Fount
Fount was the term used by magi in the Dark Ages to describe their inner potential for manipulating magic.
The mages of the Dark Ages are largely unaware that their Fount is actually a separate entity which enables the use of magic. The matching between these Fount-entities and their host mages is so perfect (enabled by the continued existence of Psychopomps) that the entity's own voice is quieted, while simultaneously granting increased power to the mage. While in theory this perfect joining is a good idea, in practice an imperfectly-matched Fount-entity's constant challenging of the mage acts as a sort of conscience and guide. Without this inner voice, many mages fall prey to infighting and hubris, becoming "extraordinarily potent total bastards."
Later, in the Dark Fantastic, this inner potential would be recognized as a separate entity, the Daemon. In the modern era, it will be known as the Avatar.
All mages can hold Quintessence, but some can hold more than others. No one is really sure why this is — lineage seems to play a part, hut is hardly the only determinant. Some people simply seem to have a greater facility for storing magical energy. Likewise, not all mages can channel Quintessence equally well, but some can let the energies of the universe flow through them without ever breaking a sweat.
The Fount Background represents this affinity. Without it, the mage can hold only ten points of Quintessence and may spend only two per turn, which means that some effects must he built up over time. A rating in this Background allows much greater control over Quintessence and capacity for it, however. Mages with very high Fount ratings sometimes report strange whispers and urgings when they channel large amounts of Quintessence. Of course, each Fellowship has its own explanation for this phenomenon — divine messages, advice from spirits, and so on — but no mage really knows what these voices truly portend.
● -- Store 12 points of Quintessence, spend two per turn.
●● -- Store 14 points of Quintessence, spend three per turn.
●●● -- Store 16 points of Quintessence, spend four per turn.
●●●● -- Store 18 points of Quintessence, spend five per turn.
●●●●● -- Store 20 points of Quintessence, spend six per turn.
