Covenant description

Topic for displaying all items for the covenant as agreed upon by the troupe.

Boons
Site
Minor Boon: Regio (Covenants p8)
Minor Boon: Vivid Environment (Covenants p9)
2x Minor Boon: Aura (to bring aura up to 5)
Minor Boon: Difficult access (Built into the side of the cliff)
5 boons

Fortifications
Free Choice: Manor (It's a bit like a manor for defence purposes, anyway)
Minor boon: Edifices (Together, the three very beautiful and impressive halls in the picture counting as a single edifice) (p14)
1 boon

Resources
Major boon:Wealthy. The covenant derives vast mundane revenues from livestock, mostly sheep. Wool, meat, cheese and parchment production are all part of the revenue streak. The covenant itself owns several thousand head of sheep.
1 boon
Residents
Free Choice: Peasants (p18)

9 total boons

Hooks
Surrounding
Minor Hook: Outbuildings (Presumably most of the grogs live in much less impressive buildings further down the cliff) (p15)
Minor Hook: Legendary Site (Bibracte, the Celtic Capital) (p25)
Minor Hook: Roman Ruins (the ruins of Roman Bibracte) (p25) [1]
Major Hook: Hermetic Services (p21) -Parchment, vellum
Most of the parchment produced goes to OoH users and it is generally prized so even if people are upset based on the politics of the covenant, it will still be in demand, but there could be "accidents" or sales have to go further afield. So far most parchment has been sold directly and locally, without involving Mercere in trades. If Mercere needs to facilitate trades (not just delivery) profits will go down, slightly.

Major Hook: Tribunal Border (p22)
There is another covenant to the south, in the same Tribunal, but Provencal and Great Alps (due to Apollodorus' friendship to Andru) are all interested in what's going on. This will create a lot of political issues related to the formation of a new covenant in this location. Additionally, there's the Lotharingian Tribunal issue, put it all together and you've got politics related to border issues. Note, Apollodorus has been less than forthcoming about this possibility. Additionally vis sources you create or have me create are heretofore unknown until Apollodorus registers them with Redcaps. This alone will create a stir when its' found that Apollodorus has enough resources to finance such a large covenant (6 total magi).

[1] I left the Roman Ruins here, even though the ruins are celtic, there are still some things here (partial wall remains, stonework), and it draws attention, and explains the belief that there was a former Diedne covenant here, too.
9 total hooks

Items
The Tapestry of the Watch
This large tapestry hangs in the Great Hall (or whatever we have). It appears to be a beautifully woven image of the hilltop on which the ruins of Bribracte stand - the hill from which one enters the regio. If you look at it long enough, however, you'll notice that it changes: clouds move across the sky; the trees in the tapestry sway in the wind. If you watch for long enough, the sun will sinks down to the horizon and then set, and the moon and stars will appear. If you watch all night, you'll see the dawn in the tapestry, too.

In fact the tapestry constantly shows an image of what's happening outside the main entrance to the regio. If anyone is approaching the entrance, their image will appear in the tapestry. It's beautiful, yes, but it's also an advance warning system, to let the magi know of any visitors, welcome or otherwise, before they arrive.

Built as the following:
For sensing the image elsewhere:
Int Im 19 (Base 1, +4 arc, +2 sun, +1pt for 2 uses/day, +3pts for trigger: sunrise/sunset)
For displaying it in the tapestry:
Cr Im 16 (Base 1, +2 sun, +10pts for unlimited uses per day, +3pts for trigger: linked to other spell)
Total levels: 35
Total cost: 14bp

Vis Sources
I thought I'd describe the vis sources as a kind of journey from the main halls of the covenant up towards Iosephus' sanctum. Think of it as a tour of the grounds!

Behind the covenant's beautiful halls, there is a cliff. There is a narrow, rocky path - almost just a ledge - that winds up the side of the cliff. If you climb that path, you'll wind upwards and upwards until you eventually come to a wider ledge, where there grows a shady grove of mulberry trees. The trees are full of silkworms, weaving.

The discarded silkworm cocoons can be collected and made into silk. The silk can then be re-woven into patterns of magical significance. The re-woven silk patterns are worth 5pts of Muto vis.
(25bp)

Stay on the ledge near the mulberry trees. If you carefully shift aside the branches of the trees - taking care not to damage any of the cocoons being spun - you'll discover the entrance to a cave. The cave is narrow at first, but as you follow it deeper into the cliff it widens out into a broad cavern.

This cavern is highly magical. Its ceiling drips with water, forming long stalactites, stalagmites, and pillars. These rock formations grow and change with extraordinary speed - extraordinary in geological terms, that is. Every year there are new formations, and the cavern looks different and must be navigated differently.

Periodically, parts of stalactites will break off and fall to the floor, shattering into strange shapes. Certain of these rock shards contain vis: you can tell which ones they are by the shape. If collected, ground up into a fine powder, and mixed with lime (the mineral, not the citrus fruit!), they are worth 5pts of Vim vis per year.
(25bp)

Gradually, throughout the year, a thin layer of water pools at the lowest point in the cavern floor. On the Winter solstice, you can set up a series of mirrors to bring moonlight into the cavern, and shine it into the pool. Water collected at that time contains 2pts of Aquam vis.
(10bp)

There is an entrance to a further tunnel on the far side of the cavern. This tunnel takes you up into the rock, and then outside again onto the face of the cliff, much higher up. There's another narrow path there, winding its way up the cliff-face. This path is very exposed to the wind, and gets very blustery. If you're up there during a very bad storm, and manage to catch a something blowing by - perhaps a leaf or twig - then the leaf or twig can be torn apart to release a pawn of Auram vis. This is worth about 2 pts of Auram vis per year (or rather, let's say exactly 2pts every year, for bookkeeping purposes).
(10bp)

If you wind further up the narrow path, hugging the side of the cliff, you'll eventually get to to Iosephus' sanctum, which is in a cave high up near the top of the cliff.

