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Volutus, filius Praesulis, disciplus Bonisagus

Magus Volutus is a striking man with ash blonde hair, which he wears to shoulder length, and very pale blue eyes. His longevity potion has left him appearing in his mid-thirties and apart from a few fine lines around his eyes he might pass for several years’ younger that, although since his return from the massacre at Durenmar there is something very slightly haunted about his visage. A slender man, with delicate limbs, he moves with grace and a sense of purpose. He is a calm and courteous man, though tough minded and determined when matters are of importance to him. Within Hermetic society he wears fine robes, subtly marked with magical sigils. When travelling his garb is more mundane but still of a good quality.

His sigil leaves the faintest touch of twilight upon the magi and his gift manifests as him not being entirely of this world.

Volutus’ Views as at 1297 AD

Hypatia

Of all those who sit upon our council my opinion of Hypatia has changed the most in my time at the covenant. What I once saw as arrogance I now see as a strength of personality that she has many times had need to draw upon. The trials that she has faced as she has sought to achieve a balance between magic and the mundane within this isle would surely have defeated someone less sure of their vision, but this clarity of purpose is tempered by moments of both uncertainty and regret. She still keeps secrets, but while once I thought this a reflection of her disregard for her sodales I now believe that she does so both because of promises she has made and a real belief that it is better for us that she does so. She works hard for the covenant and has demonstrated more than once a willingness to place herself in harm’s way for the benefit of others. She is largely a calming presence upon our council, although on occasion she can exhibit some frustration at opinions when they are voiced with little thought and understanding, and her keen wit means it is always worth considering her counsel. Despite my admiration for her our relationship remains quite formal; perhaps more my fault than hers for sometimes I find it hard to see the woman behind her position within the magical and mundane realm. While there remain areas where our opinions differ, and not always on trivial matters, I believe that her ultimate goal is not so far from my own, and in the difficult times that I am sure are still to come I will endeavour to prove a steadfast companion and offer her what aid I may.

Jari
There are a number of things that I admire about Jari. He is loyal to his companions, he does not lack either diligence or bravery when about important matters for the covenant or his sodales and on occasion he can show genuine insight into the problems that we face. Yet despite this I still find that I cannot warm to him, a feeling that I sense is fully reciprocated. As the years go by I increasingly believe that my hope that his manner is a carefully cultivated front has been misplaced. There is an immaturity about him that, while in brief moments can be refreshing, largely I find exasperating. He seems to delight in the flaws and failures of others, his smirking, and his sometimes laboured and cruel ‘jokes’, a continual presence at our council meetings. He is clearly not stupid and has demonstrated more than once that he is well studied in the magical arts, but I am unable to see to what purpose he intends to put these virtues to. What is it that he wants apart from the freedom to behave as he will? His self-regard is quite apparent but what he might bring to the Order far less so.

Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus is something of a mystery to me. There are many traits that are not uncommon in one of his House; his studies in Ignem, his practice of martial magic, his consideration of covenant defences and his keen interest in weaponry all no surprise. Yet for much of the time he seems more like a follower of Bonisagus than Flambeau. His pursuit of alchemical art, while in some ways put to practical purpose with his recent inventions, often seems to be merely because he wants to know how far he can go. He has demonstrated more than once that he can be reckless in the pursuit of this knowledge but also quite lateral in his thinking; witness his pursuit of philosophical study. He seems to desire to spend much of his time within his laboratory rather than in the world beyond. Perhaps this is partly why his worldliness and social skills also often remind me of some of those in my own House. He frequently makes broad statements with nothing tangible to support them yet is surprisingly thin skinned should he be pressed on this, despite him being openly critical of his sodales on occasion. He is a little younger than the rest of us and perhaps, given that we joined this covenant at broadly the same point in its history, he is still finding his place. I hope that he finds it quickly however, for while I can see the value that he might bring to our council I do not find him an easy man to like.

