group (three to six persons) of outlaws. Your followers look up to you and do what you tell them within reason. However, you must occasionally stick up for the group or one of its members, as well as provide for them. You often have to deal with challenges to your leadership in one form or another. You are well known as an outlaw in the local area, with a Reputation level of 3. You are actively sought by the local lord, sheriff, or other such official. You may take Martial Abilities at character generation. Grogs may not take this Flaw.

Outsider

Minor or Major, Social Status
You belong to a group that is both readily identifiable and distrusted or disliked. Examples in most of Europe include Jews, North Africans, and Arabs. For sagas set in Egypt, this Flaw is appropriate for Europeans.

If you live in society, take the Major version. You are shunned and often persecuted because of this, and your life and freedom may occasionally be in peril. You have a bad Reputation of level 1 to 3 (depending upon how easy it is to identify you) among members of the dominant social group of your area.

If you spend most of your life in a closed group, such as a city ghetto or covenant, where people like you are accepted, take the Minor version, as you are only shunned if you leave your home, and have somewhere relatively safe to run to if you find trouble. You still have the bad Reputation among members of the dominant social group, but do not meet them so often.

As a general rule, companions should take the Major version of this Social Status, as they probably interact with wider society often enough for it to be a major problem. Grogs may take the Minor version.

If the saga takes the character to an area where they are a member of the dominant culture (an Egyptian who lives in a covenant in Ireland travels to Egypt, for example), the troupe should decide on a suitable Social Status for the character. This should normally be a Free Social Status Virtue, unless there are established facts in the character's background that suggest a different choice.

Overconfident

Major or Minor, Personality
You have a completely unshakable faith in your own abilities. You believe that you will always perform at, or slightly above, the peak of your abilities, and cannot imagine failure. If you actually botch, you come up with some rationalization as to what 'really' happened.

Oversensitive

Major or Minor, Personality
Something that others find merely unpleasant you consider intolerable. Examples might include an oversensitivity to disrespect, to slovenliness, or to impiety. If you are the violent type, you may start fights with those who offend you.

Pagan

Major or Minor, Personality
You do not follow the teachings of the Church, and have never been baptized. This tends to upset those in authority in Mythic Europe and frighten common people who learn of it. You do not observe Christian holidays, and you try to avoid churchmen and the Dominion. You cannot pretend to go along with society, however, because you believe that it would displease your gods and incur their wrath — you might suffer grave supernatural consequences if you take Communion or appear to worship gods other than your own. You may begin with Magic Lore or Faerie Lore, depending on the specifics of your faith. (This is not a Flaw in areas of Mythic Europe with substantial pagan populations, but by 1220 the only such areas are in parts of the Novgorod Tribunal. It may also be a Minor Flaw for grogs who live at a covenant with a substantial pagan population that is an accepted and open part of the covenant community.)

Painful Magic

Major, Hermetic
Casting spells causes you to suffer the equivalent of one Fatigue level in pain for each spell you cast. This reduces all your actions by the appropriate Fatigue penalty, which is cumulative with any from actual fatigue or injuries (though you do not suffer any physical damage from pain). You recover these "pain levels" just like Fatigue levels.

Palsied Hands

Minor, General
Your hands shake uncontrollably, which makes casting spells or holding objects difficult. All rolls involving holding or wielding an object are made at -2, including weapon skills. Magi and others who rely on hand gestures to work magic must roll an extra botch die when casting a spell.

Pessimistic

Minor, Personality
You always expect the worst. You may try to enjoy yourself, but you are sure that anything that can go wrong, will, and will pick on you.

Pious

Major or Minor, Personality
You are a fervent follower of your religion. You avoid the things it prohibits, and enthusiastically do the things it commands.

Plagued by Supernatural Entity

Major, Story
Some supernatural being interferes in your life on a fairly regular basis. It may even have your best interests at heart, but the result is that you get dragged into stories. Suitable examples would be a demon trying to corrupt you, an angel trying to save you, a faerie playing games with you, or a ghost continuing the agenda she had while alive.

Poor

Major, General
You are a poor member of your social class. You must work three seasons per year in order to make ends meet, and can afford only the necessities of life, as measured by your status. This also means that you have one fewer season available for any form of advancement other than exposure, which is a major hindrance. You cannot take this Flaw if you are supported by the covenant. In particular, this Flaw is not available to magi.

Poor (Characteristic)

Minor, General
You have an exceedingly bad Characteristic — lower one which is already —3 or lower by one point. Describe what it is about you that makes this obvious, such as a feeble stature, hideous visage, or slack-jawed stupidity. You may take this Flaw twice for a single Characteristic, lowering it to —5, and multiple times for different Characteristics.

Poor Concentration

Minor, General
While the character may have a mind that is quick to make decisions, he has a short attention span. The character has a -3 penalty to Concentration rolls.

Poor Eyesight

Minor, General
Bleary vision impedes your performance. Rolls involving sight, including rolls to attack and defend, are at –3. New environments are disorienting and perhaps frightening for you. This Flaw can be combined with Missing Eye, but the penalties are cumulative.

Poor Formulaic Magic

Minor, Hermetic
You are simply not very good at Formulaic magic. Subtract 5 from every roll that you make to cast Formulaic spells. This does not apply to Ritual spells.

Poor Hearing

Minor, General
Subtract 3 from rolls involving hearing. Speech that is hard for others to understand because of language, dialect, or accent is almost impossible for you to follow. You often pretend to be listening to people when in fact you are not.

Poor Living Conditions

Minor, General
Either because of this character's own poor living conditions, or those of people he is in frequent contact with, he is more susceptible to the rigors of daily life. The character has an additional –1 Living Conditions Modifier. This is cumulative with the character's base Living Conditions Modifier.

Poor Memory

Minor, Personality
You have a very hard time recalling one type of thing, such as names, faces, or places.

Poor Student

Minor, General
You are bad at learning new things. Subtract 3 from all Advancement Totals derived from teaching and books (that is, you have no penalty to adventure experience, exposure, practice, studying from vis, or training), but do not reduce a total below one. If you could learn something without this Flaw, you still learn a bit.

Primitive Equipment

Minor, General
The character is capable of using only the simplest tools and equipment. Perhaps her training was incomplete, or she has been affected by some sort of curse, or maybe she originates from a less technologically capable society and refuses to adapt. She is restricted to Inexpensive weapons and armor only, regardless of what is made available to her. If forced by order or necessity to use other equipment, her Burden is one point higher when she uses anything other than Inexpensive weapons, and one point higher when she uses anything other than Inexpensive armor. She suffers a -1 penalty to Attack and Defense if using inappropriate weapons, and a -1 penalty to Initiative and Protection if using inappropriate armor. If the character works as a laborer or craftsman, she uses simple tools and primitive procedures. Unless working with simple tasks, the base Craft Value (see City & Guild, page 67) is raised by 1-3 at the storyguide's discretion, based on complexity. Further, her workshop may not be improved with regards to Innovation (City & Guild, page 65). Other Profession Abilities dependent on tools and equipment suffer a similar penalty for complex tasks. You should only take this Flaw if the character belongs to a profession that relies heavily on equipment, such as a smith, mason, or soldier.

Primogeniture Lineage

Minor, Story and Hermetic
The character is in line for Primus of House Verditius. Either her parens, or her parens's parens, is the Primus, and she is one of his descendants. She is at least three places removed from the Primus. She receives undue attention from the House, as they eye her as a prospective Primus. The other magi in the same line may also regard her poorly, hoping to somehow remove her from her heritage. Her ascension to Primus is far from guaranteed, and many events may transpire to prevent her from claiming the title. This should foster very political stories for her. This Flaw can only be taken by magi of House Verditius, as a maga who has left the House is no longer a candidate for Primus. In her case, it would be no more than an interesting feature of her background.

Prohibition

Minor, Supernatural
You have had a Conditional Curse (also known as a "Geas") cast upon you and must obey the restrictions of your prohibition or be penalized by the curse. If you fail to adhere to the restrictions, you will suffer the curse in full force. The troupe must agree on both the restriction, and the curse that strikes you if you break it.

Proud

Major or Minor, Personality
You believe that you are more important than just about everybody, and expect the appropriate respect. Magi may admit one or two equals, but do not believe that they have any superiors. Mundanes will admit social superiors, but still believe themselves to be fundamentally better than, say, the king.

Raised from the Dead

Major, Story, Supernatural
You died, and were brought back to life through a holy miracle. You begin with at least three Warping points, plus one Warping point for every year that has passed since you were resurrected, and you automatically receive another Warping point every year you continue living. You also have a level 4 reputation in the area where the miracle occurred. You do not remember what happened to you while you were dead, although you may have virtuous impulses that you cannot explain.

Raised in the Gutter

Minor, General
This character was raised on the margins of society. She is able to use her social abilities normally with those of the lower and middle classes, but doesn't know how to act among her "betters." When using Charm or Guile, it is obvious that she's from the bad part of town, and this makes convincing people to do what she wants harder (-3 on rolls). She can use Etiquette normally if she's holding her social place (which means staying silent and doing exactly what she's told) but suffers a -3 penalty if she tries to go beyond this.

(Realm) Stigmatic

Minor, Supernatural
The character occasionally manifests physical phenomena in the presence of supernatural powers. Pick one of the four Realms of Power; whenever he enters an aura of strength 4 or more aligned to that realm, or is affected by a power greater than fourth magnitude (20th level) from that realm, he suffers from the stigmata. Every individual suffers from stigmata differently, but the most common variants are dark marks appearing on the skin, blood issuing from orifices, spontaneous eruption of wounds, minor twisting of the limbs, or the acquisition of minor animal features. Whenever they manifest, the character loses a Long-Term Fatigue level that he cannot recover while he remains under the influence of that Realm. When he recovers the Fatigue level, the stigmata fade. If he ever takes a Warping point from exposure to his sensitive Realm, his stigmata erupt so violently that he takes a Light Wound as well as Fatigue, and the stigmata remain until he recovers from this wound.

Rebellious

Major or Minor, Personality
You react adversely to any attempt to impose authority over you, and work against those who are in command. You do not necessarily have any desire to be a leader yourself, but you don't like to be pushed around.

Reckless

Major or Minor, Personality
You tend not to notice that situations are threatening, and certainly do not stop to consider whether they might be. You just go ahead and charge right in.

Reclusive

Minor, Personality
You do not like being disturbed or interrupted. You feel that an intrusion by another upon your time is unnecessary at best, and an insult at worst. You are very reluctant to be dragged into public places, or group activities, and generally complain when you must participate. Note that this is often a bad Flaw for a player character, unless there is a good reason why that character needs to stay out of play most of the time (for example, he is played by the alpha storyguide).

Rector/Proctor

Major, Story
The character is the representative leader of his faculty or nation at a university, depending on whether he is a master or a student. He is responsible for his colleagues' behavior and is obliged to deal with their academic concerns. The character must have a Social Status Virtue dictating his place within the university. The character can expect to spend considerable time sorting out his fellows' affairs.

Regular

Minor, General
The character lives according to a strict religious rule, which leaves little time for other activities. The character must spend one of his free seasons on the seasonal activity of worship. This is particularly suitable for monk and canon characters, but it is not compulsory. The Regular Flaw is compatible with Wealthy and Poor, but a Poor Regular character effectively has no free seasons and may be unsuitable as a player character. Magi can be Regular.

Repellent

Major, General, Tainted
The character has developed one of the physical characteristics of his demonic creator, which causes fear and revulsion among normal humans. The character makes all rolls requiring trust with a –6 penalty. The character also gains a minor advantage from the repellent feature. As examples, a character with horns, claws, or fangs could learn to use them in melee, a scaled character might have a Soak bonus of +3, and a character with demonic eves might see in the dark.

Restricted Learning

Minor, General
The character is incapable of learning new things without assistance. Pick five Abilities at character creation; you can only apply experience points to these Abilities. The character cannot learn any new Abilities on her own; she must receive experience points from Teaching or Training to develop a new Ability or to improve one that is not part of the initial five. Furthermore, she cannot use an Ability with no score, even if it can normally be used untrained. Any Supernatural Abilities from Virtues she possesses are added to the list of Abilities to which she can apply experience points. All mundane animals are required to take this Flaw. A character with Intelligence rather than Cunning is not a mundane animal for these purposes.

Restricted Power

Minor, Supernatural
This Flaw limits the use of a supernatural power that can normally be used at will, such as those granted by the Focus Power, Greater Power, Lesser Power, Personal Power, and Ritual Power Virtues. The character must perform some special ceremony to activate it, such as drawing symbols on the ground or gesturing and chanting like a magus, or else the power only functions on a limited class of targets (such as men, wolves, sounds, or sand) or in specific circumstances (like at night, under water, when touching iron, or after singing a song). This Flaw may be taken once for each power the character possesses.

Restriction

Major, Hermetic
You cannot cast spells at all under certain uncommon conditions. These might refer to your state, such as touching the earth directly or having no beard, or to the target, such as birds or glass, or to your location when you use the magic, such as on a small boat or in a storm. The Restriction also applies to effects generated by any enchanted items you create. Spells cast remain in effect even if the Restriction comes into play. Thus, if your Restriction is that you must not have a beard, you cast a spell with Year duration, and then grow a beard, the spell does not fail.

Rigid Magic

Major, Hermetic
You cannot use vis when you cast spells. Thus, you cannot increase your spell rolls or cast Ritual magic. You can use vis in the laboratory, or to refresh a Longevity Ritual.

Rolling Stone

Minor, General
The rolling stone gathers no moss, and neither does this character. She has moved from village to village so often that she finds it difficult to create attachments in the community. All social rolls have a –1 penalty within the community.

Savantism

Minor, General
The character's family was cursed by faeries; his mother tripped over a hare while pregnant with him; or he was born on horseback. He is physically capable, but simpleminded and slow-witted. He has half the standard experience points at character generation, all future Advancement Totals are halved, and he may not begin with an Ability above 3. However, with one favored Ability, he is exceptionally gifted. This Ability can improve normally, is limited to a score of 6 as a starting character, and has +3 to all rolls related to its specialization rather than just +1. The Ability must be something he could reasonably have access to learn; there would need to be an extraordinary background story for a savant who is a master of the longsword!

Most savants will be like the tragic fool whose precocious skill with horses has gone forever unnoticed, but some may have more esoteric talents. If the favored Ability requires a Virtue, such as Academic or Martial Abilities, then he must have that Virtue as normal; a mathematical savant would need a Virtue such as Educated to learn Artes Liberales. Magi may well desire the company of certain specialists: a Jerbiton maga would appreciate an artistic savant, for example. Similarly, a Failed Apprentice may have been left stricken with savantism when his Gift abandoned him, but he retained remarkable clarity on the Code of Hermes, becoming a valued clerk to a Quaesitor.

Secretive

Minor, Personality
The character is prone to keeping secrets from his sodales. He rarely explains what he is doing or why he is doing it, which can frustrate those around him.

Seeker

Minor, Personality
You are a self-proclaimed member of the Seekers, a loose organization of competitive magi searching for ancient magic and arcane artifacts. Much of your life is spent in pursuit of these items. Your interests may occasionally clash with other interests of your House or covenant. More details about the Seekers can be found on page 15 of Houses of Hermes: True Lineages.

