The council of Vidua Vasta votes to determine the new duties of its members, under the leadership of the new disceptator, Lucas Carnifex. Ricard takes on the role of Magister Fratres, Hachim becomes Magister Pietas, and Hygwald becomes Magister Mortis. Julia and Lucas retain their former positions.
Luc-Paul espies the giant of Faverloch on his return from the Farne Islands. Lucas and Hygwald decide to take to sea in the Golden Boat in an attempt to kill the creature. They take with them the covenant's entire supply of Perdo and Corpus vis. However, they are not far from Faverloch when they encounter a thick fog bank, and the ship is mysteroiously becalmed - some magic is resisting Hygwald's attempts to move the boat. Sea faeries called nicors then crawl up the side of the boat to attack, fortunately spotted by Oswin. These hideous creatures leave terrible wounds on their victims, and Simon is severely hurt in the legs, probably permanently maimed. Once the last of them is dispatched, the giant appears in the fog without warning, towering over the boat. Fortunately, Lucas and Hygwald have been witholding their actions, expecting exactly this. As the immense fist of the giant smashes into the deck of the ship, Lucas uses his vis-enhanced magic to punch through the magical resistance of the giant to inflict terrible wounds upon it. These spells result in its demise, but not without cost; the Golden Boat is sorely damaged, and is shipping water at an alarming rate - which is not helped when Lucas uses magic to siphon off the blood of the giant into the boat, as he has discovered that it contains Aquam vis. He slops what he can into buckets, but most of it is lost. Grim is sent to dive underwater to retrieve the eye of the giant, which contains Corpus vis. It remains to be seen as to whether the boat can be repaired.
The Giant's Release:Nechtan Dubh arrives at the covenant in the shape of a hawk. This gruagach is the tribunal's expert on giants, and he has been exploring some leads. He recognised one of the giants involved in the raid against the Tribunal as a member of the Cro Beagh clan which has always been friendly towards man. Finally, he has been able to contact their grand-dam, to discover that Damhan-allaidh has been holding the hearts of them and their whelps to ransom, if the seven adult members assist him. The Giant Queen now wants to meet with Nechtan. The gruagach transforms Lucas and Hygwald, and several grogs into birds, and they fly to the meeting. The queen - an immense being, who is first mistaken for a hillside - opens up a passageway into the mountain. There, she claims, they will find the hearts of her kinsfolk. It turns out that these underground chambers are the sanctum of Liam the Shapeless (formerly of Vindolanda), and the place of imprisonment for Damhan-allaidh during his long imprisonment (Liam forced him through Vindolanda's gate into his own sanctum, then collapsed the sanctum on top of himself, burying them both). The magi find not only the spot where Damhan-allaidh once laid, but also the living remains of Liam, now a cruel mockery of his name "the Shapeless", for he is unable to hold his shape for any time at all. A crevasse leading up to the surface emerges within a roughly-built fort of giant proportions. It is occupied by five ogres, two of which are identified as Conoran and Lot, hideous warlocks of the Spider's employ.
Lucas makes himself invisible, and Hygwald is transformed by Nectan into a mouse. The two explore the fort. They work out that the eleven giant chickens who roam the compound during the day are the transformed heart-stones of the giant clan. Each night, one of the chickens is cooked and eaten by the brutish warlocks. Realising that they can only get to the chickens at day, Hygwald spends a lot of vis at dawn to create a number of illusionary chickens under his conscious control. Lucas then enticed each chicken towards him and nabbed it, while each was replaced with its illusion. Nechtan then transformed them back into their correct forms. All the hearts were retrieved, and the queen gave them a gift of the heart of a long-dead giant king, in the form of a rough diamond of immense size. This has since been discovered to be a vis source. The magi returned to Vidua Vasta through the Gate in Liam's Sanctum, which lead to the Mars Temple. Liam was able to tell them how to transverse from temple to temple, and they made it back to the covenant in no time at all.
Liam has proved to be a source of information. He has been able to reveal that his teacher, Brude Deathless, is connected somehow with the Moon Temple, and that his daughter (called Meg) is also a cousin of Morlaix - and thus could potentially release him
Bricis announces that there is to be a council of war at Teachdair Tigh during the Autumn Equinox. The Rosewood Crown is only of use if the time and place of the Spider's assault is known, and while the former is known (full moon, January next year), the latter is not. Nevertheless, plans need to be drawn together, and allies confirmed.
Dremic reports that the Golden Boat cannot be fixed by him. He can patch up the leak, but cannot make a repair.
