Alexander of Jerbiton

Concept: A magus who spends his life exploring the deserts of North Africa, developing spells to change himself and his attendants into animals to better travel in those harsh lands.

Even as an apprentice, Alexander was fascinated by the idea of traveling to North Africa and visiting its ruins. His indulgent master equipped him with the sorts of skills and spells that allow him to find trouble, but not necessarily overcome it. He rectifies this lack later in life.

Alexander of Jerbiton is of average height, with olive skin and dark hair. He is scrawny when young, becoming wiry as he ages. His skin becomes increasingly leathery and his face becomes more lined, due to his exposure to the heat of the Egyptian climate. He wears the clothing of the locals wherever he goes.

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

Size: 0 Age: 21 (21) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (transforming humans into animals); Subtle Magic, Well-traveled*; Deficient Technique (Perdo); Weak Enchanter

* House Virtue

Personality Traits: Curious +3, Practical +1 Reputations: None

Combat: (human shape)

Brawl (fist): Init 0, Attack +1, Defense +1, Damage 0

Brawl (bludgeon): Init 0, Attack +3, Defense

+1, Damage +2

Soak: +2

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11–15), Incapacitated (16–20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Arabic 3 (traveling), Artes Liberales 1 (geography), (Apprenticeship Covenant) Lore 1 (workshops), Athletics 1 (walking long distances), Awareness 1 (ambush), Bargain 2 (for food and lodging), Brawl 1 (in camel form), Carouse 1 (sailors), Charm 1 (merchants), Chirurgy 1 (self), Etiquette 1 (transformations into animals, and vice versa), Folk Ken 2 (festivals), Guile 1 (about origin), Latin 4 (writing), Magic Theory 3 (human transformations into animals), North Africa Lore 2 (covenants), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (folktales of magi), Parma Magica 1 (Terram), Sicilian 5 (pleasantries), Survival 1 (desert), Swim 1 (rivers)

Arts: Cr 5**, In** 5, Mu 9, Pe 0, Re 5; An 5**, Aq** 0, Au 0, Co 5**, He** 0**, Ig** 0, Im 0, Me 0, Te 0, Vi 0

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Alexander prefers cheap equipment he can discard if he decides to spend time wandering in animal form. His clothes are made entirely of animal products, so that they transform when he does.

Encumbrance: 0 Spells Known:

Voice of the Bjornaer Magus (MuAn15/+11): Includes penalties for casting without speech. Alexander does not need to use gestures because of his Subtle Magic Virtue. Allows the magus to speak with a human voice in animal form, removing penalties for voiceless casting. See Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults page 36 for details.

Beast of Miniscule Proportions (MuAn 20/+16) *Circle of Beast Warding (*ReAn 5/+12) *Cloak of Duck's Feathers (*ReAq 5/+7) Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+12)

A Guardian of the Tombs (MuCo(An) 20/+21) The Desert Wanderer (MuCo(An) 25/+21) Disguise of the Transformed Image (MuIm 15/ +11) Unseen Arm (ReTe 5/+7)

Appearance: Alexander is an athletic young man of Mediterranean appearance. He wears cheap, easily replaced clothes.

Sigil: While being cast, Alexander's spells create a hazy, shimmering effect like the air above a hot field of stones. He votes using a small statue of Thoth carved in ebony.

Design Notes: His design totals so far are: Abilities 300, Arts: 135, Spells: 115.

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

Size: 0

Age: 36 (35) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (transforming humans into animals); Subtle Magic, Well-traveled*; Deficient Technique (Perdo); Weak Enchanter

* House Virtue

Personality Traits: Curious +3, Practical +2 Reputations: Noted writer of travel journals 1 (House Jerbiton)

Combat: (human shape)

Brawl (fist): Init 0, Attack +1, Defense +1, Damage 0

Brawl (bludgeon): Init 0, Attack +3, Defense +1, Damage +2

Soak: +2

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11–15), Incapacitated (16–20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Arabic 5 (traveling), Artes Libera-

les 1 (geography), (Apprenticeship Covenant) Lore 1 (workshops), Athletics 1 (walking long distances), Awareness 1 (ambush), Bargain 2 (for food and lodging), Brawl 1 (in camel form), Carouse 1 (sailors), Charm 1 (merchants), Chirurgy 1 (self), Etiquette 1 (magi), Ethiopian 1 (traders' speech), Folk Ken 2 (festivals), Guile 1 (about origin), Latin 4 (writing), Magic Theory 4 (human transformations into animals), North Africa Lore 5 (covenants), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (folktales of magi), Parma Magica 3 (Terram), Sicilian 5 (pleasantries), Survival 1 (desert), Swim 1 (rivers)

Arts: Cr 5**, In** 5, Mu 15 (15), Pe 5, Re 5; An 10**, Aq** 0, Au 0, Co 10**, He** 0**, Ig** 0, Im 0, Me 0, Te 0, Vi 0

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Alexander prefers cheap equipment he can discard if he decides to spend time wandering in animal form. His clothes are made entirely of animal products, so that they transform when he does.

