Salve,
I'm about to move my saga in a new direction, and thought I'd seek out some creativity from this esteemed list.
The characters will be exploring a recently destroyed covenant to a) figure out what happened, and b) perhaps establish a new covenant there. I'm looking for interesting details about what they'll find.
The former covenant is set about an ancient mine that dates back to the Roman times, north of Cordoba, in Andalusia. The owners of the mine have been at times Roman, Visigoth, then Muslim. There have always been some sort of magic users on the site, due to the high magical aura of the site.
The (autumn) covenant was destroyed recently due to a severe botch: All of the magi were aiding the resident bonisagus who was trying for a breakthrough. The botch set off an explosion and subsequent earthquake.
Former members of the covenant:
--A north african bjornaer hunter who collected exotic animals. He has several guardians around the covenant still that survived, as well as a few statues that will "come alive" to protect his sanctum.
--A lab rat bonisagus
--a Mercurian Mercere who is quite old and very active in politics.
--a Muslim alchemist and his apprentice (who is elsewhere during the accident)
-- a muslim Jerbiton who is very good with the locals, mundane and lords alike
-- 2-3 others.
Many of the mundanes survived.
The main thing I'm looking for are details. When the characters clear away the rubble, what do they find? What do the magi have in their former sanctums that show their personality? What interesting magical rooms, objects, or tomes might there be from previous magi, (roman or visigothic?)
I envision a roman villa above ground, with a series of carved passages beneath, and below that caves that have a few passages leading to the mine.
I envision some sacred (muslim) architecture below ground, in the main research lab of the bonisagus. Here there is also a vein of particularly magical mineral that is the main vis source.
There will be ancient side tunnels that go off into unused portions of the covenant.... what is there?
I want something a little sinister, in addition to the exotic animals . Perhaps the mine has dark fairies that have been agitated by the quake. What do they hope to accomplish? Perhaps there was a minor demon set loose from his bonds?
One thing I'm not sure how to deal with are ghosts of the magi. I don't want there to be too much "talking with the dead," because this could give away the background details. On the other hand, it might be interesting to have the dead bonisagus talk to the PC bonisagus, encouraging him to continue with his research.
Do people who do not get a christian burial automatically become ghosts? What happens to their spirits if not? I mean, these dead magi are buried down there under tons of rubble....
Thanks in advance to anyone who cares to share their ideas,
eric