1160

YEAR 1160

Scribed by Astrius

Spring 1160 AD

Sadly the first council meetingof the new year began without Theo, who still has not returned from his forayinto the Otherworld. As none of us have any real notion of how we might contacthim, let alone try and reach him, all we can do is hope for his safe return.Cormoran made some enquiries as to where Theo might have gone, but Dialecticasaw no point in such a debate and brought the discussion to a swift halt,stating that if Theo is not returned by the start of Summer then a new Ministratorwill be elected. However, when the issue of Theo's role as Knight of the Briavelwas brought up, Dialectica changed her mind and decided that a new Ministratorwas needed immediately. Medius was the only magus to stand for this positionand was subsequently elected unchallenged.

There was also some discussionregarding what to do with the cider that Cormoran has brewed down in Blackney,which is now ready to drink. After some debate as to whether it would be bestto sell the three barrels to Carrion Moor or use it to help pay off our taxes,Dialectica decided that such a mundane issue could quite properly be leftto the steward. Quite what all the fuss about this fermented apple juice isabout I do not know. It is a sickly sweet brew and the alleged mundane popularityof this Norman import can surely only be due to people trying to ape theirfeudal overlords.

With such weighty matters dealtwith, attention turned as to our season's activities. Dialectica will travelto Gloucester to begin spreading rumours about the coming of a great stormto mask the flood ritual that is to be cast at the Spring equinox. Tiarnanand I were tasked with extracting vim vis from the aura, Aelfwin will makefour Gift of the Bear's Fortitude potions to replace those which saved ourlives during the fights with the blood werewolves. Medius will investigatea personal item and also journey to Gloucester to visit his Jewish ally tosee how he might acquire more of the strange tinctures that enable him tosee something of the infernal. Cormoran was once again on covenant service,tasked with evacuating Blackney in advance of the storms, lest the ritualgo awry or stir anything beyond our power to control in Lydney.

A week or so before the equinox,Cormoran began using his powerful spontaneous magicks to summon a series ofpowerful storms to hide the magical nature of the flood. Dialectica returneda few days later, reporting that her rumourmongering and warnings to thosewho may be endangered by the floods had worked well. Although she noted thatthere was some talk of spirits and wizards being behind the storms, she seemedunconcerned and believes that a little bit of work afterwards should put suchrumours to bed. There was certainly no sign of any intriguing against us,which hopefully means that the Fells have not got wind of what we are aboutto do. The ritual will be hazardous enough without any potential trap or ambushin the offing.

So it was, with rain from oneof Cormoran's storms lashing down and thunder echoing loudly overhead, wemade our way down to the riverbank on the day before the Equinox. Medius andI, along with Dylan, Conrad and Edward took up position on the riverside,safely upstream of where the flood was to be sent. Meanwhile Cormoran andDermot settled down in the treeline overlooking Lydney, watching for the risingwaters in readiness to expose the altar stone to the river and to ambush anycreatures that might attempt to flee the regio.

With Medius and the men keepingwatch I began the ritual. Although I have heard tales of the river and thegreat strength of the boar tide, it was not until then that I realized justhow much power is contained in the murky waters of the Severn. At first allseemed fine, the ritual was working well and water levels were building steadilyand in a controlled fashion. Yet, as the ritual neared its climax somethingwent awry. Whether this was through my error, the inherent fickleness of magicor an intervention by some other power I do not know for sure, but I sensedsomething else in the water fighting my spell and wrenching control from me.

As I fought desperately to regaincontrol, the river burst its banks and rose up about the ground where we werestanding. Medius was nearly pulled off his feet, but Dylan and the other menmanaged to drag him to safety. I however was concentrating so intensely onthe ritual that it was not until the waters had risen to my chest that I realizedthe peril I was in. Dylan tried to help me, but the pull of the floodwaterswas too strong and we were both swept out into the river. The strength ofthe current was such that it quickly became evident that we were unlikelyto be able to keep our heads above water for too long. My own potion of theLeap of Homecoming had been torn from my belt, but Dylan, faithful to theend, thrust his own into my hand and although I sought to press it back uponhim, it was too late as he slipped under the waves and was lost.

