Timeline

Here's the old roll20 logs, ty johns: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0rsl86-7IQ2SzRPSVRDU21MMGM/edit

a lightly fictionalised version of the same events, which might be easier to read, is below.



A true and (grotesquely in)complete record of the deeds and misfortunes of the hermetic covenant of Mont-Mercure d'Aballo, from its second founding.



From the proceedings of the tribunal of the magi of Normandy, year of Our Lord 1214:

"...then came before the tribunal Maga Petra of Tytalus, to relate that following the passing of the revered Magus Aeolus of Bonisagus into final Twilight, the unfortunate death of their sodalis Mormulus of Merinita, and her removal to the Domus Magna of her house at Fudarus, the covenant of Mont-Mercure d'Aballo is dissolved. This being recorded Quaesitor l'Herisson, presiding,  called on Maga Petra to deliver to the Tribunal the library and vis reserve of Mont-Mercure for distribution at tourney, to which Fudarus and vassal covenants lodged objection, and then ensued diverse argument...

"...in fine, and in respect of the estimable history of Mont-Mercure, it was decided that a new covenant should be established at the site, for the benefit of the several new-gauntleted magi that year admitted to our Order, the whom having been furnished with their fledgling covenant's charter and several worthy retainers  were charged to take possession of the historic seisins and demesnes attached to the hill of the temple of Mercury, in the Forest Sauvage of the region now called the Vicomté d'Avallon, and the Quaesitor asks that I write, the blessings of Hermes and of God Almighty go with them."

1214-15 (5 seasons)

Winter 1214: the magi Grerr of Verditius and Lina Ex Miscellenea arrive in Avallon with their companions Johan le Merdhomme, Faramond Dragon-Slayer and Sir Leofric of Arus. They ask for directions, which leads naturally to Grerr nearly starting a riot, averted by Leofric's scowls, and are forced to camp on the edge of the haunted forest reputed to house the covenant, where tiny elves steal their possessions in the night. Beating their way through the woods without map or guide they find the place is infested with all kinds of supernatural creatures, first being confronted by a giant boar, which Faramond handily dispatches, and then in the night fending off a host of fairies in the guise of ancient gaulish warriors. The magi take note of the forest's strange aura, which shifts its allegiance between the magic and faerie realms as the sun rises and sets. Eventually the party find their way to Mont-Mercure and discover that although the place has half fallen into ruin, it's still inhabitated by a clan of fairy-blooded grogs who've apparently had the run of the place since the magi disappeared. The covenfolk are swiftly redomesticated.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The magi have a look at their library, get their companions to teach them to read,  and erect a simple Aegis of the Hearth. The covenant expands, welcoming two more young magi to the fold: Venzi Luin of Tremere and Parmenides of Criamon. Leofric trains the grogs into to a proper fighting force.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Spring: armed with a rough map of the forest that highlights what appear to be sites of mystical power, the magi set out to reclaim the covenant's vis sources. In digging up an ancient grave mound they attract the ire of the fairy gauls they met before, but manage to cow them into yielding up the grave's vis when magus Grerr despatches their chief with a flaming sword. They also discover an ancient oak that yields vis in its nuts, and noting that the local villagers seem to be worshipping it in some fashion, manage to deterr the parish priest from trying to stop their pagan practices. They run into the sons of the absent viscount hunting beasts of virtue in the wood, and are treated with the suspicion due trespassers and strange bands of armed men, but avert a fight by promising to come and pay proper homage at the nearest opportunity (they do not).

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Autumn: the covenant receives an endowment of books from some dead magus (Lucien of Guernicus? They've never heard of him) sent via a trusted merchant in Avallon, Enrico the Venetian. But would you believe it, just when the grogs go to collect the shipment they get mugged by some mysterious riders in black. Investigations in town reveal Knights Hospitaller from the nearby Priory of St. Ubaldesca to be the culprits, but getting their goods back is no easy matter. The chief constable, one Sir Hermann, is embarrassed by his men's excessive zeal but having seen the confiscated books is certain that they're blasphemous and refuses to return them. The magi enact an elaborate scheme to recover their property, beginning with the healer Parmenides gathering intelligence by volunteering at the hospice and culminating in Lina teleporting in to the hospitallers' secret cache of blasphemous materials, blatantly destroying a locked chest with magic, and eventually recovering some valuable tomes and an  enchanted silver pendant (possibly satanic, or jewish) but souring relations between covenant and priory again.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">During this period Aeolus of Bonisagus, believed dead, reappears at the covenant. The elder magus has undergone some terrifying alterations, becoming some kind of elemental entity, and lost his long-term memory along the way, but the new magi manage to persuade him they're not invaders and learn to put up with his vagaries.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A party of Cathar refugees from the Languedoc led by the Bonhomme Bertranz, an old acquaintance of Leofric's, are found staying incognito at the priory and quietly granted sanctuary at Mont-Mercure. Among them is Ciragua d'Nîmes, a trobairitz whose music is a subtle magical influence.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">1216

