The Covenant of Animus Silvae Animus Silvae had its inception as a player covenant in Novgorod, in the saga of the same name: http://surf.to/Animus The covenant therefore has several features which are linked to important events in the campaign. There are several methods of fixing this: 1. Copy those events into your own campaign (perhaps modifying them so they are less important) 2. Drop the feature. 3. Change the event, and perhaps modify the feature. Examples are given. Brief Introduction Set in the heart of the deep forests of mother Russia, the covenant of Animus Silvae has a slightly unusual history. Set upon the main trade route between Chernigov and Kiev - it occupies a magical site set within a faerie forest. {Note: Any two cities will do - the faerie inhabited forest is important, but set anywhere but Rusk, will be nowhere near as large} Founded under the name of 'The Stalwart Hand' centuries ago, it passed into winter - and was lost. At the tribunal of 12xx {1201 IOS} it is decided that the covenant site is ripe for re-founding, and should be renewed under the auspices of {Insert player characters here... The identities follow} The covenant hasn't entirely failed, however - the former custos have taken it upon themselves to transform it into a successful inn... Strangely, the new magi do not reverse this change, and continue the inn as a viable business. Under the new name of 'Animus Silvae' among the hermetic populous, and 'The Fox and Bear' among the mundanes, this new spring covenant moves on. Time passes, and the covenant moves on into spring, and thinks about taking on new members. {Note: IOS this is 1230 - move time about at will} Animus Silvae - inter covenant relations Friends: The archmaga Jardis ex Merinita of IceCrag seems to like us, and we aren't too scared of her. {Note: Shes dictator of that covenant, which isn't very powerful - substitute any other covenant which fits} The covenant of Neapolitas - which is friendly to everyone, due to the peace loving nature of its leader, Solomon ex Miscellana (and his predecessor - Pretenka ex Criamon) who are praeco of the tribunal. We have occasionally helped them, and they have been peaceful in return. No explicit help is likely to be forthcoming. {Note: Jerbiton would be a likely replacement - Neopolitas is a large Autumn covenant, who - if it withdrew its support - could easily cause the destruction of Animus.} Enemies: Pugatio Propter Ignem - A covenant which houses the semi-renegade Fireheart ex Flambeau - and the scheming (seemingly independant) tremere - Rauwolf. This pair are extremely dangerous, and unstable - and seem happy to exploit any weakness of Animus'. Their general attitude (and the fact that Rauwolf seems to act independantly of the rest of house tremere) means that they have little political power. {Note: A blackwood alike would be a good replacement, but nothing so powerful politically as blackwood} The other covenants in the area maintain fairly neutral relations. Advantages: Library. The Animus Silvae library is incredible - the combination of good management, free trading, the remmanants of a winter covenant, and some severe risk taking have come together to make an incredible resource. Needless to say, Animus has been keeping very quiet about this - its magi, though young - have great personal power, and realise the risk they would be at if knowledge that a spring covenant ... {Note: OK, so maybe its a summer covenant, but only just} ... posessed such a library. Placement. The covenant is placed upon a major trade route. It gets all the news - you just have to sit in the ommon room to pick up the important gossip. This placement is a distinct disadvantage if you are trying to hide your existence though. Luckily, Animus AREN'T - they positively advertise their existence, and consequently trouble always knows where to find them. In terms of vis sources and so forth, Animus is distinctly average (or a bit below average) whatever that means for your cmapaign. It usually has a money problem - usually has a surplus of vis (the magi very rarely use any) - but has very little income. {Note: IOS, Animus had a single, very good, vis source Terram vis. This is of NO USE to the magi at animus, and so they trade it away. Because the other covenants know that Animus has no other vis sources, they trade at incredibly bad rates - and Animus has little choice but to accept} Magical devices: Animus has a few, only a couple of which they know the uses of - and only a fewof which they crafted themselves. The items they do know the