Long Meg: Following up on Liam's information about Brude inhabiting the Temple of the Moon, Hachim volunteers (!) to seek him out and ask him where his daughter may be found. As his daughter is kin to Morlaix, she will be able to free him from his curse. Taking Luc-Paul, Luke MacKar and Fariq, Hachim travels to the Mercury Temple and thence through the Moon Gate to the most impressive stone formations he has ever seen (which he later identifies as being Callinish, on the Isle of Lewis). Then, storming down an avenue of stones is a hideous monster, constantly shifting in shape, gaining features of a number of predatory animals as it advances on the small group. It seems, however, to be making a visible effort to control its anger, and refrains from attacking; eventually it calms down, and its shape settles into that of an 8' tall man, with shaggy grey and white blotched fur, huge tusks, dead eyes and pig-like feet. He berates Hachim for opening the temple, explaining in between panting breath that the Enemy could not open the gates, only a Hermetic Magus could do that. However, once the gates were open, anyone could use them. Hachim realises that the covenant has been duped - it was Aledd (through Beorhtric) who manipulated them into opening the Temple of Mercury. Now fully calmed down, Brude Deathless (for it is he) invites them to share a meal with him. He explains that he has not seen his daughter Megan for some time; they had a falling out; and she, having grown weary of life since the murder of her husband, turned herself and her daughters into a stone circle. Brude is also able to reveal the locations of the other Star Temples, and promises to help in the final battle against the Spider.
Working out that the stone circle must be that which is now known as Long Meg and her Daughters, Hachim prepares for a long journey to Cumbria. Brude transforms four mice into mounts for them (a fine Arab for Fariq, a destrier for Luc-Paul, a donkey for Hachim and a highland pony for Luke). They question the Cumbrian locals about Long Meg and discover her legend - anyone who can count the stones three times and come up with the same number each time will turn the witch back into flesh and blood - not a good thing, by all accounts, for she has a reputation as a baby-eater. Hachim discovers a regio at the site, but cannot count the seventy-odd stones correctly, despite all manner of ingenious methods. Luke MacKar discovered why when he tripped and banged his head on a rock - one of Long Meg's daughters (called Korrigan) was awake, and deliberately confusing the count. Korrigan herself cannot leave the circle of stones, else she would be able to break her kinsman's curse. Korrigan reveals (eventually) that she can wake her mother, but councils against it. Long Meg is deeply unpleasant, and has a hatred for all men. Korrigan is able to suggest something that might appease her mother, however. Gruagach magic cannot affect the dead, and Meg would dearly like to speak with her dead husband Eochaid, a King of the Picts, and also a legendary warrior called the Cout of Kielder. Hachim works out (to his chagrin) that Eochaid is buried in the grounds of Hermitage Castle, very close to the dreaded Lord de Soulis.
Using his magic, Hachim was quickly able to find a grave, about a quarter of a mile northwest of the castle. It had a huge slab of stone on top of it, that the grogs were unable to lift. Using his inventiveness, he caused a tree to grow beneath the stone, pushing it out of the way; however, the tree was as much an impediment to digging as the stone was. Hachim resolved to wait until dawn, when the tree would fade, and the grogs could dig. Unfortunately, the demonic familiar of the Lord de Soulis had other ideas. He circled the camp, and secretly entered the branches of the tree. From there he leapt upon the grogs, managing to slay Luke MacKar with a single, ferocious attack. Realising they were outmatched, they resolved to make a last, desparate stand. Luc-Paul was the saving grace; he was able to slay the demon with a blow of his sword; the creature vanished in a puff of flame and brimstone. Now concerned that de Soulis would be roused, Hachim cloaked the valley in mist as soon as the dawn came, while the grogs started to dig. They eventually uncovered the head of Eochaid, and left in a hurry, pursued by de Soulis who was searching for them in the mist. Luc-Paul acted as decoy, and everyone got away safely.
Back at Long Meg, Korrigan woke her mother and Hachim cast Whispers Through the Black Gate. He had to relay Meg's questions in Pictish to the dead king's spirit; but the witch was apparently satisfied. Using Korrigan as a translator, Long Meg put forth her demands. She would (once again) help the Order defeat the Spider on two conditions - that she and her 72 daughters were offered the protection of the Order, and that the descendants of Kenneth MacAlpine would be deposed from the Scottish Throne. Hachim naturally could not speak for the Order, and Long Meg announced that she would arrive at the Temple of Mercury some time in the future to hear the Order's decision.
