Chapter III (1230-1234)

Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Light of Andorra
241

Always.

Vocis ponders for a bit, then says Well, that's certainly a challenge. To address your proposals first, yes, illusions to mask buildings or the covenant itself could certainly be developed. My concern is that a determined enemy could bypass these rather quickly. This is doubly true if the enemy is already familiar with the layout or location of the covenant. If our goal is to defend against the same assailants that attacked in 1229, we'll need something much more complex.

I'm going to run through my ideas OOC for simplicity. I'm also going to ignore the details of any linked triggers. We can sort that out later.

Masking any of the buildings is a pretty simple MuIm effect. There's a spell in the NWG that conceals a castle at level 20. Even accounting for any NWG-related not-quite-rightness, that's something Vocis can manage pretty easily. Masking the covenant on short notice would be difficult/impossible, since it will (presumably) require a Boundary target and thus a ritual spell. If we're going to do this, we'd need to maintain it at all times and come up with ways to circumvent the illusion on a daily basis. There's also Illusion of the Misplaced Castle (ReIm 50) in the core book, but a) it's a ritual, b) it only lasts Sun duration, and c) we'd really need a lab text or casting tablet before Vocis can cast it. I think covenant-scale illusions are off the table as a reactive defense.

Once we get down to Room level, either for the library or the treasury, we have a lot more options. Here are some ideas...

  • Illusory ghosts that wander the halls and rooms, moaning or whispering horrible things and giving off a cold aura (CrIm with auditory and haptic species, maybe some Ig thrown in, maybe some Me for the ability to react to stimuli, Group target)
  • Frightening noises/voices behind the walls (CrIm with auditory species, possibly Structure target)
  • Fill a room with darkness (PeIg or CrIm depending on how we do it, Room target)
  • Fill a room with illusory fire that feels hot (CrIm with haptic species, Room target)
  • Mask the contents of a room with an illusion of a different room (CrIm, Room target)
  • Make the contents of a room invisible (PeIm, Room target)
  • Make all the books in the room/tower look identical (MuIm with visual and haptic species, not sure about target)
  • Create a room within a room, with an illusion of walls a few feet inside the actual walls, assumes important contents are along the walls (CrIm with haptic species, Room target)
  • Audrey's Kaleidoscope from the NWG, which would be very fun with Vocis's spiral sigil (MuIm, probably needs revising)

None of these would need to penetrate, with the exception of those with haptic species. Unfortunately, all of these can be overcome by someone with basic knowledge of Hermetic magic. They're best for fooling mundanes. To affect a magus with illusion-style effects, we'd need to switch to Mentem and add in a bunch of penetration. I have a few ideas, but Vocis can't make them.

  • Cause target to forget why he entered a room (PeMe, Touch or Room target)
  • Induce fear, guilt, or calm in a target (CrMe, Touch or Room target)
  • Panic of the Trembling Heart focused on valuable objects or areas (CrMe, Touch or Room target)
242

That would be a pretty effective way to keep Vibria from poking around where you don't want her poking, actually. :smiley:

243

Surprised, Arachné laughs out loud, heartily, for the first time since... way too long

You got me there, sir. Well done! :smiley:
Problem is, things aren't as simple as they appear. As we discussed, I can produce charged items in great quantities. But my art has its limits, one of these being those of my craft. And I know nothing of glassblowing, sadly: Such simple glassware would probably be very easy to create*. I could, however, create similar items under the guise of wooden spiders, for such is my specialty. It probably won't be as efficient, though, but given a proper trigger, it could do the trick.
Of course, that's not all, for I am also limited by my knowledge of the arts.
She muses over the documents, scrappes and writes on the wax tablets...
The first and third, I could do about 2 in two days, being competent enough in Rego, Corpus and Mentem.
But Creo Ignem... I suck at both, which makes the second item beyond my reach :frowning: Not unless I do these as regular Charged Items, something you'd do a lot better than me.