Iosephus' Sanctum

Iosephus' Sanctum is reached via the very steep and narrow path that runs up the side of the cliff. Once you near the top of the cliff, the path seems to end abruptly with a steep, long drop. In fact, if you turn to the wall of the cliff at the end of the path, and cast some sort of magic to remove the rock, you'll find that there's a doorway leading into the cliff.

Inside, there's a very beautiful magical cavern. Like the cavern below - the one you've already come through if you walked all the way up - it has stalactites and stalagmites coming from the roof and floor in a strange profusion. They shift and change over the seasons, so the cavern never looks quite the same from year to year. What's different about this cavern, though, is that its walls, floor, and ceiling are all striated by seams of glittering silver rock. These bands of rock glitter and shimmer in the light - assuming you brought a light. When a magus enters the cave, they glow - enough to provide plenty of light for reading. With time, a magus can learn to calm that magical part of himself that the bands of rock are glowing in response to, so as to allow darkness for sleeping.

Under normal circumstances, "Circle of Beast Warding" and "Ward Against the Curious Scullion" (Covenants p104) have been cast across the various entrances to the sanctum.

Iosephus' Lab

Iosephus' lab is in a neighbouring cavern, very much like the one described. This cavern, however, opens out onto a wide rock ledge. Half of the lab is somewhat sheltered by the overhanging roof of the cave, and half is on the rock ledge, entirely exposed to the elements.

Size: +1 (Occupied -1)
Refinement: 0
General Quality: 0
Upkeep: +2
Safety: +2
Warping: +1
Health: +1
Aesthetics: +4

Specialisations: +1 Aq, +3 Au, +2 Te, +4 Mu, +1 Items, +1 Vis Extraction

Major Virtues:
Natural Environment: The lab has been constructed half-in, half-out of a cave at the top of the cliff behind the covenant. (+2 Aesthetics, +1 Aq, +1 Au, +1 Te)
Major Flaws:
Outdoors: Half of the lab extends out onto the wide rock ledge that hangs out from the cliff. This leaves it very exposed to the elements. (-1 General quality, +2 Upkeep, -1 Safety, -1 Health, -3 Aesthetics)
Free Virtues:
Superior Equipment (+1 General Quality, +1 Safety, +1 Vis Extraction) )
Superior Tools (+1 Safety, +1 Items)
Superior Construction (+1 Safety, +1 Aesthetics)
Mountaintop (-1 Safety, +1 Upkeep, +2 Aesthetics, +2 Au)
Idyllic Surroundings (+2 Health, +1 Aesthetics, +1 Te)
Free Flaws:
Deformed: the constant shifting of the lab walls often creates strange, inconvenient deformations in the shape of the lab (-1 Aesthetics, +1 Mu)
Disguised: the entrance to the lab is usually blocked by the raw stone of the wall. It has to be transformed into something else magically in order for Iosephus to enter (-1 Aesthetics)
Minor Virtues:
Spacious: The ledge is wide, and the cave is deep (+2 Safety, +1 Aesthetics) (Free due to size +1 not filled)
Magical Lighting: The cave walls are streaked with seams of silvery rock that shimmer in the darkness when a magus approaches, providing good light whenever necessary. (+1 Aesthetics, +1 Texts, +1 Im) (no space cost)
Lesser Feature : The shimmering, constantly changing stalactites and stalagmites count as a lesser feature (+1 Aesthetics, +1 Mu)
Minor Flaws:
Missing Equipment: as yet, the lab has no equipment for teaching or for binding a familiar. (-1 Upkeep)
Chaotic: The cave walls, floor, and ceiling grow, shrink, shift, and change over time. (-2 Safety, +1 Warping, +1 Experimentation, +2 Mu)

Lab Cost: Paying for 1 major virtue and 2 minor virtues (40bp)

Library

Summae

A Testament to the Power of the Heavens
(Auram Level 16 Quality 15) (31 bp)

The Stag, The Hound, and The Prince of the Seven Crowns
(Rego Level 16 Quality 15) (31 bp)

A Primer on Origination
(Creo Level 6, Quality 21) (27bp)

Alberich's Colloquy on Appearances
(Imaginem Level 6, Quality 21) (27bp)

Lab Texts
Lab texts for 50 levels of spells (to come) (10bp)

Total: 250 bp

Vis Source: At a lonely grave nestled deep in the valley, a rose blooms in late Autumn, well past when any new blooms should grow. It is black as night and for the week that it blooms it drops a petal each night until on the seventh it drops its last and withers back into the ground. Each petal is worth Corpus Vis, and during the week the ghost of the mournful Widow of the man buried in the grave comes to gather the petals to fuel her sorrow for another year. Each night she returns to gather a petal and will be quite angry with any that try to deny her. Destroying the ghost though could also stop the rose from growing, and gathering the petals too soon yields no vis. 7 pawns of Corpus Vis 35 build points

