Hermes' Portal 12.pdf

Hermes’ Portal

Issue #12

Hermes’ Portal

Issue n° 12

June 2004

Who’s who . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Publisher’s corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

M agic Beneath the Skin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

by David Woods

F ailed Apprentices in Mythic Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

by Mark Hall

L egal Status of Covenants in Mythic Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

by Jeff Berry

O mnibus Grimoire: Imaginem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

by Andrew Gronosky

P olitics and Conflict: Strategy and Tactics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

by Alexander White

Dear Abelard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

H eretic’s Corner: Aura pro nobis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

by Michaël de Verteuil

T he Lesson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

by Matt Ryan

Hermes’ portal

Publisher: Hermes’ Portal

Contributors: Abelard, Jeff Berry, Andrew Gronosky, Mark Hall, Matt Ryan, Michaël de Verteuil, Alexander White, David Woods

Editorial and proofreading help: Sheila Thomas

Illustrations: Angela Taylor (cover, border & p. 5, 7, 10, 12, 13, 26, 40, 43), Alexander White (p. 29, 32, 38), David Woods (p. 15, 16, 17),

Radja Sauperamaniane (back, page numbering & p. 42)

Layout: Eric Kouris

Thanks: All the people who submitted ideas, texts, illustrations or helped in the production of this issue.

Hermes’ Portal is an independent publication dedicated to Ars Magica players. Hermes’ Portal is available through email only.

Hermes’ Portal is not affiliated with Atlas Games or White Wolf Gaming Studio. References to trademarks of those companies are not

intended to infringe upon the rights of those parties. Ars Magica was created by Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rhein Hagen.

Contacting Hermes’ Portal

Email: Hermes.Portal@wanadoo.fr

Web site: www.hermesportal.fr.st

Who’s who

Jeff Berry

Jeff Berry has been gaming since the late 70’s and

playing Ars since the second edition. He has the

dubious honour of having written the first module

for Vampire:The Masquerade from his playtest cam-

paign. He works for NASA and runs a small theatre

company, the Deptford Players (www.deptfordplay-

ers.org), in New York City. He is active in the Society

for Creative Anachronism.

Mark Hall

Mark Hall got his degree in History in 2001, par-

tially inspired by his love of Ars Magica. He now

teaches World History to 10th grade students in

Houston, Texas. He credits his writing to his wife,

Kris.

system, but nonetheless I try to continue studying

mathematics). I could also add I’ve been waiting for

a few articles longer than expected. Ooops! You

aren’t cleared to learn about this.

In issue #12 (the one you have before your eyes

right now), you’ll find a scenario to play with Land of

Fire and Ice designed by one of the authors of this

supplement, plus articles on failed apprentices, on

the place of covenants in Mythic Europe, and on

ways to include the politics of the Order in your

saga. And you’ll also find the regular columns:

Abelard (sad news from Moratamis), the Omnibus

Grimoire and the Heretic’s Corner. So everything is

here and fine — “only” one month late!

Now I’m (almost) on vacation for two months. I

still have to work on the translation into French of a

book on linear algebra, but there is not much to do,

I’m almost done with it. I will have time to work on

the special issue. I have a rather clear idea of what I

want to put in it and which sources to use. It will take

some time to work it out but it will be released before

the end of the year. Before this, issue #13 will be

released at the end of September, without delay this

time.

I hope you will enjoy this issue of Hermes’ Por-

tal as much as I enjoyed working on it!

Publisher’s corner

At last issue #12 has been released! I am “only”

one month late. In my defence I can say I had an

exam in algebra at the beginning of June (I’m already

a teacher and I’m at the top in the French scholarly

Magic Beneath

the Skin

by David Woods

Introduction

Just before they were due to take full ordination,

Kollbeinn’s father and elder son were killed in a feud.

Kollbeinn claimed his father’s godord and led a very

successful legal case against the killers. He took up

his father’s position and arranged to have Andrés

appointed as the priest of his farmstead’s church.

Without any guidance or oversight by the masters

of Holar, they pursued knowledge recklessly. When

Kollbeinn decided to contact the local svart lord

(spirit of death, see LoFaI p. 47), Andrés voiced con-

cern but deferred to his friend’s judgment.

