1208

School at the Covenant of Icy North has ended, and Shadow Magi are on the loose. While there are many social events throughout the year at which apprentices might socialize, few are permitted to do so, because of the risk. Instead, most of the year is spent safely inside the

, toiling away in the laboratory, the workshop, or at the scribing desk. Senior magi are preparing for the Tribunal in the Winter, courteously informing their apprentices that their training in the Arts will begin after the Tribunal, at the end of the year.

Covenant of the Sinews of Knowledge

Eva

Balbina is still smarting from her humiliation at the Midsummer Fair. Refusing to take any of her normal work repairing broken enchanted items, she instead focuses solely on laboratory work, enchanting her strange Talisman with the awesome power of the Twilight Gaze. In this, she has the help of Eva, who is a remarkably good lab assistant, especially considering her age.

Throughout the spring, summer, and autumn, the two of them -- accompanied by Gero the Gnome and Balbina's weasel familiar -- toil in the workshop. The routine is steady, but not grueling, and there is even some comfort in it, for Balbina is rich even for a magus and wants for no material comfort. She promises to teach Eva in the Winter, beginning with Creo, but she does not apologize for her obsessive focus on her work, which has consumed all her thinking.

In summer, the Covenant performs its Aegis ceremony. Eva is not involved, but the next morning Balbina presents her with a copper ring and says, "B-b-b-by mmmmmy right as a mmmember of the C-c-c-covenant of Sinews of Knnnnowledge, I wellllcome you into the ... Aegis." From this point forward, Eva can work her spells normally within the caves. Balbina later tells her, via Mentem speech, that she wants Eva to be able to defend herself or flee should the Shadow Magi somehow penetrate the covenant.

Advancement

Eva: Spring, Summer, and Autumn -- 2 Exposure XP in Magic Theory, Creo, or Vim for each of the three seasons.

Akakios

Having now attracted the attention of his master, Akakios finds that it was a lot easier to get things accomplished when he was being ignored. And he is still smarting from being locked in his room for two weeks last winter, when he survived on stale bread and bacon. Keenly aware both of his physical weakness and his inability to cast spells in the covenant, he sets out to both strengthen his body and find somewhere -- anywhere -- that he can work magic.

Unfortunately, he is still assigned chores, so he has to do all this in his limited free time. Exploring the catacombs deep beneath the covenant, he returns to the subterranean lake which he has seen once before. Like the other caves, the lake is lit by strange stellar patterns on the ceiling, but as Akakios watches he sees occasional ripples of something moving in the water. Lobsters walk the shore of the lake; they are so big that Akakios could not wrap his arms around one. After a short period of observation, he sees a serpent-like creature poke its head up out of the water and gaze at him, curiously. It swims towards the shore and, as it seems about to streak right out of the water, it turns into a tall, lean, nude woman with long black hair, who walks up onto the beach.

"Hello," she says in Latin. "You must be that Greek boy of Sebastien's."

The woman introduces herself as Cara filia Sigurd of House Bjornaer. She appears to be a member of the covenant, but doesn't get much news. She gladly exchanges pleasantries with Akakios and boasts about her work in the lake, which appears to be both her home and a major source of food for the covenant. Besides the lobster, she grows oysters and winkles in great quantity. Essentially, the lake is her farm.

In response to Akakios' carefully worded questions, she acknowledges that the lake has underwater channels which lead throughout the Alps. "But you wouldn't want to go exploring," she warns. "They all lead out of the Aegis, quickly or eventually."

"Oh, and be careful!" she says. "I've seen some kind of ghost down here, of an old woman with no legs. Don't try to talk to her. I think she's insane."

To others, Akakios seems to have been broken by his confinement last winter. When he is with Eva, Augustina, or Lucius, he asks what happens to failed apprentices. (Lucius: "They end up in the workshop." Augustina: "Or dead. Usually dead.") He is soon pitied by the covenfolk and Grogs but, because of the evil taint which follows him everywhere, the inhabitants of the covenant largely agree that it's all for the best and probably his own fault anyway.

Remembering his strange premonition, Akakios finds Augustina one evening, after supper. Privately, he explains what he saw and tells her that he has frequently had dreams that foretold of things that later came to pass. His mother's death, Sebastien locking him in his chambers, etc. He asks if she knows of any place in the covenant where she could be trapped like that in the dream?

"Well," she says thoughtfully, chewing a little on her lip in an especially adorable fashion. "I guess most of the chambers in the covenant have steam pipes. If something happened to them, and the room was sealed shut somehow, it could kill someone. We have defenses just like that, to stop intruders."

"If you are ever trapped," he asks, "why would you call for me? I'm an insignificant piece of refuse compared to you. You're almost ready to Gauntlet. If there is anything I can do to help you, I will. If it will get me in trouble with that jerk Sebastien, all the better. Please be careful. I've talked to people who have passed to the other side, it's a terrible place."

