The Baron of Wooler and his family
The War Arrow: Vidua Vasta decide that they now have enough information to present to the tribunal, and arrange for one to be called near the begining of the season. All of the covenants have at least one member present, and Hachim does a remarkably good job presenting the facts in a clear and coherent manner (apart from quoting the prophecies of Immanola at seemingly random points). Once the information has been presented, the magi debate what it to be done. Some covenants refuse to believe that Damhan-allaidh has really returned. Others are for finding out more information. However, the majority of the votes go towards a more aggressive action. Whitburh brings forth an ancient artefact, the Arrow of Pralix, and declares a truce amongst the covenants of Loch Leglean until the threat has passed. At that moment a rock comes plummeting through the wall of the tribunal hall, followed by a second and third through the roof. Eagle-shaped flames come whizzing through the gaps to strike people - with the collasing of the wall, the Aegis of the Hearth also failed. Three warlocks and a horde of walking dead and goblins attack the assembled magi. Edwin, Peter of Uist and Daniel Tonatris head outside to fight the giants who were throwing the boulders. Meanwhile, the more martial magi enter battle. The three magi from Cnoc Nathair prove to be traitors during this fight - Perarduus destroys everyone's parma with a massive spell, Ganbhan Sgarb attacks and kills Cailleach Diorbhall with an Incantation of Lightning, and Jadan Seer goes into battle against Hachim (who spends some of the battle as a sheep due to her Transform ability, some as a wolf thanks to Calum MacLachlann, and some of it bleeding heavily). Lucas and Hygwald concentrateon the invaders: Lucas destroys many of the walking dead with spontaneous magics, while Hygwald multi-casts Crystal Darts at the warlocks; who are attacking with spells that they have stolen from a Hermetic magus.
Once the battle is over, Henry Ignavus, Stratus Enor, Maequilla, Seamus an Cait and Cailleach Diorbhall are all dead. Hachim, Daniel Tonatris, Domongart, Aeliophanes and Richard Caespuus are seriously wounded. Of their opponents, Jadan Seer and Ganbhan Sgarb have both esacpes, as has one of the giants. Two more giants lie dead, so do the three warlocks and their allies. Edwin pulls everyone together in his crisp, military fashion and the tribunal begins again. The first order of business is a solemn rite by the surviving magae of Mhor Radh. Unfortunately, Hachim has managed to convince himself that he is a ghost with a botched spell to summon the spirit of Perarduus, and interrupts this rite. Eilean of Mhor Radh is furious, and challenges him to certamen, after someone dispells the effect of the botched magic on Hachim. Hachim loses, and has to pay Eilean a rook of vis (although she later halves this).
Vidua Vasta is named as a collating house for the information that the magi of Loch Leglean propose to glean from their various sources (although Hygwald quickly twists there function into 'co-ordinating' rather than 'collating'). He manages to be rather tiresome to Whitburh when demanding expenses for the work they've done so far on behalf of the tribunal; she refuses but promises that future claims will be considered. He also pays off his vis debt to Horsingas. Whitburh also asks Hachim whether Vidua Vasta would consider accepting Ricard Caespuus as a member of the covenant, as this would effectively be a 'promotion' for the hard-working redcap; and the council of Vidua Vasta vote him in at their Spring council meeting (although Lucas is strangely suspicious about the redcap's true identity). The other redcaps of the tribunal make up a redcap house called Teachdair Tigh at Roxburgh, under the leadership of Bricis Devontis.
In April, Lucas goes into the Stone Circle on Manor Head to gather Ignem vis. He has an extremely harsh trip into Twilight (gaining 9 Twilight points), but seems to be unusually resilient to heat and flames following this experience. He does manage to gather 24 pawns of vis, however!
Beorhtric receives a visitor in the middle of the night, and comes to the covenant clearly disturbed, but unwilling to speak of the identity of the person who contacted him. After some initial questions, it is obvious that as soon as he attempts to say the name of his visitor, it causes him searing pain. By burning some Mentem vis, Hygwald is able to get the details directly from his mind, saving the loyal grog a great deal of agony. It was Beohtric's previous employer, a wizard by the name of Aledd. Aledd wanted some information, and threatened the life of Beorhtric's son to ensure that he got it. He was asking whether the magi had opened the Star Temple, or excavated at Leaper's Bluff yet, and the turn of his questions intimated to Hygwald that he might be soemthing to do with Damhan-allaidh.
