1296

Spring 1296 AD

Patterns and cycles underpin much of our existence. Some – such as the steady repetition of the seasons of the year – are easy to discern. Others may operate over longer timescales or with a less regular cadence that means they lie hidden from all save the most learned or perceptive. We live our lives within these cycles, sometimes making decisions both wise and foolish without understanding the forces at play. They need not prevent certain actions, but they may make them easier or more difficult, depending on whether we swim with or against the tide. So, we would do well to pause once in a while to consider the wider context.

Yet some cycles are not immutable. They can be broken or twisted so far out of recognition that former relationships and certainties no longer hold. I sense that we face such an inflexion point this year. This Grand Tribunal may be one like none other in recent memory, as conflicts both within and without threaten to rob the Order of its strength and what remains of its common purpose. Our place in the world must change, that is clear, but I cannot yet see how this can be achieved without succumbing to internecine strife. I am not downcast – far from it – but we should all be aware that we face an existential threat to our way of life.

Jari began our council meeting by recounting the tale of his journey into the faerie regio. He explained that the Tegid Foel, a faerie knight of the dark earth, had sought to contest his ownership of the tower in the Erechwydd’s lands through a curse that broke the hinges of the door that otherwise barred entry to that place. Jari was able to make a temporary repair through a Muto Herbam spell that jammed the broken door tight into its frame, but once the spell fails, the Tegid Foel will be able to enter and claim ownership of the tower. Pyrrhus suggested that the best way to thwart these plans would be to slay the Tegid Foel, arguing that he had both attacked our possessions and potentially broken the peace treaty that sometimes (but only sometimes) binds faerie actions. Jari countered that such a response was not justified, as the problem could be addressed more peacefully by simply repairing the door. He had commissioned new hinges from artisans in London and proposed to return to the tower in summer to install them. This seemed like a more straightforward option to me, though it was unclear whether it would resolve the problem once and for all, or whether the Tegid Foel could simply repeat his curse. If he must be defeated more directly, I noted that Sir Maurice, the faerie knight of the green chapel, had bested him in times gone by, though none of us knew what price he might demand to repeat such an action. For the moment, we shall trust that Jari’s plans will be successful; it is always possible that Pyrrhus may take matters into his own hands, but perhaps his recent experiences in the faerie regio may temper his enthusiasm to return.

Jari then spoke of his encounter with the Erechwydd. He had intended to enquire in a roundabout manner whether she had noticed the coming of the Shining One in Mynydd Myddyn, but no such subtly was required, for she was unusually open about the matter. She explained that she was no longer sure that the visions she had once had of a great winter cloaking the land were true, for she sensed something else was behind the surge in power she had detected. After Jari described what we had learned in Mynydd Myddyn, the Erechwydd explained that the Shining – or First – Ones were much older than the faerie powers and dwelt in a realm far beyond even the furthest reaches of Arcadia. They were no friend to man nor faerie, being mostly tyrannical and expecting worship and obedience. The Erechwydd said that she expected that some would seek to save themselves by falling to their knees, but she would not do so, for it went against her very nature, and she advised Hypatia to call a council of her magical and faerie allies to discuss how best to meet this potential threat.

[Terentius’ private journal: The Erechwydd’s information largely confirmed what we had heard from other sources, namely the grandfather wolf and the Old Ones of Mynydd Myddyn. Despite the perils involved, we must find out more about the entity at the heart of Mynydd Myddyn – who it is, why it has come and what it wants. This will be no easy task, but I think we can still learn much from those that have encountered it, rather than approaching it directly. As for the matter of the Erechwydd’s advice, it is not my decision to make, though I remain highly skeptical about the true motivations of all of these unearthly powers. They have been unreliable allies at best, and fierce enemies at worst, and my natural inclination is to look to our own arts to resolve our problems, rather than risking manipulation and coercion. Still, Hypatia has a better appreciation of the risks and benefits of such a decision, and I trust that she will be far sighted in her deliberations.]