Encumbrance: 0 Spells Known:

Voice of the Bjornaer Magus (MuAn15/+27) Beast of Miniscule Proportions (MuAn 20/+27) *Circle of Beast Warding (*ReAn 5/+17)

*Cloak of Duck's Feathers (*ReAq 5/+7)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+17)

A Guardian of the Tombs (MuCo(An) 20/+37) The Desert Wanderer (MuCo(An) 25/+37)

A Punishment for Brigands (MuCo(An) 40/+37): Mastery 1 (Penetration)

The Shadow on the Sand (MuCo(An) 30/+37): Mastery 1 (Quiet Casting)

Disguise of the Transformed Image (MuIm 15/+17) Unseen Arm (ReTe 5/+7)

Trackless Step (ReTe 10/+7)

Appearance: Alexander is an athletic young man of Mediterranean appearance. He wears cheap, easily replaced clothes.

Activities in the last 15 years: Alexander develops new spells to aid him in his travels, while improving his skills. He arranges for a longevity ritual to be created for him, and spends two seasons on a dangerous quest for the Verditius who creates his first ritual. Alexander's statistics are 40 Experience points short of where they would be if he had remained at home, studying.

Design Notes: His design totals are now: Abilities: 300 + 160 = 460 total; Arts: 135 + 170 = 305 total; Spells: + 120 + 80 levels = 200 total.

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

Size: 0 Age: 51 (40) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 1 (3) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (transforming humans into animals); Subtle Magic, Well-traveled*; Deficient Technique (Perdo); Weak Enchanter

* House Virtue

Personality Traits: Curious +3, Practical +2 Reputations: Noted writer of travel journals 2 (House Jerbiton)

Combat: (human shape)

Brawl (fist): Init 0, Attack +3, Defense +3, Damage 0

Brawl (bludgeon): Init 0, Attack +5, Defense +3, Damage +2

Soak: +2

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11– 15), Incapacitated (16–20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Arabic 5 (traveling), Artes Liberales 1 (geography), (Apprenticeship Covenant) Lore 1 (workshops), Athletics 2 (walking long distances), Awareness 2 (ambush), Bargain 3 (for food and lodging), Brawl 3 (in animal form), Carouse 1 (sailors), Charm 2 (merchants), Chirurgy 2 (self), Etiquette 2 (magi), Ethiopian 3 (traders' speech), Ethiopian Lore 3 (churches), Folk Ken 2 (festivals), Guile 1 (about origin), (Home Covenant) Lore 2 (local mundanes), Intrigue 1 (about magi), Latin 4 (writing), Leadership 2 (grogs), Magic Theory 5 (human transformations into animals), North Africa Lore 5 (covenants), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (folktales of magi), Parma Magica 3 (Terram), Sicilian 5 (pleasantries), Survival 2 (desert), Swim 1 (rivers)

Arts: Cr 5**, In** 5, Mu 15 (15), Pe 5, Re 5; An 16 (9), Aq 0, Au 0, Co 10**, He** 0**, Ig** 0, Im 0, Me 0, Te 0, Vi 0

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Alexander prefers cheap equipment he can discard if he decides to spend time wandering in animal form. His clothes are made entirely of animal products, so that they transform when he does.