This makes Augustina grin. "Aw, don't be so hard on yourself. It's easy to feel down when you have a master like Ragoneda or Sebastien. But even if all you have is a few cantations and spontaneous magic, you're still more capable than most people!" Her optimistic attitude is infectious, but then she adopts a surreptitious manner and her eyes glance left and right to be sure the pair is not observed. "If you ever want to break out of this place and make some trouble, I have an idea. My domina caught me the last three times, but I think I can give her the slip with a little help."

It comes as a great surprise to everyone when, in the summer, Sebastien begins daily lessons with Akakios, "Since you appear to be the worst scribe in the history of the Order." Sebastien teaches through endless repetition of basic drills which Akakios is forced to perform over and over until he is quite literally having precognitive nightmares about them.

By autumn, Sebastien is absolutely stir-crazy from being confined to the covenant for six months. After a visit from a short, fat man who wears a black mask and never speaks, Sebastien packs up his breaking & entering gear and departs for another two week vacation. Akakios can figure out about a night beforehand that he's about to be locked in his room again. He has that long to formulate a plan, and this time it looks like Sebastien might stay away till Tribunal.

He goes in search of Eva, and asks her for help. Perhaps she could help him get out by opening the door, loaning him her casting token, or having Gero bring him fresh food and reading material?

"Eva," he says, "don't worry about getting caught. Sebastien wants me to try to escape or thwart the imprisonment. That's his whole stupid game. I'm supposed to be developing a disdain for the arbitrary rules he enforces as some allegory for society's arbitrary rules. All this has taught me is that if you don't get caught anything is fair game. I'll be punished for getting caught not you. I'll take as much assistance or as little as you're willing to offer. Name your price."

It turns out Eva is willing to help Akakios out, solely on the basis that she doesn't like Sabastien much. He mocked her parens in front of her. Eva's price is simple: Akakios must never ever mock Balbina, the closest thing Eva's had to a real mother, or treat her with disrespect. Gero, however, is not be involved. He has no protection against retribution over any involvement.

Akakios readily agrees and appears somewhat shocked that the price of cooperation is so easily met. "I would never mock your mistress. She treats you like a potential maga instead of a slave."

The next morning, as expected, Sebastien orders Akakios into his small room. This time he produces a pair of manacles and chains the apprentice to the radiator. "I've arranged for the cook to bring you food and water. I might be gone a while, and the Book of Instruction forbids apprentices from acting without the approval of their masters." The manacles are iron and he locks them with a key, which he pockets. Shouldering his working bag, he shuts the door on Akakios, his expression grave.

Soon after, Eva appears. Using spontaneous ceremonial magic, she unlocks the manacles and creates an illusion of a sleeping Akakios, giving her friend a head start on the inevitable pursuit. Akakios makes for Ragoneda's sanctum and finds Augustina, who has concocted an elaborate plan by which the two can escape the covenant. To accomplish this, they use illusions to reach the covenant's boiler room, the Veriditius engines there are switched off, and Augustina shrinks Akakios down to the size of an infant. He is able to crawl through the boiler and float up the steam vent using Rego Corpus magic. Once he's outside, he finds the ventilation shaft leading to the mundane library, where Augustina is waiting, and lowers a rope. Jubilant at their freedom, Augustina proposes they catch a band of highwaymen who have been robbing pilgrims in the nearby pass. Akakios, swept up in her enthusiasm, agrees to help.

The pair of apprentices follow the river until, after dark, they find the bandit camp. Eventually three armed men appear dragging a captive between them, and while they debate over the man's fate, Augustina and Akakios ready themselves for battle with what magic they have. Waiting for a chance to surprise the men, Augustina stabs one in the back and Akakios finishes him off with a dagger to the throat. The second is put to sleep by Augustina's Enchanting Gaze, but when Akakios runs up to finish the man off, the final bandit cuts his side open with a shortsword thrust. A moment later this one, too, is put to sleep and all the bandits are soon killed, but Akakios is wounded. Stricken with guilt and remorse for embroiling the pair in violence, Augustina is able to spontaneously cast Bind Wounds and the two remain in the bandit camp for the night, the pain and discomfort mitigated by their victory and the knowledge that they saved the life of an innocent pilgrim.

Akakios is game to continue, but Augustina refuses to press their luck any further, and insists they return home. They are back at Sinews of Knowledge shortly before noon, interrupting all the magi of the Covenant save Sebatien (who is away and cannot be found). The magi feared the Shadow Magi had taken the apprentices, and a rescue mission was forming, held back only by Ragoneda, who has experience with Augustina's escapades. With the return of the two apprentices, everyone relaxes; Ragoneda uses a casting tablet to heal Akakios, who is confined to Sebastien's sanctum until his master returns. This takes only a few days, before a Redcap tracks the Tytalus magus down. Sebastien is filled in on recent events and puts Akakios back to work, consults Ragoneda, and seems to be much more serious than his previously flamboyant self.

