John Williamson

John Williamson is a Bjornaer Magus, part of Nova Astrum in the L'Orphelin Saga

Background

John Williamson was born to a well-to-do businessman in New York. Shortly after John’s first birthday, tragedy struck as his mother suddenly fell ill with cholera and died. For 2 more years, John was cared for by his grandmother and various aunts, but eventually his father’s realization that he couldn’t handle his household in addition to his business overcame his grief, and he remarried. Not long thereafter, his new wife gave birth to his second son. Having married John’s father for his financial security, his stepmother now saw the opportunity to ensure for the long term security of her family. The next year she gave birth to a daughter, and began pampering her children while subtly ignoring John. Her efforts to rid the household of John paid off when by John’s 10th birthday she had convinced his father to send him to England for a “proper education”.

Having had extensive business dealing with the trading company Talbert, John’s father was able to secure him safe passage on one of their vessels sailing to England and then to London to attend boarding school. However, during the journey, a middle-aged Englishman took special interest in John. The man, William of Cambridge, was a Jerbiton traveler returning to his covenant in Cambridge, Schola Pythagoris, who had detected the powerful, yet subtle ‘gift’ that resided deep within John. For the remainder of the journey, William taught John about the Order of Hermes and offered him a place at his covenant as student and apprentice.

Upon arrival in England, one of the Mercere of Talbert was given a letter from William to John’s father explaining that he had met John on the ship and had offered him a place at his boarding school in Cambridge, and would ensure his primary education as well as attendance at the university there. John took quickly to his studies and was an excellent and avid student, especially of Philosophiae. As he entered the University at Cambridge, he engrossed himself in classical philosophy, the more modern philosophers Locke and Hobbes and even the more esoteric eastern philosophies of Siddhartha Gautama. It was during this time that John was studying and beginning to believe the importance of self-discovery and self-enlightenment that his life would change course yet again. A Bjornaer wanderer, Marcus, had stopped to stay at the covenant for the evening, when he met John at supper. The magus’ eyes widened as he immediately saw the power and uniqueness of John’s previously unknown heart-beast, an American Cougar. Days later, John left the covenant with Marcus as his new Master (John has never learned what Marcus offered William to take his apprentice).

John finished his apprenticeship under Marcus, voraciously consuming the knowledge of heart-beasts. The heart-beast had made a connection with the Buddhist philosophies he had studied, and he realized that the path the self-enlightened began with knowing oneself, and oneself was represented by his heart-beast.

John has recently returned to New York to see his father after his long absence, only to find that his stepmother has all but ensured that John has been forgotten. He receives a monthly stipend from his father, but little else from his estranged family. Wishing to stay near to try and protect his father from his conniving stepmother, he has asked to join the nearby covenant of Nova Astrum.

Stats

Year Born	xxxx
Current Season	Winter 1735
Apparent Age	29

Attributes

Intelligence	+2
Perception	+2
Communication	-1
Presence	+1
Strength	0
Stamina	+2
Dexterity	+2
Quickness	+1

Personality

Curious	+3
Playful	+2
Vengeful	+1

Reputations

Unclean

+2

Abilities

Athletics	3	(jumping)
Awareness	3	(alertness)
Brawl	3	(claws)
Concentration	3	(spell concentration)
Living Language (English)	5	(American)
Survival	1	(wilderness)
Swim	1	(long distances)
Artes Liberales	3	(logic)
Dead Language (Gothic)	2	(rituals)
Dead Language (Latin)	5	(hermetic usage)
Philosophiae	4	(metaphysics)
Code of Hermes	1	(mundane relations)
Finesse	1	(grace)
House Bjornaer Lore	3	(clan mysteries)
Magic Lore	1	(great beasts)
Magic Theory	3	(corpus)
Parma Magica	1	(corpus)
Pentration	1	(muto)
Heartbeast (Cougar)	5

Virtues and Flaws

Virtues

• Clan Ilfetu
• Educated
• Gentle Gift
• Heartbeast (Cougar)
• Improved Characteristics x2
• Minor Magical Focus (self-perfection)
• Privileged Upbringing
• Skilled Parens
• The Gift
• Thereomorphy

Flaws

• Close Family Ties
• Deficient Technique (Perdo)
• Deficient Form (Imaginem)
• Feral Scent
• Fostered Apprentice
• Higher Purpose
• Short-Ranged Magic

Heartbeast Traits

Heartbeast (Cougar) Characteristics: Cun +2, Per +2, Pre 0, Com -5, Str +1, Sta +2, Dex +3, Qik +2 Size: 0 Confidence Score: 0 Virtues & Flaws: Improved Characteristics (x2), Perfect Balance, Self-Confident, Nocturnal, Reclusive, Poor Sense of Smell Qualities: Aggressive, Ambush Predator, Camouflage, Crafty, Extra Natural Weapon, Fast Runner, Good Jumper, Hardy, Imposing Appearance, Keen Eyesight, Large Claws, Large Teeth, Sharp Ears, Skilled Climber, Tough Hide Personality Traits: Nocturnal +1, Reclusive +3, Brave +3 Combat: Claws: Init +2, Attack +14, Defense +11, Damage +5 Bite: Init +2, Attack +12, Defense +8, Damage +4 Soak: 4 Fatigue Levels: OK, 0/0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+) Abilities: Athletics 4 (jumping), Awareness 3 (food), Brawl 5 (claw), Hunt 4 (prey), Stealth 4 (stalking prey), Survival 5, Swim 3 Natural Weapons: Large claws: Init 0, Attack +5, Defense +3, Damage +4; Large teeth: Init 0, Attack +4, Defense +1, Damage +3. Its hide gives it a Protection of +2.

Changeling Powers

Change (*used to alter her Prescence)

Greater Glamour

Improved Statistic (+4)

Speak with Animals

Equipment of Note

• Bronze cavalry saber
• Bronze long rifle
• Pair of bronze pistols
• Traveling pouch
• Men’s traveling clothes