Adjuration of Rehael into Token o/t Star
Trial by Fire: St Andrew's - gain 4 books from Fr Galcher, send message to Whitburh re Thibalt
Andrew's Adventure
Carnac, Amphisbaena
Creating a gatestone...
Assault on Widow's Rest: The covenant was woken at dawn by Oswin. Form his vantage point on top of the manour, he could see figures amassing in the stone circle. The magi's worst fears were realised when they hastily gathered together most of their grogs and headed out to meet them - Aledd the Warlock had emerged through the Gate to the Mercury Temple along with two dozen Lochannach warriors. Battle was immediately enjoined.
Luc-Paul took charge of a band of the Brothers of the Cockatrice, to defend Lucas and Hygwald, who had braved the battlefield. Reynard lead the rest of the Brothers and some of the Saxons, whilst Grim took charge of the rest of the Saxons. These three bands each formed an effective fighting force; the rest of the covena't grogs took to the general melee in a more disorganised fashion. As the forces clashed, Lucas set about picking off individual warriors with his spells, before switching to magics whichdestroyed their arms and armour. Hygwald set of volleys of Crystal Darts with deadly accuracy, but unfortunately, most of the warriors wore chain hauberks, and were unaffected. Aledd was not idle either. With a shouted word, he blasted a hole in the side of the covenant in an attempt to breach it, yet his further attempts to do damage were frustrated by the Aegis. He then turned to cursing the magi; unable to assail Lucas's mighty parma, he found Hygwald an easier target, crippling him with pain every time he tried to cast a spell. Luc-Paul's band had done a stirling job keeping the Lochannach from the magi; they now began to force a wedge through the armed men towards Aledd. However, the toll of spell-casting had completely fatigued Lucas, and he collapsed into the mud (naked as usual). Luc-Paul left a man to protect him, while he pressed on with Hygwald. Aledd had meanwhile given up on his attempts to curse the magi, and was standing at the cliff top, arms raised, calling upon the giant of Faverloch, who was making his way towards the covenant. Seeing his approach, Hygwald headed back for the covenant at all speed, and found that Julia had pre-empted his actions. Her absence from the battle field was explained by the Giant's Heart which she carried, rescued from its hiding place in the underground tunnel.
Aledd's forces were largely defeated, but then the huge reach of the 40' giant came into play, dealing mayhem to the remaining grogs of the covenant. Hygwald struck the giant's heart with Lucas's magical pick, sinking all the Vim vis he had into the attempt. The stone heart shattered, causing the giant to howl in pain - the creature was now mortal. However, despite being grievously wounded by Grim's men, it still stood, but not for long; returning to the sea from where it had came. Grogs later reported that Aledd had been seen leaping from the cliff's edge into the water.
The damage to the covenant was assessed. Apart from the physical damage, nearly all the covenant's grogs were at death's door. Fariq and Calum got to work saving those they could, but three warriors died of their wounds. Another 8 remain critically injured, including Grim, Halfgrim, Luc Paul, Luke McKar and Aescwynn. Fariq had been ordered to try to save some of their incapacitated enemies from their wounds, and some of the grogs have grumbled that if he had not done this, their compatriots would have likely been saved. Hygwald's questioning of these men revealed that they had travelled from their temporary home - probably the Orcades - through the Great Glen, crossed water again, travelled through some more mountains, until they reached a stone circle, which was the entrance to the Mars Temple. Hygwald then deduced that they travelled from Mars to the Sun, then to Venus, then the Mercury and on to Manor Head. There was a guardian in the Mars Temple that took the life of Aledd's champion, but then let the force of men pass. In the meantime, Lucas was keen on chasing down the giant and killing him, and summoned the Spirit of the Salt to find out where it was hiding. However, Lucas was unwilling to sacrifice one of the captives to the water-spirit in exchange for this information, and had to give up on this plan.
Julia recommends that Grim is promoted to Custos for his brave actions against the giant. Lucas discusses increasing the turb, but the issue is tabled until a thorough reckoning of the covenant's financial status can be assertained.
Francis travelled to St Andrews with the books to exchange with Fr Galcher, however, he found that the priest had died in the fire which ravaged the town, so instead Lucas sent him to Cambridge, to attempt an exchange with Schola Pythagoranis.
Thibalt Tytali arrived at the covenant. He accused Lucas of a High Crime, in defaming him far and wide to the tribunal, the Tytalus claimed that Lucas had limited his magical power. The 'rogue' magus had just returned from visiting Whitburh, where he had handed over the Rosewood Crown. He claims that with this item, Damhan-allaidh's final assault can be foreseen, including when, where and what tactics he will employ. Consequentially, Thibalt feels that he has won the war for the Order. The Tytalus left the covenant with Hygwald fuming, and Lucas thinking murderous thoughts...
The Gate to the Mercury Temple was isolated upon a narrow pillar of rock in the centre of a six pace wide pit. A bridge is used to cross this pit to get to the gate.
The Griffin's return to the covenant is heralded by the appearance of the walking dead. However, in front of the magi, he appears not to notice their existance, even when taunted by the corpse of an ancient ostler. At some point that night, the walking dead throw off their veneer of civility and turn into the mindless creatures first met at Towlaw. They seem to be desparate to get to the Griffin, more specifically, the amulet of green turquoise he wears about his neck. Only once it is destroyed to the walking dead crumble into dust and remain still.
During this confusion, Margaret filia Whitburh arrives at the covenant with a request from her mater. To use the Rosewood Crown effectively, it is necessary to know the time and place of the final assault by Damhan-allaidh, and the prophecies of Immanola seem a perfect place to uncover such vital facts. Several key prophecies were identified that seem to refer to the same point in time - The last full moon of January in 1239 - but no place is forthcoming.
Concerned that Damhan-allaidh knows more about the Star Temples than they do, the magi decided to raise the shade of Gerdic, the magus of House Diedne who's corpse they discovered beneath the gatehouse. They know that his wife was a descendent of Ealasaid, who codified the spells that give access to the temples in the first place. Lucas used Whispers Through the Black Gate, but this seemed to have little effect. However, Lucas was later seen (dressed in white) disappearing through the Mercury Gate, and he did not return for several months, missing the casting of the Aegis.