Ars Magica Digital Codex

Contents

The End
36
36
ALL-GROG SAGAS 37
44
Light Relief
Negotiation
53
Purchasing Supplies for Travel54
Arranging Accommodation54
PERSONALITY TRAITS 55
Making Personality Trait Rolls56
ADVANCED GROUP COMBAT 56
The Leader's Actions56
57
Routed Groups57
6
WHAT IS A GROG? 6
6
Turb6
7
Custos7
Covenfolk7
Consors7
7
8
TYPES OF GROGS 8
8
Personal Servants8
The Chamberlain10
11
Agents11
The Steward11
Soldiers13
13
Unit Sergeants13
The Drill Sergeant14
Other Military Ranks14
ORGANIZATION OF COVENANT GROGS 14
Hierarchy15
15
Military Hierarchy16
16
Family Groups16
Ethnic Groups16
Divided by Location17
17
Professional Guilds17
18
19
THE LIFE OF A GROG 19
20
The Watches21
21
Double Duty22
22
Off Duty22
23
Improved Rations
Castigation
Whipping
Dismissal
Accommodation
Retirement
Grogs Alone
Epic Battles
Personal Stories
Action/Adventure
Creature Feature
Drama
Exploration
Horror
The Beginning
Where Are the Magi?
Rewards23
23
Pay and a Half23
Improved Equipment24
Promotion in Rank24
Punishments24
24
Relegation to Inferior Duties24
Reduction of Rations24
Flogging25
Reduction in Rank25
25
25
Fustuarium25
25
Families25
26
Pensions26
THEMES FOR GROG STORIES 27
Showcasing27
Routine Duties28
Plot Staging, Development,
and Exposition28
29
History Intervenes29
30
31
PLANNING GROG STORIES 31
Story Genres32
32
Comedy32
32
33
33
33
Mystery34
34
34
The Middle35
Antagonists35
Clues36
Obstacles36
The Showdown
Magus Ex Machina36
Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies36
Rewards37
A Town Saga37
An Academic Saga
38
A Monastic Saga39
A Mercenary Saga40
A Noble Saga41
A Redcap Saga
42
Grogs in Stories
PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR TEAM 44
Dux, the Leader44
Optio, the 2nd in Command45
Antesignanus, the Vanguard45
Immune, the Specialist45
27
Signifer, the Legate46
EQUIPPING THE GROGS 46
Equipment Bonuses47
Encumbrance and Load
47
ROLES IN STORIES 48
Sentries48
Guards
49
Camp Duties50
Guides and Messengers
51
Travel Speeds51
Representatives53
Gaining Information53
Translation54
Growing Used to The Gifted56
Morale and Discipline
Discipline57
Morale57
Disordered Groups57
Grogs
Rallying a Group
57
Harlot69 Broken Vessel77
Groups With No Leader58 Herbwife
70
Careless with (Ability)77
INJURY AND DEATH 58 Javeliner (Martial)70 Companion Animal
78
Battlefield Injuries58 Laborer
70
Compulsive Lying78
First Aid
58
Lay Brother70 Craving for Travel78
Magical First Aid
59
Magician (Arcane)70 Curse of Slander78
The Death of a Grog
59
Minstrel
70
Cursed Guile
78
Remembrance60 Mystic (Arcane)70 A Deal with the Devil78
Natural Philosopher (Academic).70 Devoted Parent/Child
79
Creating & Pikeman (Martial)70 The Falling Evil
79
Maintaining Grogs 61 Physician (Academic)70 Flashbacks79
VIRTUES AND FLAWS 61 Public Official
70
Fish Out of Water (Terrain)80
Gaining New Flaws61 Sailor71 Foreign Upbringing80
Gaining Flaws Scout
71
Gullible80
Through Mishaps
62
Scribe (Academic)71 Hallucinations80
Gaining Flaws Sentry (Martial)71 Imagined Folk
Through Actions62 Servant
71
Tradition Vulnerability80
Gaining Flaws Soldier (Martial)71 Independent Craftsman81
Through Magic
62
Storyteller
71
Jinxed81
Student (Academic)71 Lingering Injury81
Gaining New Virtues62 Teacher (Academic)71 Magical Fascination
81
Gaining Virtues Tinker
71
Manifest Sin
81
Through Magic
63
Theologian (Academic)
71
Master of None
81
Gaining Virtues Trader72 Necessary (Realm) Aura
Through Initiation63 Tumbler72 for (Ability)82
Gaining Virtues Woodsman72 Night Terrors
82
Through Actions63 Non-Career Training Packages72 Pack Mentality82
Losing Flaws
63
Athlete72 Pagan82
Character Transformation63 Brawler72 Poor Living Conditions83
Inauguration
64
Metamorphosis64 Charmer72 Primitive Equipment83
Initiation64 Covenfolk72 Raised in the Gutter83
Pilgrimage64 Forager
72
(Realm) Stigmatic83
CHARACTERISTICS 65 Leader
73
Restricted Learning
83
Aging, the Easy Way
65
Local73 Rolling Stone
83
Applying Crises66 Rider73 Savantism84
Effects of Aging Trainer73 Sleep Disorder
84
on Characteristics66 Wastrel73 Stuck in His Ways84
ABILITIES 67 Susceptible to Warping
84
Updating Grogs67 New Virtues & Flaws
74
Uncertain Faith84
Training Packages67 NEW VIRTUES 74 Uncontrollable Strength85
Grog Backgrounds68 Almogavar74 Uninspirational85
Career Training Packages
68
Almogaten74 Unlucky
85
Advocate (Academic or None)68 Craft Guild Training
74
Unspecialized
85
Animal Trainer68 Domestic Animal74 Viaticarus85
Apothecary
68
Ferocity
74
Warped by Magic85
Weak Personality85
Archer (Martial)68 Forgettable Face
74
Worthless Abilities86
Churchman (Academic)69 Hermetic Experience75
Conman
69
Jack-of-All-Trades75 Grog Templates 87
Courtier69 Master of (Form) Creatures
75
Craftsman
69
Master of Kennels76 THE ADVISOR 87
Cultist (Arcane)69 Mild Aging76 General Background
87
Cunning Man (Arcane)
69
Minor Enchantments
76
Character Creation88
Cutter69 Mythic Farrier76 Advisor as Companion
90
Failed Apprentice69 Pack Leader / Natural Leader76 THE ALMOGAVARS 90
Farmer
69
Turb Trained
76
General Background
90
Fisherman
69
NEW FLAWS 76 Character Creation92
Footpad69 Bound to (Role) Role76 Almogavar as Companion
92

