While playing around with the net, I came across the following two pages describing the Fourth Lateran Council, the important religious meeting of the century, set about half-a-year forward of our current time: http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/09018a.htm ; The Catholic Encyclopedia on the Fourth Lateran Council ; Part of an online version of the 15-volume 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/lateran4.html ; The Canons of the Fourth Lateran Council, 1215 ; Part of a huge medieval sources site Both very cool. -- Prospectus Logs #13: By Papal Decree, Part II +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Of a resolution between Prospectus Locus and the papacy: agreements, | | bribes, and justice done... for some. Also, the first of many happy | | returns. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Dramatis Personae: Docilli (Raul) of Bonisagus Magus (Eric Rowe) Fabricarious (John) of Verdit. Magus (Chris Van Horn) Frangere of Tremere Magus (Dave W. as "Eric F.") Lorum (Petrus) of Merinita Magus (Bill Filios) Risus of Criamon Magus (Dave Woo) Viator (Paulo) of Jerbiton Magus (Shannon as "Dave P.") Aubrin Elder Magus Forticulus Elder Magus Boy Docilli's Apprentice Federico Grumpy Grog Juan Moralez "Doc" Grog Julio Sleepy Grog Rodrigo Bashful Grog Lord of the Sea Turtles Faerie Sea Turtle Baron Zelipe Lord of Mantiun Zilia His Daughter Abbot Castello Local Churchman Marius Paulus' Senior Advisor Sir Otto Bad Templar Papal Legate Paulus Foreign Churchman Sir Tempus Good Templar Gamemaster: Dave Pickering Guest Authors: Dave Pickering (Lorum's Sea-Turtle Soup) - * - By Papal Decree, Part II A Story in Prose OTTO. May 16, 1215 ================== The Templar lord spurred his horse forward. His speed was reckless in the gathering dusk, but he wanted that damned Ebro castle far behind him as quickly as possible. No doubt the would-be Lord were even now gathering a force to hunt him down--the uncouth heathen upstart. Behind Otto his men struggled to keep up, some riding double just as the Templar's emblem depicted. Otto snorted as he looked back. Usually the men-at-arms were allowed to walk, but extraordinary times required extraordinary measures. Suddenly the stillness of the night was broken by the sound of hoof on stone. Otto felt his horse stumble and begin to fall. He barely managed to throw himself free and roll to the side, years of experience saving him from a broken leg or worse. Otto's men were drawing up around him as he limped back to his horse. It was breathing hard and shaking, but nothing seemed to be broken. A grim smile split Otto's face; he would still live to reap his vengeance. When Otto bent down to see what he had run over in the murky darkness, he let out a grunt of surprise. It was an enormous sea turtle. Despite the impact of the horse's hooves, the shell was intact. The turtle had retracted its appendages into its shell and was hiding. Just like those damned warriors in their castle, Otto thought. Otto's eyes went wide when he realized that the patterns on the turtle's shell were writing. He called for a torch and, when it was handed to him, leaned close to read: Lorum's Sea-Turtle Soup 1 particularly homely adult Sea-turtle in 1/2-inch cubes 10 ounces butter fat (may substitute head-fat from turtle) 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup minced celery (4 stalks) 2 medium onions, minced (2 medium) 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic, minced 3 bay leaves 1 teaspoon oregano 1/2 teaspoon thyme 1-1/2 cups tomato purie Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, as needed 1/2 cup lemon juice Add all ingredients in large pot and simmer for at least 4 hours. "What the hell?" Otto exclaimed. Otto's men look at him strangely for a moment, but then one gasped and pointed at the sea turtle. Though its legs were still retracted, it had slowly begun to edge back toward the sea--almost as if it were floating. Once more taking the part of discretion, Otto leaped on his horse and yelled, "Onward!" His tired and wounded horse reluctantly obeyed. There were other turtles in the sea to fry, starting with those damned mercenaries who had dared to attack him--a knight Templar and a protector of a papal legate. They would pay dearly, those ones. Otto and his men rode north, toward Castello's monastery and the legate's entourage. BOY (BETRANDUS). May 16, 1215 ============================= Boy quickly writes as Fabricarious offers his report to the unofficial council: FABRICARIOUS reported that he had spoken to Castello regarding the Templars and Legate. A. Castello confirmed that he had recently found