Or use the new Rego Vim Guideline , page 17 (LoH):
This is also a Ritual spell.
There is more qualifying text , but that is the basic info.
Storywise , suppressing or attempting to remove an aura created by a Divine Miracle could be interesting.
If you turn the area into a chapel , the Divine aura will be at least contained within the walls.
The resident christians and anyone with True Faith may prefer this.
Session 7 - Spring 1222
Dragon Hunt!
Marcus ex Guernicus, Sir Frederick Barfleur, and Pauline (a hastily sex-changed new Grog formerly called Paul) join the richest man in England (and 1 third of the Regency Troika) the Bishop of Winchester Peter des Roches in his vainglorious attempt to hunt a dragon and take its head as a trophy. They are accompanied by a large band of Royal Guardsmen and Knights and led by master hunter Edward Doddson.
Heading to the Forest near Maidstone, they hear in a nearby village that a drake has long lived there -often stealing away sheppard's sheep, and every Beltane, a cow is taken. Heading into the green and verdant forest itself, Marcus (remaining silent and to the rear, so as not to offend by his presence) detects faint remnants of magic amongst the wood and trees- boughs have been shaped and branches smoothed back with magic. While definitely not Hermetic, it does seem influenced by Hermetic magic - perhaps a failed apprentice or breakaway Ex Miscellanea hedge wizard?
Doddson finds the drakes lair - a mildly magical cave (aura 1), it doesn’t seem to have been occupied for over a month. Frederick and Pauline venture into it, and find a roman Denarius with the name of Emperor Constantine upon it- how old is this dragon?
Tracks lead away from the cave and the hunting party pursue. They lead to the edge of a canyon or ravine amongst the depths of the forest. As they venture down, the sides of the ravine darken and the air chills- the foliage is grey and lifeless, the soil near ash. A dark (infernal) aura 2 surrounds the place. At the dead end at the rear of the defile, they see skeletal bodies standing and leaning against the canyon walls - dead and unmoving, but strangely still held upright by their withered ligaments than fallen heaps of bone.
Near the back wall, a large stone slab is embedded in the ground - grooves and black stains hint at some unspeakable use in the past. And it seems strangely warm. Deciding to destroy this altar, Frederick and Pauline use their great strength and wooden staves to lever up the stone so it can be carried away and smashed - as they do so, they reveal a small black coal under it, from which furnace-hot waves of heat can be felt.
At this, the skeletons around the canyon animate and attack (Marcus, glumly “Skeletons, why does it always have to be skeletons?!”) . A horde of over 20 rush at the scattered hunting party, but Peter des Roches does manage to assemble them into a square. Demons Eternal Oblivion from Marcus and Pauline’s mighty poleaxe swings account for many of the skeletons, as crits and botches rule the day. Indeed no sooner has Noliar said “An Infernal Aura 2 you say? It’s possible that despite my Flawless Magic I could actually botch for once” than Marcus botches and a violet beam of DEO energy strikes not a skeleton but the knight fighting it- the knight falls to the ground, convulsing, purple energy coruscating across his armour. Later when he’s tended to, Sir Guy de Gavriel claims that his soul has been stolen by the evil warlock (Marcus) enchantment and that he must make pilgrimage to Canterbury to restore himself. Bishop des Roches tells him to “Buck up man, and walk it off” - his pastoral care somewhat limited.
Once the skeletons are defeated, the Bishop advises leaving the altar and hot stone alone for now – it’s the middle of the wilderness, they are not harming anyone presently or going anywhere and they can always deal with them later – but no more delays – they must find and kill the forest drake!
Doddson consults the tracks once more and realises his error. The trail leads not down into the canyon, but along the top of the canyon edge. It circles around the ravine, until they find a forest dell about 30 feet up and overlooking the altar stone and dark defile below. This dell is canopied by the branches of an ancient oak, around which a wingless, sleeping drake curls - twenty feet long and lizard-like, with an aquiline, elongated muzzle, razor-sharp claws ten inches long, and a segmented, slightly barbed tail. He is covered in scales that alternate in green and gold patterns, and from his chest comes snores sounding like laboured bellows - seemingly asleep. Now would be a perfect time to strike, but honour demands otherwise.
As the knights and guardsmen circle round the edge of the dell, Sir Frederick is allowed to approach - "Hail Dragon, I am Sir Frederick Barfleur and I come to offer you battle"
Golden, reptilian eyes open at this, and the great drake slowly gets to its feet, turning and surveying the knight. "I was named Hrothgar, by the Saxons of old, good knight. Why do you trouble me?" it booms in a deep voice
"The Bishop of Winchester, Peter des Roches desires your head"
The great drake inhales, smelling the air "A bishop you say? And do I smell a Magi amongst you too?"
"Indeed, I am Marcus ex Guernicus of the Order of Hermes" introduces the Quasitor from far back
"Order of Hermes, eh? I have spoken with your kind before- the druids and wise men of the wood would come and speak to me of magic and the forest. We learned much from each other."
"Druids? Who do you mean?” asks Marcus
“Your kind named them the Diedne, I believe”
The Diedne?" exclaims Marcus "When did you see them last?"
"It was over a hundred years ago, as they fled to their Final Sanctum after defeat in a magical war between your kind"
"Where did they flee to?" demands Marcus
"I sense you are their enemy, and would not so betray my friends to you"
"Indeed my House was their enemy during the Schism War, but I was not yet born then- and after so long, perhaps a rapprochement may be possible?" wheedles Marcus
"Nonetheless, I am resolved. Still it is strange to see a Bishop, a Knight and a Magus stand together - never in my long life have I seen the like before. Still when Dragons and Knights meet, it can only end one way." ponders the Drake.
"Good Hrothgar, do you know anything of the ravine that lies yonder, where evil skeletons and sacrificial altars dwell?" asks Sir Frederick
"Long ago it was used by evil men for pagan rites before even the Saxons- they offended me and I slew them all, but their evil remains like a canker the forest cannot cleanse. I came here to die, for my death will cleanse the evil from this place and restore my beloved forest"
"How will your death accomplish this?"
"The blood of dragons is magic" says Hrothgar, Malazan-style "where my blood falls, magic and life shall replace darkness and evil"
"Then when I slay you, I swear to spread your blood across the canyon, honourable wyrm" vows Sir Frederick.
Hrothgar nods his head to the knight and rumbles "So we come to the business at hand. Have at it" - lunging with a snarl!
