Ars Magica Definitive Edition, Chapter Ten: Long Term Events
Mystery Initiation
The process of Initiation into a Mystery is given a full treatment in The Mysteries Revised Edition, but a summary of the mechanics is provided here.
All of the Exoteric (that is, House) Mysteries are governed by a separate (House) Lore; thus there is a House Bjornaer Lore, a House Criamon Lore, a House Merinita Lore and a House Verditius Lore. Initiates who have not been apprenticed to a member of the House need at least (House) Lore 1; the Mystagogue for any Initiate must also know the same Lore, but generally needs a high level if the Initiation is to succeed. To grant the Initiate a new mystery Virtue, the Mystagogue generates an Initiation Total, which determines the success or failure of the Initiation:
| Initiation Total | Presence + (House) Lore + Script bonus |
Note that the Initiation Total is based on the scores of the Mystagogue. There is no die roll; if the total is higher than the required target level the Initiation succeeds. Initiation Scripts and their bonuses are described below, and examples are given in the Hermetic Magic chapter. The target for this total is the Initiation Target Level, which depends on the kind of Virtue to be initiated, Major or Minor:
| Initiate a Minor Virtue known by the Mystagogue | Ease factor 15 |
| Initiate a Major Virtue known by the Mystagogue | Ease factor 21 |
The Target Level is increased in the unlikely event that the Mystagogue does not know the Initiated Virtue. This is most often the case in the event of a maga who decides to try to Initiate herself in a Mystery Virtue without a Mystagogue, in which case the Initiate acts as her own Mystagogue and uses her own scores in the Initiation Total.
| Initiate a Minor Virtue not known by the Mystagogue | Ease factor 18 |
| Initiate a Major Virtue not known by the Mystagogue | Ease factor 30 |
In addition, if the Initiate underwent a previous Ordeal (gained a Flaw, lost a Virtue, or increased a Flaw from Minor to Major) for a previous Initiation, reduce the Target Level as follows:
| First initiation after an Ordeal | After a minor Ordeal: Ease factor -3 After a medium Ordeal: Ease factor -6 After a major Ordeal: Ease factor -9 |
| Second initiation after an Ordeal | After a minor Ordeal: Ease factor -3 After a medium Ordeal: Ease factor -4 After a major Ordeal: Ease factor -6 |
| Third initiation after an Ordeal | After a minor Ordeal: Ease factor -1 After a medium Ordeal: Ease factor -2 After a major Ordeal: Ease factor -3 |
Only one past Ordeal counts towards a new Initiation, and there is a minimum Target Level of 9 no matter how great a reduction is applied.
If the Initiation Total equals or exceeds the Target Level, then the Initiation succeeds automatically. No die roll is made — it is required merely to be properly prepared, and skilled enough to succeed.
If the Mystagogue's Initiation Total does not exceed the Target Level, the Mystagogue may be able to vary and extend the Script, to make it more effective. If that is still not enough (for example, no Script exists) then the Mystagogue can experiment to attempt to discover a Script.
The Initiation Script
This is a written text (similar to a Lab Text) which describes a successful Initiation and the process followed: the chants and methods, the places and times, and any sacrifices made. If this Script is followed exactly, the Script grants its bonus to the Initiation Total. Scripts usually detail the price of Initiation, which may take the form of an Initiation Ordeal (the acquisition of a Major or Minor Flaw, loss of a Major or Minor Virtue, or increasing a Minor Flaw to Major level), an Initiation Quest (a lengthy journey combined with a series of challenges), and/or an Initiation Sacrifice (of time, wealth, knowledge or power). The Scripts detailed in the Hermetic Magic chapter give the bonus contributed to the Initiation Total from each component of the Initiation Script involved. More details about Initiation Scripts can be found in The Mysteries Revised Edition, Chapter 2: Entering the Mysteries. That chapter includes details of the hazardous process of creating a new Script.
Example Elements of an Initiation Script
The Mysteries Revised Edition has many examples of different Script Bonuses, but the ones below are most commonly employed. See the following chapters for the bonuses of other Script elements:
| Script Bonus | Example script elements |
|---|---|
| +3 | Initiate has to be at a special place at a special time for the Initiation |
| +3 | Initiate has to complete a specific Quest |
| +1 | Initiate sacrifices time — serving another in the cult (one bonus only) |
| +1 | Initiate sacrifices material goods or wealth (this must entail real personal loss) |
| +3 to +6 | Initiate sacrifices something of great and symbolic value (familiar, talisman, powerful invested device) |
| +3 | the Initiate suffers an Ordeal inflicting a Minor Flaw or removing a Minor Virtue |
| +6 | the Initiate suffers an Ordeal increasing a Minor Flaw to Major level |
| +9 | the Initiate suffers an Ordeal inflicting a Major Flaw or removing a Major Virtue |
Varying a Script
It may be necessary for a Mystagogue to modify an Initiation Script; for example, to add additional elements to it to make a difficult Initiation possible for an inexperienced Mystagogue.