She ponders a little.
Tell you what? I am old, and easily forgets, so I will need you to remind me. But... You remind me of my friend Antonio, despite your lack of... goattitude. I've enjoyed your company, and will miss you.
Since you are going to join Andorra and take some risks for us, the least I can do is give you some, should these please you despite their peculiarities. You tell me, but this is a gift I would gladly make.**

  • 90 glass flasks per season for an artisan with skill 05, meaning about 01 per day. To compare, a simple spider takes her slightly under 02 days at skill 8.
    ** If she takes 8 days out of 10 free in Winter 1234, she should be able to craft him 8 spiders.

Don't forget that, by 1230, the Spider gave the covenant a Poor Sahir's Flying Carpet, which might calm carmen a little on that front.

If she really wants one, it should be evident for her that she can ask Arachné :wink:
Although the old maga is busy enough as it is :-/ At worst, she can still cram out more Poor Sahir's Flying Carpets, though.

244

Arachné absolutely LOVES all of Vocis ideas. This is christman time for her
This is awesome!!! You're even better at this than Clarisse! Used sparcingly, we can even hope to counfound an Hermetic Magus, especially if we mask the contents of a room with an illusion of a different room. Even the other illusions could, at worst, confuse them and make them lose enough time for the Magi to rally!
We just need to do some of these, we just need to decide what and where. Hell, we can maybe even cooperate with these, with my extanding your effect's durations.

(Although I think the write up on the second half of Audrey's Kaleidoscope is a little wanky. This might impede concentration or targeting, but there's absolutely no reason for it to stop a magi from casting a Voice or Sight range spell at the room or something within it. Sure, it may appear as though made of pink water, but it's still perceived)

A devious, wicked half-smile on her lips, making Vocis understand why she is called the Spider, the old maga answers: With this, I can help. I can design traps that'll rid a magus of his Parma Magica. This'd only leave the Form Resistance as a defense, which you should be able to penetrate. I could, of course, rob him of that as well, although this'd need him to activate a second trap in the right order.

245

The efficacy depends on another factor we haven't mentioned - the enemy's ultimate goals. If he's assaulting the covenant with theft in mind, illusions such as these will definitely slow him down. If he's looking to simply destroy everything, the delay will be brief. Also, you mentioned safeguarding the treasury. My illusions can't mask vis from Hermetic detection. It's possible this could be done with Perdo Vim by someone other than me.

I agree. It's a delaying tactic that works much better on mundanes.

Vocis returns her nasty smile. Well that's different. If we remove the need for penetration, I can enchant any Mentem effect of fourth magnitude or lower in a season. That should be sufficient for brief, overwhelming emotions. Before Arachne can respond, his good humor disappears. There is one major factor you need to consider, though. I have significant control over my spells. I can strengthen or weaken formulaic spells while casting, my spells last much longer than they should, and I can cancel an effect with a thought. However, these abilities come with a price. Every enchantment I make will die with me. I haven't mentioned this around Vulcanus because he'd likely insist I should be kept from enchanting anything, even personal items. However, I do want you to consider this as we formulate these plans.

His smile comes back, though it's a bit sad now. I actually used this in my first enchantment. Amelia's wedding ring. As long as the color of the stone can be changed, she knows I'm still alive.

