("To admire nothing")
filius Quartus Oriens, of House Cristofer and House Derleth
apprenticed 404; declared mage 419
As his name might suggest, Nil Admirari presented a rather stoical front during his upbringing at Bethelion. Although diligent enough in his studies to merit serious consideration, he steadfastly avoided developing the personal radiance normally required of a Loriat, and thus calmly ceded the position to the appropriately colorful Loratus Loriatus.
The two were often seen in each other's company, and their mutual disinterest in the competitive process likely made their friendship possible, all the serious contenders being violently at odds during their final years. Rumor has circulated that Loratus' impressive coursework was supplemented by his friend's knowledge and assistance (and in some circles the two have even been suggested as lovers).
Nil Admirari's skill for dispassionate judgment and analysis made him the proof-reader of choice even to his various mentors, but if he himself developed a single, overriding magical interest, he did not choose to indulge his interest in conversation. His quiet reservation regarding his work led to much speculation about his final project, but rather than the astonishing display of passion all had been hoping for, he submitted a slender and sharp-eyed volume addressing technical missteps in some of the school's most frequently used literature. It was accepted with gratitude and he was graduated without hesitation, but disappointment was nonetheless palpable among the faculty (with the exception of his parens).
Nil in person was well-liked during his time at Bethelion, by his own class as well as those preceding. He earned a reputation as being a "good listener", a subdued but fashionable dresser, a scrupulous writer of satisfying letters, and author of both humorous and pensive verse forms. His reputation for being unprovokable resulted in many attempts to crack his facade, all of which met varying degrees of failure.
His relationship with his parens, Quartus Oriens, is one not disclosed to public view. Suffice to say that Quartus Oriens laid claim to him immediately upon his arrival, and established an air-tight confidence between that continues to the present day, in the form of constant correspondence. Like his parens, Nil has a good touch at the resolution of bureaucratic conflict and a keen awareness of political alliance; unlike his parens, he continues to stand at a remove.
His relationship to his fellow filii, the infamous [c97a] and the somewhat lackluster Mens Agitat Molem is, respectively, politely disengaged, and grudgingly fraternal.
Nil departed from campus, and in fact the urban sphere entirely, under typically unexplained circumstances. However, the social decay resulting from both a falling-out with Loratus Loriatus and the disaster recently afflicting Perdix Carbonis Loriatus was enough to drive many of his fellows to the far reaches of the region.
Nil himself was eventually known to be in retreat on the edges of Gaetani territory, in a village of moderate size where he accommodatingly allowed himself to be used as town scribe and accountant; he received only a small number of visitors from House Cristofer, and his usually healthy habit of correspondence dwindled rapidly over the course of a year and a half.
He has since been called to temporary service in the halls of Nemus Animae, ostensibly to provide Cristoferean supervision to the struggling new covenant. His health and stamina are notably suboptimal to those decently acquaintanced with him, and he displays a significantly more brittle temper than his formerly cool presence.
He has also acquired a familiar, a small, female Gaetani grass snake named Omphale. For the most part she remains hidden, although she is capable of public speech.
intriguing
This is c117b, right?
I think the years of apprenticeship are 404 to 419, not 407 to 422 (according to the Quartus Oriens page). This would also match with Loratus as the Loriatus of his year, and with Quartus Oriens' student Mens having been the Loriat in 422 (and the best student that year not to have been disgraced).
If this is your book reviewer, cool.
If this is your Nimus Animae mage, very very cool. A kick ass political operator Christopherean spy would be a very nice addition to the covenant and the game - and I totally read political operator in that description, very smooth operator, but operator nonetheless.
yeah, I think that was a copy
yeah, I think that was a copy-paste error, duly corrected now. Mercy Buckets.
He'll be coming to Nemus Animae, most likely thanks to that desperate plea politely inferring letter Perdix sent to HQ.
The townspeople are gonna adore him.
The book review isn't his. I get the feeling if he saw that book, he would quietly douse it in kerosene, take it out back, and return inside with only ever-so-slightly sooty hands. And then change the subject.
Unintended consequences.
Ah, Perdix, ever the pinball of fate. —So how did Nil like the twins’ salons, as an undergrad?
lessee
He showed up on a decently regular basis and was a very good conversationalist. I think about two hits of hash is his personal limit, and he probably begged off at 1am as a rule. Although I'm sure Loratus sulked about it.
In other words, he stays for the wine, but leaves when the keg shows up.
c117b and the new cosmopolitans
c117b is listed as a new cosmopolitan, one of Perdyx's coterie of young mages who refused to join a covenant and instead hung out in Bethelion.
Are you imagining him as having left Evasendia for the hinterlands after Perdyx's debacle, or are you adjusting his position in the world? I suppose there is nothing written that says that the New Cosmopolitans stayed in Evasendia, rather than spreading out to other cities, although I'd imagined them a closer knit group than that (admittedly, I hadn't put that much effort into imagining them, so I will happily adjust my imaginings to see one of them played).
It would/will be interesting to see someone who actually had a close relationship to Perdyx's sister before she was subsummed
I think he's known for Doing
I think he's known for Doing His Own Thing, and while quite friendly with the vodka martini clan, wasn't really thought of as a 100% blood brother.
He clearly liked polite society but I don't think he's the sort that people expect to receive a spoken reason from for any particular action. So nobody fainted when he just packed his bags and went off to the sticks.
In short, he sort of quietly exited Stage Left during all the hullaballoo. I don't think he was truly intimate with the Perdix twins; or it was that one-sided kind of intimacy.
As a side note, how do I tweak the database?
Ni, and also the database
Do you think people call him Ni, or Admirari? Or is he all formal, and people call him Ni Admirari?
All you say makes sense, although I'd imagine it left A86 and T91b feeling somewhat hurt (but then the entire debacle probably left everyone with a pretty sour feeling, and happy to not see each other for a while).
In what way are you interested in tweaking the database? I think only Sarah currently has that power.
names
I imagine friends call him Nil most of the time. And call him Nil Admirari when he does things like leaving for the countryside.
I figured out what needed fixing, so scratch the database question. False alarm.
Nil vs Admirari
Or Admirari (to admire) when they are happy with him, and Nil (nothing) when they aren't?
I can never decide how much mages think of mage names as meaningful phrases, and how much they just think of them as names. I suppose it is like being named Chastity or Freedom, only more so.
Something like that.
I s
Something like that.
I suppose it rather depends on the mage. Doubtless some are all rockstar about it. And for some it winds up being like a really unfortunate tattoo. "Jesus, why the hell did I name myself 'He Who Barks With Enthusiasm'? Was I really that stoned in college?"