Talk:Gertrude the Seamstress

From Ars Magica

Development Notes

As a change to the shield grog type which seems to be popular, I thought I'd do one of the basic covenfolk. I'd like a few more women around the place, even if they are only servents. Also, I wouldn't mind something decent to wear from time to time.

• Virtues - Covenfolk (of course), Craftsman (I guess as this is her job), Gossip (why not? Sounds like the kind of thing a woman who spends her days sewing might get up to to keep her mind active while her fingers work), Good Teacher (She's a social sort).

• Flaws - Busybody (Seems to fit with the Gossip virtue), Small Frame (She is a petite thing).

• Characteristics - Intelligence seems in keeping with a craftswoman as well as someone who spends their time collecting information (+2). Communication is also important for the virtues and flaws (+2). Nimble fingers for dexterity and probably a touch of quickness would be useful (+1).

• Early Childhood - Native Language 5, Area Lore 3, Folk Ken 2.

• Later Life (6-21 = 16x15=240 points) - Area Lore 4 (+20 points), Bargain 4 (50 points), Craft: Dyer 1 (5 points), Craft: Seamstress 3 (30 points), Craft: Weaver 6 (105 points), Folk Ken 3(+15 points), Guile 2 (15 points).

Alteration on GM advise: 30 points from Weaver moved to Intrigue, reulting in Weaver down to level 5 and an Intrigue of 3.

During character creation she developed a bit. Not just someone who can sew on a button or put together a sericable bit of clothing, she has turned into a skilled person who can produce textiles, work it and sell it - possibly augmenting the covenants income if we are desperate, though probably just keeping us in one more resource. Due to her virtues and flaws, she also became a lot more social than I had originally intended her to be. So we get a chatty young woman, who knows a bit about everyone and loves to learn more and pass it on... sometimes even when it isn't true. Her easy nature with people though, makes her a good teacher and an apprentice would pick up skills from her quickly - and probably a not inconsiderable amount of stray talk about who is sleeping with who, the quality of the local village's baker and just what the local farmer is likely to call his next son.