1084

YEAR 1084

Scribed by Jean

Spring 1084AD

Our financial difficulties continue.Sylvester refused to lend us money except on most unfavourable terms, anddealings with the Jewish usurer Abraham did not go as well as we might havehoped. Still, we managed to scrape together enough to pay the King's tax.

Idris and Petrus travelled toinspect the Regio in the forest. It seems that it is tied to the Infernalrealm and inhabited by the Devil's wolves. Idris says that the time is notfar off when these creatures will break out from the Regio, and he thereforeintends to keep a close watch on this place. While they were there, Cadog,one of the more uncouth Welsh grogs, and a man with whom we have had troublebefore, was perhaps lucky to escape unscathed after venturing into the Regioagainst Petrus' direct instructions. Oscytel keeps good discipline on thewhole, however.

Summer

Brought by tales of the 'Welshwizard', some peasants from a village a few days west of here came askingfor aid against a giant who had attacked their homes. Idris travelled witha few grogs travelled to the place, and, after a brief skirmish, succeededin driving the creature off. Some of the men sustained minor injuries. Apartfrom this incident, the season passed peacefully.

Autumn

We finally received a visit froma Redcap. He did not tarry long, but imported news of some importance, bothHermetic and mundane. There is the possibility that we may be able to arrangeto trade magical resources with the covenants of Morstow and Scarfell, andthe latter also sent thanks for the aid we had given them in the past. Ruaridhreceived some personal correspondence.

Some of the grogs encounteredRadulfus to the south of the covenant. A fight ensued, and one man was killedand several more badly injured. He made no further appearances throughoutthe season, for which I can only give thanks to the Lord. We have decidedto prepare a longevity potion for Oscytel as it will not be long before weraise him to the position of castellan.

Winter

A testing time for all at SevernTemple. A young boy, from a poor home I am told, was brought back to the covenant,but he was soon sent away to Gloucester after an incident with some of thegrogs, including the man we wish to become the steward. We later discoveredthat the boy was really a foul imp, and he used his witchery to persuade twogrogs to let him stay in the covenant's grounds. We eventually found out whatwas going on, and the creature was despatched with little effort. However,an argument ensued over whether we should keep the infernal Rego vis foundin the imp's horns, and Ruaridh and I fought Certamen. He won and we destroyedthe vis.

Of the events surrounding MidwinterI know little, for I was at the centre of the matter and sorely wounded. Thedark fae launched a major attack on the covenant, and the Aegis failed. Iwas wounded and carried off into the night, but the grogs managed to beatthe rest of the creatures off. Of my subsequent encounter with the Morriganwitch I remember little save that I bested her and gained my liberty, aidedby my sodales who had come to rescue me. As the year ends, we wonder as towhat the future will bring. The mine is now producing some ore, but moneyis still tight, and we have many problems to resolve.