Great and glorious melee is joined. Frederick and Peter Roches charge in next, drawing blood, but all too soon Frederick sacrifices herself to take a bite aimed at des Roches and is snapped up in mighty jaws and sent flying across the dell, thumping into a tree trunk with bone-smashing force. Marcus casts his Finesse targeting Entombing Gulp spell and a circle 5 paces wide of earth flows up and around Hrothgars rear left leg up into the air before falling back- while it might have entombed a man, the drake is too large to be so easily troubled.
Getting up close and personal, Pauline spots that the old and dying drake has a number of weak spots where scales have fallen away with age. Though she alerts the others, when she tries to bury her poleaxe in the weak spot, the wyrm turns and claws her high into the air, knocking her down to Incapacitated in a single blow. More knights and guardsmen fall to Hrothgars fury, leaping before the wyrm's great jaws to take bites aimed at des Roches, until all have fallen and the Bishop looks like he is next to be rent apart- when Marcus decides to enter the melee. Drawing his blade (but forgoing the enchantments on it) the grey cloaked Inquisitor steps in close and crits through a weak spot into the beasts heart, just as the Bishop rushes in to strike its neck! Drake’s blood runs over his hands and Marcus feels the magic within - magic he eagerly collects in a flask.
After Marcus sponts some Bind Wounds (CrCo), Sir Frederick crawls to the dead drake, closing its eyes and saluting it as an honourable opponent. She is slightly disgusted when she hears the Peter des Roches shout out "Men- fetch the axes- chop chop!" and she sheds a tear for the ancient and noble drake.
Pauline and Frederick gather up as much of the draconic blood as they can in a shield and throw it from the cliff edge into the defile below. Where the blood spills upon the ground a remarkable transformation takes place – the grey ash-like soil becoming dark black loam, and grass and flowers sprouting up from now verdant earth – the chill of murder and old evils now replaced with a magical aura (3) rich with life.
Marcus too aids in this endeavour and goes to the furnace-hot black stone (the soil heaped upon it now steams and smokes). Rego Terram removes the hot soil and he takes his flask and pours the last of the dragon’s hearts blood upon the smouldering Coal from Hell. It explodes into a thousand shards of Infernal Ignem, which scythes through the surroundings. Fortunately Marcus’ mighty Parma deflects the harm from him. Now the Infernal ravine is truly cleansed, restored not just to life, but also a magical site, deep in the heart of Maidstone Forest.
With the Drakes head as the bishop’s prize (and as many talons, scales and other parts as Marcus can carry along with 4 pawns of Herbam he has Rego Vimmed from the blood)), the hunting party return slowly (for they are burdened with 5 walking wounded and incapacitated men and 2 women). Peter des Roches is heard to exclaim “What fun! What adventure! I have slain a dragon like St. George before me! Wont the Bishop of Lincoln be so vexed that he missed all the excitement!”
(The players picture the looks of consternation and thwarted triumph when the 2 Bishops meet and regale each other with their tales of the weeks past events)
Back at the Covenant, the King recovers and leaves at the seasons turning. Pauline and Sir Frederick are confined to hospital beds as they recover from their Heavy Wounds for this season and next.
Summer 1222
In the next season Sir Frederick spends her bed rest studying the arts of Intrigue described in the struggles recorded in Harpax’s “Notes on House Tytalus”. Robert Whiterook and his wife Matilda are blessed with good news – she is pregnant with child, though he is lost in the library reading a summa on Imaginem. Gregory Oakwood returns to Oxford to teach, anxious to keep his post and Marcus studies Magic Theory- never before has the library seen so many withdrawals!
Sister Mahult broadens her magical horizons by reading Flambeau’s seminal Summa “The Joy of Ignem” and doubles her skill in fire magic (3 to 6). However at the end of Summer, she discovers that Sister Christina, the youngest and prettiest of the nuns, whom she’d used to distract Bishop des Roches attention) is pregnant. Despite this terrible scandal and breach of the Orders holy vows, Sister Mahult decides that Christina and her child will be kept on at the Covenant, though it’s unclear in what capacity.
I remember the first dragon encounter I ran - TPK, ver' sad for all concerned. Learned a lot about the AM combat system since then. :\
Session 8: Being the Selected Minutes and Resolutions of the Stonehenge Tribunal Meeting of Autumn In the Year of Our Lord 1222 Anno Domini
Location: The Caves of Blackthorn Covenant
Presiding: Praeco Talion ex Flambeau - honoured elder and veteran of the Schism War (“I’m 240, don’t you know!”
Head Quasitor: Iudicum ex Guernicus. Similarly from Blackthorn
Blackthorn Contingent
Goliard of Tremere - bears 3 Sigils from Blackthorn, 5 from Tremere in Stonehenge including her own, and 5 Sigils from Ungulus.
Fornax and Prelum ex Tremere - filia of Goliard. Their Sigils held by their parens
Covenant of Burnham - Quasitor Trutina (1 Sigil)
Covenant of Nigrasaxa - Maxiamus of Bonisagus - bears 3 Sigils
Covenant of Libellus - Stephen Eruditus of Jerbiton - bears 6 Sigils
Covenant of Voluntas - Julia ex Jerbiton (bears 3 Sigils)
-Kirist ex Flambeau (1 Sigil), accompanied by a new apprentice Illyria.
Covenant of Milton Chantry- Quasitor Marcus ex Guernicus (1 Sigil)
-Hugh de Neville ex Jerbiton (1 Sigil)
With 14 Magi and 6 Covenants present, the Tribunal is declared Quorate and its decisions will be binding upon all Magi within Stonehenge.
Domestic Affairs:
Item: Hercule ex Miscellania, a Norman infernalist has been Renounced and may be killed on sight.
Item: Sinead ex Miscellania of Ungulus offers 50 pawns of Vis to the Magi who can slay the Great Dragon of the Pennines.
Trial of Kirist ex Flambeau of Voluntas - Accused of Interfering in the Affairs of Mundanes, Antagonising the Church and being Bloody Stupid. (last crime struck down by the Chief Quasitor even though the Praeco thought it a good summation)
Prosecutor: Trutina of Burnham.
Defence Counsel (last minute replacement for Fredigisa of Schola Pythagoranis): Marcus of Milton Chantry
The Facts of the Case: Kirist went into the town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham this Summer and magically blasted his way through a crowd gathered to burn a young Blatantly Gifted woman as a witch. He rescued the woman, Illyria and accepted her as an Apprentice and fled on horseback to Voluntas. As he did so, he was pursued by the Bishop of Durham and his guard, whom he threw a Ball of Abyssal Flame at. The Bishop is gravely burned and may die.
Now it is said that the Archbishop of York is being petitioned to send an army of faithful nobles, or to mobilise a Templar Preceptory agaisnt the Covenant Voluntas.
