Hugh of Flambeau

Concept: A magus who relishes physical combat, and who has developed many spells and enchanted items to make him a more formidable opponent.

Hugh Hostis of Flambeau was late to begin his apprenticeship; he was already fourteen years old when his master discovered him on the streets of the city, being used as a heavy by a local street gang, intimidating people with his Gift. The magus of House Flambeau took the boy in, and after taming him, taught him magic. Hugh was trained in the School of Ramius, a Flambeau style of combat that emphasizes mundane attacks and magical defenses, and he spent nearly as much time drilling in combat with the grogs as he did in the laboratory. He has become an excellent soldier, easily the match of many experienced grogs especially as a brawler, but has been struck around the head so many times that he has permanently damaged his hearing.

Hugh has a natural talent for combining magic and combat. His mother told him that the blood of the valkyries — supernatural warrior women of the Northern lands — flowed in his veins, and that they provide him with armor whenever he needs it. Hugh never holds back in combat; he is always with the warriors in the front line, sometimes acting as leader and/or vanguard of the fighting force. Since his Mythic Blood rarely leaves him fatigued, he often casts defensive spells on his fellow soldiers to make them better warriors. The grogs respect his fighting ability but fear his recklessness and his temper. His favored tactic is to strike a supernatural target in battle with a weapon then follow up with a spell, using the blood on the blade as an Arcane Connection to enhance Penetration.

After nearly a half-century of service, Hugh has become a prominent member of the tribunal, taking it upon himself to hunt down Marched magi with a group of loyal grogs and impose the punishment of the Order. Two decades after his apprenticeship Hugh came to the attention of the Legion of Mithras (see The Mysteries, Revised Edition, pages 118–122), a Mystery cult devoted to the defense of the Order from outside threats. He was initiated and has achieved the second rank, called the Bride. He has made excursions beyond the bounds of the Order's territories to investigate rumors of hostile magicians, and slain several hedge wizards as a consequence. He personally does not feel that any of the magicians he has faced posed a serious threat to the Order, but he is a loyal soldier and does what he is told.

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

Size: 0 Age: 29 (29) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Mythic Blood (valkyrie); Affinity with Rego, Minor Magical Focus** (arms and armor), Puissant Great Weapon, Puissant Perdo*, Rapid Convalescence, Skilled Parens, Special Circumstances (in

melee combat), Tough, Warrior; Magic Addiction, Ambitious, Short-Ranged

* House Virtue

** from Mythic Blood

Personality Traits: Recklessly Brave +3, Argumentative +2, Belligerent +2

Magic; Poor Hearing, Reckless**

Combat:

Fist: Init –1, Attack +6, Defense +4, Damage +2 Pole Axe: Init 0, Attack +14, Defense +7, Damage +13

Soak: 13 (in armor, +3 after casting Doublet of Impenetrable Silk)

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: Artes Liberales 2 (copying), Athletics 1 (in armor), Awareness 2 (at night), Brawl 4 (punch), Code of Hermes 1 (high crimes), Concentration 2 (in battle), Criminal Lore 1 (local town), Finesse 2 (Rego), Great Weapon 5+2 (pole axe), Latin 4 (shouting), Leadership 2 (soldiers), Magic Theory 4 (Rego effects), Native Language 5 (criminal argot), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (House Flambeau), Parma Magica 1 (Corpus), Penetration 2 (Corpus), Ride 2 (in battle)

Arts: Cr 3**, In** 1**, Mu** 4**, Pe** 6+3**, Re** 12**; An** 2**, Aq** 1**, Au** 1**, Co** 6**, He** 4**, Ig** 0**, Im** 0**, Me** 2**, Te** 5**, Vi** 6

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: pole axe, 2 throwing axes

Encumbrance: –1 (Load 9, Burden 3)

Powers

Gird the Warrior, 0 points, Init +0, Terram: By uttering a few words and sweeping his hands down his body, Hugh can convert any clothes that he is wearing into a suit of full metal scale armor, providing 7 points of Protection and 7 points of Load. The armor remains until Hugh decides to dismiss it (MuAn (He, Te) 30; R: Touch, D: Conc, T: Group; base 5, +1 Touch, +1 Conc, +2 Group; +5 maintains concentration)

Spells Known:

Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15/+11 ^F ) Blunt the Viper's Fangs (PeAn 15/+7 S ) Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+17) Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+12)

Dust to Dust (PeCo 15/+9 S )

Rise of the Feathery Body (ReCo 10/+21)

Endurance of the Berserkers (ReCo 15/+21) Curse of Rotting Wood (PeHe 5/+16)

