NPC: Rupertus Ludenius

This is an edited re-post from 4 December 2010. The conspiering events from yesterday have decided to keep conspiering, hence the chapter's further delay. This post has been edited to reflect the NPC's adventures since becoming part of the Pius Cabal; a paragraph has been added at the bottom of the bio, as have some new links, and a new picture, further, his stats have been adjusted.

Adeptus Rupertus Themian Ludenius bani Flambeu began his career when he was chosen for apprenticeship at age fourteen. Born a Citizen, the first son of a northern farmer and his wife, he was brought before a Master at the annual Folkemoot, and there found worthy of being taken into the Order. Normally only children under the age of twelve, or those who have allready Awakened, are chosen at the Folkemoot, but the Master saw something in the sullen boy. And so Rupertus was enrolled in House Flambeu, one of the two recognized Houses of the Order.



While he proved to be hard working and focused, Rupertus's Awakening came late, and only at age thirty four did he finally get his Apprentice-robes. His teachers predicted a dull career for the gloomy young man, as most Hermetics his age now wore the robes of a Student of the Arts. They would undoubtedly have been proven right, had it not been for the patronage of Master Vermis Ludenius, of House Bonisagus. At this time, Vermis had only recently delivered his Masterpiece, and he chose the dark-eyed northerner as his first Apprentice. While it is not uncommon for a Master to take on an Apprentice from a different House than his own, this still caused some stir at the time. Some claim that the true reason for this was that Master Ludenius was not nearly a good enough magus to get the pick of the litter.


Master Vermis Ludenius was at this time assigned to the Mercantile Tribunal, and after that to the Chamber of Treasury, and over the course of the following twenty years, Rupertus studied hard under several of the Order's best teachers. It is said that one of his teachers once told Vermis that teaching the Arts to Rupertus was like explaining Etherial physics to a Presbyterian. Nevertheless, thanks to his own doggedness, and, some say, his Master's deep pockets, Rupertus finally won his Adeptus-robes in YE 1019.


The first year of his first mandatory two-year Adeptus praxis he served as Adeptus Secundus on the Aegathon under then Adeptus, now Master of the Fleet, Octavian Arbalestus. The second year he served as Adeptus Cataphractor for Master Severus Septimus in the northern borderlands. He received good evaluations after both these tours, and once he was released back to his Master, both his own and his Master's reputation had been vindicated.


By now the Great War had begun, and Master Vermis Ludenius had been appointed Burgmaster of Göteshafen. Rupertus became his Master's secretary and accountant, as well as serving as the Tower's Chair in the Town Council. At age fifty seven, he doesn't look a day older than thirty five. This is typical of the Hermetics, and the secret of their longevity is a well kept secret.

When the good ship Pius visited Göteshafen in late Ovtavium, YE 1022, Master Ludenius struck a bargain with the Pius Cabal. As part of this deal, Rupertus was sent to serve as a liaison between the Order and the cabal. The Hermetic Adeptus quickly found his place, as a vital part of the ship's command staff, working very closely with Commander Spearhawk, the non-Enlightened first-mate of the Pius. The two men has managed to replicate several master-pieces, using the ship, her crew, and often as not vast quantities of Mana. He has also widened his fields of research to include natural philosophy, aerostatics, Enlightened Science, theology, and goethic science.

Creature: Wyvern

In the Mythic Age, bronze bulls, trolls and other fantastic creatures lived in the hills and forests of Argos. As that age came to an end, and the Hegemony of Man bound the world in chains of reason, these beings died out, or were driven to the far reaches of the world. The wyvern is one such creature.


While magic still shaped the lives of man and beast, the dragon-like wyverns were feared by peasants and herdsmen. Swooping out of the sky to snatch sheep, and sometimes lone wanderers, they were featured in legends and tales. Many are the stories of brave heroes seeking out the wyvern's lair to slay the beast, often in revenge or to free the area of the monster's fearsome shadow. The last recorded Erian wyvern was slain by St. Eremis in YE 277.


