Post date: Jul 03, 2014 7:31:32 AM
(Summer 1224- Summer 1225)
The Magi busied themselves with starting various long term projects, Pumillius was prevailed upon to create the Quill of Unsurpassed Quality from Lab notes brought by Tethys, and Orlaith started construction of a magical Bookmark, to prevent the Mud Pools from damaging the books. After being prodded by Gunther on the subject of Longevity rituals, Tethys dashed off a little treatise on Creo for the covenant Library, with the understanding that she would not be bothered on this subject for quite a few years.
Vincent, dilligent and attentive to the Covenants needs as ever, spent a season scouring the local fairs and markets for an apprentice for Robert White, as this excellent glassblower was getting on a bit and the covenant should look to the long term. He came back with twins (Sigurmunda and Baldur) both aged 4 who were said to be exceptionally good at playing with blocks and building with clay. Robert took them under his wing with alacrity.
Spring 1225 rolled around and Vincent was approached again by Robert: He had noticed two of the coven folk (Olaf and Christoff) wandering around and asking questions about the running of the covenant in an appallingly unsubtle way.
Vincent took the matter to the Magi, who with a bit of intimidating and judicious application of magic managed to ascertan that they had been asked by a hooded man to scout out the covenant, discover the residents's attitude to non-Hermetic Magic and Hermetic Property. They obviously did not know what the word Hermetic was, and it sounded odd in the middle of a stream of west Norse. Whilst Martin and Orlaith debated the ethics and efficacy of wiping the grog's minds Valeri took them back to Thord Thurlson and had a drink to celebrate their meeting.
The meeting took place on their recent trip to Þingvellir (they were sent there as of the normal routine by Vincent to get supplies) and they were to report back on the next (scheduled to be one month before the Solstice) and that "he would find them".
The Magi Agreed that they would accompany the grogs to see if they could peacefully meet up with their new "freind". So a party of Vincent, Orlaith, Gunther and Valeri traveller to Þingvellir
On arrival at this bustling metropolis, they headed to the market place which was immediately adjacent to the docks. Gunther - in Raven form - noticed a silvery flash on top of one of the warehouses, and chased it down a dead end alley, but saw no more.
Meanwhile Valeri headed to the pub, and the rest of the group accompanied them. They sat drinking for ages, but noone approached either the grogs or the Magi.
Vincent then decided to attend to business since he was here, and looked up a few old contacts. He found Halfdan an owner of a small fishing fleet. During this chat, he was informed that this summer's Thing would be more exciting than normal, as there was a murder trial. A youth had murdered an outlaw and was currently under arrest. When Vincent pointed out that outlaws were surely allowed to be killed, Halfdan said that this was true, but that the boy was clearly guilty as he had tried to rob the man without knowing he was an outlaw.
Smelling the effects of the gift, Vincent tracked down the barn where the boy was being held, and offering the guards a small amoount of silver for their time, got access to a very scared teenager. He tried greeting him in Latin, but the boy didn't react, so the conversation was in west norse.
The boy, Valdimir, asked if he, Vincent, was here to offer his services as counsel like the other guy. Vincent was non-comittal, but asked about "the other guy".
The other guy was a hooded man, who wore a gold medalion. He asked if Valdimir was an apprentice (using the latin word), and when Valdimir said he didn't know what that word meant left. The hooded man's accent marked him out as a native of the town.
Vincent recognized the medallion as a symbol of the nascent merchant's guild. These merchents had banded together to try and increase ties with the Kingdom of Norway.
Asking about the crime, Vladimir swears it was in self defence, but the locals found him standing over the corpse, with the victim's purse scattered on the floor.
Vincent reported back to the pub where the Magi resolved to ask if Karl Eriksson could be prevailed to act as Valdimir's defence at the coming Thing, as the Gift must be treasured. They pondered there next move..