Let Dylan's sacrifice and longyears of good and faithful service be noted here. He was not possessed ofa likeable manner, but he was a good friend and a valuable consortis to bothme and Severn Temple. If only all those whose demeanour is fairer were sotrue at heart.

It was with great relief thatafter downing the thick liquid of the potion in between mouthfuls of riverwater I found myself lying bedraggled on the cold stone of the council chamber.After the moment or two it took to reorient myself I realized that I was notalone in the council chamber. Medius and Cormoran were also present and anemergency council meeting was quickly summoned to discuss what had gone wrongand what needed to be done. Once I had recounted what had happened with thecasting of the ritual, Medius and Cormoran relayed their side of the tale.

Although Medius, Conrad and Edwardhad managed to escape the initial onslaught of the flood, the raging riverdid not pause for long and a wave of water pursued them as they ran for theshelter of the trees. Fearing for his safety Medius drank his potion of theLeap of Homecoming, leaving Conrad and Edward to race for higher ground alone.

Meanwhile on the hill overlookingLydney, in the dark, stormy weather Cormoran and Dylan failed to notice therushing waters before they engulfed the ruins of the village. Realizing thisthey urgently cast about to see if anything had escaped unseen by them. Itwas then they spotted the dark shapes slinking off into the woods away fromthe flood. Cormoran reported that although these figures appeared to be men,they were moving quickly and were almost certainly the infernal wolves fromthe Dell in human guise. Fearing any confrontation with them, Cormoran andDermot drank their potions and apported back to the covenant.

Once we had all shared our experiences,we set about assessing out the full extent of how far the flood had spread.As a first measure, Tiarnan went to the spring to speak with the Lladra. Toour great relief, the Lladra confirmed that the flood had completely cleansedthe infernal taint from Lydney and she added that the site was now under ourstewardship. She also said that the flood was the biggest since ancient timesand claimed that it had been caused by my anger, which was such that it brieflyeven overawed the boar tide. Tiarnan at least seemed to think this a reasonableexplanation, though if such consequences ensued every time my ire was raisedwhile casting magic then all hereabouts would have destroyed long ago.

The scale of the flood howevercannot be denied. Blackney has been extensively damaged with a large portionof the stockade and a good number of houses destroyed. Unfortunately thisdamage extends to the laboratory that Cormoran had set up there and it willneed a season's work to set it straight. The mine at Blackney has been flooded,but no serious damage has been done and we will only suffer a slight lossof production while the water is pumped out. Downriver the devastation iseven worse and the village of Wollaston has been completely washed away. Ishudder to think how many folk perished.

There was some debate about whatto do with Lydney now that it was free from any infernal taint. Cormoran askedif Theo, in his role as the Knight of Briavel, could claim the site. Dialecticawasn't sure of the legality of this and said that we would need to contactBaron Martin about it, for it seems the Baron may hold a particular interestin the site of the village where he once dwelt. However, before we can dothis we need to let the rumours about witches and magic surrounding the flooddie out, lest it appear that we conjured the flood for our own "evil" ends.Tiarnan proposed an alternative suggestion, that we attempt to reforest thesite using magic. While expensive and probably impractical, it is neverthelessa tempting idea if it can be made to work. Tiarnan is not the only one atthe council who fears what will happen if our involvement with the mundanepolitic continues to grow.

Scrying by Medius to try and findConrad and Edward brought worrying results. They are not dead, but residewithin a regio. Given their last location we must hope that it is the faerieregio that they stumbled across in the dark, not the Dell. On a more positivenote, while abroad in the woods a day or two later, looking for some signof the missing men, I came across Jess, one of Dylan's dogs. Of Dylan's otherhound, Arca, there was sadly no sign.

Dialectica and Medius travelleddown to Lydney to confirm as best they could through use of Jewish tinctureand hermetic spell whether that place was indeed free from malign influence.Although an initial spell did suggest some sort of aura was still present,nothing could be detected by any subsequent spells or Medius's tincture. Satisfied,Dialectica ventured onwards into the Dean to try and minimize any talk ofwizards and warlocks being behind the flood.

