Ranulf of Flambeau

Concept: This magus aims to master fire magic, developing a wide range of new spells and effects, including non-violent applications of this Art.

Ranulf of Flambeau was born to a family of candle makers. He could possibly have had a successful life taking up his family's trade, even considering the drawbacks of his poor vision and the deleterious social effects of The Gift. Instead, he was apprenticed into House Flambeau. Ranulf's parens passed into a Twilight episode while Ranulf was taking his Gauntlet. Ranulf assumed the title of Hermetic magus after a period of months, with the approval of two other Flambeau magi who had witnessed his successful performance in meeting the challenges set for his Gauntlet. Three years later Ranulf's parens recovered from her Twilight and demanded that Ranulf repeat his Gauntlet to her satisfaction. Ranulf felt this request to be a slight on his honor. Ranulf's parens felt that Ranulf's refusal to repeat the Gauntlet was a slight to her own honor. The two were never reconciled.

Ranulf strives to become a great master of the Arts of Ignem and Vim. As an apprentice, he was obsessed with the spell Pilum of Fire and dreamed of becoming a respected and feared hoplite. As he aged, he became less aggressive and particularly interested in nonviolent applications of the Art of Ignem.

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

Size: 0 Age: 24 (24) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (Unnatural Fires); Affinity (Ignem), Mastered Spells, Method Caster, Puissant Ignem*, Puissant Magic Theory, Puissant Penetration; Deficient Technique (Intellego), Tormenting Master; Deleterious Circumstances (casting spells with Range Sight or Eye), Poor Eyesight

* House Virtue

Personality Traits: Inquisitive +2, Sensitive to Insult +2, Belligerent +1, Brave+1, Loquacious –1

Reputations: Did not pass gauntlet +3 (Flambeau)

Combat:

Fist: Init +1, Attack +4, Defense +4, Damage +1

Dodge: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +5, 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), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Artes Liberales 1 (Ceremonial Casting), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 1 (searching), Brawl 3 (dodge), Carouse 2 (staying sober), Guile 1 (lying to strangers), Concentration 1 (spells), Dead Language: Latin 4 (Hermetic usage), Living Language: Castillian 5 (candles), Magic Theory 4+2 (inventing spells), Organization Lore: Order of Hermes 1 (personalities), Parma Magica 1 (Corpus), Penetration 2+2 (Ignem), Profession: Candle Maker 2 (speed), Stealth 2 (hide)

Arts: Cr 5, In 0, Mu 5, Pe 4, Re 4; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 0, He 0, Ig 10+3 (4), Im 0, Me 0, Te 0, Vi 6

Twilight Scars: none Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Spells Known:

Coat of Prometheus (Crlg 5/+20) Flash of the Scarlet Flames (Crlg 15/+20)

Fasting Hearth (Crlg 20/+25 F)

Pilum of Fire (CrIg $20/+29^{-F-M}$ ), Mastery 4 (Fast Casting, Defense, Multi Casting,

Penetration)

Tales of the Ashes (InIg 5/+6 D)

Enduring Flame (MuIg 10/+25 F) Boreal Flames (Mu(Pe)Ig 15/+25 F)

The Patient Spell (ReVi 20/+12)

Scales of the Magical Weight (InVi $5/+4^{D}$ ) Sense the Nature of Vis (InVi $5/+4^{D}$ )

F includes Magical Focus

M includes Spell Mastery

D includes Deficient Technique

Vis: none

Appearance: Ranulf's eyes are held in a nearperpetual squint as he closely examines the world with his inadequate sight. His face is reddened and the short hair around his face is bleached from long exposure to hot fires at close range. He is of ordinary stature and build, and he prefers to wear several layers of wool and leather clothing to insulate himself from the often-extreme temperatures of his environment.

Casting Sigil: Ranulf's casting sigil is brightness. The colors of objects affected by his spells lighten, and fires created by his magic burn with exceptional brightness.

Voting Sigil: Ranulf's voting sigil is an evillooking dagger, but as Ranulf ages he feels less and less comfortable with this overtly violent sigil, eventually becoming rather embarrassed by its belligerent appearance.