Vis Source: The great game. Beneath the earth in a large chamber, the fae play a game of chess with moving statues of rock. The King statue is worth Terram vis and the craggy goblins that play are masters at beating each other as they have played the same game move-for-move for decades. If one were to challenge one in a game, they could keep the vis of the King, which provides the benefit of being Dedicated Vis (Realms of Power: Magic) of ReTe. The King is worth 6 pawns of Dedicated Vis: 45 Build points, its form is that of a stone statue about 2 feet tall carved into a chess king. It weighs about 2 Stone (almost 30 pounds)

Lab texts:
Aegis of the Hearth 35[1] 6
Cheating the Reaper 30 (Casting Tablet) 30 12
Incantation of the Body Made Whole (Casting Tablet) 40 16
Lay to Rest the Haunting Spirit 20 4
Demon’s Eternal Oblivion 20 4
Conjuring the Mystic Tower 35 7
Ward Against Heat and Flames 25 5
Ward Against Mundane Intrusions 35 (Covenants 104) 7
Gleam of the Freshly Polished Glass 25 (Covenants 122) 5
The Gentle Herd 20 (Covenants 51) 4
The Wizard’s Mount 35 7
Wizard’s Communion 30 6
Maintaining the Demanding Spell 20 4
Charge of the Angry Winds 15 3
Wizard’s Sidestep 10 2
Frosty Breath of the Spoken Lie 20 4

Books:
In Flux-Veritas Summa Level 12 Quality 19 Written by the apprentice of Mutante of Mercere, this is often considered to be an essential book on the Technique of Muto. As it was written by a Mercere it was widely circulated throughout the Order as the Order spread. A tradition of sorts arose with the spread of the text, there are several Commentaries (Covenants pg 90) written about this text that have also spread with it, some achieving a similar amount of gravitas and fame. When one seeks to get the Summa In Flux-Veritas, one inavriably seeks out some of the many well maintained Commentaries that were published along with it. 31 Build points.

Commentary: Hastus of Bjoernaer Qaulity 12. One of the first and most complimentary of the Commentaries. Hastus was so impressed with the text that he entered into service for the Mercere, often helping their Redcaps through the most dangerous parts of the Black Forest of Germany. (11 Build points, Commentaries get +1 Quality for free)

Commentary: Desiderus of Flambeau Quality 12. This wizard is probably more famous as being one of the early causalties in the Schism War, dying in an ill conceived plan to attack a Diedne mystical site. What makes this somewhat unique is that his plan seems to be hastily scrawled on the last page of the text. (11 Build points, Commentaries get +1 Quality for free)

Commentary: Obesarus of House Verditius Quality 12. A scathing rebuttal of the virtues of Muto and Mutante's premises. Obesarus's contention is that Muto is unable to help him 'change' his extraordinary obesity (linked some say to both his Gift and his rather gluttonous behavior) and proclaims that Muto should mostly be done away with as a Technique altogether, that Rego, Creo and Perdo more effectively do the job of Muto. (11 Build points, Commentaries get +1 Quality for free)

Magic Items:
Verditian Trove: 10 Build Points
A small trove of minorly enchanted Items of Quality by a Verditian magesmith. Each item is worth 2 Build Points.
2 Swords: +4 Harm Human and Animal Bodies (adds 4 for Attack score against man or beast)
Suit of Half Chain: +7 Protect wearer (adds 7 to Soak, total soak +13)
Shield: +5 Protection (adds 5 to Defense score))
Bandages: +4 Healing Wounds (adds 4 to the Recovery roll of the wounded person dressed in them)

[1] The lab text has been upgraded to 35th level from 30th level at no cost. I'm adjusting the Aegis of the Hearth with the following guidelines: Base boundary is a 100 pace circle, which amounts to ~70,686 square feet or 1.61938 acres. Adjusting the boundary up by one magnitude, would reduce the effecitve Aegis coverage by one magnitude and increase the area covered by a factor of 10. To cover the 200 hectares (494.022 acres), which is the exterior wall on top of Mont Beuvray one needs to increase the boundary to 1,619.38 acres, or +3 magnitudes. The Aegis will cover the entirety of the mount and onto the other side of the Regio with ease at 20th level effect.

6: Glassblower (Specialist) with Craft:Glassblowing 6, allowing for the free lab virtue "superior equipment" without additional upkeep
6: Toolsmith (Specialst) with Craft: Forge tools 6, allowing for the free lab virtue "superior tools" without additional upkeep
13: Teacher (special Specialist) with Com +2, Teaching 6 and Artes Liberales, Latin, French and Philosophiae 5
100: All 5 PC labs will be Size +1 (if anyone wants anything bigger then that, spend more points to make yours even bigger), with the free virtues "superior equipment", "superior tools" and "superior construction" (if you dont want to buy a minor virtue for your lab now, it will also get "spacious" for free)
20: Silviatos' designated lab will have, in addition to the above mentioned free virtues, these virtues and flaws: "dedicated building" (free virtue), "idyllic surroundings" (free virtue, specialization Cr because of all the plants growing there), "opulent" (minor virtue), "superior heating" (minor virtue) and "undecorated" (minor flaw). That means a total upkeep of +2 which i think should be ok.
50: 1st Monday of May Festival - as proposed by the GM, vis source producing 1 rook of Mentem vis per year
35: "Unifying principles of our magic" by Arturo ex Bonisagus, Summa on magic theory, Level 6, Quality 17
20: Reserve of points for any specialists we might need during our game