a religious (Christian) relic, and had sent word to Rome (Pope Innocent III) regarding it. The relic seems to be of some significant, as the Papal Legate came in response. Fabricarious believes the Legate will "push the abbot around and take over the monastery". Boy rests his hand for a moment as Fabricarious finishes his report. The magi have already begun to argue over what must be done next, and as usual they give Docilli's intelligent advice insufficient consideration. In a break in the argument, Viator asks if Fabricarious passed the Templars on the road when he returned to the covenant. Fabricarious thinks for a moment, then affirms that he did. There is silence for a moment, as all present realize how close Fabricarious came to death. Then the argument begins again. Finally, the magi reach a decision. Fabricarious will return to the monastery and explain the situation to Castello in no uncertain terms. Something must be done or much death with ensue--either the legate or the relic must be sent away. In addition, Lorum is particularly adamant in his belief that justice must be done. Fabricarious bobs his head up and down in agreement. He will do what the council asks. Hurrying, he rushes back out into the night. BOY (BETRANDUS). May 17, 1215 ============================= Boy's eyelids feel heavy. It is just barely past midnight, and Fabricarious has returned from his journey. The magi have waited for him, and now another meeting must be recorded. Boy still feels privileged by being asked to record these events, but he is considerably less enthusiastic than he was ten days before. Though his head feels heavy, Boy writes: FABRICARIOUS, returning from his visit to Abbot Castello, stated that it is the Abbot's opinion that the Papal Legate must straighten everything out. He further suggested that Viator, in his guise as Lord Paulo, draft a letter to the Legate welcoming him, offering monetary aid, and accepting responsibility for our grog's actions in attacking the Templars. There was considerable disagreement on this issue. Looking around at the arguing magi, Boy thinks he has understated the issue. He'd almost be tempted to say that Docilli is furious at Fabricarious for not stating the hard facts of the situation--but Docilli never gets mad, of course. For long minutes they discuss the issues. Finally a decision is reached. A third visit will be made to the Abbot. This time Viator and Docilli will be the ambassadors. They will explain quite clearly that something must be done about the Legate, that something must be done to ensure true justice, that somehow the problems must be resolved. Boy's head slumps down into his folded arms. There will be another council meeting when the magi return, but in the meantime he can rest--Docilli will do the job right. JULIO. May 17, 1215 =================== Julio leaned up against the wall of the Abbot's chamber in the monastery. He was more tired than he had even been before in his life. He had thought the covenant was under attack when he was rousted out of bed. Instead he had just been asked to escort two magi to the monastery, along with Juan Moralez. It was Rodrigo's method of teaching him a lesson about falling asleep on duty. So now here he was, awake in the middle of the night while the magi dickered with the Abbot. Worse, he was ten miles away from the covenant and his bed. "We hold you responsible for summoning the Templars who killed our grogs, and it will be your fault too if more deaths result from this," Docilli said, his face close to Abbot Castello's. Julio was quietly aghast. One didn't talk to a man of God in such a way! Glancing at Juan Moralez, Julio saw that Docilli's personal grog was both unsurprised and unconcerned. Julio attempted to keep a blank look on his face. "All I did was report a find to the Vatican," Castello sputtered. "Docilli is just saying that we want you to help out as best you can before anything worse happens," Viator said. Julio's head began to spin as the discussion progressed. It was like some manner of weird game. Docilli badgered the Abbot, blaming him for the problems, and threatening that other members of the covenant might do violence if the Abbot didn't do anything. Viator spoke calmly, asking for simple and reasonable aid on the Abbot's part. The Abbot, caught between the two, continued to state that he had only done his duty, and that any violence was no fault of his. Finally, after a long talk about difficulties between church and state, the magi seemed satisfied and signaled that they were ready to go. The Abbot had conceded that he would do what he could to make sure that justice was served against