Scribed by Tiarnan

Summer

At the Council meeting, Dialecticaprovided news of her travels through the towns and villages bordering theDean. Public opinion about the causes of the great flood is divided: someclaimed it was a natural phenomenon, whereas others argued that it was a punishmentfrom the Christian God for the sinfulness of the populace. More worrying forus, there was also talk that the flood might have been the work of the witchesand warlocks of the Dean, and many of the old tales about the magical natureof this place, some of which are admittedly based on some measure of truth,began to circulate. Baron Martin of Monmouth sent men to examine the destructionwrought by the floods in Woolaston and Lydney, and we debated whether thismeant that he was likely to try to re-establish either village in the comingyears. Dialectica suggested that Woolaston was very likely to be re-founded,though the dark rumours about Lydney may keep men away from that place forsome time.

We had a short debate about theprioritisation of magical resources after Dialectica set Aelfwin the taskof creating a set of glassware to establish a new magical laboratory. It wasDialectica's intention to re-establish the laboratory in Blackney, but I mentionedthat, for several years, I had expressed a desire to set up a laboratory inthe faerie Regio. We discussed the merits of the competing options: did theadvantage of being able to station a Magus (always Cormoran) in Blackney despitethe feeble magical aura of that place outweigh the possible magical discoveriesabout the magical and faerie auras that might be possible with a laboratoryin the Regio? In the end, we left the matter unresolved, but we determinedto return to it next season when the equipment was ready.

After the meeting, I left forthe faerie Regio to see if I could learn more about two grogs, Edward andConrad, who had gone missing close to that place following the flood lastseason. At Palug's glade, I encountered Quaesitor Linaris of House Merinita,who was questioning Palug about the area. Linaris told me that she had cometo investigate the faerie knight Sir Turold, and she planned to venture intoGofannon's realm to question the knight about his background. I agreed toaccompany her, and we determined to travel back to Severn Temple to collectMedius and Cormoran, as we thought that their talents would prove useful asQuaesitor and Hoplite respectively. I also learned from Palug that the twogrogs had been captured by Bethwyn, the sorceress who follows the Morrigan,and she had taken them through the forest to her dark hill.

[Tiarnan's private journal:On the way back to the covenant, Linaris and I discussed Theo, and she toldme of a vision she had recently had. She bade me mention it to no other, includingTheo or any of the faerie powers, and I shall not even record its detailshere. I shall, however, state my fervent desire that it should prove false- or that we have misinterpreted it - for, if true, it spells complete disaster.]

Back at the covenant, I discoveredthat the two missing grogs, Edward and Conrad, had returned a few days earlier,though their time in the faerie Regio had apparently changed their appearances.While Linaris spoke with Medius and Cormoran, I travelled down to Blackney,where the grogs had been stationed by a suspicious Astrius, to investigatethem. Both appear touched by the fae, though in different ways: Edward nowhas the eyes and manner of one of the Cors, whereas Conrad has an Unseelieway about him that I have yet to identify. In addition, to my eyes, Edward'sdog appears to have an entirely faerie nature, which is puzzling. The mendeclared that they had sworn no oaths or made no bargains during their timein the Regio, and they did not behave suspiciously while I was in Blackney,but I still believe we should keep a close eye on them for the time being.

Linaris persuaded Medius and Cormoranto travel with us, and we set off for Gofynwy's cave, as a path to the Heartof the Mountain can be found there. However, it seems my earlier confidenceabout the waning of winter and coming of spring may have been rather premature,for, within the forest, we spied a snowstorm blowing towards us. It couldmean only one thing: the Erechwyth's minions had spotted us and were comingto investigate. We drew ourselves up into a circle to await their arrival,and a few moments later, a group of twisted ice goblins and lumbering icegiants began to encircle us. They demanded to know what we were doing in theErechwyth's forest, and they were not placated by our assurances that we merelywished to pass through without causing any harm. After I revealed my identity,two of the goblins sped off, presumably to tell their mistress. Linaris demandedthat we be allowed to proceed, and she even destroyed one of the goblins todemonstrate that we were not to be trifled with.

