1134

YEAR 1134

Scribed by Turold

Spring 1134AD

There was little to discuss atthe council though Antonius informed us that Angela, our librarian, had copiedthose parts of the pagan lore tomes that were water damaged, and though manyof the original works had been irreparably damaged we now had a finely boundversion that would be much safer to use. It appears that she has suggestedthat she might translate the work into Latin, having a good knowledge of bothtongues. We agreed that as long as it did not impinge upon her regular dutiesof maintenance then this would be of some considerable value though as shehas now seen 30 summers it will be necessary to start looking for an apprenticefor her.

For the season Antonius once morerode out on the valuable service that he performs for the covenant, Audaciachose to learn an 8th magnitude Ward against Demons, Caelestis extracted visfor the covenant and I studied from the works we possess on Auram.

It was a peaceful season, perhapsthe only notable event befalling Antonius whilst he was abroad. Early in theseason he came upon a bandit ambush against the abbot and some of his retainers.It appears he was able to lend some subtle magical aid though the banditswere already heavily injured by a hireling of their intended victim. Antoniushas informed us that this man has some considerable experience of militarymatters and may be a possible replacement for our ageing Castellan. He hadlittle difficulty in recruiting this individual and will let us know how hehas fit in in the future. Later in his journey he was travelling between Clearwaterand Tintern when his horse became sorely spooked upon the road. Using hismagicks Antonius was able to detect a spirit in the form of a small childpursuing him and try as hard as he could he was unable to lose this wraith.His horse was so panicked that it seemed it may hurt itself so Antonius flewback to the covenant and asked that Audacia step outside the aegis to meethim. She was able to banish the spirit with little effort but I think Antoniuswas somewhat shaken by the encounter.

Summer

As I write this I can not helpbut smile, for while no great event befell us during this summer, my moodof late has been considerably lighter than I can ever recall. Whilst I knowthat much of this is due to my having been touched by the enchantments ofthe fae (an event that I shall write of later) I do sense that there is alsoa feeling that the covenant itself is now securely within its summer aspectand that we have a council of which to be proud.

Antonius began the council byrelating the events that befell him during the season. We were all concernedas to whether this spirit had just been encountered on the road or in someway sent against us directly. Caelestis seemed somewhat critical that Audaciahad slain it without having attempted to coerce information out of it firstwhich unsurprisingly produced a somewhat irritable response to the youngermagus to the effect that she had acted as she thought appropriate. Perhapsit was for the best that our Bonisagus announced that he was to travel toToledo where apparently some text on the astronomical arts awaited his perusal.It was decided that given the length of the journey, and the dangerous territorythat he would have to pass through, he should take four grogs to accompanyhim. We also granted him loan of the Viator Facilis to aid him in any dealingswith the mundanes. Of the rest of us Audacia took another three pawns of Perdoto study from, whilst in the library Antonius read the works on Corporem andI those of Animal.

Mathus paid us visit and oncemore related the news of the mundanes and the order. It seems that there havebeen many omens throughout the country, a man in Hereford pursued by an apparition(perhaps similar to that which pursued Antonius), spirits plaguing a cemeterynear London, hanged men speaking after death and the children of Cardiff abductedand replaced with animals. This spate of unnatural events are said to havebegun in autumn of last year. In that same season there was an attack uponBorri-Tor when a group of lowland raiders destroyed a small village. Thiswould seem to tally with Caelestis' predictions. I wonder if he may not beginto find himself in some demand when the accuracy of some of his predictionsbecomes more widely known.

News also came that Dionysus foundBlodwyn and charged her with having aided the rebels by providing some healingafter the battle at Blackridge. It seems that in the process of apprehendingher, Dionysus' Hoplite Darius killed her. This event was very recent and nofurther news had come of it, but I fancy that Blodwyn's popularity was suchthat Darius has drawn himself into further trouble if all is not found tobe completely as it should be. I can't say that I will be shedding a tearfor him. The hunt for the rebels continues throughout the order, though focussedin Loch Leglean, Hibernia and Novgorod. The Primi of Merinita and Bjornaerhave met to discuss the events surrounding the attack on Blackridge and itseems that anger over Ospectus' death continues unabated.

Finally there was a message fromToledo informing Caelestis that they did not have a copy of the texts he sought.I am sure he shall discover this for himself in the near future.

