The Winter Harvest

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Vengeance Rides a Slow Hor
21

Bert looks at you and cocks an eyebrow then shrugs his shoulders. He turns to the man leading a mule to a water trough.

"Ho there! We're looking for a monk, may have been here..." he turns to Richard who says "6 months.". "6 months ago! Maybe last summer! Name's Kristoff! Did you see him pass through?"

The farmer holds a moment. "Nope, can't say that I have. I can ask some of the folk and see."

"Right nice of you, we'll be at the inn, the Lady of the Manor would be grateful!" he adds and points back the way you came. The farmer seems impressed at that as you travel on.

"We should hear something, we'll ask a few people on the way. Lady Juliana is well thought of in town." Richard informs you as he starts the cart moving again.

22

[color=red]"would that all investigations be as pleasant at this with people as sooperative." Siobhan is more than willing to let Richard speak because she is a stranger with the gift.

23

As you travel into town Bert and Richard ask the occasional passerby about Kristoff. The people don't seem to recall, but it also doesn't look like they're avoiding answering. You finally make it to the Wigan Inn where Bert suggests you try the minnow pie and the local ale.

When the innkeeper is asked you get a surprising lead. The innkeeper remembers Kristoff, he remembers when he arrived and also remembers him stopping by briefly when he left. The last time he was at the inn corresponds exactly when he left the Covenant. The innkeeper claims that one morning he came down to stoke the hearth and start breakfast when he heard a pounding on one of the doors of the private rooms on the ground floor. He opened it and found that Kristoff was within. This was the same room that he had stayed in some weeks before. The innkeeper and the monk were equally puzzled, for neither could account for how he got into a locked room without the key. Kristoff apologized and stumbled off, the innkeeper never saw him again after that, and Kristoff never said where he was going. He did mumble something like "By Jesu! It worked! The Footsteps of the Shepherd!"

That's all the innkeeper can recall. The minnow pie is...interesting, the ale is quite tasy, a hearty brew fit for the coming winter.

24

Siobhan tries to recall if she had ever heard of a spell called 'The Footsteps of the Shepherd' She frowns as this is no longer an investigation about a divine meddling but the monk actually using magic to get around makes it even more importanty to track. The fact that the covenant didn't both to make this effort is negligent and horrifying.

The fact that no one on the way in saw him leaving town means he left town in some other direction. [color=blue]"We have to continue to see who saw the monk leave the inn and head out of town and in which direction." The problem is that she will need a translator since latin is all she speaks as well as gaelic and she doesn't know of prevalent gaelic is around here.

OOC: Int + Magic Theory + roll = 3 + 4 + 4 = 11
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2065852/

25

No one else at the inn recalls the scene as well as the innkeeper, who was so startled he didn't bother following as the monk stumbled outside muttering to himself.

One of the innkeeper's daughters though was outside at the time bringing water back from the well, and saw the odd monk come out. He practically ran into her. He was saying something, perhaps Latin, it sounded like what the Father at Church said. He then went around the side and she heard a loud ruckus from the chicken coop which was right around that side. She put her bucket down and went to look, but the monk was nowhere to be found.

26

Siobhan sighs and speaks. [color=blue]"Let us get a meal and see if any news comes in and then we will head back to the manor. I will need to write a number of letters."

27

There is no other news forthcoming unfortunately, he seemed to have disappeared.

After you and Richard and Bert have a meal and a drink or two, you head back to the manor. You are somewhat surprised at how well you are treated by the innkeeper and the townfolk, perhaps not used to the ease at which they seem around someone with the Gift.

You room back at the manor is tidy and neat, the servants efficient in keeping the place clean.

28

Realizing that this could be a critical issue, Siobhan returns to her careful study on the information about Nerius. At dinner she will ask about the Shephards walk spell to see if anything is known. Had it been the day the monk vanished, the shelf where the scroll rested might have been arcane connection to it but after all this time, that was a dead end too.

