Prospectus Logs #16: The Trod Not Traveled +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | How trods may be destroyed, the possible repercussions of those | | actions, and the final decision made. Also, how to squeeze vis from a | | stone. Finally, a potpourri of minutiae: more happy returns, continued | | excavations of stoya, letters to Egypt, and a surprising visit to the | | monastery formerly known as Castello's. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Dramatis Personae: Albus of Tytalus Magus (Shannon Appel) Berengarius of Criamon Magus (Eric Rowe) Catorse of Quaesitor Magus (Kevin Wong) Lorum of Merinita Magus (Bill Filios) Viator of Jerbiton Magus (Dave Pickering) Xanti Ex. Misc. Magus (John Tomasetti) Aubrin of Merinita Elder Magus Drake of Bjornaer Elder Magus Amador Ship Captain Tara Albus' Apprentice Arnau New Grog Francis Big Grog Hufar Moor Grog Michelle Leader Grog Pancho Coward Grog Roger-Tien Big Grog Sergio Old Grog Torp Goblin Grog Abbot Castello Former Head Monk Andron of Bonisagus Seeker Dervin Renegade Exile Faerie Durstos the Unraveler Big, Nasty Faerie Exedus of Tremere Seeker Galla of Merinita Seeker Grimgroth of Tremere Seeker Pier-Carlo Papal Scholar Father Salvadore Village Priest Guest Authors: Kevin Wong & Eric Rowe (Lab Designs) Story Guide: Shannon Appel - * - Albus' Dialogues September 12, 1215 Afternoon Tara and I are getting back into our studies after that pleasant interruption in Valencia. Had a quick council meeting this morning. Berengarius was made an Associate Member. He'll be a full member when he finishes his Arabic studies. Council meetings are a lot shorter with Docilli gone. I spoke with Amadar today and gave him my letter destined for Jelil in Egypt. He promised to pass it on to another captain at the next city he stops into and to do his best to get it to Egypt with all due speed. - * - Certamen Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal September 12, 1215 On this day Viator of Jerbiton challenged Berengarius of Criamon to certamen. Viator was victorious and as a result Berengarius must abide by the following conditions: "Berengarius may not do destructive experimentation on mundanes without fixing them afterward and Berengarius may not experiment at all upon Prospectus Locus' mundanes." Let it be noted that Berengarius accepted the "and" in this condition, even understanding it would normally be considered excessive by Quaesitor decision. - * - Albus' Dialogues September 15, 1215 Early Evening Tara's Corpus studies continue. Aubrin returned today from the court of King Jaime. Reported that many nobles are opposed to the idea of a fort on the Ebro. Still, the plan is going forward. No doubt in part to Aubrin spending over a week fighting for it. It appears there will be several royal forts up and down the Ebro. When, I'm not sure. - * - Albus' Dialogues September 25, 1215 Mid-day Xanti and Hufar are back from Mistridge today. They bring books of Seeker Lore and hints to its discovery within our tribunal. My instruction of Tara continues. I am pleased to say she remains interested though I know I am not the best teacher. - * - Albus' Dialogues October 1, 1215 Early Evening More Corpus studies. On another front, our excavation of the stoya bore more fruit today. Through omission if naught else. We've been excavating shoreward. Today the stoya finally came to an end and we found a road on the other side. No throne. We'll have to reverse directions and begin excavating toward the covenant. - * - Other Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal October 3, 1215 A heavy pall of smoke hangs over the entire region today, as if there were a great fire somewhere far to our north. Viator has gone to investigate and in the meantime we remain on alert, though it appears the fire is far away. - * - Aubrin's Memoirs October 6, 1215 Viator brought most curious news today when he returned from his fire-seeking trip, something that shocked us all. It appears that the smoke is originating from a newborn volcano lying over the covenant of Interritus and that they claim it is the result of a visit from their own founder, Flambeau reborn. We expect a complete letter on this issue to reach us soon, but right now I worry, for somehow it seems this must be the start of a new power-play on Interritus' part. On Viator's return from Interritus, he happened to stumble across a number of squatters who had moved into some of the old, burned out areas within my domain, those that we have not rebuilt in recent years. By Viator's word, these squatters were liars and violent as well, so I had our French grogs drive them off the land; Lorum reports that they performed well. - * - Aubrin's Memoirs October 13, 1215 As we had been expecting, a redcap came through today delivering messages. Although it is nice to hear from Drake again, and the tidings from Dervin were good, the open letter from Interritus was as disturbing as I feared it might be. - * - Letter from Drake to Prospectus Locus Written in Thebes Scribed July 12, 1215 Delivered October 13, 1215 My friends, fellows, and companions, I write today to you from Greece, in the Tribunal of Thebes. I have spent the last week searching for Andron in this country--a Bonisagus, once of Nature's Teeth, a Seeker. Finally