Saga and Covenant Development discussion

I have 40 points so let me do that. Part of my story is Fengheld giving Thyra grogs.

I moved points around so that I'm bringing an autocrat with me.

I just defined it as a mix of Muto and Animal. I was waiting to see what the other player picked.

We're looking to be a big covenant even at the get go. I did the numbers and, assuming the minimum number of servants and teamsters, no companions (save two apprentices), and just one shield grog each for defense, we're already up to a covenant of 52 people. More if we get more companions, craftsmen, grogs, or laborers.

Magi don't do anything small.

I also did some basic numbers for the finances (on the BP sheet). It's a good thing we're taking a secondary income. Even with the bare minimum of people, we're still over 100 pounds per year in upkeep. (Not much, but some.) We'll need that extra money if we want to expand.

My Verditius can certainly crank out a number of items that can provide us with cost savings or replace some of the mundane workers, if the need arises.

EDIT: In fact, some of the items he has already created can be used for that purpose. For example, his Wand of Firewood Aplenty should provide cost savings of 5 pounds per year, as per Covenants p.67 (one pound per magnitude of effect) by providing us with sufficient fuel for heating and cooking at the covenant. And if 200 pieces of cut firewood per day is not enough of all of the covenant's needs, he can probably enchant an improved version or additional wands with the same effect.

Good point. I hadn't counted on those when I ran my numbers.

So while we're on the subject of the covenant, have we settled on precisely where the covenant will be (somewhere outside of Turku?), how it will be laid out, and in general what it will look like? Will it be on the mainland or an island? I assume near woods, but I can't be certain.

We're taking the Manor House free boon, so there will likely be a large wooden manor house. But that's not going to hold 50+ people and eight labs. I assume we'll have outbuildings and such. Might there be more than one larger building? Were longhouses used in FInland at this time or have we moved past them? A longhouse for each magus to hold lab and sanctum would be neat and clean, with a manor for the library, meeting halls, kitchens, etc. But I'm not sure if that would be anachronistic.

Mostly I'm just trying to get a feel for what the covenant compound will be like.

So this is totally just me fooling around with my mapping program and should not be taken for more than a fancy on my part. But how does this look for a potential covenant? The architecture is the best I can get with the symbols I have available. Any thoughts, up to and including, "that's awful," are appreciated.

Thyra can do Mystic Tower and plans on doing at least 1 ( :smiley: ) but can do more depending on the vis.

I thought I remembered that someone could cast it. I'd definitely be willing to use some of my remaining vis BPs to get 7 Te for a tower. (Though I'll bet those things get cold in the winter.)

Yes, Atlas probably met Bartholomeus when he was living in Novgorod. He's also known for rarely being at his home covenant, which makes him a lesser risk with regards to the disease.

I have spent all of my BPs

Thyra 5 25 vis
Thyra 20 200 lbs silver
Thyra 20 4p Te vis source
Thyra 20 4p Re vis source
Thyra 10 Q10 Tractius MT
Thyra 25 Root Summa Perdo lv 15 Q10
Thyra 5 Specialist Sergant Single weapon 5 leadership teaching
Thyra 5 Specialist Short Bow 5 hunt
Thyra 6 Abluere Magica (Covenants pg 53)
Thyra 6 Then Enchanted Porter Covenants pg 52)
Thyra 2 Lab text - Hide to Parchment ReAn 10
Thyra 4 Lab Text - The Apple that Etches CrHe 20
Thyra 12 Lab text for creating Charm of the Terram Padlock(LoH pg 115)

Jebrick,

Err, the total of your build points listed is 140. I believe you have 10 remaining. Throw in a minor vis source or another tractatus, and we'll be good to go.

I'm assuming that Pyrale won't have any additions. The six experienced magi have donated a total of 980 Build points to the Covenant.

on the layout, plonk in the tower either amid the sancta? And I think we were going to be close to a lake?

It's easy to add a lake and a few towers.

10 were spent during development for vis

We'd probably have some kind of palissade around the buildings, to keep wild animals out if nothing else.

With the towers, it is unlikely that we would that many seperate sanctum/lab buildings, unless some of the magi want a bit more isolation or have specific needs.

Bartholomeus would be about that, since he and Garapadax would probably be more at ease with a seperate wooden building rather than living in a stone tower. For one thing, it would make it possible for him to enlarge his lab if he needs to. On the other hand, he wouldn't want the other magi to think he wants to stand apart from them or isolate himself -- that might be taken as a hint that he afflicted by the sickness and isn't telling them. So either way works for him.

Excellent point. I'll add one.

True. It depends on how many magi fit into each tower, and how many fit into each longhouse. Towers are 30 feet in diameter (call it 650 sq ft/level), with eight levels. At a minimum that's two levels per magus sanctum (one for a living area, one for a lab). But realistically there would be servants, storage, and other stuff, so it's probably best to assume two or three magi per tower is a good fit. As for the longhouses, figure a modest sized longhouse would be 20 feet by 80 feet (1600 sq ft). That's a little smaller than three levels of a tower, but leaves room for expansion. With 650 sq ft devoted to a lab and as much again to living quarters, that still leaves 300 sq ft for storage, servants . So that gives us two towers and two to four longhouses (assuming people want to share towers). Another option would be larger longhouses that can fit two magi each, or summoning more towers. Longhouses could be up to 250 feet long (though that would be a magnificent longhouse). Even one just 150 feet long could fit two magi.

What do people think about arrangements for magi?

Since a number of magi will want longhouses (or the like), I suspect that it won't be an issue. (I can't imagine Angarr would want to be in a tower.)

Calpurnia prefers the stone towers. Ideally, she'd like the uppermost floor: Calpurnia has Eyes of the Eagle on her Talisman, allowing her to see the surrounding countryside in detail, and an attack that will work at Sight Range. She can fly, so accessing the upper level isn't difficult.

If not, a longhouse is completely suitable.