Two centuries ago, a cabal of Hermetic wizards under Master Voartrix Aretmedes bani Flambeu, journeyed into the Wild and returned to the Order State with a precious cargo. Deep in the savage lands of the North, they had come across a hunt of wyverns. After they had killed the adults, they managed to locate the nest-cavern, and retrieved a number of eggs. Upon coming home, Master Aretmedes was able to secure the Towers funding for a project intended to hatch and domesticate the fledglings. This was to be a smashing success, and today the Ordo has a healthy stock of these flying creatures.


Large, ferocious and surprisingly loyal to its rider, the domesticated wyverns proved to be well suited as steeds, and there are currently several cabals of wyvern-riders in the service of the Ordo Hermetica. One of these, the Draconis Azuris, or Blue Dragons, operate from the fortress-ship Katedral, the flagship of Battlefleet Hermetica.

Artifact: Hermetic Pistols

These pistols are of a type sometimes carried by Hermetics or prominent Proxima. They are forged by the Svartsmiths, a breed of swarthy and stocky humanoids in the service of the Order. The magics hammered into the steel are of a different nature than that harnessed by the wizards in the Tower, and examination will reveal a lattice of thaumathurgical strains woven into the fabric of the metal.

While they are fully functional firearms, and thus are able to fire mundane bullets, the magic of these guns gives them the ability to shoot magical missiles. When they are loaded with Vis-crystals the damage inflicted is capable of injuring occult creatures, and even entities from the Ethereal Planes.

This particular pair is carried by Adeptus Rupertus Ludenius, and was given to him when he was in the service of Master Severus Septimus.


Hermetic Pistols
Artifact lllll
Mana 10


Power:
Mystic Projectile (equivalent of Prime lllll)
   Contingent: Cock hammer, aim, pull trigger; must be loaded with Tass.


Damage 4 -- Range 20/40/80 -- Clip 1 (10) -- Strength 4 -- Size 1


When firing the weapon using mundane powder and ball, firearms-rules applies. When a Mystic Projectile is fired, add 5 dice to the dice-pool. This damage is Aggravated. Each shot uses 1 point of Mana.




Storyteller's note: The rules have been fidgeted with to reflect the non-M:tAw nature of magic used in the manufacture of these pistols. They are technically not Artifacts, nor are they technically Enchanted Items. They fall somewhere in between.

These are also similar to one of the first magical items ever to fall in the hands of the heroes,. Since then, a set of four was gifted to the cabal by Master Septimus. Up until now, no formal rules have existed for these weapons.


This is a full and precise reproduction of the original post, courtesy of Carandol, as Blogger in its wisdom decided to eat the original. 




[Picture source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art]

Rupertus Ludenius

Note: This post has been edited and re-posted.

Adeptus Rupertus Themian Ludenius bani Flambeu began his career when he was chosen for apprenticeship at age fourteen. Born a Citizen, the first son of a northern farmer and his wife, he was brought before a Master at the annual Folkemoot, and there found worthy of being taken into the Order. Normally only children under the age of twelve, or those who have allready Awakened, are chosen at the Folkemoot, but the Master saw something in the sullen boy. And so Rupertus was enrolled in House Flambeu, one of the two recognized Houses of the Order.


While he proved to be hard working and focused, Rupertus's Awakening came late, and only at age thirty four did he finally get his Apprentice-robes. His teachers predicted a dull career for the gloomy young man, as most Hermetics his age now wore the robes of a Student of the Arts. They would undoubtedly have been proven right, had it not been for the patronage of Master Vermis Ludenius, of House Bonisagus. At this time, Vermis had only recently delivered his Masterpiece, and he chose the dark-eyed northerner as his first Apprentice. While it is not uncommon for a Master to take on an Apprentice from a different House than his own, this still caused some stir at the time. Some claim that the true reason for this was that Master Ludenius was not nearly a good enough magus to get the pick of the litter.


Master Vermis Ludenius was at this time assigned to the Mercantile Tribunal, and after that to the Chamber of Treasury, and over the course of the following twenty years, Rupertus studied hard under several of the Order's best teachers. It is said that one of his teachers once told Vermis that teaching the Arts to Rupertus was like explaining Etherial physics to a Presbyterian. Nevertheless, thanks to his own doggedness, and, some say, his Master's deep pockets, Rupertus finally won his Adeptus-robes in YE 1019.


