Wolf Child (template)

This template represents a classic arghetype - a feral child, raised by wolves. As a magus template - this time, he was picked up and brought up as a wizard under House Ex Miscellanea. With minor changes, it can represent other feral magi.

Characteristics: Int +1, Per +1, Pre +1, Com -2, Str 0, Sta +3, Dex +1, Qik 0
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25), Height: 5'6'', Weight: 150 lbs, Gender: Male
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: The Gift, Animal Ken, Inoffensive to Animals, Hermetic Magus, Study Bonus (Study: +2), Minor Magical Focus (wolves), Ways of the Forest, Skilled Parens, Blatant Gift (Interactions: -6 with normals)*, Feral Upbringing (120/120), Ability Block (Social), Social Handicap (Feral), Animal Companion (wolf pack)
Personality Traits: Feral +3, Protective +3, Murderous +1
Combat:
Dodge: Init: +0, Attack – , Defense +3, Damage –
Fist: Init: +0, Attack +4, Defense +3, Damage +0
Kick: Init: -1, Attack +5, Defense +3, Damage +3
Soak: +3
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities: Animal Ken 4 (wolves), Animal Handling 4 (wolves), Brawl 3 (Kick), Survival 3 (forests), Stealth 2 (natural areas), Hunt 2 (tracking), Awareness 2 (predators), Area Lore: Bavarian Forest 2 (wildlife), Athletics 2 (running through forests), Concentration 1 (staying alert), Latin 4 (hermetic usage), Artes Liberales 1 (cermonial magic), Magic Theory 3 (learning spells), Parma Magica 1 (Animal), Ride 2 (wild animals), Magic Lore 1 (creatures)
Arts: Cr 0, In 0, Mu 11, Pe 0, Re 5, An 7, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 7, He 0, Ig 0, Im 2, Me 0, Te 4, Vi 0
Equipment:
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Spells Known:
The Beast Remade (MuAn(Co) 25) +21
Gift of the Bear's Fortitude (MuCo 25) +21
Endurance of the Berserkers (ReCo 15) +15
The Crystal Dart (Mu(Re)Te 10) +12
Transformation of the Ravenous Beast to the Torpid Toad (MuAn 25) +21
Beast of Outlandish Size (MuAn 15) +21
Image of the Beast (InAn 5) +10
Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5) +15
Wizard's Sidestep (ReIm 10) +10
Gift of the Frog's Legs (ReCo 15) +15

Notes: This Wolf Child has a Feral Upbringing until the age of 5, and lived in the forest (acquiring no civilized skills) until the age of 10. From that point he underwent a normal apprenticeship.

Customization Notes: The wolf-child's Animal Companion flaw can be replaced by a Dependant flaw to represent an entire pack. Alternatively, the Hedge Wizard flaw is also highly appropriate, due to the magus' feral nature. His Study Bonus and Minor Magical Focus virtues don't figure into his statistics and can be easily exchanged for others.

The Wolf Child also has 4 virtue points, so up to 6 more points can be added by adding more Flaws.You may to consider obtaining the virtues Ghostly Warder (representing wolf spirits), ]]Wilderness Sense]], or an Affinity with Art or Puissant Art in Animal. Suitable flaws include Fear of fire, Deleterious Circumstances (in city), and Study Requirement.

Mechanically, this character is built around the Feral Upbringing virtue. Animal Ken and Inoffensive to Animals were chosen to allow the child to grow up with and speak to the wolves that raised him. An Ability Block with all social skills and a Social Handicap (a feral demeanor) maintain the spirit of the Feral Upbringing in the adult character. The Blatant Gift (granted by his House affiliation) also serves to alienate him from civilized society. Ways of the Forest and a Minor Magical Focus in wolves were chosen to represent his feral upbringing mystically; note that none of his spells necessarily affect wolves, and the bonus should be applied when they do (Beast of Outlandish Size is especially useful for acquiring a mount). Study Bonus is useful to encourage the character to study outdoors, emphasizing his feral nature. Skilled Parens was deemed needed to acquire the desired Abilities (such as some Magic Lore), and to complement his spell selection.

Choosing Shapeshifter (or changing House to Bjornaer and acquiring a wolf heartbeast) will significantly alter the character, from a human that talks to wolves to a wolf that can take human form. The character's spell selection is meant to serve a human, and will require significant reworking for this new role.

Roleplaying Notes: ArM5 wolves (see the Book of Mundane Beasts) are murderous and bloodthirsty, and this is reflected in the wolf-child's "Murderous +1" personality trait. Cull and uncouth, the wolf child lacks almost all restraint and temperance ("Feral +3"), although his training in the ways of civilization has taught him to beware the reach of the Quaesitors and dangerous Hoplites. In his own way, the wold child is extremely loyal to his friends and protective of what is "his". He would go to great lengths to protect his own wolf pack, forest, and its denizens, and by extension can be moved to support other animals, places of wild nature or Magic, or their guardians.

The wolf child's flaws combine to make interaction with mundanes all but impossible. Relations with magi (who, by virtue of their Parma, at least disregard his Blatant Gift) would also be strained (due to his lack of social skills and his feral demeanor), although he might get along better with Bjornaer magi (who can understand the animal nature). The wolf child gets along very well with animals, however (especially wild animals, which are unfazed by his feral nature - and often are further influenced by Ways of the Forest), and had especially developed close ties with his animal companion - probably a member of the wolf-pack he was raised in, perhaps a brother.

Supplemental Customization: Adopting Nature Lore (Animal Lore from MC or Forest Lore from MC or GotF) is very appropriate for this character. Suitable virtues and flaws from HoH:MC include Pack Leader and Feral Scent, as well as Alluring to Mundane Animals and Independent Study.

If using S, this character may be a Beast Master.

A possible direction for character development might be re-learning the Adamite language (see Ancient Magic). The character's feral nature might make that language appealing or give him insights into it.