Neanne
Neanne de Sule is a black sheep among House Verditius, for preferring a more research-oriented career as a maga rather than as an artificer, which her House is known for. She believes she was meant to be a Bonisagus maga but had the unfortunate luck to be claimed by a mediocre magus in House Verditius with an ego disproportionate to his skill. Neanne is highly intelligent and is a talented glass-worker with a gift of creating beautiful works of art that make her a favourite among Jerbiton magi and those who appreciate art with that touch of creativity that transcends mere skill.
Unusual among magi, she keeps her family close. This mostly consists of her younger brother, his wife, and their daughter. Neanne suspects her niece is Gifted and is keeping a close eye on her progress. This has driven her to improve her skills to be able to claim her as an apprentice, though she has been debating on whether or not to let her apprentice under another magus that might best suit her temperament and skills.
She nurses a grudge against her former master, one that simmers quietly in the background waiting for her to come up with a way to humiliate him in a public setting.
Unlike other Verditius magi, she is relatively uninterested in the Inner Mysteries of her House. Other Verditius magi sneer at her pretense. After all, what could a crafter who doesn't even have a venditor or a forge-companion have to offer the Order?
Prior to the disappearance of the covenant's founders, she was pressured to train a mundane follower in her craft. Glassworking knowledge of the south is a style and type that far exceeded the kind normally available in England. If she finds a suitable candidate, this person will likely be her first forge-companion. After the covenant's rescue of Aed, the Irish glass-blower, this may now be the case.
Vitals
| Name: | Neanne of Verditius |
| Formal Name: | Neanne Phaedra filia Melben Verditii ab Verdi |
| Race/Nationality: | Provençal |
| Place of Origin: | Rome Tribunal, Covenant of Verdi |
| Year of Birth/Age: | 1174 (53) |
| Apparent Age: | 30 |
| Known Specialties: | Magic Theory, Vim, Glassworking |
| Familiar: | None |
| Former Apprentices: | Vitiria |
| Venditores: | None |
| Forge-Companions: | None |
| Family: | Jerome de Sulé (Brother) Thérèse (Sister-in-law) Aline, filia, niece |
Character Sheet
Characteristics
| Intelligence | +5 | Presence | -1 |
| Perception | +2 | Communication | +0 |
| Strength | -2 | Dexterity | +1 |
| Stamina | +1 | Luck | +0 |
Virtues and Flaws
| Virtues
Hermetic Magus (Free) |
Flaws
Driven (Major) |
Skills
Updated to Autumn 1232
| Skill | Specialty | Score | XP |
| General Skills | |||
| Awareness | Flaws in glasswork | 3 | 30 |
| Bargain | Magic Items | 2 | 15 |
| Brawl | Dodge | 1 | 5 |
| Carouse | Staying Sober | 1 | 5 |
| Concentration | Lab Work | 2 | 15 |
| Craft Glasswork | Artwork | 6+2 | 72(108) |
| Craft Pottery | Artwork (cermaic) | 3 | 30 |
| Folk Ken | Magi | 1 | 5 |
| Guile | Knowledgeable Facade | 2 | 15 |
| Speak Northern French | Artistic Terminology | 5 | 75 |
| Speak Southern French | Noble Talk | 4 | 50 |
| Speak Sardinian | Conversational | 4 | 50 |
| Speak Middle English | Conversational | 4 | 50 |
| Speak Middle Hebrew | Giving orders | 4 | 50 |
| Teaching | Apprentices | 2 | 20 |
| Lore: Verdi, Area | Magi | 2 | 15 |
| Lore: Stonehenge Tribunal, Area | Magi | 2 | 15 |
| Lore: Nova Semitae, Area | Merchants | 2 | 15 |
| Lore: Order of Hermes, Organization | House Verditius | 2 | 15 |
| Profession: Scribe | Composition | 0 | 2 |
| Academic Skills | |||
| Artes Liberales | Ritual Magic | 1 | 5 |
| Philosophiae | Verditius Runes | 4 | 50 |
| Speak Latin | Hermetic Latin | 5 | 75 |
| Arcane Skills | |||
| Code of Hermes | Selling Magical Items | 1 | 5 |
| Finesse | Precision | 2 | 15 |
| Lore: Faerie | Creatures | 1 | 5 |
| Lore: Magic | Creatures | 1 | 5 |
| Lore: Verditius Cult, Organization | Initiation Rituals | 2 | 15 |
| Magic Theory | Enchantments | 10 | 276 |
| Parma Magica | Mentem | 5 | 85 |
| Penetration | Terram | 1 | 5 |
Mundane Qualities
Description
Neanne is of southern french origin, and grew up on the isle of Sardinia. She can wear a tan well though in England his is rarely a concern. She is short, under 5' tall, and is likely to be dressed in clothing appropriate to a glassworker than the classic robes.
