Fionn mac Mathgen

(Last update: 19/10/96)

(this page written by Richard Peaty)

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One of the founder members of Malinbois, Fionn was elected Disceptator (Council Chairman) after Mandator's `accident'. This was after several years of no-confidence voting against Odette. He narrowly beat Serina in a secret ballot. He visited Anglesey to learn Druidic lore and cope with the loss of his familiar, Peist, and has recently embarked on some extended `research' in the woods, culminating in the appearance of his new familiar, Mawredd, with whom he is not on the most cordial of terms. He is definitely worried about the forthcoming Tribunal.
In a recent political move, the Founding Magi of Malinbois elected themselves into a sort of Magus Emeritus position, relinquishing their positions on the council and semi-retiring. Fionn is currently setting up his laboratory on the Island of Leucate to get away from it all, and buckle down to some serious lab work.
Now all Fionn needs to do is avoid his familiar, Mawredd, and his nagging apprentice, Brigit, and son (Felimid).

Basic Stats

Name: Fionn mac Mathgen mac Diarmait
House: Ex Miscellanea (nee Diedne)
Parens: Mathgen mac Diarmait
Gender: Male
Current Year: 1241 AD
Age: 66
Year Born: 1175 AD
Decrepitude: 0
Size: 0
Confidence: 5
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 170lbs

Appearance

When last seen, Fionn was of unpresupposing build, with black shoulder length hair. Mixed in with the hair are willow leaves which change with the seasons, dropping in autumn and budding again in spring (The result of a botched final strike on Mandator a quarter of a century ago).

He has grey, unblinking eyes, a legacy from his familiar, along with slightly prominent canines, and a forked tongue. He wears moth-eaten and dirty brown or green tunics, but keeps himself clean. Over this he either wears a heavy woolen cloak covered in tiny multicoloured feathers, a powerful artifact from his magical forefathers, the Druids, or an Antlered shawl and helmet, given to him in his capacity as High Priest of Coffa, a Pagan fertility deity.

Fionn now has a new appearance, he has neatly shaved and trimmed hair, although he still has a small beard. He wears clean white robes under the Tuigen and he often walks around with an unknown man, similarly dressed, who carries a tall staff, Validus Vindex, in his right-hand. This man looks similar to Fionn's parens, Mathgen mac Diarmait, but is actually Fionn's Talisman. His hair is now bereft of any foliage.

Origins

Fionn served his apprenticeship, under Mathgen (His Master and natural father), in the covenant Circulus Ruber (Hibernian Tribunal) apart from the last year, when he went with his Parens to Provence. Mathgen left him at Mistridge to go on business of his own, so Fionn passed his gauntlet in Mistridge along with the four other founders of Malinbois, in 1197 AD. Fionn's Great-Great-Grandfather left House Diedne just before the Schism war, in 1003 AD, and joined House Ex Miscellanea. The other druids considered him a traitor, and he called himself and his son Corrguineach (Sorcerers) to avoid discovery.

Characteristics

Personality Traits

Due to a recent excursion to Barcelona, where Fionn held off and imprisoned a Demon, until it was killed, Fionn has rid himself of his fears and is braver than ever. He still likes his privacy and, combined with his curiosity, means that he is well suited to the internal politics of Malinbois, as such he has not divulged all of the information shown to anyone. He still has many characteristics from his familiar, and has acquired a taste for raw mice. He has a deep seated desire for vengeance and will often wait years before acting on this.
(Due to Familiar bonds all extrovert Personality traits are increase in Fay auras)

Reputations

Virtues and Flaws

It has been noticed that when he casts magic his features assume a briefly reptilian cast (Warped Magic) although this is less noticable due to his snake like visage. He dislikes affecting reptiles with his magic (Restriction) and has often mentioned his dislike of Perdition magic (Magical Deficiency). Due to a fractured skull, obtained from a winged horse, he has a poor memory for names, and his magic is now openly noticed by mundanes after a twilight exposure (Blatant Magic). He has a piercing stare (Entrancement) and is noted for his affinity with nature. He lost his Deadly Gaze when Peist died, and along with this, a Magic might. He has learnt much about Faerie Magic.