The War Council: At the beginning of the season, representatives from all Loch Leglean covenants meet in Roxburgh to discuss the final battle against Damhan-allaidh. The first order of business was to discuss Long Meg's demands; after much argument it was decided that She and her daughters will be asked to perform a test of their magical prowess somewhat like a gauntlet; any who pass can join the Order. Jehan was confident that a direct descendent of Kenneth MacAlpine could marry into the modern Royal family of Scotland without breaking any rules about consanguity (as defined by the Church); but he couldn't be sure that there wasn't come cognate relationship with that lineage. Next, the tribunal divided up tasks for the upcoming battle. the Order has decided to make a stand at the Red Glen, in which the covenant of MacGruagach lies. Vidua Vasta's task is to target Aledd. Between them, the Tribunal has collected 4 heartstones of the various warlocks, and bound one more into a magical sleep. Having acquired the help of Brude and Long Meg, the battle looks hopeful. The only potential problem is Wode, the Dragon of the Picts. Vidua Vasta is therefore charged with returning the Rosewood Crown to Goch, and acquire his help against his ancient foe.
If You Can Keep Your Head...: Lucas sets out for the Isle of Man (where Goch is supposed to live) with Aaron, Sean and Scrob. They land at Douglas, and head north towards Snaefell. On the way they meet a farmer called Scroffa, who has lost his pig (see Vidua Vasta's first visit to Man). They reach an abandoned village close to the mountain, occupied only by a dog-headed hairy man with amazingly supple limbs. This Phynnodderee (it is unclear whether this is his race or his name) says that the area ahead is the territory of Bugganes, who for some unknown reason are at war with him. This war started about two weeks ago, at the same time a stranger arrived in the village; all the villagers are now captives of the Bugganes. Lucas presses on into Buggane territory, only to meet with strong resistance. The Bugganes are a race of naked faeries, who attack by wrenching off their own heads and throwing them at their opponents. The heads explode in flames upon impact, and immediately regrow on the shoulders of the Bugganes. Aaron also discovers that they explode upon death, a fact which does not stop Lucas obliterating one next to Scrobb - and the resultant flames slay the faithful (but old) grog. Beaten back by the barrage of heads, the caterva is forced to flee back to the village. That night, Aaron and Sean are determined to retrive Scrobb's body, so go in search of it. Instead, they find a talking pig called Shaight, who teaches them a magic song which will force the Bugganes to obey anyone who sings it to the end (yeah...Lucas didn't believe them either!). Unfortunately, the song ("Old Hundred") is a hundred lines long, and Sean has difficulty remembering it all. However, what he does remember is sufficient to get the caterva through the Buggane's territory and on to the mountain. Perhaps recalling Eric's efforts at climbing Snaefell in 1223AD, Lucas attempts to use Rego Corpus magic to lift himself to the top of the mountain - and misses the mountain altogether. he has to walk back to the village, then fly back over Buggane territory to where he left the grogs. Meanwhile, Sean has been practicing the song, and knows it absolutely perfectly (OOC: he made an Int roll of 159, despite having an Ageing Affliction of Forgetful!) Lucas eventually makes it up to the cave where the dragon resides. Speaking to the Dragon through a hole in the rock, Goch agrees to fight Wode if Lucas tells him where the son of Wiht now resides. This the magus does, returns the Crown, and leaves as soon as he can. On the way back down the mountain, the grogs persuade Lucas to make a side-trip to the Bugganes' camp to retrieve Scrobb's corpse. With his perfect knowledge of Old Hundred, the Bugganes do whatever he says - although he needs to recite the whole thing for each individual order. Both Scrobb's body and the prisoners are released; revealing the stranger to be Thibalt. He and Lucas exchange a few pithy words; but the Tytalus refuses to reveal why he is on the Isle of Man, and wishes the Flambeau a safe journey home.
The journey home is anything but safe: en route from Douglas to Carlisle, the ship is attacked by four nicors (the same creatures who attacked the Golden Boat when Vidua Vasta went hunting the Giant of Faverloch). The creatures are eventually dispatched, but not without seriously wounding Lucas and nearly killing Sean.
The Aegis was cast into the Token of the Star at the beginning of Autumn, but fails to work; thus it has to be cast with vis in the regular fashion.
The Spider's Heart: With only five weeks to the Full Moon, Long Meg turns up at the covenant, with one of her Daughters in tow. Lucas has already left for the Red Glen with the Brotherhood of the Cockatrice. Long Meg first wishes to know what the Order has determined regarding her demands, and is displeased with the "weasel-words" used by Hygwald. Confirming that all her daughters have magical abilities, she forces Hygwald to swear an oath (on the behalf of the Order) that all her daughters need to do is prove that they have such abilities, and their admission to the order will be guaranteed.