Advancement

Akakios: Spring: 5 practice points in Covenant Lore. Summer: 13 XP in Rego. Autumn: 4 practice points in Guile.

By the Autumn, Akakios's efforts at improving his physical strength and stamina are starting to get noticed. He is becoming a strong, hardy, young man. He gains Improved Characteristics. Soft-Hearted becomes Pessimist. Student of Magic becomes Minor Magical Focus: Ghosts and Inconspicuous becomes Puissant Second Sight.

Covenant of the Icy North

Rene

Hugh speaks plainly with his apprentice. "In the past, I have hunted the Order's enemies on its borders, but now we have them amongst us. Martin and Ilsa might still be saved, but you're not yet skilled enough to accompany me. So that is your job, while I do mine. I leave you with the Sergeant, who will complete your weapons training. By Tribunal, I expect you to be ready to fight as good as any Grog." He departs soon after, and for the rest of the year Rene sees his master only occasionally, when Hugh returns to Icy North to get new leads, report on his progress, refresh his supply of Grogs, or bring the injured in for healing. On these occasions, he dines with the other magi, and Rene and the other apprentices serve them at the table.

Early in the spring, a package arrives for Rene from Conscientia of Bonisagus, a maga whom he met at the Midsummer Fair. The package is a scroll about three feet long rolled round a wooden dowel and fit inside a snug leather tube. Written in clear and businesslike handwriting is the following spell:

A Blade As Bright As Mirrors

CrTe 20 (Ritual)

R: Touch, D: Momentary, T: Individual

This spell permanently repairs a metal object no larger than a cubic foot. Despite the spell's name, it can be used on any metal object, not just weapons. As a result of experimentation with the spell when it was designed, the metal object is permanently polished to a mirror sheen.

Base: 15, +1 Touch

Rene is not yet skilled enough to learn this spell. He would need a laboratory, a season to work, and a lab total of 20 to learn it. His current CrTe lab total is 3 + Aura (which is 6 in Icy North, for a total of 9).

Throughout the spring, summer, and autumn, Rene is rigorously drilled by Icy North's drill sergeant, Gregor. He keeps Rene working with great swords and pole axes for a few months, but then switches to swords, axes, and spears. There is also considerable physical conditioning and extensive practice riding. By December, when Hugh returns from the field, Gregor gestures to Rene and says, "He is as fine a warrior as I can make him, Honored Magus, and a good student." Hugh nods and smiles a little, visibly pleased.

"Then we'll have much work to do in the spring -- provided I'm not exiled to the sea first."

Advancement

Rene: Spring, Summer and Autumn -- Rene is taught 17 XP each season; these points must be spent on Athletics, Bow, Brawl, Riding, Great Weapon or Single Weapon. At the end of the Autumn, Rene also acquires his free House virtue, which is Warrior. This gives him an additional 50 XP which must be spent on Martial Skills.

Gustov

Gustov can see Kentigern preparing to travel, and is at first confused why he has not been told to pack. "This is Quaesitor business," his dominus tells him solemnly. "It is a grave honor. And if, one day, you too are chosen to speak for our House at Magvillus, then House Guernicus will see to it that you are trained appropriately. But, for now, your time is better spent elsewhere. Come with me."

With this, Gustov is led up through the Covenant to halls and passages he has previously been forbidden from entering. The doors to the library are handsome oak, buttressed with steel bars and silver sigils. Before entering, Kentigern lifts his hand and, in a bold voice, speaks his own name. The doors part before him, and Gustov enters the Hermetic Library of the Covenant of the Icy North.

There are hundreds of volumes here, arrayed face-out on wooden shelves around the octagonal chamber. A bank of scribal desks has been positioned in an alcove to the right. Light is provided by tall, narrow windows. Gustov will later learn that, when the sun sets, the ceiling of the chamber is hidden by an illusion of a starry sky from which glowing snowflakes fall. This magical snow, which never quite reaches the ground, gives off enough light to comfortably read.

Gustov can also see two armoires packed with books; both appear to be locked. Below the shelves, in large bins that circle the room, are scrolls and other stacks of laboratory texts. The librarian is a woman, her age difficult to determine thanks to the wimple which leaves only her face uncovered. But she has a gentle face, and she smiles, bowing down hands on her knees to ask, "Well, who is this young man?" Kentigern introduces her as Sophia, the Master Librarian, and commands Gustov to respect her wishes and obey her as if she were he himself. Leaving him in Sophia's care, he departs.

Sophia shows Gustov around the library, showing him how the collection is organized and how to use the register, which is the index of all books in the collection. Patrons of the library do not use the shelves; instead, they submit their request to a librarian, who fetches and retrieves all books. Ordinarily, magi are allowed to take books back to their sanctums to study in comfort, but Gustov, thanks largely to the fact that Kentigern will not be in residence, is asked to read in the scribal cubicles.

