Post date: Jul 23, 2013 9:46:49 PM
(Spring 1221-Summer 1221)
Spring starts with the arrival of Vincent of Berwick, Pumillius's new Venditor. Vincent brings with him Robert White a craftsman from Northumbria. Pumillius is delighted to have a competent glassblower on staff and sets him to work. Vincent smoothes over any misunderstandings engendered by the revelation that Robert has never blown glass before, but that he is "willing to give it a go" wil perfect aplomb.
Vincent wonders what living accomodation would be provided for the new arrivals, Tethys points out that that would fall under the auspices of the Auotcrat of the Covenant, and, since that post is vacant, Vincent should be appointed immediately. Pumillius stomps on that idea, and takes it upon himself to organize the necessary details.
The three Junior Magi attend the reciprocal feast at Thord Thurlson's in the week before Summer solstice, during the feast they attempt to acquire parchment form Brother Francis who is in attendance. He demurres, stating that he has very little in the way of writing supplies, but informs the Magi that the two cathedral schools would be a better bet, as they are always eager for works of philosophy and therefore have supplies for copying such material as pass through their hands. Having someone to compare as areference, it is noticeable that Thord doesn't seem to be affected by the gift. Brother Francis clearly is, but his christian compassion seems to be winning over.
The pleasant dinner is interrupted by the arrival of a contingent on pony-back. The leader introduces himself as Blund Thorgilsson. He rather rudely accuses the Magi of Witchcraft, and demands that they present themselves at next weeks Thing. Trying to keep out of earshot of Brother Francis, Thord explains that witchcraft is illegal in iceland but everyone knows it goes on, and accepts, and even encourages it. The Church tried to ban all witchcraft and got it through in 1031. The local practitioners (Galdramen) ,having formed a Hreppur, in the spirit of teaching the people that they should be careful what they wish for, went on strike. The wards that kept the trolls away were not reinforced, as well as various other little cantrips that were cast every year to make iceland barely habitable.
Eventually the Bondi approached the Magical Hreppar, and forged an agreement. The Bondi would crush any suits for non-malign magic, and hearings for black sorcery would be heard fairly. Thord states that it is his duty to help the Covenant as they have not been accused of vile sorcery. All this is murmered quietly so as not to alert Brother Francis, as the church officially does not know of the arrangemant (Translation: the GM can't quite remember if he info-dumped all this in the actual session).
The three junior magi attend the Thing. It is held on a desolate plain on the north side of the peninsular, and a small tempory town has sprung up. About the only permanent building is a very small stone affair which serves as the monastary of Brother Francis.
Thord makes some enquiries, and a meeting with Blodwen, a memeber of Thorgilsson's camp is arranged. Blodwen explains that Thorgilsson is a bit headstrong, and intimates that Thorgilsson has been overreaching himself. A curse has settled on Thorgillsson's holdings whereby all pregnant creatures miscarry. Thorgillsson took vengeance on a local witch (with no evidence) and killed her. Thus the Galdramen blacklisted him and the curse continues. Since the covenant are not associated with the Galdramen, Thorgillsson hoped to blackmail them into helping. Blodwen apologises for this, and hopes nevertheless that they could provide what aid they could, as they are suffering greatly, no goat, horse, cat, or human has carried a child to term these last three years.
The Magi agree, and Thord assigns one of his company, Vifil, as a translator. Vifil has some Latin as well as west Norse, and communication is not difficult.
The Thorgillson's farmlands are pretty desolate by continental standards, but Vifil assures them that they are decent by Icelandic ones. After watching the Magi speak with goats, Vifil wonders if they have any plan, but Pumilius notices (with second sight) that there is a stream of flies originatign from over a hillock. Tracing them back to their source they discover a fetish erected in a hot-mud pool. Nearby in the mud are some large egg-like objects. Most of the flies are attacking the eggs, but one seems to be cracked, and no flies are attacking that one.
Vifil suddenly becomes very agitated, and demands that the fetish is knocked down immediately. When this is done, the flies instantly disappear, and Vifil seems to relax slightly to a state of panic. It turns out that the fetish is a standard curse implement. All the galdramen know how to make them, but never would, and it is a strongly enforced custom to destroy them as soon as they are discovered. To creat them one must inscribe runes, including them name of the curser. It is possible to omit the name of the curser, but only for very skilled practitioners. This fetish has no name, but the inscription reads "Slayer of children, you shall know loss"
What's worse is the target of the curse. The eggs, vifil strongly suspects, are the eggs of Iceland's guardian Dragon: Pan Caudrax. He asks the Magi to attend the next Hreppar meeeting, so that they can be recompensed.
Whilst vifil is distracted, the magi investigate the eggs. The whole eggs seem impervious to magic, but the cracked egg contains Vis, of types Terram, Animal, Vim and Ignem. The Magi stop themselves from whooping and agree not to harvest it just at the moment.
The Hreppar meeting is hurredly convened on a plain to the south of the peninsular, north of reykjavik. Where next sessions recap will begin.