Servant of the (Land)

Major, Story
Some powerful magical creature has saved the character from death or granted a similar boon, and in return the character has been set a task. Possible tasks include: preaching a message, operating a lighthouse, or preventing hunting in a certain area. Usually the task is either difficult or time-consuming, and while it remains incomplete the character has the Minor Personality Flaw: Prohibition, but this does not count toward the character's total number of Virtues and Flaws. The Prohibition means that if the character does not spend at least one complete season every year working toward his assigned task, a curse afflicts him. Possible curses include: a magical compulsion to return to the land where the character must explain himself to his master, turning into an animal, or acquiring a Supernatural Flaw.

Sheltered Upbringing

Minor, Personality
You grew up completely separated from society, knowing only your parents or mentor. Recently you have been introduced to a wondrous new world of strangers, and you are overwhelmed. Depending on your personality, you might react with contempt, fear, or wonder. You are unable to function normally because you cannot understand most human customs. You may not take Bargain, Charm, Etiquette, Folk Ken, Guile, Intrigue, or Leadership as beginning Abilities, but you may learn them in play.

Short Attention Span

Minor, Personality
You have trouble concentrating. Keeping watch, listening to complex orders, following the plot of a story, or performing other such tasks that require continued attention are usually not within your ability.

Short-Lived Magic

Minor, Hermetic
Your spells do not last as long as they should. Spells that should last a year, last a moon; those of a moon, only to the next sunrise or sundown; and those of a sun, merely Diameter. Diameter, Concentration, Ring, and Momentary spells are not affected.

Short of Breath

Minor, General
The character cannot last as long as others when exerting himself and quickly tires during extended physical activity. He receives a —3 penalty to all Stamina rolls to avoid fatigue, including rolls to maintain Concentration.

Short-Ranged Magic

Major, Hermetic
Halve your Casting Totals whenever you are not touching the target of the spell. Halve your Lab Total when designing an effect or spell that has a range greater than Touch, including Eye.

Simple-Minded

Minor, Personality
You can only think about one thing at a time — guarding the bridge, hunting for a missing ring, or hiding in the trees for example. You become easily confused unless others give you very clear instructions. When unexpected circumstances pop up, you find them difficult to deal with.

Sleep Disorder

Minor, General
More often than not, this character is unable to sleep soundly during the night. The resulting deprivation means that he is likely to nod off in periods of quiet and boredom. When the character is alone, comfortable, bored, or otherwise at risk of falling asleep, he needs to make a suitable Personality roll to avoid nodding off. Loyal, Reliable, and Lazy (for a penalty in the last case) are all appropriate. The character's current Fatigue penalty applies to the roll.

Regardless of whether he manages to stay awake, the following night you must make a stress roll (no botch) against an Ease Factor of 6 to see if the character sleeps well. Every night he has slept poorly, he loses a Long Term Fatigue Level. Continue this until he sleeps soundly for a whole night. Once he has lost 3 Long Term Fatigue Levels, he automatically sleeps through the night, due to sheer exhaustion. This Flaw is not compatible with the Night Terrors Flaw.

Slothful

Minor, Personality
The character is lazy and indolent, and enjoys nothing better than doing as little as possible. He is very good at coming up with excuses as to why things need not be done right now. When roused into action, he works as hard as any other, but is constantly looking for opportunities to lapse into sloth again.

Slow Caster

Minor, Hermetic
Your magic requires more time to prepare and execute than that of other magi. Your Formulaic spells take two rounds to cast; Spontaneous spells also take two rounds unless you fast-cast, in which case they take one round casting time. Fast-cast Mastered spells also take the normal oneround time. You can still cast Muto Vim spells on your own spells, but the casting process takes longer. Ritual spells and ceremonial castings are performed as normal, since all magi must cast them slowly and carefully.

Slow Power

Minor, Supernatural
One of the character's supernatural powers is very slow, so that it requires an additional round of preparation to activate. This Flaw may be taken more than once, if the character has multiple powers, but not more than once for a single power.

Slow Reflexes

Minor, General
The character does not react well to surprises. He receives a –3 to his Initiative total in situations warranting a quick response.

Small Frame

Minor, General
You are of a lighter-than-average build. Your Size is reduced to –1. This means that the severity of wounds you take increases in four point increments, rather than five point. (See page 404). You cannot take this Flaw and Giant Blood (page 83), Large (page 89), or Dwarf (page 126).

Social Handicap

Minor, General
You have some trait that keeps you from interacting easily with other people. This impairs your dealings with most of society, causing penalties of –3 on appropriate rolls. Examples include morose temperament, unworldliness, an unpleasant odor, or tactlessness.

Soft-Hearted

Minor, Personality
You cannot bear to witness suffering, and causing it brings you sleepless nights. Even the deaths of enemies are painful for you. You avoid danger and try to keep your friends out of it as well. Life and health mean so much that you would rather give up important goals than let another person risk combat. You are easily moved by song and story.

Spontaneous Casting Tools

Minor, Hermetic
The character must use casting tools to cast spontaneous spells just as he does for casting formulaic spells. He has 15 individual tools, one for each Art, which he must use in various combinations to cast spontaneous spells. This Flaw can only be taken by Verditius magi.

Stigmatic Catalyst

Minor, Supernatural
The character's presence sometimes causes symbolic marks to appear on the bodies of people without Magic Resistance nearby. The character cannot control this process, but may make Intelligence + Enigmatic Wisdom rolls against an Ease Factor of 6 to tell those so afflicted what form of spiritual purification they must undergo for the stigma to disappear. Characters who are stigmatized may have a hostile reaction if they realize the source of the stigmata. This Flaw is normally found among magi of House Criamon, and magi of that House would be interested in any other character who manifested it.

Stockade Parma Magica

Minor, Hermetic
Because of your restricted understanding of Parma Magica, you cannot suppress your Parma once it is erected. Any friendly spell or magical affect must penetrate your Parma Magica to affect you, just as if it were a hostile spell.

Stuck in Your Ways

Minor, General
Having come from a covenant, this character knows how things must be done to best serve the needs of covenfolk and magi alike. Only, his new home does things differently. And they're wrong. When making Stress Rolls against his Profession Abilities or any Ability concerning his new covenant, such as Leadership or Folk Ken, this character uses the lower of that Ability score and his current Covenant Lore Ability for his current covenant. Note that bonuses from Puissant or other Virtues still apply to the roll. This Flaw can also be applied to organizations other than covenants, such as abbeys, universities, guilds, or churches.

Study Requirement

Major, Hermetic
You are unable to study magic from books or vis alone. You must study in the presence of the appropriate Art. For example, you need to sit next to a brook or pond to study Aquam, or a large fire to study Ignem. Growing things are good for Creo, decaying ones good for Perdo. As your knowledge grows, you need to work with larger and larger quantities. See the Study Bonus Virtue on page 110 for a list of examples. You may take both Study Bonus and Study Requirement.

Supernatural Nuisance

Major, Story
Supernatural entities of a certain kind interfere in your life in minor ways whenever you are around them. This differs from Plagued by Supernatural Entity in that the nuisances do not have any long-term plans. This could represent a ghost that haunts you, or general enmity from faeries towards you.

Suppressed Gift

Major, Hermetic, Story
The character has The Gift but cannot access its power, having temporarily lost his magical ability through mishap or some other misfortune. While the Gift is suppressed, the character cannot perform Hermetic magic, improve his Arts, or perform the Parma Magica. His Arts do provide him with Magic Resistance and he continues to suffer the negative social penalties of The Gift. Such a character may still use Supernatural Virtues and Abilities. He may be a member of the Order of Hermes, depending on when his Gift was suppressed.

How The Gift returns should be decided by the storyguide. Examples are surviving a laboratory disaster while assisting another magus (perhaps that was how Suppressed Gift was gained), comprehending a Temporary Twilight while in a powerful regio, visiting the Magic Realm and succeeding in some task, or undergoing a year's instruction from an elder dragon.

The troupe should consider carefully how the character will fit into the saga. If he replaces a player's magus, he has a very serious Flaw. If he replaces a companion, he will become much more powerful when the Story Flaw is resolved. Either approach can work, with care.

Surgical Empiricus

Minor, Social Status
You are a chirurgeon by trade, but have never received a wide grounding in the subject; rather your training has focused on only a single aspect of Chirurgy. Pick a type of surgery as your specialization in that Ability (couching cataracts, removal of stones, bone-setting, etc.). When performing this type of surgery, you get the usual +1 bonus to your roll, but when trying to employ any other application of Chirurgy, you must halve your score in Chirurgy due to your inexperience. It is likely that you travel to get enough clientele for your practice, but can usually earn a good living.

Susceptibility to Divine Power

Minor, Hermetic
You are especially sensitive to the Dominion and suffer twice the normal penalties (such as spellcasting modifiers and botch dice) to your magic when in a Divine aura.

Susceptibility to Faerie Power

Minor, Hermetic
You are especially susceptible to the fay and their magic. Whenever you enter a Faerie aura, you must make a Stamina roll equal to or greater than its aura rating to avoid becoming disoriented. In addition, your Magic Resistance score, including Parma Magica, against faerie effects is halved. If someone else uses their Parma Magica to protect you, their resistance is not affected and you benefit normally.

Susceptibility to Infernal Power

Minor, Hermetic
You are especially vulnerable to the dark powers. Whenever you enter an area of Infernal influence, you must make a Stamina roll equal to or greater than the aura rating or become ill (-1 on all rolls). You get only half your normal Magic Resistance score against infernal effects, though if someone else's Parma Magica is protecting you, it counts normally.

Susceptibility to Sunlight

Minor, Supernatural
Direct, bright sunlight causes you noticeable pain and exhausts you. Attuned to darkness, your eyes are very sensitive, and you suffer from a –2 penalty to all rolls involving sight in bright environments such as a cloudless day. Due to your malediction, you lose one Fatigue level per Diameter if outdoors at noon on a hot summer day, and lose levels more slowly in less-intense light and warmth from the sun.

Susceptibility to Warping

Minor, Supernatural
Your character's constant exposure to magic has made him more susceptible to supernatural Warping than he might otherwise be.

In any year in which the character gains a Warping Point from any Realm or any source (including Longevity Rituals, living within an aura, and powerful supernatural effects), the character gains one additional Warping Point associated with that same Realm. This means that if he gains a single Warping Point from each Realm in a year, he gains four additional Warping Points, one from each Realm, at the end of that year.

These additional points do not contribute to Wizard's Twilight or to other events caused by the acquisition of Warping Points as they accrete slowly over the course of the year.

Tainted Offspring

Major, Story, Tainted
The character has a child who has been marked for great, but unpleasant, things by a powerful demon. The character must struggle not only with the servants the demon sends to subvert the child, but the child's own tendency toward evil.

Tainted With Evil

Minor, General
An air of corruption surrounds you as a result of something you, your parents, or your ancestors did. Others naturally feel very ill at ease around you, and can easily grow to hate you. Gaining a positive Reputation is impossible. Magi do not react as strongly to this attribute as normal people.

Temperate

Minor, Personality
You do not over-indulge in any sensual pleasures.

Tormenting Master

Major, Story
Your master does not believe you have successfully passed the apprentice's gauntlet (the test of becoming a magus). He periodically troubles you with political moves and indirect attacks. This Flaw is only applicable to magi, although other characters could take an analogous Story Flaw.

Tragic Life

Major, Story, Tainted
The character's life has been manipulated by demons to ensure that she will act in a certain way in response to important events, usually to her own detriment and in such a way as to further a particular demon's aims. This means that she is a tainted character.

Tainted characters are produced as tools, to influence pivotal events. This Flaw represents two factors: the events that the demons have designed the person to influence are likely to happen, and the person has been designed and conditioned to behave predictably when her moment of destiny arrives. Tainted people are likely, at their point of destiny, to choose to sin, and so cause terrible events. The repercussions of the tragedy they create often harm the tainted person. The predisposition toward sin at the character's pivotal moment should be represented with a sinful Personality Trait.

Tainted people have difficult lives, but are not doomed from the moment of their conception. They have five sources of hope.

• Demons do not foresee the future, they simply predict it through extremely skilled judgments. Arbitrary occurrences can ruin their schemes.
• The process of creating and training tainted people contains random factors. These include inherited Flaws, like Tainted with Evil or Disfigured, which are personally painful, but might distance the character from her designed destiny.
• The character's relationships with other humans also provide unpredictable elements. Most significantly, virtuous humans may notice the tainted person's tendency toward a certain type of sin, and teach them to resist it.
• Humans have free will. All deception aside, the tainted person still has the power to choose not to perform sins. The tainted person may not understand this, or may feel that the sin she performed is minor and justified given the situation in which she is presented with her choice, but the choice is still entirely and absolutely hers.
• Finally, the agents of the Divine meddle in the plans of Infernal lords.

Tainted characters are designed for specific situations. Characters who struggle successfully against their destiny find that their creator cannot usually fashion an alternative situation to which the tainted person is perfectly suited. The tainted character loses the Tragic Life Flaw, but usually gains the Plagued by Supernatural Entity Flaw instead, as the demonic lord vents his spite on the character.

True Love

Major or Minor, Story
You have found the one person meant for you in all of creation, and the bond between the two of you cannot be sundered. Whenever you are suffering, in danger, or dejected, the thought of your love will give you strength to persevere. In dire need, he may even come to rescue you. More often, he will be in trouble and need rescuing. If any enchantment keeps you from your true love's side, the power of your devotion can probably break it. Your love is higher than mortal magic, and no magic can make you hate your love, or make you truly betray him. Your True Love must be a non-player character. To have another player character as your True Love, see the True Love Virtue on page 113.

This Story Hook may be renamed 'True Friend' to cover characters with whom you are very closely linked, but not in a romantic way.

If the True Love is significantly weaker than the player character, and not able to provide useful assistance in most cases, this is a Major Flaw. If the True Love is competent, equal to or better than the player character, then this is only a Minor Flaw. The True Love may need rescuing occasionally, but more often she will involve the player character in her plans.

Twilight Prone

Major, Hermetic
You either enjoy or cannot help running excessive amounts of magic through you when you cast spells. You must roll to resist Twilight on a single magical botch, rather than on a double botch like most magi.

Tzadik Nistar

Major, Story
Your character is one of the Tzadikim Nistarim, one of the 36 hidden righteous upon which the continuation of the world relies. She is destined to face a moment of moral decision, where she and the world through her will be tested. This moment could be small and personal, or it require a very public act. The result of failing in her test has immediate consequences defined by the storyguide. The Dominion may fall in her community or in the place of her moral failure, the Infernal may claim a new soul; or a whole region may face severe hardship until she puts right her failure. Although this is a Jewish tradition, a character need not be Jewish to take this Flaw. She may suspect that she has been chosen as one of the 36, but she does not know in advance what her personal test will be, though it may be discovered by consulting with prophets and learned men.

Unbaptized

Major, Story
You are a Christian who has never been baptized for whatever reason, perhaps because you have some kind of supernatural background that might be undone by the ceremony — many magi believe that baptism impairs The Gift. Your faith is important enough to you that you still strive to be virtuous and attend Mass, though you do not benefit from the sacraments. Most common people who discover this fear and avoid you.

Unbearable to (Beings)

Minor, Hermetic or General
This Flaw is associated with one of three classes of beings: mundane humans, demons, or divine beings. These last two include characters associated with the Divine or the Infernal realms, respectively, through Supernatural Virtues or Flaws, as well as beings with Divine or Infernal Might.

These beings are extremely disturbed, frightened, and possibly enraged by the character's presence. She suffers an additional –3 penalty on all social interactions with them, which adds to the –3 penalty normally associated with The Gift. Only characters with The Gift or Magical Air may take this Flaw, and it cannot be combined with the Blatant Gift.