"You will also need to be introduced to Master Oakenwood," she says, leading Gustov back towards the mighty doors, now closed. "Master Oakenwood, this is Gustov discipulus Kentigern." Sophia appears to be talking to the library doors, which are marked with the same silver sigils and which boast, from the inside, massive steel bars which could, presumably, be lowered to further block entry. "He is to be allowed entry and exit from the library during all hours during which it is not closed." A few moments pass, nothing at all seems to happen, and then Sophia smiles down to Gustov and nods. "That ought to do it. He's not really a master, but we like to humor him, since he has done such good service for the covenant all these years. When you need to come in or out, just raise your hand up like so and say your name, just like I did just now." And, sure enough, this seems to work, with the doors opening and closing for him on command.

For the rest of the Spring, Gustov is busy at one of the (not very comfortable) scribing tables. He is given a very workmanlike and unadorned book titled De Novo, or "Out of Nothing." It is by Balthasar scholae Bonisagus, and although it appears simple and unexceptional, the author is exceedingly clear, providing illustrative examples of the use, limits, and practice of the Art of Creo. This is, Gustov will later discover, one of the Roots of the Arts, a well-known and circulated standard text intended to bring a young magus up to a basic level of expertise. Sophia has copies of all the Roots, but not every Art has been written about in such a useful manner. Roots do not exist for six of the Arts.

When summer comes, Kentigern returns and, in a bustle of quick preparation, whisks Gustov out into the Alpine mountains for a season of hunting. His usual prey -- magical beasts, faeries, and elementals -- give way to a hunt for demons, instead. Kentigern is not, by trade, a demon hunter and he does not rely on traditional spells like Demon's Eternal Oblivion. Instead, he treats demons as he treats everything else he hunts: as prey for his hounds, for his spear, or for a conjured horde of flying snakes. These tactics prove effective, especially because demons are cowardly, disorganized, and impatient. Follow one long enough, and inevitably it will turn, consumed by wrath, and hurl itself at its foe. A pack of faerie hounds make quick work of them. Each of these demons provides a few pawns of Infernal vis which Kentigern collects, not for his own use but, as he makes clear to Gustov, so that no one else will get it. He transfers all the vis he collects into a single black rock which he keeps in a small iron chest marked with Hermetic symbols and the cross.

After a few months of demon-hunting, Kentigern must get back to preparations for the regional Tribunal meeting in the winter. He returns Gustov to the covenant, spends a few days in conference with Athena, and then departs through the Portal arches. Gustov is welcomed back into the library for the autumn and given a new book to read: The Power of Command by Marcus Niger scholae Tremere. This, too, is one of the Roots of the Arts and, like De Novo, is produced in a very simple and unadorned fashion, with crude illustrations that appear to be stenciled in and only the most rudimentary illumination. It teaches Gustov much on the Art of Rego.

Advancement

Spring: 21 XP in Creo

Summer: 5 points Practice XP in Summon Animals

Autumn: 21 XP in Rego

Covenant of the Shadow of the Moon

Breandan

The events of the Midsummer Fair continue to echo through the Covenant. Diana has put her research projects on hold in order to both pay off the debts in vis which Breandan's larceny inflicted upon her, and to pack for what she sees as her inevitable ostracism from the Alps. As far as Breandan can see, everything is proceeding according to plan: he is controlling his own fate and education, the other apprentices do whatever he tells them to do, and he has avoided the fate of less clever apprentices like Martin and Ilsa. He acquires the Flaw Overconfident.

The spring is spent in the lab, harvesting vis from Mont Blanc's legendary aura. This is a rare activity in the Alps, since all magi are supposed to he supported in their vis needs by their covenant. Distilling vis from an aura is known as "farming" in the Alps, and that's not said in a nice way. It's humiliating. Rather than assist his domina in the lab (and add his modest Lab Total to her own), Breandan finds himself in a spare lab, working on his own. Thanks largely to the strength of the aura, he ends the Spring with two pawns of Vim vis. This, when combined with Diana's regular vis allowance and the five pawns she was able to distill herself, is enough to settle her debt to Breandan's victims.

With debts paid, domina and discipulus begin preparing for the move. Breandan is tasked with affixing an unusual arcane connection: a skull fragment which is clearly very old, and which appears to be very cleanly cut from its original skull, probably from somewhere along the top of the head. It is kept in a small iron chest and measures about two inches square, with a slight curve. Diana spends most of the season in the company of Emil, the same Hungarian teacher who taught Breandan his letters.

As the summer ends, Diana begins personal instruction with Breandan. She explains that the House trains its magi to specialize as an army does; ideally, after his demonstration at the Fair, Breandan would be trained as an Assessor, one of a cadre of spies and diplomats who work in urban settings using multiple identities. However, Assessors are always Gently Gifted. Instead, Breandan is to be trained as a Signaler. Signalers are tasked with the job of communication and, more to Breandan's talents, the disruption of enemy communications. They are tricksters and counter-intelligence. "It is," Diana says without expression, "an honorable role."

