Support from Other Traditions

Beyond the Order of Hermes, there are others who know how to harness and direct natural and supernatural forces. Just as Hermetic magi might apply their skills to the building of ships, so might these other practitioners. In fact, the Hermetic Shipwright may seek out and work with other traditions, to take advantage of their abilities where his own are lacking. The following presents further options for shipwright characters.

Shipwrights are generally drawn from the learned class, and are able to apply their knowledge of the natural world through experimental philosophy (Art & Academe, page 67). But their arts are more inclined to assist individuals, rather than affect the vessel itself. They could be useful to shipwrights, as the charms they make provide bonuses to ability use, but the impact on the ship is likely to be minimal.

Learned magicians (Hedge Magic Revised Edition, page 79) with the Mythic Alchemy virtue are able to prepare the raw materials used by craftsmen, so making the creation of superior goods easier. Being drawn from the educated community, such a magician may use his mundane and magical learning to forge a career as a shipwright. The vessels built by such a shipwright would be of the highest quality.

The Vitki (Hedge Magic Revised Edition, page 120) are potent runesmiths with the ability to bind magical effects into objects by inscribing runic scripts into them. Viking longships were almost always decorated with runes, and the use of seafaring rune scripts is a common magical focus. The Vitki and related runesmiths can empower vessels without the need for seasons spent in a laboratory as the permanent inscription of runic effects (to calm storms around the ship or to speed the