1103

YEAR 1103

Scribed by Lothar

Spring 1103AD

It was a coldand quiet night on the eve of the council meeting. I was sleeping inmy lab as usual, its bare walls barely able to keep out the piercing wind.I was covered in my furs, snoring the night away, when I was awakened by acold chill that ran up my spine. Looking around I saw at the bottom of thebed a darkening shadow creeping slowly up towards me. It gripped mylegs with the strength of a bear and slowly started to strangle the life outof me. I summoned up my strength and with a yell threw off this shadow being.It fled from me obviously afraid of my excessive strength and went huntingweaker prey. I leapt up from my bed and ran to the main tower where the otherMagi were sleeping. As I passed the stable I heard a horse whinny in panicand turned to protect it. There standing by the stable was a grog being attackedby the shadow. He was obviously close to death so I decided to tackle himdown, hoping that my might would again scare the shadow away. It worked andwhen the grog had caught his breath back I sent him to raise the Guard. TheGuard and I searched out for the shadow but it sneaked up on me and leaptout, obviously trying to take out the biggest threat to itself, but Aelfwoldhelped me scare it away. Thurstan the Castellan awakened and called the restof the magi. Four of us assembled in the Great hall, but Varsavia did notturn up so Turold went into her lab to see if she was all right. Varsavialay there, eyes open staring up at the ceiling in terror, totally comatose.Ceadwith the healer was called for and took her body to the infirmary. Asthere were no further sightings of the shadows the alert was called off. Variousmagics were cast on Varsavia’s body to determine what ailed her, butthere seemed to be no active magic that had caused this ailment. Idris usinghis second sight spotted Varsavia’s spirit crossing the veil, leavinga silver cord attached to her body. We decided there was nothing to be donefor that night and so returned to bed.

The nextmorning Ruaridh flew to Morstow covenant to ask for aid. Returning with aMagus called Lazarus (a mentem specialist) who demanded 20 pawns of vis ifthis was a wasted journey. He proposed to open a gate in veil, with Idrisusing his second sight going through to get Varsavia’s spirit. Eanfledbeing Varsavia’s friend and Ruaridh being the most powerful magi wereto escort Idris. They equipped themselves with magical items.

Lazarusstarted the ritual burning, a rook of Vis being required to do so. A darkgate opened, beyond lying a forest, dark and brooding, It was night beyondthe veil and a cold breeze came through the gate. The group (Idris, Ruaridhand Eanfled) proceeded through the gate and following the cord soon disappearedfrom sight. It soon became so dark that Ruaridh had to light a torch to seeby. Then they came across some huge spider webs and looking up saw a Giantspider rapidly descending. Ruaridh cast Incantation of lightningat it and badly hurt it, but it landed near him and then bit him. He screamedin pain as the venom raced around his system. Luckily for him Idris got alucky shot on the spider and killed it with his longbow. Then Eanfled spottedanother spider and panicked, running into a web and becoming caught up init. Ruaridh cast Incantation of lightning at it, but the magic crackled aroundthis obviously magical creature. The spider attacked but missed and thenfell to another bolt of lightning.

Back bythe Gate several spiders started to approach. I stepped through with somegrogs and Thurstan, transforming into bear form and charging the spiders.Some grog’s fired bows to no effect and one grog actually fled in fear.The spider was obviously scared of me and sprayed me with its web. They mighthold a man, but they have no hope of holding me in bear form so I tore intothe spider killing it very quickly, though only after it had sprayed me withsome of its poison, stinging my eyes. At this point I must say that Thurstanwas by my side at all times proving that he is a mighty warrior with a Lionsheart. Another spider approached but this time we were ready for it. The archershurt it with arrows and as it reared up to spray Thurstan and I with web,I ripped its innards out with one well-placed bite. Then a scream came frombehind us. Lazarus was weakening so we hurried back through the gate and justgot through before it slammed shut with a bang.

Eanfled,Ruaridh and Idris closed on the heart of the forest and then entered. Eachhad his own experience in the heart which they were reluctant to describeto me, and must have been very traumatic for each of them. A while later theyeach emerged, Eanfled with the shining spirit of Varsavia with him. Then theysilently moved through the spider's wood hoping against hope that they wouldnot be seen.

Lazarussummoned up his energy and opened the gate again and the brave expeditioncame through including Varsavia’s spirit. Then Lazarus pushed the spiritback into Varsavia's body and she awakened. We thanked Lazarus for his timeand effort and Eanfled, Ruaridh and Idris agreed to write up their experiencesas payment for this act.

The followingmorning we met each other in the normal fashion and then described what hadhappened during the night. After these long talks we decided that as covenantservices Idris and Lothar should seek out the Heart of the Forest to determineits evil. Idris and I then had an argument about where to search. It seemedto me that Idris was trying to keep me out of the South of the forest, sobeing my stubborn self I told Idris that I would go where I wanted.We also discussed what arts and techniques we would be studying that season.A few of us decided that this year we would practise magic against one anotherand I agreed to join this group.