246

Antonio. I met him one time at the Tagus when I was baptized a Knight of Seneca. Santiago told me to call him Grandmaster out of respect for his age and accomplishments. I heard about how he was taken by Twilight during his last battle. My condolences for your friend. I hope you see him again someday.
As for a lack of "goattitude", I do admit I am often conservative in such regards. Though every man has his lapses. But I do believe I have found True Love. Though it has not been an ideal situation for either of us. I am in love with a Triton Princess, Sotiera of the undersea city of Heracleion. I know it must be true love, for ever since our first night together the curse that burdens our magical gift has been lifted from me. Mundanes think I am one of them unless I display my power, and my presence no longer disturbs people. Or animals. Even horses!
I cherish our stolen moments together, but they are few and far between. She has a city to rule and a noble lineage to think of. She is a daughter of the sons of Triton, son of Neptune King of the Sea. I have won her heart, but to win her hand I have to win the respect of "gods". And I am a Christian man! How am I to earn the respect of false gods? How do you think that will make Jesus feel? As it is, she is able to slip away and meet with me every blue moon, when she is able to assume human form. There is this little fishing village in Evissa we like to stay at.
Yeah, she's a mermaid. Which is really kinky and weird, but she's hot. Not all scaly and mossy like other mermaids. Milky white skin, big green eyes, flowing golden hair, and a pair of...
um, she has a fish tail instead of legs. With a pair of fins. :slight_smile:
But a blue moon is like what? Once a year? I get to see my girl fiend a week once every *year? That sucks.
We do have a way of spending some quick time aside under the sea. She can grant people the gift to breath and stay dry underwater. And it's underwater, so she's a mermaid. Which is kinky and weird. I don't mind that though. It is just that it isn't quality time. It's fun. She showed me some interesting shipwrecks and we explored a chasm. But usually it is just a quick lunch and a quick "nap". And the last time I got to see her was a month ago. The Tritons are meeting with diplomats from Atlantis, something about some treaty concerning something I simply do not understand. And she has to be all hostess-y and attend dinners and receptions. And right now there is some other guy dancing with my gal, and it burns me up inside...
So I deal with it by focusing on my duty.
And on that note, I accept your gift. Peculiarities and all. Sleeping spiders. I have a spell for paralysis and I am not yet skilled with Mentem spells. Now the question is the Activation. It needs to be a Natural trigger, not an Environmental one. It is for use against mundanes, so no Penetration and no worry about it backfiring. Squeeze and throw, once it hits something it goes off. The sleeping spider, that one has a true area of effect and affects multiple people (+3 magnitudes), that one is best suited for this concept.

247

All the while, Arachne listens to Vocis carefully.
I agree, but everything we can do is good to take. The more we prepare, the harder a time they would have. Now, masking our vis stores, that's an idea, and something I should be able to do. I know a thing of two about Perdo Vim. This is, after all, just a variant of Masking the Odor of Magic. Too bad I probably can't spont this :-/ But!!! I can probably craft a spider that would do it! And you could further hide it from mundane detection.

Pe 15 + Vim 14 + Sta 01 + Aura 05 = 35.
If she does something with Ring / Circle and Touch, she can have a base up to 20, for a 1-time only spider. This would hide our vis from spells under (20+10)*2 = lvl 60. Nice.

Arachne frowns
Now, that's surely a problem... But as I see it, unless and until someone else can do it, this is better than nothing, even if it means we'll have to replace these enchantments sooner or later. Your usage of covenant vis for covenant purposes is for the council to decide, and even it has no say on how you use your vis allotment.
Should the council rule that we're better off with your help than without it, it'll provide he resources you need. And Vulcanus... Vulcanus is not the only one with an office here :imp: I am the Warden of Andorra, and its protection falls under my duty, not his.

I didn't knew you were married. This must mean I haven't socialized as much as I should have :wink:. But that's nice, and a nice present.

Actually, behind her relatively distant behavior, she is pleasantly surprised by Vocis, who proves to be a clever and competent magus, and a nice human being. That's very nice of him, and this betrays his concern for his wife. I overlooked him in favor of vulcanus, and that's a mistake, on all points. Sigh... And I must say I envy him. Isabelle... I do miss you.

248

All the while, Arachne listens to Vocis carefully.
I agree, but everything we can do is good to take. The more we prepare, the harder a time they would have. Now, masking our vis stores, that's an idea, and something I should be able to do. I know a thing of two about Perdo Vim. This is, after all, just a variant of Masking the Odor of Magic. Too bad I probably can't spont this :-/ But!!! I can probably craft a spider that would do it! And you could further hide it from mundane detection.

