1094

YEAR 1094

Scribed by Turold

Spring 1094AD

Spring heralds a restoration ofthe countryside’s life after the barren months of winter and it has alsobrought new life to our covenant with hopefully the resolution of oneof our problems and great insight into another. It was decided at the councilmeeting that for his service Ruaridh should make the journey into Gloucesterand investigate what he could about the dark cult that is operating there.Varsavia was to go into the faerie regio again and Idris agreed to accompanyher there before heading further into Wales to speak further with the Druidhe is studying his beliefs with. Petrus would continue his studies with Vimvis and I from the Rego tomes.

I shall write first of the eventsin the faerie regio. Varsavia, Ruaridh and Idris, along with Eanfled and afew grogs travelled to the bowl where the trees had formerly beaten our expeditionoff. Whether it was due to the better preparation, or to the events that followed,this time entry was much easier. The guardian was present as before, but thistime a truly remarkable thing happened. From the stories I have heard it wasas if the creature paid homage to Idris, and was glad to meet his every request.Indeed he was allowed to pick the flower without hindrance, and this timetheir leaving was not challenged in any way. Eanfled then led them to Llyn-y-fan,and she gladly accepted the Amaranth. As she had promised Ruaridh, she offereredhim the reward of a kiss. This Ruaridh declined, understandably with the irritationsthe fay have caused him, and instead Idris took the prize, which seems tohave had no discernable effect. Here in the covenant the grogs that had beentransformed into animals were restored to human form.

We believe that the response Idrishad while in the wood may have something to do with the religion that he practices,venerating the earth as it does, but if this is so it raises further questionsfor the future. Nevertheless, it seems that Idris’ talents and studiesmay prove more useful to the covenant than any had previously imagined.

I shall now write of the secondmatter. Ruaridh travelled incognito to Gloucester, accompanied by Rinwaldand Cair. They were following up the leads we had discovered this last year.Things did not start favourably at all. There is a man of arms, Bryghtwold,who was also investigating the strange diabolical goings on, and due to someconfusion he attacked Ruaridh. Cair and Rinwald both fled the scene, and Ruaridhwas lucky not to be killed on the spot. However, his facility with magic,even in the domain, was sufficient to enable him to escape the situation,though at the expense of the rumours about our covenant once more being raised.The man Bryghtwold followed these stories and came here to Severn Temple.Ruaridh was furious and I fear that a noble man may have been slain, but fortunatelyI was able to convince both men that they shared the same undertaking anda peace was formed between them. Cair and Rinwald were not so fortunate andRuaridh had them both banished from the covenant. Their fear was perhaps understandablebut it has to be made clear to the grogs that the safety of the magi mustat all times be paramount.

Shortly afterwards Ruaridh andBrygthwold, along with a company of grogs, returned to Gloucester to followup a report of a meeting place of the diabolists. Setting an ambush they killeda number of the cultists, and while the leader of the group there, one Edward,a merchant of Gloucester, managed to escape (with the aid of magic as we laterdiscovered), a disciple of his was captured. This demonic creature, a strangeinsect like man, was interrogated by Petrus with the aid of the wand and thetorc. These items disturbed it a lot, particularly the wand, to which it recoiledand suffered great agonies when subjected to its touch against its flesh.The creature was indeed a follower of the Devil, and thus one must alwaysbe cautious of lies, but the information it gave under Petrus’ somewhatenthusiastic torture seems to have the ring of truth about it.

It seems its master Edward, avery well off man, is one of 9 masters of the cult, subject to a high master,charged to recruit fells, or disciples, and carry out the dark ones work,for which they are well rewarded. Edward himself has a robe, created in hellitself, that can render the wearer invisible, or transport them instantlyaway to facilitate escape. The other masters were revealed to us as: Mark,a blacksmith, who had been killed by the high master for some transgressionBlakewood, a minor noble at court John, the new reeves clerk Master Devon,owner of the ship "The Bristol Lark" Richard of Frampton, a merchantFrancis of Stent priory, a lay clerk Henry of Lakewood, a minor noble of BristolWilliam of Avon, a merchant

The high master is of course Guyere,who himself has a demonic servant, Baku, and a foul black sword with severalfell powers. While it is a formidable enemy we face, we now have knowledgeof them, and thus can better prepare ourselves for the battle between us thatmust surely come.

There was a third bright spotto the season, and that is the birth of a daughter, Blodwyn, to Idris. Shedoes not have the gift but I hope she will be of some small comfort to Idrisuntil his son can be restored to him.

