Medius

Description

Medius is a man whose Jewish heritage is quite clear to see, with slightly olive skin and unkempt, wiry hair that is almost black. He is a handsome man with an air of confidence that is reflected in his calm features, although his eyes seem constantly aware of what goes on around him and can pierce the hearts of men when he so chooses. Of medium build and average height he has slender arms and fairly delicate hands but his movement can be cautious and somewhat graceless. He favours tailored robes, of a style found in the papal states of the Holy Roman Empire, the colours dull and muted when travelling but richer and brighter for more formal activity.

Personality

Medius has little fondness for frivolity and does not suffer fools gladly, although he tries to keep his emotions under control. He is a careful man who is wary of the motives of others and as such he rarely forms close bonds with people. He can be good company however when he does relax and he is happiest with those Magi of the order from a strong Latin tradition. Whilst Medius is cautious he does not lack bravery and he can be greatly determined on matters of import. Medius tries hard to be honest, fair and even handed in his dealings with others although he is no political naïf and he can be hard, and even cruel, when circumstances dictate.

Magic

Medius has an affinity with Intellego and it is his highest art, although like many of his house he is proficient in Vim, Corporem, Mentem and Imagonem. He finds it very difficult to cast any spell that requires the technique of Muto however and his magicks take longer to gather together than for most Magi. His art is also less closely influenced by the aura surrounding him than is the case for most members of the order. His sigil is of balance and symmetry and his gift manifests to those around him as a feeling of being watched.

Medius' views on the other Magi at 1195 AD

Cormoran

Of all my sodales here at the covenant, Cormoran is the one who I would be most glad to see departed. Over the years he has proved himself to be self serving, unreliable and foolish. Even now he endlessly claims persecution while driving away those whose patience has worn less thinly than my own and who have sought to extend the hand of friendship to him. No act that he commits, however venal or rash it may be, is ever his own fault. Rather he sees the hand of others, or fate itself, as conspiring against him. Most recently it is clear that he believes that I am the prime instigator for his misfortunes, and increasingly his attitude has grown more contemptuous and belligerent. I have sought to deal fairly with him but it grows harder with each provocation.

Over the years I have known him there have been many false dawns where I believed that perhaps he had found some path that would help him to realise the potential that his pater must have seen in him, but he is so fickle that it does not last and he will swiftly turn in some other direction. I will yield that he has proved of great value on several occasions, we could not have survived Swallowcliffe without his reluctant aid, and he clearly has learned much of both magical theory and the pagan faith to which he has most recently turned but I still sense that he has little more self governance than the youngest apprentice first let loose with the gift of magic. I confess that I fear him; he has shown himself willing to take actions against his sodales in the past that may have led to their ruin and should he turn against me I would find it difficult to withstand his assault.

Cynfelyn

Cynfelyn is perhaps the nearest I have to a friend on the council at Severn Temple, although we are not close in any emotional sense. Rather I feel that we share some of the same beliefs; a sense of duty, a desire to do the right thing, anger at ourselves when we fall short of our ideals. I believe that he strives to be a good man, though his sensitivity and quick temper often tempts him to acts of rashness. There is no doubting his bravery and he has often stood at my side when we have faced great peril.

Yet he can be a difficult companion. While he has changed over the years he can still be extraordinarily dogmatic, seemingly tied to an unwavering belief that his world view is the only valid one, despite the fact that it must have changed with the betrayal of his House and his ever closer ties to the Morrigan. There have been many times when he has failed to see the mote in his own eye. He can be extremely loyal but I well remember Theo when he lost Cynfelyn’s favour, and I would not wish to find myself in such a position.

Marius

Marius has much of his parents about him and I fear that he will make many of the same mistakes that they did. He is bold, even reckless, and while he has shown himself more willing to seek the wisdom of his sodales than either Theo or Dialectica it is my belief that he tends only to hear that which he wishes to hear. Already he has taken the crown and immerses himself in significant political intrigue, and he reveals little about his dealings beyond the walls of this covenant.

Despite my fears I like him though. Perhaps it is that I have known him since he was a child and see him through eyes similar to those of a proud relative. As he has grown to manhood he has shown a natural authority and leadership, coupled with an easy going manner that is well regarded amongst both his sodales and the covenfolk. It is my belief that should I fall in the future he is the best placed to keep our difficult council together and I will stand ready to aid him should he need such in the years to come.

Tiarnan

My feelings for Tiarnan are perhaps the most conflicted. He can be cold, arrogant and aloof on occasion but to see him with his companions it is clear that he also has great capacity for joy and friendship. He frequently urges action at council, even mocking those who would take less direct steps than he recommends, and yet he has rarely ventured beyond our walls in recent years. He can be harsh with his sodales, but has often made the effort to guide Cormoran or offer counsel to Marius. In recent years he even seems to have lost some of the ill will that he clearly once bore for Cynfelyn.

There are beliefs that we hold in common, concern for any rise in strength of either the Christian church or the denizens of the infernal, but I find much of his motivation is opaque to me. Of all my sodales I have the weakest understanding of how he sees me and what it is that he seeks to achieve with his life. I would like to learn more of him but he is alien to me, and perhaps this has coloured my dealings with him over the years. I want to trust him but am uncertain if I can. I shall wait to see if he will reveal more of himself, and then I might better know whether he is an ally or enemy.

Medius' previous views can be found here.