Pe 15 + Vim 14 + Sta 01 + Aura 05 = 35.
If she does something with Ring / Circle and Touch, she can have a base up to 20, for a 1-time only spider. This would hide our vis from spells under (20+10)*2 = lvl 60. Nice.

Arachne frowns
Now, that's surely a problem... But as I see it, unless and until someone else can do it, this is better than nothing, even if it means we'll have to replace these enchantments sooner or later. Your usage of covenant vis for covenant purposes is for the council to decide, and even it has no say on how you use your vis allotment.
Should the council rule that we're better off with your help than without it, it'll provide he resources you need. And Vulcanus... Vulcanus is not the only one with an office here :imp: I am the Warden of Andorra, and its protection falls under my duty, not his.

I didn't knew you were married. This must mean I haven't socialized as much as I should have :wink:. But that's nice, and a nice present.

Actually, behind her relatively distant behavior, she is pleasantly surprised by Vocis, who proves to be a clever and competent magus, and a nice human being. That's very nice of him, and this betrays his concern for his wife. I overlooked him in favor of vulcanus, and that's a mistake, on all points. Sigh... And I must say I envy him. Isabelle... I do miss you.

249

Excellent. The combination should make life difficult for any Hermetic thief, at least for a short while.

Good golly. If they can see through that, they can have the vis. Of course, one good Wind of Mundane Silence renders most of this moot.

I wouldn't expect the council to side with him. I'd just rather not have to deal with his dramatics. My weakness does come with a hidden advantage though. If we accept that the enchantment will not outlive me, I can create them with a 70 year expiration and thus increase the power of the effects or the speed with which I can make them. Surely we can find new solutions before the turn of the next century.

(OOC note - I realize I might be munchkining with that. If the troupe objects, I'll redact the proposal.)

Vocis gives her a look of amused surprise. I should say so. It's clearly past time for you to dine with us. I'll speak with Amelia and we'll arrange something informal. She's accustomed to sharing my Parma, so don't worry about any Gift-related difficulties.

Um...thanks, I guess? :slight_smile:

(Just checking...Per 2 + Folk Ken 3 + spec 1 + roll 4 = 10...he probably picks up some sadness, but not enough to ask about it.)

250

Exactly. And it just occured to me that, for Vis, we don't even need to cloak it in illusions. We can use Gather the Essence of the Beast, or a similar effect, to put it into inocitous items. So long as they're inside the circle, they won't appear as magical, says Arachné.

Yes... But to dispell a lvl 30 effect (I'm downgrading it a little), they'd need a lvl 60 WomS. Still possible, but unlikely :smiling_imp:

Arachné sighs I understand :unamused: But we'll do what we have to do, Vulcanus be damned.

(I, personnally, would just scrap that rule, since that effect expiry almost never comes into play, so it's not really a disadvantage. And even if it does, by then, a lost season is worth it. But as far as I can tell, yes, Vocis can perfectly do it :wink: )

The aging maga gives Vocis a warm smile
It'll be a pleasure, and a privilege.

251

Hermetic like and rumors, for, say, 1232 to 1233

  • After the failing of 1228, discussions to allow the creation of a Lotharingian tribunal where under way between Florum and Durenmar, as Florum tried to gain the powerful covenant support at best, neutrality at worst. However, for unknown reasons, Philippus Niger declared a Wizard's War on Bastos of Flambeau and killed him. Despite Bastos reputation for brutality and lecherousness, Florum didn't take it well, and severed the negocations.
  • The Pirate activity near mallorca makes life really difficult for redcaps: Damien Leroy of Mercere's boat never came ashore, nor did the tall, gentle redcap.
  • The reconquista rages on, and the order of suleiman appears to push back: 2 spring covenants were destroyed, and not by mundane armies. The sad thing being that one of them, the Glade of Summer, was a pacifist covenant that welcomed both christians and muslims.
  • Phoenix covenant's fall into winter ended, as its last maga, the diminutive viscaria, abandonned it, taking any and all valuables.
  • A normandy magus supposedly managed to bound his mundane wife as a familiar, although it is suspected that it is in fact yet another case of a familiar taking human form.
  • Bonisagus researchers push back the bounds of hermetic magic yet again, showcasing how one can use hermetic magic in new and novel ways (new published guidelines appear)

by bye!!! gotta go!