Experts
6 Vintner
6 Scribe
5 Percamanarius

Vis Sources
10 In the ruins of Bibracte is a small fountain that still pours water. Every winter, the mouth of the pipe freezes over. At dawn of the first full moon after the pipe starts to thaw, the ice fully breaks free. The chunks of ice gathered at this time form three pawns of Aquam vis.
15 Every fall, an albino squirrel starts to gather nuts in the neighboring forest for the coming winter and buries them on the edge of the covenant. The first three nuts that he buries become Herbam Vis if unearthed under the light of the next full moon and exposed to the light of the moon for at least a Diameter.
10 Every so often, whenever a major decision (or a series of them) must be made in the area of Autun, two gemstones appear at the Pierre de la Wivre. One is a garnet in the shape of a woman, the other is an emerald in roughly the shape of a serpent. Each one is a Pawn of Rego Vis. (not sure about the timing on this one, might need a little tweaking...but I'm going for something that's not easily predictable. Basically, the mystical energy from making a decision, or the accumulated energy of a series of decisions) Also, I'm thinking we need to do something with the Wivre...that's just too awesome an idea to let lie fallow, but I'm currently at a loss as to what

Library (Books)
25 The Grandest Jest by Garkin ex Tytalus (Perdo summa). Level 15, Quality 10.
28 The Secret Lives of Our Verdant Brethren by Henrike ex Merinita (Herbam summa). Level 16, Quality 12.
23 Twilight's Inevitable Triumph by Istavan ex Criamon (Vim summa). Level 14 Quality 9.
31 Illuminating the Body Human by Marius ex Bonisagus (Corpus summa). Level 16 Quality 15. The Quality of the text includes the following Resonances: The vellum is made from human skin, the ink is composed of human blood, and the cover boards are human bone that has been Regoed to their current shape.
27 Knowing the Beast Without by Mikhail ex Bjornaer (Animal summa): Level 15, Quality 11.
25 Peering into the Aether by Fulminous ex Miscellanea (Intellego summa): level 14, quality 11

Library (Lab Texts)
4 The Gentle Herd (ReAn 20)

Casting Tablet
14 The Bountiful Feast (CrHe 35)

Magic Items
21 Lamps of Illumination: These lamps, carved from pine, are enchanted to provide illumination (light as bright as direct sunlight on a clear day) up to three times per day. The lamp must be touched and the command word given to activate, and again to end the enchantment. R: Personal, D: Concentration, Target: Individual. Base level 5, +1 magnitude for Concentration, +2 for number of uses, +5 to have the item maintain concentration. Final item Level 17. Build points: 7 each. There are three Lamps, all of which are stored in the Library.

[strike]The Oath of Covenant of Mons Electi
Being the charter of the Covenant of Mons Electi in the Year 1220 of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. I pledge my lifelong support and loyalty to the Covenant of Mons Electi, and declare that the trials and fortunes of this covenant are now my own. Just as I am pledged to the Oath of Hermes, so do I pledge the covenant to the Order of Hermes and the authority of the Tribunal of Normandy. I swear to uphold and protect this covenant regardless of the personal price. Over all the years of my life and throughout my studies and travels, I will neither betray the covenant nor give aid to its enemies. In times of need, I will aid the covenant in whatever way I am able, and I will devote myself to its service if the need is clear. I will abide by the decisions of the ruling council of this covenant, and I will treat these decisions as if they were my own. I will treat my fellows with respect and fairness, and I will not attempt to harm them in any way. Their blood is my blood. Where the covenant stands, there do I stand; how the covenant grows, so do I grow; should the covenant fall, then do I fall. This I so swear, upon the honor of my house and its Founder.

Membership
The covenant allows for two types of membership of its council, and recognizes a third status, which it offers to visitors to the covenant. The status of Protected Guest may be extended to any person by the formal invitation of a single full member of the covenant. Protected Guests are afforded the basic rights detailed by this charter, and are not obligated to the Council of Members, nor are they a member of this council. Protected Guests may partake in meetings of the Council of Members should they desire it, but are required to leave if asked to do so by a member of that council, and are afforded no voice nor vote unless granted such by the council’s chairman, the princeps. The status of Protected Guest may be may be revoked by the member who granted it, or by a vote of the Council of Members.

The status of Probationary Member of the Council may be extended to any magus in good standing of the Order of Hermes, who owes no allegiance nor fealty to any other covenant, and is admitted upon the unanimous approval of the current Council of Members. Provisional members assume the basic and provisional rights detailed by this charter and the duties therein attached. The status of provisional member shall last a period of seven seasons, unless abridged through censure or canceled through expulsion. The status of Full Member of the Council is extended upon the completion of the duties and obligations of a probationary member, unless testimony is brought against him that proves him unfit to swear the Oath of Covenant in good conscience; in which case all rights of membership will be withdrawn. Should elevation to the role of full member take place, then all rights and duties of probationary membership are shed, to be replaced with the assumption of the basic and full rights detailed by this charter, and the duties therein attached. Full membership persists, unless abridged through censure or canceled through expulsion.

Should a magus ever come to desire release from this covenant, he must renounce his Oath of Covenant in the presence of at least two members of the council, and shall thereby be relieved of all duties and rights, and may not call upon such rights furthermore.

Governance of this Covenant
The members of this covenant are governed by the Council of Members, which shall consist of all probationary and full members of the covenant. This council shall not declare action except on behalf of the entire membership of the covenant; no action may be demanded of individuals by council agreement. Conversely, the rulings of the council cannot be overturned by an individual.

