I'm getting ready to run a Rhine Tribunal game, and so have been thinking about what the different canonical covenants offer to peregrinatores. I've worked up something for all of the convenents, but am a bit stuck on how to make some of them more flavourful (especially for Irencillia, Fengheld and Roznov). Has anyone else developed these requirements for their game? Any comments on the list I have so far would be appreciated - my plan is that the PC magi will have spent about 5 years as peregrinatores before the game starts, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them take up this opportunity even after they establish their own (Rhine Gorge) covenant.
Note: in all cases, ‘access to the library’ does not include copying books!
Durenmar
Attitude
Wants to attract guests to maintain prestige, but only wants the ‘best’ guests rather than spotty newly gauntleted magi.
Requirements
- While guesting, must spend at least one season annually attempting to perfect and refine Bonisagus’s Hermetic Magic
- All guests must submit complete lab notes on improvements to Hermetic Magic generated at Durenmar to the Great Library within 3 years of generating those notes
Notes: these requirements tie into Durenmar’s main goals. The lack of coordination means the Great Library is home to a lot of lab notes on partial breakthroughs. A more sensible requirement would be for guests to spend 1 season/year helping in the lab, but Durenmar is too conservative for that.
- 10 pawns of vis annually
Notes: This is partly to keep Durenmar solvent, and also to keep the number of requests to a managable level and to discourage weak/poor magi from guesting
- Peregrinatores will refrain from declaring Wizard’s War while at Durenmar; if they do declare a Wizard’s War, the Prima may terminate their stay at her discretion. Furthermore, no guest may commence their stay at Durenmar if they are the target of a Wizard’s War. If a Wizard’s War is declared while guesting, the Prima may terminate their stay at her discretion
Notes: Durenmar does not want to get caught up in Wizard’s Wars, or people trying to use the Protector of Durenmar to keep them safe during a war
Benefits
- One season of access to the Great Library annually
- Unlimited use of a specific guest laboratory; the sigil of the Protector of Durenmar must be placed over the sanctum entrance. If there are too few laboratoes available, higher rank guests (and those of House Bonisagus) take precedence; disputes betwen those of equal rank are to be determined by certamen. (Guest labs are as detail
ed in GotF)
Crintera
No peregrinatores are allowed; only members of House Bjornaer may become visitors but this is extended to non-Rhine Bjornaer also.
Irencillia
Attitude
Not too fussed one way or another. Merinitae peregrinatores will often be given greater access to texts on e.g. House Lore and Faerie Lore, and teaching or initiation into House Mysteries, but these aren’t covered by the peregrinatore charter.
Requirements
- 3 pawns of vis or one season of service. Faerie vis is acceptable!
- Some kind of fae-based requirement, but what??
Benefits
- Access to the outer library (has a reasonable selection of Faerie Lore and faerie-oriented spells, but no House Lore or the best texts)
- Access to one of three guest laboratories (normal labs)
Fengheld
Attitude
Actively encourages peregrinatores; often recruits new members from these guests. Almost all peregrinatores are guested at Fengheld proper, rather than the chapter houses.
Requirements
- 3 pawns of vis or one season of service.
Benefits
- Access to the outer library of Fengheld (a reasonable selection of books covering a range of arts, abilities and standard spells especially combat-orientated ones. Structured in a way that makes it clear how shiny and amazing the inner library for ‘real’ members is). If a member of Fengheld requires the same text, they take precedence.
- Use of a guest laboratory for the duration of the stay. If no laboratories are available, Fengheld will provide half the costs of establishing a new laboratory for the guest to use. (These labs are fairly decent labs, and probably the best available to peregrinatores in the tribunal)
Neither the requirements or benefits feel very flavourful, but I’m not sure what to add.
Dankmar
Attitude
Generally not that interested in attracting visitors, and may even forbid them at times. I want to make Dankmar less of a covenant for Disney Villains though, and so they do allow guests.
Requirements
- Only one peregrinator may reside at Dankmar at any time
- All guests must be in good standing with the fae of the Black Forest, and any guests who angers those fae will be ejected forthwith (basically a way of stopping Durenmar people; Dankmar gets to define who is and isn’t in good standing)
- 3 pawns of vis or one season of service.
Benefits
- Full access to the outer library of Dankmar (which is not very good)
- Unlimited use of the guest laboratory (a fairly cruddy lab)
Roznov
Attitude
Ex Misc half actively doesn’t want them; Tremere half is neutral. Fairly standard t’s&c’s (3 pawns of vis per year; access to part of library and guest lab). Again, not sure what to add here to make it more interesting.
Triamore
Attitude
Normally fairly positive; recently very positive as Triamore is trying to recruit new magi.
Requirements
- 3 pawns of vis or one season of service.
- Guests must contribute a new work to the library, of suitable quality. The librarian of Triamore will determine if a work is of suitable quality (i.e. no vain tractatus or summae unless they’re in super rare areas).
Benefits
- Access to the library of Triamore (this is a recent change; the previous charter only allowed access to the outer library. The library of Triamore is fantastic for mundane abilities)
- Use of a guest laboratory (the old guest labs are all normal labs, but Daria may open up the labs of the recently deceased magi to guests she particularly wants to recruit. Those labs are much better, but often highly specialised)
Oculus S
Attitude
Overall neutral towards peregrinatores, in part because of the limited space available in Lubeck.
Requirements
- 5 pawns of vis (a season of service is not acceptable; Oculus S. need vis badly!)
- Only magi with the Gentle Gift are permitted to stay
- Must agree to avoid doing anything which would draw mundane attention towards the covenant
Benefits
- Access to the library; members of Oculus S. have priority if there’s a dispute over books
- Use of the guest laboratory
Notes: Only 1 guest lab, which is mostly set up to help learn spells.
Waddenzee
Peregrinatores are not permitted. Waddenzee are being sufficiently illegal that they don't want outsiders nosing around (and the description of the covenent doesn't sound like there's any spare labs, or space to easily add them).