252

Roberto can confirm some of this...

  • He voted against the Lotharingian tribunal idea, but know little about the relations & negotiations between Florum and Durenmar
  • He can confirm that the pirate activity around Mallorca and the other islands is pretty bad. He encountered a hedge wizard pirate not too long ago, and suspects there may be more of his cabal.
  • He has actually been out of the loop as far as the Reconquista goes, and is unaware of Order of Suleiman activity in Iberia.
  • He knew Viscara briefly at Mons Electi
  • He knows the Normandy magus in question. Wirth of Flambeau from Novus Mane formed a mystical bond with his wife. Wirth is Roberto's amicus, and he helped him in an adventure in Greece to obtain the secrets of this mystery.
  • As far as new magic, there is tons of stuff out there :smiley:
253

Roberto has been invited to join Andorra and to lead an expedition to Mallorca. But this isn't about him. He is just here at Andorra with his whole entourage, which includes his right hand man Carlos Guiterrez.
One day, while playing ball in the exercise yard with Roberto, a certain fiery maga catches his eye. He sees Vibria of Flambeau, training and practicing swordplay and coordinated combat alongside the grogs.
...
Later that evening, sitting outside in the yard not to far from Vibria's window, a lone guitar player sings a sweet song...
(attribute the sounds of multiple singers and guitars to the fact that Carlos has Venus' Blessing, so his ballads just sound that extra wow when he plays for chix, kinda like a 13[sup]th[/sup] century rock star :wink: )

254

((Looking at the planner, this is probably Summer of 1233, since the Turn of the Tide introductory episode is that Autumn, right? And well before the events of Christmas in Barcelona.))

After a long day of beating on people with practice swords, and getting beaten on in return, Vibria is enjoying a boiling luke-warm bath while Lucia brings up her dinner.

The maid scowls at the window when Carlos starts to sing. [color=gray]"What is that...racket?" she mutters.

[color=red]"Sounds like singing," Vibria answers as she steps out of the bath and reaches for the towel, oblivious to Lucia's gawking.

[color=red]"In fact, it sounds like one of us is being serenaded."

[color=gray]"Probably you, then. You're the beautiful one."

Vibria smiles as she shrugs into a robe. [color=red]"That's sweet of you to say that. But it could be you, you know. Could be some dashing gentleman wanting to court you.

"Tell you what," Vibria continues as Lucia snorts her derision. [color=red]"Let's both sit by the window and let him sing to us." She then throws open the shutters and sits by the windowsill as Lucia hovers in the background.

255

I have no idea what to do with "Turn the Tide". That sorta got dropped in my lap. I am just linking that season to when Roberto joined the covenant as a Journeyman. And that is pretty much all that happened in that story I guess. As far as the actual expedition, I switched to using Barcelona as the jump point. That is where Pere is introduced, and the McGuffin of a house in a regio and a missing map is introduced. Pere got volunteered by Farusca. :smiley:
But the actual Mallorca story has yet to be launched. So this could take place anywhere between Summer 1233 and Autumn 1235 (the full cycle length as was promised). Perhaps Spring 1234 is best? After Lucia has returned from Barcelona.
I also wanna run the Spring 1234 council meeting as a storythread.

Carlos will notice Lucia hovering in the background. How old is she now?
You may have notice in a previous saga that Carlos is in love with being in love. And those who lack love make him sad and want to reach out to them.
He doesn't know the maid's name. But he has seen her around before in the background. Little miss tough guy.
He is a ham and does love an audience. Carlos tries to catch Lucia's eye and then plays something more dramatic.
an Andalusian style Flamenco Malaguena.