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The magi consider a few schemes to build goodwill among the peasantry. Parmenides, now unwelcome at the priory, offers healing free of charge among the peasantry. Venzi suggests sponsoring a shrine to St. Christopher. The idea of establishing a "goblin market" to trade in magical goods is first floated.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Summer: the grogs bring word that a band of peasants have raised an effigy of a wizard surrounded by wolves at the forest's edge, and are apparently praying to it. On further inquiry, it appears that wolves from the wood are preying on outlying farms with unaccustomed ferocity and in broad daylight. The magi promise to set things right, on condition of not being treated like gods. Several of the covenant's mundane staff set out on a wolf hunt and discover firsthand that the animals are strangely aggressive. Things come to a head when Faramond's young son Achille goes missing. He is quickly located by magic and found at the ancient oak grove where the wolf matriarch, an intelligent and fairly eloquent Beast of Virtue, waits to treat with them. It turns out that the beasts blame Faramond (recognised Prince of the Forest since defeating the Boar chief in battle) for neglect in allowing humans from outside the forest to lay traps and hunt with horses, and the wolf demands he return her young that was taken captive by the intruders before restoring his son to him. A few spells discover the traps and subdue the hunters, revealed to be the viscount's gamekeepers, and confirm that his son is keeping a magical wolf in his kennel. Johan is dispatched to grovel before the lordling, bearing a gift of magically-conjured gold. He is received by the viscount's bratty heir, wife, and an advisor who claims to be a philosopher, and manages to strike a deal whereby the covenant (under Johan's name) has exclusive use of the forest and the right to hold a market at Vésy-en-bois, in exchange for half a pound of gold annually and an agreement that the magi will cast no spells outside the forest or that one village.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">One magic wolf, henceforth called Rufus, is recovered alive and well, and returned to his grandmother, but then brought back to the covenant to learn philosophy while Achille remains with the wolves to learn their ways.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Grerr inquires after the peasant that made the effigies of wizards and wolves with such skill and is introduced to Hildegarde, the potter's daughter, a surprisingly talented sculptor, and offers to take her away from all this. Wizard's Gift notwithstanding, she accepts.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">1217

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Nothing much seems to happen this year (transcription error lol). Attempts to establish a market at Vesy proceed slowly without much to trade, though the free medical attention never fails to attract a crowd. Grerr engages in diplomacy with the fairy gauls and gains access to their home regio, a mist-swathed archipelago accessed through a door in the hill.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">1218

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Spring. The covenant is flush with conjured gold. Venzi puts into motion his plan to earn credit with the locals by erecting a fine shrine dedicated to St. Christopher. Johan decides to earn credit by taking up usury. With this dual purpose in mind the two of them head to Avallon with a shipment of gold and escort of grogs only to find themselves held up by mysterious armoured giants intenting on stealing it. Venzi attempts to banish what he thinks may be demons, which informs the aggressors that they face a magus and prompts one of them to lower his illusory mask and issue a challenge to certamen, in compliance with the rules of "legitimate" covenant raiding. Venzi effortlessly defeats the whelp, Guyal of Jerbiton, and sends him packing back to covenant Atramentum, but is troubled by the question of how they knew about the gold.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Johan and Parmenides hatch a scheme to discredit the Hospitallers by leaving magically-created bodies with signs of leprosy around the place, with mixed success.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">With the market scheme flagging, the covenant receives a visitor - a man who declares himself to be a demon. He offers his aid in setting up a space for trade between Realms, and empahtically assures the magi that it will certainly fail without his assistance. They have no patience with his blandishments.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The heretical or possibly jewish talisman is examined and revealed to be a charm to ensure the wearer's words are favourably received. The work of some hedge wizard, undoubtedly. The merchant Enrico is threatened into revealing that he has been informing on the covenant's dealings, to Venzi's master and on one occasion to the Hospitallers (when they found him with that pendant).

