Talk:Joshua Levi
Just a couple of notes:
- I combined Civil and Canon Law into one skill, as it is in Ars Magica; also corrected it from "Cannon" law. :)
- I changed your Canon Law (Jewish) to Rabbinical Law, to align with how Ars Magica does skills. This is distinct from the Jewish (Organization) Lore skill (which covers history, politics, personalities of Jews in an area), the philosophical underpinnings of Judaism (that'd be the Theology (Judaism) skill), or the supernatural aspects of the Divine (that's Dominion Lore). Yes, knowing everything about God is a lot of skills. :)
- As the only Gifted character with children (at least for now), we should check your kids against step 1 on the Gifted Children House Rules
- As you have the True Love minor flaw, your wife would be a Companion-level character (though not one played by you). What do you envision her being, that she's relatively formidable for a mundane? Also, since you don't have the Gentle Gift, how has she dealt with your Gift? Has she known you for your whole life? (It takes about 15 years to grow accustomed to the effects of the Gift for a particular magus.)
- Add 'Speak Arabic 4' as part of the Baseline Skills adjustments.
Advancement 1220/1221:
- For the seasons Joshua is enchanting, he earns Exposure XP in the lab. This can be in Magic Theory (always applicable) or any other Art or Skill he's using that season. For the opening season, this could be Craft. For the enchanting season, it could be Intellego, Vim, Craft, Philosophiae, or Magic Theory. Mark 04:32, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
Vis Notes: Magni still owes 10-vis worth.
Aging
1230 Longevity Ritual: 31 (+7)
August 1231: d10+ 4 (Age) -2 (Magus) -1 (Aura) -2 (Wealth) -7 (Longevity Ritual) =
August 1232: d10+ 4 (Age) -2 (Magus) -1 (Aura) -2 (Wealth) -7 (Longevity Ritual) =
August 1233: d10+ 4 (Age) -2 (Magus) -1 (Aura) -2 (Wealth) -7 (Longevity Ritual) =
Commission Work
Scale Arcanum (Redcap)
The Scale Arcanum consists of a wool-lined, plain oak box containing a small but finely made brass merchant's scale with two hanging weigh-pans. It also includes a brass weight set consisting of a 1-pennyweight, two 2-pennyweights, a 5-pennyweight, and a 10-pennyweight, which allows the scale to measure up to one tower ounce. While perfectly useable as a mundane scale, if a vis-containing item is placed in either of the pans, the scale will translate the vis to exactly 1-pennyweight per pawn. In addition, the vis-item will begin to softly glow in accordance with its type. A color-rule is provided in the box to allow for consistent identification. The actual enchantment lays in the inlaid granite needle which marks the "balanced" state.
(Invested item with Unlimited Scales of Magical Weight (InVm 5) and Unlimited Sense the Nature of Vis (InVm5))
Sold for 10 pawns of vis
Scale Arcanum (Covenant)
The Scale Arcanum consists of a velvet-lined, silver-enlaid oak box containing a small but finely made brass merchant's scale with two hanging weigh-pans. Silver arcane symbols decorate the central tower, while the pans are held aloft by molded hands It also includes a gold-plated brass weight set consisting of a 1-pennyweight, two 2-pennyweights, a 5-pennyweight, and a 10-pennyweight, which allows the scale to measure up to one tower ounce. While perfectly useable as a mundane scale, if a vis-containing item is placed in either of the pans, the scale will translate the vis to exactly 1-pennyweight per pawn. In addition, the vis-item will begin to softly glow in accordance with its type. A color-rule is provided in the box to allow for consistent identification. The actual enchantment lays in the inlaid jade needle which points to a cassiterite marker in the "balanced" state.
(Invested item with Unlimited Scales of Magical Weight (InVm 5) and Unlimited Sense the Nature of Vis (InVm5))
Sold for 15 pawns of vis
Future Plans
Enchanted Items
Wizard's Cog
ReTe (9)
A large gear, about 1 foot across, carved out of a single piece of granite. Once mounted on an axle, the gear will begin to rotate continuously as though attached to a moving water wheel. The direction can be reversed by removing the gear and placing it back on the axle in reverse.