Each member of the council will take on the heavy burden of day to day administration necessary, above and beyond what is done by the autocrat. This will be on a rotating basis, with the exception of Apollodorus ex Jerbiton, who will assume the position of Princeps Emeritus. This office will be the Acting Princeps, and the council invests authority in the office to act on its behalf to allow members as much time involved in study as they may wish. The Acting Princeps of the previous season, hereafter called Vice Princeps, may be called upon by the current Princeps or the autocrat if the current Princeps is unavailable for a specific task. Duties of this task involve harvesting of vis that is not possible without using Hermetic Arts, and tasks which the autocrat may be otherwise unable to perform. Members of the council wishing to convene a full council meeting should discuss the meeting with the Acting Princeps and Vice Princeps for concurrence to determine if a council meeting is truly necessary. The position of Princeps was created for the express purpose of limiting unnecessary council meetings. Any member of the covenant shall have the right and duty to convene the Council of Members for consideration of matters justly grave, and all members shall be charged with attendance and diligence in the proceedings. Should it not be possible to convene the full Council of Members, any quorum consisting of more than half of its current members is considered valid; else the discharge of the council’s duty must be delayed until such time as the full council may be convened. The Council of Members shall convene four times each year, one day prior to each equinox and solstice, regardless of call from any member, and all members of the covenant should endeavor to make themselves present.

Motions to be decided upon by the Council of Members must be introduced by a member; debated fully and justly, allowing those who wish to speak to do so; and then proposed for the vote. Proposals must be seconded by another member of the covenant, else no vote can take place. All issues shall be passed by a majority vote of the members there present; excepting that the unanimous opinion of the Council of Members is required for issues involving changes to the charter; expulsion of a member; and acceptance of a new probationary member.

The Princeps Emeritus expects to abstain from most votes taken by the council. In the event of a tie, the Princeps Emeritus will vote to break the tie.

Resources Owned by this Covenant
Apollodorus ex Jerbiton has donated considerable items, books, vis and time to the building of this covenant. Half of all the items Apollodorus has donated to the covenant belong to the council, immediately after it has formed. The other half will vest evenly over a period of twenty years, or until Apollodorus has passed into Final Twilight or passes naturally. In the event of foul play, prior to the vesting period, by a member of the council, as determined by a Quaesitore, all items will be turned over to House Jerbiton and this Covenant shall be void. Other Resources of this covenant are held in common by the Council of Members, and it is the responsibility of this council to maintain and defend them.

This covenant lays claim to all the vis originating from undisputed and unclaimed sources discovered by members of the council; save for the first harvest of a new vis source, which belongs to the finder or finders. This covenant also lays claim to any vis gifted to the Council of Members as a whole. In all other situations, undisputed and unclaimed vis belongs to the finder or finders.

This covenant lays claim to all books obtained by members of the council while acting at the behest of the council, and all books scribed by members of the council where payment was received for this scribing from the covenant’s resources. This covenant also lays claim to any texts gifted to the Council of Members as a whole.

This council lays claim to all magical items obtained by members of the council while acting at the behest of the council; and all magical items made by members of the council where payment was received for this manufacture from the covenant’s resources. This covenant also lays claim to any magical items gifted to the Council of Members as a whole.

This council lays claim to all monies generated using the resources of the covenant. This council also lays claim to all monies obtained by members of the council while acting at the behest of the council. This covenant also lays claim to any monies gifted to the Council of Members as a whole. This council lays claim to the buildings, defenses, chattels, and inhabitants of the covenant. This council also lays claim to any such buildings, defenses, chattels, and inhabitants gifted to the Council of Members as a whole.

Surplus resources of the covenant will be determined at the Winter meeting of the Council of Members. Resources necessary for the continued existence of the covenant and the protection of its members’ rights are accounted for first; this includes payment for seasons of work performed on behalf of the covenant, and a stipend of vis for the casting of the Aegis of the Hearth. Contributions to all debts owed to the covenant are decided by the princeps, and set aside. The remaining resources are deemed surplus, and shall be allocated to the settlement of requests from each member of the covenant

Rights of the Members of this Covenant
Each and every member of this covenant and protected guests shall be entitled to the basic rights of the covenant; to whit, full and unrestricted access to the protection and support of the covenant within the boundaries of the covenant by all the rights and benefits accorded by the Code of Hermes, the benefit of a sanctum which shall remain inviolate and the supply of materials thereof, access to the library of the covenant, and victuals appropriate to the status of a magus. These basic rights shall not be abridged except by expulsion from the Council of Members. In furtherance and additional to the basic rights, a full member of the covenant shall be entitled to the full rights of the covenant; to whit, the right to presence and a vote in the Council of Members, which he shall exercise dutifully with due prudence. Further, full and unrestricted access to the services and skills of the servants and covenfolk. Further, an equal right to all surplus provision and store necessary to conduct his studies, or the travel demanded by those studies; such rights to include (but be not limited to) vis, monies, and diverse magical and mundane resources claimed by the covenant. Where a conflict is evident between members of the council over the allotment of surplus resource, distribution is drawn by ballot; excepting that priority claims that have been advanced and agreed by the princeps are taken into consideration prior to the ballot. These rights shall not be abridged except by decision of the council under conditions of grave concern. In furtherance and additional to the basic rights of a member of this covenant, a probationary member of the covenant is entitled the probationary rights of the covenant; to whit, a fractional share of those rights and duties offered to a full member of the covenant, such share being equal to half that offered to full members. A probationary member’s vote counts only half of that of a full member, and they may only claim half the share of the surplus provision and store of the covenant’s resources afforded a full member. The services and skills of the servants and covenfolk may not be halved, but the needs of a full member of the covenant take precedence over the needs of a probationary member. Further, a probationary member of the covenant who remains true to his Oath of Covenant has the right to remain at the covenant for a total of seven seasons following the conferral of this status. Further, a probationary member of the covenant has the right to be considered for full membership of this covenant after serving a total of seven seasons as a probationary member. These rights shall not be abridged except by decision of the council under conditions of grave concern .