While the incident appeared indefensible (Defence counsel was heard to shout “You fireballed the bloody Bishop of Durham! You are guilty!” and the accused requested a new defence lawyer), the first vote of the Tribunal was tie until one abstention (Robert Whiterooks proxy sigil) changed to Not Guilty when Sister Mahult received assurances from Kirist that he would supply pawns of Vis to heal the Bishop if she or another healer could get close enough to fix him. In return for casting a healing spell, he would also serve for several seasons in whatever capacity the Sister required. So, with the Flambeau Praeco dismissing the case with the words that “Boys will be boys, and in my day you could fireball the Archbishop of Canterbury if you wanted”, Kirist of Flambeau was Declared Innocent on grounds of self defense and protection of a new apprentice. Milton Chantry offer to use their influence with the Church to diffuse the situation.
Location of the next Tribunal Meeting in 1229: Julia of Voluntas petitions that the next Tribunal be held not in Blackthorn as is customary, but at Voluntas. Goliard of Blackthorn points out that to travel from his home would be a great strain on the elderly Praeco (“I’m 260, don’t ye’ know!”) and that Voluntas may not exist in 7 years if the Templars or Church do attack it. Maxiamus of Nigrasaxa offers his Covenant as an alternate location should that eventuality arise. During a brief intermission, Goliard intimates to the swing vote Magi of Milton Chantry that he has a letter from Fudaris which he has yet to open. He wont open it, if they vote against the move. Choosing to reject Blackthorn blackmail and ally with the Voluntas/East Anglian progressive camp, the vote is held and the motion is Passed.
Restriction of New Covenants in Stonehenge: Goliard of Tremere advocates that due to the recent explosion in Covenant numbers (Libellus and Milton Chantry) many Covenants are now close together, situated too close to towns and cities, and overtaxing the available Vis supply. All future Covenants should first seek permission to found from the Tribunal and through service or experience show they are fit and proper wizards to join the Stonehenge community and that the location of the new Covenant does not imperil existing Covenants. Voluntas argues that it is the right of every Magi to gather and associate as they choose and that this is a ploy by Blackthorn to suppress new and progressive Covenants. This vote is split (with members of Milton Chantry voting against each other) but narrowly Passes.
International Tribunal
Complaints of Foreign Raids and Interference: Burnham complain they have been raided by Horsingas Covenant in Loch Legean - that a vis source of theirs was picked clean and that goods and livestock bound for their Covenant was captured and taken north. Complaints to the Loch Legean Tribunal last year were ignored. Libellas also complain that Norman raiders took a caravan of goods coming to them, including 10 pawns of Vis which they sorely miss. It is generally agreed between both progressive and traditionalist Covenants that Stonehenge is under attack by outside forces and Something Must Be Done.
It is proposed by the Praeco that a punitive force be assembled to go north and give those Horsingas Magi a damn-good horsewhipping which meets with widespread support. Several suggestions of the resources and leadership required are floated, including Goliard of Tremere (he declines), Justin of Tremere (a ploy by Marcus to free this Libellus Tremere’s sigil up - declined on the grounds he wasn’t present to accept) until its settled that the punitive Army of Stonehenge be led by Quasitor Trutina of Burnham. As Burnham still wont accept visitors, the force will assemble near York in Summer 1223. Every Covenant in Stonehenge is required to furnish at least one of the following: A Magi willing to declare Wizard War on Horsingas and join the Army under Trutinas leadership; or 20 armed Grogs ; or 15 pawns of Vis for the use of the Army. The motion is passed with only Nigrasaxa and Voluntas opposing. Libellus are encouraged to identify the Norman robbers who’ve raided them, so concrete action can be planned in the future.
Letter from Primus Harpax Accusing Milton Chantry of Depriving Him of His Magical Library.
Goliard of Tremere presents a letter from Primus Harpax Tytalus of Fudaris alleging that Stonehenge Magi from Milton Chantry removed magical Summas from Fudaris marked with his Sigil and without his permission. He demands the Tribunal order their return. Goliard states that Fudaris has long been an old ally of Stonehenge Tribunal and it would aid matters internationally if the collected Magi did not spurn a reasonable request by the Primus of House Tytalus. And given Stonehenges understandable reaction to foreign raiders stealing English magical resources, wouldn’t it be hypocritical to sanction English theft of others’ resources?
Milton Chantry deny the charge, and since there isn’t time to hold a full criminal investigation, push for an immediate vote. The united progressive vote, is just enough to block the Blackthorn voting block and the motion Fails to Pass - this Tribunal will NOT order Milton Chantry to return the books, though Harpax can still pursue their return through his other legal options.
And with no more business, the Tribunal is Declared Closed- Blackthorn having lost some key votes, but the Tribunal vigorously united against external threats.
At the end of the Tribunal, Milton Chantry Vis gets swapped as follows - 6 Rego pawns for 8 Perdo. The Flambeau contingent snap up 8 Ignem for 8 Vim, and the 4 Herbam in Hrothgars claw are traded for 3 Vim. Marcus hawks about some dragon parts, but is only offered Unicorn horn in exhange. He does perk up at the idea of commissioning a suit of Armour of Quality made from dragonscales and then enchanted, but he realises he doesnt quite have the stash of Animal vis that a Verditus would demand for such a mighty work.
As the Magi leave Blackthorn and travel back through the mountains of South Wales, they see a white haired old crone of a woman approach, ragged and wild. Froth spits from her mouth and her rolling eyes are white: some recognise her as Prima Immanola of House Ex Miscellania, and she speaks with the voice of Prophecy
“Our Doom approaches! A Dragon rises in the East and sweeps all before it! Our Lost Brothers Return when the Sun draws Nigh! Hidden in our namesakes sanctum, the old war renews and blood will be spilled!”
With that, she clutches her chest and the ancient magi falls to the grass, spasming. Healing spells fail to penetrate her parma and she expires, at peace at last.
So Ends Session 8
Session 9
Autumn 1222- Summer 1223
Post-script to the Tribunal - Autumn 1222
Sister Mahult does some trading at the end of the Tribunal, though perhaps of a more profound nature. She approaches Maxiamus of Bonisagus who represents Nigrasaxa and offers to trade knowledge of how to extract a pawn of Corpus vis from human hearts in return for this master of Corpus crafting her a new Longevity potion (hers is only +5). This knowledge comes from the dark tome of a reputed diabolist which she has studied and though it details how to extract such vis from either a living (quick process) or dead (slow process) heart, she only teaches how to harvest it from the dead. She travels back to the black towers of Nigrasaxa with Maxiamus and assists him in his lab for Winter season as he crafts her a level +22 Longevity potion with lab notes, as she teaches him the Corpus extraction method of distilling down a dead human heart into raw magic. Her potion crafted just in time, means that when next she ages, time has no dominion over her (though she does get her 3rd Warping point). Still, when Maxiamus refines his breakthrough and publishes his method, how will this grisly and unChristian (for it invovles desecrating human bodies) revelation shape the order? Will Magi now view other men as merely walking pawns of Corpus vis? How will the Church react to increased wizardly grave-robbing and body-desecration? At least Mahult will certainly be around to find out!