Repel the Wooden Shaft (ReHe 10/+12 FS)

Aura of Ennobled Presence (MuIm 10/+7) Edge of the Razor (MuTe 20/+17 F ) Mastery 1 (Penetration)

Magi of Hermes

Maintaining the Demanding Spell (ReVi 20/+22)

Mastery 1 (Fast Cast) F includes Magical Focus

S includes Short-Ranged Magic

Appearance: A tall, broad-shouldered man with a heavy brow, squat features, and a broken nose. He is clearly in excellent physical condition. He keeps his hair short, and while he cultivates no beard or mustache he often neglects to shave for several days. One would be forgiven for confusing him with a common soldier rather than a magus of the Order.

Casting Sigil: Weapons. The sound of clashing weapons is common, as is a keen edge.

Voting Sigil: A hand axe engraved with the symbol of House Flambeau.

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

Size: 0

Age: 44 (37)

Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 3 (0)

Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Mythic Blood (valkyrie); Affinity with Rego, Minor Magical Focus** (arms and armor), Puissant Great Weapon, Puissant Perdo*, Rapid Convalescence, Skilled Parens, Special Circumstances (in melee combat), Tough, Warrior; Magic Addiction, Ambitious, Short-Ranged Magic; Poor Hearing, Reckless**

* House Virtue

** from Mythic Blood

Personality Traits: Recklessly Brave +3, Argumentative +2, Belligerent +2

Reputation: Hoplite 2 (Hermetic)

Combat:

Tonatris (Gauntlet): Init 0, Attack +6, Defense +6, Damage +4

Pole Axe: Init +1, Attack +14, Defense +8, Damage +13

Soak: 13 (in armor, +3 after casting Gift of the Bear's Fortitude, +3 after casting Doublet of Impenetrable Silk)

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: Artes Liberales 2 (copying), Athletics 2 (in armor), Awareness 2 (at night), Brawl 4 (punch), Code of Hermes 1 (high crimes), Concentration 2 (in battle), Criminal Lore 1 (local town), Finesse 2 (Rego), Great Weapon 5+2 (pole axe), Latin 4 (shouting), Leadership 2 (soldiers), Magic Theory 5 (1) (Rego effects), Native Language 5 (criminal argot), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (House Flambeau), Parma Magica 4 (Corpus), Penetration 4 (Corpus), Ride 2 (in battle)

Arts: Cr 5**, In** 4**, Mu** 6**, Pe** 9+3**, Re** 14**; An** 5**, Aq** 1**, Au** 1**, Co** 10**, He** 6**, Ig** 3**, Im** 3**, Me** 6**, Te** 8**, Vi** 8

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Tonatris, pole axe

Encumbrance: –1 (Load 9, Burden 3)

Powers

Gird the Warrior, 0 points, Init +0, Terram: as above

Spells Known:

Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15/+19 ^F )

Blunt the Viper's Fangs (PeAn 15/+10 S )

Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+22)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+18)

Avalanche of Flesh and Steel (MuCo 10/+19)

Assume the Stature of the Giants of Eld (MuCo 10/+19)

Gift of the Bear's Fortitude (MuCo 25/+19)

Dust to Dust (PeCo 15/+13 S )

Rise of the Feathery Body (ReCo 10/+27)

Endurance of the Berserkers (ReCo 15/+27)

Curse of Rotting Wood (PeHe 5/+21)

Repel the Wooden Shaft (ReHe 10/+15 FS)

Aura of Ennobled Presence (MuIm 10/+12)

Breaking the Captain's Baton (PeMe 10/+11 S )

Edge of the Razor (MuTe 20/+24 F ) Mastery 1 (Penetration)

The Wizard's Parry (ReTe 5/+34 F ) Mastery 1 (Fast-Cast)

The Instant Ring Fort (ReTe 15/+25)

Circular Wall of Shields (ReTe 30/+33 F

Maintaining the Demanding Spell (ReVi 20/+26)

)

Mastery 1 (Fast Cast) F includes Magical Focus

S includes Short-Ranged Magic

Appearance: A tall, broad-shouldered man with a heavy brow, squat features, and a broken nose. He is clearly in excellent physical condition. He keeps his hair short, and while he cultivates no beard or mustache he often neglects to shave for several days. One would be forgiven for confusing him with a common soldier rather than a magus of the Order.

Activities in the last 15 years: Hugh has spent four seasons creating a magical gauntlet (one season to prepare the item, and three seasons to invest Night-Time Thunder). He has spent a season creating his longevity ritual. In the last 15 years Hugh has also invented 105 levels of spells, and gained 194 experience points in Arts and 121 experience points in Abilities.