Since the Christianization of Iceland, no galdra-

man has developed more than a polite relationship

with svart-spirits. Normally galdramen make every

effort to generate a good reputation. This acts to

counterbalance the effect of their Gift and general

Icelandic prejudice against magical practice, particu-

larly by males. Any service by svart-spirits would be

abhorrent to a Christian and its discovery would cer-

tainly lead to outlawry; the Galdramen Hreppar (see

LoFaI p. 27) would not defend such an individual.

Finally, galdramen make a living from their magic and

svart-galdor is simply not commercial.

However, this did not deter Kollbeinn, who

wished to use necromancy to research ancient pagan

magic.

To the south of his farmstead lay the Dranga-

jökull (rock-pillar glacier). Within the labyrinth of

tunnels beneath the glacier lay the ancient burial

chambers of Iceland’s giant community. Now these

chambers are the necropolis of the svart-lord Blæin-

gr. In ages past, many giants and Norse magicians

had fallen under his power and come to serve his

court. Amongst them were those who held knowl-

edge of runecraft, which Kollbeinn wished to

research. The pair found their way into Blæingr’s

court and pledged their allegiance. Blæingr rose

slightly from his long slumber and rewarded them

with the spirit of an ancient giant runecaster to be

their teacher.

With this help, Kollbeinn and Andrés studies pro-

gressed rapidly. The combination of their philosoph-

iae and alchemy enabled them to recreate the dead

sorcerer’s spells in a form they could cast. With the

spirit’s guidance they inscribed these spells into a red

book. Meanwhile, Kollbeinn’s holdings were doing

badly under the burden of supporting his researches.

Kollbeinn desperately needed his work to produce

practical spells before lack of finances forced them

to stop.

The tenor of some of the spells disturbed Andrés

greatly, but whenever he began to question the wis-

dom of this new magic Kollbeinn would interrupt

with a barrage of justifications. One day, while jour-

neying back from the Drangajökull, Andrés insisted

that Kollbeinn listen to him. Enraged Kollbeinn

knocked Andrés from his horse and the rocky land-

ing broke his friend’s skull. Although initially dis-

traught, an opportunity to solve his financial crisis

came to Kollbeinn’s mind. At first, Kollbeinn had

dismissed the spell as too gruesome to contemplate,

Toframanna Saga from Land of Fire and Ice.

However, it can be adapted for other loca-

tions. This story draws from two sources, the

Draugdróttin article by Mark Shirley in Mythic Perspec-

tives 9 and Angurgapithe — Witch-Hunts in Iceland (out

of period but great material). This story delves into

the dark side of magic and highlights a particular vile

spell supposedly practiced in Iceland.

The story is quite a simple investigation, but the

drama should develop from how the player charac-

ters choose to handle the situation. Details of many

locations and supporting characters have not been

elaborated on and it is left to the storyguide to fill in

the blanks. Depending on how much detail you nor-

mally like, this story may require more or less work.

Synopsis

The story begins with two schooled galdramen

(natural magicians) Kollbeinn and Andrés, from the

cathedral school of Holar. Five years previously one

accidentally killed the other. Not only did Kollbeinn

keep this murder secret, he mutilated his friend’s

body in order to cast a spell that would grant him

riches.

Kollbeinn returned home claiming a troll had

killed Andrés. The body was never found and five

years later Andrés returned to the district as a draug

(corporeal undead monster). He immediately em-

barked on a murder spree, mutilating the bodies as he

was mutilated. He was hunted down by a trollsdottir

called Vígdís, but she found the battle too much. As

she retreated Andrés cursed her.

Vígdís then found herself stuck in the form of a

polar bear. Caught and sold abroad, she winds up

fighting dogs in the player characters’ hometown.

From this point on the player characters may become

involved and it will be up to them how events devel-

op, however, a likely ending could involve a fatal con-

frontation between Kollbeinn and Andrés.

Although written for an Icelandic setting, it can

be adapted for anywhere in Europe. Essentially there

is little difference between schooled galdramen and

natural magicians. Other details can be similarly tai-

lored to suit another location.

History

Ten years ago two young men joined the Ice-

landic cathedral school of Holar. Kollbeinn was the

younger son of a godi and Andrés was the son of a

tenant. Both were Gifted and received schooling in

magic alongside their other studies. Sharing the same

magical natures, the two grew close.

