The Black Magi

The leader of the black magi is a tall, darkly bearded, intimidating man with a piercing gaze. He appears to be in his fifties but is actually 115, having benefited from a longevity ritual. Grigori prefers to reinforce his leadership by giving his followers a steady stream of orders, so he is unlikely to touch or interact with the children himself until the climax of the story. He has a staff Talisman and a demonic black dog familiar which the PCs must trick or outwit to escape.

All of Grigori's casting totals assume he is using Chthonic magic to call upon dark powers, usually by cursing in the name of some devil or another. This is obvious to anyone who can understand Latin. He serves many functions for the group; in addition to being their primary teacher, he casts Aegis of the Hearth on their secret lair every year, helps heal their injuries with Purification of the Festering Wounds, and summons, communicates with, and binds occasional demons.

Grigori is protected from weapons by his staff, but if surprised by an enemy he will respond with Veil of Invisibility, use Wreaths of Foul Smoke, then summon a Wizard's Mount. If he believes he and his band can triumph without casualty, he has a wealth of combat magic, including Ball of Abyssal Flame, Coat of Flame, or Clenching Grasp of the Crushed Heart. Groups of attackers get Arc of Fiery Ribbons.

Grigori (in 1207)

Int +4, Per -1, Pre +2, Com +1, Str 0, Sta +1, Dex 0, Qik 0

Virtues: The Gift; Cthonic Magic (+3), Good Teacher, Great Intelligence, Improved Characteristics, Mild Aging, Piercing Gaze, Sense Holiness/Unholiness, Strong Willed

Flaws Outlaw Leader; Deal with the Devil (-3), Demonic Familiar, Lecherous (-3), Proud, Susceptible to Divine Power

Age 117 (55)

Size 0

Personality Traits Bold +3, Lecherous +3, Avaricious +1, Proud +1, Wrathful +1

Abilities (1,350) Alps Lore 3, Artes Liberales 3, Athletics 3 (hiking), Awareness 3 (standing watch), Brawl 3 (dodge), Chthonic Magic 5, Code of Hermes 1 (diabolism), Concentration 3 (spells), Folk Ken 3, Finesse 3, German 4, Guile 6 (seduction), Infernal Lore 6 (black magic), Intrigue 3 (complicated plots), Italian 5, Latin 5 (Hermetic usage), Leadership 3 (Infernalists), Magic Theory 5, Order of Hermes Lore 1 (diabolism), Parma Magica 5 (Ignem), Penetration 5 (Vim), Philosophiae 3, Ride 3 (Magical hoses), Sense Holiness/Unholiness 4, Stealth 3 (getting away), Survival 3 (Alps), Teaching 8 (8) (Infernalists)

Arts (1,305): Cr 15, In 10, Mu 15, Pe 15, Re 10; An 10, Aq 10, Au 10, Co 15, He 10, Ig 15, Im 10, Me 10, Te 10, Vi 20

Spells Curse of the Ravenous Swarm +36 (CrAn 45, AM 117), Wizard's Mount +36 (CrAn 15, AM 117), Steed of Vengeance +36 (MuAn 35, AM 119), Wreaths of Foul Smoke +36 (CrAu 10, AM 125), Infernal Smoke of Death +36 (MuAu 40, AM 127), Purification of the Festering Wounds +46 (CrCo 20, AM 129), Clenching Grasp of the Crushed Heart +46 (PeCo 40, AM 133), Bane of the Decrepit Body +46 (PeCo 25, AM 133), Grip of the Choking Hand +46 (PeCo 25, AM 133), Wound that Weeps +46 (PeCo 15, AM 133), Ball of Abyssal Flame +49* (CrIg 35, AM 140), Arc of Fiery Ribbons +46 (CrIg 25, AM 140), Coat of Flame +40* (CrIg[Re] 25, AM 140), Pilum of Fire +49* (Mastery 2: Multiple Targets, Penetration), (CrIg 20, AM 140), Disguise of the Transformed Image +36 (MuIm 15, AM 146), Aura of Ennobled Presence +36 (MuIm 10, AM 145), Veil of Invisibility +36 (PeIm 20, AM 146), Weight of a Thousand Hells +36 (CrMe 25, AM 148), Visions of the Infernal Terrors +35* (ReMe 30, AM 152), Sulfurous Whispers +41 (InVi 30, RoP:I 121), Demon's Eternal Oblivion +41 (PeVi 15, AM 160), Lash of the Chastened Servant +46 (PeVi 15, RoP:I 122), Abjuration of the Hell-Sworn Spirit +45* (ReVi 30, RoP:I 122), Circular Ward Against Demons +45* (ReVi 30, AM 162), Aegis of the Hearth +45* (ReVi 25, AM 161), Command the Vile Spirit +45* (ReVi 20, RoP:I 122), Adjuration of the Hell-Sworn Spirit +45* (ReVi 15, RoP:I 122), Circular Ward Against Demons +45* (ReVi 15, AM 162), Gathering the Essence of the Beast +45* (ReVi 15, AM 162)

Equipment Staff talisman* (+4 to control things at a distance, +3 to project a bolt or other missile, enchanted with a constant ward against metal weapons), robes, winter clothing

Encumbrance 0

Soak +1 (+2 more against most forms, total +4 against Fire or Corpus, +5 against Vim)

Combat Init +0, Atk +0, Def +0, Dmg +0

Dodge Init +0, Def +4

Ball of Abyssal Flame Init +0, Dmg 1d10+30

Pilum of Fire Init +0, Dmg 1d10+20, 3 targets, Penetration 7

1205: Invents a disguise spell (MuIm) and gains Mastery 2 in Pilum of Fire.