uses of, are usually simple things - such as an alarm, and a magical whetstone. The Magi of animus Silvae Vitenka ex Miscellana Gwyntar ex Bonisagus Marcus ex Quaesitoris Revan ex Criamon Julian ex Tytalus Lyskandria ex Criamon Elly ex Merinita Vitenka {Note: Authors character - bear it in mind} Apprenticed at Neopolitas, and founder member of Animus. A fox, literally. Few ever knew why, and fewer still remember. Uses non-standard incantations, and no perciptible gestures, Vitenka's magic is that of illusion, and is extremely weak. He hasn't been observed to do much that contravenes standard hermetic theory - though his illusions sometimes have extreme reality. {Note: Faerie forest, illusions, go figure} Extremely vulnerable to the manipulations of the fae, dedicated practical joker, perceptive artist, humanitarian - Vitenka tends to keep things moving. Although his magic is very weak (no art above 12, only 4 or so above 5) his resitance to magic is impressive (has absorbed direct lightning bolts before now - parma high enough to stop anyone except an elder specialist in their speciality, figure 60+) Intra-Covenant Relations: Gwyntar - deep freinds - will follow gwyntars lead regardless. Marcus - Although the quaesitor was sent partially to keep an eye on him, vitena doesn't mind - being good enough to not get caught, and has proved to all that Marcus is incapabe of doing his job. Has now moved down to the level of semi-freindly sniping at marcus. Revan - Accepts revans nature (the hidden one) and feels that there is little reason for him to try and change him. On a les sphilosophical level, is scared of revan, and would like to be rid of him. Julian - He likes rocks, he does. He also takes things far too seriously. Time to go and pay him a little visit... Lyskandria - Enlightenment through hitting things? What a fake pose. Shes nice enough, and usually sensible, but she panics far too easily, and needs a guiding paw. Oh and that criamon stuff. Really... Elly - Is this girl for real? If she is, she only survives through the same luck that smiles on me. Watch her, and try and keep her safe. No one else is going to. {Notes: Vitenka would make more sense as a bjornaer who never deigns to resume human form - but our campaign did strange things with the bhornaer. You decide why he's a fox dammit - I'm not telling you Does a damn good enigmatic criamon impression - trying always to make peopls question their actions Is actually a lot more serious than anyone who doesn't know him will give him credit for - he has a BAD reputation as a trouble maker. } Gwyntar Apprenticed in far off Stonehenge - at a very late age, Gwyntar is the eldest magus at Animus - and its reluctant ruler. {Note: If set in stonehenge, move his home - obviously...} Technically Animus is ruled by a council, but not actually... Practical, religious, famous for his researches into the aegis {Note: This is a plot hook... it tied into a major plot IOS - but use it for something else if you like} Slow, arthritic, absent minded (mostly when it suits him) hard to anger, but a righteous force when aroused - a lab worker with few rivals, and a competent mage in all areas. {Rego Vim total of 50+, High corpus too... feel free to tone all the numbers down if they don't fit} Intra Covenant Relations Vitenka - Extremely friendly, deplores vitenkas methods - but applauds his motives. Marcus - He seems overly protective o fhis role sometimes, but the quaesitoris are a neccesary force, and worthy of respect. Revan - Beleives him to be a truly evil person, possibly not beyond redemption - but his consistent refusal to care about anything makes him repulsive. Wants him gone. Julian - A good, stable force. Worryingly over-serious at times, but a competent magus, and a good person. Lyskanria - Interesting, but she speaks too much nonesense, wrapping the simplest ideas up in riddles - and the only time she speaks sense is when shes making preparations to run away. Elly - Flighty, but her knowledge of the fae must be useful, surely? {Notes: Gwyntar ould much rather someone else was in charge - but they aren't, so he gets angry at them, and THEN makes the decisions. He is incisive, and a good representative of the covenant. Unfortunately, magic has twisted his frame - and, to put it bluntly, he scares the horses. Gwyntar is likely to push for arch mage status. Thats a plot hook for you. Kind and generous and not politically very astute. Paranoid, but that just makes it easier for people to play him. } Marcus Fully trained, and fed up with book work, and wanting to see some real front-line quaesitorial work , Marcus got a little more than he bargained for when he asked to be posted at Animus. Lyskandira's apparent links with the Diedne, Vitenkas status as a member 'ex misc' and its closeness to the bjornaer rebellion set it up as an interesting job. {Note: Yes, that *did* just say 'bjornaer rebellion' I did warn you that some of this was campaign specific. You can use some other important campaign event - anything that'll get the quaesitoris riled. Alternatively, you can localise it - have just a few bjornaer rebel (including Artur - an apparent ringleader, who was at Animus) and that will give the same result.