Otto Rufus

Otto is a potential PC companion. In order to give any player maximum freedom, his characteristics, virtues, flaws and abilities are largely left undescribed.

Otto is a historical figure. What we know of his story comes from Gary Dickson's book, "The Children's Crusade: Medieval History, Modern Mythistory," where Otto is described as "the last pueri."

Called "Rufus" because of his red hair, Otto is from the Rhine, but his social status and past are almost entirely unknown. Before crossing the Alps, he had sworn minor orders and was a student near Cologne. He was swept up in the pueri movement and followed Nicholas over the Alps, and it was at this time he met the Alpine Apprentices. He escorted them to Nicholas and served for them as a translator, since Nicholas did not speak Latin. Later, he saw them all work magic on a pack of hungry wolves led by a Corrupted Beast, and he helped translate between Nicholas, the apprentices, and King Frederick. (In this, he was mostly helping Nicholas, since the apprentices and Frederick were all speaking Latin.)

Something about the apprentices drew Otto. It might have been their intellectual life, their command of magic, or even their physical appearance. After they departed, Nicholas was not the same, and after the pueri failed to cross the sea on foot, Otto abandoned the cause. He joined a cathedral school in either Friuli or Aquileia in northern Italy, where he completed his education.

In 1220, Otto petitioned to be released from his Crusader vow. This was a very serious matter. The fifth Crusade was gathering and Otto was under intense pressure to join them. But his heart was no longer in it. Crusading vows could only be relieved by the Pope himself, and Honorious granted the request on account of the fact that Otto had been so young when the vow was sworn and he had acted "imprudently."

Otto could have gone anywhere and done anything after being released from his vows in 1220. There are records that might indicate he became master of the scholars of St. Felix in Aquileia in 1228, a canon of St. Felix and senior official of the Patriarch of Aquileia by 1232, when he was also studying at the University of Bologna.

As A Companion: Otto is a scholar and could have many skills which magi value but never have enough XP to raise, like Artes Liberales, Philosophiae, Civil and Canon Law, Theology, Medicine, and Latin. Give him Teaching and he would make an excellent tutor for apprentices, as well as the man to teach Latin to all the Irish Grogs and covenfolk. If he is trained in Law or Medicine, he could put these skills to use for the covenant.

Otto was 14 when he met the apprentices in 1212; in 1220 he'd be 22.

Virtues & Flaws: As a student, Otto should have Educated or one of the academic virtues from Art & Academy. He might have a personal attraction to one of the magi, explaining his decision to seek them out.

Abilities: Artes Liberales, German, Latin. Possibly Theology, Civil and Canon Law, Medicine, or Philosophiae.