For me, one of the basic questions to ask about the demon in Canon Alberic’s Scrap-book is: what does it think it is doing when it puts its hand on the table? Why not, for example, just strangle the narrator from behind? I suggest it is because the creature is bound in service to whomever owns the page in the scrapbook. It is awaiting instruction, and has been standing at the man’s elbow, like a footman, for some time. It manifests itself to him once he removes the warding cross. It is not a typical famulus, in that it does not shroud the powers of the magicians. Instead it seems to answer question and provide treasure.
Order: Tempters
Infernal Might: 10
Characteristics:
(human form) Int +1, Per +2 , Pre +2, Com 0, Str +2, Sta +2, Dex +2, Qik -1
Size: +1
Virtues and Flaws:. Many
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Personality Traits: Covetous +3, Deceitful+6
Reputations: Guardian of secrets 1 (Infernal)
Combat:
Bite: Initiative -1, Attack +13*, Defense +7*, Damage +5
Punch: Initiative -2, Attack +12*, Defense +9*, Damage +4
* Includes specialisation (impious priests).
Soak: +3, coating of thick, matted fur.
Wound Penalties: –1 (1–6), –3 (7–12), –5 (13–20), Incapacitated (21–26), Dead (27+)
Abilities: All suitable for story, but this demon is well-versed in Infernal Lore. Brawl 6 (impious priests).
Powers:
Coagulation, 0 points, Init 0, Corpus: The creature has only one visible shape – that described in the story – but like most demons it can roam about invisibly in non-material form.
Envisioning, 1 point, Init 0, Mentem: For 1 point, allows the demon to enter and twist dreams. If used to terrify, the victim can ignore it with a Brave Personality trait roll against an Ease factor of 9 or more. Failure to resist leads to a profound physical reaction, like a seizure. Notably, Alberic died in bed of a seizure, so he may be the first person we’ve seen on the podcast to actually suffer from his power all demons have.
Obsession: 1-3 points, Init -5, Mentem: May force characters to make Personality Trait rolls to resist a temporary trait, Covetous, which has a score equal to the Might points spent.. If the roll is successful, the trait vanishes. If it fails, they gain the trait permanently at +1, although they can remove it by the usual means of reducing traits.
The Serpent Oracle: 2 points, Init. +2, Mentem: May cast any Intelligo spell for 2 Might, and automatically knows the context and likely outcome of actions made in response to the information gained.
The Wealth of Nations: 3 points, Init 0, Terram: Allows the creature to summon wealth, equal to one pound of gold (10 Mythic pounds) per Might point spent, from anywhere in the world, at the creature’s discretion. The wealth summoned must never gain its value from its usefulness, only from the human agreement that some things are treasure. Arguably the creature does not have this power, and instead has another source of wealth available.
Whispers Behind the Back : 2 points, Init. 0, Mentem: The creature’s incorporeal presence causes nagging dread, physical coldness, and fear of being alone. It may laugh when activating this power, which lasts for a month.
Weakness: Cannot manifest to those warded by the cross. Notably, it can still inhabit a particular church, so either the Dominion there has a patch of Infernal influence, or churches in general do not harm it.
Vis: 2 pawns, hands..
Appearance: A gangly, gaunt human figure, covered in matted black hair, with huge eyes.
Games From Folktales 