Maximianus merely snorts as he steps out of the way for grogs to start gathering up the equipment and effects on the deck. As the tow ropes are secured on deck and dock, the ship is slowly pulled towrds the dock as the wind seems to magically die down, as if to make the process easier.
The process is not fast enough though, and as the sun sets and light fades you find your Parmas equally fade. Aggie and Maximianus stand in back of some of the ladies that are on deck, and presumably begin re-casting their Parmas. Rhodri asks one of the grogs to stack up to trunks and then ducks behind them.
What are you doing for your Parma? Let me know if you are not re-casting it, taking any special steps, or even if you're going to take a pot shot at one of the parma-less magi.
Bjorn curses creatively under his breath in his native tongue when he realizes that he will not be getting off of the ship in time to re-cast his parma spell. With a frantic look about, Bjorn attempts to integrate himself into a group of clansmen that are still on ship, waiting about idley to make port. Nodding at the Scots and smiling, he tries to push his way to the back of the group to get some cover. Luckily he doesn't have to worry about the instant negative effects of magi towards mundanes, but he has made himself a bit of a nuisance already with the few who carried his trunk.
The camp at the potential site of the Covenant has taken on as much of a homey feel as can be accomplished. Tents and simple structures have been started, and Acacius's spells to produce heat has made this as comfortable as can be, considering you're camping on a hilly meadow in the winter of Cornwall. The proud father Reginald returned with some fresh geese for some dinners, the most he can afford right now, but he's still very grateful for aid given his wife and newborn son. Messages are sent back and forth as best as possible (about two altogether), and now with a wet and cold Winter turning into a cold and wet Spring, Merry is sent to Launceston to wait for the arrival of the rest of the magi.
Siobhan is sure that anything she does might be seen as result of her illness but the sailors aren't going to understand her latin anyways so she will recast her parma as soon as it goes down. She is tempted to play a joke and goose the old mage leading them but suspects even without parma, his magic resistance is stil good enough to defeat her spontaneous spell.
Acacius spends his days walking around the are trying to familiarise himself with the land, helps out with his magic as well as he can, speaks with Tessa regarding if she knows someone who could help Acacius when it comes to caring for his garden, dreams about a woman that he will hopefully meet sometime in the future, looks for signs of plants, draw people & plants & the landscape, plays the bagpipe, season the food with muto imaginem. When the geese are delivered he thanks and ask how the wife and child are doing. He offers to help if there is someone gets sick or injured.
Sorry Magi, those that did not respond, your Parma is considered down for now. I really need characters to respond in a more timely fashion, I posted the initial request for a response on Monday.
The sun has set and torches and lanterns on hooked poles are brought out to dock the ship. The initial decision was to dock the ship and unload it in the morning. With a stern harumph from Aggie and Maximianus, Dermot sighs and reaches into his purse in order to get the sailors, stevedors and dock workers to work after hours.
After an hour or more of hard work (after the magi and clan members are ushered off the boat and onto the docks and beach) the gear, several trunks, some livestock, and carts are finally unloaded. A welcome face approaches once the unloading is done. Merry, who left with Acacius and Tessa the last time a ship left port is there.
"Aye, ye sorry lot. Ye finally made it! Well, gather your shite. If y'ain't too tired we can maybe make it to the camp tonight. Master Acacius found our new home."
Siobhan looks overjoyed and happy to be back on land and she has perked up a lot. She looks over the other magi carefully. She can speak to the clan fairly well but doesn't know the local language much, she hopes the other mages are perhaps better at this than her. A long trip though would be good time for that new Ex Misc to perhaps talk with her.
Bjorn does not endear himself to any more clansmen or sailors as he fusses about the handling of his trunk like a mother hen. Finally, once his belongings are off the ship and safe on dry land, he breathes a sigh of relief and looks around. Aggie and Dermot seem to be greeting someone, another clansmen by the sound of it. Hopefully they do not have to travel far to get to thier new home. Bjorn is going crazy with worry over the safty of his things in the trunk.
Bjorn, you find yourself dwelling on the snide Maximianus's remarks and his obviously coveting gaze on your precious creation. That simpering Rhodri...at best an over-eager apprentice. And that meddlesome Guernicus..!
Bjorn you can make an Int + Magic Theory roll, stress under the circumstances.
The sailors and stevedors quickly unload the gear, and give surly remarks and looks, despite the extra silver from Dermot. Once the gear is settled and clansmen hoist it on their backs, or load it onto carts, accomodations are enquired about for the night.
"The marsh is plenty comfy, ya Scottish bastard!" is one of the nicer comments received. It's decided to take on Merry's suggestion and hoof it to the camp.
Bjorn waits patiently as words are exchanged, but when everyone starts moving again, he is quick to follow with his wrapped item in hand. He is energized with the thought of finally seeing his new home, and jauntily moves out with the Scotsmen and his luggage.
It comes to Bjorn immediately, a feeling he hasn't had in ages; that of the effects of the Gift. The Parma has shielded him for years from that feeling. Seeing the new magus Alexander raise his Parma without much discretion seems to confirm it.
