Marcus of Criamon

Concept: This giant-blooded magus seeks to create living beings by combining the features of two or more existing creatures, with the minotaur as his final goal.

Marcus Tauros of Criamon's immense size has always been a source of great embarrassment to him, and he hates to draw attention to himself. He was mercilessly (and often brutally) teased as a child, and was supremely grateful to his master, both for taking him away from those who feared his Gift, and for and teaching him a way to make himself better. He still gets very angry when others draw attention to his height, even in a non-derogatory manner. His master was an anatomist and taught him much about the workings of the body, and cultivated his natural aptitude with the various organs. When Marcus casts a spell, his Warped magic causes his internal organs to glow so brightly they can be seen through his skin. Which organ is affected is determined by the Form of the spell used: Animal & Auram — liver; Aquam & Imaginem — brain; Corpus & Vim — heart; Herbam & Terram — spleen; Ignem & Mentem — gallbladder.

During his initiation into the mysteries of House Criamon, he received a vision of his past life as a Minoan priest on the island of Crete, and saw himself create the monstrous minotaur from a man and a sacred bull. He has devoted his learning to recreating that act, believing that if he can successfully call across the Wheel of Time to his former life, he can improve his perceived deficiencies in body and mind, and make a better self. When he completes this research, it is likely that he will overcome his Low Self-Esteem Flaw and gain a Confidence Score of 1. His single-mindedness in pursuing his obsession has meant that he has neglected many of the typical significators of Hermetic maturity, such as a familiar or apprentice, and he only began his talisman after forty years as a magus.

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

Size: +2 Age: 24 (24) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Giant Blood, Major Magical Focus (organs); Affinity with Animal, Animal Ken, The Enigma*, Improved Characteristics, Inventive Genius; Driven, Low Self-Esteem; Ability Block (Martial Abilities), Oversensitive (teasing), Poor Eyesight, Warped Magic

* House Virtue

Personality Traits: Brave +3, Obsessed +3, Angry +2, Outgoing –2

Reputations: none

Combat:

Dodge: Init –1, Attack n/a, Defense –1, Damage n/a

Soak: +3

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–7), –3 (8–14), –5 (15– 21), Incapacitated (22–28), Dead (29+)

Abilities: Animal Ken 1 (cattle), Artes Liberales 2 (logical traps), Athletics 1 (escape), Awareness 1 (ambushes), Chirurgy 2 (internal surgery), Cretan Lore 2

(ruins), Enigmatic Wisdom 1 (mazes), Finesse 1 (Animal), Greek 5 (Cretan), House Criamon Lore 1 (Corpus experts), Latin 4 (Hermetic), Magic Lore 1 (hybrid beasts), Magic Theory 4 (original research), Parma Magica 1 (Corpus), Penetration 1 (Animal), Stealth 1 (avoiding pursuers), Survival 2 (barren lands)

Arts: Cr 8**, In** 0**, Mu** 8**, Pe** 0**, Re** 0**; An** 10**, Aq** 0**, Au** 0**, Co** 8**, He** 0**, Ig** 0**, Im** 0**, Me** 0**, Te** 0**, Vi** 0

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Peasant clothing

Encumbrance: 0 (0) Spells Known:

True Rest of the Injured Brute (CrAn 20/+21)

Beast of Outlandish Size (MuAn 15/+21)

Growth of Creeping Things (MuAn 15/+21)

Transformation of the Ravenous Beast to the Torpid Toad (MuAn 25/+21)

Decay Fur and Hide (PeAn 10/+13)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+19)

Eyes of the Cat (MuCo(An) 5/+27 ^F )

Arm of the Infant (MuCo 20/+27 ^F )

F includes Magical Focus

Appearance: Marcus is massive; eight feet tall and broad with it. He dresses in simple clothing and invariably hunches his shoulders in a futile attempt to hide his size. He has an olive complexion and black hair, and wears a beard (but no mustache) trimmed close to his jaw line.

Sigil: Marcus' casting sigil is horns, normally in shadow or as a ghostly image. His voting sigil is a bronze bull's head.

