((Ok. What sort of investigation is Morticia doing? As in, what kind of spell she casts to detect ghosts, spirits or other supernatural phenomena? Off-hand, her Second Sight doesn't reveal anything special... at least for now. Completely OOC, I'd say her Per+Second Sight total is fairly low (2), so she'd need some very good rolls to detect anything subtle.))
For some reason I was thinking the base to see spirits was lower, with pluses to the Ease Factor based on the spirit's Might. No idea where I got that.
And it also looks like a spell to let you see spirits is hella high level I'm looking at Base 5 to "Sense any supernatural creature with a Might associated with Mentem. (RoP:M p.111)", R: Sight +4, D: Sun +2, T: Individual for a level of 35. Waaaaay beyond her spontability.
I guess, find out where people have seen the "spirits" the most (either by asking herself, if she can get anyone to trust her enough to extend her Parma over, or by having Lizetta or Alessandra ask around for her), and then exploring around there to see if there's anything unusual about the area.
A quick asking around by Lizetta and Alessandra (despite some language problems) reveal that none of the grogs and covenfolk have actually seen any ghost or spirit. Those that are local know better that to roam the forest at all, and the rest have been warned to avoid goig out of the protections of the walls (meaning the Aegis) at night, unless accompanied by one of the magi.
The few that dared to wander at night (not far and not for long) tell of wordless whispers being heard, impressions of movement just out of the corner of their eyes, feelings of oppression and anxiety, etc. There is also a tale that goes around about a few workers that simply disappeared during construction of the covenant's buildings. It is said that one of them was found, but the stories vary as to what the cause of his death was. Some say his throat was slashed and his own bloddy knife still clutched in his hand, others that he hanged himself, and another version say that he was simply contorted with his face frozen in an endless scream...
But of course, no one can confirm having seen the body with their own eyes.
((BTW, at the moment I'd be inclined to say that none of the covenfolk will agree to have Morticia extend her Parma to them. She has too many things going against her: Blatant Gift, newly arrived, doesn't speak their language, seen as just a visitor, etc. Most will simply avoid her touch and even meeting her eyes -- she's a wicked witch! So unless one of the other magi specifically order one to accept it, it's not going to happen for some time, perhaps even years. There may be a few exceptions, based on the specific individual on certain circumstances, but I think that would be the general rule for now. I can be convinced otherwise, but you'll have to make the argument.
))
That's fine, that's the price she pays for being Blatantly Gifted. Her own people have no problem, but then Lizetta and Alessandra have known her most of their lives (plus, Alessandra is Unaffected by the Gift).
Something for her to keep in mind to look into when she's better equipped.
Hmm...if no one's ever seen the body, then it may not have been properly buried. Perhaps she can find out (through Alessandra or her sodales) where this supposedly happened.
Somewhere in the forest. No one can pinpoint a location, although various theories and tales are told about it. Alessandra gets the sense this might rather be in the nature of an urban legend. Nevertheless, she passes on the information to Morticia.
Morticia's first-hand exploration with Lizetta reveals nothing ghost-like. She gets a little more familiar with the area, particularly the path between the covenant and the old tower.
There are also some grumbling and nasty rumours going around the barracks regarding her comings and goings at night, fueled by the effects of her blatant gift. But most are careful to only make comments when Lizetta and Morticia's other mundanes aren't present, so it is unlikely that she hears about them.
If we are going to be more interested in the forest ghosts, it may be helpful to stat them up. Here is a first draft: [url]https://forum.atlas-games.com/t/covenant-discussion/6916/456]
((reposting, just in case it got missed, from a few weeks ago.))
[color=blue]"If they are truly spirits and not fae manifestations of what the people fear, then yes. I feel that I have much to learn from those who have crossed the final barrier, and that they might be able to guide me in some way in my quest. Every little bit of information I can glean, I hope to fit into the grand puzzle I am piecing together. And I have no way of knowing which is the piece that will show me what I am creating."
Aedituus rubs the end of his nose. "Ah. A puzzle I understand, and truly there will be missing pieces when it comes to crossing into eternity. We must accept on faith that God gathers his creatures into his holy embrace upon their passing. These lingering spirits are but mere shadows of those who have gone to their rest." He tilts his head, looking at Morticia with wide eyes. "As for being faerie manifestations, I suppose that is possible, but I know little of the fae. I do know that the shades are affected by Mentem magicks, as ghosts and spirits are, and that they possess no power to overcome a Parma Magica."
Morticia nods softly. [color=blue]"That is a good place to start. Once I get myself better situated in the guest lab and get more familiar with the covenant and its surroundings, I would like to begin a more systematic investigation of the phenomena. As yet, I don't know what steps that will entail, but I would not be surprised if it's years, if not decades, before I am able to make any noticeable progress.
