Winter 1234 (Kath: presumably this should be Winter 1235, as sessions 21 - 23 took place in summer 1234, and this session follows on)
Pumilius, Orlaith, Gunther, Vincent and the cats travelled to the Site in Leptis Magna, as the cats had an idea in how to get in. It seems that it was necessary to recreate the original lintel to the Triumphal Arch and align it precisely with respect to the fixed stars.
Inside they found a mini town. Orlaith floated up as far as she could (not very high, the air seemed to get `thick’ if she rose too high), and saw that the town was laid out on a square pattern. Two main streets intersected in the centre (one east west, the other north south) The town was thus divided into four quarters. The entrance to the desert was at the middle of the south edge.
Each Quarter was divided up into 25 blocks, each about 35 ft, on which the vast majority were three-story Insulae. The Four at the cross corads were different. One was clearly a Forum on the south east. On the North East was a Basilica, within which were many administrative documents. On the South West was an Impressive town house (in fact there were about ten of these in the entire grid).
On the North West side was a desecrated temple. Inside was a beheaded statue of Mercury in front of a pool (which would be perfect for `enchantment of the Scrying Pool).
In the far north West of the North west block was an Amphitheatre occupying the equivalent of about 9 blocks.
They Investigated the Basilica and Temple.
In the Basilica they found documents in various rooms
In the Pay room the records would be equivalent to a Tractatus (Q7, Organization Lore:Roman Empire)
The Correspondance Office the varous letters would be equivalent to a Summa (L 3, Q10, Organization Lore: Cult of Mercury)
Possibly these could be used to locate other Mercurian Temples using time of flight data?
The Municipal Office contains information about the Aqueduct (seems to be taking water from outside the regio?) also various taxation records are equivalent to a Tractatus (Q7, Organization Lore: Roman Empire)
In the Library is a copy of the Annals of Mercury (Summa, Level 3 Q10 Organization Lore Cult of Mercury), and lots of documents on roman Law that together form a Summa on Roman Law (Level 7, Quality 7).
Also a few rituals….
They are all Mercurian and will take time to translate into Hermetic spells. A cursory investigation indicates that the translation uses the following mechanic:
For each season studying the text the Maga accumulates points equal to the excess of her lab total over the level of the text.
When these points equal twice the level of the text she has translated the ritual.
The translated version may be used by any maga to then learn the ritual. So to learn in two seaons it requires a Lab Total in excess of three times the level of the text.
All are hermetic, and must be invented exactly as written, by some experimentation my be performed at any stage. Maybe they can be used as insight to integrate Mercurian Magic?
The single highest magnitude ritual that you have previously translated provides a bonus to the next translation (not learning) of a Ritual equal to the magnitude of that Ritual.
The Rituals
Purification
CrCo 40 R:Touch,D:Momentary, T:Individual, ritual
Needs to be cast in a Consecrated temple of Mercury.
Cannot be cast on self
Reduces apparent age by 5, and decrements the decrepitude score by 1. Removes 5 aging points
The Scrying Pool
InIm 20 R:Arcane, D:Concentration/special, T:Individual, Ritual
Clearly the Ancestor of the Enchantment of the scrying Pool, this can only be cast on the pool at the temple, but interacts weirdly with Wizards Communion. Those who participated in a Wizard’s communion involving this spell can drop out and rejoin possibly extending the duration up to the end of those casters lives. New entrants cannot join.
Raising the Auxilliaries for the Day
CrME 35 R:Voice,D:Sun,T:Group, Ritual
This can only be cast from the Porch of a consecrated temple of Mercury. Gives up to 100 people +1 to attack and Defence and allows them to fight as trained groups. Does not stack with itself.
Penetrate the Regio Skin
Cr(Re)Vi 25 R: Touch, D:Momentary, T:Individual, Ritual
Crates a new entrance to a Magic Regio boundary up to one pace in diameter. Might not work on all magic regios, certainly doesn’t work on non magic regios. Needs a finesse roll to position.
Blessing of Mercury
CrVi 30 R:Touch, D:Year, T:Individual, Ritual
May only be cast in a Consecrated Temple of Mercury
Target gets +3 to all casting and Lab totals for a year. Does not stack with itself.
Transformation of Flesh to Spirit
CrVi(Co) 60 R:Touch, D:Momentary, T:Structure, Ritual
May only be cast in a Consecrated Temple of Mercury
At the climax of this ritual the caster (or lead caster only if communed) kills herself. If she is powerful enough then the aura increases by +1 to a maximum of +10
Two criteria are:
The (lead) caster must have no art score lower than twice the current aura level
The Penetration must exceed five times the current aura value
? Maybe this is what Trianoma did to increase the Aura at Durenmar?
Wizard’s Initiation:
CrVi(Co) 75 R: Touch, D:momentary, T:Individual, Ritual
May only be cast in a Consecrated Temple of Mercury
Gives the recipient the Gift.
Does not work. Notes indicate that this started failing in early first centuary AD. The priests theorized it was something to do with moving from the age of Ares to the age of Pisces?
Consecration of Mercury’s House:
CiVi 55 R:Touch, D:Momentary:T:Structure, Ritual
Opens a temple shell to Mercury. Crates a Level 1 Magic Aura (which may be swamped by larger Auras) and creates the property “consecrated to Mercury”. The alignment can be dispelled, but the Aura cannot. The structure must be to the same plan as the temple in Leptis Magna.
Commune with Mercury
InVi 20 R:Personal, D:Concentration, T:Individual, Ritual
May only be cast in a Consecrated Temple of Mercury
Communiactes with someone (maybe Mercury?) Does not need to penetrate apparently.
Wizard’s Communion
MuVi 5, MuVi 10 and MuVi 20 R:Voice, D:Momentary, T:Group.
Obviously precursors to the Hermetic Versions.
The Magi Decide to Leave the Originals here and inform House Mercere of the location. Then they spend three seasons making three copies. One for themselves, one For house Guernicus, and One for House Bonisagus.
They also encounter a very scared minotaur like person in the ruins of the Ampitheatre. Orlaith makes him very happy by turning one of her little cubes of tin back into water. He really misses a working aqueduct system..