Marcus too thinks of his future as he turns 34 - he sends a letter to his parens, Constantine ex Guernicus, now assigned to the Rhine Tribunal, asking if he could visit in a year or so and aid the elder Quasitor in his work in return for Constantine’s aid in brewing a Longevity potion.
Marcus also finishes Autumn by constructing a Salt House on the banks of the Thames. Reasoning that at high tide, salt water floods the estuary at Gravesend, he creates a channel to draw in some of the salty water into a pool. Men with buckets then pour it down a sloped funnel which hits a Circle of Rego Aquam - liquid to steam. The salt falls to the base of the circle as the steam rises up a pipe which angles away, until it hits another Rego Aquam restoring it to a liquid state and then falls down a vertical pipe into a barrel of freshwater. By this method, Marcus hopes to increase the wealth of the Covenant through the sale of that most valuable commodity - salt. And as a useful product is being made and fairly sold (its barged up to London), it shouldn’t cause inflationary problems like the magical creation of silver or gold would.
WINTER 1222
In Winter, Marcus learns the spell Gather the Essence of the Beast (ReVi15) and [i]Sniff Out Vis /i. Robert Whiterook also reports to him that when he went to the Faerie Court of the Winter Queen after winter solstice, the Perdo vis had already been harvested - Queen Titania would only reveal that an old bargain had precedence and had been honoured. Any more information would require an investigation into the dangerous intrigues of the Winter Fae Court.
Also, happy news in Winter - former Sister Christina (now Rosa) gives birth to a boy and Matilda Whiterook gives birth to di-zygotic twins - a Gifted girl who has inherited her parents Fae-blood (and has pointed ears) and an unGifted son with strong lungs. Robert names the twins Luna and Solar respectively.
Hugh de Neville is also sent as emissary up north to make peace between the terribly burned Bishop of Durham, his superior the Archbishop of York, a Templar Perceptory and the object of their ire- the Covenant of Voluntas. Its hoped his noble birth and social skills will avert this conflict betwixt Church and Order, and if not, he can change their minds with Rego Mentem and ninja-casting.
Gregory in Oxford meanwhile recruits 2 scribes from his students in order to copy out their stolen magical books before Harpax next seeks the return of his personal library -
Gareth Headley was a respected scribe but has developed something of a drinking problem. Nonetheless, when sufficiently lubricated, he has a firm and steady hand (Int +1, Com +1, English & Latin 5, Profession: Scribe 6, Artes Liberale 1)
Quentin Simnell is a young student, Educated by curious and questioning everything. (Int +1, Com +1, Dex +1, English & Latin 5, Scibe 4, Artes Liberale 2, Philosophiae 4).
They are quickly allowed to read the 2 tomes on Magic Theory and gain level 1 in this Ability after swearing solemn oaths to never divulge this knowledge or use it against the Order of Hermes. In Winter 1222, Quentin hurriedly copies Caerulea Caela by Priamitus of Mercere (Summa on Auram Lvl 6, SQ 14 now) and Magical Gardens of Hibernia by Caefloron ex Criamon (Summa on Herbam Lvl 10, SQ 14 now).
SPRING 1223
In Spring, Gareth takes more time tracing the illustrations and copies out Change by Bonisagus (Summa on Muto Lvl 9, SQ 11), and starts work on Knowing the Raven (2 pts of scribing) while Quentin quickly completes Faerie Illusions by Caitlin Suil Uaine ex Merinata (Summa on Imaginem lvl 6, SQ 13 now) and starts tackling the Annotated Code of Hermes (16 scribing points out of 25)
Also in Spring, Sister Mahult returns to Milton Chantry, aglow with magical youth. Settling back into the rhythms of Covenant life - the prayers for the dead with the nuns, tending to the sick in the hospital, and planting and tending her herb garden. But for several nights in a row, she is awoken by quiet sobbing. Investigating she finds Rosa (previously the young and pretty Sister Christina, now defrocked for bearing a child) cradling her sleeping baby, tears running down her eyes
"Oh good Sister! What am I to do?" wails Rosa.
"What happened?" asks Mahult
"I don’t know what to do? Should I tell him he has a son? But what if he sends me away or worse? But what will my son do without a father to look after him? Danger! Danger if I do either! Maybe I should give him away, but I cannot bear to be parted from my child! Oh what is to become of us?" rambles Rosa
"The father? Who is the father? Was it the Bishop of Winchester?" says Mahult, thinking of the lecherous Peter des Roches who'd brought a mistress with him to the Covenant.
"No, no, the danger is far greater... do you remember how I was sent to tend the King, to mop his brow and change his linens when he was ill with his Malady? Well later his strength returned and then... and then... well, what was I to do? He is the King after all, and so handsome and manly!" and then the guilt hits:"But I broke my oath to God, and now God punishes me! what am I to do, and what shall become of my beautiful babe? Should I go to Court and beg the Kings support for his son?"
Sister Mahult reels at this revelation- a first born son to King Henry III? A royal bastard?! And the King seducing a nun and begetting a child upon her - the Pope could excommunicate him for such an act! And the last excommunication of England was a disaster for the realm. And what dangers would the child face as restive Barons still challenge Royal and Papal authority in England? Pretenders to the throne rarely live long, but knowledge of his existence could re-ignite the civil war the Magna Carta recently ended.
"No Rosa, you must keep the child secret. You can remain here and we will care for both you and your child? What have you named him?"
"Oh Sister! Thank you -you are so kind and wise, and blessed by God! I have not named him yet, but would you do him that honour?" says the fallen nun.
"Er... well.... he was born on St. Stephens Day, so let him be a Stephen" says Mahult as she makes the sign of the cross on the 3 month year old baby. An electric shock runs up her arm, her magical sense activated. The baby too is Gifted!
Mahult reassures an eternally grateful Rosa and resolves to keep this as close a secret as possible - not even her sodales in the Covenant can know who Baby Stephens father was. Let the sly rumours about Peter des Roches and his lust for nuns act as a shield of lies to save the child.