Known Languages
| Language | Dialect | Specialty | Fluency Level | Score |
| Langue d'Oc | Provençal | Artistic Terminology | Fluent | 5 |
| Latin | Hermetic Latin | Hermetic Terms | Fluent | 5 |
| Sardinian | Middle Sardinian | Conversational | Functional | 4 |
| English | Middle English | Conversational | Functional | 4 |
| Langue d'Oil | Norman French | Noble Talk | Functional | 4 |
| Medieval Hebrew | Nova Semitae dialect | Giving orders | Functional | 4 |
Reputations
- Snob/Black Sheep (House Verditius) 2
- Crafter of beautiful glass artwork (House Jerbiton) 1
Mundane Wealth
Updated to Autumn 1229
- Cash £8
Magical Qualities
Laboratory
Current Qualities
| Size +0 | Refinement +0 | General Quality +2 | Upkeep +3 |
| Safety +2 | Warping +0 | Health +1 | Aesthetics +6 |
Lab Specialization
Note: Selected specializations are in red. All other specializations do not count. (See Covenants p.112)
| Creo | +1 | Animal | +1 | Ignem | +2 |
| Intellego | 0 | Aquam | +2 | Imaginem | +1 |
| Muto | +1 | Auram | 0 | Mentem | +1 |
| Perdo | 0 | Corpus | 0 | Terram | +1 |
| Rego | +3 | Herbam | 0 | Vim | +2 |
| Vis Extraction | +4 | Texts | +1 | Items | +2 |
| Spells | +1 | Experimentation | +1 |
Contributing Factors
- Lesser Features: +1
- Still: Vis Extraction, Mu, Re, Aq
- Tank: Vis Extraction, Re, Aq
- Summoning Circle: Experimentation, Spells, Cr, Re, An, Vi
- Forge: Items, Ig, Te (In Workshop)
- Servant +1 (Int/2) Safety, +1 Aesthetics, +1 Me (Therese)
- Studio +1 Aesthetics
- Flawless Equipment: +2 General Quality, +2 Upkeep, +2 Vis Extraction
- Flawless Tools (In Workshop): +1 Upkeep, +2 Items
- Magical Heating: +1 Health, +1 Aesthetics, +1 Ig
- Magical Lighting: +1 Aesthetics, +1 Texts, +1 Im
- Superior Construction (from Conjuring the Mystic Tower): +1 Safety, +1 Aesthetics
- Auspicious Shape: +1 Aesthetics, +1 Vi
Reputations
Well-organized Lab 3 (30xp)
Arts
Update to Autumn 1232
| Creo | 10 | (64) | Animal | 6 | (24) | Ignem | 8 | (37) |
| Intellego | 5 | (15) | Aquam | 6 | (21) | Imaginem | 6 | (24) |
| Muto | 5 | (16) | Auram | 5 | (15) | Mentem | 6 | (21) |
| Perdo | 5 | (15) | Corpus | 9 | (52) | Terram | 12 | (79) |
| Rego | 13 | (92) | Herbam | 6 | (24) | Vim | 18+3 | (121->182) |
Spells
Pilum of Fire (CrIg 20), +19
The Crystal Dart (MuTe 10), +18
Rock of Viscid Clay (MuTe 15), +18
Hardness of Steel (MuTe 25, Ritual), +23
Temporary Hardness of Steel (MuTe 25), +18
Order in the Laboratory (ReTe 10), +26
The Unseen Hand (ReTe 5), +26
The Unseen Porter (ReTe 10), +26
Sense of Magical Power (InVi 5), +27
Sense of Faerie Power (InVi 5), +27
Sense of Divine Power (InVi 5), +27
Sense of Infernal Power (InVi 5), +27
Sense the Nature of Vis (InVi 5), +27
Scales of the Magical Weight (InVi 5), +27
Feeling the Font of Power (InVi 5), +27
Scales of Power (InVi 5), +27
Gather the Essence of the Beast (MuVi 15), +27