(Base 2, Rock +1, Sun +2, Continuous +4lv)
Oven of Malachi
CeIg (28)
A small tabletop clay oven held aloft by bronze bands. When activated, the interior clay plate heats up to the desired level, ranging from lower annealing temperatures to temperatures hot enough to melt copper and gold. With concentration, the temperature of the oven can be shifted up to six times per day.
(Base 10, Concentration +2, Device Maintains (+5 lv), 6 uses/day (+3 lv)
Muted Tumbler
MuIm (7)
A small iron-lined oak barrel with a polished stone lid. Reduces any sound produced from within the barrel to no more than a level of a bubbling creek or low conversation. Joshua uses it for tumbling rocks without the sound of stone on metal becoming deafening with the laboratory, but still loud enough he can judge the condition of the stones by sound.
(Base 1, Sun +2, Continuous +4lv)
Study Plans
(~89 seasons / 22.25 years)
Creo
25 > 120
Creations. Summa on Creo L11 Q8 (1 Season, 11 xp)
Ex Nihilo ("Out of Nothing"). Summa Lv 12, Q 11 (1 seasons, 15 xp)
Efficacious Conjuring: With Applications for Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Body, and Spirit. Summa Lv 15, Q 14 (4 Seasons, 67xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+2xp)
Intelligo
10 > 78 > 120
Disputations. Summa Lv 12, Q 19 (3 Seasons, 66xp)
Esse Est Percipi ("To exist is to be perceived"). Summa Lv 15, Q 15 (2 Seasons, 36 xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+8xp)
Muto
66 > 120
Transforming the Elements. Summa Lv 15, Q 15 (3 seasons, 54 xp)
Rego
55 > 120
The Scepter of the Order. Summa Lv 15, Q 15 (3 Seasons, 54 xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+11xp)
Perdo
10 > 55
Finis Vitae Sed Non Amoris ("The end of life is not the end of love"). Summa Lv 10, Q12 (3 seasons, 45xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+0xp)
Animal
3 > 45
Dentis et Unguis ("Tooth and claw"). Summa Lv 9, Q12 (2 Seasons, 30 xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+12 xp)
Auram
3 > (93)105 > 171
Where the Falcons Soar. Summa Lv 14, Q 12 (6 seasons, 90xp)
Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum ("Let Justice Be Done When the Sky Falls"). Summa Lv 18, Q 11 (5 seasons, 70 xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+8 xp)
Aquim
3 > 78
A Flumine Usque ad Terminos Terrae ("From the river unto the ends of the earth"). Lv 12, Q 12 (5 Seasons, 75xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+0xp)
Corpus
3 > (39)55 > 153
Sanguis et Lacrima ("Blood and Tears"). Summa Lv 10, Q 15 (2 Seasons, 36 xp)
Vita ex Mors ("Life and Death"). Summa Lv 17, Q 9 (9 Seasons, 96 xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+6xp)
Herbum
3 > 78
Vivat Crescat Floreat ("Live, Grow, and Flourish"). Summa Lv 12, Q12 (5 Seasons, 75xp)
Ignum
3 > 78
Igni Ferroque ("Fire and Iron"). Summa Lv 12, Q12* (5 Seasons, 75xp)
Imaginum
3 > (37)45 > 210
Delectatio Morosa ("Peevish Delight"). Summa Lv 9, Q14 (3 Seasons, 34xp)
Images, Glamours, Illusions. Summa Lv 20, Q11 (12 Seasons, 168 xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+5xp)
Mentum
3 > 91
Mentem Mortalia Tangunt ("Mortality Touches the Mind"). Summa Lv 13, Q12 (5 Seasons, 75 xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+13xp)
Terram
10 > 78
Igni Ferroque ("Fire and Iron"). Summa Lv 12, Q12* (4 Seasons, 60xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+8xp)
Vim
6 > (62)78 > 91
Crescat Scientia Vita Excolatur ("Let knowledge grow to enrich life"). Summa 12, Q11 (4 Seasons, 56 xp)
The Pulse of Magic, Summa Lv 13, Q 11 (2 seasons, 28xp)
Experience/Correspondence (+1xp)
Record Archive
Seasonal Activities
1220
Winter: Joshua moves into the ground floor of the Lapus Lazuli Tower and sets up his lab, concentrating on moving his family into the living areas, and assembling the basic laboratory equipment for the interior spaces. When not working on the lab, he spent some time in communication with his old Patar on Parma Magica.