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

Size: 0

Age: 39 (37) Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 1 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Cift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (Unnatural Fires); Affinity (Ignem), Mastered Spells, Method Caster, Puissant Ignem*, Puissant Magic Theory, Puissant Penetration; Deficient Technique

(Intellego), Tormenting Master; Deleterious Circumstances (spells of Range Sight or Eye), Miles (Houses of Hermes: Societates p 31), Poor Evesight

House Virtue

Personality Traits: Inquisitive +2, Sensitive to Insult +2, Brave+1, Loquacious -1

Reputations: Did not pass gauntlet +3 (Flambeau), Aspiring Hoplite +2 (Quaesitors) Combat:

Fist: Init +1, Attack +4, Defense +4, Damage +1

Dodge: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +5, 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), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Artes Liberales 1 (Ceremonial Casting), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 1 (searching), Brawl 3 (dodge), Carouse 1 (staying sober), Guile 1 (lying to strangers), Code of Hermes 1 (Wizard's Marches), Concentration 3 (spells), Dead Language: Latin 4 (Hermetic usage), Finesse 2 (Ignem), Living Language: Castillian 5 (candles), Magic Theory 6+2 (inventing spells), Organization Lore: Order of Hermes 1 (personalities), Parma Magica 3 (Corpus), Penetration 4+2 (5) (Ignem), Philosophiae 2 (ritual magic), Profession: Candle Maker 2 (speed), Stealth 2 (hide)

Arts: Cr 11, In 3, Mu 7, Pe 4, Re 8; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 0, He 5, Ig 14+3 (1), Im 0, Me 0, Te 0, Vi 9

Twilight Scars: none Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Coat of Prometheus (CrIg 5/+30)

Flash of the Scarlet Flames (CrIg 15/+30)

Mien of Helios (Crlg 15/+30)

Fasting Hearth (CrIg 20/+41 F)

Pilum of Fire (CrIg 20/+45 F M), Mastery 4 (Fast Casting, Defense, Multi Casting, Penetration)

Stockade of Infernos (CrIg 40/+41 F)

Tales of the Ashes (InIg 5/+11 D)

Enduring Flame (Mulg 10/+41 F)

Boreal Flames (Mu Pe)Ig 15/+33 F)

The Patient Spell (ReVi 20/+19)

Scales of the Magical Weight (InVi 5/+7 D)

Sense the Nature of Vis (InVi 5/+7 D) Fincludes Magical Focus

$^{\mathrm{M}}$ includes Spell Mastery

D includes deficient technique

Vis: Two pawns of Ignem carried as a small pouch of ashes; the ashes become hot to the touch at sunset every day.

Appearance: Ranulf's eyes are held in a near-

perpetual squint as he closely examines the world with his inadequate sight. His face is reddened and the short hair around his face is bleached from long exposure to hot fires at close range. He is of ordinary stature and build, and he prefers to wear several layers of wool and leather clothing to insulate himself from the often-extreme temperatures of his environment.

Activities in the last 15 years: In his first fifteen years out of Gauntlet, Ranulf concentrated on studying his Abilities and Arts. He spent a good deal of effort fending off political attacks from his former mentor. Ranulf swore to the code of Garus and joined the Milites society both because he believed in their cause and to gain allies against his former mentor. One matter that he was able to see to was the enchantment of his laboratory. Ranulf decided that magical protections against fire were a necessity for studying Ignem in the wooden room that houses his laboratory. Ranulf has spent one season opening his laboratory for enchantment. He spent one season instilling Eyes of the Acolyte, three seasons instilling Facade of Pentecost, and two seasons instilling Laboratory that Has Learned from Experience.

Ranulf expended one season integrating the magical enchantments of his laboratory. Ranulf spent one season inventing Mien of Helios, and three seasons inventing Stockade of Infernos. Ranulf spent two seasons acquiring his longevity ritual from another magus. During this period, Ranulf acquired 180 experience points in Abilities and 160 experience points in Arts (gaining an additional 16 experience points due to his affinity with Ignem).