Wizard's Communion (MuVi 10), +27
Wizard's Communion (MuVi 20), +27
Hammer of Thaumaturgical Shattering (PeVi 15), +27
Wind of Mundane Silence (PeVi 20), +27
Suppressing the Wizard's Handiwork (ReVi 25), +35
Ward Against Magical Beasts, ReVi 25, +35 (3 variations)
Ward Against Faerie of the Woods, ReVi 25, +35 (with minor side effect -- circle glows slightly in the dark)
Ward Against Faerie of the Sea, ReVi 25, +35 (with minor side benefit -- drys clothing to normal levels inside the ward)
Ward Against Demons, ReVi 25, +35 (3 variations, identical functionality)
Ward Against the Creatures of God, ReVi 25, +35 (with major side benefit -- Dominion Aura reduced by 1 within the ward)
Aegis of the Hearth (ReVi 20, Ritual), +40
Aegis of the Hearth (ReVi 25, Ritual), +40 (2 variants)
Aegis of the Hearth (ReVi 30, Ritual), +40
Aegis of the Hearth (ReVi 40, Ritual), +40
Personal Library
Untranslated Texts
- Hardness of Steel, MuTe 15, Ritual
- This spell makes glass as hard as steel. Neanne casts this on glasswork that may need to be made more sturdy for one reason or another.
- Base 4 (highly unnatural change), +1 Touch, +2 glass
- Temporary Hardness of Steel, MuTe 25
- A variant of the ritual above, but lasts only Sun duration.
- Base 4 (highly unnatural change), +1 Touch, +2 Sun, +2 glass
The following spells were creating during her Original Research studies
- Aegis of the Hearth, ReVi 25
- Ward Against Magical Beasts, ReVi 25 (3 variations, identical functionality)
- Ward Against Faerie of the Woods, ReVi 25 (with minor side effect -- circle glows slightly in the dark)
- Ward Against Faerie of the Sea, ReVi 25 (with minor side benefit -- drys clothing to normal levels inside the ward)
- Ward Against Demons, ReVi 25 (3 variations, identical functionality)
- Ward Against the Creatures of God, ReVi 25 (with major side benefit -- Dominion Aura reduced by 1 within the ward)
- Insight on Notatus' Notes on Aegis of the Hearth (ReVi 25)
The following enchanted devices were created during her Original Research studies
- Suppressing the Magus' Will, ReVi 5
- ReVi 5, +2 Voice, +1 Diameter
- This device suppresses a spell being cast by the target up to 1/2 * (5 + 25) = 15 level (3rd magnitude)
- Doorway through the Veil of the Realities, InVi 30
- InVi 20, +10 levels for unlimited uses
- A doorway intended for use on Varana's Tomb to allow access to specific regiones.
Translated Texts
Few
Books
Note that letters from 1199-1203, 1204-1208, and 1214-1218 have been donated to the library.
- Letters between Neanne of Verditius and Lucius of Bonisagus, on Magic Theory, 1209-1213. A series of three Q3 Tractatus.
- A five-year correspondence on Magic Theory between two highly intelligent theorists. Although the quality is low and unlikely to be worth studying, it does at +1 to Magic Theory research, per the Research rules in Covenants, pp. 98-99.