(Exposure: Magic Theory +2xp for lab setup; Correspondence: Parma Magica +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Spring: Joshua continues to set up his laboratory, including several of the more delicate and complex arrangements and a small lapidary's desk in one corner. He considers plans to expand the laboratory slightly off the back to provide a superior working studio. He also spent some time communicating about Corpus with Desiderius of Verditius, who they ran into during a dispute at Merlin's well. Joshua's wife Ruth begins working in the mundane library as a way to pass the time while not needed at home.
(Exposure: Magic Theory +2xp for lab setup; Correspondence: Corpus +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp)
Summer: Joshua considers the creation of a new item for the covenant, and realizes a sapphire would be the best stone to use. He realizes, however, he has never opened a precious gem before, only semi-precious. As such, he begins a study of Magic Theory to ensure he can open it correctly. He continued his correspondence with Desiderius on Corpus. With many of her home duties unnecessary due to her husband’s position and the nature of the covenant, Ruth accepts the Autocrat’s appointment as librarian.
(Ab Uno Disce Omnes (Magic Theory) +15xp; Correspondence: Corpus +1; Language: Middle English +1)
Autumn: Now more confident of his abilities, Joshua takes the time to craft and open the sapphire acquired by the autocrat for this purpose. Three months and a Rook of Vim Vis later, he is successful. He also continues his correspondence.
(Exposure: Craft (Gemcutting) +2xp; Correspondence: Corpus +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp; Area Lore: Melverley +2xp)
1221
Winter: Finishing what he started, Joshua spends this season enchanting the open sapphire with its first two abilities: ‘’Sense the Nature of Vis’’ and ‘’Scale of Magical Weight’’. This focus also turns his correspondence to the subject of vim.
(Exposure: Philosophie +2xp; Correspondence: Vim +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp; +2 Area Lore: Nova Semitae)
Spring: Freed of his covenant service for the probationary period, Joshua finally finds himself free to read from the exceptional library available to the Magi of Nova Semitae. Still influenced by his Pater, who emphasized the value of Technique over Forms, Joshua decides to start by studying Non Sum Qualis Eram.
(Study: Muto +15xp; Correspondence: Vim +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp)
Summer: Much of his laboratory now covered with notes and experiments in Muto magic, Joshua continued to study from Non Sum Qualis Eram. Inspired by what he's read, he begins corresponding with his Pater about the laboratory implications.
(Study: Muto +15xp; Correspondence: Magic Theory +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Autumn: Now over halfway through the book, Joshua continues to study, as well as discussing the implications with his fellow Verditus.
(Study: Muto +15xp; Correspondence: Magic Theory +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp, Area Lore: Melverley +2xp)
1222
Winter: Joshua completes his study of Non Sum Qualis Eram, finding himself now exceptionally more skilled at Muto spells. He continues to discuss the laboratory implications with his fellow Verditus.
(Study: Muto +15xp (caps at Lv11); Correspondence: Magic Theory +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Spring: Desiring to investigate a direct application of his new knowledge, Joshua spends this season studying Neanne of Verditius' level 20 Wizard's Communion. Conveniently, this also serves as his Covenant Service for 1222-1223. Relatedly, he corresponds on the nature of Vim magic.