You may not take this Flaw more than once; characters who are Unbearable to more than one kind of being should take the Blatant Gift instead.

Uncertain Faith

Minor, General
Whether through a flaw in the character's understanding of doctrine, a moral turmoil, the disheartening absolution of repeated sins, or exposure to conflicting philosophies, he finds it hard to fully express devotion to his faith. Some element of doubt stands between him and the Divine, and all rolls for holy influence, tempering an aura, invoking God's aid, or invoking a saint or baraka (see Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, pages 38-41, 87, and 103) suffer a -3 penalty.

The character also has an "Uncertain Faith" Personality Trait at +1 that describes this conflict or doubt, which always provides demons with an opportunity to sow further doubt through their Obsession power (Realms of Power: The Infernal, page 31).

Supernatural Abilities originating from the Divine, including Methods and Powers, are not penalized. This Flaw is not compatible with the True Faith Virtue.

Uncontrollable Strength

Minor, General
This character doesn't know his own strength, and at times he has trouble controlling it. This Flaw may not be taken if the character's Strength is below 0. Whenever he handles delicate or fragile objects, whenever care must be taken to knock somebody out gently, and so on, he risks overdoing it, severely. The character must make a stress roll against an Ease Factor of 6 to avoid using too much power and causing damage of some kind. In addition to this, any Strength Stress Roll uses one extra botch die.

Unhappily Married

Major, Story
Young merchants often marry for financial reasons. The nobility are often required to marry to form or strengthen alliances. The character has married for money or politics, not love, and seeks solace outside his marital bed. Unhappily married characters must hide their affairs of the heart from their spouses, their spouses' families, and possibly from their partners' spouses. In many areas, separation due to infidelity is permitted, although this is not divorce. In many such cases the wife's dowry must be returned, in part or full. In the case of the nobility, this could even lead to a small, local war, or a Feud.

Unimaginative Learner

Minor, Hermetic
You have trouble figuring things out for yourself. Subtract 3 from rolls when you study from raw vis.

Uninspirational

Minor, General
This character is bland, boring, and simple, with almost no chance of ever getting noticed or enticing anyone. His Presence and Communication may not be greater than 0. Any use of Abilities like Leadership, Charm, Intrigue, Etiquette or similar — as well as Personality Rolls — to stir or impress people suffers a -3 penalty.

University Dean

Major, Story
The character is the head of a university, having already acquired his doctor in (faculty) license. The character has been chosen to lead the university, overseeing external affairs with the town and internal affairs between students and masters. Though prestigious, the position imposes serious demands on the character's time. The character can expect many interruptions in his teaching during the school year. The character must have the Virtue Doctor in (Faculty), be at least 40 years old, and can not have the Poor Flaw or any other Flaw that grants a Bad Reputation.

Unlucky

Minor, General
The character is exceptionally unlucky, and is frequently dealt a bad hand by the forces of chance. He gets a -1 to -3penalty (at storyguide's discretion) on rolls in situations based on luck rather than skill or talent, depending on how much luck is involved. It would be wise for him not to take part in games of chance.

Unnatural Magic

Major, Hermetic
Because of the unreal and illusory nature of your magic, none of the character's Creo rituals have a permanent effect. Wounds magically closed with The Chirurgeon's Healing Touch (CrCo20), for example, reopen again as soon as he finishes casting the spell, as the magic truly lasts only a moment. He also cannot extract vis from an aura using Creo, since his version of that Art is too unstable for the vis to remain in a lasting physical form.

Unpredictable Magic

Minor. Hermetic
You always roll a stress die when using magic, even if completely relaxed. If you choose to cast a Spontaneous spell without expending fatigue, you must still roll to check for a botch, although the roll does not add to your Casting Total. Even if you have Mastered a spell, you must always roll at least one botch die.

Unruly Air

Minor, Supernatural
The character has a penchant for stirring up situations, making pleasant events better and unpleasant ones worse. Whenever the character is in a social situation with multiple people, his slightest behavior will subtly push others to extreme behavior. He is either the life of the party, or its death, depending on the prevailing mood of the crowd. His influence is linked to his magical nature, so that others with Magic Resistance are not influenced by him.

Unspecialized

Minor, General
The character does not have any specialties for any of her Abilities.

Unstructured Caster

Major, Hermetic
You have never quite mastered the intricacies of spellcasting, and are unable to perform Formulaic magic without extreme effort. You cast all Formulaic spells as though they were Ritual spells (including the need for vis), and you may not learn Ritual spells at all. You cast Spontaneous spells normally.

Usurer

Minor, Social Status
You often lend silver or other valuables to people at interest rates that many consider abusive. You get away with this somehow, possibly because you belong to a group that can avoid moral judgment for these actions, because you operate outside of the law, or perhaps because you lend a type of currency not accepted by the mundane population. You receive the equivalent of approximately ten pounds of silver each year from interest payments, though you may occasionally need to chase down debtors, and you have a poor reputation (Usurer) at level 4 within your community and the local region.

Vendetta

Major, Story
The magus is engaged in one of House Verditius' vendettas, mostly likely carrying on his parens's vendetta against another Verditius magus. This vendetta stops just short of physical injury to him or the other. Neither of them will bring this feud to the Quaesitores, wishing to finish it themselves. The magus with whom he is feuding must be an NPC, who regularly takes some sort of action with which the character must contend. This Flaw is generally restricted to magi of House Verditius, as the custom of vendetta is limited to that House. Other characters should take Enemy or Feud to represent a similar situation.

Vengeful Powers

Major, Story, Tainted
The character has one or more non-Infernal Powers in which the Infernal realm has taken a personal interest. Whenever she uses one of these Powers in a way that is not sinful, it has an unpleasant side effect. This is always harmful, and often recognizably Infernal, and the severity varies depending upon the Power's application, so that extremely good works cause even more terrible evil. The effect is not obviously linked to the use of the Power, and in fact it may seem completely unrelated. It always manifests at about the same time as the use of the Power, however, though the character may not be aware of this. Some potential side effects might include:

• Illness and disease among local people or animals.
• Open sores and other painful wounds.
• Distrust and a bad reputation among strangers.
• Infernal auras in the surrounding area.
• Negative or sinful Personality Traits.
• Additional botch dice on a particular type of roll.
• Demons suddenly causing havoc in the region.

The forces that wreak vengeance cannot cross Magic Resistance or effects like Aegis of the Hearth that keep demons away, yet they can still sense when these Powers are put to good use, and they retaliate however they can.

The character may not know about these circumstances, but once she realizes the relationship between her Power and these side effects, they usually seem much worse, as paranoia and guilt may cause her to worry about the potential harm her Powers may cause. Hell hopes that this makes using the Power for good seem too great a sacrifice.

Vengeful Powers may be taken as a Hermetic Flaw, as applicable to Hermetic magic. In that case, the effect triggers whenever the character performs magic that is without sin. It is more commonly associated with Supernatural Abilities, however.

Viaticarus

Minor, Supernatural
At some point in the character's past, he was at death's door, and as a result a priest performed the sacrament of Extreme Unction. The purpose of this sacrament was to remit him of all venial sins, and prepare him for the journey beyond (the viaticum); but against all expectations, he survived. This leaves him in a spiritual no-man's land, not one of the dead, but neither wholly of the living. Because of this, he is immune to the temptations of demons, and therefore cannot be affected by their Obsession power; he simply does not register to them as a soul in need of corruption. However, his skin has an unusual pallor, and his eyes are sunken. People may smell a charnel odor about him. These effects are subtle at first, but as he ages, he gradually comes to resemble a corpse more and more, resulting in a penalty to all social interaction rolls equal to his Decrepitude score.

He has difficulty crossing thresholds where unquiet spirits are not welcome; if a person with a (Realm) Lore of 1 or more has set up a traditional ward, such as a line of salt or an iron nail laid on the lintel, then he cannot enter the protected building or area. Further, although he does not have a Might score, he is repulsed by any magical warding that can keep out a creature with a Might score aligned to Corpus or Mentem (including the Aegis of the Hearth), regardless of its level or Penetration. However, both types of exclusion can be negated if he is invited to cross by the person who established the ward, or someone who lives within. He can still touch individuals with Magic Resistance, since he has no active power around him.

If the character's status is known in the community in which he lives, he should take the Outcast Social Status Flaw.

Visions

Minor, Story, Supernatural
You often see images related to emotionally or magically laden events. A vision might be of the past, a possible future, or a distant occurrence, and is often symbolic or confusing. Visions usually come to you at quiet times or in places connected with a powerful emotional or magical event, such as the site of a patricide or diabolic sacrifice. Your visions may warn you of dangers to come, or get you involved in matters you would otherwise have avoided. The visions come purely at the storyguide's discretion, and reveal only what he wants to reveal.

Vow

Major or Minor, Personality
You have sworn to do something difficult, and breaking your vow is a serious matter. Example vows include never raising a weapon, never speaking, or living in poverty. If you do fail to uphold your vow, you must perform some kind of atonement, whether it be religious penance or coming to terms with your failure in some other way. A Vow that is a Major Flaw must be a vow to do something, rather than refrain from something, so that it can drive you to act.

Vulnerable Casting

Minor, Hermetic
Some magi are better able to withstand the Fatigue loss of casting spells, and some less so. If a maga has this Flaw, then whenever she is about to lose Fatigue from casting a spell, she loses 1 more Fatigue level than normal. If the spell would have been cast without Fatigue loss, then she still loses no Fatigue.

A maga may have, or acquire, this Flaw more than once, losing 1 extra Fatigue level for each level of this Flaw. If she has Vulnerable Casting (2), then she loses 2 extra Fatigue levels whenever she casts a fatiguing spell.

Magi of the Mercurian cults often succumb to this Flaw, but other magi may suffer from it, regardless of their affiliation.

The Flaw increases the severity of the Fatigue lost, in the exact manner of the existing Fatigue loss. Thus, if a maga casts a Formulaic spell, the Fatigue is short-term Fatigue, easily recovered, and if she runs out of Fatigue levels she is rendered unconscious, loss of extra Fatigue levels results in her being unconscious for one hour for each overflowing level, and so does the Fatigue from Vulnerable Casting. If, on the other hand, she casts a Ritual spell, then this is long-term Fatigue, and losing more Fatigue than she has remaining causes wounds, so the increased Fatigue of Vulnerable Casting does the same.

You may not start your character with both Vulnerable Casting and Withstand Casting, but the maga may acquire either in the course of play (from Initiation, Ordeals, or Twilight effects). In this case, apply the vulnerability first, then withstand the increased loss.

Vulnerable Magic

Major, Hermetic
The character's magic is automatically dispelled in certain uncommon circumstances. Examples include: when touching iron, when under the influence of the Divine, when crossing over running water, when his name is spoken three times, or when he is not touching the ground. This condition immediately ends the duration of a spell when it is applied to the target, or all of your active spells when applied to you.

This Flaw may be taken multiple times, so long as a different condition is specified for each. It may not be combined with Restrictions or Necessary Conditions that have the same (or equivalent) conditions.

Vulnerable to Folk Tradition

Minor, Hermetic
The magus's magic is susceptible to various folk-remedies for averting hostile spells. Any target who is aware that the magus has just used his magic may attempt a folk ritual such as making a sign against evil, or spitting, and so forth. This grants the target or targets a Magic Resistance equal to (5 x the target's Magic Lore), or 0 if the target does not have this Ability, against the magus's magic only. Furthermore, someone with Magic Lore may be able to devise a manner to break a lasting enchantment, such as sprinkling with salt or lying on an iron bed; this typically requires an Intelligence + Magic Lore roll against an Ease Factor of (9 + the spell's magnitude) or greater.

Wanderlust

Major, Story
The character feels compelled to travel with a passion that is so strong that he cannot spend more than a season in the same place. The character can only spend two (nonconsecutive) seasons each year in the same area, and must spend the intervening seasons traveling to different locales — places he has never been. If for some reason he cannot travel, he will become very uncomfortable; this discomfort should cause stories in the same way as the travel would.

Warped by Magic

Minor, Supernatural
The character's adventures have exposed him to powerful magical forces that have left a mark on him. He has five Warping Points and a Warping Score of 1, including a Minor Flaw (which is not balanced by a Virtue) that somehow reflects the source of the Warping. His encounters allow you to spend experience points on Magic Lore during character creation. A magus may take this Flaw to represent Warping gained before his apprenticeship. With the permission of the troupe, this Flaw may be modified to represent Warping from other Realms.

Warped Magic

Minor, Hermetic
Your magic is accompanied by some unpleasant side effect that always manifests itself the same way, but with increasing intensity according to the level of the spell. Examples include nearby items become hot or nearby plant matter becomes shriveled and wilted. This effect may cause trouble from time to time, but is usually just annoying.

Warped Senses

Minor, General
The character has become overly sensitive to environmental conditions, which affects his behavior in certain uncommon circumstances. Some examples include:

Sensitive (Sense): One of your senses is so sensitive that it is overwhelmed under circumstances that others find normal. If it is sight, normal daylight dazzles you. If it is hearing, sounds above normal speaking volume hurt your ears. If it is taste, only bland food is tolerable. If it is smell, strong odors, good or bad, are nauseating. You suffer a -2 penalty on all activities under relevant circumstances. (It is inadvisable to combine Sensitive Sight with Keen Vision, and Sensitive Hearing with Sharp Ears, and these are incompatible with Blind and Deaf, respectively.)

Weak (Sense): One of your senses is so weak that it is useless under circumstances that others find normal. If it is sight, you can only see well in good illumination (e.g. broad daylight). If it is hearing, you can only hear sounds above normal speaking volume. If taste, only highly flavored food is palatable. If smell, you can only detect strong odors. You suffer a –2 penalty on all activities under relevant circumstances. (Weak Sight is incompatible with Sensitive Sight, Keen Vision, and Blind and you cannot take Weak Hearing with Sensitive Hearing, Sharp Ears, or Deaf.)

Sensitive to Cold: You function normally at temperatures considerably above the norm for your part of the world. You lose 1 Fatigue level for every hour you spend in an environment two steps or more below your accustomed conditions on the Environmental Temperatures chart (see sidebar). Your responses to heat are reduced in intensity by 2 (page 407).

Sensitive to Heat: You function normally at temperatures considerably below the norm for your part of the world. You lose 1 Fatigue level for every hour you spend in an environment two steps or more above your habituated conditions on the Environmental Temperatures chart (see sidebar). Your response to ice is reduced in intensity to 0 (page 407).

This is a common Flaw for characters who become Warped by a strong magic environment.

Waster of Vis

Major, Hermetic
When you use raw vis you waste one guarter (rounded up) of the pawns you apply. The lost raw vis does not apply to the magical effect being enacted but does count toward the total number of botch dice you must roll if you roll a zero. You must use a third again as many pawns as usual when casting a ritual spell, and if you want to improve an Art score by studying raw vis, you must use a third again as many pawns as usual. This Flaw applies to all occasions on which you use vis, including certamen, laboratory work, and boosting penetration. Wasted pawns count toward the maximum number you can use at one time. For example, if you would normally use 12 pawns, you must use 16, and 4, one quarter of those you use, are wasted. If you would normally need 10 pawns, you must use 14, because 4 pawns are wasted.

Weak Characteristics

Minor, General
You have three fewer points to spend buying Characteristics than most characters. You may take this Flaw twice, leaving you with only one point to spend.

Weak Enchanter

Minor, Hermetic
Your Gift is ill attuned to creating enchanted devices. Halve your Lab Total whenever you create or investigate an enchanted item. If you have a Deficiency that counts as part of the Lab Total, apply the Deficiency first and then halve the remaining total.