the Templars, and that he would also do what was in his power to make sure that the Legate's visit was as short as possible. But, he stated that his power was small when measured against the Pope's personal representative. Wearily, Julio prepared himself to go. It would be a long walk back to the covenant. BOY (BETRANDUS). May 17, 1215 ============================= Boy gathers up his papers and prepares to finally vacate the feasting hall. It is almost dawn, but now that Viator and Docilli have returned, the long night's final council meeting is done. Suddenly, Boy hears the shout of "Certamen!" from across the hall. He turns and sees that Viator and Lorum are preparing to engage in ritualistic battle. A few minutes ago, Viator had been talking to the grog leaders--Rodrigo, Federico, and Juan Moralez--suggesting that swords should not be drawn on knights in the future, unless someone's life was in danger. Juan Moralez had begun to argue--rightfully, Boy thought, for Juan listened well to Docilli too. Then Lorum had gotten involved--angry that the grogs were being disciplined for fighting a battle where two lost their lives. Now words are being replaced with magical phantasms. Boy moves closer and watchs the certamen with interest. He had seen many in Interritus, but those almost always involved fire. This certamen is a battle of corpus--Boy's personal area of interest--and so he finds himself drawn to it. The battle lasts long movement, but then Viator finally throws up his hands in resignation. He is exhausted, and knows he has been defeated. By Lorum's condition he can no longer talk to the grogs about the battle with the Templars. "Can you tell the grogs something for me?" Viator asks. Lorum waits, and Viator proceeds. "Tell them they did a good job." Boy nods his head in silent agreement. Under Juan's intelligent leadership they fought well. If only they could all have survived that day. VIATOR. May 18, 1215 ==================== Viator looked wearily up at the papal delegation. Between riding through the night and sleeping through the day, he was exhausted. At least the day had gone fairly well so far. When almost a score mixed accountants and warriors had shown up at midday, Viator had worried for a few moments. Docilli and Fabricarious had been arguing about the futility of mundanes sieging magi, and so Viator's thoughts were filled with gloom. But, Papal Legate Paulus had listened when Viator had expressed his reluctance to let fighting men into the keep; the Legate had entered the covenant with only two companions: Marius, his senior advisor; and Tempus, one of the leaders of his Templars. Now they were all seated in the great hall. Viator had brought two advisors of his own: the sage Petrus and the warrior John, which was to say Lorum and Fabricarious. And, they were talking rationally, not threatening. It was a very good start. With that thought, Viator returned his eyes to the paper he had been examining. It was the request for aid that Lorum and Marcus had worked out. Totaling it, Viator saw it required some thirty pounds of silver worth of supplies for the papal delegation--a high sum, but well worth it if it prevented more violence. Looking up again, Viator spoke. "There is no way we could pay this sum regularly. But as a one time payment, I believe we can offer this aid. I will, of course, have to take a few moments to examine our current finances." Meaning that Frangere would have to approve it, because he was elder in residence. But it would be an easy matter, because there actually was about thirty pounds of silver available and unallocated, thanks to a reward that the May Queen had offered in return for services done near the start of the year. The legate assured Viator that this was indeed a one-time fee, and that if a regular contigent were established at the monastery, mandatory donations would be much smaller. After that the conversation was a bit more relaxed, and Viator took the opportunity to learn more about the legate and his mission. "We mostly have fighting men here right now," said Papal Legate Paulus. "to hold the abbey. We expect more learned men later, scholars and such. Experts from the Holy Land. I haven't met them myself, but I hear that they're very sharp fellows. After that we should have some builders and people to help with the excavation." "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly did you find?" said Viator. "We'll need to investigate it to be sure, but quite possibly it's a relic of Joseph of Arimathea." said Paulus. Viator puzzled over that for a moment while Lorum asked a question of his own. "We have a number of scholars here who might