Former Magi of Nova Semitae
The following is a short biography of the previous members of Nova Semitae
Aislinn of Tytalus, Archmaga, Founder
Aislinn was an elementalist maga with a specialization in Aurum. She was married to Justen of Tremere, a fellow Founder of the covenant. Though she began her Hermetic life as an Ex Miscellanea maga, she found herself offered membership in House Tytalus after defeating a number of known Flambeau belligerents. She was ethnically Irish and descriptions of her place her very tall for a woman -- standing six feet. She was known for her red hair and blue eyes. Prior to her disappearance, she achieved the rank of Archmaga, helped by a masterful summa on Aurum which is still housed at the covenant.
Her sanctum was the top of the North Tower (lapis lazuli) which commanded an excellent view of the surrounding countryside.
She was known for entering battle wearing chain mail and a magical sword, presumed to be her Talisman, imbued with the powers of the North Wind.
Her wizard's sigil was the scent of the air just before a thunderstorm.
Aislinn disappeared in 1201.
Ceilidh Ex Miscellanea
Ceilidh was Aislinn's apprentice and excels in both Aurum and Animal-based magic.
She was Gauntleted in 1196 and stayed briefly, but left in 1198 for Ireland.
Julissa of Criamon, Founder
The youngest of the Nova Semitae Founders, she was a maga who has claimed 3 Houses in her lifetime. She began as one of the few Gifted Mercere before being seized by a Bonisagus to be his apprentice. Later in life, she was censured and declared Orbus from House Bonisagus and was given refuge in House Criamon before she disappeared for unknown reasons.
Her known specialties were metamagic and travel spells. Her wizard's sigil manifested as subtlety in all her spells.
She disappeared in 1218.
Justen of Tremere, Quaesitor, Founder
A member of House Tremere and a Quaesitor, he was both a Terram and Intellego specialist. He was married to Aislinn and combined his sanctum with hers so that they lived in the top four floors of the North tower. He was known for his open-mindedness and keen senses which helped him with his Hermetic investigations. His bearing was that of a classic Roman image, standing a little shorter than his wife (who was six feet tall) and curly blonde hair.
As the best writer in the covenant (which was already stacked with excellent writers), his Intellego summa helped his ascension to the Quaesitorial office.
His filia, Sophia of Tremere, was trained before the founding of Nova Semitae, and is currently at Libellus.
Justen had handsome Greco-Roman features, standing nearly six feet tall, clean-shaven with curly blond hair and blue eyes. His wizard's sigil was glowing eyes.
Justen disappeared in 1198.
Litha of Bjornaer, Founder
A scottish woman with a lithe and gentle manner, she was known to carry herself regally, suggesting a noble's background. Her heartbeast was that of a lion and was unusual in that she took other shapes using Hermetic magic; something most Bjornaer avoid.
Her sanctum was known to be in the nearby woods rather than at the covenant.
Litha was Scottish, quite short, and pretty in a delicate way. She had pale hair and green eyes. Her wizard's sigil was the scent of grass.
Litha disappeared in 1210.
Maribus of Mercere, Founder
Maribus was an Aquam specialist who crafted magical ships and other modes of transportation for the Redcaps of Stonehnege. He was a cheerful fellow who kept an otter named Sano as his familiar. His apprentice, Julissa (see above) was also his granddaughter. Her seizure by a magus of House Bonisagus through that House's ability to take others' apprentices, caused a rift in Mercere-Bonisagus relations in Stonehenge for many decades. It is one of the reasons for the dearth of Bonisagus magi in Stonehenge.
His sanctum was a large wooden cottage at the very tip of the peninsula, which is now claimed by Aulus.
Maribus made his longevity ritual later in life than most, and as such, always appeared older than most magi his age. He was five and a half feet tall, salt-and-peper hair with a matching beard. His wizard's sigil was the sound of a bubbling brook.
Noteably, Maribus was also Jewish.
Maribus disappeared in 1214. He was found in 1225 in a regio with many parts of his memory gone, having been 'drained' to feed some kind of magical snake that was inhabiting the regio.
Samuel Ex Miscellanea
Samuel was a Gifted boy born to the local Jewish population and claimed by Julissa as her apprentice. Although quite intelligent, he also displayed an undue amount of arrogance as well as frustration in the direction of his studies under Julissa, who he felt had held him back. (In truth, she was just teaching him things that were more useful for her lab work, the same as most magi.)
He is a member of House Ex Miscellanea because Julissa is not an Initiated member of House Criamon, but merely a guest. This is something that irks Samuel, who feels he should have been a member of a 'real' House, like House Bonisagus where his intellect would have been more appreciated.
He was Gaunteleted in 1217, but left in 1218 to get out from under his mater. Ironically enough, Julissa disappeared later in the year.