«So, maybe little hope in a letter. As I said, I shall be happy to provide rapid transport if there is a redcap who wants to make another attempt to get to Frostmourn. I'd like to visit, but could use a guide, and you should get there, but need the transport. Will you pass that offer on to your House, please?
«On a different matter. Is there a particular reason why you fear the covenant in the Uplands will succumb?»
" Local politics. The region the uplands is in was one of the last holdouts of paganism in Sweden. The church has been quite aggressive in claiming the county though, and there are rumors of a second civil war brewing."
«Of course. I should get out more, and see more of the world. I'll make a letter for the magi at Uppland before you leave.»
" speaking of which, I could use a hot meal and some rest. At least knowing you can provide me a trip home takes some of the urgency out of this journey."
The redcap sighs "I wouldn't say this is the last place in the world I would fear the Dominion, that would be somewhere in eastern Lithuania, or maybe further east." He shakes his head to bring his mind back to the question " But it seems to be headed everywhere. IN some ways you might be better off being in a Latin country that upsets the Pope regularly, especially with the way Innocent III is throwing around interdictions. Here, things are certainly better than in Sweden, Norway has been unified, and Sverre consolidated his rule 1184, his actions drove out the bishops and the country has been under interdict since 1194, so there isn't a divine aura to be found within the country at this point, if the Bagler revolution pans out for the bishops there could be trouble for certain, but it seems to be holding at a stalemate with Sverre ascendant, so there seems little chance of that happening. Sverre is about 61, 67, so what happens if he dies of natural causes might be a concern. Way things have been going recently likely another all out civil war. In ay case the church is a long way from coming to your little valley with blood in their eye."
Did all this take place on the day of arrival? Then they are quick, now, to call in the steward¹, and arrange for the redcap both a hot meal, a hot bed, a hot bath, and the sauna, in the order which he prefers. We would take insult if he does not stay a couple of days, and he is cordially invited to stay as long as he pleases. Hopefully, we can talk more tomorrow.
When the guest is appropriately catered for, Balder turns to Alva's question. «Well, yes. I seek the mysteries of all the magical traditions of the North, and meeting those magi who live on the fringes of the Order is important. Frostmourn had, if not has, a very unusual location, and I think I heard some rumours. Besides, its being lost made me curious. What befell them could befall us, so I would very much like to understand if possible. That said, I should talk to both Sinus Wotanis and the Uplands too.»
¹ Steward is probably not the right word, but that's what we used in the list of specialists
«Gossip at the tribunal. Nothing more. I believe they sat on a powerful, local source of magic. You are right. There is a risk. I was proposing a scouting party. Not an armed assault.»
«Well, there was one more. Do we need to extend our library? Is it worth asking the redcap, now that he is here, if anything can be acquired through their network?»
«I believe we should have sound primers in every art. Your wish for a book on the fae, is seconded, even though I do not expect to have time to read it any time soon. If I recall correctly, Hugh was not so happy with the Muto text. Is that not right, Hugh? That you wanted a more advanced text?»
Hugh shakes his head. "I don't need any books on the hermetic arts. My studies have progressed to the point where I prefer to study vis directly. Perhaps some tractati, depending on the price, but it shouldn't be a priority.
"Regarding frostmourn... I wandered Scandinavia for some time, but didn't come across them. If they were taken out by some threat, I'd be worried about attracting it's attention to us. It might be better to stay hidden and not invite trouble. I'm planning to take an expedition into faerie soon myself, Arcadia or Elysium, in search of a certain... knowledge that some norse fae can teach. I will coordinate with the redcap's timetable, though. Taking him back to Durenmar gives me an excuse to travel there myself, and visit the library, and I can take more guests than just him."
«Frostmourn is not even in Scandinavia. Further North and further East. If anything there wants to follow us home, they are rather dedicated.»
"I would welcome company. I am seeking Mimir's Mead, if you want to know.
I haven't done so much yet, but I am capable in defense, should the need arise. Hopefully it won't."
Illugi continues to sit silently unsure what to add.
«I think Hugh and Alva can discuss the details of their quest on their own, just as you and I, Illugi, should plan our advances to recruit Norse wizards and wizardry. We should have a look at it before the redcap leaves, as we probably want to try to get in touch with other covenants. What do we need to discuss all four of us? The matter of books at least. Who is in favour of trying to supplement our library with faerie lore and art primers?»
===
In a different context, Balder will ask Illugi if he has any plans for scouting out the land or locating hedge wizards. Himself, he is planning to send letters to Uplands and Sinus Wotanis to ask if they have any knowledge or contacts to share. He is open to ideas though.
"I definitely need primers on the arts as to perform my duties of bringing Hedge Wizards into the Order I must be able to open their arts. Faerie Lore is of less use to me but any additional books would be welcome even if they aren't of particular value to me at this moment."
===
When Balder pulls him aside later, "I do not have a plan, per se but I am unsure if contacting the covenants already within the order would be the best way for me to find those I might want to recruit but, perhaps you're right and they may know of some rumors or whatnot that makes it much easier than wandering blindly."
«Are you concerned about revealing too much to other covenants? Or is it just that you do not have any great hopes of learning anything useful?»
"Just not a lot of hope we would learn much useful. It may be worth an attempt but it will likely be a year or more before we hear back then however long to travel to investigate any promising rumors. In the nearer term seeking out wise women and others among more local contacts might be more fruitful. I also question many of our sodales' desire to actually bring other traditions into the order and not merely to attack them or ignore them as below notice."
«Absolutely. I was more looking for information about where hedge practitioners are likely to be found, not discussing with them what to do about them.
«We try other approaches without waiting for them to respond. Touring the country at random is not going to be much use, but if we start talking to all the villagers and grogs, review the book we have on the lore of the land, and so on, it is likely we find something to get started.»
"I was not speaking to how they would work with us more that if those are the two main options in how they would respond to them either they would be considered a threat and they might try to destroy them before our letter reached the covenant, which would make our goals harder even if the covenant were unsuccessful in that goal, or they are literally below their notice, hiding as midwives and wise women or hermits in which case the covenant would likely provide scant information."
When he is finished eating "Shall I take a letter of tender to Duerenmar and perhaps a few other covenants? If you can give me an idea what you are looking for and what you are willing to pay for it."