SHR Main Page | Opera Propria | Camera Mysteriorum Introduction
Characteristics: Int +3 (Creative), Per +1 (Astute), Str 0, Sta +1 (Determined), Pre +2 (Fair of face), Com +1 (Sincere), Dex +1 (Graceful), Qik 0
Size: 0
Age: 21 (21)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 2 (5)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; The Gentle Gift, ; Affinity with Auram, Improved Characteristics (x2), Inspirational, Puissant Auram, Puissant Magic Theory, Self-Confident, Skilled Parens; Optimistic (Major), Twilight Prone; Deleterious Circumstances (whenever the sky is not visible), Higher Purpose, Magical Animal Companion (White Horse), Warped Magic (glowing hands and eyes that cause a feeling like pins and needles and make it very hard to be subtle with magic)
Personality Traits: Ambitious +1, Brave +1, Honest +1, Honourable +2, Optimistic +3, Vain -1
Reputations: None
| Weapon/Attack | Init | Atk | Dfn | Dam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fist | -1 | +1 | 0 | 0 |
| Staff | +1 | +4 | +3 | +2 |
Soak: +1 (Stamina)
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 Magic), Athletics 1 (Grace), Awareness 1 (Spellcasting) , Charm 2 (First Impressions), Code of Hermes 1 (Peripheral Code), Concentration 1 (Spell Concentration), English 5 (Formal Expressions), Etiquette 1 (Magi), Finesse 1 (Auram), Folk Ken 2 (Covenfolk), Intrigue 1 (Debate), Latin 4 (Hermetic Expressions), Leadership 1 (Inspiration), Magic Lore 1 (Classical Magic), Magic Theory 3+2 (Inventing Spells), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (House Bonisagus), Parma Magica 1 (Auram), Penetration 1 (Auram), Philosophiae 1 (Ceremonial Magic), Ride 1 (Speed), York Lore 1 (History)
Arts: Cr 10, In 3, Mu 1, Pe 0, Re 3, An 0, Aq 0, Au 15+3, Co 0, He 0, Ig 1, Im 1, Me 1, Te 2, Vi 3
Twilight Scars: None
Equipment: Sky Blue Robes, White Cloak, Staff
Encumbrance: 1 (2)
Spells Known:
Description and Background:
Aurelius is lithe of build and has a pleasing, well-proportioned face with a firm chin, a small, straight nose, sharp cheekbones and wide, deep blue eyes. His hair is the colour of corn and cut short, and it looks windswept even on days when there is no wind. He always has a very earnest expression, and his voice and movements convey a feeling of controlled urgency, as if he always has to do something important. Under normal circumstances he wears a sky blue tunic, buffskin boots, white hose and a white cloak fastened with a golden brooch that bears the device of an eight-pointed star.
Aurelius is a young and idealistic follower of Bonisagus with a remarkable talent for Auram magic and the benefit of excellent teaching from a wise and powerful parens. By lineage and training he is very much a theoretician but by inclination he is a politician, after the example of Trianoma. He is torn between the desire to become one of the foremost researchers of his generation and what he sees as his duty to provide responsible leadership to his sodales. But he is also attracted to the idea of having good friends, a loving family and an ordinary life; he is perhaps a little more conscious of his mundane roots than many other magi of his House.
Aurelius was born with the vulgar name of Galwin, the second son of a draftsman and his wife. Apart from precocious politeness and a habit of using uncommonly big words for a small boy, there was little to distinguish him from his brothers and friends, and his father had high hopes that he would excel at the family trade and make a fine living for himself. But soon after his seventh birthday Galwin was caught in the middle of the most ferocious storm to hit York for many years, and he had the curious misfortune to be struck by lightning three times. Amazingly he survived, apparently unharmed, and word of this remarkable incident eventually reached the ears of Tyrian of Bonisagus at the covenant of Glastonia in Somerset. Perhaps realising that his son had been marked for a very different trade from his, Edward the Draftsman consented to Tyrian taking Galwin to be his apprentice.
While Glastonia was a peaceful covenant enjoying a tranquil Summer, Galwin's years of apprenticeship proved to be eventful and difficult. Under Tyrian's wise guidance he came to develop a natural talent for Auram magic, and he received excellent tutelage in hermetic theory, but there were unexpected problems as well. There was an incident soon after his tenth year, which Aurelius still does not remember fully, that still results in powerful surges of magic flowing through him whenever he casts a spell, causing his hands and eyes to glow with golden light. He has felt close to Twilight more than once since that time and now suspects that he inadvertently came across a powerful pre-hermetic artefact that permanently marked him. Neither was Tyrian the only important person in Galwin's life. He was greatly influenced and inspired by a powerful Tremere magus called Mergravian, who encouraged him to take an interest in the affairs of the Order of Hermes. He also struck up a friendship of sorts with Kay, an apprentice to another Bonisagus magus called Grimorius, whose exceptional intelligence he envied even as he felt himself fortunate to be better looking and more sociable. It was a reluctant association on Galwin's part, however; while being friendly to Kay seemed a good way to make a good impression on the masters and live up to his obligations as a future magus of House Bonisagus, it hardly endeared him to the other children at the covenant that he wanted to lead and impress. But Galwin cared a lot less about this than he did about the third apprentice at Fairlight, Sheleya, who studied under Riste of House Merinita. She and Galwin were good friends and confidants, but his hope that their friendship might become something more never materialised. He tells himself now that it was not fear of rejection that caused him to keep his silence but the need to concentrate on his studies, and he feels sure that Sheleya cannot refuse him once he has secured his reputation as a great magus. He can think of no better way to begin than founding a covenant of his own, especially if it then goes on to influence the destiny of the Order in Britain.
Aurelius very much wants to be respected and liked, but he knows that respect has to be earned. He hopes to be a leader among magi by setting an example to his peers, which he feels he can best do by excelling at research and taking a lead role at councils and tribunals. To this end, he tries hard to listen to others and take account of their opinions, to consider a situation from every possible perspective, and then be the first to suggest bold and decisive action. He has high aspirations, and he is afraid to be seen falling short of them by appearing timid or indecisive, or by failing to live up to his commitments. Unfortunately, Aurelius is perhaps a little too well aware of his better qualities, i.e. good looks, charisma and honourable intentions, and he secretly feels that he is someone that others ought to listen to. It greatly annoys him, therefore, when he has important things to say and nobody pays any attention. It also worries him that perhaps whatever it is that he wants to say is not so important after all, and that somehow he is not as wise or powerful a magus as those who were persecuted for their Gift.
Aurelius' Steed
Aurelius is the proud master of a magnificent white stallion called Celeritatus, which was born at Glastonia and affected somewhat by the magical aura of the covenant. Celeritatus is as loyal to Aurelius as any grog, having been trained and raised to obey magi, and he is smart enough to follow simple orders. He also tends to be somewhat reckless and overly sure of himself, however, not to mention a touch lecherous. He is, after all, such a splendid beast that surely every mare in England should think herself honoured to bear his foals.
Text copyright © Simon Foston 2006.