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

Size: +2 Age: 39 (35) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 2 (4)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Giant Blood, Major Magical Focus (organs), Station of Differentiation of Seeming**, Station of True Sight**; Affinity with Animal, Animal Ken, The Enigma*, Improved Characteristics, Inventive Genius; Disfigurement**, Driven, Low Self-Esteem; Ability Block (Martial Abilities), Oversensitive (teasing), Poor Eyesight, Vow (live aptly)**, Warped Magic

* House Virtue

** Mystery Initiations and Ordeals

Personality Traits: Brave +3, Obsessed +3, Angry +2

Reputations: none

Combat:

Dodge: Init –1, Attack n/a, Defense +1, Damage n/a

Soak: +3

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–7), –3 (8–14), –5 (15– 21), Incapacitated (22–28), Dead (29+)

Abilities: Animal Ken 2 (cattle), Artes Liberales 2 (logical traps), Athletics 1 (escape), Awareness 1 (ambushes), Brawl 1 (dodge), Chirurgy 2 (internal surgery), Cretan Lore 2 (ruins), Enigmatic Wisdom 3 (mazes), Finesse 1 (Animal), Greek 5 (Cretan), House Criamon Lore 3 (Corpus experts), Latin 4 (Hermetic), Magic Lore 1 (hybrid beasts), Magic Theory 5 (original research), Parma Magica 2 (Corpus), Penetration 1 (Animal), Philosophiae 2 (animals), Stealth 1 (avoiding pursuers), Survival 2 (barren lands)

Arts: Cr 10**, In** 4**, Mu** 10**, Pe** 3**, Re** 3**; An** 13**, Aq** 3**, Au** 0**, Co** 9**, He** 0**, Ig** 0**, Im** 0**, Me** 4**, Te** 0**, Vi** 6

Twilight Scars: Marcus' shadow has horns on its head; the third and fourth fingers of each of his hands have fused together.

Equipment: Peasant clothing

Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Spells Known:

True Rest of the Injured Brute (CrAn 20/+26)

Worm of the Soil (CrAn 20/+26)

Flight Perfected (CrAn 25/+26)

Flight Divorced (CrAn 30/+36 ^F )

Beast of Outlandish Size (MuAn 15/+26)

Growth of Creeping Things (MuAn 15/+26)

Transformation of the Ravenous Beast to the Torpid Toad (MuAn 25/+26)

Decay Fur and Hide (PeAn 10/+15)

Soothe the Ferocious Boar (ReAn 10/+19)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+22)

Bushy Tail of the Branch-Dancer (MuCo(An) 5/+22)

Eyes of the Cat (MuCo(An) 5/+31 ^F )

Sure-Footedness of the Crag-Leaper (MuCo(An) 5/+22)

Webbed Toes of the Pond-Dweller (MuCo(An) 5/+22)

Arm of the Infant (MuCo 20/+31 ^F )

Kiss of the Enigma (CrVi 15/+19) invented 3

times during research. F includes Magical Focus

Appearance: Marcus is massive; eight foot tall and broad with it. He dresses in simple clothing and invariably hunches his shoulders in a futile attempt to hide his size. He has an olive complexion and black hair, and wears a beard (but no mustache) trimmed close to his jaw line. The stigmata of the Path of Seem-

Activities in the last 15 years: Three years after his Gauntlet, Marcus was initiated onto the Path of Seeming (Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, pages 64–67), and eight years later he attained the second Station, that of True Sight. Each of these initiations took a season of his time. He has created his longevity ritual (a tattoo over his heart), and has spent two seasons stabilizing the results of his Original Research (he gained 9 breakthrough points in these 15 years). He has prepared the floor of his laboratory for enchantment, and invested one effect into it, which took him two seasons. He has invented or learned 145 levels of spells, and gained 115 experience points in Abilities and 130 in Arts.

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

Size: +2 Age: 54 (38) Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 3 (10)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Giant Blood, Major Magical Focus (organs), Station of Differentiation of Seeming**, Station of True Sight**, Station of Vivid Memories from Objects**; Affinity with Animal, Animal Ken, The Enigma*, Improved Characteristics, Inventive Genius; Disfigurement**, Driven, Pious**, Low Self-Esteem; Ability Block (Martial Abilities), Oversensitive (teasing), Poor Eyesight, Warped Magic

* House Virtue

** Mystery Initiations and Ordeals

Personality Traits: Brave +3, Obsessed +3, Angry +2

Reputations: none

Combat:

Dodge: Init –1, Attack n/a, Defense +1, Damage n/a

Soak: +7 (when the Mark of Protection on his belly is exposed)

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–7), –3 (8–14), –5 (15– 21), Incapacitated (22–28), Dead (29+)