To vary the Script, the Mystagogue makes a test of
| Stress Die + Intelligence + (House) Lore vs. Ease Factor |
The Ease Factor is 9 to extend the Script by adding a new component, such as an additional Quest. A magus with lower Presence or (House) Lore will often try to extend a Script he has acquired.
The Ease Factor is 12 to make a change to a component, such as varying the place, the time, or the subject of a Quest. It is not possible to change which Virtue the Script Initiates; that requires a new Script.
The Mystagogue may only attempt one change in a given Initiation. If the test fails, the Initiation would fail (and the Mystagogue will know this), but the original Script (or a different variation) may be attempted in another Season. If the variation test roll succeeds, the modified Script is used as above to generate the Initiation Total, and if this equals or exceeds the Initiation Target level, the Initiation succeeds with no further rolls.
If a single change is not enough to make this Script work, then either a different Script is needed, or the Mystagogue must study more Cult Lore, or experiment.
Warping
Warping is the side effect of living in a strong supernatural aura, or being subject to supernatural effects over a long period of time. Every character has a Warping Score, which is increased like an Ability, but by Warping Points rather than experience points. To increase the Warping Score by one point, a character needs five times the new score extra Warping Points. Thus, to increase from a Warping Score of 2 to one of 3, a character must gain 15 Warping Points.
Warping Points can be gained from exposure to any of the supernatural realms, Divine, Faerie, Infernal, or Magic. The points are not distinguished based on their source.
| Warping Score | Warping Points to reach | Warping Points to increase to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 2 | 15 | 10 |
| 3 | 30 | 15 |
| 4 | 50 | 20 |
| 5 | 75 | 25 |
| and so on... |
Gaining Warping Points
There are four main sources of Warping Points:
- Living in a strong (6 or higher) supernatural aura.
- Being affected by a powerful supernatural effect, unless you created the effect, or it was designed especially for you.
- Being continuously under the influence of a supernatural effect, whether powerful or not.
- Botching a roll to use a supernatural ability.
Note that these are separate sources of Warping Points. Thus, if a magus designs a powerful supernatural effect, such as a Longevity Ritual, for himself, he doesn't gain Warping Points for being under a powerful supernatural effect, but he does gain them from being under a continuous supernatural effect.
All sources of Warping Points stack. A character continuously affected by a strong supernatural effect that wasn't designed for him and that he didn't cast gains Warping Points both from being affected by a strong supernatural effect, and for being continuously under the influence of a supernatural effect.
Warping and Non-Humans
Other mundane creatures and things are also warped by mystical effects. However, keeping track of the Warping Scores of every table in the covenant is unlikely to be fun. Instead, the storyguide should just describe interesting effects, as required. The rules for humans give an idea as to when the effects should be visible, and as to how serious they should be. Creatures with a Might score are absolutely immune to warping. They are already fully part of one of the supernatural realms.
Living in Strong Auras
Auras of over five points have an effect on anyone living within them, reflected in gaining Warping Points. The number of points gained depends on the strength of the aura and the length of time spent there.
A character is "always within" an aura if she lives, works, and sleeps there. Occasional visits outside the aura do not matter. "Half time within" applies to someone who sleeps in the aura but works elsewhere, or vice-versa. It also covers someone who spends two weeks constantly in an aura, and two weeks outside. "Frequent visits" means that the character spends about a quarter of her time in the aura.
This time refers to the total length of time spent in an aura, even if there are several different auras involved. Time spent in higher auras may be treated as time in a lower aura if this increases the number of Warping Points gained. For example, a character who spends half her time in a level 6 aura, with frequent visits to level 7 and 8 auras, should gain one Warping Point per year, because she is always in an aura of at least level 6.
| Aura Strength | Always within | Half time within | Frequent visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1/year | None | None |
| 7 | 1/year | 1 per 2 years | None |
| 8 | 2/year | 1/year | None |
| 9 | 1/season | 2/year | 1/year |
| 10 | 1/month | 1/season | 2/yer |
Characters with supernatural abilities arising from the same realm as the aura (for example, Hermetic magi in a Magical aura) do not gain Warping Points from living in the aura. They may gain them from other sources.