Since his return from Anglesey, it has been noticed that he has been able to exceed his magical capabilities in some circumstances, without delaying the casting of the spell.

Due to his new familiar he also seems to be able to harness the powers of the Shawl of Coffa to enable him to shapechange into Mawredd's form. This does have it's side effects since Mawredd likes to challenge Fionn in the rutting season.

Abilities

Magical Stats

Twilight Points: 11 (All through twilight)
Longevity Potion: -12 (Soon to be replaced)
Casting Speed: +3
Targeting: +7

Abilities

Wizard's Sigil

The faint sound of a rattle is heard by people in the immediate vicinity.

Arts

Spells

(Can Master Spontaneous spells as Formulaic, the rest are regular `Sponts')

Combat Stats

Soak: +18
Fatigue: +1
Active Dodge: +1
Passive Dodge: +1
Load: 2
Encumbrance: 2
Body Levels: OK 0 -1 -3 -5 I
Fatigue Levels: OK 0 -1 -3 -5 I

Weapons

Armour

Vis Stores

Due to the usefulness of a good spontaneous expert, Fionn tended to get dragged along on almost every expedition. Since he had virtually no need to learn spells, the only reasons for staying were to study, or create items. This meant he accumulated vast stores of Vis, larger than the current covenant store. Like Callidus, and most of the Magi (Except Serina) he is accumulating Vim vis for an item.

Fionn has now used roughly 175 pawns of vis to date since he at last got round to opening the enchantment on his staff, and now has a vastly reduced personal store of vis.

Most of this is due to the completion of the enchantment on his new familiar, Mawredd, and the recent opening of the enchantment on Validus Vindex, in which he used up approximately Eight Rooks of VIM vis in seven seasons. This has somewhat depleted his stores, and he only has about two rooks left.

He also has 2 pawns of Vim/Corpus mixed as a pink powder.

Magic Items

Fionn has several magical items, some minor, some works of great power, all constructed in his Good quality laboratory (+1).

Notes

Fionn's Parens, Mathgen, visited briefly in 1208 AD, after a twelve year absence and revealed that Fionn is a fourth generation Druid. In 1214 he took up the post as High Priest of Coffa, in the regio of Queen Eleri, on Horn hill. He returned to Malinbois seven years later, now versed in Faerie Magic.
Since this experience, Fionn has helped retrieve a new spirit for Mandator, from the underworld, been cursed by Hades, successfully fought off a Demon in Barcelona, travelled south of the Ring of Fire, and, perhaps his most enjoyable experience of all, changed Mandator into a Merrow (He did ask for it).

Fionn is one of the more popular Magi in Malinbois, he has cultivated good relations with the covenfolk, and the Magi often call for his aid in healing and other spells.
He has proved his worth in fighting by `taking out' two of the four attacking knights, using his `Transformation of the Sturdy Steed...' and `Transformation of the Treacherous Armour' spells. The result was a squashed frog, and a dead knight with body piercing after falling off a horse (Neigh-Rebbit, Splat, Arrgh).
He has recently become more confident since his Barcelona visit, but has suffered a severe blow after the loss of Peist to Simon's daggers. He is has come to terms with his grief. But his new familiar, Mawredd does not make up for this loss, and so they are not on the best of terms.

Whilst attending the Merinita party at the Tribunal of 1235 Fionn was turned into a Bandersnatch (not of the Fruminous kind), a drunk Donkey and also had his clothes stolen (apart from his Tuigen), but this is natural at Merinita parties. He also changed the relationship he has with his apprentice Brigit when they visited the Satyr wood.
Although several allegations were brought up at the tribunal against Fionn (caused by Simon's false accusations), none of these were proven and Fionn was vindicated.
In the Tribunal, a group of Shadow Flambeau attempted a suicide mission, to assassinate the Praeco and several Flambeau, including Archmage Tertious. Due to Fionn's help, along with others from Malinbois, he was publicly thanked for his part in thwarting this attack.

