I've been giving a lot of thought to Aedituus' area of inquiry. My original character concept included his moving onto the "Path of Walking Backward" from HoH:MC, and pursuing the relationship between the Divine and Magic realms. I am really intrigued by the different views of aurae as outlined on page 182 of the core book, and I am thinking about two areas of research. The first is less likely to amount to anything, but provides good background for why Aedituus pursues the Path I see him on: Is it possible to become so "in balance" with the Divine that a Divine aura has fewer penalties for him? The second area may end up being a result of his researches into the first: To what extent is it possible to manipulate aurae? There are InVi spells to let you sense different aura, so is it possible to invent spells to create/destroy/modify aurae? These would probably need to be breakthroughs, but certainly worth exploring, I think. Any ideas which ArM book(s) I should be looking at as I develop the ideas?
Well, Titus would find that research interesting, though he will approach it from a vastly different angle 
Create/Destroy/Manipulate Aurae?
Well... RoP: M has some effects, but they are hardly fine control. Chapter 2, spells on p. 14. Also, some spirits can create them.
TMRE has the mystery of Hermetic Architecture, allowing some manipulations of aurae, p. 100
Legends of Hermes has a character which did some research on the subject (and unified Vim), including an understanding of Tethers.
I don't know if the tractauus discussing thise are considered available, because if so I will be buying them with Titus private points.
- ofcourse these all affect Magic Aure only (as written, directly).
RoP: I has some notes on Infernal Aurae. I'd suppose RoP: F has some for faerie aurae, but I haven't been able to find them.
Just wondering, since Petronius plans on inventing healing spells for animals (thinking of Rufus here). Would a Corpus healing spell be considered a similar spell to its Animal equivalent?
I'm thinking no...
The technique and form are completey different, so it doesn't make sense to me how they are similar, even though the "effect" is to heal, they don't share a common guideline or aren't closely related because of the different forms.
The Form may be different, but the technique is the same. Also, even looking closely at the section on similar spells, no mention is made of the similar spell having to be the same Form. For the Technique that's a given, but Form? It might be considered a "Closely related effect".
As for the guidelines, both CrCo and CrAn have "Base 15: Heal a Light Wound" (for example).
I'm not saying that the all Corpus healing spells should be considered similar spells to any Animal healing spell. But The Chirurgeon's Healing Touchmight be considered similar to Soothe Pains of the Beast. They're both rituals that heal a Light Wound, with the same R/D/T, using a base that is the same level and reads exactly the same. Both use Creo and heal the body of a living creature. The only difference is that one is Corpus, while the other is Animal.
Now, I recognize that the difference in Form may be considered too large a step if combined with something else, even the severity of the healed Wound. But I would suggest that if the Form is the only difference, the spells might qualify as similar spells.
I rest my case. I'll accept the judgment of the court. 
Emphasis mine above:
If the only difference is Co vs. An, I'll buy it.
Vary any other parameter as well, an it's not related - yay?
So the closely related effect is to heal? Meaning works on plants, too?
IMO a closely related effect is like CrIg guidelines for fire damage, CrCo guidelines for healing wounds of differing severity. The effect stay within the same TeFo combination. Keep in mind that this benefits anyone with a focus in Healing, which does go beyond TeFo combinations, and helps them above and beyond what the focus does.
Is it really a close effect to heal a light wound on an animal and a light wound on a person?
I agree with JL that the spells are not similar. Otherwise, the system is open to too many other similarities: ReAu ~ ReAq ~ ReTe? All three allow the movement of an element to possibly propel a vehicle? I think the similarty is stretched too thinly across forms to allow it.
So we have 2 people who believe it could be a similar spell (a body is a body), and 2 who believe it cannot be (different Forms).
Not a similar spell, then. Doesn't matter, it's only a small bonus.
The only difference it will make is that, instead of improving Animal a bit before inventing from scratch Animal versions of known healing spells, Petronius will acquire an Animal healing spell and learn it first, so that it can provide similar spell bonus to further Animal healing spells. Different ways to [strike]skin[/strike] heal a cat. (pun intended) 
I'm kicking off a Tribunal set of threads over in Bibracte for the 1227 Tribunal[1]. Mons Electi is the host for the Normandy Tribunal and is relatively close to the border of the Rhein Tribunal. If you want to picture/imagine what your characters might look like at that time, you can consider yourself welcome over there.
I'll post a notification over here when those threads ripen a bit.
Additionally, if you think your characters might compete in any of the Normandy Tournament events[2], please let me know, and we can come up with some estimate of what your characters abilities might look like. And of course, you can simply watch. Praxiteles and Petronius have been involved in the final preparation of the site to host the Tribunal, and Praxiteles always like to show off his works of Art and Architecture[3].
[1] The Tribunal should normally be in 1228, but 1228 is the year of a Grand Tribunal, and so regional Tribunals must move their own Tribunals earlier or later, so that participants can attend.
[2] Please review The Lion and The Lily, if you have it for a listing of events. Mons Electi is strong in the Joust. They have their own self-devised event called Falconball as their event of as host and I need to figure out how it works a bit. Entrants from outside the Tribunal or not members of a recognized Normandy covenant must pay a fee to participate in the Tournament. But, anyone here is welcome to watch and comment in threads, in character, but not actually participate if they'd like.