Encumbrance: 0

Spells Known:

Recruiting A Tiny Phalanx (Cr(Re)An 35/+23) Voice of the Bjornaer Magus (MuAn 15/+33) Beast of Miniscule Proportions (MuAn 20/+33)

Scales of the Scorpions (MuAn 40/+33)

Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+23)

The Gentle Beast (ReAn 25/+23)

*Cloak of Duck's Feathers (*ReAq 5/+7)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+17)

Eyes of the Housecats (MuCo(An) 20/+37)

A Guardian of the Tombs (MuCo(An) 20/+37)

The Desert Wanderer (MuCo(An) 25/+37)

The Lurker in the Rushes (MuCo(An) 30/+37)

The Shadow on the Sand (MuCo(An) 30/+37):

Mastery 1 (Quiet Casting)

A Punishment for Brigands (MuCo(An) 40/+37): Mastery 1 (Penetration)

A Source of Tremendous Pride (MuCo(An) 45/+37)

Disguise of the Transformed Image (MuIm 15/+17) Unseen Arm (ReTe 5/+7)

Trackless Step (ReTe 10/+7)

Appearance: Alexander is an athletic man of Mediterranean appearance. He wears cheap, easily replaced clothes, exclusively constructed of animal products.

Activities in the last 15 years: Alexander joins a covenant with excellent resources, and develops spells and abilities suitable for guiding groups of grogs. He has continued to prepare for an eventual expedition to Ethiopia.

Design Notes: Alexander's design totals are: Abilities: 460 + 195 = 655 total; Arts: 305 + 90 = 395 total; Spells: 205 + 190 = 395 total. Note that he gains 20 experience more than an average magus would in this period.

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

Size: 0

Age: 66 (47)

Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 2 (1)

Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (transforming humans into animals); Subtle Magic, Welltraveled*; Deficient Technique (Perdo); Weak Enchanter

* House Virtue

Personality Traits: Curious +3, Practical +2 Reputations: Noted writer about North African customs 3 (House Jerbiton)

Combat: (human shape)

Brawl (fist): Init 0, Attack +3, Defense +3,

Damage 0

Brawl (bludgeon): Init 0, Attack +5, Defense +3, Damage +2

Soak: +2

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11– 15), Incapacitated (16–20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Arabic 5 (traveling), Artes Liberales 2 (geography), (Apprenticeship Covenant) Lore 1 (workshops), Athletics 2 (walking long distances), Awareness 2 (ambush), Bargain 4 (for food and lodging), Brawl 3 (in animal form), Carouse 1 (sailors), Charm 2 (merchants), Chirurgy 2 (self), Etiquette 2 (magi), Ethiopian 3 (traders' speech), Ethiopian Lore 3 (churches), Folk Ken 2 (festivals), Guile 1 (about origin), (Home Covenant) Lore 3 (local mundanes), Intrigue 1 (about magi), Latin 5 (writing), Leadership 2 (grogs), Magic Theory 5 (human transformations into animals), North Africa Lore 5 (covenants), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (folktales of magi), Parma Magica 4 (Terram), Sicilian 5 (pleasantries), Survival 2 (desert), Swim 1 (rivers), Teaching (apprentices) 3

Arts: Cr 5**, In** 5, Mu 18, Pe 5, Re 10; An 16 (9), Aq 5, Au 6 (3), Co 14**, He** 5**, Ig** 5, Im 5, Me 5, Te 5, Vi 5

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Alexander prefers cheap equipment he can discard if he decides to spend time wandering in animal form. His clothes are made entirely of animal products, so that they transform when he does.

Encumbrance: 0 Spells Known:

Recruiting A Tiny Phalanx (Cr(Re)An 35/+23)

Voice of the Bjornaer Magus (MuAn15/+36)

Beast of Miniscule Proportions (MuAn 20/+36)

Scales of the Scorpions (MuAn 40/+36)

*Circle of Beast Warding (*ReAn 5/+23)

The Gentle Beast (ReAn 25/+28)

*Cloak of Duck's Feathers (*ReAq 5/+17)

Movement Within the Sirocco (ReAu 25/+18)

Ward Against the Sirocco (ReAu 25/+18)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+21)

Eyes of the Housecats (MuCo(An) 20/+46)

A Guardian of the Tombs (MuCo(An) 20/+46)

The Desert Wanderer (MuCo(An) 25/+46)

The Lurker in the Rushes (MuCo(An) 30/+46)

The Shadow on the Sand (MuCo(An) 30/+46): Mastery 1 (Quiet Casting)

A Punishment for Brigands (MuCo(An) 40/+46):

Mastery 1 (Penetration) A Source of Tremendous Pride (MuCo(An)

45/+46) Disguise of the Transformed Image (MuIm 15/+25) Unseen Arm (ReTe 5/+17) Trackless Step (ReTe 10/+17)

Appearance: Alexander is an athletic man of Mediterranean appearance. He wears cheap, easily replaced clothes, exclusively constructed of animal products.