"Meanwhile, I would still like to contribute my efforts, such as they are, to keeping people alive. I spoke with a couple of people earlier, and they expressed...well, they did not see any benefit to my plan to setting up a hospital for the sick and wounded. He would prefer to keep them in the barracks, where their malignant humours might spread to the healthy people. Hans said that if I wanted change I should talk to 'the masters'. And while I do believe it would be somewhat less than the best use of my talents to oversee the day-to-day running of a hospital, I would be willing to help set it up and get it operational. What think you?"
((FWIW, Praxiteles is the steward/chamberlain at this time and can just make this change. While it affects the turb captain to some degree, having sick men in the barracks isn't really within his authority, IMO. It is probably reasonable that Morticia knows this, even if hasn't been explicitly mentioned already.))
((She just wants to make sure she's not the only one who thinks this is a good idea before she takes it to Praxiteles. Hans poo-pooed the idea, but the effects of the Gift, no doubt, played no small part in that.))
((Her Blatant Gift had an effect on his reaction, to be sure, on how he reacted to her and the amount of information he provided. But I would think that the idea of seperating the wounded from the healthy is relatively modern. At least when we're talking about grogs, who are mostly un-educated regarding medecine. It would pf course be different if we were talking about the plague or some other serious disease, but for the most part grogs would mostly be struck by minor illnesses like the common cold or the flu, or concerned about combat wounds where segregating them isn't so important from a health point of view.))
((On top of that, there is probably an infirmary set up within the barracks in a seperate room, with a few beds for the more seriously injured or sick. The turb has a skilled bone setter, so they are fairly well organized. Hans mentionned it but didn't elaborate. And Morticia didn't ask to see it either. Low Latin score for Hans + Blatant Gift for Morticia ))
Aedituus thinks back to his time in the monastery, when Brother Matthew treated the sick monks from a small hut near the herb garden. "Perhaps an Infirmarer's Cottage could be built near the gardens. I don't think anyone currently in the covenant has the experience or the time to see it stocked and maintained, however." He smiles, remembering his time under Matthew's firm but gentle tutelage. "It would certainly be a pleasant retreat, and I could practice skills that I have, alas, let lie dormant for many years. But that was a lifetime ago, and other pursuits beckon!" He rubs his nose, and helps himself to some of the grainy bread the servant brought.
[color=blue]"A small cottage that we use only in emergencies could be useful, if someone needs to be kept apart from the others...to keep their ill humours from spreading to others, for example. And if it's not used that often, it shouldn't be that hard to keep stocked. It might give us an opportunity to practice our arts on the living, as well."
((It would be impossible to fit such a cottage within the walls of the covenant without giving up something: space for the gardens or space for training the grogs. That is not to say that it couldn't be done, just that something else would have to be moved outside of the walls -- and the protection of the Aegis. Or the cottage could itself be built outside of the walls. Or at the secondary site. I'm simply saying that a decision would have to be made, and there might be some drawbacks to each option.))
Aedituus nods his agreement.
Aedituus swallows suddenly, briefly choking, his eyes wide. "My apologies, sodalis. I think I misunderstood your intent. Would you mind explaining what you mean?"
[color=blue]"My magic is inclined toward necromancy. While I would certainly welcome the opportunity to study the dead in my endeavor to close that door, I also have some talents with healing, as I try to keep people from passing through to the other side. I would simply welcome the opportunity to use my arts and abilities on the living, to keep them living."
Aedituus pauses for a moment, scratching his tonsure. "I see. As for pursuing knowledge of necromancy, I suppose the damnation of your soul is your own business." He pauses again, then shakes his head. "Pardon, sodalis, you obviously do not share my beliefs on this matter, and I do not mean to insult you. I am interested, as you are, in the healing arts, and have some knowledge of not only the Hermetic Arts of Creo and Corpus, but also the more mundane field of medicine. Perhaps we can find some common ground in these areas, and participate in a correspondence to further both our studies?"
[color=blue]"Agreed. I had suspected that a man of the cloth such as you might have...grave misgivings about my interests and talents, but I am surprised that you chose to express them so strongly, and so soon. Perhaps it would be best if we agree not to discuss any perceived theological implications until we get to know each other better, and focus on our common interests, and find a way that we can help each other, and the covenant, grow stronger." Morticia pauses to take a sip of her breakfast wine (or whatever they served that evening).
[color=blue]"Perhaps a storeroom where we can keep herbs, preparations, ointments, unguents, salves, and a variety of tools that would serve us well should be be called on to practice our medical arts?"
"A well-stocked store could be very helpful. I maintain some measure of remedies in my lab, but it is no great thing; as I said, my interests lie elsewhere now. Such a store will also bring a cost in terms of time, space, and supplies. Perhaps a room at the Aerie can be arranged?"" Aedituus taps the table thoughtfully. "We should bring this up at Council, where I will be happy to speak for it."