[3] The site is rumored to be rather magnificent, Mons Electi is rumored to be a fabulously wealthy covenant, in both silver and vis.
I'll have Petronius participate, even though initially I was having difficulties figuring why he would be there instead of being at the Rhine Tribunal meeting.
In Bibracte's parallel universe, in 1228 Petronius is now disgusted by Rhine political infighting. So he's looking around to see if Normandy could offers some possibilities for him moving out of the Rhine. We'll see, but I doubt he'll like it any more in Normandy.
I don't have the sourcebook, but it doesn't matter much -- as a Bonisagus he'd be no good at the competitions. He might have a small chance with Certamen, but he'd need to be convinced to participate. We'll see.
Rhine Tribunal could happen in the fall, or at another time? Normandy happens to hold theirs, in Bibracte, beginning on the summer solstice. I figure that neighboring Tribunals would hold their gatherings at different times, to maximize visitors and opportunities for trade...
I sent a private message to Archimedes last week to check on him. He said he was indeed busy, but was trying to keep up-to-date on the threads. He should be back soon.
Jonathan, I think we can close Chapter 0. Can you update it so it doesn't stay at the top?
Done, and I stickied the Chapter 1...
I'm still here, but RL has reduced me to a lurker the last couple of weeks. I should be able to post again, but the posts may be on the short side. If there's some set-up chore I've neglected, I won't take offense at a gentle reminder. 
I've updated Aedituus' sanctum on the wiki.
Can someone give me a citation for Cow and Calf rules? I thought I understood, but something in what Titus posted is not meshing with what I thought. I need to review but cannot find the description.
Thanks.
Covenants, p. 95, top of first column.
It is equally likely that I my understanding is off, so I'll try to explain my understanding:
The Cow isn't really any specific physical book - it is what is in the book, the contents.
Each Calf is a physical copy.
Basically, whomever hold the 'Cow' (the rights to the book), decides who can copy the book, and what they can do with their (physical) copies.
If you have written a book and I have been given (or bought or awarded or whatever) a copy (a Calf) under the oath of the Cow and Calf, you still own the Cow. I can't (legally) make copies without your permission - but nor can I give my original copy away for free! I may use it freely, but I may not transfer it without your permission. Much like a lot of modern software EULAs.
Most books are bought by Covenants, meaning every member of the covenant will have acces.
If I (as a single magus) buy a book under the Cow and Calf, I doubt anyone would complain if I allowed other members of my covenant to read the book, but technically that could've been a part of the specific Cow and Calf agreement.
So what does it matter if the Author or his covenant holds the Cow?
As long as everyone get's along, not much really. After that, a lot.
If I have donated a book to the covenant library, along with the Cow, the covenant owns the rights to that book.
If I leave, the covenant still owns the right to that book. They can decide to copy it and sell the copies for vis - or give them away for political gain. I cannot trivially offer the next covenant i wish to join a copy of my work, because I do not own it.
If I enter a feud with another member of the covenant, he still has the right to make copies of the book I wrote, and sell them or give them away (maybe, depending on charter)
If I donate a book to the covenant, but retain the Cow, the situation is different.
If the covenant wants to copy that book, for sale or for gifts, I have to give my permission - the charter may well hold sanctions if I decide against it, but they matter little if I have eg. left the covenant.
If I enter a feud with another member of the covenant and he copies my book and gives these copies away to squander what political capital I was hoping to gain by using it as a gift, he's broken the Cow and Calf, and whatever enforcement it has should move against him.
If I decide to leave the covenant and buy my way into another covenant by offering them copies of my books, I can freely do this, as they are mine to give away.
And that ignores entirely the issues of inheiritance if either the original author passes away or the covenant falls.
I pointed this subject out to a friend and was told the following story:
The troupe was playing in the Rhine.
The covenant gained the Cow for books written as covenant services.
The librarian was given the responsibility to expand and protect the library as he saw fit, under the authority of the council.
The librarian had a low-level feud with one of the other characters (not players, purely in character).
He then declared the books of the other magus to be so excellent and important, that they were strategic resources of the covenant, not to be shared or copied - or indeed even discussed with outsiders if it could be avoided.
Suddently his 'enemy' was sorely hindered in gaining that reputation as a master of magic that he needed to become a Master (in the Rhine Tribunal).
Excellent story, but the 'enemy' character surely didn't like it.
For the most part, I agree with what Tellus wrote about the Cow and Calf.
One point on which I disagree is that the author no longer has the right to sell or give a copy of his own book if he gave the right of "Cow" to the covenant (or to some other magus). IMO, from what I can see of the ruling as quoted in Covenants (p.95), the Cow and Calf Oath only restricts the buyer of the book from selling or giving copies without the seller's permission.
In the absence of such an oath, both the buyer and the seller can sell or give copies of the book. There is no such thing as "giving the Cow", in my opinion. All you can do is "give only the Calf" or sell an unrestricted copy of the book.