Of a certain diabolic haunting and the sickness that besets the Lord Zelipe's daughter. How the rank of nobility is not a shield against life. Or death. Also, long council meetings, Tytalus troublemakers, and the mysteries of blue milk.

Dramatis Personae

Gamemaster: Bill Filios

Guest Authors: Bill Filios (Letter from Furfures)
Kevin Wong (Personal Diary of Catorse)

Note Found on "The Chair of Mixed Fortunes",
a Chair of Bones Left Before Prospectus Locus' Gates
September 29, 1213

Lorum:

In return for the services you will render as the Queen's fool.

Aubrin's Memoirs
October 17, 1213

Yesterday, as promised, Viator and I returned to the valley of the May Queen, to drive the mundanes from her valley. Already much of the tedious task had been accomplished, for by their work nearly a month ago Viator and Lorum had caused more than half the villagers to flee. Viator and I merely needed to rid ourselves of the last hardy inhabitants, a simple task. He asked that we not kill any of the mundanes, and I was happy to agree, for one should never expend more energy than is necessary.

Our attack began when Viator lifted the crusaders, Sir Obano, up into the sky, while I used a variety of magics to terrify Obano's followers.

earthen hands and flames
raining terror down on mundanes
it is Flambeau's way

Afterward we were welcomed back into the May Queen's regio, as was promised. We spent the night fervently feasting and enjoying a variety of fay antics, knife juggling prime among them. It was delightful, and I felt quite restored.

When we returned to Prospectus Locus this morning Docilli queried if we could acquire the silver mine for our own, but it is too far from our own lands and we could never hold it through any true test of legal scrutiny. The best we can do is keep the entire valley free of human habitation, for which the May Queen will be as grateful as fay ever are.

Albus' Dialogues
October 17, 1213
Late Evening

My studies of theology continue. However, today I took a break to visit Abbot Castello in his monastery. It was a cool day. The promise of the coming winter was strong. I felt invigorated.

For months I have been studying ecclesiastical documents to better understand my opponent. Castello, it seems, has likewise been making a studying of the Order of Hermes. A black leather-bound book on the subject lay atop one of his tables when I visited.

We spoke for hours. We discussed whether the Will of Constantine applied to the Order of Hermes. He is a good debater but I have learned my material well. Neither of us was victor in the debate.

I left the Abbot today feeling very good. My studies have proven worthwhile. Anselm was growing weary. Now I feel I can complete my reading.

Personal Diary of Catorse, House Guernicus
October 31 - The Year of Our Lord 1213

Another pointless covenant meeting. Docilli brought up some more inane motions, the most counterproductive being the notion of assigned seatings, which unfortunately passed. I swear by God that there's too much Tremere influence in his lineage. We settled on seating by age and to my horror I find that I'm now fourth on the seating chart.

On a slightly different note, Fabricarius fawns too much over Docilli and me. He keeps spouting about how everyone else should respect the Bonisagus and the Quaesitor and that we should be treated preferentially! What tree did he fall out of? If we're so great he should change Houses and see how corrupt our two Houses have become.

On a positive note, Albus seems to have gotten over having a Quaesitor in the covenant. He seems more sure of himself and doesn't hold back as much as he did a few months previously. He's still too concerned about the diabolic lineage that he fears he may have inherited. I fear that our House, in our zealousness to stamp out all diabolism in the Order, has caused as much harm as good to untainted mages such as him.

But what do I know? I'm only a young mage who was given the opportunity to see much of the Order without the prejudices that infect older mages. I've seen that our House conducts itself with the arrogance of the righteous. We are treated deferentially because of fear rather than respect. What has our House become? Are we more a danger to the Order than the few diabolists and heretics among us? Perhaps I should turn myself in for "thinking detrimental to the good welfare of the Order of Hermes."

My only real worry is: who's the other Quaesitor in the covenant? The Domus Magus would not entrust such a sensitive mission to one mage alone, especially a newly ordained Quaesitor; and although the other new mages are ostensably younger than me, one of them is lying...

The Council Records
as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal
October 31, 1213

In attendence: Albus, Aubrin, Catorse, Docilli, Drake, Fabricarious, Incendium, Lorum, Risus, and Viator; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal.

Absent: Forticulus, currently visiting the covenants of northwestern Iberia.

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

Points of Information:

* AUBRIN explained that this evening was the night that vis must be collected from the ruins of the Moorish wizard's house, up the Ebro from us. He gathered six volunteers to go with him and learn the proper rituals. They are Albus, Catorse, Fabriacious, Incendium, Risus, and Viator.