However, then the Erechwyth herselfstepped forward from the ranks of her minions. It seems that she is stillangry that Quellior managed to rescue me from her dungeon a few years ago,and she demanded that I surrender as her prisoner in return for allowing therest to pass. To forestall a possible battle, I sprinted away from the throng,hoping that if I could make it as far as a nearby stream, I would be ableto use an item to transport me to the court of Llyr, King of the Sea. I wastold later that it was a close run thing, for the Erechwyth began an enchantmentto strike me down, but Cormoran managed to distract her from her task by bearingdown on her in a furious charge. I made it to the stream, and sped throughthe waters, reaching Llyr's court after a long journey.

[Tiarnan's private journal:I spoke with Llyr about recent events at Severn Temple, most notably Theo'sattempts to gain the support of Gofannon and Nynniaw. Llyr told me where Theohad gone, and we speculated that he might be trying to recover his memories.I told him of the vision that the Morrigan sent me, and he confirmed the truthof it, including the identity of the faerie woman. He also told me what mighthappen if Theo learned more of his past, though I shall refrain from recordingthis here.]

I spoke with King Llyr, and heagreed to send me back to my sodales by a different route, for there are undergroundrivers that reach even the Heart of the Mountain. I emerged in an antechamberclose to Gofannon's hall, where Sir Turold was waiting to be summoned intothe King's presence. We exchanged a few words, before we made our way intothe hall, where I spied my sodales in discussion with Gofannon. They had nothad easy journey: I had hoped that the Erechwyth would have let them passonce I had escape, but it was not to be. A fight broke out, but Linaris' wardswere not strong enough to hold back the Erechwyth, and she was forced to apportwith Medius to a safer place within the Regio. Cormoran was left to face thegoblins and giants alone, but the Erechwyth surprisingly changed her mindand allow the giant to leave. It is not clear what caused her to do this,but Cormoran later indicated that she was full of praise for his martial prowess,and it is possible that she seeks to curry favour with him in the hope thathe may prove to be an ally in the future.

Linaris explained her missionto Gofannon, but the King seemed to regard it as an affront that any wouldchallenge the status of one of his knights. He demanded that Sir Turold beallowed to defend his honour in single combat, and we retired for a few momentsto select our champion, though in truth, there was only one realistic candidate.Linaris told Medius that Sir Turold appeared to be fully faerie to her eyes,and they agreed that if he was able to best Cormoran in battle without usingHermetic magic, there would be little doubt that he was no longer mortal.Cormoran bravely agreed to face Sir Turold, and the two warriors clashed ina thrilling contest. Though Cormoran had a clear advantage in size and strength,the faerie knight appeared to be made from the hardest stone, and the giant'smighty blows could not pierce his skin. Sir Turold's sword, on the other hand,inflicted a series of deep wounds, and Cormoran was forced to concede thebattle, though not before he had picked up Sir Turold and hurled him intoa nearby pool in an attempt to knock him out. With Sir Turold's victory, Linarisand Medius agreed that he was indeed a full faerie knight, and we left themountain court and travelled back to Severn Temple.

What an eventful season!

Scribed by Medius

Autumn

Concilium started with the Pontifexreporting on her efforts over Summer to counter the rumours that had implicatedwizards in the flooding of Lydney. She had some good news to impart. The lossof Woolaston has not harmed the Baron of Chepstow's economy and neither henor Monmouth looks in our direction. The city of Gloucester has also recoveredquickly although the severe damage to the south has fared less well for us.There remain tales that a supernatural force from the Dean was responsible,possibly being fuelled by the fells within Bristol. It is also clear thatBerkeley continues to believe that the flood was a punishment from god andchurch attendance there has greatly increased as a new mood of zealotry sweepsthe area. We shall yet see whether our efforts will bring mundane harm uponourselves, although in truth I am hopeful that we will see our way throughthese troubles. My recent investigations of Lydney show that there is no signof an infernal aura and that is an important achievement for this covenant.

Magus Aelfwin informed us thathe had been successful in creating the glassware required to establish a newlaboratory. It became apparent that Magus Cormoran had no intention to spendtime re-establishing the Blackney laboratory this year and so Magus Tiarnanwas granted the equipment and said that he would spend this season settingone up in the lower levels of the faerie regio. He related the events withinthat realm last season and there was some discussion of the two changed shieldgrogs, Edward and Conrad. The Imperator is concerned that there may be sometaint of the Morrigan upon them and Magus Cormoran was able to confirm thathe was required to invite their 'hound' into the aegis at Blackney, confirmingMagus Tiarnan's belief that this is fully fae. This faerie says that its loyaltyis to its master and it was agreed that they will remain in Blackney for thetime being. Indeed, Magus Cormoran has placed them in the Blackney Watch andthey will provide the watch at night, those hours suiting their new natures.