Weak Magic

Minor, Hermetic
Your magic is particularly bad at penetrating Magic Resistance. You halve the normal Penetration Total for all spells, and only get half the normal benefit when instilling Penetration into an item. Note that you halve the Penetration Total, after subtracting the spell level and making any adjustments for the use of Arcane Connections. You do not halve the Casting Total and calculate Penetration from that.

Weak Magic Resistance

Major, Hermetic
Any form of Magic Resistance you generate is much weaker under relatively common circumstances which are fairly easy for an opponent to utilize, such as when you are wet or facing away from the caster of the spell. If the conditions are met, do not subtract the level of the effect from the casting total before calculating Penetration. You would be well advised to keep your weakness from being discovered by too many potential enemies.

Environmental Temperatures

• Unnaturally hot
• As hot as being next to a raging fire, molten lava, or molten iron
• Tropical mid-day
• As warm as a fine summer's day in southern Europe
• Comfortable for a normal inhabitant of the Normandy, Rhine, Stonehenge, and Hibernia Tribunals
• As cold as a chilly winter's day in Western Europe
• Arctic winter
• Unnaturally cold

Weak Parens

Minor, Hermetic
Your parens was less powerful or a worse teacher than normal. You gain 60 fewer experience points and 30 fewer spell levels from apprenticeship, for a total of 180 experience points and 90 levels of spells.

Weak Personality

Minor, Personality
This character doesn't feel strongly for or against anything and lacks the unique traits most people have to make them really stand out. Consequently, all Personality Traits must be between +1 and -1. When making personality rolls, treat any roll above 6 as merely 6. The character may have no other Personality Flaws or Virtues or Flaws that grant Personality Traits. Depending on the personality of the observer, he may seem a complete pushover with no opinion of his own, insensitive because he rarely shows strong emotion, or simply lacking in initiative to those seeking leadership and guidance. These elements result in a -1 or worse (at the storyguide's discretion) modifier in most social situations for obviously being a cold fish. Finally, he will never be known for his great loyalty or pious nature, and will have a hard time winning respect or getting promoted. His lack of enthusiasm for the Church in particular might be viewed as a lack of faith. On the plus side, he might occasionally be seen in a positive light since he never disagrees strongly.

Weak Scholar

Minor, Hermetic
You don't understand laboratory guidance very well. You get a –6 penalty to Lab Totals when working from the Lab Texts of others, including when re-inventing spells.

Weak Spontaneous Magic

Major, Hermetic
You may not exert yourself when casting spontaneous magic, so you always divide your Casting Score by five. In stressful conditions you must still roll a stress die to see if you botch, but the die roll does not add to your casting total. You may still use ceremonial casting.

This Flaw may be combined with Difficult Spontaneous Magic (page 126) to create a magus who cannot cast spontaneous magic at all.

Weakness

Major or Minor, Personality
You have a soft spot for some sort of object or person. In the face of this, all else is unimportant: promises are forgotten, duties neglected, and common sense cast to the winds. Examples include poets and storytellers, food, flattery, or a pretty face.

Weak-Willed

Minor, Personality
You look to others for guidance rather than to yourself. What you need more than anything else is to find someone you can trust.

Weird Magic

Minor, Hermetic
Your control over magic is somewhat loose, perhaps due to Twilight effects or idiosyncratic training. Roll one extra botch die when you roll a zero on stressed spell casting rolls, apart from your other botch dice. Botches from this die should be strange or bizarre rather than dangerous, and if the Weird Magic botch occurs along with a regular botch, the results could be truly spectacular.

Witch Marks

Minor, General, Tainted
The character has minor disfigurements that those skilled in folk lore recognize as belonging to diabolists. These marks can be hidden with clothing. Characters who are thought of as witches are blamed for misfortunes and may be hounded from towns or killed.

Wrathful

Major or Minor, Personality
You are prone to anger over the smallest issues, and your rage when you are thwarted in something major is terrible to behold.

Torches flicker under a bright flare of magelight! Our wizard illuminates our hurried journey with his glowing staff, while our grim-faced guards flank our footsteps. Our covenant welcomes us home from the craggy cliffs, battlements etched against the sky, overlooking the vast darkening ocean as the sun dips low. It guards tales of valiant knights, cunning sorcerers, and their faithful companions. Our wagon rattles down the winding path, pressing onward toward safety with haste as the wind whips dark threats past our ears. For we all know unseen danger lurks in the deepening shadows, tracking our every move from the treeline, testing our courage at each step.

Chapter 5: Abilities

Abilities represent the things that a character has learned over the course of her life. They increase over the course of a saga, as people continue learning all the time.

Abilities are normally used by adding Characteristic + Ability + die roll, and meeting or exceeding an Ease Factor. In principle, any Characteristic can be used with any Ability, but some pairings are rare; Strength + Order of Hermes Lore, for example, is unlikely to be called upon very often. The appropriate Characteristic should be chosen based on the descriptions of the Characteristics given in the Characters chapter (page 27), although the rules for magic and combat specify the pairings for a number of important situations.

Specializations

Each Ability you select for your character, except Spell Mastery, should be assigned a specialization. When you are using an Ability in a way that incorporates your specialization, you act as if your score were one level higher than it actually is. For example, if you have the Ability Single Weapon 3, with the specialization longsword, you act as if your Single Weapon is 4 when using longswords.

Suggested specializations for each Ability are listed at the end of each description. Other specializations are possible with the permission of your troupe.

Abilities With No Score

If a character has no score in an Ability, she may or may not be able to use it. If the Ability is not asterisked in the list from page 159, she may use it as if it had a score of zero, but rolling three extra botch dice. If it is asterisked, she cannot use it at all.

A character who has placed a single experience point into an Ability may use it with a score of zero, with no extra botch dice, regardless of whether or not it is asterisked. Experience points represent a noticeable amount of training, and thus make the Ability available to the character.

Characters cannot use Supernatural Abilities unless they have at least one experience point in the Ability. Most characters cannot put experience points into any Supernatural Abilities. In most cases, a character needs a particular Virtue in order to put experience points into a particular Supernatural Ability, but there are exceptions. The most important exception is The Gift, which is covered later, and other exceptions are described in supplements.

Ability Roll:

Characteristic + Ability + die roll, meet or exceed the Ease Factor to succeed

Ability of 0 can be used if not asterisked, adding 3 botch dice. Add +1 when using an Ability's specialization.

Ability Types

There are six types of Ability: General Abilities, Academic Abilities, Arcane Abilities, Martial Abilities, Spell Mastery Abilities, and Supernatural Abilities. Most of these are used in the same way; the difference lies in who can learn them. Spell Mastery Abilities are a bit different, and are discussed in Chapter 7: Hermetic Magic.

General Abilities

Almost anyone in Mythic Europe has the opportunity to learn these Abilities, and there are no game restrictions on who may do so. Even animals have some of these Abilities, although they learn them in different ways from intelligent creatures.

Academic Abilities

Academic Abilities require formal training. Beginning characters may only purchase Academic Abilities if they are specifically permitted to through the purchase of a Virtue, or if they are magi. Magi without a specific Virtue may only buy Academic Abilities during or after apprenticeship. In addition, learning an Academic Knowledge normally requires a Latin, Greek, Hebrew, or Arabic score of at least 3, depending on the region of Europe you are from. For most characters, Latin 3 is required.

Medieval study is based on the auctores, or authorities, in each subject. These auctores are not regarded as infallible or as having said all of what there is to be said on a subject. They are, however, supposed to have gotten the essentials right and to have accurately divided the subject into its categories. Thus, a medieval scholar might suggest that Aristotle was wrong about a certain kind of logical fallacy, but he would not suggest that Aristotle was completely wrong about logic or that there were fallacies that did not fall under any of his classifications.

Arcane Abilities

A character may only take these Abilities during character generation if permitted to by a Virtue, or if he is a magus. Some Virtues allow a character to take a particular Arcane Ability, but not the others, while other Virtues allow a character to take any Arcane Ability. Any Virtue giving a character a Supernatural Ability that may need to Penetrate Magic Resistance also allows the character to take the Penetrate Ability. Magi without a relevant Virtue may only take Arcane Abilities during or after apprenticeship.

Martial Abilities

Characters may only gain Martial Abilities during character generation if they are permitted to do so by a particular Virtue or Flaw, or if they are magi. Magi without a relevant Virtue or Flaw may only take Martial Abilities during and after apprenticeship.

Spell Mastery Abilities

Spell Mastery Abilities can only be taken by magi, as they concern the casting of Formulaic and Ritual spells in Hermetic magic. They are described in the Hermetic Magic chapter, on page 225.

Supernatural Abilities

Characters may only gain Supernatural Abilities during character creation if they have the Virtue granting the Ability. Characters with The Gift who are not magi may learn a single Supernatural Ability during character creation.

Most of these Supernatural Abilities are granted by the Magic or Faerie realms, and use the relevant column on the realm interaction table (page 410). Most can also be granted by the Infernal realm, but taking such an Ability suggests some sort of deal with Infernal powers. Sense Holiness and Unholiness is the main exception, as a Divine power. If you have no reason to choose otherwise, your Ability is granted by the Magic realm, which makes you immune to warping from powerful Magic auras (see page 389). An Ability granted by another realm makes you immune to warping from powerful auras associated with that realm, instead.

The Gift allows characters to learn Supernatural Abilities in play (see page 383). However, The Gift is associated with the Realm of Magic, and thus only allows characters to learn Supernatural Abilities associated with that realm.

Abilities by Type

General Abilities

Animal Handling
(Area) Lore*
Athletics
Awareness
Bargain
Brawl
Carouse
Charm
Chirurgy*
Concentration
Craft (Type)
Etiquette
Folk Ken
Guile
Hunt
Intrigue
Judaic Lore*
Leadership
Legerdemain*
(Living Language)*
(Mystery Cult) Lore*
(Organization) Lore*
Profession (Type)
Ride
Stealth
Survival
Swim
Teaching

Academic Abilities

Art of Memory*
Artes Liberales*
Civil and Canon Law*
Common Law*
(Dead Language)*
Islamic Law*
Medicine*
Philosophiae*
Rabbinic Law*
Theology: Christian*
Theology: Islam*
Theology: Judaism*

Arcane Abilities

Code of Hermes*
Dominion Lore*
Enigmatic Wisdom*
Faerie Lore*
Faerie Magic*
Finesse
Heartbeast*
Infernal Lore*
Magic Lore*
Magic Theory*
Parma Magica*
Penetration

Martial Abilities

Bows
Great Weapon
Single Weapon
Thrown Weapon

Supernatural Abilities

Animal Ken*
Corpse Magic*
Crafter's Healing*
Curse-Throwing*
Dowsing*
Embitterment*
Enchanting (Ability)*
Entrancement*
Font of Knowledge*
Hex*
Induction*
Magic Sensitivity*
Persona*
Premonitions*
Second Sight*
Sense Holiness and Unholiness*
Sense Passions*
Shapeshifter*
Summon Animals*
Whistle Up The Wind*
Wilderness Sense*

Ability List

This list contains all Abilities, in alphabetical order. The type of the Ability is given in parentheses at the end of its description.

Animal Handling

Care and use of animals, including raising, tending, grooming, and healing them.
Specialties: falconry, specific animals. (General)

Animal Ken*

You can communicate with animals as if they were human beings. Treat your score in Animal Ken as your score in a language that the animal speaks fluently in order to determine how well you can communicate, and you can use Animal Handling as a substitute for any social abilities affecting humans. Beyond this, this Ability has no effect on the attitude of animals to you, or you to animals. Other people cannot understand your communication with the animals.
Specialties: a particular type of animal, a particular type of communication. (Supernatural)

(Area) Lore*

Knowledge of one particular region, covenant, or even a village. It includes knowing where things are in the immediate area, local history and legends, and the centers of power in the region. The smaller the region, the more detailed your knowledge.
Specialties: geography, history, legends, politics, personalities. (General)

Art of Memory*

The Art of Memory deals with the creation of memory palaces, a form of mnemonic, in which one visualizes a number of loci (singular locus), where the scholar commits to memory a symbolic representation of a fact to be remembered. The character has a number of loci equal to five times their score in Art of Memory.

To memorize a complex scene, image, or piece of writing (such as a long letter, but not as long as an entire text), the character must succeed in a roll of:

COMPLEX MEMORIZATION ROLL: Stress Die + Intelligence + Art of Memory vs. Ease Factor of 9 (or higher)

The Ease Factor may be higher depending on the length or complexity of the item to be memorized. If the character succeeds, they remember the item in exact detail, and may recall it at will although it may take time to explore a locus.

Characters without the Art of Memory may memorize similar items with a Stress Die + Intelligence roll (with 3 extra botch dice) against the same Ease Factors, but must also repeat the roll to recall the memory perfectly. Each roll failed introduces errors in the memory which are repeated each time it is recalled. Those without the Art of Memory also lack the well-defined location system of loci.
Specialties: an area of knowledge (Academic)

Memorization Ease Factors

Ease Factor	Description
9 (Average)	Memorize a single page letter verbatim, a conversation up to 5 minutes long, or a room as seen from a single vantage point, or the layout (but not contents) of a castle.
12 (Hard)	Memorize a letter of up to 12 pages, or an hour's conversation, lecture or debate, or a room explored and seen from many vantage points, or a whole manor house seen from a single vantage on each room, or the contents (but not details) of a castle.
18 (Impressive)	Memorize an extended missive up to 100 pages, or a day's lecture or debate (such as a day at Tribunal), or a whole manor house in detail, or the contents of a castle.

Anything longer must be broken into sections and memorized as separate loci. If the subject matter is highly technical add 3 or even 6 to the Ease Factor. If the subject is technical and falls within an Ability that the scholar possesses, the scholar may use that Ability in place of Art of Memory (but must still roll to recall as well as memorize): for example a Lawyer using Civil & Canon Law to memorize court proceedings, or a magus using Magic Theory to recall a Bonisagus expert's lecture.

Artes Liberales*

The seven artes liberales, or liberal arts, are the basis of medieval higher education. Everyone learns them at the universities before passing on to study other subjects. It would be very rare for a character to have a score in any other Academic Knowledge without a score of at least one in this one.

The artes liberales are divided into two groups: the Trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) and the Quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music). The emphasis at this period is on the Trivium, but both are taught. (Note that Artes Liberales as a whole is one Skill, not seven separate ones.)

Grammar concerns theoretical questions of the structure of languages, rather than the ability to use a specific language (that is covered by Speak skills). The auctores are Priscian and Donatus. Logic is the study of the syllogism, and other forms of reasoning discussed by Aristotle. It is the most important of the arts at this period. Aristotle is the auctor, in his logica vetus and logica nova. Rhetoric is the study of the theory of rhetorical forms: knowledge of the sort of tricks that an orator can use, rather than the ability to use them. The auctor is Cicero, especially his De Inventione.

Arithmetic is the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide. The auctor is Boethius, De arithmetica. Geometry is concerned with study of plane and solid figures, and the auctor is Euclid, in his Elementa. It also deals with the study of light, and Euclid's Optica is the authority here. Astronomy is concerned with predicting the positions of the stars and planets, and the auctor is Ptolemy, in the Libri Almagesti. Music is purely theoretical, the study of proportions and musical theory, not the ability to sing or play an instrument. The authority is Boethius, in De Musica.

Artes Liberales also covers the ability to read and write. For every point in the Ability, the character can read and write one writing system, providing that he knows a language which normally uses that system: the Latin alphabet, the Greek alphabet, the Arabic alphabet, and so on.