* DOCILLI requested that if anyone scribe spells in the library, they write either Creo or Corporem, as his current apprentice has a natural aptitude with those arts.

* LUCINDIA reported that the building of the new labs was going slow due to the nearby abbey competing with us for resources. The expected completion date of Catorse's lab is now August, 1214.

* DOCILLI forwarded a request from the librarian. She wishes magi to report to her any known plans they have for book use in future seasons, so that she may better allocate resources. Docilli has already reported his plans for the next 15 years to the librarian.

Points of Debate:

* DOCILLI called for a standardization of council seating by status. This measure was passed, and it was further determined that status would be determined by age. Order of seating is now: Aubrin, Drake, Forticulus, Catorse, Indendium, Docilli, Lorum, Albus, Viator, Fabricarious, Risus. The head of the council table is where the magus with greatest status sits, with magi of lesser status sitting below him, alternating dexter and sinister.

- AUBRIN wishes it noted in the Council Records that he now plans to call for Council votes in order of inverse status, in response to a complaint raised by Docilli. This is a point of information, and was not a point of debate, for the charter of Prospectus Locus states that calling of votes shall be determined by the Elder.

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

Aubrin's Memoirs
November 1, 1213

A exhausting evening, as gathering Flambeau's vis ever is, but we were successful, as expected. One event was distressing, and I hope it does not bear ill omens for the future.

When we arrived at the old, ruined cottage I noticed at once that something was wrong, for I spotted several holes dug into the dirt surrounding the cottage. There were five in all, and it was Albus who noted two important facts, first that the five holes outlined a perfect pentagram, second that they formed lines along several natural axes, for example one ran north-south and another paralleled a certain hedge.

Upon hearing of the possibility of diabolic interference, Viator withdrew from the cottage at once, a prudent precaution. Albus, Risus, and Catorse were all interested in this occult phenomenon, and endeavored to investigate it. Risus cast several Intellego Vim spells, but they were of no particular help. We finally filled in the holes, obliterated the partial pentagram, and proceeded with our ritual.

the old night is gone
the rhythm of Earth is change
it is a new day

As the fire burned down we collected our vis and headed home, and the sun rose before us as we walked.

Other Covenant Records
as recorded by Lucindia the Senschal
November 1, 1213

At Aubrin's request Torp and Slim have been dispatched to the Moorish ruins eight miles away where we yearly collect vis. They have been instructed to watch over the ruins for possible diabolic activity. They will report back in three days time.

Albus' Dialogues
November 3, 1213
Late Evening

I am half-score miles from the covenant as I write this entry tonight. I can not say the interruption is unwelcome. In these chill months the siren call of adventure is always difficult to resist.

We were all summoned to the feasting hall around noon today. A messenger had come from Baron Zelipe bearing ill tidings. His daughter had been beset by fits of trembling in recent months. He was seeking a cure.

Aubrin sought volunteers. Viator was the first to offer his hand. No surprise there. Catorse volunteered next, wondering if diabolism might be involved. Mantiun is but a few miles from the cottage we visited three nights ago. After Catorse spoke of demons, Risus and I were forced to offer our help as well. It should not be a waste though. We can repair our reputation with the Baron after our rather poor showing this summer, when we almost allowed a murderer to escape. Fabricarious and Incendium offered to come as well. They were spoiling for a fight.

The grog Juan Moralez is a skilled healer. He has been training in the Moorish art of Medicine. With Docilli's permission he accompanied us. It seems obvious to us all that Juan's skill is the only one truly needed. We magi are superfluous in this matter.

We arrived in Mantiun late today. We are staying at The Flying Seagull. I can still picture in my mind's eye the carnage I saw at this same inn. The two monks, their life entirely bled from them. Killed by a fellow, perhaps a friend. Fortunately we were not assigned to the room where those murders occurred. We will go to see the Baron in the morning. And, perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps it is Juan that will be superfluous; perhaps there are truly demons involved. I can but hope. Slaying a demon may redeem myself in the Quaesitor's eyes.

Albus' Dialogues
November 4, 1213
Late Evening

Labwork is a sterile thing. The studying of books even more so. I subject myself to them only because Tytalus states, "Understand, you must better yourself to better understand yourself." Still it is very good to be out again. To feel the raw emotion of fear and the joy of pending confrontation. My cyclic power gives me the excuse I need. The year wanes, my power waxes, and I must be out!