A Wreath of Pale Flowers: The Griffin (rather presumptively) summons Aethelbald and the magi to a council, where he makes some very vague suggestions regarding the Baron of Wooler. It seems that he wants someone to take a message to the baron, and as an added incentive, mentions that the baron has no male heirs, but three female ones. As Aethelbald is looking for a wife, he decides to pay a visit, and Hygwald decides to accompany him. Arriving in Wooler they find signs of a prosperous town that has fallen on hard times, largely due to a contagion that struck last year (but has long died out). Within the castle things are more serious - Isabel Ford, the baron's 8-year old granddaughter (and heir) is very ill, and attended to by a gaggle of physicians. Baron Robert de Muschamps is utterly devoted to his granddaughter, and apparently devastated by her illness. Francis de Villerais is asked if he can help her, but manages to find out very little. It is only through an application of magic that Hygwald discovers that the flowers that the girl's aunt Isabel is piling on the bed are actually the source of the 'disease' - she has actually been poisoned.
The Baron of Wooler and his family |
Hygwald decides to send for Fariq (their physician) and Hachim (who is best at healing magics). Meanwhile, Aethelbald has been talking with Odinel Ford, one of the baron's knights (and his son-in-law). Odinel seems to be a bit of a hot-head, and reveals that the baron has been having problems with the townsfolk of Wooler - they are an independent lot who have rebelled against the axes, and have even been directly approaching the king's sheriff with their grievances rather than following the feudal chain. Flatus is dispatched to the town to see what he can find out, but comes up with very little except that the baron is a hard |
man, who is prone to strange behaviour - last year, at the height of the plague, he ordered the town's tree to be cut down for no apparent reason. Hygwlad was sufficiently interested in this to visit the spot, to find the stump of the tree with shoots growing from it. When trying to cast an Intellego Vim spell, Hygwald became overwhelmed by a vision of a man planting a large seed-pod at this site. Aethelbald manages to eavesdrop on the baron speaking to an unrecognised voice. The conversation resolves around the baron making some sort of deal to sort out a problem in the town, which was delivered upon. The solution was obviously connected to the tree, because the stranger mentions that he cannot be held accountable if a seed from the tree 'accidently' found its way into the baron's garden. Evidently the poisoned flowers and the tree from the town are the same species, responsible for Isabel's sickness and last year's plague. The stranger offers to save the girl's life, but the baron seems unwilling to pay the price (whatever that is). The stranger says that he has until midnight to make up his mind. Aethelbald observes the baron leaving that chamber, but is unable to locate the stranger, who seems to have vanished into thin air. Aethelbald and Hygwald are now waiting for Hachim and Fariq to arrive - there is little more that they can do. Hygwlad investigates the rose bush and discovers that its roots lie within a small stream - likewise, the tree in the town was next to the well. Fortunately Hachim and Fariq turn up late that evening, and immediately set to work curing the child with a spontaneous, vis-boosted Creo Corpus spell. Simultaneously, Hygwald and Aethelbald burst in on the meeting with the baron and his blackmailer, only to discover that it is the familiar of Lord David de Soulis, who so grievously wounded Hygwald many years ago (Autumn 1224). A brief combat ensues, but the demonic creature howls with rage at the same moment as, in a different part of the castle, Isabel opens her eyes, cured by Hachim's magic. The creature disappears.
With the baron's granddaughter cured, and the baron shame-faced (Aethelbald made sure that the baron knew that he knew about his part in last year's plague), Aethelbald agrees to return in a month or so to discuss matters with the baron. The covenant also have possession of one of the tree's seed-pods, given them by Lady Muschamps, who found it amongst the baron's belongings and wondered if it might affect a cure. The seed of the Basilisk Tree (for it is so-named) has a pawn of Perdo vis within it, but of more interest is the possibility that it might be planted, and grow more vis - as long as its roots don't touch a water supply.
A council meeting discusses financial matters regarding Lucas's plans to employ more grogs. It is decided that the cost is prohibitive. Instead, money is put towards furthering the covenant's repairs. The fate of the basilisk tree's seed pod is also discussed, but no decisions made. Hachim and Hygwald fight Certamen over the right to study from a book on Magic Theory; after losing Hachim decides to return to Iberia for the Golden Ship.
The Sorcerer of Berwick: The Griffin asks Francis if he would like to accompany him down to Berwick for the Cuthbert's Day festival. Flatus joins them, and they meet up with Gwynn, and (later) Aelfhere and Badda. The Griffin has a private meeting with a man who introduced himself as the Baron of Wycombe; then the group witness the funeral cortege of August Voigt, a local merchant. They manage to save a young boy from being chased by three thugs, apparently employed by the boy's father to fetch him back. The boy is red-headed, and Francis determines that he has the Gift. However, the child cannot apparently speak, nor does he really understand. He becomes very attached to the Griffin (literally), and won't leave him alone.
