Story Seeds

to the manufacture of a living corpse, or could set up a rivalry between the finder and the owner. An insidious complication would be if the book states that the owner plans to slay the apprentice to see if the spell for summoning a ghost works. While not an infraction of the Hermetic Code, it could raise moral objections in a compassionate reader.

Interview with Balento

A recently acquired magic item that casts Ignem spells bears the sigil of Balento, a famous Verditius magus who made many such devices during the Schism War. Magical investigation shows that the item isn't that old, constructed just five years ago. Is it possible that Balento is still alive, working away somewhere and still making items of fiery destruction? The annals of the war state that Balento was almost 200 years old during the conflagration. If he is still making magic items, he must be more than 400 years old, an unheardof feat in the Order of Hermes. Curious characters might attempt to locate Balento, perhaps by following his selling agent, and discover that the magus is a living corpse.

first spell to another person. The level of the affected spell must be less than the level +1 magnitude of Passing the Reins of (Form), and it only works on spells with Duration longer than Momentary. The spell does not change the target of the affected spell. As with other Muto Vim spells, the caster must succeed at an Intelligence + Concentration roll against an Ease Factor of 9 (ArM5, page 159).

(Base effect, +1 Touch)

Required Lab Total: Dependent upon level of spell