4

ANIMAL TRAINER 93
General Background
93
Character Creation94
Animal Trainer as Companion95
THE BODYGUARD MAIDSERVANT 96
General Background
96
Character Creation96
Concept Variations97
Bodyguard Maidservant
as Companion97
THE BULL 98
General Background
98
Character Creation98
Concept Variations99
The Bull as Companion
100
THE CONFESSOR 100
General Background
100
Character Creation101
THE CORPSE-THIEF 103
General Background
104
Character Creation105
Corpse-Thief as Companion106
THE CRAFTSMAN 106
General Background
106
Character Creation106
Craftsman as Companion
109
EX-PROSTITUTES 110
General Background
110
Character Creation111
Ex-Prostitute as Companion112
THE FAILED APPRENTICE 113
General Background
113
Character Creation113
Failed Apprentice
as Companion114
THE FARRIER 115
General Background
115
Character Creation115
Farrier as Companion
117
THE JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES 117
General Background
117
Character Creation118
Jack-of-All-Trades
as Companion119
MISGUIDED MYSTIC 119
Character Creation120
Misguided Mystic
as Companion121
THE MURDERER 121
General Background
122
Character Creation122
Murderer as Companion123
THE PARENT OF A GIFTED CHILD 124
Character Creation125
THE REFUGEE LIBRARIAN 125