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

Size: 0 Age: 54 (38) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 3 (5) Confidence Score: 2 (4)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (Unnatural Fires); Affinity (Ignem), Method Caster, Puissant Ignem*, Puissant Magic Theory, Puissant Penetration; Deficient Technique (Intellego), Tormenting Master; Deleterious Circumstances (spells

of Range Sight or Eye), Miles (Houses of Hermes: Societates p 31), Poor Eyesight House Virtue

Personality Traits: Inquisitive +2, Sensitive to Insult +1, Brave+2, Loquacious –1

Reputations: In feud with Parens +3 (tribunal), Did not pass gauntlet +1 (Flambeau), Hoplite +1 (Quaesitors)

Combat:

Fist: Init +1, Attack +4, Defense +4, Damage +1

Dodge: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +5, 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), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Artes Liberales 2 (Ceremonial Casting), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 1 (searching), Brawl 3 (dodge), Carouse 1 (staying sober), Guile 1 (lying to strangers), Code of Hermes 1 (Wizard's marches), Concentration 4 (spells), Dead Language: Latin 5 (Hermetic usage), Finesse 3 (Ignem), Living Language: Castillian 5 (candles), Magic Theory 7+2 (5) (inventing spells), Organization Lore: Order of Hermes 1 (personalities), Parma Magica 4 (Corpus), Penetration 4+2 (5) (Ignem), Philosophiae 2 (ritual magic), Profession: Candle Maker 2 (speed), Stealth 2 (hide)

Arts: Cr 13 (6), In 8, Mu 9, Pe 4, Re 8, An 0, Aq 1, Au 2 (1), Co 4, He 7, Ig 18+3, Im 0, Me 5, Te 6, Vi 11

Twilight Scars: none

Equipment: Staff of Ranulf talisman

Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Coat of Prometheus (CrIg 5/+34)

Flash of the Scarlet Flames (CrIg 15/+34)

Mien of Helios (CrIg 15/+34)

Fasting Hearth (Crlg 20/+53 F A)

Pilum of Fire (Crlg 20/+57 F M A), Mastery 4 (Fast Casting, Defense, Multi Casting, Penetration)

Stockade of Infernos (CrIg 40/+53 F A)

Tales of the Ashes (InIg $5/+18^{D\ A}$ )

Enduring Flame (MuIg $10/+47^{FA}$ )

Boreal Flames (Mu(Pe)Ig 15/+37 F A) Ward against Heat and flames (ReIg 25/+37 A)

The Patient Spell (ReVi 20/+21)

Scales of the Magical Weight (InVi $5/+12^{DA}$ )

Sense the Nature of Vis (InVi 5/+12 D A)

Wizard's Boost Ignem (MuVi 30/+22)

Gather Essence of the Beast (ReVi 15/+21)

F includes Magical Focus

M includes Spell Mastery

D includes deficient technique

A includes attunement of talisman

Vis: Five pawns Creo as seeds stored in the pouch around his neck (these seeds produce non-vis-containing duplicates of themselves intermittently, averaging one duplicate per month), two pawns Ignem as ashes carried in a pouch on belt (the ashes become hot to the touch at sunset every day).

Appearance: Ranulf's eyes are held in a near-perpetual squint as he closely examines the world with his inadequate sight. His face is reddened and the short hair around his face is bleached from long exposure to hot fires at close range. He is of ordinary stature and build, and he prefers to wear several layers of wool and leather clothing to insulate himself from the often-extreme temperatures of his environment. Ranulf is almost never separated from his talisman — a walkingstick-sized staff quite unsuitable for use as a weapon.

Activities in the last 15 years: At age 54, Ranulf is still greatly interested in the martial magics that characterize his House, but he is also beginning to develop a passion for non-violent uses of Ignem.

Ranulf has spent one season learning Ward Against Heat and Flames and one season inventing Wizard's Boost Ignem with the assistance of laboratory notes. He spent one season inventing Gather Essence of the Beast. Ranulf spent one season opening for enchantment the staff that was to become his talisman, one season attuning the staff as his talisman, two seasons instilling Topiary of Flames, three seasons instilling Flames of Stone, one season instilling Surfeit of Fuel, and one season instilling Shadow of Spring Times Departed. Ranulf gained 130 experience points in Abilities and 230 experience points in Arts (receiving an additional 22 experience points from his affinity with Ignem).