Again the season passed peacefullybut at midsummer I was informed by the Golwyg Haffydd that resides withinour walls that his brothers and sisters would be coming to pay him a visit.I spoke with my sodales on this matter and they allowed that these fae couldbe granted entry provide they were kept watch upon at all times during theirvisit. To this I readily agreed and prepared a number of small mysteries andgifts for them in the manner that Lothar had shown the last time we had suchguests. They were not the only visitors that day. The grog Rufus, who Audaciahad so carelessly misplaced while within the regio, returned in the form ofa badger. Much like Eanfled he was quickly assimilated back in to the grogsand I hope he will prove as useful a grog as the faerie fox did. The day passedsmoothly and at the end of day our visitors granted us a gift of their own,3 acorns containing a golden liquid that we were assured would make the drinkerhappy and energetic. One was tried on a grog, a volunteer by the name of Dougal.It seemed to have the effect described and as it was a gift from Llyn-y-fanI decided that I too would try the potion. As I have already written it doesindeed raise the spirits of the drinker and I have found myself happy to worklate in to the night for the last few weeks. Strangely no-one else wishedto try the last of the acorns and I am told that it faded away as the dayturned. Well it is their choice and I believe their loss.

Autumn

There was nothing of import todiscuss at concilium save for our activities during the month of Autumn. Iwas set the task of creating an enchantment as my service; a twin to the healingdevice of last year save with enchantments to remove disease. Audacia andAntonius studied from vis in the forms of Perdo and Corporem.

Two visits were made early inthe season, one our tax demand of 250 pennies, the other from Mathus. He hadmore letters for our travelling Bonisagus and also news that the house wouldconvene at Durenmar in the summer of next year (I do hope Caelestis has remembered).He also bore a letter for Audacia and one for myself. This missive was fromJordael concerning his pledge to work on a new longevity potion for me. Mathusalso reported that there were still stories of unnatural events present throughoutthe whole country. There has been some speculation that those of Ex-Miscellaneamay be involved but some of the events seem to be a long way from any covenantand thus their purpose seems baffling, and others seem to be of too greata magnitude. Apparently Jordael believes it may be a consequence of the risein occult influences heralded by the sun in the otherworld.

Later in the season I suffereda most troubling vision which seemed strangely vivid, a sign I believe thatthis could prove to be a foretelling. I dreamed that Meredith lay dead onthe ground, and that the tower of our covenant was felled - the top half crackingand collapsing inwards. People were running everywhere and there were flamesall about. This was followed by images of shadows and a dark shape eatingacross the face of the sun. The sky was full of stars and within it couldbe made out the faintest image of a face that I vaguely recognised. Then theimage changed to Idris, head bowed as his tears fell. This led me to believethat the face I had seen was that of Idris' missing son. Perhaps that boyseeks vengeance against us believing that we are responsible for his fathersfall.

I called a council where I sharedthis vision with my sodales. It was agreed that this may well be an importantmatter. Audacia informed us that the letter that she had received was fromher Primus instructing her to attend upon him in spring for an indeterminateperiod of time. She was obviously concerned about leaving us if any threathung over the covenant and she said she would speak to Caisus concerning ourpossible danger. I agreed to visit Jordael and speak with him, for it is unlikelyany other man in the tribunal knows as much about visions as he. We are concernedthat such destruction could only be caused by an attack from the Dragon thathas beset Blackthorn and Holy Isle before. I shall also send a letter to Petruswith the next Redcap as we desire to know more about the relationship betweenRegiones and the Aegis given the particular nature of this site. If only Caelestiswere here he could perhaps read something of our future.

Jordael was interested in whatI had to tell him and told me that he believed that the attack upon us was,at least in part, responsible for many of the strange occurrences that areoccurring in the tribunal. He believes that as the Severn stretches into theheart of the country, and our spring seems closely linked to the river, thatany thing that besets us will be reflected far afield. In relation to my visionhe agreed that he thought that the signs pointed towards it being Idris' sonwho is our enemy. He will try and predict when there may be an eclipse ofthe sun, and he will also set guards upon Stonehenge in case attempt is madeto raise the Dragon.

The rest of the season passedquietly, although Audacia informed council that Caisus was ready to come toour aid at a moments notice, and should we arrive at the apportation pointat Blackthorn he would immediately be fetched by observers.

