Gryffindor: Clan McGonagall

 McGonagall  

"ever steadfast"

had to be Maggie Smith

Sigil: a cat, white on brown

Skills: Transfiguration (expert) | Charms (basic) | Courtesy (basic) | Athletics (basic)

A small and secretive highland clan known for their deep faith. Most of the folk inhabiting McGonagall land are muggles, and while any wizarding clan of note will have muggle tenants the McGonagalls are unusual in the degree of muggle-magical integration they display. Many respected members of the clan's ruling council, while highly educated in magical history and theory, display no magical talent whatsoever. Meanwhile even a simple shopman or farmer in McGonagall territory may suddenly display some sorcerous air or hidden knowledge. Doors that should lead one place instead open onto others, windows appear to reflect light from the wrong time of day, and carven figureheads on the cathedral stalls seem to move when you aren't looking. Then of course there are the cats...

Inspired Action – The McGonagall Secret

Not every cat on McGonagall lands is a witch or wizard in disguise... but some of them surely are. You can spend Inspiration to transform into a cat (you can transform back at any time).

Flaw – Stickler

The McGonagalls have little patience for fools. When an ally fails a roll you may gain a point of Fatigue. If you do, gain Inspiration.

 

Starting Equipment –pick two–

1. Heirloom broomstick (Heavy, see Broomstick table)
2. Tin of ginger biscuits (ud6)
3. Vial of sand – undo one action, saved by your future self
4. Rifled musket and musket balls made of transfigured swallows so that they will fly swift and true: (H, +1 to attack, Finicky)
5. Icon of St. Albus – repels inferi when presented forcefully
6. Pig transfigured into a tasteful ornament – can be changed back with a simple counterspell

 

Names

1. Dougal

2. Ewan

3. Mathis

4. Athena

5. Elspeth

6. Mona

Design Notes: out of all 24 clans, the McGonagalls were the most difficult to write a flaw for. I knew right away that they should be able to turn into cats, but how do you represent gamify being kind of uptight?

Their background was also tough to write. It contains a mix of elements from Prof. McGonagall's fictional history seasoned with elements from Susannah Clarke's "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell," M.R. James' "The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral," and a hint of Roke from LeGuin's Earthsea.

Names: Scottish sounding names for the men (Dougal and Mathis are there for the repetition of "gal" and "m" sounds, Ewan for Ewan McGregor) and the women get variations on the goddess of wisdom theme present in "Minerva McGonagall"