29

With Juliana escorting you into their arcane library, you are shown where the coded letters were kept. After some cursory examinations, including magical, you are indeed correct; There are no longer any Arcane Connections to the letters.

Richard and Juliana help you check for some information regarding the Shepherd's Walk. While they don't find an actual spell of that name, it is known that Nerius travelled quite a bit, and in fact had gained a reputation for appearing when needed despite time and distance. This is not necessarily a stupendous feat of magic for a powerful wizard, Juliana knows a spell that she's used many times. Nerius though was known to travel incredible distances, across countries even, and it was also well known that he typically had no vis. He had taken a vow of poverty, and any vis he ever had he always used immediately or gave away. He relied on other's donations almost exclusively. So either he had many benefactors (which is possible), or he may have found a way to travel so far without vis. That would be one of the many 'miracles' he supposedly performed.

30

Siobhan finally settles down to write her report. She addresses it to the senior queasitor:

"After careful review, I have determined the following. The covenant of Voluntas seems to have regular contact with the nearby village though there is no proof that the village is aware of the magical nature. The issue of Nerius though is more than a little disturbing. Review of the documentation shows he was a criamon mage of the order, slained in march in the Normandy tribunal but with no real details. A certain monk though came to Voluntas to speak to them about this Nerius. They did not monitor his movements closely. Certain members of the consortus of the covenant gave this monk access to a domument from their library without approval of our Sodalis. The monk knew exactly which document he wanted and asked for it by name. This monk then took the letter of which the contents are unknown and undetailed and used some form of Wizard's leap or seven league stride type magic to jump from the covenant to the town. He then went from the town to places unknown presumably with the same spell. In conclusion, I find that Volantas was negligent monitoring their custos, they allowed a monk to ask questions and learn about their covenant to a degree that is unknown and he appears to have some sort of magical power while not appearing to be of the order. I am concerned about a monk wizard that could spread to the church stories of someone that the Order killed and he is claiming is saint and perhaps bringing mundanes down upon us. We do not know what is in that document and it is one that no wizard thought to insure its guardianship until intellego magics could be used to decipher it."

"Despite this, it is inaction and carelessness that causes Volantas to commited these offenses and the code as I know it doesn't exactly have provisions for marching someone for doing nothing or letting themselves be robbed. Punishment under the oath for 'I will not endanger the order through my actions' could be applied but the fine would greatly divide the tribunal ever worse than it is with Volantas and their allies pushing in tribubal for minimal to no penalty and Blackthorne likely pushing for maxium fine or even march of Julia for the ineptness of her servants. I do suggest that the descirption of the monk be circulated to all covenants of the tribunal for them to be alert and aware if he appears in their area" She then attaches written description of the monk as best she got it from the others.

She seals the scroll for delivery to the chief queasitor via the next redcap that visits the covenant. She will keep it on her person until the next redcap arrives.

31

As the winter passes the Seneschal of the Covenant spends plenty of his time seemingly to take more of your time. Enquiring as to your needs and comfort as well as if you'll be attending the Yuletide festival they'll be having.

As Yule approaches Juliana sends one of the servants to ask you to attend her in the parlor.

32

Once the intiial investigation is complete which thankfully didn't take more than travel time and a few days, Siobhan actually spends most of her time studying the tribunal rulings and books to get better acquainted with the law in this tribunal, especially any cases that might apply to this situation.

As her needs are simple, some food, warmth, light and a stand to read from. She is able to assure the Seneschal of her contentment. When Juliana asks her to meet in the parlor, Siobhan is willing to set down her reading for a time to speak with the Maga. She can always read a little later to make up the time.

She puts her code rulings away and then heads to the parlor.

33

Entering into the parlor you see Juliana working on some needlepoint. She looks up at your entrance and puts it down, it looks to be the embroidery for a cloak or banner perhaps.

