Thomas of Oxford
Main Article: Covenfolk
Thomas is an Englishman, one of many sons of a prosperous merchant family. With a hale family, he was not expected to inherit much of the family business. When his father was in discussions with a local bishop, Thomas' natural intellect shone through. This impressed the Bishop enough to take the boy as a ward and put him through a solid education.
In time, Thomas was enrolled at the University of Oxford where he earned his Baccalaureus. He continued his studies to become a Magister in Artibus and, eventually, a Doctor of Law. Shortly before he could take his final examinations, a series of disasters took place: he had an accident that crippled his legs, his patron Bishop suddenly passed away, and a jealous academic rival conducted a successful smear campaign during Thomas' recovery period during which he was unable to counter the rumours. After his recovery, it became clear that few University masters wanted anything to do with him. He reluctantly left with his reputation battered when his resources to continue his studies dried up due to the Bishop's death. (His family had long since left him to his fate.)
Through a few sympathetic academic contacts, he was directed to Nova Semitae where a man of his skills would be accepted and his reputation was unknown. He is a good scholar and would be an excellent teacher for academic skills to those who can learn (potential apprentices, for instance). Despite the rumours, he can write and teach excellent classes. He has enough training to potentially be a jurist for the Covenant, should he feel like he has a stake in its survival.
He is determined to prove the rumours incorrect and would like to begin studying and writing as much as he can to re-establish his reputation in the academic community. He has distant hopes of one day completing his studies to become a Magister or a Doctor, but only time will tell if this will ever be possible.
Life at Nova Semitae
As a scholar and scribe, Thomas can potentially fill a number of roles:
- A source of books from his own scholarly research
- A source of teaching (he has Good Teacher) for bright youngsters or potential apprentices
- A possible librarian/library attendant needing to be staffed
- A scribing source to help Naomi with scrivener duties
Characteristics
| Intelligence | +3 | Presence | +1 |
| Perception | +1 | Communication | +2 |
| Strength | -2 | Dexterity | +1 |
| Stamina | +0 | Luck | -1 |
Virtues & Flaws
- Virtues: Baccalaureus, Good Teacher, Privileged Upbringing
- Flaws: Lame, Driven, Failed Student (see description)
Abilities
Updated to Autumn 1232
| Skill | Specialty | Score | XP | Books Written |
| General Skills | ||||
| Area Lore (Oxford) | book dealers | 2 | 15 | |
| Area Lore (Shropshire) | covenfolk | 2 | 15 | |
| Awareness | scanning text | 2 | 15 | |
| Carouse | drinking songs | 1 | 5 | |
| Charm | being witty | 3 | 30 | |
| Concentration | reading | 2 | 15 | |
| Etiquette | academics | 2 | 15 | |
| Folk Ken | academics | 3 | 30 | |
| Guile | academic argumentation | 1 | 5 | |
| Intrigue | gossip | 1 | 5 | |
| Leadership | in classrooms | 1 | 5 | |
| Speak Middle English | academics | 5 | 75 | |
| Speak Norman French | nobility | 4 | 50 | |
| Speak Medieval Hebrew | conversational | 4 | 50 | |
| Speak Welsh | conversational | 2 | 20 | |
| University of Oxford Lore (Org) | masters | 2 | 15 | 1 tractatus (1227) |
| Profession Scribe | writing new books | 4 | 74 | |
| Teaching | university students | 4 | 58 | 1 tractatus (1220) |
| Academic Skills | ||||
| Artes Liberales | rhetoric | 4 | 50 | 2 tractatus (1222, 1229) |
| Common Law | Royal Law | 4 | 62 | 1 tractatus (1224) |
| Civil and Canon Law | church law and academics | 5 | 79 | 2 tractatus (1221, 1225) |
| Speak Latin | academic | 4 | 50 | 1 tractatus (1226) |
| Philosophiae | moral philosophy | 5 | 104 | 2 tractatus (1223, 1232) |
| Welsh Law | Estate rights | 5 | 80 | 2 tractatus (1228, 1231) |
Mundane Qualities
Reputations
- Good Academic Reputation: Good Teacher (Oxford undergrads) 1 (8)
- Bad Academic Reputation: Lazy Scholar (Oxford masters) 1 (5)
- English Academic Reputation: Historical Common Law Scholar (Oxford alumni) 0 (3)
Known Languages
| Language | Dialect | Specialty | Fluency Level | Score |
| Middle English | - | Academics | Fluent | 5 |
| Latin | - | Academic Terms | Functional | 4 |
| Langue d'Oil | Norman French | Noble Talk | Functional | 4 |
| Medieval Hebrew | Nova Semitae dialect | Conversational | Functional | 4 |
Personality Traits
- Brave +1
- Driven (establish self as legitimate academic) +2
Seasonality Activities
Thomas is obliged to spend 2 equivalent seasons per year earning his keep as a instructor of Latin and Artes Liberales for the covenfolk, or other scrivener work. This work provides only exposure experience. Thomas has two equivalent seasons per year as 'free' seasons, though he must generally remain near the covenant.