Abilities: Animal Ken 2 (cattle), Artes Liberales 2 (logical traps), Athletics 1 (es-

cape), Awareness 1 (ambushes), Brawl 1 (dodge), Chirurgy 3 (internal surgery), Cretan Lore 2 (ruins), Enigmatic Wisdom 4 (mazes), Finesse 1 (Animal), Greek 5 (Cretan), House Criamon Lore 5 (Corpus experts), Latin 4 (Hermetic), Magic Lore 2 (hybrid beasts), Magic Theory 5 (original research), Parma Magica 3 (Corpus), Penetration 1 (Ani-

mal), Philosophiae 2 (animals), Stealth 1 (avoiding pursuers), Survival 2 (bar-

ren lands) Arts: Cr 11**, In** 6**, Mu** 11**, Pe** 4**, Re** 5**; An** 15**, Aq** 3**, Au** 3**, Co** 11**, He** 3**, Ig** 3**, Im** 5**, Me** 4**, Te** 3**, Vi** 8

Twilight Scars: Marcus' shadow has horns on its head; the third and fourth fingers of each of his hands have fused together; he leaves cloven footprints behind; his Gift attracts rather than repels flies.

Equipment: Peasant clothing, Canopic Jars, Mark of Protection

Encumbrance: 0 (0) Spells Known:

True Rest of the Injured Brute (CrAn 20/+29)

Worm of the Soil (CrAn 20/+29)

Flight Perfected (CrAn 25/+29)

Flight Divorced (CrAn 30/+40 ^F )

Strength Extinguished (CrAn 30/+36 ^F )

Strength Renewed (CrAn 35/+36 ^F )

Beast of Outlandish Size (MuAn 15/+29)

Growth of Creeping Things (MuAn 15/+29)

The Beast Remade (MuAn(Co) 25/+25)

Transformation of the Ravenous Beast to the Torpid Toad (MuAn 25/+29)

Decay Fur and Hide (PeAn 10/+22)

Blunt the Viper's Fangs (PeAn 15/+22)

Soothe the Ferocious Boar (ReAn 10/+23)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+25)

Bushy Tail of the Branch-Dancer (MuCo(An) 5/+25)

Eyes of the Cat (MuCo(An) 5/+36 ^F )

Slime of the Muck-Dweller (MuCo(An) 5/+25)

Sure-Footedness of the Crag-Leaper (MuCo(An) 5/+25)

Webbed Toes of the Pond-Dweller (MuCo(An) 5/+25)

Arm of the Infant (MuCo 20/+36 ^F )

Spirit of the Bull of Minos (MuCo(An) 20/+36 ), Ritual

Prying Eyes (InIm 5 /+14)

Kiss of the Enigma (CrVi 15/+22) invented 3

times during research F includes Magical Focus

Appearance: Marcus is massive; eight foot tall and broad with it. He dresses in simple clothing and invariably hunches his shoulders in a futile attempt to hide his size. He has an olive complexion and black hair, and wears a beard (but

no mustache) trimmed close to his jaw line. The stigmata of the Path of Seeming have manifested as an interlocking labyrinth pattern centered around his forehead. When he performs magic, the stigma shifts and rotates as if charting his path through the maze.

Activities in the last 15 years: During the last 15 years Marcus was initiated into the third station on the Path of Seeming, which took him a season. He has spent two seasons crafting four Canopic Jars as Lesser Enchanted items, and three seasons enchanting the tattoo on his abdomen. He instilled the second effect into his laboratory enchantment, which took one season. Marcus also spent two seasons investigating the Minoan labyrinth at Knossos, which lead him to several insights into their ancient magic (see Marcus' Original Research, later). He has now acquired a total of 25 breakthrough points, having spent two seasons stabilizing the successes of his studies. He has invented or learned 135 levels of spells, and gained 105 experience points in Abilities and 140 in Arts.

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

Size: +2 Age: 69 (43)

Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 4 (13)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Giant Blood, Major Magical Focus (organs), Station of Differentiation of Seeming**, Station of True Sight**, Station of Vivid Memories from Objects**; Affinity with Animal, Animal Ken, The Enigma*, Improved Characteristics, Inventive Genius; Disfigurement**, Driven, Pious**, Low Self-Esteem; Ability Block (Martial Abilities), Oversensitive (teasing), Poor Eyesight, Warped Magic

* House Virtue

** Mystery Initiations and Ordeals

Personality Traits: Brave +3, Obsessed +3, Angry +2

Reputations: none

Combat:

Dodge: Init –1, Attack n/a, Defense +1, Damage n/a

Soak: +7 (when the Mark of Protection on his belly is exposed)

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

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–7), –3 (8–14), –5 (15– 21), Incapacitated (22–28), Dead (29+)