"Ah, our guest. Please sit down. I'm told you have had your comforts met during your stay and that you've been busy. I hope your stay has been productive and enjoyable, and that Voluntas meets Hermetic protocols and expectations. No doubt you've come to some findings, perhaps even a conclusion? If I might impose upon you, I'd like to know of your findings, perhaps what you'll be reporting?" She says this with very civil politeness, despite the bluntness of the inquiry.

34

Siobhan smiles knowing that this is a tricky situation and she is glad that she is skilled in intrigue to recognize the danger of this situation.

"My Sodalus Juliana, my report is for the eyes of the chief queasitor and then the tribunal at once and the course of action being followed will be that which fits within the code of the order and the best good of the tribunal. I will say that you were very careless and negligent regarding paying attention to events happening in the area of your covenant and keeping of your own internal rules and allowed not only an apperant hedge wizard to infiltrate your covenant and take a document whose contents were unknown but allowed him to do so with you not even caring to investigate at anytime later. By the eyes of the church, it is possible that this Nerius could be called martyr at hands of witches and warlocks and your carelessness could bring harm down on your sodali. It took me only hours, most of that spent walking to the village and back to learn much that is disturbing. Had you been paying any sort of watch with servant or guard on the stranger in your midst, you probably could have avoided my visit completely." She is avoiding though speaking of any detail conclusions or recommendations that she is making. Marching a whole covenant though over something that has not proven any harm yet to the order is not likely and there is way to fix blame on a single mage for misdeeds of servants of covenant in general and general carelessness. "I do hope that in the future though, you take such care that the facts which I discovered are known long before a queasitor arrives that we do not need to visit again for matters other than exchanges of knowledge."

35

Juliana's expressions is hard to read. For several tense moments she sits there with her mild and pleasant smile practically carved onto her face. Finally she stands up and walks to the hearth where a tea kettle was simmering and she pours two clay cups full of the steaming water and an aromatic tea is brewed. She wraps the mugs with simple cloth and returns to her seat, handing you one. She takes a sip after blowing on it a moment and then carefully swallows before speaking.

"I am...concerned Quaesitor. Concerned of several things. This series of incidents is very minor, yet you are trying to make it seem that Voluntas will bring down the Order. This monk is a nobody. His own order cares not for him, or did not that occur to you when he travelled here alone? If his monastery or the Church were at all serious, they wouldn't have sent a lone and strange monk, they would have sent someone more senior, someone more subtle and experienced, and he wouldn't be alone. This monk worked alone, was taken by a vision, all who met him knew it and could see it. Or did you not discover that?"

"You also haven't taken into account the political situation with the Church and England. With all that has happened with the boy king, the Interdict, the Crusades, the constant rivalry with France. You are young, and not from England. But if you think the Church would bother doing anything to stir up more trouble in the already troubled England, over the ravings of a monk and his few peasant followers about a hermit killed two hundred years ago by witches, you are truly naive."

"And now there is a new Lead Quaesitor, freshly appointed, a Sodales that I have met with many times. Who has been a guest here on several occasions. Who shares my vision of a better Tribunal, a more balanced Tribunal, with Black Thorn's supremacy challenged. Do you think that she will be so ready to hobble the chief rival to Black Thorn now that Iuducium is no longer one of the pillars holding it up?" She shakes her head slowly.

"As I said, I am concerned Quaesitor. You are a newly arrived magus, and a Quaesitor not familiar with Stone Henge and its ways. I fear that you are taking steps that will not bode well for you." she sighs. Then she perks up with a smile and looks at you, patting your hand with what seems to be genuine affection.

"But, in other news. I have made arrangements as planned for the creation of the Covenant. I have sent letters to Nigrasaxa to enquire on the progress and projected Magnitude of the intended ritual and from there have taken a loan out from House Mercere for the vis. Knowing how difficult it is to estimate the magnitude of such a spell before it is completed I made sure to order an extra Rook of vis...just in case."