Francis is approached by Nigel of Cambridge, the advocate who helped Lucas several years ago. He is disposing of Voigt's estate, and has come across a dubious book. Knowing of Francis's reputation, Nigel asks for some advice. The book turns out to be a major occult text called "The Sworn Book of Honorius", which makes Francis both excited and worried. While he is reading it, a huge black dog is heard outside menacing three young women. Flatus steps in to save them, 'assisted' by Francis, who throws furniture out of the window onto the women, presumably in an attempt to frighten off the dog. Once the dog has been chased off, Flatus takes the women back to their 'father', who is actually Berwick's brothel-keeper, and he spends a very pleasant night, on the house. Nigel discovers that Voigt was being employed by a Cherbourg trading house called Fengheld to keep an eye on a place alled Vidua Vasta, and especially someone called Hygwald of Blackthorn. Francis tells Nigel that Vidua vasta and Manor Head are the same place, and that Hygwald lives there with Lord Aethelbald.
The next morning it becomes apparent that there are more of these dogs in Berwick. The Griffin meets up with Francis at Voigt's house, where they discover a secret underground laborattory. Here there is a rather horrific spell-construct, apparently designed to control dogs. The Griffin returns to the Blue Frog (where he has been staying), while Francis peruses the occult tome for answers on how to break the spell. Several answers are forthcoming, but the one he decides upon is to attempt a spell himself, to summon the shade of August Voigt (who reamins in St Thomas's church awaiting burial), and ask from him how to dispell the efect. meanwhile, the dog problem has become worse, and most of Berwick's residents are barricaded in their houses to keep them safe from the huge black hounds that roam the town's streets. The Griffin and Flatus try to leave the inn, but are attacked by three of the beasts, who nearly kill Flatus. By the time Badda manages to persuade a physician to come and tend to him, he has lost a lot of blood. Aelfhere steps in to be the Griffin's bodyguard, this time dressed in metal armour and well-armed. He escorts the group to the church (killing a dog on the way with a single blow). The Griffin manages to empty the church of its sheltering townsfolk with a terrifying glare, and francis sets to work preparing his spell. It takes three hours of chanting (and a lot of energy), but eventually those in the church hear the voice of the dead merchant. It seems that this was his revenge on the greedy burghers of the town, who had taxed him mercilessly just because he was not a native of the town. Francis is forced to promise to get the taxation laws changed before the merchant's ghost reveals to him how to break the spell. By morning, all the dogs are gone, and Berwick's townsfolk return to their routine. The characters return to Vidua Vasta with the boy, who has been named Rufus (because of his hair). More languages are tried out on him to see if he understands them, but only when Fariq tries Aramaic does he show any interest - although he still doesn't seem to understand what was said.
Hachim's trip to Iberia was relatively uneventful. Upon arriving in Lisboa, he found that the sailors had put their year there to good use, hiring themselves out as crew to other merchants, and generally having a good time in the sun. Hachim met up with Adin the gem-merchant, who was bewailing the uselessness of his 14-year old son (Hasoud), who by all accounts was a bit of a mooncalf. Hahim saw an opportunity and arranged to buy the boy off his father for 40s (!) Only having 20s on him, he left one of his matched pair of sapphires with the merchant as surity for the rest of the money. One of the grogs (Branoic) was asked to help out the family of his current girlfriend; who had been arrested. When Hachim heard of this, he decided not to bother; instead he told the girl that the matter was all sorted, but that she had to leave Lisboa. Jocylina therefore joined the crew of the Golden Ship.
On the way home, Hachim was forced to make port at Newcastle because of the bad weather. He, Fariq, Hasoud and Jocylina headed the rest of the journey on foot. Just north of Berwick, at dusk, they were set upon by some hideous creatures that resembled in all but size the demon that had been summoned by a flawed casting of the Aegis way back in 1226. When fighting them, the terrible leg wound that Hachim received at the hands of this demon opened up again, and Fariq was forced to carry the magus to the safety of the inn. The demons appeared to be hunting for someone, but exactly who was unclear. Inside the inn was a clerk by the name of Rudolph, just about to take Holy Orders in the service of Bishop Guillet of Berwick. Hachim and Rudolph organised the inn's other patrons to board up the windows and bar the door to keep the creatures out. Hearing shouting outside, the door was opened long enough to admit a pair of travellers who were also being hounded by the demons, Brother Bertram, a Knight Templar; and Brother Robert, a foreign monk. The night was spent in uneasy silence, listening to the demons demanding that one of the occupants be thrown out to them to appease their hunger, but with the dawn, they disappeared. Bertram and Robert shared the journey north with Hachim, as Bertram was escorting the monk to his new home at the Priory of St Marcellus, just down the coast from Vidua Vasta. Hachim's phantom wound had healed itself overnight, but he was forced to maintain the charade until they parted company with the Templar and his charge.
