Mercer House

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Ars Magica: Nova Semitae Saga
ArM5LogoColor.jpg
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
House-Symbol-Mercere.jpg

The Mercer House is officially the home of the Redcaps of Stonehenge. Politically independent of Nova Semitae, it nonetheless was the reason the covenant came into being. The Redcaps had a hand in helping fund the covenant 40 years ago, lending it cash and vis to get it started. It now enjoys a privileged status within the covenant, bearing few of the responsibilities but enjoying most of the perks of covenanthood. Meanwhile, the magi of Nova Semitae enjoy the benefits of being on excellent terms with House Mercere.

Some 10 Redcaps are based out of the Mercer House, though it is uncommon to have have more than half the active Redcaps present at any given time.

Parsifal, Senior Redcap

Parsifal retired from Redcap duties over a decade ago, but still proudly wears his red hat. He is the administrative face of the Mercer House, and resides in his own house on the shore, with his wife Lucie and their children, Guy and Maude. Parsifal is a bald, somewhat overweight man rapidly approaching his sixth decade of life. [English]

Great William

Also known as Guglielmo de Firenze, "Great William" is a great beast of a man, standing eight feet tall, and barrel-chested.  To those who know him, however, his appearance is almost comical, given his shy, pacifist nature.  He has long, unkempt, dirty blonde hair, and brown eyes.  He is even-tempered and quick-witted, having extensive knowledge of Hermetic law and various arcane lore, and even has some knowledge of Hermetic theory.  He was apprenticed under Horst of Fengheld, whom he idolises to this day.

Great William currently serves as the official Tribunal scribe of Stonehenge, and thus spends some of his time at the covenant's Library where the Tribunal records are stored. [Italian, Florence]

Great William has a pair of boots that can cast Leap of the Homecoming twice a day.

Little William

Also known as Sir Guillaume d'Arras, "Little" is something of a joke.  He is a minor landless knight of northern France, standing at nearly seven feet, and is built like an ox.  With shining golden hair to his shoulders, and sparkling blue eyes, Guillaume represents the epitome of Norman breeding.  His real age is thought to be somewhere in his fifties, though he appears in his late twenties, having received a longevity ritual from some unknown Hermetic patron.  His martial prowess is unmatched by any at Nova Semitae, and he likes to boast that William Marshal remains the only man ever to have bested him in combat; he bears the scar on his lance-arm proudly.

Guillaume wears a fine suit of chainmail crafted for him by Justen of Tremere.  He carries a small arsenal with him, and bears an enchanted shield embossed with the image of a phoenix.  He is the only Redcap who prefers mundane travel on his duties to House Mercere, riding a magical destrier named Champion. [Norman French]

Isabelle

Lady Isabelle d'Arras is Little William's younger, fae-blooded half-sister. Their shared father is a minor noble in northern France, but unlike Guillaume, Isabelle's mother was a swan-maiden who captured the aging widower's fancy. Isabelle has inherited the ability to take the shape of a swan; due to her skill at flying and on the water, she is responsible for bearing messages across the English Channel. As a result, she is frequently seen at the Mercer House, despite officially serving the Normandy Tribunal. She is a gorgeous woman with long golden curls and grey eyes, and her physical beauty is matched by her musical talent.

Isabelle has an enchanted feather which causes her clothing and items to change shape whenever she herself changes shape, allowing her to carry messages, vis, and equipment while in swan form.... Not to mention allowing her to resume human shape fully clothed! She also possesses a magical leather bracelet that resizes when she changes shape; when activated, the bracelet creates a favourable wind at her back, allowing her to fly nearly as fast as a falcon. [Norman French]

Edgar

The youngest Redcap in Stonehenge, Edgar is just out of his teens and always feels the need to prove himself.  He is extremely attractive, with black hair and green eyes, and spends most of his downtime trying to woo any and every pretty woman he finds. [Welsh]

He is not particularly liked within the Order or even his own house, and has no magical items.

Jasmine

The hardest-working Redcap of the tribunal, she is rarely seen at the Mercer House, as she believes that message-bearing is the least important duty of House Mercere. She spends most of the year travelling about Stonehenge, Loch Leglean, and Hibernia, keeping abreast with politics both mundane and Hermetic. She is rumoured to be the best-informed maga in all of the Isles. Jasmine is married to Aulus of Bonisagus, though she maintains official membership at the Mercer House rather than Nova Semitae.

Jasmine possesses a magical skiff which can sail across both water and land, at great speeds; she also carries a ring which renders her (and conveniently, everything she touches) invisible. Finally, she has a white-feathered cloak that can let her take the shape of a gyrfalcon. The latter was a gift from House Mercere for her wedding to Aulus of Bonisagus. [English]

Iohannes Don

A handsome Redcap originally from the Iberian Tribunal and heavily influenced by the Goliardic tradition within the House, he spends as much time carousing and enjoying the company of less than virtuous women (and by some rumours, men) when he isn't otherwise occupied with his House duties. Despite his indiscretions, he usually seemed able to slip out of trouble (i.e. Maidens' fathers, husbands, etc.) before it got to hot to handle (Premonitions).  The Iberian Senior Redcap sent him out of the Tribunal due to his reputation and to keep him alive after an unfortunate dalliance with a jealous Flambeau maga.  Despite his questionable reputation, he remains popular with any number of magae in whatever Tribunal he's assigned to. V/F of Note: Great Presence, Venus' Blessing, Puissant Charm, Premonitions, Weakness (pretty face), Lecherous, Enemies, Infamous (Iberian Tribunal) [Leonese]

Eleanor

A well-known Redcap in the Tribunal who frequents the Loch Leglean Tribunal as part of her duties. Well-liked and considered reliable and trustworthy, she has garnered the respect and gratitude of a number of powerful magi for her discretion and commitment to the Order. She is in early 30s. [English]

Gabriel il Rossocapella

A fae-blooded musician from the Roman Tribunal who spends as much time performing and listening to performances on the road as he does delivering messages as a Redcap. He was a former apprentice to a Merinita magus whose gift was destroyed during the attempt to initiate him into the outer mystery of the House. Rescued from exile by a passing Redcap, House Mercere put his knowledge of the Order and his initial training to good use. Due to his background and fae blood, his attracts the attention of the fae when he travels, and has picked up a 'faerie godmother' who watches over him. His musical gifts have drifted over into the magical which he uses to delight (and occasionally insult). [Italian, Neapolitan]

Other Redcaps

There are two retired Redcaps residing at Mercer House with their families settled in the covenant.