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Leofric becomes yet more surly and withdrawn, and takes to riding around roads near the forest looking for monks to get in fights with. Tensions escalate.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Faramond hires a sword tutor for young Achille, who has returned from his time with the wolf pack. Rufus goes back to his family briefly, but after a week of trying to get a good debate going returns to the covenant to continue his studies.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The scholar Paolo Matarella is hired on as chief librarian.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">4 seasons pass in productive study. The covenant receives an apologetic letter from Irene of Flambeau, from Atramentum Renatus, with a copy of a summa by way of apology for her sodalis' uncouth raid.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">1219

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Spring: The Irish magus Linfiaclach Ex Miscellanea arrives in Normandy with some woeful story about cannibals, and is given residence at Mont-Mercure. He is conducted there by Irene of the covenant of Atramentum, an old associate of Mont-Mercure who's been meaning to pay a neighbourly visit. She's shocked to find Aeolus alive, and raises the possibility that his apparent death and loss of memory are part of an elaborate Tytalan scheme to capture the covenant. The magi consider their defense if their right to the covenant is challenged, and start looking into methods of restoring Aeolus memory to him, or at least some of its function. With careful negotiation, they manage to convince him to cooperate long enough to allow them to cast a charm on his mind to keep him compliant while they work on a proper solution. Initial investigations are encouraging however - Aeolus' essential nature has been altered so that healing spells cannot restore his original state. In his newly affable state Aeolus explains that his last memories are of 1209, when he was researching what he hoped would be a great breakthrough in hermetic theory  - a sixth technique, the Art of Ego.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Summer: the magi are roused from their contemplation when the river dries up. The undine that reputedly lives at its source is suspected. Assembling a band of warriors, they storm the faerie grotto and dispatch a swarm of minor spirits until the White Lady of legend appears before them. She accuses the magi of failing in their duty to deliver her a human consort-sacrifice, apparently a long-standing agreement she has with Mont-Mercure, and refuses to return the water to the river if she is not satisfied. They return to the covenant to discuss who they can possibly talk into throwing away their life like that. Meanwhile Leofric, oppressed by an anguish nobody seems to grasp, vanishes in the middle of the night. Rufus the wolf tracks him to the udine's domain, where the trail disappears without trace. The river returns however, and the magi secure a new vis source from the cave.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Autumn: hoping to get some insight into Aeolus's research a raid is staged on his tower lab and living quarters during his absence. a quick investigation reveals a map of the region of Brittany with ancient sites associated with House Diedne circled, and a script for an elaborate ritual they think better of taking. A mysterious sealed portal is discovered in the ground floor of the tower but spells reveal powerful magic at work and the magi elect not to disturb it.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Despairing of completely restoring the old magus' memory, the magi come up with a design for an enchanted device that allows him to catalogue his thoughts by transmuting them to a gaseous form that can follow him around, and work on it through the next year. Lina, the resident mentalist, spends most of the next year working on it.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">1220

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Spring: Paolo, who is conducting research into the nature of faerie, manages to extract an invitation to the court of the white lady. Several of the covenant's mundane staff are admitted to the fairie regio, where they find Leofric occupies a position of honour, although he appears prematurely aged. The humans beat a hasty retreat when the lady's castle is assailed by a great serpent, apparently attracted by the presence of mortals.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Grerr's "assistant" Hildegarde, now established as an artisan in her own right, is revealed to be pregnant and insists on a proper Christian marriage. A date is fixed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Summer: The goblin market is finally thriving, with the addition of such attractions as a talking dog, magical salts and some honest to god goblins. But the arrival of a band of Moorish traders led by the infamous Mahmud ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul al-Kabir ibn Karim al-Wahid provokes an outburst from a mendicant friar who happens to be in attendance, and a full-scale riot is narrowly averted by Ciragua's calming music.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The date appointed for the wedding arrives, but the ceremony is interrupted by an assault from Knights Hospitaller, led by the same Brother Gilbert who once robbed the covenant's grogs and apparently directed by the insulted friar. The knights attempt to barricade the guests in the church as they set it alight, but the covenant's warriors and magi manage to disperse them, even trapping five knights with Parmenides' conjured thornbushes. To everyone's horror, all but one of the hospitallers who cannot flee immediately fall on their swords, while the last seems distraught and incoherent. Brother Gilbert is among the fallen, while the mysterious friar makes his escape. After this incident becomes known, the magi and their agent Johan de Merdhomme are commanded to appear before the viscount to explain themselves.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Johan and Venzi plead their case before Vicomte Abelard, now returned from the crusades, somewhat hampered by Johan’s brother turning up as a surprise character witness. But in the end they manage to persuade the lord that the altercation was the result of infernal influence. The hospitallers and magi are both chastised, the agreement struck between the covenant and the viscount’s son annulled, the goblin market abolished. As a final term of peace the covenant is required to take on a chaplain. Father Fredegar arrives one morning not long after, and the magi agree to build him a lavish chapel in the woods on condition that he conduct all services there at a good remove from Mont-Mercure’s sensitive magic aura.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The magi are troubled by the possibility they are being manipulated by demonic forces, and think about strengthening the covenant’s supernatural security. Grerr and Venzi together constructed an enchanted device to power a potent ward against demons across the forest, but quickly discover that it inflicts accelerated supernatural warping on everyone within its influence and are forced to destroy it.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">1221