A character who does not speak the normal languages of scholarship may learn Artes Liberales to be literate in other languages. It is rare for such a character to have a score over 1, and they must still be able to learn Academic Abilities to do so at character creation.
Specialties: grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music, Ritual magic, Ceremonial magic. (Academic)

Athletics

General physical prowess. It includes moving smoothly, confidently, and with grace. Use of Athletics improves most largemuscle coordination.
Specialties: acrobatics, contortions, grace, jumping, running. (General)

Awareness

Noticing things, be they things you are looking for or things that you are not expecting. It is also used to see how alert you are in circumstances that require watchfulness.
Specialties: bodyguarding, keeping watch, alertness, searching. (General)

Bargain

The know-how to get the greatest return for a service or product, while paying the least. It involves reading the person with whom you haggle, a general knowledge of the value of goods, and presenting yourself in certain ways. A good haggler can easily overcome resistance in an inexperienced customer and see through attempts to over-value most merchandise.
Specialties: specific types of products, hard sell. (General)

Bows

Using bows and arrows.
Specialties: any one weapon. (Martial)

Brawl

Fighting hand-to-hand without weapons, or with the sorts of improvised weapons you just pick up, including knives. Brawl is also the Ability used to dodge attacks if you have no Martial Abilities.
Specialties: punches, grapples, knives, dodging.(General)

Carouse

The ability to enjoy oneself without suffering adverse effects. A person with this skill can, for example, consume prodigious amounts of alcohol without passing out. The skill also covers a familiarity with acceptable behavior, balancing enjoyment and moderation. With this Ability, a person is able to have fun and gain friends among the lower classes nearly anywhere, even among those of a different culture.
Specialties: power drinking, drinking songs, games of chance, staying sober. (General)

Charm

Enticing, fascinating, and endearing others to you, but only on a personal basis. It can be used to win someone over emotionally, especially romantically.
Specialties: courtly love, first impressions, being witty. (General)

Chirurgy (kie-RUHR-gee)*

This is Middle Ages-style surgery, used to help others recover from physical damage. It encompasses tending and binding wounds of all varieties, and the necessary but brutal skill of cauterization. See page 405 for rules.
Specialties: cauterization, diagnosis, binding wounds, setting bones. (General)

Civil and Canon Law*

Civil Law is the law of the Roman Empire. Most local legal systems are based upon it (England being the notable exception), and when a law is needed to govern international relations, Civil Law is appealed to. The authority is Justinian's Digest. Canon Law is the law of the Church. It is important to Mythic Europe as it applies in all nations, governing the working of the church and some other areas, such as marriage. It is important to note that members of the clergy are only subject to Canon Law, not customary or Civil Law. Most high churchmen are skilled canonists, not theologians. Canon Law is made by Papal bulls (pronouncements), but the auctor is Gratian, in his Decretum. This skill covers the knowledge of both types of law. Other religions, particularly Judaism and Islam, have their own versions of this Ability, which must be learned separately.
Specialties: laws and customs of a specific area, papal laws. (Academic)

Code of Hermes*

Judging events according to the Code of Hermes and the Peripheral Code. In addition to memorizing important precedents, this knowledge includes the practical side of enforcing Hermetic law — for example, knowing when to push for a vote or how to present an argument.
Specialties: Wizards' Marches, apprentices, mundane relations, Tribunal procedures, political intrigue. (Arcane)

Common Law*

Knowledge of the laws of England. There is no authority for this Ability, and it is only taught in England.
Specialties: local laws, exchequer laws. (Academic)

Concentration

Focusing your mental faculties on one task, particularly for extended periods of time. If you are attempting a feat that demands your extra attention, or if you have just failed an action and are trying again, the storyguide can call for a Concentration roll before you can make the attempt. This Ability is especially important for magi because it helps them maintain concentration on spells despite distractions.
Specialties: spell concentration, reading, lab work. (General)

Corpse Magic*

The character can use Corpse Magic to temporarily revive a corpse. The target of this Supernatural Ability cannot have received any burial rites from a Divinely-sanctioned religion, and the corpse must be relatively intact, having as a minimum a spine, a skull, and more than half of its long bones. There need not be any flesh remaining. It takes fifteen minutes to chant the spells sufficiently to awaken the dead.

CASTING TOTAL: Communication + Corpse Magic + Aura modifier + stress die

COMMANDING ROLL: Communication + Leadership + stress die; Leadership may be limited by Language Ability

Compare the result to the Ease Factors at right to determine success.
Specialities: kings, soldiers, compelling truth, animating the dead. (Supernatural)

Corpse Magic Ease Factor Outcome

9	Speak to the dead. The corpse is not compelled to answer truthfully or directly, although it may do so anyway.
12	Speak to the dead and compel it to speak truly. Protect a corpse from being affected by further Corpse Magic. Any attempt to do so has the Ease Factor increased by the Corpse Magic score of the character.
15	Animate a corpse. Orders are followed to the best of the corpse's abilities, but the character must remain in sight of the corpse else it will cease all movement until he returns. Take control of an animated corpse. The Commanding roll must be greater than the original animator's (if any), else the corpse continues to follow its previous orders.
18	Animate a corpse and place it under the direct mental control of the character; if he can see the corpse he can issue it orders. He can leave the presence of the corpse and it will continue to obey its orders, but once they are complete it remains motionless until given another order by its creator. The corpse animates and sits up, allowing the character converses with it directly. A character who is particularly skilled can cause the corpse to rise out of the grave and walk abroad. The character asks questions or issues commands by making a Communication + Leadership roll; the corpse does nothing unless commanded to do so using a roll of this type. Single word commands have an Ease Factor of 6, simple questions or commands require a 9, and more complex instructions or questions need a 12 or more. The character must know the language that the corpse spoke in life to ask it questions or issue commands. If the character is not fluent in this language (that is, a score of 5 or higher), then the character's Leadership is limited by his Language Ability. Once the character has failed three commanding rolls, the corpse sinks back into its grave or ceases movement, and cannot be subject to Corpse Magic again until the moon has risen. All corpses are also laid to rest if their heads are removed from their body. Walking corpses typically have a Magic Might of 9 (see Realms of Power: Magic, Chapter 6 for more details). The Penetration Total of the Corpse Magic must exceed this Might to cause it to leave its grave, otherwise it is confined to the earth.

Craft (Type)

A general term for countless Abilities, all dealing with handiwork of some type. In general, Craft Abilities are distinguished by the material they work with, although you may also take a Craft Ability that allows the character to work with several materials in one specific way. You may purchase Craft more than once, choosing a different one each time. Skill in one Craft does not imply skill in any others. City and Guild contains more detailed information about Craft Abilities and their use, in Chapter 4.
Specialties: as appropriate to the craft. (General)

Crafter's Healing*

When using this Ability, each wound can only be treated once, regardless of its severity. Make a Presence + Crafter's Healing + stress die roll against an Ease Factor equal to the Improvement Ease Factor determined by the Wound Recovery Table (page 405). Healing a wound costs a Long-Term Fatigue level. If successful, the wound is healed one level: heavy wounds become medium, medium wounds light, and light wounds heal totally. If the roll fails, nothing happens besides fatigue loss. If the roll botches, the healer suffers a similar wound immediately. The wounded recipient gains a Warping Point each time this Ability is used on her, regardless of its success.
Specialties: particular kinds of wounds. (Supernatural)

Curse-Throwing*

This Supernatural Ability is usually aligned to the Faerie Realm, but could be aligned to any supernatural realm. It enables the character to heal diseases, remove curses, and dispel detrimental magical effects, but only by transferring (or 'throwing') their effects to another person. Curse-Throwing cannot affect Flaws; specifically, someone with the Lesser or Greater Malediction Flaw is beyond the power of Curse-Throwing, unless it is a Flaw imposed by a faerie or magician with a limited duration. However, any other curse laid by a supernatural power is potentially within the remit of this Ability; note that curses laid directly by God (such as leprosy) are normally represented by permanent Flaws, and thus exempt. Only harmful effects can be transferred with this Ability, and the storyguide is the arbiter in cases where spells are not directly detrimental. Barrenness is a common affliction treated by this power, if transferred to a man or male animal then impotence is inflicted instead. Other curses transferred to inappropriate targets are changed in a similar manner.

To throw a curse, the afflicted person must be physically present, and the recipient of the curse must be represented either in person or by an Arcane Connection. Afflictions can be passed from humans to animals or vice versa, but this is harder than transferring within the same species. Curse-Throwers sometimes transfer the curse to themselves, but such altruism is rare. To throw a curse, the character must perform an elaborate ritual which involves the crafting of a charm which transfers the curse. This charm is a combination of a physical object and a chant. The object is repeatedly touched to the target and the recipient (or the Arcane Connection), whilst the chant is repeated over and over. The ritual typically takes an hour for every 5 points (or fraction) of the Ease Factor (see below). At the end of this time, the character generates a Casting Total, which must equal or exceed the Ease Factor listed below. If either the sufferer or the intended recipient of the curse has Magic Resistance, the Penetration Total must exceed it, else the curse stays where it is. A botched Curse-Throwing roll swaps the recipient of the curse to the caster.

CURSE-THROWING CASTING TOTAL: Presence + Curse-Throwing + Aura + stress die

PENETRATION TOTAL: Casting Total – Ease Factor + Penetration Bonus

*A Minor disease inflicts a Light wound, a Serious disease inflicts a Medium wound, a Major disease inflicts a Heavy wound, and a Critical disease inflicts an Incapacitating wound. See Art & Academe, Chapter 4:Medicine for more details. Minor Afflictions include boils and warts. Serious Afflictions are equivalent to a Minor Flaw in magnitude, whereas Major Afflictions are as severe as a Major Flaw.

Specialties: diseases, faerie curses, livestock. (Supernatural)

Example of Curse-Throwing

A young woman has failed to conceive despite four years of marriage, and she and her mother visit Aelfred, the local faerie doctor. He explains that her barrenness needs to be transferred to another, and the mother volunteers, since she has already had three children. The Ease Factor for this operation is 12, since barrenness is equivalent to a Minor Flaw. The ritual takes three hours, at the end of which, Aelfred generates a Casting Total: 2 (Presence) + 5 (Curse-Throwing) + 5 (stress die) + 2 (Faerie aura of Aelfred's home), for a total of 14. However, unbeknownst to the characters the barrenness was caused by the curse of a local witch. Her Hex Ability score was 5, thus the Ease Factor was actually 17 (12 + Hex 5). Since Aelfred's player succeeds in an Intelligence + Faerie Lore roll, the storyguide informs him that Aelfred suspects that his Curse-Throwing should have worked if the barrenness was natural. Aelfred counsels the mother and daughter to investigate whether they have any enemies with supernatural powers.

(Dead Language)*

This skill is similar to all other (Language) Abilities, but it is only available to educated characters. It grants the ability to speak a language which is no longer used as a native language in the areas the character has lived in. The most important example is Latin, the language of formal education in the West. It is also the common language of the Church and Order of Hermes. In other areas of the world, Arabic, Greek and Hebrew fill similar functions, although of these only Hebrew is a dead language.
Specialties: academic usage, Church ceremonies, Hermetic usage. (Academic)

Dominion Lore*

Knowledge of the manifestations of the power of the Divine. Different from Church Lore (a kind of (Organization) Lore)) because it covers miracles rather than politics, and different from Theology because it is concerned with power rather than doctrine.
Specialties: angels, saints, Divine creatures. (Arcane)

Dowsing*

You have the ability to find things nearby through the use of a dowsing rod (usually a forked stick) and your own intuitive sense. You concentrate on the thing to be found, hold your dowsing rod out in front of you, and follow its subtle motions to the target. If you're looking for something specific, you must have an appropriate sympathetic connection to the thing sought (such as bottled water from a stream when searching for running water). Before you roll, designate the area in which you are searching — if the item sought is not present in that area, you automatically fail. The time required to search depends on the size of the area, and must be invested whether you succeed or not. It takes about one Diameter (two minutes, or twenty combat rounds) to search for something within 25 paces, and doubling the distance quadruples the time. To find something common, like water, within 25 paces requires a Perception + Dowsing of 9+. Increased distances or dowsing for less common things increases the target number, so that, for example, finding gold within 100 paces would have an Ease Factor of 15.
Specialties: searching for a particular kind of thing (water, gold, etc.), searching in a particular kind of place. (Supernatural)

Embitterment*

You can cause one person to hate another. This Ability is described in the Hermetic Magic chapter, page 245.

Enchanting (Ability)*

When you set your mind to it, you can influence others with a particular performance ability. For a specific effect, you must use words that people can understand. You can calm the grieving with tunes alone, but you need lyrics to convince peasants to rise up against the local lord. General effects work on animals, but specific effects only work on creatures that can understand words. When you use Enchanting Ability, roll a die (stress or simple, depending on the situation) and add Communication and Enchanting Ability. An Ease Factor of 9 will calm the upset, 12 will win someone's love, 15 will incite a riot, and a 24 might win back a soul from the Prince of Darkness. If you botch, you inspire an unwanted emotion.

If the target has Magic Resistance, you must penetrate their resistance; see page 412 for rules.

You should also roll for the quality of the performance, but the magical effect is independent of this, unless you botch. If you do botch the Ability roll, you have failed to produce any performance for some reason, and so the Supernatural Ability automatically fails.
Specialties: a particular emotion, a particular sort of person. (Supernatural)

Enigmatic Wisdom*

The understanding that Criamon magi have of the Enigma. It is described in the Hermetic Magic chapter, on page 236. (Arcane)

Entrancement*

You have the power to control another's will. By staring deeply into someone's eyes for several seconds — generally impossible in combat — you can verbally command the person to perform a certain task. Roll Presence + Entrancement against the target's Stamina roll. The person being controlled may get a bonus to resist at the option of the storyguide, according to the table below. Hermetic magi get their normal Mentem Magic Resistance, and get the normal Stamina roll if the effect penetrates Calculate Penetration using an Ease Factor of 6 + the victim's bonus. The blind, and people with their eyes closed, are immune; see page 303 for more guidelines on making eye contact. However, it is not possible to look away while being Entranced unless you win the opposed roll.