(and the GM (co-incidentally named Steve) is amused to note that Stephen is from the Greek for ‘Crown ‘or ‘King‘)
For the rest of Spring, Mahult reads Parma Fabulae, deepening her knowledge of Parma. Marcus plans to go north and join the Stonehenge Tribunals punitive action on Horsingas, so he develops a spell which might drop an individual parma - a variation on Wind of Mundane Silence (PeVi). Robert and Matilda take the Whiterook brood and move into the Faerie Woods to build themselves a Cottage there - a new sanctum for Robert, though whether he builds his house of straw, sticks or brick is unknown (there is a Big Bad Wolf around after all)
SUMMER 1223
As the campaigning season of Summer starts, Quasitor Marcus and Helena of Mercere take a single Grog and head up to York to meet another 7 Stonehenge Magi for the Tribunals punitive action against Horsingas- Quasitor Trutina & Focus of Flamabeau of Burnham, Lucidia ex Flambeau of Libellus, Herrit of Tytalus and Ariel of Flambeau from Nigrasaxa, Quasitor Fredegisa of Schola Pythagoranis, and the infamous Kirist Flambeau of Voluntas. Little William of the Mercer House also joins as a second neutral Redcap with enchanted armour and sword in case a battlefield Herald is needed. Blackthorn sends 20 Grogs instead and 15 pawns of vis are recieved from Cad Gadu and 20 pawns from Ungulus. Semitae didnt send anything or anyone. House Flambeau is going for a full court press with nearly every member in the Stonehenge Tribunal who can travel present and eager to unleash magical war.
Helena delivers the 48 (8 x6) declarations of Wizard War from the 8 Stonehenge Magi upon Horsingas Covenant and its members-
Sir Edwin of Hexham, House Tytalus.He is the war leader, usually found armed and
armored. He has a terrifying steed.
Whitburh Frithowebba, House Guernicus. She is the only Quaesitor in Loch Leglean.
Giuseppe Del Mato, House Flambeau. He has a mastiff familiar.
Sir Jehan of Surrey, House Jerbiton. He sees himself as a noble knight and deigns to
speak only to Sir Edwin.
Ealwynn of Keswick, House Bjornaer. She specializes in Perdo spells. Her heartbeast
is a stoat, and her hair turns from white in the winter to brown in the summer.
Coenwulf Eofurcumbol, House Bjornaer. Boar tusks sprout from his face, and he can
use them to deadly effect. He is married (by common law) to Ealwynn.
The declarations come with a demand- return and recompense Burnham for their stolen vis and cease all raiding across the border into Stonehenge or see Wizard War executed. Sir Edwin declines those terms and Helena returns to let the assembled Stonehenge Magi know that war with Horsingas will commence in 1 months time!
[b]HOME FRONT
[/b]That Summer Sister Mahult and Gregory have the Chantry to themselves and their religious orders, the other Magi out from underfoot at last. As peasants bring in tithes of sheep and pigs, children are born and the sick pass on to the great kingdom of Heaven, Milton Chantry basks in the warm summer sun.
Then a visitor arrives -a thin man with a pinched, triangular face, sharp jaw dressed in rich, green robes. He's accompanied by 20 heavily armed men, wearing green uniforms. Its Primus Harpax of House Tytalus and he wants his books back. Is it a co-incidence he arrives on the same day the Covenant is weakened and Marcus is declaring Wizard War on Horsingas? Intrigue 8 says it isn’t.
Invited in as a guest, he addresses Sister Mahult, and tries to ignore the ever-interjecting Father Gregory. Food and drink is offered to their guests, but cautious Harpax refuses to break bread or consume a drop of wine within Milton Chantry.
“My dear, I understand you have some property of mine here - a number of books which I require to be returned to me”
“Do you have any proof they are yours? We were given them freely by the Prima of Tytalus” says Gregory
“Well, I am the PRIMUS of House Tytalus and the proof is that the books are marked with my Sigil”
“That doesn’t prove anything - you could have given those books away without removing the Sigil”
“Foolish monk, you know nothing of our Hermetic customs. If I gave away my book, I would remove my mark and the new owner would replace it with theirs. I assure you this was not the case, as you can plainly see.”
“Nonetheless, the books were given to us- not stolen” insists Mahult
“But if your cross is stolen by a thief and then given to an innocent, does you your cross cease to be stolen? I expected better from you Sister - does God not command that 'Thou shalt not steal'?”
“We got them from Buliste - surely you should resolve matters with her first?” says Mahult
“Buliste is an ….. old and senile woman. I will deal with her in due course. Now, will you return my property and that will end the matter with no further consequences - I will accept that you are innocents in this matter, deceived by a mad old woman who gave you that which was not hers to give. ”
“Well, we took a vote on it at the Tribunal, and don’t think we have anything to answer for- the books are ours, until your dispute with Buliste is resolved” states Mahult.
“Perhaps you should sue her in the Normandy Tribunal” adds Gregory
Harpax looks around at the busy hall, servants and nuns rushing around, feeding his large retinue of Grogs and sighs with regret
“Well, I had hoped to avoid this….” he says, reaching into a satchel for a handful of scrolls “But you leave me no option. You can either give me back my property” he says offering an open right hand in which to place them “Or…. I can give you these 5 Declarations of Wizard War against every Magi in this Covenant.” he threatens, bringing up his fistful of scrolls in his left
“And then, in a month, I will return to reclaim my property with all the force at my disposal. Tell me, good Sister, wouldn’t it be a pity if the women, and the infants here are harmed when I raze this hall to the ground? And what of the hospital patients? Do you want their deaths on your head if I must tear everything down to find my books? How much death and destruction could you avoid if you merely do the right thing and return my stolen property? What do you say? Wizard War or Peace?”
Sister Mahult gulps and considers.
Father Gregory bursts out “But if you do this, you’ll be admitting that you, an Archmage can only protect your stuff by resorting to brute violence and slaughter of weaker Magi and not through cleverer means?”
Harpax responds “You know, I’m OK with that. But what is your answer Mahult of Jerbiton?” he says, expecting her to cave.
“The books are ours.” The Nun is not for turning
“Very well, take these Declarations. I will return next full moon and wage unrestricted War until my books are returned! And if I must destroy every stone of Milton Chantry and kill everyone within, then so be it!”
SUMMER 1223 CONTINUES NEXT WEEK: WIZARD WAR II!
Now I need to figure out some Harpax stats. His library hints at some interests/minimums for his Arts, but other than Guardians of the Forest, have any 100 year old Archmagi been statted out that I could nick?
Thx.
SJE
You have one in this very forum by Erik Tyrrell. Magi of Hermes might be a good start.
Reading your dragon hunt right now. Will comment on this and the others when I am done 
Looking great so far!
I would be interested to see a write-up on Sister Mahult , at a convenient time.
Excellent story.