The first year of his first mandatory two-year Adeptus praxis he served as Adeptus Secundus on the Aegathon under then Adeptus, now Master of the Fleet, Octavian Arbalestus. The second year he served as Adeptus Cataphractor for Master Severus Septimus in the northern borderlands. He received good evaluations after both these tours, and once he was released back to his Master, both his own and his Master's reputation had been vindicated.


By now the Great War had begun, and Master Vermis Ludenius had been appointed Burgmaster of Göteshafen. Rupertus became his Master's secretary and accountant, as well as serving as the Tower's Chair in the Town Council. At age fifty seven, he doesn't look a day older than thirty five. This is typical of the Hermetics, and the secret of their longevity is a well kept secret.

The Order State

The Obsidian Tower

The Order State is in effect an extension of the Ordo Hermetica. Every part of the society is directly connected to the Tower, from tax collectors to town councils, from harbour masters to night watchmen, even prices on goods are governed by the Masters. To visiting foreigners this may seem overly dictatorial, but to the subjects of the Order, this is how it has always been, and most could not imagine it being different. In fact, most seem to embrace the security the Tower provides.

There are countless tiers and circles in the Hermetic society, but the major layers, or Pillars, are the Citizens, the Proxima, and the Hermetics. The Citizens make out the majority of the inhabitants of the Order State, and fill all conceivable roles in a mundane society, from baker to soldier. The highest rank any citizen can aspire to is that of Consular to the Tower. These seven Consulars oversee all mundane affairs, and report directly to the Master of the Realm, a Hermetic Master charged with overseeing the day to day governing of the state.

A Knight Proximus

The Proxima are chosen for their ability, and most have some affinity to the arcane, thus making them suited for serving the magicians of the Order. In many ways, they may be compared to the nobility of the Erian kingdoms. The one thing that sets them apart from the nobles is the fact that any citizen who is found to possess the required abilities will be elevated to Proxima, with all the status, authority and privileges connected to the class. Most foreigners picture the Proxima only as the Hermetic army and secret police, and while this is true to some extent, the picture is far more nuanced. In the ranks of the Proxima there are also both personal and civil servants, scholars and professionals. The highest rank any Proximus can achieve is that of Proxima General, an office that encompasses military governorship of the Order State.

The Hermetics are the unquestioned rulers of the realm, and even an Apprentice is to be obeyed by the lesser classes. Still, the internal bureaucracy and politics of the Order is by far the most complex in all of Eria – in fact, Hermetic bureaucracy has become a byword for complexity in the Erian speech. The wizards go through a rigorous education, often spending decades in study and service to their Master and the Order. As they advance, both their authority and responsibility increases, but their service to the Order never ends. Each Hermetic must spend a set portion of time in service to the Order, while the remainder is his to use as he sees fit. Still, as with the lesser classes, the Hermetics must answer any call to serve the Tower, whenever, and whatsoever the nature of this call.

Master and familiar

The ranks of the Hermetics are that of Initiate, Apprentice, Disciple, Adeptus and Master, but each of these are divided into several tiers. As a rule, a Hermetic will only be assigned tasks where they operate independently once Adeptus rank has been reached. Examples of such are command of a ship, warden of a border tower, emissary, or civil service. If a magus reaches Masterhood, he becomes much more independent, and may start following his own goals to a wide extent. Still, there are committees, boards, conclaves, councils, wardenships, and a myriad of other duties, both within and outside the Tower that has to be filled, and so a wizard's service to the realm never ends. The highest rank in the Ordo Hermetica, and in the Order State, is that of Archmaster.

The current Archmaster is  Mithrandes Flavianus Reminax bani Bonisagus. He is the thirty-seventh Archmaster in the history of the Order, and his office has now lasted 72 years. Among the mundanes, he is of antediluvian age, but a Hermetic can easily live to see his fourth century if he lives healthily and frugally. Mithrandes himself is said to take his oblations very seriously, and in the Order none believe they will have to attend an Electory Convocation for several decades yet.

A farm in the Order State

Life in the Order State is one of structure and hard work, and everyone, from the lowliest farmhand to the Archmaster has a a number of duties that must be tended before they can pursue their own goals. It is also a life of peace and security; plague, famine and war has never touched the realm, and while terrible and wondrous creatures roam the borderlands, life in the Order State is protected and safe. 