According to the Charter and under Lucas's insistance, Branoic and Jocylina are married.
Ricard Caespuus brings news. The first is that Nathan of Deharbuath (the youngest member of Cnoc Nathair) has shown up at Mac Gruagach. He has told them how Rhys (his pater) was killed at a council meeting by Jadan Seer when he refused to join with them. Nathan escaped, and eventually made it to Mac Gruagach. He has accepted a place at Crun Clach.
The second piece of news is that Fire's Heart has been attacked, and by all accounts destroyed. When more information is available, it seems that although the covenant is now occupied by one of Damhan-allaidh's servants (a serpent-demon, by all accounts, assisted by hideous horse-like water faeries), all of the magi escaped alive, and have now decamped to Teachdair Tigh on a temporary basis.
Lucas decides to excavate Leaper's Bluff, following up on Beorhtric's mysterious nocturnal visitor. As the grogs begin to dig, the wind picks up. After a while, one of the canons from St Marcellus's arrives, accompanied by two lay-brothers. They demand to know what Lucas is doing, as the land belongs to their priory. Lucas has no choice but to allow them to watch. As the grogs continue to dig, the wind gets stronger until it is nigh-on impossible to stand up. Finally, as a grog places his hand on a chest buried 12' down, the wind suddenly drops. The canons immediately start muttering prayers, and the incredibly heavy, lead-covered chest is brought up to the surface. The lead is imprinted with the symbol of the Order of Hermes and the words "Quercus Sanctus". It is bound by two rusted iron bands, revealing inside a huge, heart-like stone nestled on a bed of parchment. Brother Georg asks Lucas to have it brought back to St Marcellus's for Prior Matthew to see. An inscription on the inside of the lid describes the stone as the "Life's blood of the great-boned one", and describes how to end his life, with three pawns of "magic's ideal form and a charm of shattering". Prior Matthew immediately orders that the chest be sent to Bishop Guillet, and Lucas offers to convey it there. But first he makes a stop at the covenant, takes a copy of the inscription, replaces the rock with another, and removes all the parchment (which turns out to be the other half of Gerdic's day book). He also removes the lead marrhings from the top of the chest.
Bricis Devontis has been given an arcane connection to the stables, and he uses that this season to cast Haunt of the Living Ghost. He informs the magi that Crun Clach has been briefly beseiged by faerie forces, but Caitlin was able to drive them away. Fergal's Rest did not prove so lucky, and Stephen Jerbitonis was slain. Aine and Roscaidh (the two remaining members of this covenant) have now joined Crun Clach.
The Magi of Fire's Heart have set up a covenant near to Lochmaben that they have named Fire's Wrath - although the redcaps call it Fire's Spleen. They have announced that they will want Creo, Ignem and Perdo vis, and are prepared to trade generously for it. Vidua Vasta take them up on this offer, and give them 16 pawns of vis, in return for twelve pawns (only 4 now, and the other 8 will all be techniques), and a good summa on Auram written by Daniel Tonatris. The magi have asked for the right to copy this book whenever they wish.
Finally this season, Findabhair of Cad Gadu turns up. She has a baby under her arm which she thrusts at Hachim in lieu of a welcome, staing that she "was promised a girl, and has no use for this one." Just to get rid of the child, Hachim hands it over to Jocylina and Branoic, who ask if the child has a name. "Perhaps", says the father, thus naming him Forsitan ("Perhaps" in Latin). Of more interest to Hachim than his son is a second volume of prophecies from Findabhair's mater; Hachim, Lucas and Hygwald spend the rest of the night pouring over these portents of doom. Eventually, Hachim gets around to completing his bargain with Findabhair, consulting the stars to find the best time to conceive a daughter.
Hachim and Hygwald argue over the right to take Rufus as an apprentice, despite the fact he cannot speak any language (although Francis is teaching him some basic Latin). Hachim offers to sell his share in the boy for 40s, and Hygwald contacts Badda to get her to "acquire" this money for him. She asks for some magic to help her out, and he promises to see what he can do.