Story Seeds Part 2
The Vis of the Wood
A wood in an isolated location, almost equidistant from several covenants (including the player covenant) is discovered to have a magic aura by an adventurous redcap. I will be found to be rich in vis of several kinds, starting a conflict between the covenants over these newfound sources. An Egeria who inhabits a large tree in the centre of the wood will appear to the characters, telling them if they harvest the vis and give half of it to her she will use her powers of divination to provide them with knowledge about the other covenants, giving them a strong advantage in the contest for the vis of the wood. Little do they know she has made the same offer to each of the other covenants and plans to play them against one another…
Lost Island of the Lotophagi
Maxentius of Flambeau, a theurge and explorer, believes he has thought of a way to find the fabled island of the Lotophagi visited in myth by Odysseus. The player characters hear from the redcaps that he is looking for collaborators to help him, and promises vast amounts of vis will be found on the hidden island. First, he requires a Lotus Tree to study, but finding and moving a living tree of virtue (possessed by a dangerous spirit) is no simple task. Second, he needs a way to carry the tree and spirit with him as he travels. Lastly he needs to find a high aura regio aligned to Herbam. With these things he believes he can enter the magic realm from the “outside” of the regio boundary, carrying the tree with him, then use the tree to exit the magic realm into the regio of the secret island – for he thinks that all Lotus trees share a connection to one another. Are these plans the ravings of a lunatic seeker? Or might this really lead the magi to a motherlode of vis?
The Snake Charmers
The player covenant hears a rumour of a family hedge witches operating in their locale. These witches, it is said, have the power to heal wounds and summon spirits, and the head of the family has a huge serpent as a familiar which she can talk to. If the magi investigate, perhaps hoping to recruit these strange magicians into the order, or with more hostile intent, they will find that the truth is stranger than they expected – the family are ungifted and have only a minor supernatural ability allowing them to speak to serpents. The source of their “healing magic” is in fact the guidance of the spirit of the viper they care for, an Anguitia. What they tricked others into believing was the summoning of spirits was simply the Anguitia using her Eidolon ability. What will the magi do with this spirit and its family of charlatans?