There was also a discussion asto whether there was a continuing need to maintain an aegis at Blackney. Thehalf a rook of vis used to power it has been a significant drain on the resourcesof this covenant, requiring Magi to spend a great deal of time extractingfrom the aura and with Lydney cleansed the threat to the village was greatlylessened. The Pontifex quickly moved the matter to a vote and it was agreedthat we would no longer provide an aegis there, with Magus Astrius and MagusAelfwin holding a contrary view.

I stated that I would be spendingthe season away from the covenant, as did Magus Cormoran. The Pontifex announcedshe was studying from the Mentem texts and the Imperator from the Intellegotexts, with Magus Aelfwin spending the season training his apprentice.

And that is all I need set downupon this journal for I am glad to report that the season passed without event.

Scribed by Astrius

Winter

It has now been a year since Theo first vanishedand I cannot help but grow ever more concerned as to his fate. From what littleTheo has told me of the spirit realms, time may pass differently there, muchlike regios, but surely the longer time goes on, the less likely he is toreturn.

There was some happier news for one magus atleast, as Cormoran reported that he has found his mundane father, a true giantby all accounts and has named him as amicus. Apparently he was living in acave within Blackthorn's lands, but although Cormoran struck a deal with PraecaEloria to ensure he was unmolested in return for a pawn of vis per year, hisfather is to move. Our giant requested that his father be given leave to staywithin the cave in the woods that once housed Petrus's field laboratory andmore recently Raegwulf, consortis of the late and unlamented Madoc.

Tiarnan announced that he had been successfulin establishing a hermetic laboratory in the faerie regio. As previously discussed,he has sited it in the glade where the faerie known as the Palug dwells. Tiarnanis on good terms with that creature and the glade is one of the closest placesto the mundane world so there is less risk of it being overrun by the Erechwythor any of the other hostile fey that dwell within the regio.

Any illusions that we might have been underthat the death of Guyere and the cleansing of Lydney meant that we could relaxour guard even for a brief moment, were dispelled when Medius stated thathe believes that a member of the Fells is residing in Huntley. Alarmingly,this person may be in a position close to Sir Edwin, the knight there, soMedius will make careful investigation next year.

Not long after the council meeting had finishedLauretius arrived with news. It seems that the years are beginning to tellon our local redcap as he looks ever older with each appearance, though remainshale and hearty enough. The mundane news concerned details of some new merchantsguild from Northern Europe whose influence has spread to London. Althoughthis guild is not yet judged to pose a threat to the Order, it has been notedthat they are bribing nobles and so should be dealt with cautiously. Of morelocal events, Lauretius told us that the word on the streets of Bristol isthat wizards were behind the great flood, though whether this is a rumourthat is being actively promoted by the Fells is unclear. Of equal concernperhaps is the increase in grave robbing in the Dean, at least a dozen bodieshave been taken in the last year alone. Medius will speak further with Lauretiuson this subject, lest it relate to his investigations into the Fells.

Of hermetic news, the meeting of House Tremerehas concluded recently and that house has given their full backing to HouseGuernicus's proposed investigation of pagan magi. Primus Tremere is urgingthe other Primi to do likewise and has also petitioned Praeca Eloria to supportHoly Isle. The Praeca has naturally agreed to this and has reminded all magito report any information that may possibly relate to the UnNamed House toHoly Isle.

Lauretius also announced that a formal Quaesitorialinvestigation led by Senior Quaesitor Linares, accompanied by Medius, Tiarnanand Cormoran, had concluded that the being bearing the name of Turold in thecourt of Gofannon was not the magus of the same name, but a true faerie. Inaddition, given the influence this creature wields within the Court of Stone,he is not to be molested.

Later that season Magus Motus of House Flambeauvisited the covenant to discuss matters of my house with me, but those I shallnot record here. The rest of the season and thus the year passed uneventfully.