News Flash

In the winter of 1235 Fionn and Brigit have been blessed with a gifted son. He has not yet been named but it is a toss-up between Fal, Diarmait, Felimid and other ancestral names. At the moment I think that Felimid is in the lead.
Felimid it is and the gifted youngster is probably going to be taught by his parents.

Simon

When Fionn was in charge of the Caterva in Barcelona, Simon twice disobeyed direct orders to stop running off, and explain where he was going. When the Caterva returned, Fionn brought this up at Council, and it was decided that Simon should be punished, with Fionn deciding the punishment. Simon was demoted to the status of Grog for one season, but he avoided this by deserting his post and running away. He was not redisciplined on his return, and since then Simon and Fionn have been enemies. Which is strange since Odette gave Simon to a dragon for a sword, and Simon did not hate her (Fionn recently found out that Simon volunteered, if he had known this before he might have been on his guard). The entire affair climaxed in an infernal aura in the Forest of Shadrishel, when several grogs, Simon included, were `persuaded' to attack their own party, and not the attacking Demons. During the fray several deaths occured (See the Graveyard in 1228), and Simon stabbed Peist twice while he stood over Fionn's prone body. When Fionn recovered he immediately used his deadly gaze, which drained out of him then, and Simon had no chance. Contrary to popular belief Simon did not have time for any last words.

Mandator

Fionn and Mandator had a friendly rivalry, Fionn was annoyed by Mandator's arrogance and dangerous incompetance, and did not hide this. So when Mandator asked Fionn to change him into a Merrow to break a curse, Fionn was eager to oblige. Unfortunately, the spell was more powerful than anticipated and Mandator swam off never to return.

The Curse of Hades

This befell Fionn and Callidus, when they swore several things to Hades in return for Mandator's new spirit. Whilst Fionn was away, Callidus headed a vote against upholding these oaths and called down the curse. Fionn only found this out after several bad events. The curse is now broken.
Fionn took an apprentice from the worshippers of Coffa, in St. Etienne, Brigit, in 1225, and has recently been learning druid lore. He spent a couple of years in Anglesey and then, after gathering enough Vim vis, completed his Talisman, Validus Vindex.
Brigit passed her gauntlet on the Autumn equinox in 1240 and is currently residing with Fionn. She will probably request membership at Malinbois soon.

Fionns plans to get a Faerie Familiar succeeded beyond his wildest dreams (and his darkest nightmares), and he still plans on dabbling in `Faerie-mentalism'.
Fionn has several revenge plans on the go, he was also plotting with Imanitos to help him bed Eloise. Only one plan is known by others (Ask Callidus and Serina) but the object of this is no longer present.
What no-one realises is that Fionn is behind Ciaron's major work `The Lay of Lunantha' - Revenge is sweet.

Fionn's tasks he has set himself are to complete his Talisman and pass it on to his apprentice if she is worthy of it. He has also been thinking about trying for an Archmage's place, but he knows this is nigh-on impossible.
Now that Fionn has passed the reins of power on he has more time to devote to his studies, and goals.

Final Update and Future Plans

Fionn was going to finish installing all the effects into Validus Vindex (as listed on his Items page) before giving it to Brigit, who would then add more knowledge and pass it on to Felimid, etc.
He was also planning to attempt to become an Archmage, and was going to make the whole Island his sanctum (mainly to stop the unwanted incursions by flying Bjornaer, and the vis extraction endangering the aura), then he would make a regio on the Island.

Due to his Familiar, Fionn would live to the ripe old age of about 130 before his longevity potion had a chance of failing, and he would increase this by retuning his familiar bonds.

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