Testudinis of Criamon

Hermetic Name: Testudinis of Criamon

Roman and Alpine Tribunals

Reputation: Brilliant and insightful Vim educator 2 (Alpine), Insightful and useless author on subjects 4 (Roman)

Preferred Topics: Vim, Creo, esoteric lores

This character was the guidance and elder magus NPC for the first game I ran, who was around to help guide and teach the newer players.  I gave him Incomprehensible to make sure the players didn't ask him for personal teaching much.

Testudinis was a well-renowned Criamon trained originally at the Cave of Twisting Shadows. He did not become truly known as a scholar until he travelled.  His studies guided him to travel to a number of different Criamon creches, and during the travel he wrote a well-renowned book focusing on creation, including a strong study on different religious beliefs. He also spent a number of seasons teaching young apprentices, becoming known as a great teacher. Unfortunately, after disappearing back into the Tribunal of the Greater Alps, he experienced a number of negative Twilight experiences, and most of his later books were practically incomprehensible.

Testudinis during his early years had a Communication of 4 and Good Teacher.  During his later years, he developed the Incomprehensible flaw. At Storyguide discretion, a reader with significant levels of Warping or The Enigma may gain additional insight and experience.

Creation and Perfection by Testudinis, Creo Summa in Latin, Level 23 Quality 13

Three copies of this book were originally created, and sent to three different Criamon magi in the Roman, Theban, and Normandy tribunals as a gift for aiding Testudinis in his travels and research. His ally in Normandy unfortunately lost the book in a Wizard's War, and a few reproductions were made and sold before Testudinis extracted a large amount of vis in compensation for breach of Cow and Calf. Creation and Perfection compares and studies the different myths of many cultures and studies how their origins affect the manifestation of Creo conjurations from the Realm of Forms. This book is a masterpiece.

Insubordination and Delight by Testudinis ex Criamon, Vim tractatus in Latin, Quality 6

A deeply confusing book, members of the Criamon have said there is great insight in its pages. The chapters are completely disjointed form one another, discussing Angels and Demons, the human body, and legends of Witches' familiars. Trying to read the book in order is dizzying and useless, but a number of Criamon claim that opening to a random page always offers some great insight into the fabric of magic.

A Comprehensible Description of Reality and God, by Testudinis ex Criamon, Vim Summa in Latin, Level 24, Quality 6

A number of Jerbiton describe this opus as 'An emotionally crippling disappointment from a brillant lunatic'.  This book has numerous copies around the Theban tribunal for new magi who had not yet learned the local language. This long, unwieldy book has many cognizant points, but they're buried in simile and comparisons.

Studying the Path by Testudinis ex Criamon, Magic Lore tractatus in Latin, Quality 6

One of his shortest books, Studying the Path has the same short study and description of a Magical Ritual catastrophe from a number of different perspectives.  Most people find the book as a whole pretty repetitive and hard to read, but most readers can relate well to at least one of the chapters' perspective points.