Responsibilities of the Members of this Covenant
Members of this covenant are obligated to obey the Oath of Hermes and the Peripheral Code, as demanded by the Oath of Covenant; failure on this account will not be tolerated by the Council of Members, and the covenant reserves the right to censure those members who are convicted in just Tribunal of an offense against the Order of Hermes. The responsibility of the members of this covenant towards its lasting success is dependent on service to the covenant. The Council of Members will declare the duties that need to be performed at the regular meetings of the covenant. Such duties include (but are not limited to) the safeguarding and harvesting of the covenant’s claimed vis sources, the safeguarding and harvesting of the covenant’s income, the wellbeing and discipline of the covenant’s employees, the maintenance of the covenant’s resources, the increase of the covenant’s resources, and the maintenance of good relations with the covenant’s allies. Duties that will not entail more than a week of service at low personal risk will be assigned by the council to its members, with no more than one being assigned to each member in each season. Such assigned duties attract no recompense or advantage to the member who discharges them, but cannot be refused without reasonable extenuation. Duties which will entail a higher investment of time or personal risk will be offered up for service by the covenant. These services will attract a remuneration which shall be commensurate with the time, risk, and potential benefit to the covenant. This remuneration is decided by the princeps, but maintains a minimum payment which shall be, for a single season of work at low risk with a low gain, two pawns of vis, of the flavor most prevalent in the stores at the time. The princeps may increase the remuneration to increase the attractiveness of a particular urgent task, for the Council of Members is not empowered to force a member to accept one of these duties unless failure to perform it would be in breach of this covenant, in which case the threat of censure may be employed. All payments will be made in the Spring meeting of the Council. If there is more than one claimant for the service, and each claimant refuses to share the duty, then the princeps will assign the duty by ballot. If there is insufficient vis to meet the demands of the council, the princeps may withhold payment for one or more years. Covenant work may be declared such retroactively. Each probationary member of the covenant is obligated to perform no fewer than one of the tasks under remuneration currently outlined by the Council of Members during his period of probation. For this mandatory service, no payment need be offered by the Council of Members.

Censure of the Members of this Covenant
If a member should contravene the decisions of the council, by vote or by charter, then the member may be censured or expelled by a vote of the Council of Members. Censure requires the passing of a motion at a meeting of the Council of Members. The censure of a full member revokes the rights of that status, returning him to probationary status; whereupon he assumes all the duties and rights of that status. Censure must not prejudice the application of a probationary member to the position of full member of the covenant. The censure of a probationary member shall abridge the rights of the member to remain a probationary member of the covenant, and shall confer upon him instead the status of Protected Guest. The status of a Protected Guest may be withdrawn at any time by a vote of the Council of Members without need for censure.

Expulsion is enacted by a unanimous vote of the remaining Council of Members. Expulsion is the only means through which a member of the covenant shall lose his basic rights; and requires that the former member ceases to draw upon those basic rights subsequent to the first full moon after expulsion was enacted. Should a magus be cast out from the Order, it is the duty and obligation of this covenant that he shall also and without delay be expelled from this covenant.[/strike]

Not deleting this post, but the Charter was amended.

maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&m ... 792a4bd78f

Got distracted by a tangent...

((I'll make formatting changes at a later point, consistent with the formatting on the wiki.))

This being the charter of the Covenant of Mons Electi in the Year 1220 of Our Lord, Jesus Christ: I pledge my lifelong support and loyalty to the Covenant of Mons Electi, and declare that the trials and fortunes of this covenant are now my own. Just as I am pledged to the Oath of Hermes, so do I pledge the covenant to the Order of Hermes and the authority of the Tribunal of Normandy. I swear to uphold and protect this covenant regardless of the personal price. Over all the years of my life and throughout my studies and travels, I will neither betray the covenant nor give aid to its enemies. In times of need, I will aid the covenant in whatever way I am able, and I will devote myself to its service if the need is clear. I will abide by the decisions of the ruling council of this covenant, and I will treat these decisions as if they were my own. I will treat my fellows with respect and fairness, and I will not attempt to harm them in any way. Their blood is my blood. Where the covenant stands, there do I stand; how the covenant grows, so do I grow; should the covenant fall, then do I fall. This I so swear, upon the honor of my house and its Founder.

Membership

The covenant allows for two types of membership of its council, and recognizes a third status, which it offers to visitors to the covenant. The status of Protected Guest may be extended to any person by the formal invitation of a single Full Member of the covenant. Protected Guests are afforded the basic rights detailed by this charter, and are not obligated to the Council of Members, nor are they a Member of this council. Protected Guests may partake in meetings of the Council of Members should they desire it, but are required to leave if asked to do so by a Member of that council, and are afforded no voice nor vote unless granted such by the council’s chairman, the Princeps. The status of Protected Guest may be may be revoked by the Member who granted it, or by a vote of the Council of Members.

The status of Probationary Member of the Council may be extended to any magus in good standing of the Order of Hermes, who owes no allegiance nor fealty to any other covenant, and is admitted upon the unanimous approval of the current Council of Members. Provisional Members assume the basic and provisional rights detailed by this charter and the duties therein attached. The status of Provisional Member shall last a period of seven seasons, unless abridged through censure or canceled through expulsion. The status of Full Member of the Council is extended upon the completion of the duties and obligations of a probationary member, unless testimony is brought against him that proves him unfit to swear the Oath of Covenant in good conscience; in which case all rights of membership will be withdrawn. Should elevation to the role of Full Member take place, then all rights and duties of probationary membership are shed, to be replaced with the assumption of the basic and full rights detailed by this charter, and the duties therein attached. Full membership persists, unless abridged through censure or canceled through expulsion.