Powerful Supernatural Effects
Anyone subjected to a powerful supernatural effect gains a Warping Point, unless they themselves were responsible for the effect or it was specifically and carefully designed to work on them. 'Powerful effect' is subjective, but any Hermetic spell of sixth magnitude or higher counts. Designing an effect for a particular target requires, in Hermetic terms, that a special version of a Formulaic spell be invented. The spell has its effect on anyone, but only the designated target, and the caster, do not suffer Warping unless the effect is also continuous. Hermetic Longevity Rituals are always designed for a specific target. If the effect is continuous, a Warping Point is gained when it begins and every season thereafter. Ritual effects with Momentary duration are not continuous, but do grant a Warping Point when first applied if they are neither cast by the target nor specifically designed for the target.
Constant Supernatural Effects
A character who is constantly under the influence of one or more active supernatural effects gains one Warping Point per year for each effect. The strength of the effect is irrelevant, as is the caster, and whether or not the effect was designed specifically for a certain person.
A character is only under the influence of an effect if she is affected directly and personally. Thus, a character enchanted to fly at all times is under the influence of an effect, but a character living in a flying castle need not be; the castle is directly affected by the magic.
Wards are active mystical effects as long as they are protecting someone. Two notable exceptions are Parma Magica and the Aegis of the Hearth, which are based on the same breakthrough by Bonisagus.
Effects with Momentary duration are not continuing effects. A Hermetic Longevity Ritual is, and thus grants one Warping Point per year as a continuing supernatural effect even though it does not grant any Warping Points as a powerful supernatural effect. The binding between a Hermetic magus and his familiar or Talisman does not grant Warping Points, nor do any powers enchanted into the bond.
An effect which is active for half the time counts as constant for these purposes. Less than that, and it does not. Further, it also counts if the character is under the influence of some supernatural effect or other for half the time, even if the particular supernatural effect changes. A character under the effect of a different Sun Duration spell from sunrise to sunset every day for a year would gain a Warping Point.
A powerful, continuous effect that is not specifically designed for an individual grants one Warping Point when first applied, and five every year thereafter: one because it is a continuous supernatural effect and one per season (four total) because it is a continuous powerful supernatural effect.
| Type of effect | Designed for/cast by subject | Not designed for or cast by subject |
|---|---|---|
| Brief Effect, Low Power | 0 | 0 |
| Brief Effect, High Power | 0 | 1 |
| Constant Effect, Low Power | 1/year | 1/year |
| Constant Effect, High Power | 1/year | 1 when cast, + 1/year + 1/season |
Supernatural Botches
When a character botches the roll to invoke a supernatural effect (for example, a Hermetic spell or a Supernatural Ability), she gains one Warping Point for every zero on the botch dice.
Effects of Warping
The effects of warping depend on a character's Warping Score, the nature of the character, and the source of the warping.
Hermetic magi are made more prone to Wizard's Twilight by their Warping Score. This replaces the normal effects.
Mundane characters gain a Minor Flaw when they reach a Warping Score of one. Note that most inhabitants of Mythic Europe have no Warping Points at all, because they live in a low aura and have never been the subject of a supernatural effect. Even those who have been affected by a powerful supernatural effect once only have one Warping Point, not enough for a Minor Flaw.
This Minor Flaw should reflect the predominant source of the Warping Points. If they are mainly due to an aura, the Minor Flaw will reflect the aura, and most characters will get the same Minor Flaw. If they are mainly due to magical effects, they will reflect the effect. For example, a character who has been repeatedly healed with powerful magic might gain a stigmatic wound, which neither hurts nor causes damage, but looks and feels real.
When the Warping Score reaches 3, the character gains a second Minor Flaw.
At a Warping Score of 5, the character gains a supernatural Minor Virtue attuned to the primary source of Warping Points. This stops any further gain of points from living in a strong aura of the same type as the Minor Virtue.
At a Warping Score of 6, and every point thereafter, the character gains a Major Flaw appropriate to the main sources of the warping.
Attribution
Content originally published in Ars Magica: Definitive Edition, ©2024, licensed by Trident, Inc. d/b/a Atlas Games®, under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license 4.0 ("CC-BY-SA 4.0)