Marchesia Philipe

Mistress of Conjuration at the Great School of Magic

Member of the Planar Circle

AC 1014

"This would be a great opportunity for success at the Great School. And I will be there to support you all the way!"

Appearance

Marchesia Philipe is buxom matron of Sylaire features, full brown hair and big brown eyes. She is plump and jolly, and has a motherly demeanor like a big fat hen. At the Great School of Magic, she wears fancy and expensive dress to make sure people know her rank and stature, although her attire at social affairs leave much to be desired. Marchesia tends to be a fashion victim and always tries to fit into the dainty lace vestidas much more suited for the delicate elven features of the Belcadizans.

Personality & Quirks

Mistress Marchesia projects the image of being the benevolent patroness, supportive of all aspiring young students of magic, providing endless opportunities for achievement and growth. In truth, she would use anybody around her—her apprentices, her assistants, her associates, even her own family—to fulfill her responsibilities and missions for her. Not that she is lazy, but if she can get others to get down in the drudgery for her, why should she bother to lift a finger?

And Marchesia is not above claiming credit for accomplishments she had nothing to do with.

Background

The daughter of a wealthy if pretentious Averoignian family (Their surname "Philippe" was changed to "Philipe" to be more Belcadizan-sounding.), Marchesia was named for the Marquis of Alhambra, in whose dominion their mercantile family made its fortune, dealing with the capture and transport of creatures with the Monster Hunters' Union and the Monster Handlers' Syndicate. 

When Marchesia first came to the Great School of Magic, many thought she was just a spoiled little rich girl, what with her mundaner servants at her beck and call, and even one personal chaperone, Crisostomo (B7, NG), with modest spellcasting ability. Marchesia was aware of all this jealous, unsavory talk about her, and she played this role to the hilt. Though not particularly sexual, Marchesia knew how to bat her eyeballs and sway her hips to get the smarter male students to craft the assigned spells or complete her magical experiments for her. (These days, despite her sagging eye bags and expanding thighs, Marchesia still has a considerable amount of feminine charms.)

In AC 979, the year of her graduation, Marchesia married Sebastian Hohenfürst, a rising young wizard and instructor in conjuration magic, who was madly in love with her. Some say that Marchesia was in trouble with her academic requirements and married Sebastian to avoid failing, but her husband definitely believed it was a love match. While Master Sebastian rose in rank and eventually became Master of Conjuration, Marchesia provided him a happy family life with three daughters and two sons, all except one with considerable magical ability.

When Marchesia's two eldest children began studying at the Great School of Magic, Marchesia applied for teaching position in conjuration, and was naturally accepted. She used her clout among the other Masters to ensure her children would not face difficulties (meaning, they were given special treatment) throughout their school years.

As her children grew older and more skilled in magic, Marchesia's position and rank in the Great School of Magic rose too—which was just as well, since Marchesia would often "need" help from her children in crafting spells or completing her experiments. Of course, Master Sebastian, her devoted husband, was dutifully at her side to assist her—even perform the most difficult tasks in spellcasting and research—until he was killed the final assault of the Alphatian wizards on Glantri City in AC 1009.

At the end of the Wrath of the Immortals War, Marchesia—with her so many assistants and apprentices whom she has supported and sponsored, and thus, owe her favors of some kind, and many more ambitious wizards who wish to her favor—was the popular choice for the next Master of Conjuration after her dearly departed husband.

So far, she has managed the school of conjuration well. (No one has figured together how she was been manipulating everyone to do her work yet.)

Most recently, after Prinz Jaggar von Drachenfels ended his affair with Princess Dolores Hillsbury, Marchesia has been invited to the same dinner parties as Prinz Jaggar, seen at the same art exhibits, even seated across him at a cafe—all a matter of coincidence, of course. The Prince of Aalban has already invited her to tea once, but she politely declined, as "being the Mistress of Conjuration has been quite hectic these days." Marchesia expects he will call again.

Web of Intrigue

Marchesia Philipe is a powermonger of the highest caliber, and as such, she is quite skilled at hiding the fact. Many of her pawns, including her own children, Reghina (Conj7, NG), Marchesio (M5, LN), and Sebastian (Conj4, LG), do not see her as anything but a generous, giving teacher and patroness. Only her second daughter, Patrichia (M6, CN) has realized her mother's true nature and spoken against her.

Among the Masters of the Great School of Magic, she is as popular as LaVeron Chonere, Mistress of Illusion, but much more respected. She is wary of Wilhelm Bhes, Master of Divination, who knows of her plots, and Inguin di Corenveni, Mistress of Enchantment, who clearly sees through her ruses, but maintains a cheerful cordiality with them. Rhogene Zelipieti, Mistress of Abjuration, does not like her, and Derghov Loeten, Master of Evocation, holds this delusion that they should be rivals simply because of the opposing nature of their schools of magic. With everyone else, Mistress Marchesia is agreeable and supportive—especially towards the Grand Master Harald Haaskinz.

Marchesia is a member of the Planar Circle, but remains inactive, until someone else initiates projects. From her family's good name, Marchesia maintains frequent dealings with the Monster Handlers' Syndicate and the Monster Hunters' Union. 

Marchesia has ambitions of gaining influence in noble circles, and she has chosen as her ticket Prinz Jaggar von Drachenfels of Aalban. She has recently let our word of her discovery of an ancient Flaemish spell that summons dragons of a particular color, in order to attract his attention. The Prince of Aalban is no fool, and will not make moves until he verifies the rumors. What these rumors have attracted though are the attentions of an old Flaemish wizard named Wilbur Raknarod, who has asked to meet with Mistress of Conjuration about the spell.

Style of Magic & Combat

Statistics: 11th-level conjurer; Str 9, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 17, Wis 12, Cha 15; AL N (D&D), LN (AD&D).

Skills: animal lore, etiquette, local history (Glantri City), manipulation, monster lore (+1), persuasion, reading/writing, spellcraft, spellflash.

Weapon Proficiencies: dagger, knife, stiletto.

Languages: Sylaire, Elvish (Belcadizan dialect), Thyatian (Aalbanese and Glantrian dialects).

In her student years, Marchesia chose to become a specialist in one school of magic, mainly because it meant she had to study less of the other schools of magic. Her choice of the school of conjuration came as a matter of course, because it was what most of the wealthier students favored.

Despite her apparent unwillingness to do anything for herself, Marchesia is no slouch in the field of magic. She is a specialist in one of the most powerful schools of magic, and her position at the Great School grants her access to the most popular spells in her field. In fact, her laid-back attitude is most suited for her specialty as Marchesia often summons the most fearsome monsters or conjures the most dangerous magical forces to do her dirty work.

One Marchesia's fields of expertise is monster lore. Her interest in creatures of all forms began in her childhood in Alhambra with her family's dealings with trading and capturing monsters. She is a sage in the nature of monsters: where they can be found, how they fight, what special abilities and weaknesses they have. This makes her monster summoning spells more effective and dangerous, allowing her to specifically choose which monsters would suit her purposes.

"One day, people will figure her out and she will get her just reward for all her efforts."

(Wilhelm Bhes, Master of Divination)

References: The Planar Circle