Activities in the last 15 years: Alexander pauses to take a familiar, but the animal dies before the ritual can be completed. He also begins broadening his arts, to allow him to take an apprentice. In the statistics above, he has trained a child for eight years. Alexander spends a year running errands for the magus who makes him a more mature longevity ritual. He also makes brief forays to Kushite ruins.

Design Notes: Alexander's design totals are: Abilities: 655 + 135 = 790 total; Arts: 395 + 243 = 638 total; Spells: 390 + 55 = 445 total.

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

Size: 0

Age: 81 (55)

Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 2 (5)

Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (transforming humans into animals); Subtle Magic, Welltraveled*; Deficient Technique (Perdo); Weak Enchanter

* House Virtue

Personality Traits: Curious +3, Practical +2 Reputations: Noted writer about North African customs 4 (House Jerbiton)

Combat: (human shape)

Brawl (fist): Init 0, Attack +3, Defense +3, Damage 0

Brawl (bludgeon): Init 0, Attack +5, Defense +3, Damage +2

Soak: +2

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11– 15), Incapacitated (16–20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Arabic 5 (traveling), Artes Liberales 3 (geography), (Apprenticeship Covenant) Lore 1 (workshops), Athletics 2 (walking long distances), Awareness 2 (ambush), Bargain 4 (for food and lodging), Brawl 3 (in animal form), Carouse 1 (sailors), Charm 2 (merchants), Chirurgy 2 (self), Etiquette 2 (magi), Ethiopian 4 (traders' speech), Ethiopian Lore 5 (churches), Folk Ken 3 (festivals), Guile

1 (about origin), (Home Covenant) Lore 3 (local mundanes), Intrigue 1 (about magi), Latin 5 (writing), Leadership 3 (grogs), Magic Theory 5 (human transformations into animals), North Africa Lore 5 (covenants), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (folktales of magi), Parma Magica 4 (Terram), Sicilian 5 (pleasantries), Survival 3 (desert), Swim 1 (rivers), Teaching (apprentices) 4

Arts: Cr 5**, In** 9, Mu 19, Pe 5, Re 10; An 17**, Aq** 5, Au 10, Co 15**, He** 5**, Ig** 5, Im 5, Me 5, Te 5, Vi 5

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Alexander prefers cheap equipment he can discard if he decides to spend time wandering in animal form. His clothes are made entirely of animal products, so that they transform when he does.

Encumbrance: 0 Spells Known:

Recruiting A Tiny Phalanx (Cr(Re)An 35/+24) Sailor's Foretaste of the Morrow (InAn20/+21) Voice of the Bjornaer Magus (MuAn15/+38) Beast of Miniscule Proportions (MuAn 20/+38) Opening the Tome of the Animal's Mind (MuAn25/+38)

Scales of the Scorpions (MuAn 40/+38) *Circle of Beast Warding (*ReAn 5/+29) The Gentle Beast (ReAn 25/+29)

*Cloak of Duck's Feathers (*ReAq 5/+17)

Movement within the Sirocco (ReAu 25/+22) Ward Against the Sirocco (ReAu 25/+22)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+22)

Whispers Through the Black Gate

(InCo(Me)15/+16)

Eyes of the Housecats (MuCo(An) 20/+51) A Guardian of the Tombs (MuCo(An) 20/+51) The Desert Wanderer (MuCo(An) 25/+51)

The Lurker in the Rushes (MuCo(An) 30/+51)

The Shadow on the Sand (MuCo(An) 30/+51):

Mastery 1 (Quiet Casting) Retreat as Flying Vermin (MuAn(Co)35/+36)

A Punishment for Brigands (MuCo(An) 40/+51): Mastery 1 (Penetration)

A Source of Tremendous Pride (MuCo(An) 45/+51)

Disguise of the Transformed Image (MuIm 15/+26) Trackless Step (ReTe 10/+17)

Unseen Arm (ReTe 5/+17)

Wizard's Reach (Animal) (MuVi30/+26)

Appearance: Alexander is an older man of lean, Mediterranean appearance. He wears cheap, easily replaced clothes, exclusively constructed of animal products.

Activities in the last 15 years: Alexander's apprentice has completed training. Alexander continues to focus on spells that aid expeditions.

Design Notes: Alexander's design totals are: Abilities: 790 + 145 = 935 total; Arts: 638 + 115 = 753 total; Spells: 445 + 125 = 570 total. During this period Alexander's travels seriously reduce his study, and this slows his acquisition of experience markedly.