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

Size: 0 Age: 59 (46) Decrepitude: 0 (0) Warping Score: 4 (10) Confidence Score: 2 (6)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Mythic Blood (valkyrie); Affinity with Rego, Minor Magical Focus** (arms and armor), Puissant Brawl, Puissant Perdo*, Rapid Convalescence, Skilled Parens, Special Circumstances (in melee combat), Strong Willed², Tough, True Friend¹, Warrior; Magic Addiction, Ambitious, Short-Ranged Magic; Dutybound², Poor Hearing, Reckless**

* House Virtue

** from Mythic Blood

1 from Familiar

² from Initiation in the Legion of Mithras

Personality Traits: Loyal to Bathild +3, Recklessly Brave +3, Argumentative +2, Belligerent +2

$\textbf{Reputation} \hbox{: Hoplite 3 (Hermetic)}$

Combat:

Tonatris (Gauntlet): Init 0, Attack +6, Defense +6, Damage +4

Troll's Wife (Pole Axe): Init +1, Attack +18, Defense +12, Damage +13

Troll's Wife (from borseback): Init +1, Attack +21, Defense +15, Damage +13

Soak: 16 (in armor, includes Bronze Cord; additional +3 after casting Gift of the Bear's Fortitude, additional +3 after casting Doublet of Impenetrable Silk)

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: Artes Liberales 2 (copying), Athletics 2 (in armor), Awareness 2 (at night), Brawl 4 (punch), Code of Hermes 1 (high crimes), Concentration 2 (in battle), Criminal Lore 1 (local town), Finesse 2 (Rego), Great Weapon 6+2 (pole axe), Latin 4 (shouting), Leadership 3 (soldiers), Magic Theory 6 (Rego effects), Legion of Mithras Lore 1 (initiation), Native Language 5 (criminal argot), Order of Hermes Lore 2 (House Flambeau), Parma Magica 5 (Corpus), Penetration 5 (Corpus), Ride 2 (in battle), Teaching 1 (Arts)

Arts: Cr 5, In 5, Mu 6, Pe 10+3 (8), Re 15; An 7, Aq 5, Au 5, Co 10, He 5, Ig 5, Im 5, Me 5, Te 8, Vi 11

Twilight Scars: none

Magic Might: 8 (Animal)

Characteristics: Int -3, Per +1, Pre 0, Com -4, Str +4, Sta +3, Dex -1, Qik +2

Size: +2

Season: Summer Confidence: 2 (6)

Virtues and Flaws: Magic Animal; Magical Friend; Improved Characteristics x 2, Long-Winded, True Friend*; Proud from Familiar bond

Magic Qualities and Inferiorities: Greater Power (Beast and Rider As One), Improved Attack, Improved Confidence, Improved Initiative, Improved Soak, Minor Virtue: Wilderness Sense

Personality Traits: Loyal to Hugh +3, Vain +3, Brave +2, Chatty +1

Combat:

Kick: Init +7, Attack +8, Defense +9, Damage +5

oak: +5

Wound Penalties: -1 (1-7), -3 (8-14), -5 (16-21), Incapacitated (22-28), Dead (29+)

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

Abilities: Athletics 4 (long distance running), Awareness 3 (noises), Brawl 4 (kick), Concentration 2 (powers), Faerie Lore 2 (faerie horses), Folk Ken 3 (soldiers), Local Area Lore 3 (roads), Magic Lore 3 (vis sources), Order of Hermes Lore 2 (House Flambeau), Leadership 3 (other horses), Swim 2 (fording rivers), Wilderness Sense 4 (forests)

Powers:

Beast and Rider As One, 4 points, Init –2, Animal: Bathild's rider partially merges with her; his legs meld to her flesh and their minds work in concert. The rider no longer needs to concentrate on keeping his balance, and Ride rolls become unnecessary. When fighting from horse-back, the bonus to Attack and Defense rolls provided by the Ride Ability of the rider is not limited to +3. Naturally the rider can't be unhorsed, but neither can he dismount until the power ceases. MuCo(An, Me) 45; base 25, +1 Conc, +2 Group, +1 Mentem requisite): Greater Power (45 levels, –1 Might cost)

Ride of the Einherjar: Granted by the familiar bond, see main text for details.

Gird the Steed for War: Granted by the familiar bond, see main text for details.

Vis: 2 Animal, in hooves.

Appearance: a roan charger whose pelt is the color of dried blood.

