Tempestarii

Tempestarii are storm-making mages who use folk traditions for their magic. They are much distrusted around the world, but they are also often found in villages where they are paid to keep bad weather away.

Targeted Weather

The most basic thing a tempestarii can do is direct the weather. Targeting weather at an area requires merely nudging storm clouds or winds, usually, which requires using a vane, a special staff tipped with a weather vane (usually but not always made of bronze). The vane must be attuned every day to the local weather by letting it "soak" in the weather for the first hour after dawn (or the first hour after midnight if in a place where the sun does not rise or does not set within a 24 hour timeframe). After soaking the vane, in order to direct the weather, the tempestarii must take the vane to the highest place they can find (the closer to the clouds, the better), and then sacrifice something--animal, vegetable, or something of personal value--with either a bronze knife or hammer. In order to direct the weather from that position, they must then take nine coins and place them on the ground in a circle around themselves, then tap the bottom of the vane to the coins in the direction they wish to direct the weather. If their will is powerful enough, it will work.

Rainstorms

To create a rainstorm, a tempestarii must collect dew in a bottle (a pint or so). Most tempestarii keep a large collection of these. They must then mix the dew with powdered lightning bug, crow's feet, bear's liver, eel guts, rowan bark, or their own blood. This mixture must then be boiled and its vapor captured in another bottle. This bottle is then sealed, taken to a high point (higher the better), and smashed into a circle of power. If the tempestarii is strong enough of will, they will be able to command the resultant cloud. They can then use their vane (which they must touch it to the cloud) to direct the cloud and will it to rain.

Thunderstorms

To create a thunderstorm, a tempestarii must create a rain cloud (as above), but create it in a circle fenced by bronze or other potent metal. The cloud must then be seeded with burning rowan leaves, acorns, goat's stomach, lizard (any kind of lizard) eyes, or the skin of the tempestarii. The cloud will then be sparking and angry, and the tempestarii must carefully unleash it from the bronze fence, directing it with their vane. If their will is strong, they will be able to control it. If not, the storm will dissipate in a blast of lightning, usually killing the tempestarii.

Hailstorms

To create a hailstorm, a tempestarii must create a rain cloud (as above), but create it in a circle fenced by bronze or other potent metal. The cloud must then be seeded with salt, beach sand, mercury, or a quart of the tempestarii's tears. Then the tempestarii must intone six chants forward and then backward. The cloud will turn cold. The tempestarii must then carefully unleash it from the bronze fence, directing it with their vane. If their will is strong, they will be able to control it. If not, the storm will dissipate in an explosion of hailstones, usually killing the tempestarii.

Tempests

A tempest refers to a particularly powerful storm. One can be created with the same ritual as a thunderstorm, but the ingredients are different: Van's oak or storm-bred rowan or lightning-struck wood, storm crow's feet, storm bear's liver, electric eel guts, rain bird feathers, chollima's teeth, ern feathers, or a finger of the tempestarii. Failure means unleashing a blast of raw aetherial energy that will definitely kill the tempestarii.

Riding Storm Clouds

Many tempestarii of considerable power know the rites to summon, control, and ride storm clouds. This rite requires enormous will power. It is only possible if there are already at least some clouds in the sky. A tempestarii must use a vane placed in the ground beneath a cloud. Then they must create a circle of power with the staff in the exact center, chanting seven special words over and over fourteen times. If the circle is true, the staff properly positioned, the cloud still present, and the chants correctly worded and intoned, a spark will appear above the vane. The tempestarii must then place a bronze harness on the spark while chanting the same chants fourteen times backwards. If done correctly, the cloud will blossom around the spark, harnessed as if a rideable steed. At this time, the tempestarii must command it via their will, if they are able.

Storm clouds will try to buck a tempestarii unless forced to their will. If not properly controlled, the storm cloud will grow into a massive storm, killing the tempestarii and wrecking the area.

If done properly, the tempestarii can give the harness and bridle to another and let them ride the storm clouds.

Nautical

Tempestarii are extremely valued at sea. They are feared, respected, and sought after, and navies, merchant fleets, pirates, and more will hire them for great sums. Failure in these circumstances, however, means severe consequences.

Gathering Crops

There are some well known cases where tempestarii hired people to ride storm clouds and raid crops nearby, using the cover of a storm. These incidents have given tempestarii a bad reputation among farmers.

Protection from Tempestarii

Large, loud bells, especially church bells, will dissipate a tempestarii's storms if run twelve times in the midst of the storm. Flowers blessed by any legitimate faithful and tied to a post in an area targeted by a tempestarii will protect crops from their magic.

Persecution

When their magic fails, they are often subject to the ire of the local community, who blame them for failed crops, famine, floods, or other disasters. This can mean in more cruel areas that they are subject to persecution. In some places, their craft is illegal, as it is seen to pose a threat to the authorities, and in other places, it is highly regulated, as weather magic does affect the natural weather systems of the world.

Variations

These are variations from around the world:

• Hicha: a tempestarii who uses their knowledge of weather patterns, and patterns in general, to answer questions as a form of mantic investigation.
• Jorek: a tempestarii who uses their magic to keep their goods safe, to store their goods, or to preserve them. Usually found in Gyrah, where use of clouds is more practical.
• Meteorotech: a tempestarii in a high-tech setting who uses their powers in combination with technology OR a tempestarii in any setting who studies meteorology to improve their magic.
• Stormrider: a tempestarii working with pirates to help disguise their ships, use weather magic to help their sailing, or provide clouds on which to ride.
• Stormrunner: a tempestarii working as a daredevil or stunt performer, using their powers to defy dangerous storms.
• Timpanist: a tempestarii who uses their powers to summon the sound of thunder or other weather for musical performances.

Skills

Some common skills include

• Meteorology
• Music
• Farming
• Geography
• Travel survival
• Sailing

Stats

The average tempestarii has these variations on the base stats of their nation/species:

PRO +1
ATH +2
STR -1
AWA +3
WIL +6
STH -1
PRS -1