Wonder if we can get an Actual Play thread stickied , if more people get involved.
Easily done. But these are her starting stats - at some point I will have to update sheets in Metacreator with the players scrawls, specialities and xp buys
Awesome read! Keep it up!
heh - "...or words to that effect"...
Wow - didn't see that coming. Kirist dodged the proverbial PoF on that one. Either a LOT more is going on behind the scenes, or he's going to be the lab-bitch of someone for a looong time.
Erm... actually, salt was an extremely coveted commodity, and often a noble monopoly. Depending how much they produce, the fallout could be much worse. 
A traditional solution. And with the current Tribunal in place, will have no fear of "interfering with those mundanes".
They are going to catch on to that sooner or later... probably... 
The kings of England didn't start selling salt monopolies until Elisabeth and we're on (discrete) good terms with the top of the court, not to mention we'll happily sell wholesale to the pepperers or whoever rather than compete with them.
Tonight was botchtastic.
As the defense lawyer in question I certainly didn't see it coming. ("You are bloody guilty!" was an angry whisper btw,) Fridegesa "had a cold" and the case was sprung on me literally at the beginning of the trial - I had to argue for enough time to read the statement of fact before we began. I was marshaling all my arguments for leniency in sentencing and I was surprised and a little disappointed that magi of Stonehenge gave their verdicts on blatant party lines.
Well the Tribunal is split between Traditionalist (or pro-Burnham) and Progressive (anti-Burnham) covenants in most of the votes, though there was a breaking from the ranks here in which the Flambeaus voted for Kirist and Nigrasaxa voted guilty. Still it did come down to whether an abstained proxy vote would be changed - Sister Mahult, holding Robert Whiterooks sigil held the casting vote, and she was convinced that Kirist wanted to make restitution if found innocent. And in a sense, he is now a teaching-bitch, having promised to serve some seasons if Milton Chantry will use their influence with the Church to heal the Bishop of Durham.
But y'know, how would you have voted? On the surface it might be an open and shut case, but what are the precedents it sets if he's guilty - that Gifted apprentices cant be taken or rescued by force? That Magi cant defend themselves against armed Churchmen? Kirist is probably definately guilty of being 'Bloody Stupid', but the other crimes are a bit more open to question. Plus there is the sympathy factor - how many Magi, hated for their Gift are going to sympathise for a Bishop who wants to burn them all?
SJE
At the risk of opening a can of worms, the thing about Tribunals is that "precedents" are rarely open and shut themselves. This is not a case of using force against "churchmen", but against the local Bishop specifically, and (apparently) with little if any thought for discretion.
Cases like this rarely echo in broad, abstract strokes - there are always exceptions, extenuating circumstances and unspecified qualifiers that seem to go without comment - and thus without creating hard precedent.
Imo he shoulda been found guilty, but not censured too harshly, much depending whether there were any other, less "volatile" avenues he overlooked in his solution to the situation.
As it stands, this case did set a precedent - that it's okay to fireball a bishop.
<image of Elmer Fudd ex Flambeau, looking at "Open Season: Bishops" poster...>
"Hehehehehehehe..."
Well the Praeco of Stonehenge Tribunal is a Flambeau after all...
SESSION 10 - WIZARD WAR II
VOLUNTAS/YORK (WINTER 1222 REDUX)
We start by going back to Winter 1222 to see what Hugh de Neville did in York. Nominated as the Magus to peacefully resolve the violent tensions betwixt York and Voluntas caused by Kirist of Flambeau freeing a Blatantly Gifted Witch from her burning stake and then fireballing the Bishop of Durham as he made his escape.
Taking a Grog, and the healer Robert Whiterook with him, Hugh travels north in Winter, judicious amounts of warming Ignem spells making them the only travellers on frozen roads.
Reaching York Minster, he gives Letters of Introduction from the Bishops of Winchester and Lincoln to Deacon Geoffrey, and represents himself as a noble (Sir Hugh) from a hospital and hospice in southern England. He has a classically trained healer, Robert with him, who has studied the Ancient Roman and Greek methods of healing. As other forms of healing have not worked, the Deacon will take any aid he can. Nuns and clergy have been praying for the Bishop non-stop (the monks are reluctant due to a dispute) and armoured knights in white tabards are seen in vigil in the chapel - Templar’s. Hugh has mixed views on his mission - feeling that finishing off the critically injured Bishop might be the best thing. But with all these armed men around, the Bishops death could provoke a backlash.
In the Bishops sickbed, Hugh distracts the nuns long enough for Robert to mutter his healing spell, and a glow of ruddy health returns to his one unburned cheek. The Bishop of Durham will probably live....
With that acclaim for his hospitals healing skill, Hugh is given an audience with the Archbishop of York. The Archbishop thanks him for aiding the Bishop of Durham and conversation soon turns to the Covenant of Voluntas "A nest of witches that must be a'burnt!" declares the northern accented Archbishop
"But does not the Bible say "Turn the other cheek"?" debates Hugh
"Aye, and it also says "Suffer not a witch t'live" - and you'll find t'North to be Old Testament Country! -and t'Templars wont be denied!"
"But wont you need them for Crusade elsewhere?"
"Well, there’s talk that Crusade needn’t be in t'Holy Land - after all, French have Crusade against the Cathars, mayhap we need one here against the witches and warlocks of this 'Order' too. Deal, always was for them to hide away in distant places, far away from any honest, God fearin' Christian folk, but they broke that pledge at Bishop Auckland"
"But it could be dangerous, and many Templars lose their lives" says Hugh, aghast "and the Church should be a force for peace, not violence - after all "Thou Shalt Not Kill" and all that. Plus from what I have heard of the witches, they will not trouble York again, and with the Bishop of Durham recovering, no one has died - why risk further losses of the clergy and our needed Crusaders by pressing the matter"
"Well, your pacifism does you credit Sir Hugh, and sets an example of good Christianity. Perhaps you are right - as long as the witches remain far from good Christian folks, then we can concentrate on more important matters. But if they ever again trouble the people of Yorkshire, then we will burn every one of them!"
With the situation resolved for now, Hugh and Robert return to Milton Chantry. That spring Hugh reads Caesars "Commentaries on the Gallic Wars" Tractacus and gets his Leadership up to 2.
[b]SUMMER 1223
WIZARD WAR II - THE HOME FRONT
[/b]
Summer 1223 and Hugh and Mahult are the only 2 Magi resident in Milton Chantry as the deadline for Harpax's Wizards War approaches. Scribes scramble to finish copying the Code of Hermes summa, while the Children, babies, nuns and patients who can be moved are evacuated to Gravesend. 2 more untrained Grogs have been quickly hired. The servants are retained as Father Gregory has invited the Triumvir, Bishop Peter des Roches to return to the Chantry to witness a rare and remarkable sight. And they'll take him hunting again afterward. The hope is that having a powerful Churchman on hand might stay Harpax's hand from slaughtering everyone in the Covenant.