Bathild claims descent from Sleipnir, the fabled horse ridden by Odin. Hugh sought out an einheri (a ghostly warrior dedicated to Odin) and bargained with him. In exchange for the horse over which the einheri was guardian, Hugh was obliged to start a war between two villages. Since this occurred deep in the territory of the hypothesized Order of Odin, he does not consider that he broke the Code of Hermes in performing this duty.

When Hugh forged the initial familiar bond with Bathild, his Rego Terram Lab Total (with the assistance of his apprentice) was 43, which was just sufficient for his purpose. He has the following Bond Scores: Gold +1, Silver +1, Bronze +3.

(Bathild was created according to the rules in Realms of Power: The Magic Realm, Magical Characters)

RIDE OF THE EINHERJAR

ReAn 27 Pen n/a, 3/day R: Per, D: Conc, T: Ind

When Hugh activates this power, Bathild is able to travel through the air as easily as she would over land. Each use of the power lasts for as long as she remains airborne; as her feet touch the ground the effect ceases. The base level for this effect is assumed through analogy with the Rego Corpus guidelines. The Einherjar were Odin's warriors, chosen from the slain.

(Effect: Base 15, +1 Conc, Modifications: +2 3/day, +5 maintains concentration)

GIRD THE STEED FOR WAR

CrTe(An) 30 Pen n/a, 1/day R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Ind

When Hugh activates this power, Bathild is clothed in metal scale barding, granting a Protection of 7. The Animal requisite is required to create the armor's leather straps, woolen padding, and gambeson — without these elements, the armor would not be effective

(Effect: base 5, +1 Touch, +2 Sun, +2 very elaborate shape)

Equipment: Troll's Wife talisman, Tonatris Encumbrance: –1 (Load 9, Burden 3)

Powers

Gird the Warrior, 0 points, Init +0, Terram: as above

Spells Known:

Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15/+22 F) Blunt the Viper's Fangs (PeAn 15/+12 S) Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+25) Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+22 T) Assume the Stature of the Giants of Eld (MuCo 10/+22 T)

Avalanche of Flesh and Steel (MuCo 10/+22 ^T) Gift of the Bear's Fortitude (MuCo 25/+22 ^T) The Blessing of Starkad (MuCo 25/+22 ^T) Turb of Giants (MuCo 25/+22 ^T) Dust to Dust (PeCo 15/+15 ^ST) Rise of the Feathery Body (ReCo 10/+31 ^T) Endurance of the Berserkers (ReCo 15/+31 ^T) Curse of Rotting Wood (PeHe 5/+21) Repel the Wooden Shaft (ReHe 10/+14 ^FS) Halt the Piercing Shafts (ReHe(Te) 25/+28 ^F) Aura of Ennobled Presence (MuIm 10/+14) Breaking the Captain's Baton (PeMe 10/+11 ^S) Blunting the Iron's Bite (MuTe 10/+12 ^FS) Edge of the Razor (MuTe 20/+24 ^F) Mastery 1 (Penetration)

The Wizard's Parry (ReTe 5/+34 F) Mastery 1 (Fast-Cast)

Disarm the Warrior (ReTe 10/+17 FS)

The Instant Ring Fort (ReTe 15/+26) Circular Wall of Shields (ReTe 30/+34 F)

Maintaining the Demanding Spell (ReVi 20/+31)

Mastery 2 (Fast Cast, Imperturbable, see

Houses of Hermes: Societates, page 33–34)

F includes Magical Focus

S includes Short-Ranged Magic T includes Talisman attunement bonus

Appearance: A tall, broad-shouldered man

with a heavy brow, squat features, and a broken nose. He is clearly in excellent physical condition. He keeps his hair short, and while he cultivates no beard or mustache he often neglects to shave for several days. He has started to take on a more grizzled appearance with the accumulation of some small scars.

Activities in the last 15 years: The last fifteen years has seen Hugh acquire the three defining features of a mature magus — a familiar, a talisman, and an apprentice. He has spent one season forging the initial familiar bond, and two further seasons empowering the bond with the Ride of the Einberjar effect. His talisman Troll's Wife was prepared, attuned as a talisman, and invested with Fell the Faerie, for a total of four seasons. His apprentice has received five seasons of training. In the last 15 years Hugh has also invented 90 levels of spells, and gained 116 experience points in Arts and 154 experience points in Abilities.