} Marcus wasn't ready for the open hostility he received, nor the apparent laxness of the codes enforcement. {Fairly lax IOS - but still, nothing less than total application (impossible) would settle Marcus} After a period of culture shock, he finally seems to be getting along, and although he is still frosty with everyone, he hasn't acted upon anything yet. Aged 40 or so, he is nevertheless fairly powerful, specialising in the 'traditional' quaesitorial arts - intelligo, mentem, vim and corporem. Marcus reports regularly to his superiors {wherever they may be in your saga} Intra-Covenant realtions Vitenka - After a breif period of hostilies, it became apparent that vitenka didn't mean much harm - did occasionally get things right, and perhaps could be treated more leniently. (Marcus seems to enjoy vitenkas jokes in his own small way, but publically condemms him - the realisation that vitenka is too powerless to actually cause any real harm may have helped) Gwyntar - He may be slightly batty - and they may clash over policy or misunderstandings occasionally - but Marcus respects gwyntar. Revan - Although Revan has blatantly broken the code, and marcus supports the right of people to bring the matter up at tribunal - marcus has refused to act, and even supported his right to remain a member of the covenant. {Note: Plot hook - decide why. Special uses for the man? Or just a personal liking of him?} Julian - Stable. Thick headed, perhaps - but there has never been any suspicion that Julian has broken the code. Lyskandria - Although suspicious that Lyskandria has some shadowy ties to the diedne, Marcus will not act until he has proof - and has even defended lyskandria. Elly - Please break the code elly. Please. Then I don't have to put up with your inane rambling and stupidity. {Note: Marcus is a staunch beleiver in the rule of law - and is pompous and stuffy with it. The very idea of a transitionalist is hideous to Marcus. Being called one turns him purple. Marcus has incredible self control, and although he'll strive mightily to bring code-breakers to justice, he will not act without proof. } Revan From far off scotland {Note: Bavaria would work well if you're set in stonehenge or nearby} Revan is paranoid, pessimistic, passive and evil. Hmm, passionately evil? Thats better, it begins with p. Bear with me. Most of the time, Revan will tka etjhe simple rpredictable path through life. Course of least effort and so forth. He seems to have no real drives, or goals. Occasionally, he will overreact to something - and then will plan its destruction, with casual malice - and great effectiveness. He will rarely consider that his actions will be hurtful to others. Killing everyone in the room *is* a good solution to one person in the room threatening him, for example... Every full moon, Revan becomes a wolf. I wonder why that might be? Revan is personally powerful - an elementalist who specialises in the air. 'If you can't do it with Muto Auram, its not worth doing' His combat potential is somewhere on the wrong side of covenant levelling. Intra covenant relations: Gwyntar - A nice person, who seems to have taken an irrational hatred to my obvious choices. Still, no threat. Vitenka - Appears to have declared open warfare. However, I am not powerful enough to destroy him, and he is skillful enough to evade any lesser attempt. Complaining to the council has had no effect. I have no idea what to do about him. Marcus - {Note: The author has no idea whats going on here, so two obvious alternatives are propsed} Marcus will not attempt to harm me unless I give him reason. If he is ever given reason, then I shall remove him. Marcus' support is all I need to continue. The effort I put in to gain that support was well worth it, as the current situation proves. Julian - He might be a diabolist! I must kill him! But he ight not be! I must ignore him! Wait and see.. {Note: Demons