1206: Teaches Hermia for a year. Gets 8 exposure XP.

Cerberus, Grigori's Familiar

Infernal Might 10

Size 0

Ferocity 1 (3)

Vis 2 pawns of Vim, one in each head

Cun 0, Per +2, Pre -6, Com 0, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex +1, Qik +2

Virtues & Flaws Greater Infernal Power: Spit Fire, Ferocity: Against Captives, Improved Characteristics, Long Winded, Sharp Ears; Horrifying Appearance, Reckless, Corrupted Beast

Personality Traits Hatred of Magi +6, Hatred of Humans +5, Hatred of Self +3, Reckless +3, Vigilant +1

Abilities Athletics 4 (pursuit), Awareness 4 (keeping watch), Brawl 6 (bite), Hunt 4 (track by scent)

Spit Fire, 4 points, Init +6, Ignem. The hound may spit a bolt of fire at a single opponent for +15 damage. The hound can spit fire and bite separate targets in the same round.

Combat

Bite Init +2, Atk +11, Def +10, Dmg +5

Soak +2

Fatigue Levels OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious

Wound Penalties -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)

The Evil Step Mother

Grigori's wife is a seductive raven-haired beauty who he found in a country home and lured to his side with promises of wealth, power, and status. She resents him because these promises have not been fulfilled, and she sees the children as potential weapons which she might train and befriend in her long-term effort to steal the cult away from her husband. She will feign love and affection for the children, trying to woo them into compliance, but her lack of real empathy will convince her they are falling for her charms even when they see through her. She is vain and her beauty is fading with age, making her jealous of the other woman in the cult, whom she rightly sees as a rival for Grigori's affection. She carries a dagger and her talisman is a wand. She appears to be in her early 40s but is older, having benefited from a longevity potion, and is really 72. She was recruited at the age of 22.

In a crisis, Caterina begins with Circling Winds of Protection. She uses Jupiter's Resounding Blow and Broom of the Winds to intimidate people without seriously injuring them. When she wants to kill an individual, she uses Incantation of the Lightning; groups of foes get Talons of the Wind.

Caterina

Int +2, Per +1, Pre +1, Com +2 (1), Str -2 (1), Sta 0, Dex +1, Qik +1

Virtues The Gift; Gentle Gift (+3), Major Magical Focus: Weather (+3), Magic Sensitivity, Skilled Parens, Venus' Blessing, Well Traveled

Flaws Outcast; Ambitious, Envious (-3), Offensive to Animals, Study Requirement (-3), Susceptible to Divine Power

Age 72 (42)

Size 0

Personality Traits Jealous +3, Ambitious +2, Brave +1

Abilities (595) Alps Lore 2 (geography), Artes Liberales 1, Athletics 3 (hiking), Awareness 1 (standing watch), Brawl 1 (dagger), Charm 3, Etiquette 2 (first impressions), Folk Ken 3, Guile 3, Infernal Lore 3 (demons), Intrigue 3 (betrayal), Italian 3, Latin 4 (hermetic usage), Leadership 1 (infernalists), Magic Sensitivity 5, Magic Theory 3 (weather), Parma Magica 3 (Auram), Romansh 5, Stealth 3 (natural settings), Survival 2 (Alps), Teaching 3 (infernalists)

Arts (555) Cr 10, In 10, Mu 8 (7), Pe 10, Re 10; An 5, Aq 8, Au 10, Co 8, He 5, Ig 5, Im 5, Me 8, Te 5, Vi 10

Spells (265) Incantation of the Lightning +34* (CrAu 35, AM 126), Cloudless Sky Returned +30 (PeAu 30, AM 128), Clouds of Thunderous Might +30 (ReAq 30, AM 128), Clouds of Rain and Thunder +30 (CrAu 25, AM 126), Clouds of Summer Snow +30 (CrAu 25, AM 126), Circling Winds of Protection +30 (CrAu 20, AM 125), Quiet the Raging Wind +30 (PeAu 20, AM 128), Sailor's Foretaste of the Morrow +30 (InAu 20, AM 127), Talons of the Wind +26 (MuAu 20, AM 127), Broom of the Winds +30 (CrAu 15, AM 125), Jupiter's Resounding Blow +30 (CrAu 10, AM 125), Ward Against Rain +30 (PeAu 10, AM 128), Air's Ghostly Form +30 (CrAu 5, AM 125)

Equipment Wand talisman (*+4 to project bolt or other missile), dagger, robes, winter clothing

Encumbrance 0

Soak 0 (+1 against most forms, +2 vs Air, Water, Corpus, Mentem and Vim)

Combat Init +1, Atk +1, Def +1, Dmg -2

Dagger Init +1, Atk +5, Def +3, Dmg +1

Dodge Init +1, Def +2

Incantation of the Lightning Init +1, Atk --, Def --, Dmg 1d10+30

Talons of the Wind Init +1, Atk --, Def --, Dmg 1d10+5

120+255+900+50+90=1,415 XP

The Big One

Grigori's largest student is called Magni. He is physically strong and powerful, about 35, and not an exceptionally talented magus. Nevertheless, he is proficient with Terram spells of battle and destruction and has mastered enough of the Arts to take an apprentice. He wears the pelt of a black wolf over his shoulders and carries a longaxe which he wields in two hands. He was taken in by the group when he was a young man of 15 and is their guide in the mountains.

Magni is a slow caster; all his formulaic and spontaneous spells take two rounds to cast. He usually just kills things with his axe.