I think we have solved the mysteries here in Mantiun. Which is to say that we have discovered there are none. Perhaps Risus and I may go out and reacquaint ourself with the flora and fauna now.

Most of our grogs were made to stay outside when we arrived at Lord Zelipe's manor. We six magi and Juan were allowed in. Then we were forced to wait, for another healer was already with young Zilia. As we stood about we talked with two others who had come and were likewise waiting. First we conversed with Abenimer, a young moorish doctor. Juan affirmed Abenimer's knowledge, though he stated it was less than his own, and afterward Viator tried to hire him. Abenimer will stop by our covenant later, and we shall see. We also spoke with Berenjenn. She is an old hedge witch who seems to have the gift.

After a time the Baron, his wife, and a priest appeared. The priest's name is Father Jorge. We later learned that he is an exorcist of some renown.

Then, it was our turn to speak with the Baron's daughter. Risus, Juan, and I went in to see Zilia.

Risus and I sought for evidence of diabolic activities. Juan sought for misalignments of the humours. We were both disappointed. Zilia seemed happy and healthy, though later we learned she had experienced a seizure while speaking with the Father. We left her sick room with little more evidence than we had entered it with.

Once done we talked with the other healers once more. Father Jorge wooed me with his tales of demonic possession. But then Abenimer insinuated himself into the conversation and said that it was only the "shaking disease." He planned to seek a moss which could be taken in order to stave off the disease's effects. Both Juan and the witch agreed with Abenimer's assessment. I must say I was disappointed. I was hoping to challenge a demon.

Just then we were interrupted by a farmer coming to offer grievances to his lord. He complained of how his magic cow had been killed and its tail chopped off. Our curiosity was at once piqued, for it sounded very much like the results of a gathering of vis. When we heard that the cow had given blue milk on occasion, we were sure of it.

So the group of us scattered across Mantiun. Juan and I decided to accompany Abenimer when he gathered moss. Juan wished to know where the moss could be found. I simply wanted to learn how to hunt for herbs, for I knew I was deficient in that skill. Viator and Incendium went to look into the bovinicide. They took Maurice with them. Risus stayed behind to look for demons. At my suggestion Fabricarious stayed behind to watch over Father Jorge. We did not want any rogue exorcisms to be conducted while we were away. Especially not since we had heard that many of Jorge's patients ended up dead.

The gathering of herbs was only spoiled once, when Abenimer accidently disturbed a bear. Juan stoutly faced the beast while I snatched away its breath, causing it to flee in panic. I had not previously considered how effective such a spell would be on stupid animals. I will have to remember to turn to it first for such conflicts in the future.

After the battle Juan surprised me. He asked me to lie about the fight, to say that we had watched the bear run by rather than fighting it. I was pleased to learn that he only wished to encourage prudence in the other grogs. He feared that if we mentioned we had faced down a bear, other grogs might be encouraged to careless and ill-considered acts. Like our own act, I suppose. We should have let the bear run by. Abenimer could easilly have outrun it. In any case I agreed to Juan's proposal. Like he, I feel that prudence is a very important thing. How many additional members might Prospectus Locus have if prudence had been taught there?

Afterward we finished gathering the moss. I even managed to find some myself.

We returned to Mantiun to find that Viator and Incendium had nearly resolved the issue of the dead cow. They had collected Torp from the nearby ruins where he was stationed and done a bit of tracking. They were able to point out the culprits to me, a magus and his grog, who had just arrived to look into Zilia's illness. The magus' name was Furfures. He is of my own house. Tytalus.

I approached Furfures and explained that Prospectus Locus lay but twelve miles from Mantiun. By Hermetic law we control vis to a twenty mile radius and he had violated that. I calmly asked that he return the vis he had taken. He complied.

I think my sodales were surprised by how I handled the problem. I do not know what they expected. Fisticuffs, spells, certamen perhaps. None were necessary. A conflict may be approached in a number of ways. The optimal method should always be used. In this case I only needed reason and law, for the might of the entire code of Hermes lay behind me.

Furfures seems a good enough fellow. Apparently he dislikes Flambeaus and thus goes around making trouble for them. I will agree that Flambeau are often coarse, but causing them trouble seems a waste of effort. They are happy enough to seek it on their own. However, I should not judge how Furfures spends his leisure time.

I warned Furfures to stay away from Incendium, but suggested he go visit Interritus. I hear it is half full of Flambeau and know it is a threat to Prospectus Locus. May he have success there.