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

Size: 0

Age: 69 (40)

Decrepitude: 0

Warping Score: 4 (15)

Confidence Score: 2 (4)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Major Magical Focus (Unnatural Fires); Affinity (Ignem), Mastered Spells, Method Caster, Puissant Ignem*, Puissant Magic Theory, Puissant Penetra-

tion; Deficient Technique (Intellego), Tormenting Master; Deleterious Circumstances (spells of Range Sight or Eye), Miles (Houses of Hermes: Societates p 31), Poor Eyesight

* House Virtue

Personality Traits: Inquisitive +2, Sensitive to Insult +1, Brave+2, Loquacious –1

Reputations: In feud with Parens +3 (tribunal), Did not pass gauntlet +1 (Flambeau), Hoplite +1 (Order)

Combat:

Fist: Init +1, Attack +4, Defense +4, Damage +1

Dodge: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +5, 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), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Artes Liberales 2 (Ceremonial Casting), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 1 (searching), Brawl 3 (dodge), Carouse 1 (staying sober), Guile 1 (lying to strangers), Code of Hermes 2 (Wizard's marches), Concentration 4 (spells), Dead Language: Latin 5 (Hermetic usage), Finesse 3 (Ignem), Living Language: Castillian 5 (candles), Magic Theory 8+2 (inventing spells), Organization Lore: Order of Hermes 1 (personalities), Parma Magica 5 (Corpus), Penetration 4+2 (5) (Ignem), Philosophiae 2 (ritual magic), Profession: Candle Maker 2 (speed), Stealth 2 (hide), Teaching 2 (apprentices)

Arts: Cr 13 (6), In 9, Mu 11, Pe 8, Re 9; An 5, Aq 5, Au 5, Co 5, He 10, Ig 21+3 (6), Im 5, Me 5, Te 6, Vi 16 (3)

Twilight Scars: Fires in the near vicinity of Ranulf move directly away from him as if a slight breeze were coming from him. Smoke is not affected by this.

Equipment: Staff of Ranulf talisman, Ribbon of Arcane Preservation

Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Coat of Prometheus (CrIg 5/+39)

Flash of the Scarlet Flames (CrIg 15/+39)

Mien of Helios (Crlg 15/+39)

Fasting Hearth (Crlg 20/+58 F A)

Pilum of Fire (Crlg 20/+62 F M A), Mastery 4 (Fast Casting, Defense, Multi Casting, Penetration)

Stockade of Infernos (CrIg 40/+58 F)

Conflagrative Servant (Cr (Mu,Re) Ig 40/+50 AF)

Tales of the Ashes (InIg 5/+20 D A)

Enduring Flame (Mulg 10/+54 F A)

Boreal Flames (Mu(Pe)Ig 15/+48 F)

Petite Phoenix (Mu(Re) Ig 30/+50 F A)

Discriminating Flames (Re Ig 25/+50 F A)

Ward against Heat and flames (ReIg 25/+42 A) Scales of the Magical Weight (InVi 5/+15 D A) Sense the Nature of Vis (InVi $5/+15^{DA}$ ) Wizard's Expansion Ignem (MuVi 25/+29) Group Wizard's Boost Ignem (MuVi 30/+29) Wizard's Boost Ignem (MuVi 30/+29) Wizard's Communion (MuVi 30/+29) Wizard's Reach Ignem (MuVi 30/+29) Maintain the Demanding Spell (ReVi 30/+27) The Patient Spell (ReVi 20/+27) Gather Essence of the Beast (ReVi 15/+27) includes Magical Focus M includes Spell Mastery

D includes deficient technique

A includes attunement of talisman Vis: Six pawns Vim transferred into a ring worn on right hand, three pawns Ignem as ashes carried in a pouch on belt (the ashes become hot to the touch at sunset every day), two pawns Creo as seeds stored in pouch around neck (these seeds produce non-vis-containing duplicates of themselves intermittently, averaging one duplicate per month), two pawns Muto as cocoons that slowly and continuously change color over the course of minutes.

Appearance: Ranulf's eyes are held in a nearperpetual squint as he closely examines the world with his inadequate sight. His face is reddened and the short hair around his face is bleached from long exposure to hot fires at close range. He is of ordinary stature and build, and he prefers to wear several layers of wool and leather clothing to insulate himself from the often extreme temperatures of his environment. Ranulf is almost never separated from his talisman — a walkingstick-sized staff quite unsuitable for use as a weapon.

