Gerulf Waldenhof

Player: Ulfengaard

House: Tremere

Age: 26

Confidence: 1(3)

History

Gerulf was born in Esztergom, where it was believed he would become a respected infantryman, like his father. However, the manifestation of his gift left Gerulf in a precarious position with his parents, and he was often left alone and learned to care for himself at a young age. Gerulf seemed born with loyalty in his blood, and he never failed to do whatever was asked of him by his parents and to behave honorably in spite of the suspicion of others.

Gerulf met Bedrich when they were both children. Both came up in the hard life of poverty, but Bedrich, being gently gifted, was able to have friends. Gerulf was not. A group of children, Bedrich at their head, caught Gerulf in an alleyway that they had decided was their 'territory'. The boys were well-known in the town as troublemakers. They cornered Gerulf and tried to 'teach him a lesson'. Gerulf easily bested two of them (as much through intimidation as through any martial skill) before Bedrich, who could feel something unsettling in Gerulf, stayed their assault. With grudging respect, the boys let Gerulf go and, after a time, Gerulf became strange friends with Bedrich, though Bedrich always mistrusted Gerulf.

Through most of their childhoods Gerulf and Bedrich remained friends. But, the bullying of Bedrich's early years left its mark on the relationship. Gerulf, seeing Bedrich as prideful and aggressive, became more aloof as they grew into young men. Bedrich, in turn, pressured Gerulf for time and attention. The conflict came to a head, at last, in a physical confrontation. Gerulf, cool-headed and steady, was able to overcome Bedrich's angry assaults, in spite of the latter's greater physical prowess. As a result, the friendship between them was broken, and resentment rooted itself deeply in Bedrich.

Bedrich and Gerulf stayed apart from each other as much as was possible around town. However, the merchant's faire was a major event which almost all town residents would attend, being that Esztergom was a hub of craftsmen. Gerulf watched from afar, as he often did, having become accustomed to the power of the gift to repel others or, worse, invite their ire. Bedrich, though, had plans for the faire. He and two of his confederates hatched some plans for unwholesome fun. Area nobility attended the faire as well, a few with small retinues. So it was that, in the midst of lifting a small trinket from a merchant's stand, Bedrich was caught by one of Lord Vaclav's personal guard. They had sense enough to drag Bedrich behind one of the buildings for some small privacy before they commenced beating Bedrich severely. Gerulf ran to help his childhood friend, but was warned away at the point of a sword by one of the three guards. The commotion, however, drew the attention of the crowd, including the merchant who immediately petitioned Lord Vaclav to stop his guards. With reluctance, he did so, perhaps desiring to appear merciful to a rather large group of merchants and several other nobles and their relations. As the crowd began to disperse, Gerulf attempted to aid Bedrich, who was near-unconscious. The merchant sensed Gerulf's gift and, though he kept his distance, he asked Gerulf to accompany him. Gerulf, though, would not leave without Bedrich, in spite of Bedrich's weak protests. The merchant took them both along with him to meet one of his suppliers, a gently gifted magus who thereupon made the necessary arrangements with the boys' parents and conveyed them to a covenant where both began their training.

If Gerulf thought his situation had improved, he quickly found himself mistaken. While the covenant was wondrous and his physical needs were quite taken care of, his pater was unyielding and could be cruel. In addition, Gerulf, who had grown accustomed to the freedom of solitude, found the structured life that was apprenticeship in House Tremere very constricting and somewhat confusing. He adapted as best he could, but in many ways, he is a disappointment to his pater. He acquired the traits of loyalty and obedience, but he lacked the ambition that characterizes the very best of the Tremere lineage. Some parens prefer to keep their apprentices close, if they have the choice. Not so with Gerulf's pater, who, through political means, has sent him to the far-flung edge of the continent, away from the covenant and from Transylvania. It remains to be seen whether Gerulf will ever satisfy his pater's expectations. Bedrich never forgave Gerulf for coming to his rescue (though Gerulf claimed nothing of the sort), and his resentment grew. They avoided each other during apprenticeship, and neither contacts the other now that they have been gauntleted.

Stats

Int: +2

Per: +1

Str: -1

Sta: +1

Pre: +2

Com: 0

Dex: 0

Qik: 0

Virtues

Minor Magical Focus (Certamen)

The Gift

Social Status: Hermetic Magus

Flawless Magic

Second Sight

Magic Sensitivity

Strong-willed

Puissant Perdo

Enduring Constitution

Common Sense

Clear Thinker

Flaws

Tormenting Master

Visions

Temperate

Dutybound

Overconfident (Minor)

Close Family Ties (Minor)

Twilight Prone

Abilities

Language Hungarian 5

Language Occitan 2

Survival 2

Awareness 2

Area Lore Esztergom 2

Leadership 1

Stealth 2

Concentration 2

Brawl 1

Intrigue 1

Guile 2

Athletics 2

Parma Magica 1

Second Sight 1

Magic Sensitivity 1

Magic Theory 4

Latin 4

Artes Liberales 2

Personality Traits

Aloof +1

Diligent +2

Dutiful +2

Arts

Creo 3

Intellego 3

Muto 6

Perdo 6

Rego 6

Animal 2

Aquam 0

Auram 2

Corpus 5

Herbam 2

Ignem 0

Imaginem 0

Mentem 5

Terram 2

Vim 2

Spells

[Core] Endurance of the Berserkers

Rego Corpus

Level 15

Per/Conc/Ind

[Core] Piercing Shaft of Wood

Muto Herbam

Level 10

Voice/Mom/Ind

[Core] Lift the Dangling Puppet

Rego Corpus

Level 15

Voice/Conc/Ind

[Core] Winter's Icy Touch

Perdo Ignem

Level 10

Voice/Mom/Ind

[Core] Pit of the Gaping Earth

Perdo Terram

Level 15

Voice/Mom/Part

[Core] Aura of the Ennobled Presence

Muto Imaginem

Level 10

Touch/Sun/Ind

[Core] The Earth's Carbuncle

Rego Terram

Level 15

Voice/Mom/Part

[Core] Tangle of Wood & Thorns

Rego Herbam

Level 15

Voice/Conc/Ind

[Core] Invocation of Weariness

Perdo Corpus

Level 20

Voice/Mom/Ind