- 1236: Winter (probable) one season teaching Sir William
- 1235:
- 1234: Winter ; Spring Teaching Sigrun 1-on-1, Speak Latin +2 Teaching; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Winter
- 1233: Speak Welsh (exposure) +4. Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read De Rerum Natura (Philosophiae) +10 ; Spring De Rerum Natura (Philosophiae) +10; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Law of Llewlyn Fawr in Powys Wenwynwyn, Tractatus Welsh Law Q11, +2 scribe
- 1232: Speak Welsh (exposure) +4. Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Metaphysica (Philosophiae) +12; Spring Read Metaphysica (Philosophiae) +12; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Ethical Education at University Philosophiae Q11, +2 scribe
- 1231: Speak Welsh (exposure) +4. Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read The Law of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Vol 1 (Welsh Law) +8; Spring Read The Law of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Vol 2 (Welsh Law) +8; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Welsh Law and the Church Vol 2, Tractatus Welsh Law Q11, +2 Scribe.
- 1230: Speak Welsh (exposure) +4. Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Book of Blegywryd (Welsh Law) +8; Spring Read The Law of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Vol I (Weslh Law) +8; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Teach Ysabelo (paid) +2 Teaching.
- 1229: Speak Welsh (exposure) +4. Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Book of Blegywryd (Welsh Law) +8; Spring Read Book of Blegywryd (Welsh Law) +8; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Ars Dictaminis and the Law, Tractatus Artes Liberales (Rhetoric) Q9, +2 Scribe.
- 1228: Speak Welsh (exposure) +4. Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Book of Blegywryd (Welsh Law) +8; Spring Read Book of Blegywryd (Welsh Law) +8; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Welsh Law and the Church, Tractatus Welsh Law Q9, +2 Scribe.
- 1227: Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Book of Blegywryd (Welsh Law) +8; Spring Read Book of Blegywryd (Welsh Law) +8; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write The Masters and Minors of Oxford, Tractatus Organization Lore University of Oxford Q9, +2 Scribe.
- 1226: Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Speaking the Tongue of God, Speak Latin, +2 Scribe.
- 1225: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Conversations between Men of God and Magi, Tractatus Civil and Canon Law Q9, +2 Scribe.
- 1224: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Leges Johannes Primi ("Laws of King John I"), Tractatus Common Law Q9, +2 Scribe.
- 1223: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teaching Aline Latin 1:1, +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Principia Economica de Brittanicae ("Economic Principles of Britain") Philosphiae Tractatus Q9, +2 Scribe.
- 1222: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Quantifications of the Earthly Sphere, Tractatus Artes Liberales Q9, +2 Scribe.
- 1221: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Judging of Academics, Tractatus Civil and Canon Law Q9, +2 Scribe.
- 1220: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Erudiendi Discipuli Oxfordium ("The Teaching of Oxford Students"), Teaching Tractatus Q9, +2 Scribe.