Summer 1236: (Kath: Think we agreed this was Summer 1235)
Having procured the copies necessary, the Magi bid farewell to the cats, who are not keen to be thrown into the centres of Hermetic politics.
Their first step is Harco on the Coast near Genoa.
But first a digression. Orlaith remembers that one of the precautions that they took before entering the region was to cast doublet of impenetrable wool on everyone, but that it failed on Vincent. After much experimenting they discover that Vincent’s cloak grants him a measure of magic resistance. Vincent doesn’t remember where he picked it up…
They are greeted by two brusque and harassed women, first Maria who acts like a Major Domo, and then her Mother, Insatella the Prima. She does not feel qualified to assess the nature of their information, and therefore summons an expert. They are escorted to a private suite to await the expert while Insatella excuses herself.
The expert arrives and is Xavier, A gifted Mercere stationed at Durenmar. Gunther and he recognize each other and seem comfortable in each others presence.
Xavier is very excited to hear of the recent discoveries, and assures his Prima that these people are on the level. On hearing their intention to present the other copies to Magvillus and Durenmar Insatella offers them free use of the Mercere Portals for their purpose, as she bustles off.
At Magvillus, they are kept in an austere room whilst their application is processed. Eventually someone must have actually read their deposition as they are escorted with a lot more respect to a garden at the top of the fortress.
There they are greeted by a frail woman, the Archmage Bilera. She is very charming and thanks them for their dutiful behaviour towards the Order in bringing these scrolls to the three Domus Magnae.
Gunther asks if there has been any previous attempt to study the Galdramen of Iceland and their magics, but Bilera pleads ignorance on the matter.
With the nagging feeling that they have just escaped with their lives they take their leave.
In Durenmar, Xavier explains that they find the Covenant in Mourning, as they held the funeral of Caecilius the Queasitor of House Bonisagus a fortnight ago.
Gunther declares that nothing seems to have changed (Except the Fir tree seems to have moved a bit closer: Xavier assures him that it must just be his memory playing tricks on him)
There are taken to see Andrius the Librarian who is very dismissive of their contributions and barely looks at the scrolls. Xavier tries to speak up but changes his mind.
Trying to make up for this rudeness, he escorts the Magi to the House of Fehngeld, which is housing the Magi that came for the funeral and have not left yet. Vincent is asked to join the other mundanes in a separate chamber.
Vincent tries to do a little digging about Gunther and discovers that his master (Ricardus Caespus) was mind controlled by Gunther during Gunther’s apprenticeship. This was all hushed up but Ricardus is a bit of a recluse and slightly looked down on by the other Magi. The admit that he is useful for his skill with procuring Vis.
He Also runs into an old friend, Imanitos Mendax. They met a few years ago in Occulus Septentrionolis whilst Vincent was tracing the passengers of the boat flamed by Pan Caudrax. He asks Vincent if he ever discovered what happened to the Flambeau Magi, and Vincent regrets to say that they didn’t. Vincent doesn’t notice his Magic Resistance being penetrated in any way…
Imanitos then says that there is a maga that Vincent should meet.
Orlaith Pumilius and Gunther mingle with the Magi, and Orlaith eagerly explains to anyone who will listen the political situation in Iceland and the Magical Landscape. Since one of her interlocutors was Lavinia, Head Quaesitor of the Novgorod tribunal, Pumilius and Gunther work hard to split the two up. They are saved by the arrival of Imanitos and Vincent, and Orlaith is safely led away leaving Lavinia talking to Vincent. Vincent doesn’t notice his Magic Resistance being penetrated in any way…
Pumilius has a very nice chat with Gurdrun Tigurina, who is the resident Verditius. They agree that is Pumilius spends the next season helping her, then she will teach him Verditius Lore (SQ = 12) for a season. She is also versed in the mysteries of Items of Quality and Reforging.
Gunther has a nice chat with Occultes the ex-librarian who is on the Bonisagus side who believes that the theory can be enriched by studying outside the Order. Alas this movement is definitely not in the ascendant in the House…
Orlaith has a nice chat with a MuAu specialist, Tandaline, a Maga Trianoma who keeps flickering between human form and a mist.
The next day a perfunctory meeting is arranged with Murion, Prima of House Bonisagus who thanks them for their contributions.
Apart from Pumilius, they then leave viia the portal to Harco, and sail back to Iceland.
Pumilius arrives a season Later, and nothing much happens until the Spring Equinox of 1237 when a missive arrives asking them to attend the special Tribunal in Riga to discuss the Hermetic Crusade against the Odre of Odin known as the Galdramen. The Tribunal will be held in Spring 1239.