Hypatia then retold the tale of Blanche’s vision. She said she had consulted the two Primi in Stonehenge, Gailoin and Julius, who had both advised her not to attend the Grand Tribunal, though they themselves still planned to do so. Messages had been sent far and wide, including to the Primi of Houses Bonisagus and Mercere, describing the vision and seeking corroboration from other sources. Despite my best efforts, Volutus said that he was still minded to attend, arguing that he felt obligated to add his voice to those who would defend the actions of this tribunal in the face of likely criticism from other quarters. Still, he said that he would hold off making a final decision until he met the other attendees at the quayside in Chester at the end of the season. Given he will be away for the summer council meeting, we decided to bring forward the casting of the Aegis to this very day, since no one else had the arts to do so in his absence. We then agreed on our actions for the season: Volutus shall extract Vim vis on behalf of the covenant; Hypatia will study the text on Ignem; Jari shall learn the spell Converse with Plants and Trees; Pyrrhus will study from his own stores of vis; and I will continue to read more on the art of Vim.

A few weeks in to the season, we were visited by Suetonius of Mercere, a redcap from the Normandy Tribunal, who brought news of alarming developments on the continent. Mercere spies had discovered that the Templar, Hospitaller and Teutonic Orders were massing knights ahead of a conclave in June at the Abbey of Saint Jerome, close to the city of Ulm in Swabia. Primus Bonisagus had declared that he remained confident in the ability of Durenmar to weather any attack, should it come, though he advised all travelling to the Grand Tribunal to take care on the road. Suetonius did not tarry long, for he had to take the news to other covenants so that those intending to make the journey would know of the perils that lay ahead.

Later in the season, Acerbia brought the chilling news that, on Ash Wednesday, the Pope had formally declared a crusade against the Order of Hermes, calling on all good Christians to take up arms against us. It is a measure of how far relations with the papacy have deteriorated that this news, which not so long ago would have been unthinkable, now seems like just another inevitable step towards the grand confrontation that we have all dreaded for several years now. Yet we should not underestimate just how cataclysmic an event this is, for it represents the start of open warfare that will not be resolved without terrible violence. Acerbia asked Hypatia how her brother would react to the news. Hypatia said that she could not speak for him, though she believed that he would not support the Pope’s call. Whether this would constrain the acts of other nobles was less clear.

Acerbia also brought the news that the Scots had massed an army and taken Berwick. This puts them perilously close to the covenant of Bori-Tor, though Acerbia informed us that the covenant remained safe enough for now. Theo has given orders to raise an army to contest the Scots’ advance, and he intends to return from France to lead it in the summer.

The final piece of news concerned events much closer to home. Several children have gone missing in the vicinity of the town of Marlborough over recent months. The disappearances had all happened on or about the new moon, a time often linked to occult practices. Given the recent infernal activity in Abingdon, there must be the possibility that the same hand lies behind both events, so we agreed that we would investigate further early in summer.

Acerbia returned to covenant a few weeks later with further news. The Pope’s crusade has received the backing of nobles across the continent, with Philip the Fair of France being one of the first to fix his standard to the cause. Many have sought to raise armies, and there has been sightings of large troop movements in Bavaria. Further afield, Venice has declared war on Byzantium, and there has been a naval clash in the Adriatic.

As spring turned to summer, Volutus bade us all farewell and made the journey to Chester, being careful to avoid travel through Chepstow given that its Baron is said to be a firm Christian. Whether we will see him again in a few days, or following the Grand Tribunal, we do not yet know, but we advised him to exercise caution on the road and wished him fine fortune on his travels.

[Terentius’ private journal: There now seems little prospect that Volutus will think better of the matter, for how could any man watch from the quayside as his comrades sail into danger? I was genuine in my desire to convince him not to go, for he places himself in peril for little real benefit. Yet, were I in his place, I would do exactly the same. Good luck, Volutus; you will need it.]