While very few foreigners are allowed outside the walls of Göteshafen, the Order State is by no means cut off from the rest of Eria. Trade flows rich through the warehouses in Göteshafen, and the Order makes a healthy profit from grain, furs, and gems. Trade flows the other way as well, with wine, luxury goods, and exotic items fetching the highest prices.

See also:

Göteshafen

Hermetic

Storyteller's note: I know I sort of promised a map each week, and I know I've failed quite convincingly in that regard. This is one of those posts I said would include a map, but as you can see, it doesn't. That is not only because I am lazy. I have several much better excuses than that, but the one I'll flag here is that the Order State is closed off for foreigners, and the only maps that exist are guarded jealously by the Masters of the Tower. In stead I promise to publish a realm-post - with map - of Livonia. And this I will do before Thursday. I hope.

[Picture source: 1 John Howe; 2 Karen's Whimsy 3 J. Fredriksson; The Pilgrim Way]

Göteshafen

Göteshafen is the trading port of the Hermetic Order State, and lies on the northern shores of the White Sea. It is the only Hermetic city that is open for foreigners, and few have ever seen the hinterlands. For centuries merchants have traded with the Masters of the Tower, and Göteshafen has is a busy, rich, multi-tribal melting-pot where dialects from all over Eria are heard in the streets. All under the watchful eyes of the ever-present Proxima.

The first thing visitors to Göteshafen notices is the wealth and cleanliness of the local inhabitants. All streets are cobbled and free of sewer and garbage, and beggars are as rare as street-magicians in Aragorn. Merchants come in from the hinterlands with their goods, and it is said that the crops have never failed in the Order State. In many ways, Göteshafen appears to be an ideal city.


One thing that sets the inhabitants of the Order State apart is that they seem to live in a bygone era - their tools and attires are those of centuries past; tunics and breeches are worn instead of shirts and trousers, cloaks are worn instead of coats, swords are broader, armours heavier, and there are no mechanical machines to be found. Likewise, the traveller who expects to see arcane wonders, flying horses or giants doing manual labour will be disappointed, in fact, few foreigners ever see a wizard - unless they have connections or important business with the Tower.


The Burgmaster of Göteshafen is Master Vermis Ludenius bani Bonisagus, a shrewd diplomat and merchant. It is said that nothing happens on the White Sea that he doesn't know of within three days, and that he better at factoring costs than a Wezellian. Since he took over as Burgmaster, trade has more than doubled, and even if all Humanists have been expelled, there are now more ships visiting Rederhafen than ever.

The coastline is patrolled by the Orders fast and deadly galleys, and only the most desperate smuggler will attempt to sneak past their picket. So far, none have lived to tell the tale. It is this type of ship that makes up the bulk of Battlefleet Hermetica, now deployed to the Erian Gap and the Pendrellian Coast.




[Picture source: 1 The ORB; 2 Radojavor on DeviantART]

Battlefleet Hermetica

Fortress Ship Katedral

Until recently, the ships of the Adversary has been able to enter the Inner Sea at will, and from there reach the White Ocean. The shores of Eastern Pendrell, Wezell, Livonia, the Empire, and the Order State all lay open to Black Ships and other such foul foes. Not so anymore. As the summer of YE 1022 draws to an end, new sails are being seen on the inland seas.

The ships of the Hermetic fleet have long been a familiar sight along the Erian coasts, but they've always sailed alone on their unknown errands. Now the Masters of the Northern Tower have sent a clear message to the world, the wizards are at war. The Battlefleet Hermetica now controls the Erian Gap, and its vessels also patrol the Pendrellian coast. The fleet is supported by Wezellian Men-O-War, but the undisputed lord of these waters is the Hermetic flag-ship, the mighty fortress-ship Katedral.

Katedral is unlike anything seen on the oceans of Argos in all the ages that have passed. Built of stone, her towers and battlements defy all reason, and she is a monument to the might of the Hermetic Order. Crewed by Proxima, carrying three war-cabals, and commanded by the one-armed Master Octavian Arbalestus, the Katedral is nothing but a formidable floating fortress. She also carries a hunt of wyverns. These sleek, dragon-like creatures serve as steeds for one of the cabals, and a few of them constantly patrol the skies above the fleet.


