Hermes' Portal 10.pdf

Hermes’ Portal

Issue #10

Hermes’ Portal

Issue n° 10

November 2003

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

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

Three Faerie Herbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

by Mark Shirley

Soulflower, The Temptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

by Tyler Larson

Towards a New Learning Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

by Sean Michael Winslow

Ars Mathematica: Mathematics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

by Adam Bank and Jeremiah Genest

The gift, Silence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

by Tyler Larson

A New Character Sheet: Innate and Learned Attributes . . . . . . . . .31

by Jérémy Provost

Omnibus Grimoire: Herbam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

by Andrew Gronosky

Stories in the Chinese Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

by Timothy Ferguson

Mythic Cathay: Popular beliefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

by Timothy Ferguson

Hermes’ portal

Publisher: Hermes’ Portal

Contributors: Adam Bank, Timothy Ferguson, Jeremiah Genest, Andrew Gronosky, Eric Kouris, Tyler Larson, Jérémy Provost, Mark

Shirley, Sean Michael Winslow

Editorial and proofreading help: Sheila Thomas

Illustrations: Angela Taylor (cover, border & p. 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14), Alexander White (p. 21, 22, 28, 29), Radja Sauperamaniane (back,

page numbering & p. 3, 38, 40, 42, 43)

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

Jérémy Provost

Jérémy is 28, a software developer living in Paris,

France. He started roleplaying in 1989 with The Dark

Eye, and created a website as soon as he discovered

Ars Magica (he doesn’t know if he spends more time

on the website or playing). He contributed to Ars

Mag recently, but needed the help of Michaël de Ver-

teuil to translate his awful English here. He usually

loses his time on the French RPG site www.sden.org,

were he is an active member.

Sean Michael Winslow

A native of the Silicon Valley, Sean now does

graduate work at the University of Toronto, where

he is taking his degree in Medieval Studies, Book His-

tory, and Print Culture. He became interested in Ars

Magica in 1997 and has been a playtester for Land of

Fire and Ice and several as-yet unreleased supplements.

While waiting to get his next Ars Magica Troupe

together, Sean currently plays in a Classic Traveller

campaign, and pretends to work on his Latin.

Publisher’s corner

Hermes’ Portal has reached issue #10!

I won’t say HP is going well; the sales are still low

with less than 100 copies sold per issue. But at the

same time, more readers are taking out a long-term

subscription. I’ve been thinking about a special issue

for long-time subscribers, some kind of special gift.

I’ll give you more info when this project takes shape.

This issue, following the pattern of previous

ones, is offering you food for your saga: ready-to-

play plot ideas in Mark Shirley’s Three Faerie Herbs,

another lost chapter from The Mysteries giving a new

dimension to the +4 Virtue Sacred Architecture, new

points of view on the mechanics of the game.

I hope you will enjoy it, and then I hope you will

let other Ars Magica players know about it, bringing

new readers to Hermes’ Portal.

Eric

Appolonios of Jerbiton

Familiar Business

Familiar Business is now available on high quality vellum. You can order it from any Redcap!

You've been waiting for it for two years!

Medea of Flambeau and Talos of Merinita are back!!!

As are their enemies, the abominable Archmagus Aiétès of Tremere, the depraved Tytalus Apsyrtos and the

evil-smelling Quaesitor Phryxos. We’ll be in Twilight Tonight closed with the complete exposure of the dia-

bolical plans of these three and their renunciation.

A new threat, a new hero, a new story and new discoveries!

The Order is now enjoying peace, but like the scourge that strikes when you think you’re safe, these three

evil-doers recall their ancient ties with the glorious Legion of Mithras to pervert it from within, while at the

same time teaming up with magic workers from overseas to launch an all-out attack on a defenceless Order.

Medea and Talos would have appreciated the help of Mopsos, but the wise Criamon has passed into Final

Twilight. Putting their faith in the last pure House, they team up with Caineus of Bjornaer to fight against the

rampant evil at work in the Order and the enemies striking at its borders.

But what will happen when they take part in the oldest and best preserved ritual of House Bjornaer, the

Gathering of Twelve Years?

