The Visitor's Book of Malinbois

(Last update: 19/10/96)

The Visit of Holernes

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A huge man stands before you, perhaps seven and a half foot tall. The full suit of chain mail armour strains to keep the massive bulk of his body inside. His shoulders are almost as wide as the gateway he stands in. Across his back is a greatsword, almost as long as yourself. Behind him stand a few other figures but you cannot see them clearly. In a deep gravelly voice he speaks.

"Welcome to Santare Hill. I am known as Id and I am in charge of visitors to this place. Perhaps you would be so kind as to introduce yourselves and state your business."

The speech sounds well prepared as if he has recited it many times before. After introducing yourself, the giant motions and a servant steps forward. He leads you across the courtyard and up the staircase of the central tower. After showing you to the top floor, he departs. Inside there is a large crescent-shaped table. Shelves of mouldy tomes are arranged on the walls. In the corner stands a strange man wearing black robes and bearing a silver mask. He says nothing but gestures towards a small table on which sit a series of old leather-bound tomes, engraved with the symbol of Malinbois. You walk to the table and examine them.

Inside, they read:


Sure enough, at the next new moon, the Archmage Vasha arrives at Malinbois. He is a short, hunchbacked, man dressed in dirty garish red robes. His grotesquely warped face is fixed into a maniacal and slobbering grin. He is accompanied by six tough armed soldiers, each carrying a large sack. Although they don't stand too close, on account of the foul stench emanating from his person.
Lunantha arrives to greet him, with Orphitus, and several other interested parties, in tow. She speaks first:
The two combatants enter the Faerie Regio and prepare for the battle. Various Magi of Malinbois are present to witness the contest. In particular, Madeleine, follower of Guernicus, is present to ensure that the Code of Hermes will be properly upheld. As the Archmage Vasha sits down opposite Lunantha, his soldiers step forward and empty their sacks. An enormous variety of oddments are revealed; phials of liquid, jars of peculiar preserved organs, and other even stranger things. He arranges this vast quantity of Vis around him in a neat circle, close to hand, and turns to face Lunantha, grinning hideously, and fondling his talisman eagerly.

Round 1:
Lunantha unties the draw strings from a pouch at her belt and smiles as she begins the ritual. Vasha also begins chanting, as he does so he reaches down into a jar and throws a small bit of shrivelled flesh into the circle, as the Phantoms start to form...
Between the combatants, two corporeal beings take shape and begin to attack each other. For a moment, the magical energies waver as the beings are thrown apart. Momentarily, a disconcerted look crosses Vasha's face, but his Phantom regathers itself and starts to pummel its opponent, pushing it back. Tiny beads of sweat start to appear on Lunantha's forehead.

Round 2:
Lunantha takes some more Vis from her pouch, and throws it in. Vasha adds another item from the jar. The Phantoms rejoin in battle...
As before, there is a strange magical distortion in the circle. This time, however, a look of horror crosses Vasha's face as his Phantom falls apart. Raw magical energy seethes over his body, and he reels backwards, knocking over his precious containers of Vis. He screams and clutches at his groin, writhing violently, before becoming silent and motionless. The duel is over.

Vasha's soldiers rush forward and pick up his unconscious body, and his remaining Vis, while the startled onlookers ponder the dubious tactics that Lunantha has employed. It was a duel unlike any had seen before. Madeleine mutters darkly about "contravening the Peripheral Code" or some such. It would not be wise to reveal the full extent of the injury suffered by the Archmage, but let it just be noted that his lust will be curbed significantly in future!

Click here to see further events regarding Holernes' visit.
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