Of an ancient curse, and the misery that it may bring. When is misfortune earned and when is it granted? Of lichen-filled caves, cruel queens, nameless faeries, and Christian crusaders. Also, when gifts should not be accepted, and how to count to three.

Dramatis Personae

Gamemaster: Shannon Appel

Guest Author: Kevin Wong (Catorse's Official Log)

Albus' Dialogues
May 18, 1213
Evening

Tytalus taught that you can best defeat your enemies by knowing them. I have taken this to heart. Beginning this morning I commenced an intensive study of the Christian philosophy. My studies begin with their old and new testaments. Afterward I will move on the Prayers and Meditations of Saint Anselm. I suspect it will take nearly half a year but the studies should prove worthwhile in challenging her and her abbot.

Albus' Dialogues
May 20, 1213
Early Afternoon

A day of excitement. The three other members of our covenant have returned. Aubrin, Forticulus, Docilli. A council has been called for shortly more than an hour hence. We shall be properly introduced to each other for the first time.

Docilli I have met. He is also known as Raul. Docilli has been at the covenant for several months, but was wisked away with Aubrin and Forticulus for whatever task has engaged them for the last month. I am sure it will be discussed at council.

Docilli was introduced to me today, when he trudged up the stairs to my lab. He is a large man. Fat I suppose, though to say so to him would be impolite. Even climbing the stairs to my lab seemed a great task for him. He asked for a listing of my spells. I was cautious at first, unclear of his motives. He explained simply that he wished to know what spells the members of the covenant knew, so that apprentices might benefit from them. He is training an apprentice currently, one he borrowed from nearby Interritus as I understand it. I listed my spells for Docilli then offered to get the magi from the third floor so that he would not have to make the trip. He was quite grateful.

Albus' Dialogues
May 20, 1213
Early Evening

I was surprised by the location of the council chamber. I had previously assumed it was that feasting hall we ate in, overlooking the main hall. That hall is filled with trophies of all sorts, and would have been an appropriate venue. In truth there is a secret council chamber immediately below our feasting room. Hidden doors lead to it from the side and above. Compared to the trophies below the trophies above are nothing! There is even a dragon's head mounted on one wall.

Aubrin introduced himself to us at the council. He thanked us for our deeds this past week and expressed amazement at the way we had immediately rushed forth to defend the covenant. As if any other response would have been logical. Further he released us from the promise we made to offer him our sigils at tribunal. Realizing correctly that we will do so anyway, for the good of our new home.

For the last month Aubrin, Forticulus, and Docilli have been travelling in the south and west of Iberia. They were visiting covenants, offering promises of future aid in exchange for votes at next year's Tribunal. With the death of five of its members Prospectus Locus lost much more than five sigils. They lost the good will of many of those who had befriended the deceased. Aubrin is convinced that our position at the Tribunal will now be strong.

A number of issues were brought up at the council meeting. Few were of lasting relevence. Docilli seems particularly apt at bringing up issues for discussion. Such is the way of Bonisagus. I voted often. I found a balance with the Quaesitor that I had failed to discover last week, and so was not afraid to disagree with him. The only resolutions of particular note were that a magus may only have a single set of books out from the library at a time, and that it is suggested we magi act responsibly when entertaining mundanes.

Now that I have truly met all three of the elder magi I can form assessments of them.

Aubrin is the leader of the covenant in every sense of the word. It is clear that he alone has kept the covenant united since the tragedy last year. He is driven and determined. He puts the good of the covenant above all else. Contrasting, he only seems to do this for the good of the individual members. He praises personal liberties highly and several times stepped in to correct Docilli when the latter suggested infringing upon them. Aubrin is a good man.

Drake has been touched too deeply by the sadness of the past. He has not fallen to tears since that day we arrived. But still I see the emotions of sadness and vengeance alternatively passing over his face. He can not let it go. He can not move on. He is also a private individual. The fruit of Aubrin's attitude, no doubt. He frequently disappears from the covenant. Diving beneath the ocean, wandering in the woods, swimming upon the river. He may be gone for hours or days. Often he neglects the covenant for this reason. It is not done maliciously. When he sees a great need, or when he is reminded by others, he helps the covenant as best he can. But, it is not his core nature.