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Summer: the Normandy Tribunal convenes for the first time since the covenant was (newly) founded. The magi of Mont-Mercure are required to attend, having been charged with Interfering with the Mundanes. Separately, Aeolus is charged with apparently depriving one Justin of Mercere of his magical power.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The delegation arrives at the host covenant of Montverte, and sets about making an impression on hermetic society. Faramond’s heroic reputation works to their advantage, at least among the grogs. At the welcoming feast that evening the party is buttonholed by Irene of Flambeau, seeking support for a motion to outlaw cross-border raiding from Provence, and incidentally warning that the Fudarus voting bloc will likely attempt to vassalize Mont-Mercure. Becoming suspicious of Irene’s motivations, Venzi and Linfiaclach introduce themselves to Aeolus’ former sodalis Petra in the hope of gaining some insight into the intentions of her new covenant, but are awkwardly rebuffed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The tribunal’s legal business begins the next morning. Some interesting information emerges: several magi of Montverte are acquitted of habitual excessive brutality in legal raids; the tribunal is warned that a suspected infernalist and murderer from Provence, Noctua Alba Bjornaer, may be seeking refuge within Normandy’s bounds; Irene’s motion fails and she is cautioned by the quaesitor to stop agitating for magical support for crusaders. Finally, Mont-Mercure defends itself on charges of interfering with the mundanes by manufacturing gold in excess, trading openly in magic and bribing the secular powers. Their prosecutor is Eloi of Jerbiton of Covenant Cunfin, who happily they manage to stymie by pointing out his own covenant’s highly profitable trade in magic. The revelation of infernal influence causing friction between Mont-Mercure and the mundanes allays their guilt in the eyes of the tribunal, and they escape with a small fine of vis. The tribunal swiftly moves to impose formal restrictions on the trade of conjured gold and silver with the mundane community. In the meantime, Aeolus appears to have settled whatever grievance was brought against him out of court.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The grand tourney that accompanies every meeting of the Normandy Tribunal takes place over several days following. Though hindered by being composed entirely of younger magi, Mont-Mercure places respectably in the grog melee, the certamen juvenalia and the host’s choice event - a contest of freeform magic artistry where Linfiaclach’s construction of a living human harp turns some heads.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Winter: the remainder of the year passes in silent study, disturbed by an unexpected visit from Leofric of Arus, looking much the worse for wear, who comes to Mont-Mercure on a fairy steed and hands over his infant daughter to be raised by his old friend Bertranz. A few months later a boat bears his prematurely-aged corpse down the river from the Undine’s domain. He is the first to be buried in the newly-sanctified grounds of Father Fredegar’s chapel. A holy relic, the fingerbone of St. Nicodemus, goes into the coffin with him, a last gift from Paolo Matarella.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">1222

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Spring: Aeolus invites the middle-aged but newly qualified Étien of Flambeau to take up residence in Mont-Mercure, and buggers off somewhere without mentioning this to his sodales. Hot on the heels of the newcomer an armed delegation from the northern covenant of Confluensis arrives, headed by one Laetitia of Guernicus. A council is hastily convened, where the Quaesitor explains that the wanted (suspected) murderer/infernalist Noctua Alba Bjornaer has been seen fleeing in the direction of Avallon. Hearing that the Bjornaer fugitive travels in the form of a snowy owl (a species unknown in these parts) jolts Étien into recalling that he noticed such a bird watching him intently on the way here. Knowing the fugitive is in the area, the party from Confluensis take their leave and the magi of Mont-Mercure disperse to gather intelligence from the creatures and fairies of the forest. In the meantime, in the covenant library, Paolo is surprised by Bertranz apparently trying to rob the place. “Bertranz is revealed to be Noctua Alba, who manages to fight off the staff who attempt to stop him and escape in owl form. The intruder abandons his belongings in his flight and the magi find a cryptic note in his pouch, written in the obscure Gothic language, which points them to the ruined covenant of Caput Capra and the date of the summer solstice.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Summer: