Thomas of Oxford

Ars Magica: Nova Semitae Saga
GM
Mark
Game Start
Anno Domini MCCXX, hiems A.D. 1220, winter 5 Neanne 1, Hiems
Game Year
Anno Domini MCCXXXV, aestas A.D. 1236, summer 7 Aulus 2, Aestas
Magi of Nova Semitae
Geoffroy de Dreux of Jerbiton Joshua Levi of Verditius Magni of Flambeau Obscurus Ignis of Flambeau NPC Magi Aulus · Neanne · Fr. Thomas · Vitria Apprentices Ysabelo discipulus Aulus Esyllt discipula Geoffrey Sigrun discipula Magni Hermetic Status
Companions
Lady Angharad ferch Madog, Princess of Powys Fadog Ritter Sigmund, German ex-Crusader Sir Daniele d'Audrieu, Norman merchant Sir William Cornwell, English ex-Crusader
Other Characters
Covenfolk · Agents The Redcaps · Notable NPCs Chart of Languages Spoken Notable Animals
Guests
Hortense of House Bonisagus
The Covenant
Hermetic Covenant Charter · Membership Record Record of Offices · Covenant Service Council Voting Records · Hermetic Politics Stonehenge Tribunal Mundane Mundane Geography · Mundane Politics Village of Melverley · Melverley Castle Village Laws · Village Rumors Medieval Farming
Covenant Resources
Covenant Library · Varana's Tomb Hospital · Hospital Library Vis Sources and Stores Covenant Magical Items · Mundane Wealth Classes and Training · Covenant Experts Covenant Mechanics
Other
Ars Magica House Rules Ars Magica Expanded Notes Campaign Log · Loose Ends Ars Magica PC Reference
Player Resources (PDFs)
Experience Point Worksheet Character Sheet (Variant 1) Character Sheet (Variant 2) Experience Point Chart

Main Article: Covenfolk

Thomas is an Englishman, one of many sons of a prosperous merchant family. With a hale family, he was not expected to inherit much of the family business. When his father was in discussions with a local bishop, Thomas' natural intellect shone through. This impressed the Bishop enough to take the boy as a ward and put him through a solid education.

In time, Thomas was enrolled at the University of Oxford where he earned his Baccalaureus. He continued his studies to become a Magister in Artibus and, eventually, a Doctor of Law. Shortly before he could take his final examinations, a series of disasters took place: he had an accident that crippled his legs, his patron Bishop suddenly passed away, and a jealous academic rival conducted a successful smear campaign during Thomas' recovery period during which he was unable to counter the rumours. After his recovery, it became clear that few University masters wanted anything to do with him. He reluctantly left with his reputation battered when his resources to continue his studies dried up due to the Bishop's death. (His family had long since left him to his fate.)

Through a few sympathetic academic contacts, he was directed to Nova Semitae where a man of his skills would be accepted and his reputation was unknown. He is a good scholar and would be an excellent teacher for academic skills to those who can learn (potential apprentices, for instance). Despite the rumours, he can write and teach excellent classes. He has enough training to potentially be a jurist for the Covenant, should he feel like he has a stake in its survival.

He is determined to prove the rumours incorrect and would like to begin studying and writing as much as he can to re-establish his reputation in the academic community. He has distant hopes of one day completing his studies to become a Magister or a Doctor, but only time will tell if this will ever be possible.

Life at Nova Semitae

As a scholar and scribe, Thomas can potentially fill a number of roles:

• A source of books from his own scholarly research
• A source of teaching (he has Good Teacher) for bright youngsters or potential apprentices
• A possible librarian/library attendant needing to be staffed
• A scribing source to help Naomi with scrivener duties

Characteristics

Intelligence	+3	Presence	+1
Perception	+1	Communication	+2
Strength	-2	Dexterity	+1
Stamina	+0	Luck	-1

Virtues & Flaws

• Virtues: Baccalaureus, Good Teacher, Privileged Upbringing
• Flaws: Lame, Driven, Failed Student (see description)

Abilities

Updated to Autumn 1224

Skill	Specialty	Score	XP	Books Written
General Skills
Area Lore (Oxford)	book dealers	2	15
Area Lore (Shropshire)	covenfolk	2	15
Awareness	scanning text	2	15
Carouse	drinking songs	1	5
Charm	being witty	3	30
Concentration	reading	2	15
Etiquette	academics	2	15
Folk Ken	academics	3	30
Guile	academic argumentation	1	5
Intrigue	gossip	1	5
Leadership	in classrooms	1	5
Speak Middle English	academics	5	75
Speak Norman French	nobility	4	50
University of Oxford Lore (Org)	masters	2	15
Profession Scribe	writing new books	4	60
Teaching	university students	3	40	1 tractatus
Academic Skills
Artes Liberales	rhetoric	4	50	1 tractatus
Common Law	Royal Law	4	50	1 tractatus
Civil and Canon Law	church law and academics	4	65	1 tractatus
Speak Latin	academic	4	50
Philosophiae	moral philosophy	3	46	1 tractatus
Speak Medieval Hebrew	conversational	3	46

Mundane Qualities

Reputations

• Good Academic Reputation: Good Teacher (Oxford undergrads) 1 (8)
• Bad Academic Reputation: Lazy Scholar (Oxford masters) 1 (5)
• English Academic Reputation: Historical Common Law Scholar (Oxford alumni) 0 (3)

Known Languages

Language	Dialect	Specialty	Fluency Level	Score
Middle English	-	Academics	Fluent	5
Latin	-	Academic Terms	Functional	4
Langue d'Oil	Norman French	Noble Talk	Functional	4
Medieval Hebrew	Nova Semitae dialect	Conversational	Haltingly Functional	3

Personality Traits

• Brave +1
• Driven (establish self as legitimate academic) +2

Seasonality Activities

Thomas is obliged to spend 2 equivalent seasons per year earning his keep as a instructor of Latin and Artes Liberales for the covenfolk, or other scrivener work. This work provides only exposure experience. Thomas has two equivalent seasons per year as 'free' seasons, though he must generally remain near the covenant.

• 1224: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Write Leges Johannes Primi ("Laws of King John I"), Tractatus Common Law Q9, +2 Scribe.
• 1223: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teaching Aline Latin 1:1, +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Principia Economica de Brittanicae ("Economic Principles of Britain") Philosphiae Tractatus Q9, +2 Scribe.
• 1222: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Quantifications of the Earthly Sphere, Tractatus Artes Liberales Q9, +2 Scribe.
• 1221: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Judging of Academics, Tractatus Civil and Canon Law Q9, +2 Scribe.
• 1220: Speak Medieval Hebrew (exposure) +4, Philosophiae (letters) +4. Winter Read Common Law summa +7; Spring Read Civil and Canon Law summa +7; Summer Teach local students +2 Teaching; Autumn Write Erudiendi Discipuli Oxfordium ("The Teaching of Oxford Students"), Teaching Tractatus Q9, +2 Scribe.