Specialties: A specific sort of command, a specific sort of person. (Supernatural)

Etiquette

You know the social graces and how to behave in different situations. Etiquette differs from Charm in that Etiquette covers proper behavior, rather than charming behavior. You cannot seduce someone with Etiquette, but neither can you get through an audience with the bishop on Charm alone.
Specialties: nobility, court, peasants, faeries, the Church. (General)

Faerie Lore*

Familiarity with faerie powers, weaknesses, motivations, and areas.
Specialties: faerie forests, faerie mounds, specific types of faeries. (Arcane)

Faerie Magic*

The connection to the power of the Faerie realm possessed by Merinita magi. It cannot be learned by other characters, even if they have access to Arcane Abilities. It is described in the Hermetic Magic chapter, on page 236. (Arcane)

Finesse

Manipulating your spells and performing special feats with them. You would use this Ability to position objects delicately or to target spells.
Specialties: grace, precision, any one Form. (Arcane)

Folk Ken

Understanding the background, personality, and motives of another person. Often the storyguide secretly rolls a die when this Ability is used. Thus, you do not know if your character guessed correctly, or even botched.
Specialties: peasants, townsfolk, nobles, clergy, magi, the opposite sex. (General)

Font of Knowledge*

By succeeding in an Ability check (Intelligence + Font of Knowledge + stress die) against an Ease Factor of (6 plus (3 times number of uses of Font of Knowledge that day)) a creature with this Ability may attempt a task with any untrained ability as if they possessed a score of 2. Failed attempts count towards the number of uses in a given day.
Specialties: a particular topic. (Supernatural)

Great Weapon

Fighting with a weapon which requires two hands to use.
Specialties: any one weapon. (Martial)

Guile

Telling convincing lies, as well as feigning emotion, belief, or frame of mind. If you understand the person you are attempting to deceive (roll 9+ on Perception + Folk Ken), you gain a bonus of +1 to your Guile roll. This Ability also covers disguising yourself, and pretending to be something you are not. It is often an opposed roll, against the victim's Perception + Folk Ken or, for disguise, Perception + Awareness.
Specialties: particular sorts of deception, lying to authority, fast talk, elaborate lies. (General)

Heartbeast*

The ability shared by all Bjornaer magi to take the form of their heartbeast. It is described in the Hermetic Magic chapter, on page 233. This Ability cannot be learned by non-Bjornaer characters, even if they have access to Arcane Abilities. (Arcane)

Hex*

The character has the power to bring about injury or ruin upon her enemies. There are three ways for her to activate this power: by making eye contact with her victim and proclaiming her purpose loud enough for him to hear, by tracing temporary occult signs and symbols on her target that indicate the dark fate she intends, or by acquiring an Arcane Connection to her target and fashioning a recognizable representation that can channel the effect through sympathetic magic.

To hex a target, the character must make clear her will for it: she must declare her wishes to the victim aloud, or indicate the specifics of the hex in writing on or very near the target, or do something to the representation that is similar to what she intends to happen to the target. There is always a physical component to the hex (common practices include tying knots in a line, spitting, or giving the target the "evil eye").

You must also state a time frame for the hex, anywhere from an effect that occurs immediately to a hex that will affect the third generation of the victim's descendants. Generally speaking, the sooner the effect manifests, the less potent it will be; and the longer the hex delays, the more powerful it will eventually become. For this reason you must always apply the delay modifier (see the sidebar) to the Hex total.

Hex Delay Modifiers

When you have framed the hex appropriately, roll Intelligence + Hex + aura bonus + the delay modifier and compare this to the Ease Factor on the Hex Effects chart. The severity of these effects is comparable to the effects of botching a roll with a specific number of 0's on the botch dice. If you should botch the Hex roll, the hex may still happen, but with unpredictable and unintended results, possibly affecting the character or someone close to her instead. Or, she may suffer Warping Points, fatigue loss, or other unfortunate effects.

HEX: Stress Die + Intelligence + Hex + Aura Bonus + Modifiers

A potential victim can avoid the effects of a hex by seeking out supernatural protection of some sort, usually from the Divine. If a character receives absolution in a religious ceremony, all hexes that have targeted him are permanently undone. Characters can also remove hexes with other supernatural effects, such as a Perdo Vim spell, a faerie blessing, or a holy miracle. Treat the hex as having a spell level equal to the number of botch dice it approximates, multiplied by 10, so that a Serious hex is a level 20 effect, and a Critical hex is level 40.

Hex is often a false power (as the False Power Flaw) associated with the Magical or Faerie realms. That is, it often uses the Magical or Faerie column of the realm interaction chart, but appears as an unholy power when subjected to divine or infernal powers of investigation. Purely Infernal versions of the power also exist, as do Magical or Faerie versions that are not touched by the Infernal. Such "pure" versions of Hex are rare, however, as demons love to taint this power. Specialties: A specific duration, one method of hexing, a particular effect. (Supernatural)

Hex Effects

Hunt

Setting snares, choosing appropriate hunting spots, and following and identifying the spoor of creatures of all varieties. This Ability also lets you cover your tracks or not leave any in the first place.
Specialties: tracking, covering tracks, hunting a specific animal. (General)

Induction*

This is the supernatural ability to create illusions in a person's mind. Only the target can see those illusions. Each attempt at induction requires the inducer to talk with the victim for at least one minute. Characters who cannot hear the inducer are immune to his powers.

Attempts at induction require a die roll of Communication + Induction. Induction is not made more difficult by the complexity of the illusion: it is made more difficult as the risk the victim takes by believing the illusion increases. On some level the victim is aware of the real world, and can snap out of the induced state if threatened.

The Ease Factors for Induction are:

Pick only one of the Roll Modifiers for Induction given below:

• Victim is drunk, drugged, exhausted, or critically ill +3
• Victim knows and trusts the inducer +3
• Site of induction has been carefully prepared with expensive props, in advance +3.

If an Inducer has successfully snared a victim, the Inducer may roll again to try and bump the effect up to the next level of risk. This requires at least fifteen minutes, and on the second roll, the Ease Factor is reduced by 3. An inducer can take a great deal of time, and several rolls, to work a victim up through the levels of danger to potentially suicidal.

A victim of induction realizes afterwards that they have been affected by magic if the roll above does not exceed the Ease Factor by (6-1 per factor from the list below).

This value can be reduced by 1 by each of the following factors: choose no more than 3.

• Careful use of props (clothes stained, souvenirs provided)
• Illusion includes brush off (character in illusion returns character home, character falls asleep inside illusion and wakes up in bed)
• No lost time (character in illusion explains it is all happening in one night, no servants notice the character gone)
• Real world effects (character's actions in illusion seem to have altered the real world in verifiable ways)
• Follow up (the character has been convinced previous illusions were real, and this one is part of that larger story).

Specialties: particular kinds of illusion. (Supernatural)

Entrancement and Induction

Entrancement and Induction appear similar, because they have a similar scale of Ease Factors, but they differ in practice. Entrancement takes control of a character's will, and dictates their actions, but does not affect what they believe or experience. Induction causes a character to sense things which are not real, and may convince them of things which are not true, but does not force them to act. It is possible for characters to have both Entrancement and Induction, and to use each to bolster the other. For example, "Speak to me" is an innocuous Entrancement, which allows Induction to begin. Inductions that convince a character that something is less risky, or more necessary, than it truly is alter the Ease Factors for Entrancement.

Infernal Lore*

An understanding and familiarity with the Infernal and its agents. Includes knowledge of demons and their habits and weaknesses, undead and their habits and weaknesses, and the power of curses.
Specialties: demons, undead, curses. (Arcane)

Intrigue

Dealing and plotting, including subtle use of power in non-confrontational ways to achieve your own ends. Intrigue need not be underhanded or manipulative — it also covers negotiations and knowledge of formal and informal rules of conduct and politeness. In addition, Intrigue also allows a character to pick up important information about those in power, separating fact from useless gossip. Intrigue is a vital talent for those who frequent court or a Hermetic Tribunal.
Specialties: gossip, plotting, rumormongering, alliances. (General)

Islamic Law*

This is the Muslim version of Civil & Canon Law. The major sources of Islamic Law are the Qur'an and the Sunna.
Specialties: any one of the sources of Islamic Law, particular topics, customs of a particular area. (Academic)

Judaic Lore*

Judaic Lore is the knowledge of Jewish cultural practice as opposed to strictly religious details. This includes poetry, folklore, songs, and so on. All Jewish characters are versed in Judaic Lore to some degree and experience points in this Ability at character creation can be part of their childhood abilities.
Specialties: folklore, music, poetry, songs (General)

Leadership

Getting people to obey your orders and to follow you. Can also be used to inspire fear in others, cowing them into submission.
Specialties: intimidation, in combat, inspiration. (General)

Legerdemain*

Sleight of hand and knowledge of confidence games requiring sleight of hand. It requires a delicate touch and great hand-eye coordination. Legerdemain includes filching things from market stalls, cutting purses, and picking such locks as there are, as well as the "magical" trickery often used to raise money from credulous folk. The target of an attempt rolls Perception + Awareness to detect your actions. If the perceiver has Legerdemain skill, he may substitute that for Awareness if he wishes. On particularly delicate moves such as picking pockets, someone trying to spot the character using Legerdemain receives a +3 bonus.
Specialties: filching, picking pockets, "magic" tricks. (General)

(Living Language)*

Fluency in a particular living language. Rather than a die roll modifier, your score in this Knowledge measures your ability to communicate.

When two people speak to each other, the lower Ability score determines how well they communicate. Characters who speak related languages can communicate at a penalty to their scores (assigned by the storyguide) depending on how closely related the two languages are. Two dialects of the same language generally have a –1 penalty. If your character is not specialized in a dialect, you should specify a dialect without specializing in it, and take the penalty when conversing with people who speak a different dialect. If you speak a "standard" version of the language, that is a dialect that differs from all other dialects.

Note that Latin and Hebrew are not living languages in most of Mythic Europe. However, characters who live in places where they are (such as some covenants) may learn this Ability without any special Virtues. The same is true of all languages that are learned as dead languages in one area, but still living languages in another.

Characters with this Ability are illiterate unless they also have a score in Artes Liberales (page 160).

This Ability also covers artistic compositions in the language, and telling existing tales with verve and passion. Knowledge of stories is covered by the appropriate Lore Abilities.
Specialties: poetry, prose, specific dialects, expansive vocabulary, specific technical vocabulary, slang, storytelling. (General)

Magic Lore*

Knowledge of magical creatures, areas, and traditions.
Specialties: creatures, magical traditions, regiones. (Arcane)

Magic Sensitivity*

You are often able to identify a place or object as magical. However, your sensitivity makes you more susceptible to magical effects: subtract your Magic Sensitivity score from your Magic Resistance. When attempting to sense the magic nature of a place or object, the storyguide will assign an Ease Factor—simply roll a simple die + Perception + Magic Sensitivity.

Detecting a Magic aura would normally have an Ease Factor equal to 12 – aura level, so 9 for a level 3 aura and 6 for a level 6 aura.

For spells and enchanted items, an Ease Factor equal to 21 – magnitude of effect is a good guide. For enchanted items, use the magnitude of the most powerful effect in the item.

For magical creatures, 15 – one fifth of the creature's Magic Might is appropriate, so for a creature with a Magic Might of 25, the Ease Factor would be 10.

Specialties: auras, magical creatures, enchanted items, active spells. (Supernatural)

Magic Theory*

Knowledge of what magic is and how it works, used primarily in the laboratory. Magic Theory deals with the technical details of Hermetic magic, Magic Lore covers knowledge of magical things in general. Anyone can learn Magic Theory, if they have access to a teacher or book (normally represented by a Virtue), but it is little use to those without The Gift.
Specialties: inventing spells, enchanting items, a single Art. (Arcane)

Medicine*

Medicine is the formal study of the body and its diseases. Medical practice is based on the theory of the four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Diseases are often caused by imbalances among them, hence such practices as bloodletting, to restore the balance. Medicine also deals with treating poisons and the results of starvation and the like, but not with treating wounds (see Chirurgy, above). The auctores are Galen and Hippocrates, in many works. It is important to note that medieval medical theory is basically true in Mythic Europe.
Specialties: anatomy, apothecary, physician. (Academic)

Music

The ability to sing, play musical instruments, and compose new music.
Specialties: sing, compose, any one instrument. (General)

(Mystery Cult) Lore*

This is the (Organization) Lore of a particular cult. It provides knowledge of the legends, history, structure, operation and goals of the Mystery Cult in question.

It includes knowledge of the magics, rites and secret passwords and symbolism of the cult, how to covertly signal membership, and how to assess another magus's membership or non-membership in your cult. Two magi with a score in this ability for the same Mystery Cult may well be able to hold a seemingly innocuous conversation without outsiders understanding the true significance or meaning of their words. Many Mystery Cult specialty books also require a score in this ability to decode their heavy symbolism, this method is used to prevent un-Initiated outsiders learning secrets of the Mystery.

Mystery Cult Lore also covers the ceremonies of the cult, frequently enacted whenever the cult gathers formally. It is also a key knowledge for a Mystagogue's performance of the Initiation Rites, to guide the Initiate through the path of Ordeals, ceremony and meditation, to gain new Virtues.

Cult Lore is passed from Mystagogue to Initiate, from Mystae to Mystae in a chain of living secrets. Some cults also write down their secret lores, as this codifies the Mystery and lets others share the same view of the cult — others prefer the secrecy of the Oral Tradition. Small cults may fade away from lack of members, especially if they are persecuted at some point — but if they committed some of their Lore to writing, the cult may be re-born by those who discover and understand the texts. Some cults risk the loss of secrecy for this very reason — that their secrets and magical rites may not be lost forever. Some magi search for lost texts, containing secret lores of the Ancients, hoping to re-enact the rites and rituals that led the Ancients to power.

In game terms, Experience points in Cult Lore are acquired like any other knowledge — including Teaching, Books, Practice and Exposure. Learning Cult Lore from another ensures that master and pupil share the same rites; learning by yourself generally implies that you have devised your own variant (even "deviant") rites and rituals from such disagreements schisms arise and cults may break up and fragment.

A magus may build the knowledge from 0, even without instruction — but this means they have devised their own cult, and should treat their Lore as a new Lore.

Specialties: personalities, history, politics, one specific Initiation. (General)

(Organization) Lore*

Knowledge of the legends, history, structure, operation, and goals of the specified organization. Organizations can be as large as the Church, or as small as a local craft guild. The smaller the organization, the more detailed your knowledge. Order of Hermes Lore is particularly important to most magi.
Specialties: personalities, history, politics. (General)

Parma Magica*

Protection from magic. This is a special ritual (not a Ritual spell) that takes about two minutes to perform. It lets you add 5 times your Parma Magica score to your Magic Resistance until the next sunrise or sunset, whichever comes first. You may suppress your Parma Magica temporarily by concentrating, this is equivalent to sustaining a Concentration duration spell. (See page 215). Parma Magica does not require concentration while it is active.

You may also protect one other person for each point in Parma Magica, with their consent. You must touch each person to start the protection, and it lasts as long as at least one character can see the other. The magus may cancel the protection at will, at any distance. While a magus is protecting others, his effective Parma Magica score is reduced by 3 points, both for himself and for the other people he is protecting. If the magus has a Parma Magica score of 3 or lower, his Parma Magica provides each character, including himself, with a Magic Resistance of 0. In the magus's case, this is added to his Form resistance, and a magus protected by another magus's Parma Magica may also add his Form resistance.

Any character protected by a Parma Magica, whether their own or someone else's, is unaffected by the social penalties of other people's Gifts. If a protected character is Gifted, their Gift still imposes social penalties on others, unless those others are also protected by a Parma Magica, or are unaffected by The Gift for some other reason.

Parma Magica can only be learned by Gifted characters, although they learn it as a normal Arcane Ability, not a Supernatural Ability. It is only known by Hermetic magi, as the Order enforces the 'Join or Die' choice rigorously on anyone who knows it, as well as declaring a Wizard's March on the magus who taught it. Parma Magica is the last thing an apprentice learns, being taught the final key to the Ability after he swears the Oath.