Harpax and his small army of cloaked Grogs arrive. Gregory invites him in (but doesn’t give a casting token) and Harpax demands his books. Gregory promises they are with the Magi and their guest in the dining room. Mahult, Hugh, Gregory and des Roches are present in the holy dining room with its Dominion aura of 5 (Mahult is exempt from this due to her Gentle Gift and that the aura was generated when Jesus worked His miracle through her.)
Gregory makes introductions "My Lord Bishop, this is the mighty Archmage Harpax of Fudaris - in contention for the primacy of House Tytalus and one of the most dangerous Magi in Europe"
"There is no contention - she is just a senile old woman" snaps Harpax
"And Lord Harpax, this is Triumvir Peter des Roches, tutor to the King of England, richest man in England and Bishop of Winchester."
"Dangerous eh?" ponders des Roches before boasting "I single-handedly killed a dragon last year dont ye know!"
The two men eyeball each other, neither backing down, theirs chests puffing up like popinjays.
"Where are my books?" demands Harpax "Or do you want me to show the true might of my power?"
"Indeed we do" replies Sister Mahult. "Let us determine the fate of the books, which we believe belong to us with a contest! Certamen! The Wizards Duel. Here and now! You and me! " (after all, what Magi, let alone what Primus of the hyper-competitive House Tytalus would refuse the contest of a Certamen challenge? )
"Perhaps we should go outside and get some space. Certamen can be dangerous in confined areas" says Harpax (presciently)
"No, here is fine" interjects Gregory "The Bishop has his comfy chair and is settled. And surely you don’t fear to fight here in the sight of God and his servants, where the righteous must prevail?"
"The righteous will prevail" snaps Harpax
"Yes, us" smirks Gregory "After all, God is on our side - we cant lose"
"Damn your God then!" blasphemes Harpax, his pride nettled "I will show you the True Power of Magic! Greater even than God!" - if there is one thing the tiger-blooded warlocks of House Tytalus don’t do, its that they don’t accept second place to anyone!
(Also Mahult noticed that when Harpax blasphemed, a crack and shower of dust came from the roof above)
CERTAMEN
Mahult considers her strategy. Her best Technique is Rego, but she's good at Muto too.
"I choose Muto" she starts
"Ah, I have studied Muto for many years. Indeed you have my Summa on it. I accept" says Harpax, trying to rattle the Sister "And for the Form, shall we stick to the classics - I choose Animal"
"Rejected" says Mahult as she barely has 3 points in it
"Well, lets get cooking with Ignem. A contest of Muto Ignem it is!" (well, Mahult has been reading the Flambeau's seminal Joy of Ignem recently... so its not terrible)
The two combatants begin their duel - Harpax has the initiative, and while is Weakening and Resistance totals are far higher than the inexperienced Mahult’s (this is her first Certamen), even though his arts are higher, he's taking a whopping -15 penalty for using a magical ability in a Level 5 Dominion aura. As a result their adjusted Attack and Defence scores are near even, but should Harpax botch in the Sight of God, he would surely be turned into a pillar of salt for his pride!
We begin with a traditional Muto Ignem - from 2 bonfires billowing in front of the Magi, Harpax bends his flame into bars that shoot over in a dome, pinning Mahult. Mahult bends those bars with a wave, and then they morph in fiery butterflies which swarm back towards Harpax. Harpax’s fire turns into a fiery net which traps the butterflies the butterflies.
The great mass of burning butterflies turns into a bouncing ball of fire that boings towards Mahult, scorching her for a fatigue level - first blood! Mahult makes a spinning motion and the ball turns and flows into a river of fire, scorching across Harpax and putting them about even. Harpax turns the river into a whirlpool that threatens to suck down Mahult. But she grabs the whirlpool of fire and turns it into first one wheel and then another- and launches a burning chariot at Harpax!
His flame morphs into a red fire elephants foot which stamps down on the chariot and then tramples across Mahult, leaving flaming foot prints across a now fatigued sister. She responds with a half-hearted fiery bramble growing around Harpax's feet but his Shield is too strong.
She swaps to a more powerful Muto defence in the next round, as Harpax causes a rain cloud of fiery rain to open above her head. Her bonfire morphs into an umbrella, deflecting off the attack, then morphs the umbrella into a spear which she casts into Harpax's chest. Now they are both on their last legs, much of their Confidence gone. The endgame approaches.
Harpax's incredible run of luck continues (still no zeroes) and he creates a fiery castle from his flame - from which burning trebuchets fire flaming shot at Mahult. She dodges and responds with fiery cracks of lava eating away at the castles foundations, but again its not strong enough to burn through his Resistance.
From the castle race out lots of tiny little fiery soldiers, a great wave of miniature weapons flashing. Mahult conjures from the fire a Red Dragon which breathes fire on the little men and they scatter and break. Emboldened, she has the dragon attack the castle of fire with its breath weapon.... and botches - as the Dragon breathes flame, it strafes across the Certamen circle, the fiery magic somehow penetrating beyond and sweeping towards the entranced audience of Hugh and the Bishop (Gregory is on the other side). Hugh yelps as his breeks start burning and throws himself in front of Peter des Roches before he can be burnt! (Hugh takes a level or 2 of light burning damage)
"Marvellous show!" declares des Roches "Its like all the excitement of hunting but from the comfort of your own chair!" as a screaming Hugh drops and rolls.
Back in the Certamen circle, Harpax grins a wicked smile and Muto's a stray flame into a tiny crow that flies and pecks at the dragons right eye. The fiery beast automatically turns its still flame-spewing head around to see its attacker- catching as it does a surprised Mahult right in the line of fire.... and as her dice botch once more, she sees a great wave of fire rolling over her before everything goes black.....
VICTORY: HARPAX!
Being in many ways, a petty Archmage, Harpax casts Show of Flames and Smoke (MuIg) on Mahult’s unconscious body. The exploding fireworks and coloured smokes entrance Peter des Roches once, more - at least until they explode once more and the Bishop finds his beard set alight!
Victorious, honour satisfied and his books returned to him, Harpax and his Grogs depart back to Fudaris to deal with a certain "senile old woman". Milton Chantry still stands, though its lost much of its incredible library. Still, on the bright side, with an Archmage blaspheming and a major magical duel taking place in defiance of God, the Dominion aura in the dining room goes down to 4 and the Magic auras in the lab will rise from 2 back up to 3, but only at night.
