Roland du Crest

(Last update: 19/6/96)

(this page written by Patrick Rosa)

One of the probationary members of the covenant, Roland has not yet proven himself. With him, Malinbois is now the covenant harbouring most of the Magi of House Bjornaer in the whole tribunal.

Basic Stats

Name: Roland Du Crest
House: Bjornaer
Parens: Manoel
Gender: Male
Current Year: 1235AD
Age: 29
Year Born: 1206AD
Decrepitude: 0
Size: 0
Confidence: 3
Height: 1m59
Weight: 68 kg

Appearance

Roland's appearance denotes both his status of magus and his nobleborn blood. Of average height, and no particular handsomeness, with dark hair cropped short and hazel eyes, he distinguishes himself by the leanness of his frame, while giving an impression of robustness and endurance. Something, maybe the frequent strange reflections in his eyes or the rather pointy teeth he sometimes shows in quick smiles, leaves you with the indubitable impression that you are confronting a Magus, and so thought Roland's family. Roland is usually garbed as suits a nobleman of his rank, at least as much as his current state of fortune allows him to afford it, with leather boots, chausses of black linen, a white linen shirt and a black silver-streaked velvet pourpoint, when he is not wearing his armour and honing his warskills.

Origins

Roland is the eldest son of a viscount who went to the new-found kingdom of Portugal, to fight against the Saracens and gain new lands. His father obtained a high position in the court of King Afonso Henriques, and Roland was brought up according to his status, learning the arts of war and training for knighthood. Unfortunately for him, his Gift revealed itself whilst he was in his late teens, and he was disherited and forced to take refuge by an old Bjornaer Magus, Manoel, who lived in the mountains close to the castle of his father. He helped him to find his Heart-Shape, and trained him as best as he could, without all the facilities at his disposal. But his family couldn't stand the situation, and Roland, after having obtained his Gauntlet, was forced to flee the kingdom, his only friend back home, a Welsh bard named Laed O'Brian, having warned him that his family intented to bring him to trial as an heretic. Roland was able to escape when his brothers chased him and his master while they were in their other skin, but Manoel was slain. He had only time to collect his arms, his warhorse RocArdent, and some food before his family resumed the chase. Thus he arrived at the Covenant of Malinbois, after having at last lost his pursuers in the Pyrenees Mountains, and was there warmly welcomed, his talents as warrior and magus being needed at that time. He is still settling himself in this new country, and with those new friends. His friend Laed followed him and joined the covenant some time later.

Characteristics

Int: +2 (Pragmatic)
Per: 0
Str: 0
Stm: +2 (Strong Constitution)
Prs: 0
Com: -1 (Slurred Speech)
Dex: +3 (Deft Hand)
Qik: +3 (Swift)

Personality Traits

Wolf: +2
Hatred towards his family: +3

Reputations

Back in Portugal and certainly in the region of Troyes where his family is from:

Heretic +2

Virtues and Flaws

Heart-Beast (Wolf) +2
Special Circumstances (while in a pack of more than 7 people) +1
Strong Willed +1
Extra Arts +1
Life-Linked Spontaneous Magic +3
Enduring Constitution +1
Light Sleeper +1
The Blatant Gift -1
Incomprehensible -2
Uncommon Fear (riders charging him down) -1
Minor Magical Deficiency (Perdo) -1
Susceptible to Faerie Power -4
Black Sheep -1

Abilities

Speak French (Nobleborn Speak) 4
Speak Latin (Hermetic terms) 5
Hermes Lore (Politics) 2
Scribe Latin (Encoding) 3
Athletics (Sprint) 2
Dodge (vs Thrusting Attack) 2
Survival (Woods) 2
Track (Woods) 2
Ride (Warhorse) 3
Broadsword Attack (Charging) 3
Broadsword Parry (Wild melees) 2

Magical Stats

Twilight Points: 0
Longevity Potion: none
Casting Speed: +4
Targeting: +1
Shapefinding: 4+Aura

Abilities

Certamen (Creo) 1
Finesse (Vim) 1
Magic Theory (Potions) 5
Parma Magica (Perdo) 2
Will Over Form (Wolf) 1

Wizard's Sigil

The faint sound of many padded feet, surrounding the place where the spell was cast.

Effects of Twilight

None yet.

Arts

Roland is something of an oddity at the covenant: he is a generalist.

Creo 7
Intellego 6
Muto 6
Perdo 0
Rego 4
Animal 7
Aquam 4
Auram 4
Corpus 5
Herbam 4
Ignem 0
Imaginem 0
Mentem 0
Terram 4
Vim 5

Spells

Tongue of the Beast (InAn 20)
Weaver's Trap of Webs (CrAn 20)
Voice for the Bjornaer (MuCo/An 20)
Mighty Torrent of water (CrAq 20)
Beast of Outlandish Size (MuAn 20)
Lungs of the Fish (MuAq/Au 10)
The Inexorable Search (InCo 20)
Perceive the Magical Scent (InVi 20)

Combat Stats

Soak: +10
Fatigue: -2
Dodge: +1
Load: 4
Encumbrance: 4
Body Levels: OK 0 0 -2 -4 I
Fatigue Levels: OK 0 0 -2 -4 I

Weapons

Broadsword 1st +9, Atk +10, Dam +9, Par +8
his warhorse RocArdent, with whom he is fully trained

Armour

Cuirass Chain-mail: Protection +8, Load +3.5

Notes

Roland is the newcomer Magus to the covenant, and his deeds have still to find a place in the mighty story of the place. But we could say that he already distinguished himself by the `nobleness' of his behaviour, which incited him to defy a knight in order to defend the right of a pucelle to live her life (to be apprenticed at the covenant), a duel that he won, and to defy in Certamen Magus Hammas of Windgraven, who crushed him at the first blow, to defend his honour (well, one can't always win).

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