are one of the few things Revan cares about - a good plot would be that he actually *is* a diabolist, and therefore has to remove others rabidly, so that his secret cannot be exposed} Lyskandria - As long as she remains off my back, I will leave her alone. If she speaks to me again of the enigma, I may be unable to prevent myself killing her. Elly - She is unimportant. Ignore her. {Note: Revan took to training as a criamon, like a fish to aviation. The mere suggestion that such stupid riddling, and study of the enigma is a worthy cause is enough to drop him into a killing fury. It was in one such fury that he attempted to kill the entire elder council. For this he is likely to be brought up at tribunal. See what happens, its a good plot hook. Revan really does a very good job of being utterly passion less, he will also act entirely stupidly. Because of this, he prefers to never act. Revan has no compuctions against killing, and regards human life as slightly less worthy a cause than - say - anything except the enigma. The reactions of the other magi to such callousness, however, sometimes keep him in check. He has some kind of blackmail relation to Purgatio, Rauwolf finds him useful for something. However, if he becomes a liability... That should be enough plot for you to be getting along with. } Lyskandria Although carefully raised in an entirely hermetic fashion by her parens, it is still suspected that she comes from a related stock to the diedne. No proof has come to light, as yet - though such a reputation often causes her difficulty. Lyskandria is very suscpetible to visions, and other such premonitions - and always takes such visitations seriously. She was chose to come to Anius to attempt to bring Revan back into the fold - and as a result has taken to wearing armour to council. Her choice of seeking is 'Enlightenment through conflict' - she has never told her riddle to anyone - but her chosen method of pursuing it seems to be hititng things with her staff. She gets on well with the grogs - despite her disturbing appearence. (She wears a face mask permanently) IntraCovenant Relations Vitenka - That fox understands more than he lets on, and could well be a criamon. His flippancy can be annoying, but it seems intended to be such. Semi-freindly respect, but with a distinct 'oh no' factor whenever he gets too close. Gwyntar - Respect be to him! Tough he seeks the truth in a very shallow fashion, nevertheles, he is a good man, and does at least search. Marcus - You have to be scared of him, because he's like as not to have you marched if he ever gets reason - but he seems fair and strong otherwise. Revan - This wolf isn't coming back into the fold as a sheep -and isn't going to be let in any other way. Also, he's tried to kill you. He should probably be destroyed for everyones good. He not only doesn't seek truth, but chooses deliberately to avoid it. Julian - {Note: Author has no idea what Lysk thinks of Julian. Taking a personal dislike for no good reason miught spice things up a bit, though} Elly - Just nod, and smile, and she'll be on her way. Keep an ear open though, because she has many useful insights - even if she is unable to communicate them. Julian This tytalus likes rocks. Big rocks, small rocks - and building things. Preferably with rocks. A very morose disposition, but willing to help. A little too 'clever' for his own good, though. {Note, this man is very quiet, and as such the author knows little about him - play him freindly, but odd, and slightly enigmatic} Elly Faeire raised, this merinita can't comprehend human society, and has the attention span of a goldfish. Quotes: 'Oh! Thats a pretty butterfly...' Scatty, and the despair of all who meet her. Suggested uses for this covenant. Well - it'd make a fine NPC covenant - its very likely to act, and will certainly compete with the players for anything. Easy to anger, and easy to get along with - Animus is a very knifesedge place. Visitors are likely to be appalled by the travellers in the common room swapping stories of 'the time that worm attacked' Whenever you visit, the magi are almost certain to be in a state of preperation or action against SOME real or imagined threat. Animus is very definitely a wierdness magnet. Alternatively, it does make a brilliant PC covenant. You could have great fun bringing the PC's in as newly gauntleted magi, with the magi descirbed above as the elder council. Scatty, generous - but extremely testing, is a good description of the elder magi. If you do use the place, please tell us - I'd like to know.