Terrentius
In recent years I have seen a degree of change in Terrentius. His impatience often seems even more pronounced and he can be openly rude and surly on occasion within our council meetings. Yet as often as this happens he can be kind and considerate to an extent that perhaps we did not see when first he came to Severn Temple. In either demeanour he remains ready to provide critical challenge to the opinions of others, but unlike many Magi I have met he is genuinely open minded and can be persuaded away from previously held views if he sees a better path outlined. He is tireless in his efforts to help strengthen the covenant and the tribunal and perhaps his sense of duty is the closest to my own. He continues to express himself with honesty and he remains the closest I have to a friend on the council. Yet he is a man who places a great premium on being self-reliant, and while he has a close relationship with his consors, he remains emotionally reserved with his sodales. I do wonder how the recent events within the Order will affect him; his goals seemed well aligned with those of his former Primus and if his House should change its course I fear he will find it difficult.

Personality Traits:
Brave +1, Honest +1, Diplomatic +2, Determined +3, Calm +2, Curious +1

Volutus' views on the Magi at 1283 AD


Gnaeus

I believe that Gnaeus is well liked by all who reside at this covenant and I certainly feel this way, for he is not only a considered thinker who brings great insight to our conversations but also a man with a clear view of the world and firm moral compass who nevertheless remains affable, approachable and willing to hear the views of others. Since my experiences on the Grey Hill I have also found a greater understanding of the unique viewpoint that he brings to the study of magic and the nature of the world around us, and he is willing to share his thinking in a way that I have found rare outside of my own House. I believe that he has the right qualities to guide this council, though it was interesting to see the strength of purpose that he showed during the strange events that led to that change, and I think he will also be a keen supporter of efforts to make our covenant stronger.

Hypatia

Hypatia is perhaps the member of our council that I find it hardest to determine my own feelings about. On the one hand she can be charming, supportive, generous and a voice that brings a depth of understanding about some matters that belies the fact that she is of an age with myself. She has a desire to make her mark upon the world and I sense that she genuinely believes that she can be a positive force within the world. Set against this however is the fact that she can be arrogant, secretive and dismissive of the counsel and opinions of others. She is plainly ambitious but it is hard to determine what those ambitions are and whether they align with any of my own hopes and dreams for the Order. I fear that the magical and political forces that she is involved in could draw her down a path other than the one that she espouses to desire, and that it is possible that many of those forces might actively seek to bend her to their goals. There is no doubting her bravery but I worry that she might also be reckless.

Jari

I find our Merinitan to be one of the most frustrating men that I have ever met. It is clear that he is very intelligent and he has insights into magic and the world around us that bear careful attention. When set upon a task he is diligent and determined, and he is not so arrogant that he is unwilling to seek aid and advice when he requires it. All admirable traits, but countered by his frivolous and occasionally barbed manner with his sodales and in his writings within the journal. In truth, I cannot determine whether this is the real face of of the man or a carefully constructed persona that he presents to the world, but in either case it demeans and diminishes him and his art. I do not believe him to be malicious but rather self-regarding, petty and on occasion a little spiteful. On balance, I think that he brings sufficient to this council that his flaws be overlooked but I am yet to warm to him.

Oratio

Oratio is like the captain of a vessel that torn between which port to set sail for decides instead to release his hands from the tiller and await whatever fate brings. It is clear that he has suffered many trials during his life, and that the loss of so many of those who formerly sat on our council still weighs heavily upon him, but in recent years he has grown more and more listless and self-pitying and stands out among the rest of us who reside here for his lack of drive. Perhaps his decision to relinquish the role of Pontifex, a decision that I suspect he in some way blames me for despite me having counselled him otherwise, may help him to rediscover something of himself, freed from the burden of taking responsibility for everything that happens at this covenant regardless of whether he had a role to play or not. For I sense that at heart he is a decent man that I could learn a great deal from, not only his keen understanding of the theory of magic and his knowledge of the magi and history of this tribunal, but also the studies he has made into philosophy and his desire to make some sense of the purpose of our lives.

Terentius

In a way I feel a kinship with Terentius for, though much about our personalities is different, I believe that we share many of the same goals and ambitions. His enthusiasm for exploring the magical places around us, and beyond within this tribunal, mirrors my own and it is clear that he has a vision for how he believes our Order might renew itself. He is a plain speaking and forthright man, who is not afraid to challenge and clarify the views of those around him, and his voice at council is one that I believe all within the covenant give weight to. He can on occasion be impatient and sometimes a little indelicate in his manner, but I believe that this is a reflection of his strong sense of morality and desire to drive this covenant forwards rather than any desire to seek power or sow discord. In short, he is a man who I both like and trust and his presence at this covenant is a boon to his sodales.


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