Athdara

"Storyguides should make Ignem botches particularly deadly."

Athdara is a recently-gauntleted mage of House Ex Miscellanea. His tradition within Ex Miscellanea is Eiliminti Domhain, or "The Deep Elements," an Irish school focused on the four classical elements and interpreting many other things (seasons, personality types, etc.) as extensions of those elements.

Their training culminates in a final ritual meant to balance and empower the four elements within the mage. Athdara's ritual, unfortunately, went badly wrong. He ended up strongly partial to Fire and Earth, and hostile to Water and Air. This was unacceptable to his fellows in the tradition- magic tied to personal traits means that magical failure is also a personal failure- and he finally decided to move on to House Flambeau.

In theory, anyone can join House Flambeau if they have a deep and abiding interest in Ignem and Perdo; in practice, Athdara found, you need a sponsor within the House. He finally found one here in the Rhine; and his sponsor assures him that he's certainly going to get into Flambeau as soon as he does a few obligatory services and proves his Ignemic bona fides.

Athdara's elemental imbalance has some odd consequences. His magic is stronger in Spring and Summer. He has affinities with Ignem and Terram. He is completely immune to fire. Being doused with water, however, both cripples his spellcasting and sharply limits his magic resistance. Making things worse, he's completely incapable of casting Perdo Aquam or Rego Auram.

On the personal level, Athdara's fiery nature makes him quick but reckless; he has great difficulties with Finesse, which may complicate his application to Flambeau. On the other hand, it may be a selling point.