The baron invited us to dinner this evening. He asked all the healers who had come. It was a very good meal. Zilia attended the event, and once more she seemed quite healthy. We talked about her situation some and she listened with clear attention.

Father Jorge wanted to drill a hole in the back of his skull, then pour salt in. It was obvious at once why so many of his patients died. Both Fabricarious and I argued strenuously against this. Fabricarious argued very eloquently, and he seems to have convinced Zelipe to wait on the exorcism until after Abenimer had tried out his moss.

Following dinner we adjourned to a nice sitting room. We talked while the moor prepared his medicine. As we were sitting there young Zilia suddenly went into a fit of convulsions. It was a sad thing to see, one so young being so afflicted by something she could not control. What good is conflict if the winner is predestined? Almost everyone leapt to the girl's aid when she fell to the ground, thrashing.

Afterward Zilia was very embarassed, and she tried to apologize. Then Risus impressed me. He began to talk about the enigma and he did so with such eloquence that all attention was taken away from Zila. The girl was very relieved.

There is little more to say this evening. A half-hour later Abenimer was able to administer his medicine to Zilia. I am fairly confident it will control her symptoms. We will all stay a few more days, just to be sure. I plan to help Abenimer and Juan gather more moss. They will need much of it, for Zilia will have to keep taking this medicine for the rest of her life.

Albus' Dialogues
November 6, 1213
Late Afternoon

I am back at home. Our little excursion is complete and as far as we can tell Zilia is cured. The moss seems to have done its job, and she has now gone several days without experiencing a convulsion. Before she had been having one or two seizures a day.

On our way back home, Fabricarious and I stopped to speak with Abbot Castello. We mentioned to him that we were concerned about the exorcist, Father Jorge. By trying to exorcise people who are simply sick he is causing innocent deaths. The Abbot promised to draft a letter concerning it.

The Abbot and I also spent a few more minutes rehashing our debate about the Will of Constantine and the Order. In truth we can not proceed further without finding documents showing the relationship between the old Mercurian Order and the Roman Empire. We will have to find a new topic to debate when next we speak.

Albus' Dialogues
November 6, 1213
Early Evening

Two quick addendums to the recent events in Mantiun.

First: Docilli was very upset over Furfures' actions. He is sure that Furfures deliberately tried to steal from us and wants additional punitive actions taken. Docilli is probably correct in his belief. However, we must pick our fights. By insisting on legal action we would likely win a few pawns of vis but lose an ally who may be more valuable. Much to my surprise the Quaesitor declined to report the incident. Perhaps I have misjudged Catorse.

Second: Risus reports that Furfures quietly cast a Creo Mentem spell while Zilia's last seizure was occuring, three days ago. I am inclined to believe he was trying to ease the effects of that attack. But, I note it here, for we must always be cautious of every possibility.

Aubrin's Memoirs
November 7, 1213

This morning I received a demand that I swear fealty to the new king of Aragon-Catalonia before the year's end, not entirely unexpectedly for it has been many months since Pedro II died in Provencal, and I have heard that young Jaime faces a bitterly divided court.

the kings rise and fall
no mortal is immortal
only fay endure

I have begun my preparations, even hauling out the old, outdated outfit of Lord Alberto. There are other things that must be dealt with first, but before the end of the year I shall go see our young king. He shall be the third I have sworn fealty to, first Alfonso II, then Pedro II, now Jaime I. I can not believe he will live long, with his court so sundered, and I wonder how many more oaths of fealty there shall be before I am finally called to Arcadia.

Letter from Furfures of Tytalus
Received at Prospectus Locus on December 13, 1213

My dear Sodalis Albus,

I must whole-heartedly thank you for directing me to the covenant of Interritus. The place is great fun, full of stuffy Flambeau, most of whom seem quite friendly toward me after hearing my tales of my visit to Prospectus Locus. Yet a few members I've still been able to prod into a proper Flambeau temper. I've already won myself two seasons of service from them.

I am sorry for all my little tricks. I'm sure most of them you've learned of by now, and after all little harm was done. In truth I was not at Prospectus Locus by choice. I was sent there to give you grief by one Intentio of Flambeau. It seems he makes up for his lack of social skills with certamen. My debt to him now paid, I hope you bear no hard feelings. He apparently has something against your covenant.

I am most hopeful I might be welcomed back to your covenant at some future date on more friendly terms. As it is, I will presently be returning home to my sanctum. My year of adventure in Iberia was profitable, but now I've much to study.

Sincerely, your Sodalis
Furfures of Tytalus

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