Activities in the last 15 years: By age 69, he has other interests and responsibilities that are important to him yet, ironically, his magical power has become respected enough that he is on occasion entreated to take the responsibilities as a hoplite that he so desired in his younger days. Although his mentor no longer claims that Ranulf is not a magus, their adversarial relationship continues to plague them both. Ranulf has spent one season enchanting the Ribbon of Arcane Preservation with the help of laboratory notes. Ranulf expended one season learning Maintain the Demanding Spell, one season learning Wizard's Reach and one season learning Wizard's Communion, with the help of laboratory notes. Ranulf has spent one season

inventing The Petite Phoenix, one season inventing Discriminating Flames, two seasons inventing Conflagrative Servant, and two seasons inventing Wizard's Expansion. Ranulf also spent one season opening up his talisman to receive further enchantments. Ranulf has acquired 80 experience points in Abilities and 240 experience points in Arts during this period (with an additional 22 Art experience points received due to his affinity with Ignem).

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

Size: 0 Age: 84 (45) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 5 (20) Confidence Score: 2 (6)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Hermetic Magus ; Major Magical Focus (Unnatural Fires); Affinity (Ignem), Mastered Spells, Method Caster, Puissant Ignem*, Puissant Magic Theory, Puissant Penetration; Deficient Technique (Intellego), Tormenting Master, Deleterious Circumstances (spells of Range Sight or Eye), Miles (Houses of Hermes: Societates p 31), Poor Eyesight

House Virtue

Personality Traits: Inquisitive +2, Brave +2, Loquacious -1

Reputations: Hoplite +1 (Order), Deficient in Intellego (Flambeau) +1

Combat:

Fist: Init +1, Attack +4, Defense +4, Damage +1

Dodge: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +5, 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), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Artes Liberales 2 (Ceremonial Casting), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 1 (searching), Brawl 3 (dodge), Carouse 1 (staying sober), Guile 1 (lying to strangers), Code of Hermes 2 (Wizard's marches), Concentration 4 (spells), Dead Language: Latin 5 (Hermetic usage), Finesse 3 (Ignem), Leadership 1 (grogs), Living Language: Castillian 5 (candles), Magic Theory 8+2 (inventing spells), Organization Lore: Order of Hermes 1 (personalities), Parma Magica 6 (Corpus), Pen-

etration 4+2 (5) (Ignem), Philosophiae 2 (ritual magic), Profession: Candle Maker 2 (speed), Stealth 2 (hide), Teaching 2 (apprentices)

Arts: Cr 14, In 10, Mu 12, Pe 10, Re 10; An 5, Aq 5, Au 5, Co 5, He 10, Ig 25+3 (16), Im 5, Me 5, Te 8, Vi 18

Twilight Scars: Fires in the near vicinity of Ranulf move directly away from him as if a slight breeze were coming from him. Smoke is not affected by this.

Equipment: Chest of the Ember Seed, Ribbon of Arcane Preservation, Staff of Ranulf talisman

Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Coat of Prometheus (CrIg 5/+44)

Flash of the Scarlet Flames (CrIg 15/+44)

Mien of Helios (CrIg 15/+44)

Fasting Hearth (CrIg 20/+64 ^{F A})

Pilum of Fire (Crlg 20/+68 F M A), Mastery 4 (Fast Casting, Defense, Multi Casting, Penetration)

Self Immolation (Crlg 30/+64 F A)

Stockade of Infernos (CrIg 40/+64 FA)

Conflagrative Servant (Cr (Mu,Re) Ig 40/+56 F A)

Tales of the Ashes (InIg 5/+23 D A)

Enduring Flame (Mulg 10/+60 F A)

Boreal Flames (Mu(Pe)Ig 15/+56 F A)

Petite Phoenix (Mu(Re)Ig 30/+60 F A)

Discriminating Flames (Relg 25/+56 F A)

Ward against Heat and flames (ReIg 25/+46 A)

Ward Against Immolation (ReIg 35/+46 A)

Unified Flame (Relg 35/+56 F A)

Transformation of Fire (MuTe(IgHe) 40/+36 F A)

Scales of the Magical Weight (InVi 5/+16 D A)

Sense the Nature of Vis (InVi $5/+16^{D A}$ )

Wizard's Expansion Ignem (MuVi 25/+32)

Group Wizard's Boost Ignem (MuVi 30/+32)

Wizard's Boost Ignem (MuVi 30/+32)

Wizard's Communion (MuVi 30/+32)