She is a cold and remote teacher who wastes no time on long lecture or conversation, instead laying out basic principles in a clear manner and then instilling these principles in Breandan through constant, often combative, practice. For the first time, Breandan feels what it is like to have Mentem magic used upon him, as Diana demonstrates its use. He, in turn, is ordered to try such spells on her. Of course, he never penetrates her Parma, but over many weeks his skills definitely improve. Indeed, he seems to have a natural affinity for Mentem magic, perhaps derived from his famous grandfather.

Speaking of whom, a letter arrives for Breandan in the summer. It is delivered to Diana, but when she sees who it is from, she does not open it, instead giving it to her discipulus and sending him to his chambers.

Dear Beandan,

The Founder Tytalus said the world was cruel, and he was correct. For your whole life, your mother and I raised you to be my apprentice, and now your destiny has been stolen from you. There is irony in the fact Tremere is training you; fortunately for us all, Tytalus is a Societas, and when your domina is quite through trying to bend you to her will, you can pass your Gauntlet and come home, where you belong.

For decades, since the rise of cathedral schools and universities, the Order has debated the wisdom of a scholastic approach to the teaching of apprentices. Resistance to abandoning the master apprentice relationship is great, especially among our House. But the Order has, for some time and with the support of both Magvillus and Coeris, had an open offer for a Tribunal to experiment in this field, and it appears the Greater Alps -- no doubt led by Jerbiton and Criamon -- has seized the opportunity provided by so many Gifted children at once to pursue this experiment. You, and the other unfortunates, are the victim of this wrong-headed fiasco.

Thanks to Tribunal sanction, neither your domina nor any of the others who are participating in this "school" will be tried under the Code, provided every season of required instruction from your domina is replaced by two seasons from a mundane teacher. That teacher must also be a doctor in his field, or equivalent credential. Take solace in the fact that the Arts cannot be taught in a scholastic fashion; sadly, your Tremere domina will certainly fumble this task.

There may be nothing to do but bide our time and wait for you to rejoin your House in Hibernia upon the completion of your Gauntlet. I am in the process of rebuilding my power structure, which suffered in my absence. However, I am not without influence over my fellow Archmagi, many of whom reside in the Alps.

Your grandfather,

Affectionately,

Busiran

Soon after...

"I don't see why we are packing. You won't be ostracized, domina. The price of a few pawns of vis is a pittance when measured against not being ostracized, is it not?" Breandan says one day, with some measure of bravado while the two of them are close together and packing items. "But, I am your apprentice, and I will dutifully comply with your orders to pack while also fixing this arcane connection. Why, I would imagine that another magus has to be concerned about ostracism now. You picked a thief for an apprentice, but yet Hugh led a team of hoplites into a trap. Your poor judgment to challenge for a right to an apprentice while Hugh's poor judgment lead magi into a battle they were unprepared for and putting many in harm's way."

Diana looks over from the bookshelf where she is selecting what to bring with her. "My poor judgment," she says.

Breandan offers, "You have the apprentice you deserve, or so that was my intent to demonstrate to the magi of the Tribunal. When the other apprentices and I left school, Garcette said goodbye to me, as if I was never coming back. When pressed, she said you were to be ostracized at next Tribunal. I acted to take the attention from you, domina. Yes, you were responsible for my actions under the Code, but the fines have been repaid, and to everyone else, you have the apprentice you deserve. And indeed, you do, because none other would have been as resourceful as I in similar circumstances."

As for the letter, he explains this too. "I took the opportunity to discover whether my grandfather had recovered from what I now know is a Twilight Episode, of some considerable duration. I understand that you will likely prevent me from writing more letters to him. He knows where I am, that I'm alive, and that is enough for now." Offhandedly, and with an impish and perhaps imprudently timed grin, "Had you heard of him before now?"

Diana's ice-blue eyes return Breandan's grin with a cold, hard stare. "We all know about your grandfather; Arnulf's file on you was very thorough. That's why everyone wanted you for an apprentice. Did you think it was because you were cleverer than everyone else? Or especially useful in the laboratory? You're neither. It was because of your political connections. That's why the other Archmagi wanted to claim you and -- because they wanted you -- that is why I wanted you."

She elaborates a little, in an icy tone of pure contempt. "You don't even realize what you've done. I never asked to be trained for this role; all I have ever wanted was to be free, to decide my own destiny. I wanted to be ostracized, you condescending toad." Unable to completely contain her frustration, she shouts, "That was the whole point of taking you as an apprentice!"

Cooler now, she returns the book she was holding to the shelf. "I wanted to love you like a son. If you had asked to go home to your family, I would have let you. For fifty years I've been told what to do, and I resolved never to treat you as Telemachus did me. If you had just left well enough alone, we would have sailed to Hibernia on a ship made of moonlight. And you would be bouncing on your grandfather's knee by Christmas. But now ... now you have made yourself so hated by the magi of the Alps that not even a Bonisagus will take you."