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

Size: 0 Age: 74 (54) Decrepitude: 0 (1) Warping Score: 5 (15) Confidence Score: 2 (6)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Mythic Blood (valkyrie); Affinity with Rego, Clear Thinker², Minor Magical Focus** (arms and armor), Puissant

Brawl, Puissant Perdo*, Rapid Convalescence, Skilled Parens, Special Circumstances (in melee combat), Strong Willed², Tough, True Friend¹, Warrior; Magic Addiction, Ambitious, Short-Ranged Magic; Dutybound², Poor Hearing, Reckless**

• * House Virtue
• ** from Mythic Blood
• 1 from Familiar

2 from Initiation in the Legion of Mithras Personality Traits: Loyal to Bathild +3, Recklessly Brave +3, Argumentative +2, Belligerent +2

Reputation: Hoplite 3 (Hermetic) Combat:

Tonatris (Gauntlet): Init 0, Attack +6, Defense +6, Damage +4

Troll's Wife (Pole Axe): Init +1, Attack +19, Defense +13, Damage +13

Troll's Wife (from horseback): Init +1, Attack +22*, Defense +16*, Damage +13

* If Bathild uses her Horse and Rider as One power, add one to these scores.

Soak: 16 (in armor, includes Bronze Cord, additional +3 after casting Gift of the Bear's Fortitude, additional +3 after casting Doublet of Impenetrable Silk)

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: Artes Liberales 2 (copying), Athletics 2 (in armor), Awareness 2 (at night), Brawl 4 (punch), Code of Hermes 2 (high crimes), Concentration 3 (in battle), Criminal Lore 1 (local town), Finesse 3 (Rego), Great Weapon 7+2 (pole axe),

Latin 4 (shouting), Leadership 4 (soldiers), Legion of Mithras Lore 2 (initiation), Magic Theory 7 (Rego effects), Native Language 5 (criminal argot), Order of Hermes Lore 2 (House Flambeau), Parma Magica 5 (Corpus), Penetration 5 (Corpus), Ride 2 (in battle), Teaching 3 (Arts)

Arts: Cr 5**, In** 5**, Mu** 8**, Pe** 13+3**, Re** 17 (3); An 7**, Aq** 5**, Au** 5**, Co** 12**, He** 7**, Ig** 5**, Im** 5**, Me** 5**, Te** 10**, Vi** 12

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Troll's Wife talisman, Tonatris Encumbrance: –1 (Load 9, Burden 3)

Powers

Gird the Warrior, 0 points, Init +0, Terram: as above

Spells Known:

Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15/+25 ^F ) Blunt the Viper's Fangs (PeAn 15/+13 S ) Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+27) Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+24T)

Assume the Stature of the Giants of Eld (MuCo 10/+26 T)

Avalanche of Flesh and Steel (MuCo 10/+26 T) Gift of the Bear's Fortitude (MuCo 25/+26 T)

The Blessing of Starkad (MuCo 25/+26 T)

Turb of Giants (MuCo 25/+26 T) Dust to Dust (PeCo 15/+16 ST)

Rise of the Feathery Body (ReCo 10/+35 T)

Endurance of the Berserkers (ReCo 15/+35 T)

Curse of Rotting Wood (PeHe 5/+26)

Repel the Wooden Shaft (ReHe 10/+17 FS)

Halt the Piercing Shafts (ReHe(Te) 25/+27 F

Aura of Ennobled Presence (MuIm 10/+16) Breaking the Captain's Baton (PeMe 10/+24 S

Blunting the Iron's Bite (MuTe 10/+15 FS)

Edge of the Razor (MuTe 20/+30 F ) Mastery 1 (Penetration)

The Wizard's Parry (ReTe 5/+40 F ) Mastery 1 (Fast-Cast)

Disarm the Warrior (ReTe 10/+20 FS)

The Instant Ring Fort (ReTe 15/+30)

Circular Wall of Shields (ReTe 30/+40 F )

Maintaining the Demanding Spell (ReVi 20/+34) Mastery 2 (Fast-Cast, Imperturbable, see

Houses of Hermes: Societates, page 33–34) ^F includes Magical Focus ^S includes Short-Ranged Magic ^T includes Talisman attunement bonus

Appearance: A tall, broad-shouldered man with a heavy brow, squat features, and a broken nose. He is clearly in excellent physical condition. He keeps his graying hair short, and while he cultivates no beard or mustache he often neglects to shave for several days. He has the appearance of a grizzled veteran, with several scars.

Activities in the last 15 years: Hugh spent four seasons improving his talisman with

three further effects. The familiar bond to Bathild was empowered with a second effect taking four season, Hugh's apprentice received his remaining 10 seasons of training and has become a magus in his own right. In the last 15 years Hugh gained 135 experience points in Arts and 165 experience points in Abilities.