What they say

‘A marvellous, magical novel, as profound and thought-provoking as it is richly entertaining.’

Harco’s Tribune

‘Appolonios is a wise and subtle artist. He manages things in Familiar Business with consummate skill that

other writers are well advised not to attempt.’

Valnastium Book Review

‘A brilliant new vision of a future Order, stark and provocative. A twisting thrill-ride that sweeps across the

page with all the force of a monster storm.’

Library Journal of Durenmar

‘Very well informed! Discover the Gathering of Twelve Years from within!’

Tharbaud of Bjornaer

Three Faerie Herbs

by Mark Shirley

his article deals with three Herbs of

Virtue (see Hedge Magic) which are

strongly associated with the fae. Note

that when I refer to the herb by its com-

mon English name (mistletoe, mandrake) I refer to

the common herb (ergot does not have a mundane

form), whereas the Magical name (Viscum, Man-

dragora, Ergot) refers solely to the Herb of Virtue.

Each herb has a number of powers attested by folk-

lore, story seeds, and major plotlines involving a

character, an enchanted item, a type of Hermetic

wizard, or a faerie court.

Note that some of the information in this article

is derived from a number of Ars Magica sources; in

particular, all three herbs were mentioned in Faeries

2nd Edition, and the basic mandrake virtues can be

found there and reprinted in the Wizard’s Grimoire

Revised Edition.

has been given permission by the faeries, however,

cutting Viscum arouses their anger — the cutting can

root itself in the body of anyone who touches the

cut end, or any preparation made with the cutting

may turn out to be a deadly poison.

There is an elaborate ritual for the taking of

mistletoe which is still remembered in a few places.

The ritual must be performed at night, when the

moon is full. The mistletoe must not touch the earth

or any base substance — usually utensils and con-

tainers of precious metals are used. If the ritual is

correctly performed, the faeries are pacified and the

mistletoe becomes Viscum, mistletoe of Virtue. If

treated well, the faerie which inhabits the herb may

answer questions and give faerie knowledge, but if

the Viscum ever touches the earth or any base sub-

stance, the faerie disappears and its power is lost. Vis-

cum is well known for its power over bird life.

istletoe (Viscum),

a Herb of Virtue

These dark green,

glossy plants spring myste-

riously from the highest

branches of trees, and are

thought to have been

brought to earth when lightning strikes the tree.

Mistletoe can be found on a number of different

trees — particularly apple and other fruit trees — but

Viscum, Mistletoe of Virtue, is only found in oak

trees.

The waxy white berries of Viscum are worth 1

pawn of Herbam vis each, and can be plucked with-

out affecting the plant. Cuttings of the Viscum itself

are worth 2 pawns of Intellego vis. Unless the cutter

Mistletoe Faeries

These faeries reside permanently within bushes

of Viscum — the plant is their home, and they can-

not leave it. They are secretive and loathe to part

with their knowledge; however, they are insufferable

know-it-alls, and when asked a question cannot help

revealing the answer in the unconscious twitching of

their branches, which skilled persons can interpret

(see main text). They are also very touchy, and must

be treated correctly and with reverence, else they will

depart their home, leaving mundane mistletoe in

their place. To those that can see them (see below),

mistletoe faeries appear as small men and women

with wizened green skin, leaves instead of hair, and

huge glistening eyes with no iris.

Faerie Might:10

Personality Traits: Touchy +2, Secretive +3,

Self-Important +3

Powers:

Lore: Mistletoe faeries have remarkable knowl-

edge about faeries and fae things, especially

matters pertaining to the local area. This

knowledge is brought to them by the birds.

Assume that they know everything about the

faeries within the region, and have a Faerie

Lore of 10 regarding faeries outside this limit.

They may be unwilling to pass on this knowl-

edge, however. (No Hermetic equivalent)

Insubstantial Form: Mistletoe faeries reside

inside Mistletoe of Virtue, and occupy no real

space. Those with Second Sight may be able

to see their faces within the leaves of a mistle-

toe bush, or reflected in the berries. (No Her-

metic equivalent)

Control Birds: Mistletoe faeries have a long-

standing compact with the King of Birds, and

his subjects will do anything for the faeries in

an effort to repay a boon granted long ago.

