My Apex Atlantica saga was winding down. The group was going it's separates ways due to jobs, families, and new homes. Struggling in the dying glory of the Romanoi (Byzantine) Empire of 1180 was proving to be great melodrama, but also a bit depressing. Perhaps I played up the senescence of the Empire, or it's intrigues too much. The growing political turmoil in the Order of Hermes has made great fodder for a couple of characters, but those players could no longer show.
The final blow came with the purchase of a new house by myself, the Alpha Gamemaster. A new location would be a problem for a number of players. My one time group of eleven Ars Magica players (!) had now shrunk to three including myself. Perhaps other GM's would be disappointed, or immediately try to fill out to a full group of six to eight players.
Not me. For once, I would get the chance to play my Custos, companions and the various bit part characters. A pearl of wisdom for other gamers out there: the more players, the less time YOU get to play. I personally find five players plus a gamemaster is great, but with the right group smaller is better.
With the now shrunken group, we decided to take a different turn with playing Ars Magica. We had started with the classic 1190 Mistridge saga, graduated to a Stonehenge saga in the 1200's, then went to a Channel Islands saga in 1190, followed by a departure to the Order in the 1300's and migrating en mass to the strange new world of Novamir, and lastly surviving the intrigues of the dying Eastern Roman Empire. After much debate and discussion, we went to a new area and a time we have not played before.
We chose Hibernia (Ireland, Eire) and the summer of the Order - 850 A.D.
The saga was during the Summer years of the Order. The last Founder, Tremere, has gone into final Twilight along with his plans for dominating the order. New multi-house covenants are being founded and the boundaries of the known world are being pushed back by second and third generation Hermetic magi. In this summer, a letter from Hibernia was sent to the heart of the Order. Two magi, rebellious and outcast by their peers went to the end of the Earth to found a covenant where they could realized their dreams unfettered by the emerging factionalism of the Order. These two magi, Nereus of House Jerbiton and Morcelab of House Criamon would journey from Genoa to Ireland and meet Etain Ex Miscellany on the misty lake islands that are known as the Nine Sisters of Sinead.
We wanted a situation that was primitive, and were the rules were not set. It could be our characters that change what later becomes the Code of Hermes with our decisions and actions. We would not be dealing with ancients courts and elder beings, but with the vital and fractious tribes of Celtic Hibernia.
Originally the group consisted of Martin Kick (MK) as the alpha GM, with Rob Angeloni (RA) and myself, Matthew Iskra (MI) as players. We were joined recently by a long standing member of our old group, Josh Killen (JK). NPC refers to Non Player Characters.
| Character | Player | Background | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magus Nereus Jerbitoni | MI | Eastern Roman | Classically trained and Hopalite armed. |
| Smudge | MI | Cruithne | Dobhran (otter) clan, Skinchanger, acrobat and clown, sometime partner in crime with Laogh |
| Droston Smithson | MI | Cruithne | Iasgair (osprey) Clan, Captain of the XX, dour |
| Desmond O'Bolan | MI | Gaelic | Sergeant of the Custodes, has a temper to match his red hair - a product of a Viking heritage he loaths |
| Maga Etain Ex Miscellany | MK | Cruithne | Herbalist, Crafts charms and banes |
| Magus Johan Tytalus | MK | Saxon | |
| Redcap Tevel | MK | Jew | Andalusian (Muslim Iberia) |
| Orleanus (Morleo) | MK | Cruithne | apprentice to Nereus |
| Ulade | MK | Italian | Steward of the Covenant |
| Magus Morceleb Criamoni | RA | Italian | Muto Specialist |
| Theron Metaxes | RA | Eastern Roman | Master Smith, Servant to Nereus |
| Laogh | RA | Cruithne | Puissant thief |
| Melreai | MK | Gaelic | very young percamenarius, scribe, and illuminator |
| Yahag the Ugly | RA | Gaelic | Cook, chirugeon, warrior |
| Peter Ulrichson | MK | Norman | Knight |
| Calabanas | MK | Gaelic | Monk of Clonmacnois |
There is a spreadsheet with a summary of the characters, including many NPCs.
Ireland has become the "Silicon Valley" of Europe. Throughout Irish history there has been a great respect for history and the written word. This great depth
Irelands Millenium
http://www.rte.ie/culture/millennia/history/0500.html