At some point Vibria is going to notice a fat orange tabby cat with a face like Jonah Hex, sitting next to her and watching Carlos play. When he notices she notices him, he leans over and says You know, he isn't really as good as most people think he is. I mean, he's fairly competent with about a dozen or so songs. I have heard them all again and again though. And every time he finds some new girl to play for they just swoon and it makes him think he's awesome. Roberto never notices. He likes hearing the same few songs. He likes watching other people watch Carlos play, trying to live vicariously Through him. Issues with social acceptance.

256

Spring of 1234 works for me.

Spring of 1234, she would be 20. And Vibria is 28.

Lucia smiles in spite of herself. Even though Carlos totally isn't her type, she still appreciates talent when she hears it.

[color=red]"So, Carlos isn't really interested in me as much as he is interested in my being interested in him? Interesting.

"Roberto...he's the new one, Flambeau, right? Don't pretty much all magi have problems being accepted? Comes with the Gift."

257

Meh, I wouldn't say that. He does thrive off of the attention, but it is more like he needs the approval of women and wants them all to be pleased with him. He is a rooster, I'll give you that. But I have seen him form deep meaningful relationships with woman that are platonic yet every bit as deep and pure as any love. There is this widow woman back at Mons Electi that he often sens me to visit and return with messages. She is the servant to a maga there, and has two children he liked to play with and sing songs to. I guess he knows some rhymes and stories too. But still, he keeps repeating a few favorites over and over again. The man needs fresh material and invest some time in hiz skillz. I tell ya. He has potential and talent, but his profession has ever been a soldier and music but a hobby.

Whatever. You don't seem to bother each other tooo much, and most cats I know think youz guyz iz fine. kaff My accent is slipping. I noticed most regular hooman..., humans are irritated by magi, and Roberto used to have that problem much worse. I mean, people still think he is a jerk, but are much more able to tolerate him than they were in days past. Ever since he started dating that mermaid. He claims that True Love has made his Gift Gentle. I think he is full of crap. What kind of True love is it when she won't let her family know they are courting and he only gets to see her once every few months in secret? And I don't trust her. She lives underwater. Fire is difficult underwater and it's cold down there. I sleep in a burning fireplace in the summer, the icy depths of the sea are not for me.
...
Eh? ...
Roberto...
He wants to know if you will play with him tomorrow.
Wait...
Oh :smiley:
He wants to know if you would like to play some Flambeau games and exercises tomorrow morning.
(roleplaying the mental link :slight_smile: )

258

Vibria smiles. [color=red]"Well, that's certainly a new approach."

[color=red]"I know what you mean. Sleeping in the fireplace, eh?" She looks back at her bedroom to see how big the fireplaces are, then shakes her head. [color=red]"I might fit in one, but it would be rather lumpy. And I'd have to sleep in the nude, which would be rather cruel to Lucia."

Lucia blushes...which isn't really a good look on her.

[color=red]"Pardon? Didn't you just say..."

[color=red]"Oh. What time, and what did he have in mind? Sparring, or...?"

259

He mentioned friendly Certamen, maybe Test of Flames. Practice some spell mastery. He thinks he's good at Dimica-ticitactoe. But he's not. His parens and mentor taught him a sort of no-holds-barred hardcore practice version, and he relies on what others might consider "cheating".
But I'll tell you this. He just learned out about your dragon heritage the other day. After we have been here a few months now. So he might be curious about that.
Or maybe not.

260

Vibria grins. [color=red]"He really doesn't want to go up against me in a Test of Flames. But tell him I'll be in the training yard after breakfast tomorrow. I'm not hard to miss.

Practicing the Dimicatio could be...interesting. We'll see how that goes. I might have to cheat, too."