She turns to leave the chamber, taking long strides in her high black boots. "Your 'Little Girl'-friend was right about one thing, though. You are leaving. For Coeris, when Tribunal concludes. And there you will remain, until our betters in the House are satisfied in your fidelity."

Breandan later wrote in his journal.

Advancement

Breandan

Spring: 2 points of exposure to Creo, Vim or Magic Theory. Summer: 2 points of Exposure to Magic Theory. Autumn: 13 points in Mentem. Breandan also has the new Personality Flaw Overconfident and an Affinity with Mentem. He loses Covenant Upbringing and gains Hermetic Patron.

Winter

The Regional Tribunal of the Greater Alps

Two dozen magi of the Alps come together for Tribunal, which is led by Praeco La, Prima of House Criamon, and Athena Alpina, Senior Quaesitor. The apprentices spend much of their time serving their magi: pouring wine, bringing plates to and from the table, and running errands as required.

The first order of business is the vote of ostracism; while the apprentices eavesdrop on the proceedings from an unused lab built over the council chamber, the vote is taken and Breandan's efforts over the last year are vindicated. Diana is not ostracized; in fact, no one musters a large enough number of votes to be cast out of the Tribunal. There is a brief scuffle when Garcette attacks Akakios after a casual comment, and he has to warn her off with a drawn dagger.

With this out of the way, the magi turn to the Scholastic Experiment, in which apprentices in the Alps have been taught in a classroom environment for three years, rather than in one-on-one instruction with their masters. Profundus is closely questioned over his teaching methods and defends his policies aggressively. One by one, each of the apprentices are called forth and quizzed on various aspects of the Liberal Arts, Latin, Philosophy, and Magic Theory. Most of the students appear to pass this exam, though some (including Rene) stumble.

During his exam, Akakios is joined by Mircalla, the Ghost of the Motherhouse, who tells him that Prima La is the maga who claimed her as an apprentice and then had her killed, after bringing her inside Icy North for a Tribunal meeting and using her Second Sight to spy on other magi. She soberly informed Akakios that La is the last person to know what happened and, when she goes, the truth of Mircalla's death will be lost forever. Akakios asks La if Mircalla was her apprentice, during the exam. The Praeco seems startled by this question, seems ignorant, and tables the immediate round of queries by Athena and the other magi of Icy North.

That night, Primus Andru of Jerbiton makes a passionate plea for financial and magical support for House Jerbiton, following the Sack of Constantinople. He admits that the House has failed and is in need of reform, and he mourns the end of the Roman Empire.

On the second day of the Tribunal, Kynthia persuades the apprentices to go with her "on a trip." Some of the apprentices are enthusiastic, others (Rene, Breandan) follow only reluctantly. With a single spell, she takes them all to Venice, which they briefly tour en route to the townhouse of a Roman covenant named Flamma Aeterna. Kynthia releases the apprentices to wander the townhouse for a few minutes and, by the time they return from their individual explorations, they and she are being pursued by Grogs. Kynthia and the apprentices escape with an additional passenger: Pedro, a former apprentice to a Jerbiton in Constantinople, who was taken by Flambeau magi involved in the Sack.

Kynthia whisks them all off to Durenmar and, while the apprentices tour the heart of the Order, Kynthia hands Pedro off to a Jerbiton magus who has arranged to be at Durenmar for precisely this purpose. The apprentices are of mixed feeling when they discover they have helped to kidnap an apprentice, even if it was voluntary. They return to Icy North with the help of Kynthia's magic.

That evening, three magi approach the apprentices and ask to speak to them in private. The apprentices are suspicious, and Eva accuses them of being Shadow Magi, but eventually a meeting is agreed to, provided it is in an open location within the Covenant. They meet at Profundus' garden, where the magi introduce themselves as Marcus of Bonisagus, Brigid of Flambeau, and Roderick of Tytalus. They are the filia of magi who vanished twenty-six years ago, along with all the other inhabitants of the Covenant of Terragon Vale. These magi have pressed their claim to the resources of Terragon Vale for three Tribunals now, and each time they have been refused. The Terragon Heirs acknowledge that the apprentices all serve influential and respected magi in the Tribunal, and they ask the apprentices to try to persuade the masters of the rightness of the Heirs' cause. In exchange, they offer magical, financial, and political support to the apprentices in their own post-Gauntlet covenant.

The proposal is met with general skepticism. Some of the apprentices are sure their masters will not listen to them, regardless. Others are simply unconvinced of the Heirs' cause. The Heirs leave them to consider the plan.

The Tribunal moves on to the topic of the Shadow Magi. Grigori filius Christopher scholae Bonisagi is Marched. The hedge magicians known as Caterina, Hermia, Magni and Gideon are sentenced to death. It is believed that the Shadow Magi have fled the Alps for a neighboring Tribunal, probably Rome.

The Terragon Heirs press their case once more and, once more, they are denied. The resources of Terragon Vale -- including books, vis sources, and the buildings of the covenant proper -- continue to be kept in trust for the day on which the magi return.