Summer

I write this not yet halfway throughthe summer, on the eve of our departure to Blackthorn and the tribunal. Withthe start of the season came the council and some small points of good news.Petrus feels sure that he is getting closer to the great breakthrough in thestudy of magical fields that he has been working so hard for. He himself hasbeen at Blackthorn with his pater all season and will remain there until theend. Secondly, Varsavia announced that she had spent the rest of spring writingher knowledge of the faeries, to replace the book destroyed by the diabolistJean. She has proved an asset to the covenant, and after a short discussionit was unanimously decided to invite her to join us. She will let us knowher descision at the end of summer. I have started the process of extractingVim vis for the season, with Idris studying the perdo tomes and Ruaridh workingon another spell to add to what must already be a formidable arsenal.

In addition we gained a further5 new grogs. We had to send 7 welshmen off as part of a force sent to warwhen it was rumoured King Robert of England had broken the pact and attackedShrewsbury. They soon returned however, when it was revealed it was the actionof a rogue Earl who was swiftly dealt with.

It has taken some time for theevents of my first tribunal, as a fully fledged magus, to fully settle in.The biggest news is that Stonehenge Tribunal has a new Praeco. Nostrius hadsuffered further twilights and thus decided to step down. Indeed he was sofrail that Tyrenia had to take on his duties for the tribunal. It was announcedthat an election would be held between four candidates; Xeros, Urien, my paterCorlear and Garius who had returned to the tribunal still angry at Darius.Corlear soon ruled himself out as he has made further developments in hisattempt to create a magic shield the like of which the world has never seenbefore. I feel he would have made a most just Praeco, but understand the importanceof this project that he has dedicated so much of his life to. With his withdrawalthe fourth candidacy was taken by the qaesitor Feremir. Thus begun the mostintense politicking and intrigue I have ever witnessed between magi. I wonder,given the obvious feuding and power games, how much importance should be givento the platforms that the four stood on, but for the sake of completenessI shall list the most important points.

Xeros proposed that the orderserved to promote our knowledge of the arts, and that it was to this end thatour efforts should be directed. He spoke of building a great library and centreof learning, that Stonehenge would become a focal point for the pursuanceof magic as an end in itself. His words made a great deal of sense, but therewas the feeling that maybe he did not have the political talent to unite anoften divided tribunal.

Feremir stood on a practical platformof Praeco as ultimate arbiter of the magi in the land, between both themselvesand the mundanes. He was concerned with upholding the spirit of the code ofHermes as well as its letter. All in all, a most impressive candidate I felt.

Urien, who had earlier been confirmedPrimus of house Ex Miscellanea for life, seemed to have but one argument forhis election, that no one of his house had been elected before, and that asit was the largest in the tribunal it was time they did.

Garius was determined that whoevershould be Praeco should be a strong leader. Like Feremir he emphasised thespirit of the code, and he too was determined that house Ex Miscellanea shouldbe acknowledged much more than before. He also preached a strong message ofenmity to the church, which left me concerned that if he should win therewill be a war between us and them one day.

For four days, around the otherbusiness of the tribunal, the arguments and persuasions continued, only comingto an end with the casting of the vote. I chose to back Feremir, and Petrusobviously supported his pater Xeros. Both Ruaridh and Idris came down forGarius, who was duly elected with 16 votes against 15 for Feremir, 14 forXeros and 13 for Urien. That evening he was enstated as Praeco and immediatelymade Cad Gadu domus magnus. Urien then announced that he had decided to moveto Cad Gadu himself. We shall see what further descisions come.

There was also a vote to see whofrom the tribunal would join Urien (as primus of his house) at the Grand Tribunalin 1097. Jordael and Tyrania were victorious. Archimagi can also attend andI heard a rumour that Darius would be trying to claim Lexor’s right.

Of course the usual business ofthe tribunal carried on over the four days. Each covenant was granted theright to raise two points and I shall list these hereunder.

Blackthorn, while Nostrius wasstill Praeco, announced a tithe of vis, 10 pawns per covenant and 3 for eachmagus outside, to be paid within 1 year. They also issued a reminder thatwe must resist involvement in the affairs of the mundanes, with Corneliusof Jerbiton having aided the English and another wizard the welsh.

Cad Gadu invited Urien to jointhem, which as I have said he later agreed to. Garius wished to know if hecould still fight Darius and was informed he could not.

Solis Castle annonced that Yaniawas returning and that they had two vacancies for magi. They also wished clarificationon the differences between evil spirits as identified in pagan beliefs, andinfernal entities. A discussion on the subject was tabled to take place laterin the course of the tribunal.

Borri-Tor asked Tyrenia to ruleon their allegations that Solis Castle had harvested their vis sites, withevidence provided that Gruber had mistakenly done so. Solis Castle were finedtwo rooks of vis. Du Clerc asked for a discussion on permitted levels of contactwith the mundanes and this too was arranged for later in the course of thetribunal.

Morstow presented a vision fromhouse Criamon speaking of robed figures and a great dragon laying waste tothe order. Archimagus Cassitus, the head of the new Holy isle covenantdeclared this as a sign of the dangers of the un-named house. They also offereda vis exchange.