Should a magus ever come to desire release from this covenant, he must renounce his Oath of Covenant in the presence of at least two members of the council, and shall thereby be relieved of all duties and rights, and may not call upon such rights furthermore.

Governance of this Covenant

The members of this covenant are governed by the Council of Members, which shall consist of all Probationary and Full Members of the covenant. This council shall not declare action except on behalf of the entire membership of the covenant; no action may be demanded of individuals by council agreement. Conversely, the rulings of the council cannot be overturned by an individual.

The Council of Magi shall elect members of the council to serve the following offices:

The Aedilis is charged with the oversight of magical resources, including harvesting, storing, and maintaining an inventory of the Vis stores, is in charge of any and all enchanted items that belong to the Covenant, and shall maintain a listing of any members’ personal enchanted items that they have volunteered for the Covenant’s use, if needed.
The Diocetes shall be in charge of the Covenant’s mundane resources, including buildings, livestock, crops, and any other items not magical in nature.
The Imperator is charged with the development, maintenance and enhancement of the Covenant’s armed forces. The Imperator is also tasked with the development of strategies to safeguard the populace of the Covenant, including Members.
The Interpres shall be in charge of responsibilities regarding the Hermetic allies of the Council of Members.
The Princeps shall chair meetings of the Council, serve as the face of the Covenant in Hermetic affairs not covered by other Officers, and handle any matters not falling under the purview of other Officers.
The Scutatius is charged with the design, use and acquisition of the Covenant’s magical defenses, including the acquisition of lab texts and items to be used for the Covenant’s security and suggesting projects for the members of the Council to enhance the Covenant’s security.
The Villicus shall be in charge of the covenant’s relationships with mortals without the Covenant (including, but not limited to, craftsmen and traders, nobility, and the Church) and with the mortals associated with or inhabiting the Covenant.
Each Officer shall be elected by a majority vote of the Council, and shall serve so long as he is a Member in good standing of the Council, save where he is removed by a unanimous vote of the Council. The Officer may serve as long as he wills, subject to the previously-mentioned restrictions, and may resign his office at any time, by notifying the Council of his resignation.

An Officer of the Council shall name at least one other Member of the council to serve as his Deputy to make the performance of his duties go more smoothly, and to act as a temporary Officer in case of the Officer’s absence or incapacitation (including Twilight).

No Member of the Council may be forced to hold a particular office (as officer or deputy) against his will.

Any Member of the covenant shall have the right and duty to convene the Council of Members for consideration of matters justly grave, and all members shall be charged with attendance and diligence in the proceedings. Should it not be possible to convene the full Council of Members, any quorum consisting of more than half of its current members is considered valid; else the discharge of the council’s duty must be delayed until such time as the full council may be convened. The Council of Members shall convene four times each year, one day prior to each equinox and solstice, regardless of call from any member, and all members of the covenant should endeavor to make themselves present.

Motions to be decided upon by the Council of Members must be introduced by a member; debated fully and justly, allowing those who wish to speak to do so; and then proposed for the vote. Proposals must be seconded by another Member of the covenant, else no vote can take place. All issues shall be passed by a majority vote of the members there present; excepting that the unanimous opinion of the Council of Members is required for issues involving changes to the charter; expulsion of a member; and acceptance of a new Probationary Member.

Resources Owned by this Covenant

Apollodorus ex Jerbiton has donated considerable items, books, vis and time to the building of this covenant. Half of all the items Apollodorus has donated to the covenant belong to the council, immediately after it has formed. The other half will vest evenly over a period of twenty years, or until Apollodorus has passed into Final Twilight or passes naturally. In the event of foul play, prior to the vesting period, by a Member of the council, as determined by a Quaesitore, all items will be turned over to House Jerbiton and this Covenant shall be void. Other Resources of this covenant are held in common by the Council of Members, and it is the responsibility of this council to maintain and defend them.

This covenant lays claim to all the vis originating from undisputed and unclaimed sources discovered by members of the council; save for the first harvest of a new vis source, which belongs to the finder or finders. This covenant also lays claim to any vis gifted to the Council of Members as a whole. In all other situations, undisputed and unclaimed vis belongs to the finder or finders.

This covenant lays claim to all books obtained by members of the council while acting at the behest of the council, and all books scribed by members of the council where payment was received for this scribing from the covenant’s resources. This covenant also lays claim to any texts gifted to the Council of Members as a whole.

This council lays claim to all magical items obtained by members of the council while acting at the behest of the council; and all magical items made by members of the council where payment was received for this manufacture from the covenant’s resources. This covenant also lays claim to any magical items gifted to the Council of Members as a whole.

This council lays claim to all monies generated using the resources of the covenant. This council also lays claim to all monies obtained by members of the council while acting at the behest of the council. This covenant also lays claim to any monies gifted to the Council of Members as a whole. This council lays claim to the buildings, defenses, chattels, and inhabitants of the covenant. This council also lays claim to any such buildings, defenses, chattels, and inhabitants gifted to the Council of Members as a whole.