Specialties: protection from any specific Form. (Arcane)

Penetration

Getting your spell through the target's Magic Resistance. See page 215 for full Penetration rules.
Specialties: any one Art. (Arcane)

Persona*

The character with this Ability can alter his appearance to adopt a different identity. He can alter any aspect of his appearance: hair and eve color, complexion, shape of nose, build and height (within the limits of his Size), apparent age, and even gender. These changes are total, proof even to the most intimate mundane scrutiny, but do not change the character's essential nature. Consequently, all Characteristic scores remain unchanged, Virtues and Flaws are transferred to all new forms, and a character who does not normally have a womb cannot become pregnant when adopting the persona of someone Adopting a different identity requires one round of concentration and a roll of Stamina + Persona against an Ease Factor of 9. Changing back to the character's natural form requires the same concentration and the same roll. Each identity has its own Personality Traits and behavioral quirks, and no Disguise roll is necessary to convince others of the role; this is not a disguise but a whole different person. The character gains one identity for every point he has in the Persona Ability. Every time the Ability increases by one point, the character must design a new identity.
Specialties: priests, peasants, magi (Supernatural)

Philosophiae*

There are three philosophies natural philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysics. Aristotle is the auctor for all of them, in different books. Most scholars study the philosophies after the Arts but before going on to Law, Theology or Medicine. Natural philosophy is the study of the sub-lunar world. It roughly corresponds to today's science. The main texts are the Physica, De Meteorologia, and De historia animalium. Moral philosophy is the study of the proper way of human life. It covers ethics, politics, and economics - the texts are the Ethica, Politica, and Economica. Metaphysics is the philosophy of the fundamental nature of the world. The main text is Aristotle's Metaphysica. The theories of the Philosophiae are all basically correct in Mythic Europe.
Specialties: natural philosophy, moral philosophy, metaphysics, Ritual magic, Ceremonial magic. (Academic)

Premonitions*

You intuitively sense whenever something is wrong, or is likely to go wrong soon. This Ability can be called upon by you or the storyguide, as appropriate, whenever there is a chance to avoid danger. Roll Perception + Premonitions against an Ease Factor depending on the situation. The Ease Factor starts at 3 for imminent, mortal peril, and increases as the distance in time increases and the level of danger decreases. Mortal peril a week in the future would have an Ease Factor of 9, while an imminent minor inconvenience would have an Ease Factor of about 15. If you beat the Ease Factor by 3 or more, you also get some sense of the nature of the danger, with more detail if you roll more highly.
Specialties: threats to a particular person or group of people, particular kinds of threats. (Supernatural)

Profession (Type)

The ability to do a job which does not involve making something. Examples include jongleur, marshal, reeve, sailor, steward, teamster, and washerwoman.
Specialties depend on the profession. (General)

Rabbinic Law*

This is the Jewish version of Civil & Canon Law. The major sources of Rabbinic Law are the Talmud, the Oral Torah, and the Responsa of the Geonim.
Specialties: any one of the sources of Rabbinic Law, dietary laws, particular topics, precedents of a given area (Academic)

Ride

Riding and controlling a riding animal, especially under stress.
Specialties: battle, speed, tricks. (General)

Second Sight*

You are able to see through illusionary concealment and disguise, including invisibility, and can also see naturally invisible things such as spirits and the boundaries between regio levels (see page 420). The Ease Factor to see through illusionary concealment is normally equal to 6 + the magnitude of the might of the creature responsible for the effect, or 6 + the magnitude of a Hermetic spell. In general, this Virtue allows you to see through Hermetic concealment effected with Imaginem, but not other Forms. The Magic Resistance, if any, of the concealed creature does not interfere with your Second Sight. If something is actually transformed, for example by a MuCo spell, you cannot determine the genuine form. The Ease Factor to see a naturally invisible thing is normally 9, and the Ease Factor for seeing regio levels is specified on page 421. All Second Sight rolls are Perception + Second Sight, and they are almost always simple rolls.
Specialties: regiones, invisible things, illusory disguises, faeries, ghosts. (Supernatural)

Sense Holiness and Unholiness*

You are able to feel the presence of good and evil. A Perception + Sense Holiness and Unholiness roll against an Ease Factor of 9 lets you sense holiness or unholiness in a general area; against an Ease Factor of 15, in a person or object. The Ease Factor to detect a demon is 0, but the character must still Penetrate its Magic Resistance. If an angel is hiding its divine nature, which is unusual, the Ease Factor is 15, and the character must Penetrate. If the angel is not hiding its divine nature, the roll automatically succeeds. In auras of particularly strong divine or infernal influence, your sensitivity may overwhelm you. This Ability is granted by the Divine realm, not the Magic or Faerie realms, and thus uses the Divine column of the realm interaction chart (page 410).
Specialties: good or evil. (Supernatural)

Sense Passions*

The character can sense the personality and desires of an intelligent being by recognizing and identifying the different shades of tarnish on its soul. A Perception + Sense Passions roll against an Ease Factor of 9 lets her sense the most powerful emotion currently being experienced by the person, and a roll against an Ease Factor of 15 allows her to identify the character's most dominant Personality Trait. The effect must penetrate the target's Magic Resistance if it has any kind of supernatural protection, and since this is a Supernatural Ability, it is affected by auras.

SENSE PASSIONS: Stress Die + Perception + Sense Passions + Aura

Through careful examination, the character can also recognize passions in people within the general area, allowing her to hone in on the most powerful source of emotion within sight, usually the character with the highest (or lowest) Personality Trait. This requires a 12 or better on the Sense Passions roll.

The character can also tell when an aura has a tarnish (see Realms of Power: The Infernal, page 13) or temper (see Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, page 38) and its type or types by overcoming an Ease Factor of 6.

By sensing passions, the character can often recognize incorporeal spirits. You may treat Sense Passions as Second Sight when attempting to recognize the presence of invisible or bodiless beings. However, this does not allow her to see through illusions, even illusions of strong emotions, and she cannot actually see the spirits, merely sense their proximity.

In addition, this Ability allows the character to Sense Holiness and Unholiness in a limited fashion, much like the Sense Holiness and Unholiness Ability. She can tell that something is either holy or unholy, but she cannot distinguish between the two. She feels the emotional presence associated with the Divine or the Infernal, but cannot pinpoint its supernatural origin. Thus, she might mistake a demon with a fair shape for an angel, or a fearsome-looking angel for a demon. By identifying the target's primary emotions or desires, however, you can usually get a good idea of which realm the target is associated with, assuming the character can penetrate its Magic Resistance.

Sense Passions is either a false power (see the False Power Flaw), or is associated with the Infernal. This means that it always appears infernal to divine or infernal detection. The presence of Infernal taint allows the Sense Holiness and Unholiness aspect to work. If the troupe allows Divine powers to be false, this may be the false version of Sense Holiness and Unholiness. Specialties: auras, emotions, Personality Traits, in a general area. (Supernatural)

Shapeshifter*

You may change your shape into that of a mundane animal from the size of a robin (-10) to that of a bear (+2). This requires a few seconds' (one round's) concentration, and a roll of Stamina + Shapeshifter against an Ease Factor of 9. Changing back to human form requires the same concentration, and the same roll. You have a limited repertoire of shapes, one for every point you have in the Shapeshift ability. Every time you raise the Ability by one point, you may choose a new shape.
Specialties: One of your shapes, particular conditions for the change. (Supernatural)

Single Weapon

Fighting with a weapon used in one hand, possibly using a shield with the other. This includes lances used as intended from horseback.
Specialties: any one weapon or shield, which covers using that weapon with any shield or none, and that shield with any weapon. (Martial)

Stealth

Sneaking about without being seen or heard, also hiding in one place. This includes following people without their noticing, which is rolled against the other person's Perception.
Specialties: hide, sneak, shadowing, urban areas, natural areas. (General)

Summon Animals*

You can summon animals. This Ability is described in the Hermetic Magic chapter, on page 243.

Survival

Finding food, water, shelter, a direct route, and relative safety in the wilderness (a very dangerous place in Mythic Europe). This Ability covers such mundane tasks as building a fire and cooking food without implements.
Specialties: specific locales. (General)

Swim

The ability to propel yourself through water quickly and efficiently.
Specialties: long distances, diving, underwater maneuvering. (General)

Teaching

The ability to teach an Ability to someone else.
Specialties: a particular Ability, particular kinds of student. (General)

Theology: Christian*

Theology is the study of God and his work in the world. The auctores are the Bible and Peter the Lombard's Sententiae, the Bible having theoretical primacy, being infallible, and the Sentences being most studied. The speculations of theology are very abstruse, and many theologians are accused of heresy. Sometimes those accused recant, and sometimes they convince the Church that they were right after all.
Specialties: biblical knowledge, heresy, history. (Academic)

Theology: Islam*

This is the Islamic equivalent of Theology: Christian. The major sources for Islamic theology are the Qur'an and the Sunna.
Specialties: the Qur'an, debates, history, prophets. (Academic)

Theology: Judaism*

This is the Jewish equivalent of Theology: Christian. The major sources for Jewish theology are the Torah, the Nevi'im, and the Kutuvim.
Specialties: the Torah, creation, history, prophecies (Academic)

Thrown Weapon

Fighting at range using weapons which are thrown.
Specialties: any one weapon. (Martial)

Whistle Up The Wind*

You can create wind by whistling. This Ability is described in the Hermetic Magic chapter, on page 246.

Wilderness Sense*

You are mystically attuned to the ways of the wilderness. A Perception + Wilderness Sense roll against an Ease Factor of 9 lets you determine the direction of north, the upcoming weather, or the presence of natural hazards or resources. One roll will only reveal one piece of information.
Specialties: direction, weather, hazards, resources. (Supernatural)

Chapter 6: Covenants

The covenant is the single most important character in most ARS MAGICA sagas, because it is the character that all the players contribute to. It is their home, a secure base, and the place where they study, improve, and create magical wonders. Thus, coming up with a concept for the covenant is very important, as it will have a strong influence on the feel of the saga. A saga based on a covenant located in a hidden regio in the heart of Constantinople will be very different from one based in a covenant occupying a large castle on an island off the coast of Scotland, and different again from one based in a covenant in a magical glade in the heart of a haunted forest in Brittany.

Although the covenant concept has an influence, it isn't all-defining. Many stories will, after all, take the magi away from their covenant, and if the troupe decides that it likes a particular sort of story, most of the stories may take place away from home. Covenants can even be moved, a proposition that will create a lot of stories in itself. This means that you should choose a concept you like when you start out, without worrying that you will be stuck with it forever.

Through the Aegis

Through the Aegis contains five fully developed covenants, one for each of the seasons and one that has been through Winter and returned to Spring. The magi and other important inhabitants are given full statistics, and the buildings and resources of the covenant are described in full. While they are nominally set in particular Tribunals, they could be moved to another Tribunal and serve as your troupe's covenant; the players could even play the characters described there. They can also serve as a source of inspiration, and as places for the player characters to visit during the saga.

Aegis of the Hearth

The spell Aegis of the Hearth (page 370) is one of the most important spells in the Order of Hermes. While Parma Magica gives individuals magic resistance, Aegis of the Hearth (often just 'the Aegis') gives it to a whole covenant. The number of Hermetic covenants with no Aegis at all can most likely be counted on the fingers of one hand, and most covenants want to have the strongest Aegis that they can manage. Thus, if none of the player characters start knowing the spell, you should include it in the covenant library, probably as both a Lab Text and a casting tablet (see later), and make learning it a high priority for someone. Casting the Aegis from a casting tablet is possible, but it is risky in the long term. Note that if the covenant includes magi who are older than the player characters, the player characters need not be able to cast it.

Covenant Seasons

The Order of Hermes traditionally classifies covenants into four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. These informal labels refer to the different stages of a covenant's life, and most magi agree on them most of the time. They are also an important part of the covenant concept, because a lot of features depend on the season.

Spring

Spring covenants are just getting started. They are recently established, have few resources, and are generally populated by few and weak magi. Many Spring covenants fail to reach a later season.

You should create a Spring covenant if you want a pioneer feel, with relatively young magi creating their own home from nothing. They may not be on a literal frontier, although they should be quite some distance from any other covenants to avoid immediate conflicts over resources.

In most cases, a Spring covenant already has basic buildings when the saga starts, and the magi have already created their own laboratories. Nonmagi have been gathered, and the magi may even have been living in the covenant for a season or two.

However, it is perfectly possible to start with nothing but a Magic aura, and roleplay every stage of building the covenant. In some ways, this is a good way for new troupes to start, because there will be a lot of stories and not much laboratory work early on, which gives everyone a chance to become comfortable with the rules step by step. On the other hand, more experienced troupes who want to get straight into laboratory work might find that frustrating.

A Spring covenant could also be founded in the ruins of an older, failed covenant. This provides a good source of stories right on the covenant's doorstep, along with the chance of finding Hermetic resources as treasure (something that otherwise tends to be implausible).

Finally, a Spring covenant could refer to the state of mind of new, young members of a Winter covenant. The covenant has decayed so far that it isn't really a matter of reinvigorating it — the characters are effectively starting again. Much like the ruin, this provides the opportunity to find Hermetic resources lost within the covenant structure, and this is a perfect opportunity to have a beta-storyguide run all the 'covenant stories'.

Vernus

The covenant of Vernus is a Spring covenant, just starting out in the world. It is a weak covenant (see the Base Covenant Resources insert on page 178), and is Struggling (see page 177).

At the moment, the covenant consists of a number of tents pitched around a standing stone, in a clearing in the middle of a faerie forest. The stone and clearing exist in a magical regio (see page 421), although there are several ways to get into it. The base level has a Magic aura of 2, and the covenant itself is located on a level with an aura of 5. The magi hope that there are higher levels, where they will be able to put their laboratories, but they haven't found them yet.

The main concern for the covenant is mundane resources. They don't even have a regular supply of food, and the current plan is to cut a new village out of the forest, and fill it with peasants who will farm for the magi. Various schemes for getting mundane income, such as growing grapes, finding a silver mine, or pretending to find a silver mine and just creating silver, are all under consideration.

The covenant's only vis source is contested, with the faeries who guard it. The nature of the contest varies from year to year, and is never simple combat. The best thing to do is take a wide variety of characters, so that they will be able to handle whatever the faeries decide to throw at them.

Summer

Summer covenants are firmly established, and still growing. The length of a covenant's Summer determines its ultimate power, and has a strong influence on the length of time for which it endures.

A Summer covenant is still growing, but the player characters do not have to worry about establishing it. In addition, they are probably not the oldest members of the covenant, so they do have local older magi to turn to for advice and assistance, if necessary. This makes a Summer covenant an excellent choice if your troupe consists of one or two experienced Ars Magica players and several newcomers. The experienced players can share the job of storyguide for the covenant, and thus provide in-character advice and guidance as the elder magi.

On the other hand, Summer covenants are not normally so organized that the older magican give orders to the younger magi. Thus, the player characters are generally free to follow their own plots.

Aestas

Aestas is a Summer covenant. It is of medium power (see page 178), and has become the Mundane Lord of the local village.

The covenant itself is a large castle, although the fortifications are not as up-to-date as they might be. Each magus lives in a separate tower in the curtain walls, while the central keep holds the library, council chamber, and dining hall. The covenfolk live in buildings built both inside and outside the curtain walls, and at the moment a lot of the covenant supplies are kept outside the walls, which rather lessens their value.

The magi have chosen one of their number, a magus with the Gentle Gift, to serve as their liaison with the outside world, and he has been forced to become good at politics. So far the covenant has managed to put off the need to swear fealty to any mundane by bartering favors and threats for a little more neutrality, but it is extremely unlikely that they will be able to put this off forever. They are thus trying to get a 'tame' noble who can accept the covenant's fealty but won't try to actually exercise his rights.

Aestas keeps a very low profile in Hermetic politics, and is always helpful and generous to visiting magi. They use their wealth to provide extremely good hospitality to Redcaps, and other magi are welcome to stay and study in their library. They even allow magi to copy books, for a small fee. As a result, most magi think that they are harmless and well-meaning, and as long as they avoid major interference with mundane politics they think the Quaesitores will leave them alone.