A pair of Tremere magi arrive with orders to collect Breandan, who is bound for Coeris, the domus magnus of the House. Taking his long trip in good humor, Breandan waves goodbye and says he will return. Diana returns to the Covenant of the Shadow of the Moon, alone.

Akakios approaches Athena Alpina and tells her Mircalla's story about Prima La being her former domina, who used her to spy on her fellow magi before executing her. As Sebastian, Tomas, and Akakios are preparing to return to Sinews of Knowledge, Archmage Philomena exercises her right under the Code to claim Tomas as her new apprentice. Sebastien is outraged, but there is nothing he can do.

Sinews of Knowledge

Balbina is obliged to devote a season teaching Eva, and this is a serious enough demand that she abandons her lab work for the winter. However, Balbina is a poor teacher thanks to her social handicaps, and instead of one-on-one instruction, she secures the covenant's copy of De Novo, one of the Roots of the Arts, for Eva. They spend a season reading together in the maga's sanctum; Balbina seems to be studying teaching methods.

Sebastien is furious over the loss of Tomas, and Akakios does his best to persuade him to do something foolish. But Philomena is an Archmage, and Bonisagi have a long history of picking Tytalus apprentices, whom they consider to be wasted material or mistreated. Ragoneda, who often dines with Sebastien, commiserates with him on the unfairness of it all, but notes that, as the only magus in the Alps with two apprentices, this outcome should have been expected and, indeed, Philomena may have been trying to minimize the insult with this particular choice. Sebastien spends much time in silent thought.

The next day, Akakios is told to pack a bag with food and water. Sebastien dons his traveling gear and hefts his pack of tools. The two of them pass through the Portal Arch and Akakios finds himself in an unfamiliar circular stone chamber. Sebastien explains that they are in Terragon Vale. At the recent Tribunal meeting, it was decided that the sanctums of the Terragon magi should be investigated, to seek clues to their disappearance. While most of the covenant has been explored before now, the sanctums have remained off limits according to the Code. Now, after three such Tribunal meetings, Sebastien has been unofficially engaged to penetrate those sanctums and look for clues.

This is a side of Sebastien Akakios has never before seen. He is both professional and highly competent, possessed of a bag of tricks which make him prepared for every eventuality. He dons a black face mask which allows him to see through stone walls. He uses Creo magic to create human corpses, which he then animates to open doors and trip traps. He conjures "birds of my desire", whose eyes he can see through and whose motion he controls, to explore chambers. When traps attack him, he fast-casts defensive spells to teleport away or simply dispel the effect. He wields a spell which causes traps in a room to speak to him, narrating how they were made, what they do, and how they can be disarmed, all in the voice of the trap's original creator. Then, from his bag, he produces wands themed to each of the Forms, which dispel the magic of that trap. Carefully and methodically, often spending several days on a single sanctum, he slowly penetrates every defense without suffering so much as a scratch or a singe. He does this for every sanctum in the covenant, over the course of a couple of weeks, collecting various lab notes and other written records to bring back to the Quaesitors.

Throughout all of this, Akakios is kept close as an observer and assistant. Sebastien narrates various facts about the wards and traps he encounters, educating Akakios on principles of Hermetic Theory (mostly wards and enchanted items) as well as how to notice things and avoid being noticed in turn. Akakios has much opportunity to see Hermetic magic in action, especially Rego and Vim. Terragon Vale does have an Aegis, created by the Quaesitors of the Alps, but Sebastien has been given a casting token for it. He does not give Akakios one, making it clear that this is a test for Akakios, and if he behaves properly and well, he will gain more liberty in the future. Sebastien warns Akakios that they are not permitted to take any resources from the covenant -- specifically including any books, vis, or enchanted items -- but they may use the non-sanctum living spaces, so long as they do no damage. In his explorations, Akakios can see that there is both a mundane and Hermetic library in the covenant, the latter of which Sebastien tells him is protected with various wards. Akakios's free time is mostly when Sebastien sleeps; otherwise, he is in the constant company of his master.

For his part, Akakios is a capable and surprisingly useful assistant. With his trained sense for trouble (Awareness) and his skill at escaping notice (Stealth), he avoids tripping traps when Sebastien is busy elsewhere. Far more important are his Premonitions, which allow him to -- more than once -- cue his dominus in to hidden wards and deadly security measures which might have burned them alive, chopped them to bits, or wiped their memories. Sebastien might have found these dangers on his own, but thanks to Akakios, he did not need to, which earns a wry smile from the otherwise-serious Tytalus.

As they take their last meal on the roof of one of the sanctum towers, Sebastien praises his apprentice. "You did well, tiro. There's something I want you to know. You have probably always presumed that Tomas was my first apprentice, and you were an afterthought. But it is time you know the truth: the records will show that you were always my first choice. Tomas is a strange, doomed soul, more Faerie than man and fated to die. I chose him to give you a rival, to give you someone to hate, to bring out your competitive instinct. And, perhaps, to give his sad and brief little life some meaning." He shrugs, looking off into the Alpine distance. "But Philomena has forced a change of plans. Things are going to be different between us from now on." After a moment, he grins and looks down to Akakios, who is still a foot shorter than his master. "That's not an apology," he says with a curt laugh.