Wizard's Reach Ignem (MuVi 30/+32)

Wizard's Boost (Vim) (MuVi 35/+32)

Wind of Mundane Silence (PeVi 40/+34 A)

The Patient Stell (ReVi 20/+30)

Maintain the Demandina Stell (ReVi 30/+30)

Opening the Intangible Tunnel (ReVi 40/+30)

^F includes Magical Focus

M includes Spell Mastery

D includes deficient technique

A includes attunement of talisman

Vis: Eight pawns Vim transferred into a ring worn on his right hand, eight pawns Ignem as ashes carried in a pouch on his belt (the ashes become hot to the touch at sunset every day), four pawns Muto as snakeskins.

Appearance: Ranulf's eyes are held in a nearperpetual squint as he closely examines the world with his inadequate sight. His face is reddened and the short hair

around his face is bleached from long exposure to hot fires at close range. He is of ordinary stature and build, and he prefers to wear several layers of wool and leather clothing to insulate himself from the often extreme temperatures of his environment. Ranulf is almost never separated from his talisman — a walkingstick-sized staff quite unsuitable for use as a weapon.

Activities in the last 15 years: During these 15 years, Ranulf took an apprentice. Ranulf's mentor passed into Twilight at a very advanced age and Ranulf presented a fixed Arcane Connection to himself (created by his apprentice) to the castellan of Castra Solis to fill the void left by his mentor's passing (Houses of Hermes: Societates, page 13). Ranulf's weakness with Intellego spells was exposed during a certamen challenge at a Flambeau tournament, and many of his housemates know of this weakness. Ranulf has become very interested in the possibilities inherent in using fires that are Arcane Connections

to one another, although he has only just begun to develop spells exploring their use. Ranulf spent two seasons investing Shriek of the Impending Shafts into his talisman, and two seasons investing Defense of the Roaring Furnace in his talisman. Ranulf spent one season creating the Chest of the Ember Seed. Ranulf spent one season learning Wind of Mundane Silence and one season learning Opening the Intangible Tunnel, both with the help of laboratory notes. Ranulf expended one season inventing Self Immolation, two seasons inventing Ward against Immolation, one season inventing Unified Flames, three seasons inventing Wizard's Boost (Vim), and three seasons inventing Transformation of Fire. Ranulf has spent one season searching for his apprentice and 14 seasons training his apprentice. Ranulf gained 35 experience points in Abilities and 175 experience points in Arts (with an additional 35 Art experience points received due to his affinity with Ignem).

Pilum of Fire is a popular spell within the Order of Hermes, and it is especially popular with the faction of Flambeau who follow the School of the Founder.

Part of this popularity is due to the rich history of the spell. It was used by many famous magi throughout the Order's history, and some magi take pride in using the same tool as their forebears.

Yet some of the spell's popularity is actually the result of that popularity itself. This is true not only of Pilum of Fire, but of several common spells within the Order of Hermes. Many readable laboratory texts are available for these spells, and there exist several texts concerning mastery of the spells. In addition, other spells have been developed to be used in conjunction with the common spells, such as a Wizard's Boost, Maintain the Demanding Spell, or The Patient Spell of appropriate level, and special spells relating specifically to commonly used spells. Even if such spells are not common, an enterprising magus may well be able to strike a bargain with the magi and covenants that posses laboratory texts for these spells, and thereby avoid the effort of inventing them from scratch.

An example of a spell specifically tailored to be used with another is Boreal Flames. Certainly a spell to create a jet of icy flames could be developed as a Creo Ignem spell with a Muto requisite, and such a spell could be cast without the Concentration difficulties presented by Boreal Flames. Yet this hypothetical spell would not be able to take advantage of the proficiency that many magi have developed in using Pilum of Fire. A jet of icy flames is useful specifically against targets that are either naturally immune to heat or have become so through protective magics, two sorts of foes that are also likely to have Magic Resistance. Most casters are able to achieve greater penetration with both Pilum of Fire and Boreal Flames (both spells need to penetrate) then they would be able to achieve with a single higher-level spell.

While many magi muse that a spell similar to Pilum of Fire with a longer range or with a less-intense flame that would allow better penetration might be better suited to their particular needs, the resources that exist within the Order that specifically relate to Pilum of Fire make it the spell used by magi more often than might be warranted by its utility alone.