Creating Inheritable Magical Traits

The most common way for a magus to make a mundane animal magical is by giving it Warping Points and hoping for the Supernatural Flaw: Monstrosity of (Form) to result. In this case, the consequential Power received from the Flaw is not part of the creature's essential nature, meaning that the beast cannot pass it on to its offspring. Creating spells that change a target's essential nature is considered impossible; Hermetic magic cannot permanently affect a target's essential nature, and the spell must be continually

powered to remain in effect. However, since this magical trait is received from Warping Points, an industrious maga could challenge the Limit of Warping, a lesser limit that could theoretically be changed with a Hermetic Breakthrough. If Warping could be affected by Hermetic magic, then maybe the traits gained through Warping could be passed on.

Using the rules in Houses of Hermes: True Lineages, a character would need to experiment with spells that resemble this effect, succeed with the experimentation process, and collect 60 Breakthrough Points to create inheritable magical traits. Qualifying spells would be those inflict Warping Points and somehow specially change the beast, the most likely combination being the Arts of Creo, Muto, Animal, and Vim.

Various legends from the East tell that Persian wizards knew how to do this, and could create and breed magical animals from mundane livestock. Whether this is true, or just another tall tale from the Orient, depends upon your saga.

mundane offspring will inherit some type of magical trait. If both sire and dam are magical animals, the offspring will also be magical, but if only one parent possess a Magic Might, it is exceptionally rare for the offspring to be a magical creature. Because Hermetic magic is ineffectual in permanently changing the essential nature of a beast, a magus' spells have little effect in this process. But that shouldn't stop a magus interested in breeding magical creatures from trying. Possible solutions include feeding a mundane female vis during her pregnancy, penning the female in a field with a powerful magical aura, or developing spells that maintain a magical trait or feature in the female during its pregnancy.

Breeding can be assisted by magical spells and enchanted devices. Rego Animal spells can induce mating, and Creo Animal rituals might ensure successful mating, although some trial and error would need to be involved. Intellego Animal spells can tell if an animal is capable of mating, or if copulation has been successful.

Horn of Hearing the Cow Laden with Child

InAn 25 Pen: 30, 24/day R: Touch, D: Mom, T: Ind

This hollowed-out cow horn, placed against an animal, will indicate to the holder if the targeted animal is pregnant. The intent is for the animal handler to use this on a female after mating to see if conception occurred.

(Base 4, +1 Touch; +5 frequency, +15 Penetration)

Required Lab Total: 1 season (50), 2 seasons (38), 3 seasons (34), 4 seasons (32)