One shop keeper, a fish monger, does agree to sell some fish and fish stock, so some (mostly) fresh food can be had. The bedraggled band hoists their gear and sets out, a few lanterns lit and a partly cloudy night provide what light is needed to walk the worn path.
"Merry...Merry!" calls Dermot. Merry hustles up to him.
"Lord?" he asks, though it does seem a bit forced, like he's not used to it.
"Is the wizard and Aine ok?"
"Aye Lord."
"Any trouble?"
"A bit...some bandits. But they won't be causing anyone any trouble...not any more." says Merry, patting the sword at his belt.
"All right, nice work how long til we get there?" continues Dermot. Dermot steals a glance at Old Aggie who was not so surreptitiously listening in on their conversation.
"It's a bit of a walk. With this lot...a few hours. Master Acacius said he'd make sure there was room and heat."
"Good!" exclaims Aggie.
Maxximianus snorts. "Rhodri...didn't you say Acacius was in Ex Miscellenea? I'd dress warm if I were you Aggie."
Siohan considers the cold and rains and seems determined to have her season of queasitor duties in summer or fall and not in the winter or spring if she can avoid in the future. She really hates being outside in this cold. Until she gets spells corpus to make for fast and warm traveling, she will be looking forward to winters in a comfortable lab.
She looks at her fellow mages before speaking to Aggie, [ color=#FF0000]"I hope that we are going to cast the spell to raise the tower as soon as we get to covenant site. I really don't fancy being out in the cold longer than necessary. No reason to camp in the cold when we can sleep in warm tower."
Maxximianus adds "You think I want to be out here any longer than necessary? We'll be raising it and getting your lab equipment as fast as we may. Bloody cold. After all I've accomplished I'll not be done in by the chill!"
Rhodri walks up to Siobhan. "We have a casting tablet for the laboratories, if the magus is unable to cast it Maxximianus or Aggie said they would. Though the lab will bear their Sigil of course. It's a 9th Magnitude spell using the Arts of Creo and Terram. It will be...difficult for most of us to cast. It may take a few days to complete, and from there we will acclimate ourselves and our Gifts to these wonderful labs and have a productive career going forward..." Rhodri seems wistful as he looks ahead at finally having his own lab.
Bjorn lengthens his stride to catch up to Sioban and the others. "The cold isn't that bad. It's the rain that's really a bother." He glances over to Rhodri "Are we going to have time to cast the ritual for the tower tonight? It's going to take a few hours."
"It's not really up to me, Maxximianus is the one that created it and he'll be casting it." he adds with a whisper "He's likely going to be too tired to cast it tonight. But I think he'll cast it tomorrow, we also need to examine the land itself, which will be easier during the day and then cast it.
One of the things that occurs to you is that a spell undertaking this mighty feat will also likely have a Finesse roll, which could be tough to make. A failed Finesse could have some flaws in the covenant.
Marching through the night the weary group feels the effects of the Magic Aura grow stronger and stronger. It's a refreshing sensation, you always feel more at home within a magic aura. After a dew more hours you approach a campsite in the dark.
"Jesu!" exclaims Oisian. "Boisial! Aine! Acacius! We got company!" and you hear the sound of weapons being drawn and a scramble of armored men. A lamp is hastily lit as well.
Bjorn looks up at the sound of swords being drawn, and looks about anxiously. He is still with the group of magi who were walking together, but doesn't see too many grogs around them. hoping that the other magi would be capable of taking care of themselves in a fight, he quickly goes over the spells he knows. Tucking his precious bundle under one arm, he lays his free hand on the leather strap he has going from his belt over one shoulder. In form fitting loops, there are sets of finely carved wooden pegs; Bjorns casting tools.
Dermot was further back in the luggage train attending to other business as they approached. At the sound of an alarm he rushes forward and calls out to the camp.
"Oisian! It's me Dermot you fool! Get your brother out here and bring some lights! We've finally arrived!"
In the camp there is silence for a few moments. "I dunno...should we trust 'im?" asks Oisial, followed by a Wap! "OW!" exclaims Oisial.
Tessa comes forward with a lamp in one hand and is shaking her left hand as if she was in some pain. In the light behind her you see Oisial rubbing the side of his head.
"Dermot? Well it's about bloody time!" she declares as she holds the lamp higher to see the rest of the group. "Well what are ye standing there for? Come in! It's bloody freezin' out here!"
In the campsite proper large circles have been cut into the frosty grass, these have small wooden planks across them at specific parts. Oisian, Boisial and Merry make sure that people walk only on the planks as they enter. Inside the air is noticebaly warmer, in fact quite comfortable. There are similar smaller circles in the camp as well, some of them with tarps up to protect from rain. The old and young gather into the warming circles to rest, while the able bodied get right to work placing their gear in specified areas as more light is produced, both magical and mundane.
You have arrived at the camp. Even with the light sources you can't adequately scout it, plus with the lateness of the day you're rather tired. You do see grassy rolling hills in every direction though, an ideal place for sheep.
Everyone that travelled here will have taken a Long Term Fatigue level. However, it will be gone by morning with a night's sleep. It just depends on what you want to do, figure that it's close to midnight.
