Character Background for Order of Hermes (at Fudarus Covenant): Lydia Leong: Viviane, filia of Athanasius, follower of Tytalus Viviane's vulgar parents were low-ranking nobility in one of the smaller cities in France. As their only child, Viviane was given whatever they could afford, and more; the aristocratic lifestyle that they were forced to keep strained the meager income of Vivane's father, but the child received as good an education as a girl could be expected to get; she could read and write, sing, play the flute, paint, and embroider. A small, quiet, unassuming child, she was fortunate enough to be one of those rare children with the Gift who grow up quite happily. Her talents with music were a source of pride to her parents, and it was said that her playing or singing could move one to tears. When Viviane was twelve years old, she sang at a court function, together with some other girls of her age. There she was spotted by Athanasius, who was passing through at the time. The magus, realizing that more than just simple musical talent was at work here, arranged to kidnap the girl for further examination. When he assured himself that she had the Gift, he took the girl back to Fudarus, keeping her in a magical slumber for the duration of the journey. Athanasius coolly explained to her, once they had returned to the Covenant, the meaning of her magical potential. Viviane was profoundly disinterested; she had little desire for power. Anthanasius adopted an attitude of "learn or starve", deciding that even if Vivian refused, at least the girl would gain a little backbone. Thus began the relationship between master and apprentice: one of Viviane willfully refusing to do what Athanasius wanted, and the magus finding ways of forcing her to do it anyway. Eventually, Viviane resigned herself to her apprenticeship, and slowly, she became fascinated by the world that the Gift opened up to her. No longer would she be expected to simply be suitable for marriage to someone of lofty rank; now, she could indulge her own passion for quiet study and contemplation. A Bonisagus might have encouraged these scholarly inclinations; Athanasius, however, was fond of goading his apprentice into various contests of will. When she most wanted to study, he set her to stirring the cauldrons. When she was weary of the difficult exercises needed to train the discipline required for mastery of magic, and wished only to numb herself in some menial task, he forced her to recite back complex lessons. Under his whimsical and unforgiving tutelage, Viviane became far more forceful and willful, inclined to speak her mind, though, much to Athanasius' irritation, she never completely lost her quiet, calm demeanor. The years did not pass happily, but they did pass productively. Over time, Viviane took on many of Athanasius' beliefs, and followed in the traditions of House Tytalus; she is a perfectionist, and becomes irrationally irritated at incompetence in others -- there is no room for mistakes in her life. Viviane, however, insisted on clinging to some shreds of her former life, perhaps best represented by the flute that she keeps with her at all times, save when it is impossible, and even then, she always keeps some small musical instrument about her person. She still has a distinct fascination for new forms of music, particularly that which is intricately beautiful. She is religious in a sort of panicked way, intent on keeping her soul clean; she is quick to see diabolical influence everywhere, thanks to the teachings of her master. Her Gift was strong, though she did not excel in any area in particular, save for a natural aptitude for elemental magic. She managed to pass the Gauntlet that Athanasius set for her, but Athanasius, believing her to still be too "soft" to be a proper Tytalus, angrily denies that she fairly received her Sigil, claiming that he made the test too easy. Thus, he still does not believe that she deserves the title of magus, and takes every opportunity to make this known. Viviane is determined to do everything she can to prove herself worthy of him. She at once despises, loves, and respects him, something very much in the mold of typical Tytalus parens-filia relationships. She is not ambitious for herself; her desire for personal achivement comes from this need to show Athanasius that she _is_ a true Tytalus, despite how contrary this runs to her "true" nature. She is thus quite a troubled young woman: she has come to believe in the values that her master has expoused, yet she feels unable to live up to them, and some part of her yearns for the simpler lives of the mortals, even as she is driven to increase her own magical powers. She often spends a great deal of time alone, playing the flute, and contemplating life. She also takes the opportunity to travel, whenever possible, since she feels quite comfortable around the mundanes, and they, in turn, do not seem to be disturbed by her Gift. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Viviane, filia of Athanasius, follower of Tytalus Age 27 Size 0 Intelligence +5 (creative) Perception +3 (probing) Strength -2 (small frame) Stamina +4 (forceful personality) Presence +1 (soothing composure) Communication +1 (eloquent) Dexterity +1 (nimble fingers) Quickness 0 Virtues and Flaws ----------------- Aptitude With Elements +4 Enchanting Music +2 Gentle Gift +1 Highly Skilled +3 Compulsion -1 (perfection) Delusion -1 (sees diabolical influence in everything) Driving Goal -1 (proving herself worthy of her master) Dutybound -1 (religious code of conduct) No Familiar -2 Obsession -1 (keeps a musical instrument near at all times) Sensitive -1 (incompetence) Tormenting Master -1 Weakness -1 (intricately beautiful music) Talents / Skills / Knowledges ----------------------------- Speak French 4 0 (scholarly) Speak Latin 5 0 (precision) Scribe Latin 3 0 Alertness 1 1 (traps) Certamen 3 6 (Terram) Church Knowledge 2 3 (heresy) Concentration 3 6 (ignoring pain) Debate 1 1 (conversation) Dodge 1 1 (reaction to surprise attack) Enchanting Music 2 3 (anger) Enigmatic Wisdom 1 1 (interpreting dreams) Finesse 2 3 (Terram) Intimidation 1 1 (subtle) Hermes Lore 2 0 (politics) Hermes History 2 0 (conflicts) Hermetic Law 1 1 (Tribunal etiquette) Humanities 1 1 (arts) Intrigue 1 1 (gossip) Legerdemain 1 1 (prestidigitation) Magic Theory 5 0 (inventing spells) Meditation 2 3 (controlling emotions) Parma Magica 3 3 (Ignem) Penetration 3 6 (Rego) Play Flute 2 3 (improvisation) Sing 1 1 (ballads) Subterfuge 1 1 (con) Arts ---- Creo 6 Animal 0 Ignem 4 Int'go 4 Aquam 1 Imagonem 5 Muto 4 Auram 2 Mentem 5 Perdo 5 Corporem 4 Terram 6 Rego 5 Herbam 1 Vim 2 Spells ------ PeCo 10 Grip of the Choking Hand p.209 CrIg 20 Pilum of Fire p.216 MuIm 20 Image Phantom p.220 PeIm 15 Invisibility of the Standing Wizard p.221 PeMe 20 Lost of But a Moment's Memory p.225 ReMe 15 Call To Slumber p.225 ReMe 20 Aura of Rightful Authority p.225 CrTe 15 Stone of the Hundred Shards p.226 ReTe 15 The Invisible Hand of the Thief p.230