Forticulus is a true individual too. I can not speak as glowingly of his underlying nature, however. He is a violent protector of his privacy. As far as I can see he does this out of selfishness. But, on the other hand, he does his share of work for the covenant. He has been gone for a month acting as Aubrin's bodyguard. Now he is preparing to leave again. He plans a trip of his own to the more Flambeau-oriented covenants of the north, hoping to win their support at Tribunal. Forticulus is coarse and hot-headed, but he sees that a strong covenant and strong fellows strengthen him.

I delay speaking of the most important matter of the council. Before we went to votes Aubrin warned us of a potential danger at Prospectus Locus. He expressed a belief that the covenant is under a faerie curse and has been for twenty years now. He claims that it is the heart of much of the misfortune the covenant has known. It is related to a faerie queen and an insult made by a member named Iuxta long ago.

The Flambeau and Tytalus of the past have ignored Aubrin's warnings. Aubrin suggested we not do so, lest new tragedy occur. He and Viator will spend the next three months magically investigating the covenant, trying to prove once and for all the continued existence of this curse. A new council meeting will then be called then to take decisive action.

Needless to say no covenant members elected to leave for fear of this curse. If it exists it is a challenge that will be defeated.

The Council Records
as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal
May 20, 1213

In attendence: all the magi of Prospectus Locus, being Albus, Aubrin, Catorse, Docilli, Drake, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Incendium, Lorum, Risus, and Viator; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal.

Quorum was achieved and Aubrin called the meeting to order as elder.

Points of Information:

* AUBRIN welcomed the new magi to the covenant, thanked them for the help given freely to the covenant in the last week, and released them from their promise to lend sigils for the upcoming Tribunal.

* AUBRIN apologized for the lack of sufficient labs and affirmed that money had been allocated for construction of a new lab on the burnt-out site east of the library. Completion of a single lab was initially expected in two seasons. The final building wil be three stories tall and house three additional labs, but completion of the entire structure is not expected for several years.

* AUBRIN explained the recent travels of himself, Docilli, and Forticulus to covenants in the south and west of Iberia, and expressed that the journey had been successful and that the covenant's place in the upcoming Tribunal was assured.

* AUBRIN warned the new-comers of the faerie curse that he contends has hung over the covenant for two decades. Aubrin and Viator will study it over the next season.

* VIATOR asked for clarification of the status of Bercula. He was told that many people there know of the magi, and they should be treated as our trusted peasants.

* VIATOR questioned the covenant maintaing old, senile, and useless grogs. He was told that the covenant feels strong loyalty to its loyal covenfolk.

* DOCILLI suggested that magi try and act responsibly during parties where we entertain our merchant contacts. He also expressed concern over a breakdown of security at the last party, which the seneschal shall investigate.

Points of Debate:

* VIATOR brought up the issue of Centerin's ferret, which inhabits his lab. He has been assigned official protectorship of it, at his request.

* DOCILLI raised the issue that we have no grog captain currently. Rodrigo has been named the new grog captain despite debate over his age.

* DOCILLI suggested that the librarian be given funds for purchase of books. She has been allocated 12 pounds of silver. This will delay the construction of the new labs by an additional season. The first lab is thus expected done in three season's time.

* DOCILLI raised the question of how much vis was worth. Catorse suggested 6 pounds of silver, and this was deemed appropriate by the council. Nonetheless no vis may be purchased or sold without the approval of the seneschal or the council.

* DOCILLI raised the librarian's concerns over books recently missing from the library. It has been decreed that magi may only remove one set of books from the library at a time.

* DOCILLI suggested that each magus be required to spend a season scribing spells into the library over the next few years. Aubrin raised concerns over this demand and it was voted down, though Aubrin suggested as elder of the covenant that it would be a good idea to improve the library.

* LORUM suggested carrots be grown in the garden for his pet rabbit. It was approved but Lorum has been instructed to discuss such issues with the seneschal in the future rather than bringing them to council.

With all points of information and debate completed the council was concluded.