Winter

Council began with more discussionon our concerns for the future but without any more information there waslittle that we could do save place the men on a slightly higher level of alertness.Audacia was set to scribe spells as her seasons service choosing Incantationof the Milky Eyes and an 8th magnitude Demons Eternal Oblivion. Antonius decidedto invent a spell of Warding against Spirits at a slightly lower magnitudethan we presently have so that he may more easily cast it. I decided to workon an item for myself using some new experimental ideas that I have been developingbased on the work of my Pater.

Early in the season, in the middleof the night, we were brought report by the grogs of a large crashing soundin the woods heard from the west wall. Antonius and Audacia went to investigateand initially could find no sign of any instigator despite the continuoussound as if trees were being smashed. After some time however Antonius realisedthat one of the trees was actually moving slowly through the wood, headingtowards the covenant. Audacia joined him and they prepared to assault thetree if it should prove necessary but it slowly veered away from the covenantand eventually after quite some time headed up Huntley hill where at dawnit set itself at the peak of the hill. Further investigation revealed thatit has seemingly decided to remain in that spot, but to what purpose we hadno idea. Midwinter came and with it reports that several of the men had disturbingdreams possibly relating to the Morrigan. Meredith thinks that there may beforces being marshalled in defence of the spring and it is possible that thismay be why the tree has transported itself to its higher vantage point.

A week after midwinter the waxingmoon suddenly appeared to have waned, seemingly a very bad omen indeed. Thosewho have some knowledge of such events believed that it would continue towane for a few days before a red aura, as if a cast of blood, would surroundit. This would herald an attack befalling the covenant. Antonius spent a daychecking his mundane contacts to see if plot was brewing against us but nosign of such a thing was present. He and Audacia also visited the dell andfound evidence that there are wolves leaving it every night. They plannedan ambush but as they prepared to spring it the moon did indeed become bathedin a red light and it was considered far more important that they remain inthe covenant to provide its defence. No attack came but the next night themoon was almost totally new with a blood red corona . Meredith had a minorfit and reported that he had seen a vision of lightning and scales, with somethingdeep beneath the earth being roused from its slumber. He also saw an upturnedchalice with its candle snuffed out, some sort of occult omen.

Again no attack came but on thethird night of the red moon there was a sombre air throughout the covenant.Caisus came to join us and I am glad he was there for it was on this nightthat the attack did indeed come. For many years we have buried our fallengrogs in the Northwest corner of the covenant and perhaps the wisdom of thiscan be challenged for the skeletons of the dead burst forth from the gravesand began to attack a small group of grogs in that area. One of those menwas killed and he too returned to a sort of life to turn against his comrades.The men were sorely beset and I fear none would have survived but for Audaciaand Caisus being alerted by one of the men fleeing for his life. The Flambeauwere quickly able to gain the ascendance in the conflict and less than anhour passed before all the dead had once more ceased there unnatural mobility.The following night saw a return to the normal phase of the moon and it lookslike we have survived one attack upon us, though I feel sure that there isworse yet to come.

With the ending of one threatAntonius and Audacia once more turned their attention to the wolves in thedell. They were observing the dell as night fell, but with the darkness theaura of that infernal place seemed to quickly expand its borders and veryquickly Audacia was caught within the regio. Antonius was unable to anythingexcept hear the sounds of battle from within the dell, Finally at dawn theaura receded and Audacia was restored to us, though she was initially distrustingas to Antonius' identity. It seems that when she was initially trapped shelocated the great wolf and launched her spells at the creature, but thesehad no effect. Her ward also gave her no protection and she was forced toflee the creature. She then reported that Antonius came to her aid, but hisvisage changed and he was revealed as a demon. She tried to cast more spellsbut they continued to fail. Her surroundings kept changing in much the sameway as befell Ruaridh and Antonius in the Autumn of 1113. She too was trickedinto thinking she had slain her sodalis. Antonius believes that there maybe something within this aura that is tied into the essential essence of infernaldeception. It seems only the true touch of dawn is able to break the holdof these confounding illusions. It was decided that as the wolves still posea threat all grog patrols will have a potion of Leap of Homecoming that wecan be quickly informed if they are beyond the dell.

The remainder of the season passedquietly but it is with a great sense of foreboding for the future that I passon the recording of these days to Antonius.