- Letters between Neanne of Verditius and Lucius of Bonisagus, on Magic Theory, 1219-1223. A series of three Q3 Tractatus.
- A five-year correspondence on Magic Theory between two highly intelligent theorists. Discussions seem to focus on new applications of Vim to Parma Magica research. A clear pattern from previous letters demonstrate that Neanne is researching something and that she is closing in on some kind of success. Although the quality is low and unlikely to be worth studying, it does at +1 to Magic Theory research, per the Research rules in Covenants, pp. 98-99.
- Letters between Neanne of Verditius and Lucius of Bonisagus, on Magic Theory, 1224-1228. A series of three Q3 Tractatus.
- A five-year correspondence on Magic Theory between two highly intelligent theorists. Discussions seem to focus on new applications of Vim to Parma Magica research. A clear pattern from previous letters demonstrate that Neanne is researching something and that she is closing in on some kind of success. Although the quality is low and unlikely to be worth studying, it does at +1 to Magic Theory research, per the Research rules in Covenants, pp. 98-99.
- Deep in Life Extension. Tractatus on Magic Theory, Q12
- Writtenn by Ferion of Merinita. Primarily on Longevity Rituals. Acquired in trade during the Hermetic Fair at the Covenant of Everlasting Flame in 1226. Delivered Winter 1227.
- Further Enlightenment. Tractatus on Magic Theory, Q8
- Written by Badzila of Bonisagus. Vain tractatus but decent writer. Musings on quirks of Magic Theory and avenues of potential research. Acquired in trade during the Hermetic Fair at the Covenant of Everlasting Flame in 1226. Delivered Winter 1227.
- Magic Theory Studies in the Nature of Spell Design. Three tractatus on Magic Theory, Q12 (each)
- Written by Verrinon of Bonisagus. A three volume set written all in the same year as part. Well-crafted and illuminated. Acquired in trade during the Hermetic Fair at the Covenant of Everlasting Flame in 1226. Delivered Winter 1227.
- Topics on Magic Theory. Two Tractatus on Magic Theory, Q9 (each)
- Unknown author. Suspected to be a Bonisagus writer, but these tomes are clearly a copy of the original with all the authorial attributions removed. A theoretician's approach to Magic Theory. Acquired in trade during the Hermetic Fair at the Covenant of Everlasting Flame in 1226. Delivered Winter 1227.
- Weaknesses in the Lesser Limits. Two Tractatus on Magic Theory, Q8 (each)
- Written by Murion of Bonisagus. The Prima of House Bonisagus is no less obliged to share her insights into magic and share then with the Order. These copies are some of her earlier works prior to her elevation as Prima in the late 12th century. Acquired in trade during the Hermetic Fair at the Covenant of Everlasting Flame in 1226. Delivered Winter 1227.
- The Hermetic Zodiac. Tractatus on Magic Theory, Q11
- Written by Niall ex Miscellanea. Written in the Hibernian style, this tractatus on Magic Theory presents tables and charts for various daily, monthly, seasonal, and yearly celestial phenomenon and how they relate to the casting of magic. The vellum pages are particularly fine and clear. Acquired in trade during the Hermetic Fair at the Covenant of Everlasting Flame in 1226. Delivered Winter 1227.
- Methods for the Application of Magic Theory in Enchantment. Tractatus on Magic Theory, Q11
- Written by Bachalo of Verditius. Contains examples of needlessly elaborate enchanted devices demonstrating the core tenets of Magic Theory. Acquired in trade during the Hermetic Fair at the Covenant of Everlasting Flame in 1226. Delivered Winter 1227.
- The Imperfections of Magic Theory. Tractatus on Magic Theory, Q8
- Written by Joia du Lua, House unknown. Acquired in trade during the Hermetic Fair at the Covenant of Everlasting Flame in 1226. Delivered Winter 1227.
- Bonisagi Apocrypha. Tractatus on Magic Theory, Q8
- Written by Calvacius of Tytalus. Expresses the opinion that covenants should research their own enhancements outside of Bonisagus control. Acquired in trade during the Hermetic Fair at the Covenant of Everlasting Flame in 1226. Delivered Winter 1227.