Hygwald, Aeddi, Luc-Paul and Flatus set out with Long Meg and her daughter through the Mercury Temple to the Saturn Temple, whose physical location is at Carnac. Flatus has to fight the Guardian of the Mars Temple (the watch-dog put in place by Ealasaid); who turns out to be a warrior exactly matched to himself. After locating Morlaix's monolith, Long Meg wakens him with a mixture of her spittle and blood. While he gradually reverts from stone, she leaves, saying that her daughter (still nameless) will show them the way home. Morlaix is pleased to be released (naturally), but Hygwald is more interested in what the ancient king holds in his hand - Damhan-allaidh's soul-stone (a large emerald, the size of a goose-egg). Long Meg's daughter seems to be a sorcerer - she summons Aratron, the Heptarch of the Saturn Temple, and the characters pass through. Unfortunately, Aledd and Conaran are waiting for them in the Mars Temple. Aledd's main objective is achieved when he bullrushes Hygwald out of the Mars temple through the Jupiter Gate...and therefore into the physical location of the Jupiter Temple, hidden away in the Wicklow Mountains. The rest of the characters follow Hygwald through. However, not everything has gone Aledd's way - the soldiers that he had waiting here have been attacked by the covenant of Lombard, who don't like having an army in the back-yard. Cliona, one of the Flambeau of Lombard is able to use her formidable battle-magics against the two warlocks, but not before Luc-Paul is tragically bisected by a single blow of Conaran's immense sword. Aledd disappears under a swarm of magically-created wolves, but manages to escape them in the form of a sparrow. Despite his failure to kill Hygwald and/or retrieve his master's soul-stone, it seems that he has been partially successful: Hygwald has lost time in the Star Temples, and it is now only 3 days until the Blue Moon - and he is nearly a thousand miles from where he should be!
Without the return of Hygwald, Hachim and Julia take the Golden Boat up to the Covenant of MacGruagach, and join the assembed magi of the Loch Leglean Tribunal for the Final Battle against Damhan-allaidh. On the day of the battle, the forces engage. Horsingas takes to the field against de Soulis and the mundane soldiers, while Crun Clach deals with a horde of giant spiders, and Eilean Beg takes on the each uisge. Giants battle giants; Fire's Heart faces their old enemy Cichol Footless and Arbroath are assailed by Morc, a hideous, blood-drinking demon. All members of the Tribunal are assailed to some extent. Vidua Vasta begin by assisting Daniel Tonatris against Bres and Luke. Lucas then leads a force against the giants, while Hachim and Julia help out Arbroath against Morc. Once these battles are over, Hachim concentrates on rescuing the injured parties, while Lucas charges on wih his remaining men, firstly to help out the ailing forces of Horsingas, then to assist Eilean Beg against the water horses. All the while, Goch has been battling things out with Wode; and Brude and Long Meg have joined forces against Damhan-allaidh. Then, almost simultaneously, two new opponents enter the arena - the dreaded sluagh, and Hygwald.
Hygwald had been met by the Cailleach Sibeal of the Covenant of Mhor Radh. She had come through the Jupiter Temple, which she accessed via a Gate to the Temple of Mars at her home covenant. Her predecessor, the Cailleach Diorbhall, had told her about the gates and how to use them. With her, she brought the daughter of Long Meg (whose name turned out to be Arduinna), who summoned Bethor the Peacock Dragon, and entered the Temple of Jupiter. From Mhor Radh, it was just a short ride by boat, and a short trek upriver to MacGruagach and the Red Glen. As soon as he has sight of Damhan-allaidh (now in the form of an immense spider), Hygwald destroys the soul-stone in the manner he has been taught, which strikes a mighty blow against the arch-warlock, who had seemed to have been winning. At about this time, the sluagh pour down from the hilltop towards the main field battle, an evil cloud of smoke and ghosts who chill the heart and freeze the blood. They have equal effects on both sides in the battle; this weakens de Soulis's forces sufficiently for Vidua Vasta and Horsingas to bring him down, but it wrecks a horrible toil on their soldiers - the Brotherhood of the Cockatrice, hitherto unwounded, are driven mad by the hostile dead of the Highlands. Fortuately they do not linger long; the three necromancers of the tribunal send forth their power, and drive them from the vale, holding them in place until the dawning sun returns them to their graves.
Morlaix joined the fight with his cousin and uncle, and when the Hermetic magi retreat from the field of battle, the legendary wizards are still locked in battle with each other. Upon the rising of the sun, when the tribunal emerges from the relative safety of MacGruagach, the four ancients (Damhan-allaidh, Brude, Long Meg and Morlaix) are nowhere to be seen. The tribunal solemly gathers its dead, and returns home.