Abilities: Animal Ken 2 (cattle), Artes Liberales 2 (logical traps), Athletics 1 (escape), Awareness 2 (ambushes), Brawl 1 (dodge), Chirurgy 3 (internal surgery), Cretan Lore 2 (ruins), Enigmatic Wisdom 5 (mazes), Finesse 2 (Animal), Greek 5 (Cretan), House Criamon Lore 5 (Corpus experts), Latin 4 (Hermetic), Magic Lore 2 (hybrid beasts), Magic Theory 6 (original research), Parma Magica 4 (Corpus), Penetration 3 (Animal), Philosophiae 2 (animals), Stealth 1 (avoiding pursuers), Survival 2 (barren lands)

Arts: Cr 12**, In** 6**, Mu** 13**, Pe** 5**, Re** 8**; An** 16**, Aq** 5**, Au** 5**, Co** 13**, He** 4**, Ig** 5**, Im** 6**, Me** 5**, Te** 5**, Vi** 8

Twilight Scars: Marcus' shadow has horns on its head; the third and fourth fingers of each of his hands have fused together; he leaves cloven footprints behind; his Gift attracts rather than repels flies; when he experiences strong emotions everyone within seven paces must make appropriate Personality Trait rolls against an Ease Factor of 6 or experience the same emotion; he sneezes sparks in the presence of magic (this doesn't allow him to detect magic, although he usually can thanks to the second station of the Path of Seeming).

Equipment: Peasant clothing, Canopic Jars, Mark of Protection, Bucephalos talisman

Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Spells Known:

True Rest of the Injured Brute (CrAn 20/+34 A)

Worm of the Soil (CrAn 20/+34 A)

Flight Perfected (CrAn 25/+34 A)

Flight Divorced (CrAn 30/+46 ^F A)

Strength Extinguished (CrAn 30/+46 FA)

Strength Renewed (CrAn 35/+46 FA)

The Wizard's Mount (CrAn 35/+33A)

Beast of Outlandish Size (MuAn 15/+35 A)

Growth of Creeping Things (MuAn 15/+35 A) Touch of the Wild (MuAn 20/+35A)

The Beast Remade (MuAn(Co) 25/+32 A)

Transformation of the Ravenous Beast to the Torpid

Toad (MuAn 25/+35 A)

Icarus' Folly (MuAn 40/+48 FA)

Decay Fur and Hide (PeAn 10/+27 A)

Blunt the Viper's Fangs (PeAn 15/+27 A)

Soothe the Ferocious Boar (ReAn 10/+31 A)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+28)

A Limb Bereft (Cr(Re)Co 30/+32F )

Bushy Tail of the Branch-Dancer (MuCo(An)

5/+32)

Eyes of the Cat (MuCo(An) 5/+45 ^F )

Slime of the Muck-Dweller (MuCo(An) 5/+32) Sure-Footedness of the Crag-Leaper (MuCo(An) 5/+32)

Webbed Toes of the Pond-Dweller (MuCo(An) 5/+32)

Eyes from the Wizard Torn (Mu(In,Re)Co(Im) 15/+21F )

Arm of the Infant (MuCo 20/+45 ^F )

Spirit of the Bull of Minos (MuCo(An) 20/+45 ), Ritual

Gift of the Minotaur (MuCo(An) 30/+45 FA)

The Griffin Reborn (MuAn 35/+48 FA)

Stillness of the Dead (ReCo(An) 25/+24)

Prying Eyes (InIm 5 /+15)

Kiss of the Enigma (CrVi 15/+23) invented 3

times during research. F includes Magical Focus

A includes attunement of talisman

Appearance: Marcus is massive; eight foot tall and broad with it. He dresses in simple clothing and invariably hunches his shoulders in a futile attempt to hide his size. He has an olive complexion and black hair, and wears a beard (but no mustache) trimmed close to his jaw line. The stigmata of the Path of Seeming have manifested as an interlocking labyrinth pattern centered around his forehead. When he performs magic, the stigma shifts and rotates as if charting his path through the maze. His potent longevity ritual has prolonged his looks, and he appears to be only in his early forties despite being nearly seven decades old. He carries a bull-headed walking stick (as large as a staff to most people) that is his talisman.

Activities in the last 15 years: During the last 15 years, Marcus has enchanted a second effect into the Mark of Protection (taking one season), and a third effect into the Labyrinth of the Open Mind (taking two seasons). He has prepared his talisman for enchantment, attuned it to himself, and invested three effects, taking a total of seven seasons. He also spent one season stabilizing the breakthrough he made. Due to his advanced abilities, the seasonal method has been used henceforth to determine his spells; in the last 15 years he has acquired 230 levels in 13 seasons, and has now acquired a total of 41 breakthrough points; he is on the verge of completing his research. He has gained 120 experience points in Abilities and 140 in Arts.