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

Size: 0 Age: 96 (62) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 2 (5) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (transforming humans into animals); Subtle Magic, Welltraveled*; Deficient Technique (Perdo); Weak Enchanter

* House Virtue

Personality Traits: Curious +3, Practical +2 Reputations: Noted writer about North African and Kushite ruins 4 (House Jerbiton)

Combat: (human shape)

Brawl (fist): Init 0, Attack +3, Defense +3, Damage 0

Brawl (bludgeon): Init 0, Attack +5, Defense +3, Damage +2

Soak: +2

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11– 15), Incapacitated (16–20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Arabic 5 (traveling), Artes Liberales 4 (geography), (Apprenticeship Covenant) Lore 1 (workshops), Athletics 3 (walking long distances), Awareness 2 (ambush), Bargain 4 (for food and lodging), Brawl 3 (in animal form), Carouse 1 (sailors), Charm 2 (merchants), Chirurgy 2 (self), Concentration 3 (maintaining Muto spells), Etiquette 2 (magi), Ethiopian 4 (traders' speech), Ethiopian Lore 5 (churches), Finesse 3 (Muto), Folk Ken 3 (festivals), Guile 1 (about origin), (Home Covenant) Lore 3 (local mundanes), Intrigue 1 (about magi), Latin 5 (writing), Leadership 3 (grogs), Magic Theory 5 (human transformations into animals), North Africa Lore 5 (covenants), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (folktales of magi), Parma Magica 6 (Terram), Sicilian 5 (pleasantries), Survival 5 (desert), Swim 1 (rivers), Teaching (apprentices) 4

Arts: Cr 5**, In** 9, Mu 20, Pe 5, Re 10; An 17**, Aq** 5, Au 10, Co 15**, He** 5**, Ig** 5, Im 5, Me 5, Te 5, Vi 5

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Alexander prefers cheap equipment he can discard if he decides to spend time wandering in animal form. His clothes are made entirely of animal products, so that they transform when he does.

Encumbrance: 0 Spells Known:

Recruiting A Tiny Phalanx (Cr(Re)An 35/+24) Sailor's Foretaste of the Morrow (InAn20/+21) Voice of the Bjornaer Magus (MuAn15/+39) Beast of Miniscule Proportions (MuAn 20/+39) Opening the Tome of the Animal's Mind (MuAn 25/+39)

*Circle of Beast Warding (*ReAn 5/+29) The Gentle Beast (ReAn 25/+29) A Bag of Teeth (MuAq(An)20/+32) *Cloak of Duck's Feathers (*ReAq 5/+17) Movement within the Sirocco (ReAu 25/+22) Ward Against the Sirocco (ReAu 25/+22) Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+22) Whispers Through the Black Gate

Scales of the Scorpions (MuAn 40/+39)

(InCo(Me)15/+16) Eyes of the Housecats (MuCo(An) 20/+52) A Guardian of the Tombs (MuCo(An) 20/+52) The Desert Wanderer (MuCo(An) 25/+52) The Lurker in the Rushes (MuCo(An) 30/+52) The Shadow on the Sand (MuCo(An) 30/+52):

Mastery 1 (Quiet Casting)

Retreat as Flying Vermin (MuAn(Co)35/+52) A Punishment for Brigands (MuCo(An) 40/+52): Mastery 1 (Penetration)

A Source of Tremendous Pride (MuCo(An) 45/+52)

A Bag of Feathers (MuHe(An)35/+27 Conflagratious Lanyard (MuIg(An)30/+27) A Place of Recuperation (PeIg 15/+12)

A Time For Slumber (PeIg5/|+12) The False Dune (MuIm5/+27)

Disguise of the Transformed Image (MuIm 15/+27)

The Petrine Deception (MuIm15/+27) Avoiding the Blame (MuMe15/+27)

Mind of the Beast (MuMe(An)30/+27) Rapid Excavations (MuTe(Aq)30/+27)

Unseen Arm (ReTe 5/+17)

Trackless Step (ReTe 10/+17)

Wizard's Reach (Animal) (MuVi30/+26)

Appearance: Alexander is an elderly man of weathered appearance. He wears cheap, easily replaced clothes, exclusively constructed of animal products.

Activities in the last 15 years: During this period Alexander all but abandons the development of his Arts, instead developing skills and spells for exploration.

Design Notes: Alexander's design totals are: Abilities: 935 + 210 = 1145 Total; Arts: 753 + 20 = 773 total; Spells: 570 + 205 = 775 total.