WIZARD WAR II: THE NORTHERN FRONT
Up near Norham and the Scottish Borders, Marcus ex Guernicus, Edward Doddson and Helena of Mercere are part of the punitive Wizards War against the entire Covenant of Horsingas.
In the council of war, the Army of Stonehenge gather. The 4 Flambeau want an immediate strike on Horsingas and burn it to the ground. The 3 Guernicus are not so sure - from what they know, Horsingas has a 4th or 5th magnitude Aegis of the Hearth (ReVi) and they are not sure anything's going to burn. Its mentioned that getting hold of some casting tokens might be useful, but no one is sure how.
In a recess, Marcus chats with Quasitor Fredegisa of Schola Pythagoranis- he's still a little annoyed by the mess she dropped him in with the Kirist trial and snarkily asks "So, you've got over your little cold then?"
She has, though she isn’t sure what she is doing here. She confesses that she’s not the most combat capable Quasitor, her parma is weak, but she's been reviewing the records copied to Magvillus- "And what a mess they are too" she moans "Quasitor Whitburh assorts with all sorts of unsavoury types? Do you know they even have an Iberian Flambeau tried for interfering with mundanes - a real mercenary apparently. Giuseppe someone. And all these reports of charges 'presently in abeyance until the facts of the case are resolved? No one can be this sloppy!"
"So we are resolved sister- for the good of House Guernicus, we must take down Whitburh Frithowebba?" asks Marcus
"Indeed."
Back in the planning meeting it is decided that for now, Horsingas is too strong to assault directly - their defending forces must first be weakened. Its suggested that a mounted party of 10 Grogs, and Kirist of Flambeau (on his horse familiar) should launch a diversionary attack on Horsingas and then flee to the next valley, hopefully pursued by Horsingas' grogs. The remaining Magi and Edward would then ambush the Horsingas forces from concealment on the valley sides and [i]Ball of Abysmal Flame/i them outside their Aegis.
The plan proceeds - Kirist takes enough Ignem Vis to nuke one of Horsingas' towers and the hidden Stonehenge Magi hear a detonation and pillar of smoke rise from Horsingas' direction. 20 minutes later, 6 riders race through the gap between valleys. Their pursuers are a large mob or armed and armoured cavalry - they hesitate and wheel in the gap for a while, before pursuing. As they clear the gap, Marcus uses [i]Eyes of the Eagle/i and his [i]Entombing Gulp /i spell to start and avalanche to block the gap. He thinks that Sir Edwin and Sir Jehan might be amongst the cavalry, but his sight is blocked as smoke and fire from the rain of Flambeau fireballs rains down on the Horsingas force.
Then a cry from ahead - a huge raven has swooped down and is viciously pecking and tearing at Fredegisa face. She screams in pain and terror before the hunter Edward Doddson sends a shaft piercing into the Great Ravens wing. A great cry arises - not from the valley floor, or from Horsingas, but rather from the other side of the valley ridge.
Marcus pops his head over (with a Finessed Wizards Sidestep (ReIm), his image remains behind the ridge lip) and see's a long line of armed men creeping up the adjacent valleys flank, ready to rush over the ridge and fall upon the Stonehenge Magi - a counter-ambush! Horsingas seeks to flank the Stonehenge Magi! He heads over to stop them.
The cry came from an robed woman and Marcus quickly tears the ground from under her feet with Entombing Gulp, the earth rising up and then falling down to bury her in the just created pit. She vanishes from sight. Some kind of small stoat or mink pops its head up from the heather and sees Marcus. Its nose wiggles and paws twitch and suddenly Marcus is hit by a [i]Twilight Daze/i spell (a lower level, 2 Warping point Enigmas Gift at CrVi 20 instead) which just manages to pierce his Parma. While he has willpower enough to control the magic surging through him, Marcus realises that the true purpose of the spell was to take him out of the battle for 2 Diameters, whilst he brought the Vim under control. With armed men around he cant risk that much time, and instead plunges into Twilight in an attempt to comprehend it instantly. The planes of reality peel back and he finds himself seeing the magical pillars and building blocks underlying the World. Leaving a beneficial Twilight Scar and learning a new spell (both to be chosen later), he instantly comprehends the situation and steps out of Twilight a second later.
Casting a rain of daggers at the stoat-Bjornear, it nimbly ducks aside and races through the heather and scree. Marcus pursues, but them finds the vegetation and growing rapidly around his feet- brambles twining and tripping around his legs. Time for a quick short range Rego Corpus to teleport away 10 paces and...... BOTCH!
A moment later, a naked Marcus reappears high above the shimmering Aegis-dome of Horsingas - falling ever more rapidly toward the ground a hundred paces below!
" AIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
And on that cliff-hanger we have to break from our game, probably at least until 2012....
Thank you for reading, and hopefully we will return to the saga of Milton Chantry in the future (for Marcus' player is desperate to know if he survived)
FINIS
2012?! 
Who do you think you are... George Lucas?! 
Well done!
Oh, what irony if the Bishop were to later fall to the deadly sin of Wrath, and Hugh's "christian" act later come back to haunt them... hmmm... nahhh!
I'd have one suggestion...
While this may be the "official party line" of the crusader leader, there is always a young captain or wannabe who feels they know better...
A good enemy is a valuable thing in a story, and a dangerous rogue element within the ranks would keep the PC's on their toes, and walking another fine line between defending themselves and not angering the rest of the Crusaders.
Thank you for your kind words. I look forward to running this some more next year. I'm finally starting to feel like I'm understanding Ars Magica (even as we limit the rules to corebook only) but I know I dont have a strong enough grasp on the magic to run anything at the Grand Tribunal.
Honestly the Voluntas thing is a bit of a distraction or sideshow compared to the other things going on, which is why Hugh was able to fix it in about 30-40 minutes of play. The real use of Voluntas is as an example of the path not taken - its problems were what might have happened if Milton Chantry had turned away the King or annoyed either the Bishop of Lincoln or Winchester. Its also nice to have that north/south divide in relations between the Order and the Church to show how easily things can go wrong and what the consequences of angering the Church are.
One useful piece of advice I picked up years ago is that while the PC's may not be the most powerful people in the game, they are the most important. Whether Voluntas survives or is burned to the ground is uninteresting except in the degree that it affects the PC's or that the players are invested into it.
SJE
So, returning to our saga for 3 weeks and I'm thinking of moving things forward 5 years to 1228.
Does anyone know of a good year by year summary of stuff happening in England or Europe around 1222-28? Obviously the 6th Crusade is a biggie, but there must be other news too
Thx.
SJE