T he following story is written primarily for the

but the means now lay before him. After a night of

conflicting emotions he resolved to cast the ‘corpse

trousers spell’ (see insert).

On his return, Kollbeinn claimed a troll had tak-

en Andrés when they wandered off the path search-

ing for sulphur. Kollbeinn had wished to bury

Andrés and thought to blame the mutilation on the

troll, but the search party found nothing.

The spell was successful and Kollbeinn found he

had silver to buy whatever he needed. The red book

slowly filled with spells.

tries on their trousers to see if they fit. He avoids

larger groups by sinking into the ground.

So far the death toll is just two peddlers and two

poor fishermen. However, the mutilation of the bod-

ies has shocked and frightened people more than

four simple killings would ever have done. The local

galdramen have negotiated for stronger spirits to

guard the paths where the killings took place, but

Andrés has simply moved to other paths. Currently,

if people need to move in the Western Fjords they

travel in larger groups.

Kollbeinn guessed immediately who was behind

the attacks, but is currently sitting tight. He is hoping

that someone will slay the draug of Andrés without

discovering the details of its genesis. Some of his

thingmen are urging him to lead a hunting party for

the beast, but the last thing Kollbeinn wishes to do is

confront Andrés. Instead he secretly sent a letter to a

local galdraman called Grim and asked him to find a

trollson to hunt down the beast.

As it happened, Grim’s daughter Vígdís is a trolls-

dottir and it was she who first read the letter. Eager

for the adventure, she decided to hunt the beast her-

self. Vígdís tracked down Andrés’s draug. She shape

shifted into her favoured fighting form and did bat-

tle. However, the draug was too powerful for her and

she fled. As she did so Andrés cursed her; dooming

her to fight battles she cannot escape from. She soon

found that she was stuck in bear form. Worse was to

come, as while making her way back home she was

netted by farmers and sold to a merchant. Her curse

will break if she is rescued from a fight she cannot

win.

Player’s Introduction

It is spring and the characters in De Panne hear

that a white bear will be baited later that week. There

Nábrókarstafur

This spell-stave revives the male generative

capacity of a corpse and manipulates it to generate

wealth for the magician. The spell-stave should be

tied to the magician’s own scrotum along with a

coin, a pawn of vis or other small valuable com-

modity. The spell-stave requires that the magician

wear the intact skin of a human body next to his

own. When worn, this skin will become undistin-

guishable from the magician’s own skin. The coin

or vis will then constantly be multiplied in the scro-

tum; the excess must be periodically cut out (this is

painful).

Mechanics

CrTe/CrVi Lv40: Grants the wearer the

Wealthy or the Personal Vis Source virtue.

See the Red Book section for further details of

spell-staves.

Draugar

Draugar (singular draug) are a form of undead

found in Norse lands. Unless buried with proper

ceremonies a corpse may rise as a draug, particular-

ly if the dead were powerful, wicked or both in life.

Draugar are animated by svart-landvaettir. Howev-

er, the study of Svart-Galdor was never very wide-

spread amongst galdramen. Trafficking in such spir-

its was normally the province of draugdróttin. A

complete description of draugar and the draugdrót-

tin hedge tradition can be found in Mythic Perspectives

9. However, all the information needed to run this

story is given in the individual description.

Their powers were sought after to protect buri-

als from robbery via the creation of guardian

undead and cursing spirits. There was never much

call for such services in Iceland. Ironically svart-

spirits are widespread and very powerful in Iceland,

but Icelanders are mostly concerned with stopping

their dead from rising. In the close-knit Icelandic

nation, draugdróttin were never welcomed. Now

only troll sorcerers, a few giants and trollsynir know

this art.

Andrés Returns

Andrés’s body was found by a powerful svart-

spirit and re-animated as a draug (see insert). Con-

fused and in maddening pain, Andrés wandered

across the Drangajökull until he fell into a glacial cre-

vasse. Five years later he emerged and wandered to

the south. He is now unrecognizable, horribly bloat-

ed, partially flayed and wearing a ragged priest’s

tunic. He wanders the paths of the Western Fjords

looking for his ‘trousers’; the return of which he

believes will end his pain. He has no recollection of

who his is, how he died or who might have his

‘trousers’. Andrés attacks any small group of trav-

ellers who happen across him. He slays them and

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