1231: Summer
A sad tale to tell, but after the mating season, Puff the magic Puffin died.
However instead of the normal clutch of three magical eggs there was a fourth, which detected as both animal and Vim. It was decided to let this one hatch and see if Puff would be reborn.
Just before the Summer solstice of 1231 there is a disturbance on the beach at the end of the tunnel connecting the covenant to the outside world. It seems that a young man wearing a red cap is having a fit and is upsetting a little girl.
After confronting the pair the man collapses uttering the words "she's in a box" "cold wet with frogs" and the girl starts sobbing.
After warding the area against demons and Fae, Pumilius stomps back the the covenant to find Greta, a maternal grog who might be able to calm the child down.
Gunther deftly casts a InCo and an InMe spell to discern the problems with both the girl and the man. The girl gives no reading, but the man seems physically fine and the main emotions are compassion and terror. He remove the Redcap's fear, and proceeds to wake him up by mundane means.
On waking the girl is outside his line of sight and he immediately recalls protocol and introduces himself as Rufus ex Mercere, and hopes to introduce himself to the Magi. He lists those he expects to be at the covenant, and is anxious to discharge his duty: he has the books that Hill of Uisneach has copied for them.
On seeing the girl he exclaims again "you poor thing", but by this time Greta has been summoned, and leads the girl away. She is briefly detained by the ward against Fae, but this is covered up by Gunther 'fussing' over her and 'accidently' scuffing the ward.
Greta lets slip (sotto voce) that Brigit (the girl) shouldn't be being subjected to this much attention as she ran away a couple of days ago. She came back but maybe she is a little bit skittish.
Pumilius immediately suspects a faerie changeling, investigates the fishing hut that is her home, but finds nothing other than a small dolly. If they had someone who could cast an Inexorable Search this would be ideal, but alas...
Orlaith manages to cast a spell that lets her trace the spoor of the little girl by smell, and she tracks her under water to an undersea cave.
In the cave are three slimy goblins singing to a small child (the double of the child on the beach), and a bedraggled wolf with grey fur and a white head.
She tries to take the child away and two of the creatures try to claw and bite her (the third is still furiously singing at the wolf). Orlaith manages to Seven League Stride away.
Back at the beach Orlaith briefs her Sodales, and they discuss a plan of action. Pumilius asks if the arcane connections that Orlaith undoubtedly collected from the cave would allow them to Leap into the cave, whereupon Orlaith looks slightly sheepish.
Instead it is proposed to trade with the Fae, a gift of Valeri and Martin's Scrimshaw was deemed appropriate, and Orlaith makes a second journey. After much too-ing and fro-ing it is agreed that the Nokk will cast protective bubbles on their captives in exchange for the beauteous gift.
Brigit is reunited with her parents, and is happy to be home.
The wolf is clearly magical and speaks very poor Latin no German, Gaelic or West Norse.
His name seems to be Wepwawet and something about Gunther seems Familiar to him.
He had been tethered for ages and then, last spring equinox suddenly he was able to move. He had a vision of a great tree to the north, and felt moved to pay his respects.
His place of incarceration was a tower in some mountains far to the south, which used to be inhabited by Magi, but he had seen no-one for decades. He recalls the name of his captor, Abraxas, and his tormentor Varina.
None of the magi have heard of these names, and Rufus, when questioned doesn't recall them being active in either in the Hibernian Tribunal or any of the tribunals of his apprenticeship. He agrees to have a root around for them when he gets back.
Gunther and Wepwawet seem to be getting along famously.