(Exposure: Vim +2xp; Correspondence: Vim +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp)
Summer: Joshua attends the tribunal, mostly attending the small colloquium, though making sure to stop to talk with Aurelia of Nigrasaxa about her idea of a Verditius Regional Contest. He makes friends with a recently gauntletted mage who is studying Forms - the two keep in correspondence. His thoughts, however, are primarily still on Non Sum Qualis Eram, and he decides to organize his notes and write the required commentary now, while the text and its application to Wizard's Communion are still fresh in his mind.
(Exposure: Magic Theory +2xp; Correspondence: Mentum +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Autumn: Considering control to be a logical step from change, Joshua borrows Lessons for the Leader for study from the library. His correspondence continues.
(Study: +16xp; Correspondence: Animal +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp, Area Lore: Melverley +2 xp)
1223
Winter: Joshua continues his in-depth study of "Lessons for the Leader", leading to some strange looks when he is in the field ordering sheep around. His correspondence covers success and failures.
(Study: +16xp; Correspondence: Animal +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Spring: Joshua completes his study of Lessons for the Leader, having extracted from it all he can about commanding magic. His correspondence continues.
(Study: +16xp; Correspondence: Animal +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp)
Summer: Joshua reviews the library's copies of Aegis of the Hearth and realizes the most advanced of the three versions is still beyond his grasp. Pondering his options, he instead focuses on writing the required commentary on the summa.
(Exposure: Teaching +2xp; Correspondence: Mentum +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Autumn: Joshua decides to take a break from the direct applications of magic to study the underlying metaphysical world with Neanne's Finding the Perfect Form. Joshua also takes part in the second exploration of Varana's Tomb, where he is seriously injured (but gets better).
(Study: Philosophiae +10xp; Adventure: Penetration +3xp, Correspondence: Imagum +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp, Area Lore: Melverley +2xp)
1224
Winter: Using the existing "relic" taken from Constantinople as a guide, Joshua creates a new gold and polished gemstone case for the church in Woolston.
(Exposure: Whitesmith +2xp; Correspondence: Imagum +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Spring: Joshua's close brush with severe injury brings healing and with it Creo, to mind. To that end, he begins to study Ex Nihlo.
(Study: +14xp; Correspondence: Mentem +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp)
Summer: Following a long discussion with Magni, Joshua agrees to forge a gauntlet for the hoplite to take to the upcoming battle. Wanting to make it as receptive to Magni's enchantments as possible, he spends the first season studying the foundations for his runes by reading De Rerum Natura. He also corresponds with the jeweler who first trained him for ideas on physical creation. Joshua also meets the King of Lake Vyrnwy.
(Study: Philosophiae +13xp; Adventure: +5 Faerie Lore; Correspondence: Craft (Metal) +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Autumn: The conversation with his former teacher made him realize just how poor his actual metallurgy skills were. He spends the season practicing and reaching out to his teacher for pointers.
(Practice: Craft (Metal) +4xp; Correspondence: Craft (Metal) +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp, Area Lore: Melverley +2xp)
1225
Winter: Joshua begins the process of creating and opening the Gauntlet, crafting it's form under the arcane glow of vis.
(Exposure: Magic Theory +2xp; Correspondence: Imaginem +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Spring: Joshua finishes the crafting and opening of the Gauntlet for enchantment, presenting the finished craft to Magni just before the Summer Solstice.
(Exposure: Philosophiae +2xp; Correspondence: Herbam +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp)
Summer: As Obscurus has taken back Ex Nihilo for his own study, Joshua instead turns his attention to its opposite: Perdo. To this end, he studies Finis Vitae Sed Non Amoris.
(Study: Perdo +15xp; Correspondence: Herbam +1xp; Language: Middle English +1xp)
Autumn: With Obscurus otherwise occupied, Joshua Joshua borrows Ex Nihilo again for the season. Some of the plants withered in the previous season's experiments are restored.
(Study: Creo +15xp; Correspondence: Herbam +1xp; Language: Welsh +1xp, Area Lore: Melverley +2xp)