Icy North

Hugh makes no secret of the fact that he wants to pursue Grigori into the Roman Tribunal. He doesn't trust the magi of Rome to take care of the matter. However, he is bound to teach Rene for one season of the year, and this requires him to remain in the Alps. So, instead, he charges the Redcaps to spread word of the March against Grigori, and he sends a great many letters to his fellow Hoplites throughout the Order, enjoining them to hunt this diabolist down and kill him before he does any more harm.

Meanwhile, Rene is instructed in the basics of Ignem magic. This is not Hugh's specialty, but he can see that Rene is interested in it, and a Flambeau who can't cast an Ignem spell is unusual indeed. But Rene learns about all that Hugh knows in a few months. During their sessions, Hugh outlines the weakness of fire magic: spells which use fire to attack usually have to penetrate Magic Resistance, something Rene has already encountered. If a spell does not need to penetrate Magic Resistance, it needs to be aimed, which is often difficult. Instead, Hugh relies on mundane weaponry for offense, while using magic to defend himself and to augment his strength, stamina, and size. In this type of fighting, which is known as the School of Ramius, it is important that the weapon itself is not magical -- this allows it to ignore Magic Resistance. Rene can expect to get training in Terram and Corpus before he learns any more Ignem and, even then, he'll have to do it from a book.

With the Tribunal behind him, Kentigern can turn to his duties as a dominus, and he spends the Winter in personal instruction with Gustov, teaching him Animal. Kentigern is a solemn master who takes his work very seriously; he has little patience when Gustov is easily distracted. However, he knows this Art very well and Gustov learns much, finding he has a natural talent for it.

Shadow of the Moon

Kynthia and Cassidy return to the covenant, and Cassidy begins her training in Hermetic magic. Kynthia has detected Cassidy's natural talent for illusion magic, and so she begins with Imaginem. Cassidy is still too young to be trusted with a casting token -- the ring which would allow her to cast spells inside the covenant -- so she instead practices with the cantations she already knows, or in occasional trips outside the covenant. The slopes of this mountain -- the highest in Mythic Europe -- are one of the most magical places in the known world, and it is easy to find adventure there. Kynthia accompanies Cassidy in all these trips, however, as the magical beings which hide on the slopes of Mont Blanc are far too dangerous for a mere apprentice.

Meanwhile, Breandan spends a few weeks crossing the Alps and, with his Tremere guardians, making his way to Coeris, the heart of House Tremere. The two magi treat Breandan like a servant, in great contrast to Diana. This is not to say they mistreat him, they just ignore him unless it is to give an order. He carries his fair share of the load and the men keep a good pace, rising early, hiking for long hours and eating while walking. Breandan performs modestly well during this time; while he is not as strong, as tireless, or as experienced an outdoorsman as the two Tremere, he is not without stamina and athletic skill. The other magi do have to pause to let Breandan rest, but they don't seem to begrudge doing so. By their attitudes, Breandan can deduce they seem to approve of his current level of physical ability while still expecting more in the end.

Once he reaches Coeris, Breandan is introduced to Horatius, the House's Secretary of Operations, and also to Hylas of Tremere, a mature Carthaginian magus who supervises the apprentices. Hylas is tall, lean, black, and shaves his head but maintains a trim mustache. Over the year that follows, Breandan comes to know Hylas's ways well. Horatius, a middle-aged and slightly rotund magus, treats Breandan's record at the MidSummer Fair as the last gasp of a willful child, something which is understandable and was excusable but which must now end. He explains the House philosophy in a matter-of-fact way that makes it sound like unassailable truth: other magi waste their time, energy, and resources competing with one another or duplicating each other's efforts. Tremere cooperate, streamline their efficiency, and train specialist magi for every eventuality. Other Houses are fractious; Tremere are united under a clear command structure. Younger magi do as they are told, led by senior magi who have the benefit of both experience and wisdom. It is common for apprentices in the border Tribunals to forget these lessons, and that is precisely why they are brought back here, to Coeris, where they can be reminded of them. This is Breandan's task. He will remain in Transylvania for a year, and then return to his domina better than when he left.

Advancement

Eva gets 21 XP in Creo.

Akakios gets 5 Practice XP in Awareness, Magic Theory, Stealth, or Area Lore: Terragon Vale, 2 Exposure in Rego or Vim, or 5 Adventure XP.

Rene gets 13 XP in Ignem, increased to 18 XP because of Apt Student.

Gustov gets 12 XP in Animal, increased to 18 due to Affinity.

Cassidy gets 13 XP in Imaginem, increased to 19 due to Affinity.

Breandan gets 5 Adventure XP in anything that fits his adventures this season, possibly including Athletics or Guile.