Autumn

An Autumn covenant is living off past glories, but has yet to go seriously into decline. The most powerful covenants in the Order are in Autumn, as the Autumn that follows a long and vigorous Summer can last for centuries.

There are, essentially, two ways to play an Autumn covenant. In one, the player characters are young members of the covenant, and have to work with the elder magi. In the other, player characters themselves are the elder magi.

Playing junior magi is a good option for players who like the idea of the game, but have no idea what their characters would do, as long as the storyguide does have ideas. The senior magi can send the player characters to accomplish certain tasks, and as they succeed and prove themselves they will naturally be granted more independence, so that as the players reach the point of wanting to follow their own projects, their characters have the freedom to do so.

Playing elder magi is only for experienced players, if only because the first step is creating elder magi, and that requires you to be familiar with the magic rules. It makes for a very different saga style, as the magi are extremely powerful. See the Sagas chapter, page 523, for suggestions.

Autumn covenants can be at various stages of their Autumn. A covenant just out of Summer would be vigorous, but turning more and more to conserving what it has rather than expanding. A covenant in the heart of Autumn would be focused on conservation, and doing a good job of it. As Winter approaches, conservation becomes less effective, but the members of the covenant are reluctant to strike out into new ways of doing things. At any stage, there might be some large threat at the heart of the covenant that could tip it instantly into Winter if uncontained, or some promise that could put the covenant back in Summer if it was understood. Both are possible, and both could even be the same thing.

Autumnus

Autumnus is a powerful Autumn covenant; a powerful covenant (page 178) with Autumn Power (page 177).

The physical structure is a single enormous building, covering the whole of a mountain peak and kept warm and habitable by magic. The entrances to the building are protected with magic as well as solid mundane doors, and the need to climb a mountain first makes a serious attack very difficult indeed. Inside, the halls and corridors are opulent, with minor enchanted devices all over the place.

There are over a dozen magi in the covenant, and the oldest four form a ruling council. They are the only magi with unrestricted access to the covenant's resources, and the most junior magi must obey orders from the council if they wish to retain their membership. The council is still composed of relatively wise magi (that is, relative to most magi...), however, so the orders are not onerous, and are for the covenant's good. Magi are still keen to join, as the resources available to even the youngest members are amazing.

Autumnus has another, much smaller, covenant in a different Tribunal under its protection. Young magi are often given the job of going to help this covenant, which is occasionally awkward, as they are younger than the older magi at the other place. However, having solid contacts in another Tribunal is politically extremely useful, as another strong Autumn covenant is a major rival. The origins of the rivalry are embroidered whenever they are told, but basically the Tribunal isn't big enough for two covenants of this power; they found themselves constantly stepping on each other's toes. The struggle has stayed within the Code so far, but if one side starts to clearly lose, it may not stay there.

Winter

Winter covenants are in decline, and on their way to oblivion. They are normally filled with old and peculiar magi, with little interest in recruiting new blood. However, sometimes new recruits are brought in, and the covenant moves round to Spring once more.

Pulling a Winter covenant through to Spring is a good saga concept for players who want the freedom of the Spring saga, but also want to be living somewhere with history, lost books, and whole towers where no-one has set foot in years. The difference from a Spring saga set in a Winter covenant is mainly that the player characters have to deal with the old inhabitants; magi who are far older and more powerful than they are, but who are interested only in their own bizarre research.

Experienced players might also want to play the old magi in a Winter covenant, concentrating on their own interests as the covenant slowly crumbles around them.

Hiems

Hiems is a Winter covenant. It is of medium power (page 178), and Winter Ruins (page 178). The covenant now has only six magi, whereas once it had over a dozen, and the number of covenfolk has shrunk by an even greater factor. As a result, the complex of caves, tunnels, and towers covering most of a magical forest is largely uninhabited. The routes between the residences of the remaining magi and the central facilities (library, council room, kitchens) are well-maintained, but there are other areas that no-one has entered for years.

One of the old laboratories was in the lair of a dragon, and it seems that the dragon, or at least a dragon, has come back. The covenfolk have reported seeing it, and some have simply disappeared while traveling from one part of the covenant to another. Such disappearances are also attributed to the dragon.

Hiems, in its prime, had many vis sources, but now it hardly has the resources to harvest them all, and other covenants are trying to move in. Hiems has to contest the other covenants for the rights to use the sources, and it isn't clear how much longer they will continue to win.

Still, the covenant had more resources once, and many of them are likely to still be somewhere in the ruins. New magi could turn it back into the power it once was, or simply provide food for the dragon.

Covenant Situations

The situation of a covenant is largely independent of its season and power. A more powerful covenant simply has more resources available to deal with its situation. There are some exceptions, of course. A powerful covenant cannot really be struggling, for example. The following suggestions are nothing more than that; if your troupe wants a different situation, you can create one. The covenant of Aegaea in the Theban Tribunal, for example, is located in a palace within a Faerie regio on the floor of the Aegean Sea, which its members claim is the palace of Poseidon. Almost all the covenfolk are faerie tritones, and the buildings are opulent with treasure that certainly seems genuine, as long as it remains within the regio (The Sundered Eagle, page 81).

These situations are built out of Boons and Hooks, which are described in detail from page 181, and you can use them in the same way to build your own situations. The rules for this are given in Customized Covenant Creation.

Autumn Power

The covenant is a strong Autumn covenant, a position that brings its own problems in the form of rivals, political involvement, and hierarchy.

Hooks: Hermetic Politics (Minor), Protector (Minor), Castle (Major), Rival (Major), Superiors (Major)

Boons: Aura (Minor) x2, Edifice (Minor), Hidden Resources (Minor), Prestige (Minor), Curtain Walls and Mural Towers (Major), Wealth (Major)

Mundane Lord

The covenant has become the lord of a number of mundanes. This may be in direct breach of the Code, so the members likely spend a lot of time making sure that the Quaesitores never become too interested in their activities.

Hooks: Castle (Major), Mundane Politics (Major)

Boons: Edifice (Minor), Tower Keep (Minor), Wealth (Minor), Prestige (Major)

Powerful Location

The covenant is located in a place of great magical power. In many ways this is helpful, but it brings its own problems.

Hooks: Monster (Minor) x2, Regio (Major)

Boons: Aura (Minor) x5. (The covenfolk must live within this aura, so almost all suffer from Warping. See page 389.)

Struggling

The covenant has few resources, and some enemies, and has to work hard just to survive. Stories are likely to concern very mundane issues, such as food supplies, at least until the crisis is resolved.

Hooks: Contested Resource (Minor), Poverty (Major)

Boons: Aura (Minor) x2, Regio (Minor), Seclusion (Minor)

Urban

The covenant is hidden in a regio in a city. While this makes reaching a market easy, it brings its own problems. Tolosa Paratge, in the Provençal Tribunal, is an example of such a covenant (Faith & Flame, page 38).

Hooks: Urban (Major)

Boons: Aura (Minor), Regio (Minor), Wealth (Minor)

Winter Ruins

The covenant is in part of the structure of a Winter covenant. It may be the current state of the old covenant, or a refoundation. The contents of the ruins are a major concern to the characters.

Hooks: Contested Resource (Minor) (x3), Monster (Major), Poverty (Minor)

Boons: Aura (Minor) x2, Edifice (Minor) x2, Hidden Resources (Minor) x3

Base Covenant Resources

The following three sets of covenant resources are provided as examples. If you want to save time, just pick one for your covenant. The Customized Covenant Creation rules on page 179 allow you to tailor the covenant more precisely to your needs, but it does take longer.

The Arts and Abilities covered by the books, spells available as Lab Texts or Casting Tablets, and types of vis available should be chosen based on the interests of the player character magi.

Weak Covenant

Library: Three Art summae (level 15 quality 12, level 12 quality 12, and level 6 quality 21), one Ability summa (level 4 quality 10), and four tractatus (qualities 11, 10, 10, and 9), on either Arts or Abilities.

Lab Texts: 200 levels of spells, none over level 25.

Vis: 1 or more sources, providing a total of 4 pawns per year. No stocks.

Build Points Spent: 200

This is suitable for a Spring covenant, or for the resources accessible in a Winter covenant.

Medium Covenant

Library: Eight Art summae (three at level 16, quality 15, five at level 6, quality 21), three Ability summae (one at level 5, quality 20, and two at level 6, quality 15), and seven tractatus on either Arts or Abilities (two quality 11, four quality 10, and one quality 9)

Lab Texts: 1,000 levels of spells, none over level 40

Vis: At least three sources, each providing a different Art, yielding a total of 20 pawns per year. Vis stocks of 100 pawns, spread between Arts as desired. The stocks may all be of a single Art.

Enchanted Items: 200 levels of enchanted items, with a highest level effect of 40. At least 100 levels should be spent on lesser enchanted devices with an effect level of 20 or lower.

Build Points Spent: 800

This is suitable for a covenant in early Summer, or for the resources immediately available to young magi in an Autumn covenant.

Powerful Covenant

Library: Seventeen Art summae, at least one in each Art (one at level 20, quality 11; one at level 18, quality 13; five at level 16, quality 15; ten at level 6, quality 21), six Ability summae (three at level 6, quality 17, and three at level 5, quality 20), and thirty tractatus (12 quality 11, 9 quality 10, 9 quality 9), on either Arts or Abilities.

Lab Texts: Lab Texts for 2,500 levels of spells, with no upper limit on the level of individual spells.

Vis: At least five sources, each providing a different Art, yielding a total of 50 pawns per year. Vis stocks of 250 pawns, divided freely between the Arts.

Enchanted Items: 500 levels of enchanted items. At least one should have an effect level over 30, and at least 100 levels should be spent on lesser enchanted devices with an effect level of 20 or lower.

Build Points spent: 2000

This is suitable for a covenant in high Summer, the total resources of a relatively weak Autumn covenant, or the resources available to young magi in a very powerful Autumn covenant.

Customized Covenant Creation

The covenant should be created by the whole troupe, working together. The first step is to create a solid covenant concept, before picking the numbers to fill it out. In covenant creation, the troupe can simply choose how powerful the covenant is, so such things need to be decided in advance.

Baseline

The base for covenant creation is a stone building with enough room to accommodate the magi and other covenfolk, located in a level 3 Magic aura. The covenant has no magical resources, but has sufficient mundane resources to ensure that the magi do not have to worry about day-to-day upkeep. There is about one grog (fighter) per magus, and there are about two other covenfolk, such as servants and craftsmen, per magus. The available craftsmen include a blacksmith, carpenter, and maybe a bookbinder, but more exotic specialists are not present. While the covenant is hard to get into, it could not withstand a serious military assault without the use of magic. The Aging Modifier for a basic covenant is 0.

The covenant could be an isolated tower on a hill, a group of buildings in a clearing in forest, a complex of caves, or any number of other things. At any rate, it is somewhat removed from mundane society.

Accessible Power Level

The first choice is the level of power within the covenant that is accessible to the player character magi. This is a simple choice, depending on the sort of saga the players want. Novice players should start with a medium or low power level.

Maximum Level: The highest level of a single Lab Text or a single effect in an enchanted device. In the case of a device, the level includes all modifications (see Magical Enchantments on page 252 for more details).

Minimum Age: The minimum number of years that have passed since the foundation of the covenant.

Note that this is the power that the player magi can access at will. An autumn covenant with a strict hierarchy might only have a low level of accessible power, because the player magi are not allowed to use most of the resources.

Resources

Resources are very important to magi, as they determine how quickly they can learn and improve their Arts and other magical abilities. Books are described in the Long Term Events chapter (page 379), Lab Texts and Casting Tablets in the Laboratory chapter (page 262), and vis and its uses in the Hermetic Magic, Laboratory, and Long Term Events chapters. Enchanted items are described in the Laboratory chapter (page 274).

Library

The library is probably the most important resource in most covenants. Unlike vis, books can be studied over and over again, being used by all the members of the covenant. Rules for books can be found on page 379; there are two types, summae, which can be studied multiple times, and tractatus, which can be studied only once. Summae have a level, and once a character's level in the subject of the book equals that level, the book is no longer of any use. Tractatus can be used by characters at any level. The quality of a book is a measure of how good it is; higher is better.

Art Summae: Add level and quality together. Each summa costs one Build Point per point in the total. The level must not exceed 20; higher-level summae can only be obtained through play. The quality must not exceed 11 plus 1 for every point below 20 of the level, and must not exceed 22 in any case.

ART SUMMA COST: Level + Quality

ART SUMMA LEVEL LIMIT: 20

ART SUMMA QUALITY LIMIT: 11 + (20 – Level), or 22, whichever is lower

Ability Summae: Add quality and three times level together, and each summa costs one Build Point per point in the total. The level must not exceed 8. The quality must not exceed 11 plus 3 for every point below 8 of the level, and must not exceed 22 in any case.

ABILITY SUMMA COST: Quality + 3 x Level

ABILITY SUMMA LEVEL LIMIT: 8

ABILITY SUMMA QUALITY LIMIT: 11 + 3 x (8 – level), or 22, whichever is lower

Tractatus: A tractatus in either Arts or Abilities costs one Build Point per point of quality. The quality may not exceed 11.

TRACTATUS COST: Quality

TRACTATUS QUALITY LIMIT: 11

Lab Texts

Lab Texts allow magi to research magical creations much more quickly than they could without assistance. By far the most common form of Lab Text is the Lab Text for inventing a Formulaic spell, and most covenants have many levels of such Lab Texts in their libraries.

Five levels of Lab Texts cost one Build Point. See the power level table on page 179 for the maximum level of Lab Text that can be taken.

LAB TEXT COST: 1 Build Point per five levels

Casting Tablets

Casting Tablets allow magi to cast Formulaic or Ritual spells that they do not know (see page 263). Not all covenants have such things, and those that do normally have them for spells that they do not need very often. Some covenants cast their Aegis of the Hearth from a Casting Tablet, but that is rather risky.

Five levels of Casting Tablets cost two Build Points, and use the same level limits as Lab Texts.

Casting Tablet Cost: 2 Build Points per five levels

Vis

Vis sources, which provide vis every year, are extremely valuable resources for a covenant. Vis stocks are also useful, and most covenants try to have some in store for emergencies. See page 212 for more information on raw vis, and page 422 for information on vis sources.

Vis Sources: Vis sources cost five Build Points for every pawn of vis available each year.

VIS SUPPLIES COST: 5 Build Points per pawn of vis per year

Vis Stocks: Vis stocks cost one Build Point per five pawns of vis in store. Once vis stocks are used, they are gone until the characters can find, in play, more vis.

VIS STOCKS COST: 1 Build Point per 5 pawns of vis

Enchanted Items

An enchanted item costs two Build Points for every five levels of effect, including modifications. See the power level table on page 179 for the maximum level of any individual effect.

Enchanted Item Cost: 2 Build Points per five levels of effect, including modifications

Specialists

Specialists are non-magus NPC members of the covenant with useful skills. They are defined only by the abilities they use to serve the covenant, rather than by a full character sheet, and can include guards as well as teachers and craftsmen. Characters created as grogs or companions need not be paid for with Build Points.

Teachers: A teacher bought with Build Points is employed by the covenant, and available to teach as directed by the magi two seasons per year. The cost is the sum of his Communication and Teaching total and his highest score in the Abilities he will teach. Teachers cannot have The Gift, and thus cannot teach the Hermetic Arts. They may have other Supernatural Abilities, however. Their Abilities are limited by their age, as for newly created characters (see page 48).

TEACHER COST: Communication + Teaching + Highest Ability Score