Severn
Temple Covenant
An
Ars Magica saga set in 12th century England
Main
Covenant
Magi
Treasury
Library
Storerooms
Guest rooms
Spring
Labs
Barracks
Graveyard
History
Journal
Other texts
Tribunal
Surrounding area
Mynydd Myddyn
Faerie areas
Magical creatures
Infernal areas
House rules
Maps
Covenant maps
Dean maps
Other maps
What's new?
Message
board
Description
Tiarnan has a slight build and fine, almost elfin features. He has a calm, friendly manner, which makes him pleasant company, and he smiles warmly, seemingly finding secret amusment in even the most mundane of circumstances. Though he seldom gets agitated or raises his voice, he is able to state his case with quiet authority when matters become serious. He dresses in rich fabrics dyed in bright blues and greens, some of which are decorated with designs of celtic origin. Though it is clear that he is not strong or hardy, he moves with swiftness and grace. Tiarnan has a river otter named Kai as his familiar.
Personality
Tiarnan's personality evokes the feeling of a cool, bubbling stream on a summer's day. Calm and friendly, he also has a playful, almost mischievous streak, though he rarely means serious harm to anyone. Crafty and pragmatic rather than idealistic, he adapts his view as issues develop, and he is willing to compromise to achieve his aims. Like all those touched by the fae, he has a fondness for bargains, and he sees no reason not to negotiate according to the strength of his position.
Magic
Tiarnan specialises in creating and manipulating images, which allows him to manipulate the unwary. He has some faculty with the Art of Imagonem, but also some knowledge of faerie glamour, which allows him to exceed the boundaries of Hermetic magic on occasion. Aside from Imagonem, Tiarnan favours the Techniques of Muto and the Forms of Animal and Aquam. His Gift manifests through a thin sheen of water that coats his skin as he summons the energies required to cast magic.
Tiarnan's Views on the
Magi at 1195 AD
Cormoran
This mercurial giant is impossible to pin down, for his attitudes
change at every encounter and he can vary from generous ally to
spiteful foe without cause or warning. I have come to the conclusion
that much of the damage he has done in the past was not the result of
deliberate malice, but rather because he seems incapable of seeing how
his actions may impact on others. I typically greet his interventions
at Council with a mixture of astonishment and despair, since he often
advocates such wild, unrealistic schemes that I can scarcely believe he
is serious. It is true that he has a grand, sweeping imagination and
sense of ambition that most others lack, but most of his ideas fall on
deaf ears due to the fact that he rarely thinks them through properly.
I do sense that Cormoran has tried hard to overcome his troubled early
years, and I have been impressed by the dedication he has shown to
renewing the forests over a long period at considerable personal effort
and expense. However, just when I think that that perhaps he really has
changed for the better, he does something so stunningly crass and
thoughtless that I am reminded why he cannot be trusted with any matter
of importance. He seems congenitally unable to exercise discretion and
circumspection; indeed, I sometimes suspect that he must bear a faerie
curse that compels him to tell any secret he possesses to the most
unsuitable person imaginable. Despite his almost unparalleled ability
as a warrior, Cormoran is as much a danger to us as he is to our
enemies, and it is best if I do not involve myself in any of his
schemes.
Cynfelyn
The fierce enmity that I once felt for Cynfelyn has been tempered by
the passage of time. I still find him uneasy company, yet his mere
presence does not trouble me to the extent it once did. I suspect that
part of this stems from the fact that Theo’s passing has removed the
most direct and bitter source of conflict between us, but I also sense
that Cynfelyn’s outlook on life is less narrow than it once was.
Whether this is due to the influence of his former familiar, his
interactions with his otherworldly allies or simply the effect of
growing maturity I cannot say, but he seems better able to appreciate
other points of view. I doubt I will ever view him as open minded, but
he has clearly learned that preconceived ideas are sometimes a prison.
Opinions that he does not share are now greeted with only a derisive
snort or snide remark, rather than boiling rage, which I suppose is
progress of a sort.
Cynfelyn is still capable of appalling lapses of judgment (Ponrius!
What was he thinking?!), for he retains an unshakeable belief in the
righteousness of Code, which sometimes clouds his view of people,
actions and causes. However, there is more wisdom, danger and
nuance in the world than can possibly be addressed by the dusty scrolls
of Durenmar. Still, despite our past differences, and the inevitable
clashes that are yet to occur, I shall endeavour to judge him fairly in
the future.
Marius
All children share characteristics with their parents, and Marius is no
exception. There is much of Theo’s vaulting ambition about him, for
despite all his professed caution, he has taken significant risks in
uniting the Welsh princes against King Richard, and he and his lands
could face cruel retribution should the civil war go against him. I
knew that he would eventually seek to take the Crown of Math, but I had
hoped that it would happen in less pressing times. As it is, Marius
has, for good or ill, taken a first, great down a path that will test
his judgement and allegiances at every turn. I can only hope that his
inheritance from his mother, a steely pragmatism that Theo lacked, will
allow him to navigate the temptations and obstacles that fate and the
powers will place before him.
Marius has the potential to be a great king, but he is only at the
beginning of his journey. Though there is no guarantee that he will
succeed, I shall do all in my power to help him achieve his destiny.
However, I must at all costs avoid a repeat of the ruin that befell his
father, and this includes providing misplaced enthusiasm that could
encourage him to overreach in the way that Theo did. I sometimes wonder
whether, had I counseled Theo to move more cautiously, he would still
be with us; though I shall never know for sure, I suspect that the last
thing he needed was an advisor who shared his goals so completely. So,
my role must be to assist Marius quietly and carefully, without direct
involvement in his schemes. I hope that remaining detached and watchful
may give me more insight regarding future perils, for it is all too
easy to get swept up in the moment, and enthusiasm can impair
judgement. I hope he will understand that my reserve does not imply any
lack of interest in his cause; far from it, it is I actually the fact
that I care so much that means I must be wary about misplaced fervour.
Medius
I sense that Medius has changed the most of all the residents of Severn
Temple. In his early days here, I dismissed him as an intellectual
lightweight, unable to appreciate the complexities of a world not fully
described in the teachings of his House. Though this was probably an
unfair characterisation, the legacy of some of his ridiculous early
judgements still lives with us. Yet, though he still sometimes confuses
legality with probity, Medius has shown that he is a far more complex
and thoughtful character than I once gave him credit for. With the
exception of Cormoran, with whom Medius appears to have lost all
patience, he has become more even-handed in his dealings with others
and more appreciative of diverse opinions.
Despite all his years as Pontifex, I view Medius as more of an
efficient administrator than a leader. This is also true of his role as
Quaesitor, where he seems better suited to acting as a clearing house
for information on the various threats that assail the Tribunal than as
a judge. This has enabled him to develop a broad range of contacts, and
he is trusted by a wide spectrum of the Tribunal. In my opinion, he
faces two main challenges going forward. First, I sense that he is
prone to taking on too much, which means that he cannot pursue all
tasks as swiftly or completely as they deserve. Second, his religious
faith has become a more central part of his being in recent years.
Though his religion lacks the harsh bite of the Christians, I still
find his symbols disturbing, and I hope that he is able to ensure that
devotion does not become zealotry.