Monthly Archives: March 2021

Blogcomplot: Ars Magica Story Seeds

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This is a special blog post sourced from the Ars Magica community to create short story seed to publish on each page/blog/journal.

“A group of Ars Magica lovers have conspired to present, in the different channels we use, a creative exercise using this game as a base.The proposal behind today’s simultaneous entries is to take six common narrative elements (False revelation Undeserved reward, Fair trial, Surprising wound, Magus running, The coup de grace) and, with them, each author generates a story seed for Ars Magica. Readers will enjoy comparing how each of these elements plays a different, equal, central or residual role in the different seeds. We hope you enjoy these readings and their analysis as much as we have enjoyed writing them. “

The combined efforts of many blog writers is:

My version of the story seed is…

False Revelation

Rumors reach the covenant via banter and drunken ramblings of a small run down village with a functional but ordinary chapel where a bedraggled leper has been temporarily cured, but only whilst on the holy ground of the chapel.

A leper named Frix graciously thanked God for his cure, but also bemoaned the plight of his starving family from many miles away, and the broader plight of other lepers. The local townsfolk and Vincent the elderly priest believe the leper to be truly grateful and make for the leper a small lean to, and allow donations. Thus Frix becomes a curiosity and a beggar, begging for alms for his family, whilst serving god’s unknown purpose at the chapel.

In truth Frix is named Fredrich, a clever but lazy opportunist and con man. While he does have some grievous old wounds and scars from prior misadventures and an abandoned family far away; he is not a leper, and the alms and donations are his for the taking.

Undeserved Reward

As Frix sets up his new life he gains the confidence of Vincent’s young adolescent priest in training named Albert who is himself questioning his purpose due to a plutonic relationship with a young unmarried girl named Herine. The Albert and Herine cannot court officially but are doing so anyway. The family of Herine do not yet see the relationship as dangerous, partly due to their own arrangements to soon marry Herine away to a boy from a craftsman family in a far away town.

Frix’s intent is to use the friendship with the young priest to reenforce the story of his cure, and to garner favour with all involved. By taking up Albert’s confidence and presuming their friendship, Frix gains angles to manipulate the families of all involved. Some weeks later if Frix has not been exposed fortune will smile on his as Herine steals her dowry and gives it to Albert, who in turn hides the money. Unfortunately for the couple Frix eavesdrops to learn of the stolen dowry and intends to either return the money to Herine’s family, and/or claim a reward or steal the dowry fully if he can.

Fair Trial

Of course the story comes out before the couple can leave, and while Albert has true feelings for Herine, he is worried because he has very little prospects to support their life together. A trial of sorts is performed for both Albert by his superiors, conducted in a manner befitting a priest – Albert professes his love marking the outcome as obvious.

In punishment Albert is sent away. Herine is punished by having her head shaved and her potential marriage withdrawn. The disgrace to her family open for all to see.

Surprising Wound

Shortly afterward all is not well for Frix, as he discovers his fake ailment has become a manifest malady. Frix finds himself healthy and fit when walking around the chapel, and then with severe joint pain, sore teeth and gums, and bruises to any bump of scratch when he leaves the grounds of the chapel. He begins in earnest to try to pray and atone for his lies, still looking for opportunities to exploit others but also understand more of what has ailed him. Frix begs any who will hear to seek help for the curse which has afflicted him.

This is made worse when Frix is accosted by old thieving friends, who figure they can rob the leper and suffer very little consequences. Unbeknownst to the thieves the malady is infectious, and will now spread among the thieves. The folklore spreading of leprosy has become real.

Magus Running

Another scholar decides named Camus visits the chapel and meet with Vincent and Frix; his own interest in supernatural stories is less to cure Frix, but instead to document the events and add this to a compiled book of lore. Vincent believes that the evils of the world are drawn to the corrupt and the weak of spirit, and he loathes any talk of magik!

The scholar finds what he has dreamed of; a true supernatural malady which appears to be a divine punishment of some sort. If any Magi are involved here their behaviour and “Gift” may well turn the blame onto the covenant. As people outside the laws of the Church they are suspect.

Perhaps after meeting a magus Frix dresses as a magi, and seeks to implicate them in another part of the wrong-doing? Thereby creating an additional layer complexity for the players to try to unravel.

The coup de grace

After all his dealings and twisted lies Frix (should) finally comes to a sticky end. That may be at the hands of his own infections and wounds from the supernatural curse, or perhaps at the hands of Herine who seeks to recover her families lost dowry and avenge herself on Frix for his part in the exposure of her flirtations.

A scene could play out as Frix describes to the players, or the scholar his life and times as a con-man. Potentially confessing his life of lies, to atone somewhat.

A fitting end may be Frix dying and Herine joining the covenant as a servant, as her prospects in “normal” society are ruined.

Involving the characters

Here are several ideas for engaging the characters – I’ve tried to keep the backstory very short, so that just the ideas might spark a link. Overall the story is there, but is admittedly very rough.

  • Perhaps the couple run away, and the trial is avoided? Do they run to the covenant?
  • If Frix is exposed early, or dealt with the supernatural source could strike from another source. Whilst the “normal” infection ends, a fae spirit-of-infection takes up the story, to better generate impacts and interest.
  • Additionally perhaps the role of Frix could be performed by two or three con-men working in unison as a team of beggars. This way when one actor is removed there is more to draw from.
  • The source of the curse may well be Divine but also could be Fae or Infernal in origin – if your saga has hooks into those elements already.