The nextday Idris and I went searching in the forest for the Heart. Idris reportedthat he could find nothing, but I was more thorough and talked to Wyn Urddawl.He knew nothing, so using my skill with the beasts of the wood I started quizzingthem, and after a week or so I had success. I had found an area thatI knew the Heart was in and reported this fact to council. Then I startedto explore this area in detail. The Heart however had strong magics that wereobviously corrupted, for they sought to block me at every turn from achievingmy goal.

The corruptedHeart must have sensed that I was close for it sent a Demon out to stopme (or maybe it was the demon who was corrupting the Heart). This foul beastwas man shaped but evil beyond imagining; even now long after the event mymind recoils in horror from its visage. I was in bear form and so chargedthe demon showing no fear of its evil powers. We fought back and forth, sometimesI having the advantage, sometimes it. Each time I bit it fiery blood burntmy mouth and sprayed in my eyes causing extreme agony, but by then the bloodlust was upon me and the only way I was leaving the clearing was victoriousor dead. Then I slipped and it almost pulled my front left leg from its socketleaving me almost dead. But almost dead is not actually dead and with a finalroar I clamped my massive jaws around his arm and flicked and tore and crusheduntil I suddenly felt no resistance. The demon staggered back, acid bloodpouring from its stump of an arm looking shocked that a mortal creature couldbest it. It then turned and fled screaming in pain, I was too injured to followand finish it off, being able only to roar out in pain. Idris, being in thearea, heard my screams and ran to the covenant for help. Eventually they arrivedand made a bier to carry me back to the covenant where I was tended in theinfirmary. The rest of the Magi then decided in council what to do and decidedto investigate the Heart. Entering they found that the corruption was goneand when Ruaridh cast magics there he was blinded for 3 days because of thepower of the place.

Summer

We discussed thefight with the demon and its repercussions and what to do about theglade but nothing was decided. The main point was that the demon was now loosein the forest and patrols were informed of this. The council then decidedto go to the glade and investigate it. Once more, because of magics beyondLothars control, he could not enter the glade, but those who had previouslyentered the spirit world had no problem entering. There they found that theinfestation of evil was gone and although it would take time the heart wouldrecover. Later in the summer some Welsh rebels arrived in Blackney and wererecruited as grogs although there was discussion about how they might affectour relations with the English if it became common knowledge of their location.Ruth the singer arrived again and Varsavia was pleased for she will sing forthe Ruadan again. One night when I was in the tavern drinking and singingwith my normal skill, I noticed some friction between the Welsh grogs andthe English grogs. I do hope that nothing will come of this and that the sergeantscan work it out between them.

Autumn

Because of worriesover who had been in the Heart, it was decided to invite Jania of houseQuaesitor to investigate the goings on there. It was also decided to sendThurstan to Bristol to recruit some Grogs as we were showing some weaknessesin the defence of the walls. The Redcap Stassius arrived and brought us muchnews.

"Black Hughhas forayed into Normandy with a force of arms to suppress the revolt by hisuncle Henry. The King of France has rejected Black Hugh's gold and sent troopsto assist Henry. Hugh has returned to Winchester for the Winter in order togather a greater number of men and intends it is believed, to return nextyear. The Archbishop of Canterbury has been found murdered in his bed. Itwas believed that he intended to travel to Rome to protest the King's actionsto the Pope. Pope Paschal has requested that Hugh visit him in Rometo explain the death of his embassy. Magi from Cliff heart have carried outsome reconnaissance of Ashenrise and discovered that there does appear tobe some activity at the site. They were attacked by some kind of demon thatthe Flambaeu magi successfully drove off. It is feared that whoever Occupiesthe site is growing in power. Prirnus Flambaeu has bestowed the title of Hopliteto three magi within Stonehenge, Caisus, Orlania and Venius of Tremere. Theyhave been instructed to assist Holy Isle in their investigations. Ponriusof Btywyddyn has reported that he believes that in Autumn 1101 there was ameeting of some of the unnamed house at Y Llethr in Wales. There are strongtraces of magic having been used in the area and reports from local villagersof strange creatures pursuing men near to their settlements on that night.Lamark's request to his prima to intercede upon the matter of infernal counselto the King has been refused, saying that she cannot interfere with what iseffectively a Tribunal matter."

After the Redcaphad given us this dire news we retired for the night. A few days later Ruthand Varsavia went into the faerie regio to sing for the Ruadan’s tears.A tax demand from the Reeve arrives which we decided to pay so as to giveourselves peace. The shadows came again, bothering the grogs during the night,and seemed to be coming from the graveyard, though this may just be an entrancethrough the aegis for them.

Winter

The Ruadan camefor Ruaridh and took him to the faerie regio, once there demanding that heworship her. Ruaridh, never being one to bow down before anyone (his bestfeature in my opinion), refused her. At this she went into a fury and predicteda battle that would cost us dear and Ruaridh left the regio as fast as hecould. There have been reports of the Demon again prowling the woods and ittook a young girl from our village of Blackney. We decided to garrison thevillage to make the villagers feel better.