Aubrin's Memoirs
September 22, 1192

Tragedy is being betrayed by those you love. Yesterday I was betrayed by fay and friend alike, and, alas, it was not I who paid the price.

falling rocks tumble
to the fay's staccato beat
Iuxta rests above

Yesterday we marched on the Christians. They were eight of us: myself, Calefacto, Isabel, Taratus, Addictus, Drake, Ignisa, and Iuxta--the entire covenant. It was to be another sortie, one of countless such battles. We had marched down the road to Valencia, then diverged into the hills near the Guadalaviar, as we have a dozen other times. As night fell we found a cave in the rising hills, overlooking a hidden valley, and we decided to camp there for the night.

We were awoken in the night, but it was as if we were still in a dream. We dressed slowly, as if entranced, and then began to wander back into the cave. None of us had realized how deep it went, but we stumbled through the darkness for long minutes.

We passed two side passages, and then came to a third, into which we turned. I began to feel an ever-growing warmth, and then the air started to sparkle before my eyes. I gasped, for it was a fay regio, and I alone could see it. We were all fully awake by this time, but the unknown beckoned. I was somewhat hesitant, but Drake drove me on. He has always sought the unknown, daring all. I grasped my brother's hand, he took Isabel's, and soon we eight had formed a human chain. We passed the first barrier, and stepped into the regio.

The cave seemed the same at first, but then I realized the bitter bite of fall had become the growing warmth of spring. We moved forward, but I cautioned care. Often the fay enjoy tests, grouping them into threes, and we had passed but the first.

It was short moments later, as we edged our way deeper into the caves, that a great fire drake reared up before us. We could feel the warmth become the heat of a blast furnace and we could smell the brimstone stench of the creature's breath. I smiled, for this test was a poor one for my kind. Seeing through the glamour with my fay eyes, I waved it away. The second barrier was passed.

And then, quite suddenly, we emerged into a great feasting hall. It was full of revelry, of dancing fay. They scarcely gave us notice, so entranced where they with their own joy. It was a dim and gloomy place, with lichen and molds covering the walls, but still it was full of life. A great table sat at the front of the room, grown of stone from the very ground of the caves, and at it sat three nobles, the May Queen, the Moss Man, and the Seed Seer. Eight seats sat empty.

bright unblemished shell
inside filled with slime and dirt
the Queen of the May

They motioned us to sit, and we did, for previously all of our meetings with fay have gone well. Bells of warning sounded in my head, but my hearing was still dulled by the numbness of the night. Then all thoughts were dashed away by Iuxta's quavery questions, as she begun to wonder where Blackie had gone.

No one had seen her pet mongoose since we had bedded down for the night, so it seemed likely that he was still at camp. I tried to reassure Iuxta, saying that Blackie was more intelligent than half our grogs, a true statement. She was still anxious, but just then a young-looking fay with the eyes and ears of a cow was bringing forth great silver platters, and Iuxta realized it would be very impolite to leave.

"We welcome you and invite you to partake of our hospitality," said the May Queen, and just then the first silver platter was placed in front of Iuxta. The Cow Boy removed the lid with a flourish, revealing to all a finely roasted mongoose, its dark black fur still smouldering from the heat.

three tests of the fay
if you see two look again
the third is the worse

The dancing stopped, the fay pointed and laughed, and the May Queen simply smiled, a predatory grin. I saw murder in Iuxta's eyes and I knew what her next action would be. Maybe I froze, maybe I shouted, "stop," I am no longer sure. In any case it was not enough, for Iuxta reached to her side and pulled her iron blade full from its sheath.

"You'll die slowly, you cruel bitch," she snarled.

I do not know which was worse, the drawing of iron or the cursing of the noble lady, but all the laughter in the May Queen's house stopped. The dancers backed away, the Seed Seer was no longer there, the Moss Man faded back into his chair, and suddenly the May Queen filled the entire room.

"Never have I taken such insult in mine own house," she said. "I will be avenged. Let a curse fall unto you, such that you shall never know the shine of Lady Fate's good light, such that you shall know only misfortune until the end of your life, such that everything you love shall be cursed by the same fate, until it is all fallen or dead. So I say, so shall it be. So I say, so shall it be. So I Say, So Shall It Be."