[Artist: Pasqual Quidault]

Orbis Hermetica

Chapter I
The Dawn of Time and the First Age

Long before the human race crawled from the dust of creation, the first of the Great Trees bore fruit deep in the Primordial woods of the virgin world of Argos. From these fruits came the first elves; tall, slender, star-eyed, and with the moon's silver in their hair. Under the Great Tree, they sang the first songs, and they danced with the rays of the sun and the beams of the moon.

In those days, long before the reckoning of time, the Eldren walked between the stars. These marshals of creation watched the darkness that lay behind the light, and stood watch over that which the Pantocrator had brought into being. All was good and true, and life blossomed in the worlds.

Aeons passed like water down a stream, and slowly the lands drifted apart; ancient races walked the hills and valleys, and passed into the mists of time forgotten. All this was guarded by the elves, for even then, evil seeped into Creation. It was also in this age that the Pantocrator vanished. Whereto, or whyfore is not known to any of the created, but for the first time since the First Word Its voice could not be heard.

Thus began what the Older Races call The Cold.

It was in this age that Man built the first hut, tamed the first beast, and tilled the first field. This was the beginning of the First Age of Man. While these young human tribes struggled against the wind and the wild, the elves and the Eldren watched over them and guided them.

Then the foul star, Maleastra, the Great Exarch Cthulhu, fell through the tapestry of Creation and onto the world of Argos, and innocence died. The star struck the First Great Tree, splitting it asunder and sinking its lands deep into the sea.

It drove a madness deep into the soul of those elves who had sprung from it, and their souls became so warped that their bodies could not contain it. Thus the Black Blood, the Orc, this hideous blasphemy, came into Creation.

Corruption and hatred seeped from the fallen Thing That Must Not Be, and as this darkness grew, it became stronger. The elves, guardians of this world, marched to war, doing battle with their fallen kin. But so great was this enemy that all seemed lost. Even the mighty Eldren, coming from the stars in their vast ships, could not prevail.

Man, the youngest of the races, had built the first cities when the First Great War began. Their greatest heroes, and with them the gods of Man, went to fight beside the elves and the Eldren - their guardians - but still the darkness grew. Many were those who perished, and many were those who fell into the Deep.

One man, thrice named, born of a line of heroes, saw that the world was coming to an end. He also saw that the Eldren no longer believed in the Creation, and that in their war on the Exarch they were destroying the very fabric of that which they should protect. This one man, once named Ertuil, set out to seek the Fire of the Gods.

He travelled deep into the cold lands of eternal winter, braving countless dangers and facing unspeakable horrors. Many are the tales of the journey of this man, twice named Jarabathon, but at long last he came to the Tower of the North.

Though the Eldren knew of him, they did not see him when he climbed the stairs of the Tower, for they did not know his name. And so it was that he, thrice named Hermes Primomagistos, reached Olympos and stole the Fire of the Gods.

Thus armed he returned to the his people, and he shared his secret with them. With this fire, a glimmer of light was again brought into the world, and the tide was slowly turned. Still the Great War lasted for many generations, until finally the army of gods and men and elves drove the Exarch into the Abyss.

Here at last the first of the gods, Dis Invictus, drove his spear through its heart. Yet that is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die.

And so it was that the First Age came to an end.

[Picture source: Magic Words]

Octavian's Letter

Storyteller's note: The following article was published in Tertium YE 1022 in the Committee of Correspondence's printsheet 'The Correspondent', as well as in 'The Tradesmaster's Dispatch'.

---

Fellow Man,

I am Octavian Terrafundus Augustus Arbalestus bani Flambeu bani Hermes Trismagistos, Master of the High Order of Hermes, Follower of the First Cabal, Marshal of the Southern Shore, Keeper of the Flame of Lūn, Servant of the Obsidian Tower, Guardian of the Seven Truths.

I have been sent to the realms of Eria to speak to those who will listen, to counsel those who seek understanding, to advice those who will heed, and to learn from those who will teach. I have been named ambassador to the arcane congress of Eria, and I speak on behalf of the Obsidian Tower in all matters of concern.