General Background ...........126 Character Creation.............126

as Companion.....................128

Refugee Librarian

Grogs

THE ROLE-BOUND FERRYMAN 128
General Background
128
Character Creation129
THE STREET THUG 130
General Background
130
Character Creation131
Street Thug as Companion133
TIME-LOST WITNESSES 133
General Background
133
Character Creation134
Time-lost Witness
as Companion136
HORSES & HOUNDS 136
Disadvantages Inherent
in Playing an Animal137
General Background
138
Character Creation138
Animals as Companions
139
BRIEF GROG CONCEPTS 139
The Accursed140
The Barbarian
140
The Coastal Raider140
The Coward140
The Disenfranchised Knight140
The Field Chirurgeon140
The Fool
141
The Ghost
141
The Hero141
The Laboratory Assistant142
The Loyal Watchman142
The Officer142
The Poisoner
142
The Robber143
The Sailor143
The Survivor143

List of Inserts

List of Inserts 5 Travel Fatigue 52
The Liber Gregis6 Story Elements: Guides and Messengers 52
Story Seed: Understairs Rivalry 8 Story Elements: Representing Magi 55
The Covenant Rolls 10 Changes in Social Status 61
The Autocrat 11 Starting Characteristics 65
Troop Types 12 Aging Chart 65
Accelerated Group Training 14 Childhood Training Packages 66
Story Seed: Tough at the Top 15 Wealthy and Poor Characters 68
Story Seed: Family Business 16 Combat Statistics 72
Story Seed: Lack of Guild Funds 17 The System in Action 73
Story Seed: The Guild Contest 18 Summary of New Virtues 75
Rivalries and Tension 19 Summary of New Flaws 77
Watch Patterns 20 The Role of the Advisor as Grog 87
Switching Storyguides 27 Advisor Story Seeds 89
Story Seeds: Showcasing 28 The Vibria Company 90
Story Seeds: Routine Duties 28 Almogavar Story Seeds 91
Story Seeds: Light Relief 29 Animal Trainer Story Seeds 95
Story Seeds: Staging 29 Bodyguard Maidservant Story Seeds96
Story Seeds: History 30 Bull Story Seeds 99
Story Seeds: Epic Battles 30 The Practice of Confession 101
Story Seeds: Personal Stories 31 Confessor Story Seeds 102
Sources of Inspiration 34 New Arcane Ability: Craft Poppets 103
A Town-based Saga: Toulouse 37 Preserving Arcane Connections 103
An Academic Saga: Corpse-Thief Story Seeds 105
The Hidden Coven 39 Craftswomen 108
A Monastic Saga: Craftsman Story Seeds 109
The Priory of St. Nerius 39 Ex-Prostitute Story Seeds 111
Military Units in the 13th Century 40 Saint Mary Magdalene:
A Noble Saga: A Note For Players 112
A Quiet Place in the Country 41 Failed Apprentice Story Seeds 114
A Mercenary-Based Saga: New Ability: Craft: Farrier (General)115
The Monjoie Company 41 Farrier Story Seeds 116
A Redcap Saga: The Hermetic Agency 42 Jack-of-All-Trades Story Seeds 118
Commanding Larger Groups 44 Misguided Mystic Story Seeds 121
Sounds Familiar? 45 Murderer Story Seeds 122
The Grog Pack 46 Story Seeds for Parents
Encumbrance and Ability Use 47 of a Gifted Child 124
Equipment Bonuses 47 New Spell: The Librarian's Buckle 126
Expanded Encumbrance Table 48 Refugee Librarian Story Seeds 127
Weight of Common Materials 48 Role-Bound Ferryman Story Seeds 130
Story Elements: Sentry Duty 49 Street Thug Story Seeds 132
Story Elements: Guards 50 Time-Lost Witnesses Story Seeds 134&135
Trail Food 50
Story Elements: Camping 51
Horses & Hounds Story Seeds 137
Animal Aging 138

Chapter One