(ReAn 30)

Frequency: Uncommon

Wild Vis: 10 pawns (whole plant)

Standard Vis: 1 Herbam in each berry, 2 Intel-

lego in a cutting

The Viscum communicates its knowledge to the

bearer through subtle movements of the twigs, and

reflections in the glossy berries. It requires an Intelli-

gence roll to interpret the Viscum, modified by

Faerie Lore or Enigmatic Wisdom. The herb can be

treated as potentially knowing everything about

faerie matters, but the answers to complex questions

are difficult to interpret. As the Viscum is loathe to

intrude on the affairs of powerful faeries, the inter-

pretation roll suffers a penalty equal to the Might/5

of the faerie asked about, or the level of the aura, if

a faerie place is enquired after. The storyguide may

impose other penalties for other situations. The ease

factor is 3 for simple questions (“Do goblins favour

the courts of Light or Dark?”), 6 for more difficult

questions (“what is the name of the Goblin-King

who haunts yonder wood?”) and 12 for extremely

difficult or complex questions (“How do I make

myself immune to the powers of the Goblin-

King?”).

If a branch of mistletoe is hung in an oak tree

with the wing of a bird, then all birds of that type in

the area will make all haste to the tree containing the

Viscum, and remain there until the next sunrise.

again. A priest might miss Mass for the first time in

his career. Every time this happens, it will be for the

best — they will undergo a life-changing experience

because of their actions, and their lot in life will dra-

matically improve.

Some are aware of this, and have tried to engage

the stranger in conversation. He rebuffs any attempt

to speak with him, refusing even to make eye-con-

tact. Once, a lord tried to imprison him so that he

would work his magic, threatening him with being

burnt for witchcraft. The stranger didn’t even

acknowledge the lord’s existence, but the next day the

keep’s foundations gave way and the place was razed

to the ground. The only structure left unaffected was

the donjon, and the prisoner walked free.

Background

Jervais was once the turb captain of a nearby cov-

enant. He accompanied the magi on a vis-collecting

expedition, and passed their instructions onto his

men — at no point should the mistletoe that they

were cutting from the tree be allowed to touch the

ground, or its magic will be lost. As a loyal grog,

when he saw the tiny sprig about to fall, he dived for

it, trying to save it for the magi. He managed to catch

it, but the cut end touched his belly — and took root.

The magi tried everything they could to remove

it, but it wouldn’t budge. They were surprised when

it started to grow, sending out shoots until the tiny

sprig became a bush. They were delighted when the

plant growing out of their captain produced berries.

No more would they have to trek into the forest —

they had their own vis source here within the coven-

ant. When they tried to pluck one of the waxy berry

however, Jervais screamed, and blood poured from

the broken end of the branch. With this they decid-

ed to hold off their plan to implant some more

grogs.

Form and Effect bonuses for mistletoe

+3 Fertility

+3 Repelling evil

+1 Promote peace

+4 Prophecy

Jervais

There’s a man who can occasionally be seen at

fairs, particularly the spring fairs. It is said that he

used to be a soldier, although none would believe it

now. He walks with stooped shoulders and halting

gait, his arms cradling his grossly swollen belly as if

it constantly pains him. People who have met him

before avoid him, for he has the unnerving habit of

gripping an arm and staring intently into people’s

faces, his watery grey eyes flickering over their fea-

tures. No-one knows where he lives, but he is

assumed to be indigent as he has been seen at sever-

al fairs during the spring and summer.

As he shuffles through the milling crowds in his

rags, he mumbles to himself, eyes casting left and

right, as if searching for someone. Sometimes he will

find them. He’ll latch on to somebody, and speak to

them in hushed tones, hurried and urgent. Usually, at

first, they will try to shake him off, but he must be

saying something that interests them, for soon they

will be huddled with him, listening intently to his

mutterings. They will then part company, and the

stranger will leave the fair. The person with whom he

has conversed will then generally do something com-

pletely out of character. A cautious merchant might

take a chance on a risky venture. A peasant might

burn his crops and move away, never to be seen

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