She walks over to an ornate wooden chest in the corner of the room. It is not locked and she opens it up to reveal stacks and stacks of clay disks. She picks one up and holds it for your inspection. It would fit in your palm, a little larger than most coins. On one side is a mountain, the other side has the Verditian symbol for Terram. It is easily the most Vis you have ever seen in your life. From where you sit you can see that the majority of the stacks are either Terram or Rego, the majority looks to be Terram.

36

[color=blue]"Perhaps you do not understand as well as you think, blinded by your hatred of Blackthorn. Queasitors uphold the code from the smallest provision to the largest with eye to the good of the order. We do not actively work to overthrow one convenant or help it hold domination. I am perhaps the best one for this investigation as I do not favor one side or the other. Iuducium chose me because he thought I would be sympathetic to hin and his rivalry with you but I am not blind and I know my duty and don't let that influence me any more than I will let the subtle threats that you just uttered affect me either. I was the first also to suggest that Iuducium not serve as presiding queasitor for the next seven years and it was done in light of the traditions of my house to keep balance. That said, he is still very experienced and all queasitors will still look to him for wisdom and heed his words carefully, he is still a pillar of the order and my house. He is still a queasitor that I hope you are as cooperative with him if he came here investigating as much as you have been with me."

"As for the monk, he is a hedge wizard able to master a spell on the level of seven league stride" She pauses to let that sink in. "[color=blue] to jump from inside the covenant to the village. He stole a document that could potentially cause trouble as we don't know what it is and you have no copy of it. From one small monk with faith and mission can arise full movements within a church. Even if he does not bring the harm here because of the divisions of local church, he might rouse the church in normandy which may be much more organized. Rousing mundanes against your sodalis does not apply only to mundanes in your tribunal but if your actions result in mundanes being roused in other tribunals. This is ONE order. You were careless, you didn't detect the hedge wizard in your midst and allowed him to steal from your library. What do you think Blackthorne and the other covenants of this tribunal would do in reaction to that? My mater was chief queasitor for the Hibernia tribunal, I know about intrigue to recognize it so that it doesn't distract me from my duty. I refuse to be caught taking side in the quarrel and my influence in tribunal will be based on each issue and code, not who brought it up"

37

Juliana raises an eyebrow and frowns before casually tossing the clay disk into the chest and closing it. She sighs and sets her mug of tea down and rings a bell for servants to come.

"So now he's not a crazy monk, but a duplicitous Hedge Wizard, who stole a letter, mastered a spell, and somehow cast it within our Aegis? I would think that it would be obvious that the letter, whatever it said, was a charged item. And since it was present within our Aegis for some time, he was allowed to activate its power. But you can go right ahead and make your prophecies of doom to your brethren." She walks to the door and opens it, revealing a servant waiting to come in at her leave.

"I didn't threaten you before Quaesitor. I expressed my concerns, concerns that one as young and newly arrived as you should have taken to heart. I do not threaten now either, I'm not one to threaten. But I tell you this, my goals will not be thwarted by some crazed monk or a journeyman Quaesitor who tilts a lance at shadows.

"When Spring nears you will be accompanied to the site of your new Covenant or whever you need to go, the Vis will be delievered by Redcaps, as will any correspondences that you have. Good day Sodales." Juliana exits the room, allowing the servant to timidly enter.

38

Siobhan sighs at Juliana's response. [color=blue]"So both blackthrone and voluntas have forgotten the spirit of Bonisagus when the order was created." The fact that the two were so obsessed with their own power and feud basically means that little good can come to the order and she prays that there is never an outside enemy becuase the tribunal could never unite against it.

She carefully returns to her room. She has read Juliana perfectly. The older maga is obsessed and while blunt in her original demand for contents of her findings, she did not take kindly that her implied threat and was thrown in her face for the threat that it was.

Siobhan is almost tempted to see about pursuing this to the floor of tribunal and watching Juliana suffer at hands of blackthorne in this but she still have to think of the good of the order, not her own petty vindictiveness.