Lear Valley offered a half rookof vis for any who would undertake a seasons scribing for them. They alsostated that beasts in the forest had reported strangers about, spying on theorder.

Blywyddn thanked us for helpingkill Myrniddorn and welcomed back Garius. They also announced two vacancies,with Orlania declaring she was looking for a new covenant. Holy Isle rejectedher application.

Scarfell thanked those, includingus, who had aided, with vis, their struggle against the disease which theyhave now been free of for a year. Blodwyn has now moved there.

We used our time to request anyhelp that could be provided in enabling us to create a magical wall aroundSevern Temple. I also advertised that I was now taking commissions for magicalitems. I intend to start by charging half as much vis again as the item requires.This seems very little but I am desperate for any and all forms for my ownwork.

Holy Isle, which is to be dedicatedat the Grand Tribunal, announced that the purpose of this was to allow, initiallyon a voluntary basis, a representative to each covenant to ascertain if thereis any trace of the un-named house in the area. Nostrius then decreed thatall covenants must co-operate even before the dedication. After the dedicationthere is likely to be a tithe of 2 pawns of vis per magus. I believe my companionswere somewhat concerned about these announcements given the past troubleswith Darius.

Carrion Moor, the newest covenantin the tribunal, took the opportunity to introduce themselves and hoped forgood relations with all other covenants. They are a joint venture betweenBlackthorn and Cad Gadu, and my pater has provided a large sum to help establishthem.

Finally, the non-aligned magiwere allowed to raise one point. They expressed concern that Holy Isle’sinvestigation not be used as a means to further oppress those whose path issomewhat different to the mainstream of the order.

As I have already written, therewere two discussions held on the last day of the tribunal. Ruaridh and Idrisattended the one on mundane relationships. I am informed that it was littlemore than a long list of precedents to attempt to clarify things. It musthave made an impression on Idris however, as he later went to see Tyraniaand informed her of his involvement on behalf of the Welsh in the recent wars.She will visit us later in the year.

We all attended the second meeting,particularly as Idris often mentions evil spirits and it is important thatthe covenant is not mistakenly led into dealings which could further harmus. Yania chaired the meeting and made reference to Jean de Caen’s caseand the relationship between the Morrigan and the demon that he served. Idriswas questioned at length about his faith and was interrupted numerous timeby Cassitus. This enraged Petrus and he mounted a most impressive defenceof Idris. While he may not always share his views (indeed who in the covenantdoes) he is always loyal to his sodalis. Le Mark and Sylvania also spoke,and while Cassitus again railed about pagans and their relationship to theun-named house, particularly demanding that all druids be brought to his attention,Tyrania ruled that the Morrigan and similar spirits were not demonic in nature.

I see that I have written at lengthabout this tribunal, but I do not believe that the full magnitude of eventshere has yet been revealed. Nevertheless I must retire now, and my last actionis to record that Varsavia has agreed to join the covenant, though she isto spend some time at Cad Gadu first.

Autumn

A restful season of study withlittle else occurring. I took the opportunity to study from the rego books,my knowledge still being lacking for what I intend to create for the housemeeting. Ruaridh studied the Auram texts with Petrus and Idris studying fromVim vis and Animal vis respectively.

Jolyon of Lear Valley has requestedthe plans of the covenant as he believes he can create a wall for us. Bryghtwoldreturned to Gloucester in search of more information about the diaboliststhere. However all seems quiet and those individuals we have identified allseem to have left the city for the moment. Thurstan travelled to Stone andwas able to report that there are still men at the house.

The only other event I feel needsmentioning is that Tyrania visited us as promised. She asked a number of questionsand investigated this journal. She will not be judging Idris’ actionsherself, as it is to be a matter for the next tribunal, but she intends tosuggest a fine of 30 pawns of vis. Idris did not help his cause entirely withsome intemperate remarks about Cassitus, but it seems he is likely to avoidanything too serious as punishment.

Winter

The end of the year has seen aproblem we hoped had come to an end resurface. At midwinter the aegis wasbroken as the Cors attacked once again. Our procedures for dealing with thiskind of attack are much enhanced in efficiency now, but Pybba, who was stationedon the tower, was taken and then dropped, and shattered his pelvic bone onthe frosty ground. He has now been retired from active service, seeming quitecontent to spend the majority of his time in the tavern.

During this season I enchantedthe tower bell with ‘Snap of Awakening’ so that it’s ringingwill summon all to alertness in the event of attack. Petrus extracted Vimfor the covenant, while Idris scribed Herbam for us. Once again Ruaridh spenthis time on the creation of spells. He probably knows more than the rest ofus combined now. It was also decided to convert the guest room intoa laboratory for Varsavia, and as we are going to have a new wall built wewill extend the perimeter and build a guest house in the grounds.