Surplus resources of the covenant will be determined at the Winter meeting of the Council of Members. Resources necessary for the continued existence of the covenant and the protection of its members’ rights are accounted for first; this includes payment for seasons of work performed on behalf of the covenant, and a stipend of vis for the casting of the Aegis of the Hearth. Contributions to all debts owed to the covenant are decided by the Princeps, and set aside. The remaining resources are deemed surplus, and shall be allocated to the settlement of requests from each Member of the covenant.

Rights of the Members of this Covenant

Each and every Member of this covenant and protected guests shall be entitled to the basic rights of the covenant; to wit, full and unrestricted access to the protection and support of the covenant within the boundaries of the covenant by all the rights and benefits accorded by the Code of Hermes, the benefit of a sanctum which shall remain inviolate and the supply of materials thereof, access to the library of the covenant, and victuals appropriate to the status of a magus. These basic rights shall not be abridged except by expulsion from the Council of Members. In furtherance and additional to the basic rights, a Full Member of the covenant shall be entitled to the full rights of the covenant; to wit, the right to presence and a vote in the Council of Members, which he shall exercise dutifully with due prudence. Further, full and unrestricted access to the services and skills of the servants and covenfolk. Further, an equal right to all surplus provision and store necessary to conduct his studies, or the travel demanded by those studies; such rights to include (but be not limited to) vis, monies, and diverse magical and mundane resources claimed by the covenant. Where a conflict is evident between members of the council over the allotment of surplus resource, distribution is drawn by ballot; excepting that priority claims that have been advanced and agreed by the Princeps are taken into consideration prior to the ballot. These rights shall not be abridged except by decision of the council under conditions of grave concern. In furtherance and additional to the basic rights of a Member of this covenant, a Probationary Member of the covenant is entitled the probationary rights of the covenant; to wit, a fractional share of those rights and duties offered to a Full Member of the covenant, such share being equal to half that offered to Full Members. A Probationary Member’s vote counts only half of that of a Full Member, and they may only claim half the share of the surplus provision and store of the covenant’s resources afforded a Full Member. The services and skills of the servants and covenfolk may not be halved, but the needs of a Full Member of the covenant take precedence over the needs of a Probationary Member. Further, a Probationary Member of the covenant who remains true to his Oath of Covenant has the right to remain at the covenant for a total of seven seasons following the conferral of this status. Further, a Probationary Member of the covenant has the right to be considered for full membership of this covenant after serving a total of seven seasons as a Probationary Member. These rights shall not be abridged except by decision of the council under conditions of grave concern.

Responsibilities of the Members of this Covenant

Members of this covenant are obligated to obey the Oath of Hermes and the Peripheral Code, as demanded by the Oath of Covenant; failure on this account will not be tolerated by the Council of Members, and the covenant reserves the right to censure those members who are convicted in just Tribunal of an offense against the Order of Hermes. The responsibility of the members of this covenant towards its lasting success is dependent on service to the covenant. The Council of Members will declare the duties that need to be performed at the regular meetings of the covenant. Such duties include (but are not limited to) the safeguarding and harvesting of the covenant’s claimed vis sources, the safeguarding and harvesting of the covenant’s income, the wellbeing and discipline of the covenant’s employees, the maintenance of the covenant’s resources, the increase of the covenant’s resources, and the maintenance of good relations with the covenant’s allies. Duties that will not entail more than a week of service at low personal risk will be assigned by the council to its members, with no more than one being assigned to each Member in each season. Such assigned duties attract no recompense or advantage to the Member who discharges them, but cannot be refused without reasonable extenuation. Duties which will entail a higher investment of time or personal risk will be offered up for service by the covenant. These services will attract a remuneration which shall be commensurate with the time, risk, and potential benefit to the covenant. This remuneration is decided by the Princeps, but maintains a minimum payment which shall be, for a single season of work at low risk with a low gain, two pawns of vis, of the flavor most prevalent in the stores at the time. The Princeps may increase the remuneration to increase the attractiveness of a particular urgent task, for the Council of Members is not empowered to force a Member to accept one of these duties unless failure to perform it would be in breach of this covenant, in which case the threat of censure may be employed. All payments will be made in the Spring meeting of the Council. If there is more than one claimant for the service, and each claimant refuses to share the duty, then the Princeps will assign the duty by ballot. If there is insufficient vis to meet the demands of the council, the Princeps may withhold payment for one or more years. Covenant work may be declared such retroactively. Each Probationary Member of the covenant is obligated to perform no fewer than one of the tasks under remuneration currently outlined by the Council of Members during his period of probation. For this mandatory service, no payment need be offered by the Council of Members.

Censure of the Members of this Covenant

If a Member should contravene the decisions of the council, by vote or by charter, then the Member may be censured or expelled by a vote of the Council of Members. Censure requires the passing of a motion at a meeting of the Council of Members. The censure of a Full Member revokes the rights of that status, returning him to probationary status; whereupon he assumes all the duties and rights of that status. Censure must not prejudice the application of a Probationary Member to the position of Full Member of the covenant. The censure of a Probationary Member shall abridge the rights of the Member to remain a Probationary Member of the covenant, and shall confer upon him instead the status of Protected Guest. The status of a Protected Guest may be withdrawn at any time by a vote of the Council of Members without need for censure.

Expulsion is enacted by a unanimous vote of the remaining Council of Members. Expulsion is the only means through which a Member of the covenant shall lose his basic rights; and requires that the former Member ceases to draw upon those basic rights subsequent to the first full moon after expulsion was enacted. Should a magus be cast out from the Order, it is the duty and obligation of this covenant that he shall also and without delay be expelled from this covenant.