The Order of Hermes does not seek to supplant or control the Hegemony of Man, for such is not the way of the Order. Nor does it seek to rule through subversion, intrigues or threats, for this will only breed dissent and weakness.

The Order understands that Man has been divided by pride and disagreements for far too long, and it now hopes that the deeply rooted mistrusts that have divided the Brotherhood of Man for so many generations can be cast aside.

While serving with the Host of Man on the Dark Continent I saw for myself the frightful might of the Ancient Enemy. It wishes nothing but the undoing of all of Creation. Here I saw my own shortcomings, pride, avarice, and arrogance. Here I was also shown the strength of our race, for when all seemed lost I was saved by my fellow man; not for honour or glory, but for hope and love.

In these dark days the Ancient Enemy, the Exarch, the Lord of the Locust, is upon us. As our noble ancestors before us, also we must find our common strength, lest we perish alone, and with us the Light of Man.

It is with this hope I come to you, as a brother.

With wishes of enlightened prosperity,

~Octavian~

~o~

[source: Ars Magica Wiki]

A short history of the Hermetics

From Octavian's perspective.

When the Elf had been driven away and the Great War ended, the fragile alliance of Man broke. All the rivalries and feuds that had been building for so many generations of warfare made the last centuries of the Empire of Man no more than death throes.

My Order was cast out of the Dominion of Reason, as the lords of men called their flawed vision. After having fought side by side with our brothers for hundreds of years our craft was outlawed, and we were banished. We were give their leave to take ourselves land, as long as it was not on the map. We chose the land of Oron, that which you call Thule, where on the Plain of Kardas the Obsidian Tower stands.

It had been used by the elves early in the war, but they were defeated and driven out by Master Banifex Flambeu's cabal. My Order had kept the location and the state of the Tower to ourselves, and so the Ordo Hermetica left the Dominion of Reason.

Our Masters had seen this coming, and so we were prepared. Already before the Covenant had our people built Göteshafen, and our Order stood ready. We brought all our books and secrets and bound our Order to the Obsidian Tower. There were many hard years before we managed to gain control over the Tower and the land.

It was in those years that we encountered the remnants of the Enæìdûn. Their people had almost ended, and they had been driven to a last refuge in the mountains. They were hounded by all the savage tribes of men and goblins that are the scourge of the Wild, and so a pact was made between the Masters and the Proxima.

This alliance proved prosperous for both parties, and since then the Hermetic Society has prospered. The lands are safe, and all enemies kept out. The Tower now watches over rich and fertile lands, and all enemies are kept out.

My Order has grown powerful over the centuries, but we have also become ignorant. Still, there are those who have been watching the world and who sees what is happening.

Hermetic

Tucked away between forbidding mountains, hidden in the deep, old forests on the northern shores of the White Sea, lies Thule, the realm of the wizards of Ordo Hermetica Argonis. Thule is a closed realm, and the few outsiders who visit never get past the port-town of Göteshafen. Little is known about the enigmatic masters of the Thule, and they are seldom seen at all, ruling, it is said, from the Obsidian Tower somewhere deep inside the mythocratic realm. Their will is carried out by the Proxima, a body of men who, if rumors are to be trusted, are everywhere within their masters's area of influence.

In the world of Man, magic is not allowed, and for more than a millennium the Temple and Cabal has been steadily and methodically crafting a paradigm where Reality itself will resist open magic. Still, the Hermetics, in their tower, have managed to preserve their own paradigm. Within the borders of Thule, no one doubts the existence of magic, or even creatures of magic. It is also said that as long as the Masters are in the Tower, the crops of Thule will never fail.

For generations upon generations, the Hermetics have appeared as an arcane body, seldom speaking at all, but with a single voice if they did. Now this appears to have changed. On the Pius's first trip to Göteshafen the crew met Adeptus Octavian. He hinted towards a conflict within the Tower, and on their next encounter, he promised to come to the aid of the Host despite of the will of Grand Master Mithrandes.

Octavian

Artist unknown

Octavian Augustus Arbalestus bani Flambeu, Adeptus of the Arts, Border Warden and Captain of the Aegathon, together with two adepts has left Thule with two ships. He has pledged to support the struggle of Man against the Deep, and appears to have left the order.