May 20, 1218
Fiona,
It pleases me to hear you extol your strengths. I have seen several of our sodales become beaten down by situations such as your own, forgetting their true power. Indeed, the general paucity of vis available within the Normandy Tribunal leads to odd relationships amongst Maga and Magi, including feudal obligations between covenants. While it is not uncommon for a magus to defer to his elders, as you generally have done, to give up rights or rely on another magus or covenant to protect your ability to practice magic violates my understanding of the Order. Such is the perversion of the lack of vis.
In the Normandy Tribunal, any covenant being formed must be able to supply 1 pawn of vis per joining member, and in a manner which doesn’t require distilling it from an existing magical aura. I can easily meet this demand. Truthfully, I might even be able to meet the more stringent requirements of a rook of vis per magus for the Alps Tribunal, it all depends on how many people join us. I have a theory on why this area is such a vis rich place within the Tribunal, and why it was skipped over for so long. It appears that there is a strong belief that there was a covenant of the House That Shall Not Be Named nearby. However, there is no evidence that this is the case, and I have evidence to the contrary, and so the entire area has been avoided. Given the concern, I took every effort to ensure that the vis sources I discovered were not tainted, and received assurances from the Redcaps that they are not, too. It is possible other sources remain as yet undiscovered, which could make us a powerful covenant in a short amount of time, and another reason I seek seasoned magi and maga to join me. Certainly hermitic magi are permitted, as I lived within the Tribunal for some time before discovering these vis sources. I congratulate you on your droll turn of phrase, by the way. However, once two magi agree to work for a common goal, they become a covenant, and must have a vis source to support their endeavors or be charged with vagrancy.
I feel I must tell you that your education is a bit lacking, but please don’t look upon this as an old man lecturing you. According to my research, there are no Archmagi on record at your present covenant. That they call themselves such suggests they are doddering fools or twilight addled beyond sense. They may be powerful, but they have not taken up a challenge by any other Archmagi, and I know a few. To be called an Archmagi, a magus must meet a challenge designed by an Archmagus they wish to challenge. It is an impressive endeavour to undertake, certainly not something I should ever aspire to, as my interests are more grounded. I mean no disrespect, but is your mater should’ve seen to this education. While I find many ex Miscellanea most puissant in Arts, they sometimes forget significant details of the Order
As to the regio, it is a magically aligned regio. I would not tolerate any other kind of regio. I believe it may be possible to cast the Aegis in such a way as to cover both sides (in the mundane world and in the regio) in one casting, not needing two castings. You knowing the Aegis could be useful, certainly, although I could acquire an Aegis casting tablet or lab text with little difficulty. Casting it with sufficient force is always problematic, so knowing how to commune with your sodales is always useful. I happen to know Wizard’s communion, and when I was a member of a covenant in the past was always part of the casting group for the Aegis. I would judge it to be able to cast a magnitude higher than in places without a magical aura.
There is yet another point lacking in your education, and perhaps you pursue your Arts deeply and don’t have an understanding of the Code of Hermes. Any Magus can renounce his covenant at nearly any time, if he owes debts to his covenant, those are not discharged by his renouncing, nor if debts be owed to him. Joining a covenant is voluntary, and while you may give up certain freedoms when you are a member of one, you cannot give up the basic freedom of deciding to no longer be a member. I believe this is constant throughout the order. Simply write a letter to your Princeps, the Chief Quaesitore of your Tribunal and indicate you’re renouncing the covenant and leave. It is your advantage to detail as many specifics to the circumstances as possible, including debts you owe them and debts they owe you. Once the letter is written, and en route, I suggest leaving quickly.
However, if you are looking to come here, let me say that the time is not yet, right. I am seeking additional Magi to join us, so don’t send the letter off immediately upon your receipt of this letter!
Apollodorus