be interested in your find. Would they be allowed to help?" "Of course," said Paulus. "Assistance from your scholars is welcome, though we are expecting that caravan of our own specialists soon." Viator smiled. Albus would probably like that. He didn't quite understand the Tytalus' strange reasoning, but he continued to throw himself into study of Christianity with a fervor. The conversation continued to dwindle. In the end Viator was forced to broach the final issue--the question of justice for the grogs the Templars had slain. Petrus deferred the question to his Templar commander, Tempus, and Viator fell into discussion with him. Viator was saddened to learn that Tempus was as arrogant as his fellows. He refused to accept that the Templars might be guilty of any crime, and continued to call the grogs "incompetent ruffiants". Finally, exasperated, Viator said, "I'd hate to have determine justice myself--say a price of thirty pounds of silver for our two dead warriors." That got the legate's attention. After that, things went fairly smoothly. The legate agreed to be the arbiter of justice for this issue. He would take the oaths of the grogs at the shrine in Bercula, then he would return to the monastery and take the oaths of the Templars there. I hope he does the right thing, Viator thought. Otherwise there will be violence. Looking across the table he saw that fury was still writ large across Lorum's face. "Dinner first," Viator said. "Before the oath-takings we will eat." JULIO. May 18, 1215 =================== Julio let out a sigh of relief as he stepped down from the shrine that had so recently been reconsecrated by the Legate. It was done. He had told the truth, thank God. The whole time he had been awed by the Legate. He was a great man--equal in stature to the magi, as amazing as that was. Too keyed up to doze, Julio watched anxiously as the Legate finished questioning the grogs, then the innkeeper. No questions were asked of the women who had been at the inn. Finally the Legate was done. He gazed up at the darkening sky with a quizzical look upon his face, then turned to Viator. "I trust you can offer us accommodations for the night?" "Of course," Viator said. "We can put you and your closest advisors up in our guest house. The rest of your men can be bunked in houses here in Bercula." The town was still empty, all the peasants evacuated to the covenant until these problems blew over. "Very good," said Paulus, and he began to walk toward the covenant with Viator. Behind them, Lorum simply glared. VIATOR. May 19, 1215 ==================== Viator watched as the legatial party headed north, back toward the monastery. It had gone well overall, and offering the Legate shelter for a night hadn't killed anyone. Still, he worried about the legate's last words. "No matter what the judgement is," Paulus had said, "be assured that this will not happen again." No matter what the judgement is... - * - Quote from Pope Innocent III's Opening Address Fourth Lateran Council November, 1215 The corruption of the people has its chief source in the clergy. From this arise the evils of Christendom: faith perishes, religion is defaced... justice is trodden under foot, heretics multiply, schismatics are emboldened, the faithless grow strong, the Saracens triumph. - * - Aubrin's Memoirs May 20, 1215 No sooner did Forticulus and I return to the covenant this afternoon then we were met with dire news, of mad Templars and the deaths of grogs. I winced when I heard it, a wound that never heals opened once more. "You should call a council meeting," Lorum said, and I agreed. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Who died?" | | "Grogs... I forget their names." | | -Aubrin and Lorum, on grief | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ - * - The Council Records Written by Boy at Docilli's Instruction It is May twenthieth in the year twelve-hundred and fifteen These Are Official! The magi in attendence are Aubrin, Docilli, Frangere, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Lorum, Risus, and Viator. Four magi are absent. Drake is somewhere in northeastern Europe. Albus and Catorse are at a church near Barcelona. Xanti is studying at Mistridge. We had eight magi, and so that was enough for quorum which requires there be a majority. Aubrin is back, and so was the one who called the meeting to order. VIATOR spoke first and explained the current situation with the Templars. Aubrin said that he thought things had been handled as well as they could have been. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "I still think we should kill two random Templars." | | -Lorum, on justice | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ AUBRIN brought up the issue of the shrine in Bercula which the Legate had reconsecrated. He suggested that a proper church be built around it as soon as construction of the covenant's second new lab was complete, late this year. A VOTE was called, and there were no objections, so this issue PASSED. LORUM stated that this current situation had made him feel very vulnerable due to a lack of grogs. Aubrin stated that efforts to recruit new warriors would be redoubled. Lucindia should already be working to bring some back when she and her caravan return. Word will also be sent to Albus and Catorse, to try and locate grogs in Barcelona. Next time Viator visits Mantiun he will see if there are any prospects there. LORUM said that he was worried about the monastery, and there was some discussion about driving the Abbot out after the Legate is gone. Aubrin deemed this imprudent, and it was finally decided that the Abbot would be invited down for dinner some time soon, and we would tell him that in the future he should warn us if any dangerous churchmen are coming into the area. LORUM suggested that we keep visible magic to a minimum while the Legate and his forces are in the area. According to the Legate their investigations might take months or even years. A VOTE was called, and there were no objections, so this issue PASSED. After that the council was called to a close. - * - Aubrin's Memoirs May 20, 1215 (continued) I can only express my relief by saying that things were not as bad as I feared. There have indeed been Templars in Bercula, and they did violate the sovereignty of my barony when they struck down my warriors, but the interactions between church and state are so terribly touchy that I can not think how any true justice could be derived from this, and I believe my fellows acted intelligently and well in what was a bad situation. We expect the Legate to make a decision on Sunday, the twenty-fourth, and hopefully it will be one we can live with. There have been other interesting matters while I was gone, primarily this matter of a faerie regio lying atop our covenant's main tower. I have looked at it hard with my faerie vision, and I can see nothing. If there really is still a regio here, it is so well surpressed by Mercurian magics that it not apparent in the least, and of course I have never seen it before. It would have been intriguing, and I wish I had been here, but again I believe my fellows did the right them in stopping faerie magics from overcoming our home, not matter how interesting the result might have been. It is good to be home once more, and it looks like in just a few days this latest matter will be done with. - * - Aubrin's Memoirs May 25, 1215 As expected we received word back from the papal legate today, and I must say that the justice done exceeded my own expectations. Paulus determined that my grogs were reasonable in the actions that they took, and that the Templars were rash, though not criminal. No specific punishment is being assigned the Templars, but the particular warriors involved in this fiasco are being relocated elsewhere, to lower tensions. Lorum, unfortunately, is not pleased, and I understand why, for two of our loyal men were slain, and the guilty were not punished. But, the mere fact that the Legate has admitted they were rash was a victory for us that will help in our future interactions with the Legate. With this sad affair behind us, I hope that we may work as well with Paulus as we have with Castello before him. - * - Forticulus' Hastily Scribbled Notes 25 May 1215 I cannot imagine what it is about this place that prevents even the simplest things from being done, but again it is happening! The Baron Zelipe sends us a letter today, saying he is confused about who is courting his daughter. Apparently the fool has somehow got it into his pea-brain head that Risus is still interested in the girl, even claims that Risus made some impressive monetary offer. Risus says he knows nothing, but then I can't really trust him either, since he is so scatter-brained that he might have made such an offer without even knowing. Damn and damn these complications of this easy issue. I shall have to talk with the Baron and explain things in small, bite-sized words. - * - Letter to Baron Zelipe Written by Forticulus, Marked with Aubrin's Chop May 25, 1215 Baron Zelipe of Mantiun, There has clearly been some misunderstanding. I would be pleased to offer you our hospitality at your earliest convenience, so that we can come to an understanding, and thus strengthen the tie between our two lands. Baron Alberto of the Ebro Delta