Then the rage slowly went out of the May Queen's eyes, and she looked about the room, at Iuxta, sword still in hand, and she smiled once more. "You are no longer welcome in these halls," she said, and then with a negligent gesture she knocked us out of the regio.

I stood for a moment, stunned at the fay's betrayal of us, stunned at Iuxta's betrayal of the fay. "It was the third barrier," I said, quietly, and it had been.

There are but two epilogues to the tale, joy and sorrow.

When we returned to our camp we found Blackie curled up in Iuxta's blankets, unhurt.

But then, this morning, came the sorrow. It was just an hour after we had broken camp, and our path had converged on a ravine over the Guadalaviar. Iuxta was making some bet with Addictus about who would kill the most Christians, and then suddenly she was gone. The ground had given way beneath her, and she was falling into the ravine. Her head bounced against the hard rock wall, and it was obvious she would cast no spells to save herself. Drake let out a yell and dove in after her, Taratus tried to halt her Corpus with magic, and I tried to conjure up winds, but none of it was sufficient. Our magics were weak in the saving of peoples, and even those weak magics were largely blunted by Iuxta's Parma. Iuxta's body disappeared from view.

the fay's misfortune
damning she and what she loves
a powerful curse

It tooks us hours to recover Iuxta's body, hard work fighting the elements. Blackie is inconsolable, and my fellows are no better. They try and claim it was a simple misfortune, and my warnings of the curse being genuine fall on deaf ears. They do not know the fay as I do, but still they do not listen. I hope I am wrong, that the May Queen's wrath died with Iuxta, but I fear the worst.

Albus' Dialogues
August 16, 1213
Early Evening

My second council meeting at Prospectus Locus has passed. Aubrin announced that he had definitively detected the faerie curse through his investigations, and Viator affirmed that fact.

The faerie that cursed us is named the May Queen. She dwells in a regio approximately 75 miles southwest of here. Its entrance is in a cave, nestled in the hills which rise up to Iberia's central plateau. The May Queen controls the seasons of spring and summer. Her regio appears on September 21 and remains for half a year. During that time the surrounding lands do not know winter's calming touch.

Aubrin and Drake are banned from the Queen's regio. Thus Aubrin asked for volunteers to go and beg resolution to this ancient conflict. Near all of the accursed are dead so it seems likely that a resolution can be reached. Catorse has volunteered to lead the party, and Viator and Lorum will accompany him. I myself am reluctant because of the nature of the Queen's summery powers.

Many other issues were brought up at council, most of little consequence. Fabricarious and Viator are planning to fly out to the Levant to try and find a good Arabic tiler; the covenant's last tiler was killed last year. Docilli brought up a number of other issues, none of paarticular import. Forticulus is still gone, visiting the covenants of the northwest.

Now I must return to my own studies and Saint Anselm.

Official Log on Prospectus Locus' Mission to the May Queen's Court
As kept by the Magus Catorse of House Guernicus
August 16 - The Year of Our Lord 1213

Our mission, as explained by our covenant leader, the Magus Aubrin of House Merinita, is to visit the May Queen. Aubrin suspects that our covenant has been under a fay curse since a previous Prospectus Locus magus insulted her some twenty years ago. He has spent the last three months researching to ascertain that it really is a curse that has plagued our covenant. Aubrin is certain the May Queen is responsible and he asked for volunteers to mount an expedition to reason with her and end the curse.

Lorum immediately volunteered. He being a Merinita I expected as much. Viator also volunteered when Fabricarious learned we would not be taking any iron with us and so declined to go. Docilli decided that the travel would be too far for his rotund self. Albus and Risus were strangely silent. Aubrin explained that the elder mages had been banned from this particular faerie realm. I finally felt I had to volunteer even though I feared for my very soul, for I felt two mages would not be enough.

The May Queen's realm lies some four days travel from our covenant. In a hidden valley there is a cave which leads to the entrance to her realm. The entrance appears on the Autumnal Equinox and stays open for six months. Aubrin suggested we enter her realm and visit the May Queen soon after the Equinox since her powers would be weaker then. I took it upon myself to pick out the grogs and lead the mission.

Albus' Dialogues
September 14, 1213
Morning

My pater always said, "respect your limitations, for your limitations will not respect you." He spoke of true limitations of course. And, he did not speak against challenging them, for that is the only way one betters oneself. Still, one must understand limitations and show some prudence with regard to them, lest he be destroyed. Many Tytalus do not agree with the need for careful judgement. The mortality rate of my house is high.

Catorse, Lorum, and a number of grogs left today for the valley where the May Queen dwells. I have opted to remain behind. My magic is weak in spring and summer, and I am sure the same will be true of the second spring and summer that the May Queen creates in these wintry months. My time is better spent preparing myself for battle against the church.

Official Log on Prospectus Locus' Mission to the May Queen's Court
As kept by the Magus Catorse of House Guernicus
September 14 - The Year of Our Lord 1213

Our current expedition will consist of the following:

Other than the volunteers, I only choose unmarried grogs. My apprehensions about the mission colored my choices so I picked grogs who would not leave wives and children should the mission turn disastrous. Federico was chosen for his greater experience over Rodrigo, the grog leader. Torp is emminently useful in a variety of situations. Pedro and Stefan are the only grogs in our covenant with extensive knowledge in the use of Quarterstaves. No iron will be taken so as not to offend the faeries.

We will leave today and arrive at the cave on the 18th. That will give us a few days extra in case we are delayed. Viator should be returning from the Levant, where he went to look for a master tiler. He should be able to join us in the hidden valley before the Equinox.

A trade mission from our covenant will travel with us as far as the hidden valley. They will continue on to Valencia to sell their goods. The morning is clear and surprisingly cool. I noticed last night that the moon is nearing fullness and should be full in a few days.

Other Covenant Records
as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal
May 20, 1213

Fabricarious and Viator have returned from the Levant. Yazid, an Arabic tiler, has been added to the covenant rolls. An additional list of purchased goods has been itemized seperately.

Official Log on Prospectus Locus' Mission to the May Queen's Court
As kept by the Magus Catorse of House Guernicus
September 21 - The Year of Our Lord 1213

We reached the valley three days ago, where we bade farewell to the covenant traders. Our troupe continued into the valley and headed for the cave. It was Torp who noticed the small village in the valley. I had Federico send Torp out to scout the village whilst we hid ourselves a couple hours away and set camp.

Torp confirmed that the village is not recent, although not more than a few years old. There are over a dozen families led by an aged knight. From Torp's report we surmised that they were mining in the faerie cave, and had been for years. I had Torp and Juan reconnoiter some more while we waited for Viator.

They reported that there were no guards posted at night and that the miners were mining silver. With this news I felt much relieved. I was confident that we could easily sneak into the cave at night and enter the faerie realm. The less contact with mundanes the better.

Viator arrived the next day. Torp also returned and said that a large wagon with guards had shown up in the village. Undoubtedly they were there to resupply the village and cart off any silver. Torp also noted that there were now two guards posted at night, guarding the path into the village.

I quickly vetoed the idea of taking the silver shipment from the wagon, as we only had wooden weapons and there were some nine guards with the wagon. I also did not want to precipitate a conflict without the consent of the elder magi.

After some discussion we concluded that our large troupe would not be able to sneak into the cave undetected. Viator suggested that I sneak up to the guards and put them to sleep with my "Call to Slumber" spell. I agreed and we waited for the Equinox.

The night of the Equinox went perfectly. I was able to put the guards to sleep and we now approach the cave. Soon we will enter the faerie regio.

Official Log on Prospectus Locus' Mission to the May Queen's Court
As kept by the Magus Catorse of House Guernicus
September 22 - The Year of Our Lord 1213

Upon entering the faerie realm we encountered a large Ogre blocking our way. By this time I had relenquished command to Lorum, who had the most experience in the way of the faeries. The Ogre stopped us and asked who would be the Queen's Fool? Viator and I looked at each other as Lorum confidently replied that he would fill that role. The Ogre smiled at that and let us continue.

Next we came upon a corridor where the walls were covered with some sort of vegetation. Foolishly, one of the grogs picked a mushroom and ate it before Lorum could warn him. The grog started raving about wanting to return to the valley. As we argued with him other grogs and Alacina said that we should return. At this point I silently put the four recalcitrant grogs to sleep and had Stefan hold Alacina.

I was drained and knew I couldn't cast again without passing out. I was certain that we just had to get past this corridor but there were too many sleeping grogs. With Viator's magic, we floated three of the sleeping grogs and easily conveyed them all past the corridor.

After a short walk we came upon a large room with many faeries frolicking about. The May Queen greeted us and asked us to join her for a late supper, to which we readily accepted. The fare was composed of only fruits and vegetables, prepared quite well I thought.

Dining with us were the May Queen and her king, the Moss Man. Also present were the Seed Seer, who is a prophet, and the Cow Boy. I later found out that the Queen has forbidden her subjects from assuming proper names, but the Cow Boy disobeys her; he told us that his name is Dervin.

The May Queen inquired as to why we had traveled to her domain. Viator explained that she had cursed one of our covenant members twenty years ago and that the curse still affected our covenant. After some more questions, the Queen said that she remembered the mage who had insulted her, but that it was so long ago that she had nearly forgotten.

For the gift of lifting the curse, the May Queen asked for a gift in return. A band of Visigoths had died and their souls had ended up in her realm. The Visigoths were violent and disrupted her kingdom with their wild ways; she asked us to get them out of her realm in return for lifting her curse.

Idly the May Queen also mentioned that the proximity of the human village outside the entrance to her realm disturbed her. Also, the humans had situated an anvil such that it blocked her only trod to a nearby faerie realm.

Our troupe discussed strategy. We couldn't kill the Visigoths as they would just return the next day. Alacina suggested we baptize them since as Christians their souls would go to heaven or purgatory. A bright suggestion for one so young; unfortunately, none of us knew anything about the baptism ceremony. We finally decided to have the Visigoths travel to another faerie realm. To do this we needed to unblock the trod from this realm which meant moving the anvil.

We spoke with the May Queen one last time, to offer another trade. We asked her to lift the ban on Aubrin so that he could reenter her realm. She agreed, as he had only been guilty by association to the cursed magus. In return we agreed to rid the hidden valley of the human village.

We are now preparing to exit the faerie realm and deal with the miners. I do not anticipate any problems and I am looking forward to returning to our covenant.

Official Log on Prospectus Locus' Mission to the May Queen's Court
As kept by the Magus Catorse of House Guernicus
September 28 - The Year of Our Lord 1213

The rest of the mission was rather simple. We left the May Queen's realm and easily took the miner's anvil during the night. Viator and Lorum returned to lead the Visigoths out of the May Queen's realm and to "Valhalla". I led the rest of the troupe back to the covenant with the anvil. Viator and Lorum tried to scare the miners away but the knight, Sir Obano, rallied the miners and so our mages had to leave.

With our primary mission accomplished we can rest again and not have to worry about a faerie curse. Viator said that Aubrin will return to deal with the miners since our agreement with the May Queen pertains directly to him.

As a side note, when Viator returned he gave me a bit of muddy hair that one of the faeries gave to him to give to me. With a little investigation I have determined that the hair is actually mine. I inquired to Viator, who said that Desicato had given the hair to the Seed Seer who gave it to him. A warning perhaps, or a promise? I hope never to find out.

Aubrin's Memoirs
September 28, 1213

My new fellows have returned home, triumphant once more, and they bring back even greater victory than I could have asked. Catorse's report was most unexpected and thorough, another bright spot in our covenant's new day. Not only is the old curse gone, but Drake and I will be welcomed back into the May Queen's Regio if we but rid her valley of Christians. Drake will care little, but this prospect is an exciting one for myself. Viator and I have spoken and we will return to the May Queen's valley on October 16, so that his promise of return shall be kept.

Also of interest was a prophecy that was brought back, a seeing from the May Queen's Seed Seer. It read thus:

all ever turning
fay trods are spokes of a wheel
but where is the hub

Queer and quite fay, it is said to have some relevence to our future.

Go to Log #3