Personal Vis
- 1 pawn of Creo
- 5 pawns of Perdo
- 6 pawns of Rego
- 6 pawns of Auram (faerie)
- 16 pawns of Aquam
- 4 pawns of Corpus
- 11 pawns of Ignem
- 22 pawns of Vim
Updated to A.D. 1231 Winter (not including salary)
Significant transactions
- Trading 15 pawns of vim for 12 pawns of Ignem at Hermetic Fair of 1226
- Spend 28 pawns of Vim to purchase 12 tractatus on Magic Theory at Hermetic Fair of 1226
Magical Enchantments
- Magical Forge (used to heat glass)
- Hot Kiln (used keep shaped glass warm, but not viscous)
- Cold Kiln (used to 'freeze' warm glass to fix its shape faster)
- Glass-blowing rod (invested device); can blow air, and move/spin on its own for glass-shaping
- Glass-blower's candle (a focused flame for delicate glass shaping)
- Glass-blowing rod (instantly makes glass malleable without need for heating)
- 5 experimental devices from Seasons 23-29
Longevity Ritual
Strength: 41 (+9 Living Conditions Modifier)
Warping
Level 2
XP: 27
Twilight Scars
- She can see vague outlines of creatures belonging to the Magic Realm, but only if they're relatively close. When this happens, her eyes glow silver, slightly. This is only noticeable when it's dark.
Twilight Effects
Due to a Twilight experience in 1221/1222, Neanne spent a day wresting with her magic and came out with an increased comprehension of Hermetic magic as a result. She can now write a Summa equal to 2/3rd of her score.
Household
Neanne keeps a household that consists largely of her family. In time, this may grow.
Jerôme
Jerome is Neanne's older brother and in many ways is the completely opposite of his older sister. Whereas she is small, highly intelligent, somewhat reclusive, and artistic, Jerome is tall, swarthy, handsome, athletic, but not terribly bright in some ways. He is very comfortable dealing with people and has a magnetic charm that draws many to him.
He is skilled with arms and is a member of the covenant's Turb. He is a one of the leaders, though the official head of the Turb is a semi-retired warrior with deep ties to the covenant.
He is married (common law) with Therese, having developed their relationship in Provence, where they were originally from. He is considerably younger than her, which caused quite a scandal in their home village. When his long-lost sister reappeared looking for her family, he was the sole survivor. Both he and Therese accompanied her to her trip to England and settled at the covenant, where he integrated quite well into the Turb structure, and excelled with his skill at arms.
Thérèse
Thérèse is several years older than Jerome and became involved with him while at the village where Neanne, Jerome, and she were born at. This was mildly scandalous given their age differences, but both she and Jerome were truly in love. Not long after, Jerome's long lost sister visited the village and reunited with Jerome, her only remaining family (both their parents having died during her apprenticeship). She announced her plans to travel north, whereupon Jerome and Therese decided to accompany her. Both of them were uncomfortable with attitude they got due to their relationship.
She serves as the maid to Neanne, her sister-in-law. Some years ago she gave birth to a daughter, Aline. Neanne suspects the girl of being Gifted and is keeping an eye on how it may manifest itself.
Joining a covenant, and a largely jewish one at that, was a culture shock but one she has since come to accept. For one, her relationship with Jerome -- though never formalized -- had never been questioned by the covenfolk; additionally, the magi masters do not concern themselves with petty concerns such as the ages of covenfolk couples under their protection. With abundant resources (compared to their former village), Therese is quite happy at Nova Semitae.
Aline
Precocious, bright, and gifted in many ways, she is the youngest of the Sule family. She was taken as an apprentice by her aunt, Neanne of Verditius, in 1222.
Seasonal Activities
Neanne Original Research Notes
1220s: 1220 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227 1228 1229
1230s: 1230 1231 1232 1233 1234 1235 1236 1237 1238 1239