I have found him. He reminds me of Taratus, gruff and private, yet willing to open up if you show some true understanding of his studies. I am delighted to say that Andron has invited me along on his current journey. We are seeking Seekers, a traveling pair named Exedus and Galla, a Tremere and a Merinita if you would believe it. Andron suspects that they are close on the trail of the Old Ones, here in Thebes, so we go, to join them, to learn what they know. Andron is younger than I, but I am apprentice to him in these manners of the Seekers; may he teach well. Drake - * - Letter from Dervin to Prospectus Locus Scribed September 11, 1215 Delivered October 13, 1215 To my friends at Prospectus Locus: I write you this letter from very far away. I am in the land of Kiev and hope that here I will stay, and so never threaten you, my friends, again, nor your home. I have found a new faerie patron, and have joined her court, and will do my best to never return to Iberia, where I might inadvertantly empower the May Queen, as I did earlier this year. May you have the best in this life! Your friend, Dervin PS: Baba says to tell Natasha and Anna, "Hello!" - * - An Open Letter to the Order of Hermes Drafted by Mortis of Interritus Scribed October 6, 1215 Delivered October 13, 1215 My Brethren, Rejoice, for the Time of Heroes is Upon Us Again! The covenant of Interritus in Iberia has had an awesome visitation and I wish to at once share it with you so you may revel in what is to come. One week ago, on September 30, the new age began. Great earthquakes began to shake the land about Interritus, and soon we learned the reason, for on October 1 one of the mountains that overshadows Interritus exploded, and began to spew forth hot lava from deep within the Earth. The lava flowed through the valley where Interritus rests, but miraculously our covenant was spared. The lava parted and flowed around us, as if by divine design. As we watched in wonder we saw a great figure striding down the mountain, through the lava, toward us, and as we looked we recognized him. It was our own founder, Flambeau, reborn from the fire unto the Earth! When he approached us, he spoke, and his voice boomed across the entire valley, rebounding and echoing: "My descendents, the time is upon us when the final battles will be fought. Prepare yourself, for you are my chosen ones upon this world. When my brothers begin to wake from their ancient sleeps, you shall know the time is right and you shall know how to act. Until then, make yourself strong. Light the flames within yourself so that you can burn to your essence, and so emerge purer and stronger, and then you will be ready when the holy war begins." And then he, our founder reborn, burst into flames, and as a pillar of fire shot up into the heavens until he was lost in the glare of the sun. I invite all of you, my fellows: come to Interritus and see the truth of the miracle that has visited us. We stand at the crux of a new age of power and mystery! Mortis Primus of Interritus Member of House Flambeau - * - An Open Letter to the Order of Hermes Drafted by Lorum of Merinita Scribed October 13, 1215 Sodales, I thought you might be interested in the following tasty recipe. 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. - * - Albus' Dialogues October 17, 1215 Early Evening Tara's first season of study is done! Now I am off to study Creo for her next lessons. In the meantime Tara will retire to the library to continue her own work. - * - Other Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal October 23, 1215 Berengarius has been granted permission to build a chicken coop in the mages' excercise yard provided that he take up no more than 8 square feet of space. - * - Albus' Dialogues November 10, 1215 Early Evening Agh. Another day spent probing the mysteries of Creo with our very dry books. It might be more interesting if all of the examples were not of Creo Ignem--the one combination of arts I have never mastered. Interesting news in our excavations today. We've been digging up the stoya toward the covenant for the last five weeks or so. Today the grogs found columns with a different type of capital. Some type of lotus leaf or something. We must be nearing something of improtance. - * - Aubrin's Memoirs November 24, 1215 If nothing else, Drake is prolific, for two more letters from him arrived this day. I do worry, for he did not sound entirely well, but at least he will be home again soon. - * - Letter from Drake to Prospectus Locus Written in Captus, Thebes Scribed September 11, 1215 Delivered November 24, 1215 My friends, I am not sure when I wrote to you last. My diary is in shreds, and my memory is little better. I remember clearly writing to you from Transylvanian in June, but now I am told it is September. Where has the time gone? I see fragments of the truth, and some magi here at Captus have been able to fill in the details a little, for I am told I stayed here, until just two weeks ago. There is no doubt that I had a great experience, and strange knowledges still fill my head, occasionally dropping out onto my tongue at the most bizarre times. I met with three seekers here in Thebes--Andron, Exedus, and Galla--and we went questing out after a place of power of the Old One named Mercury. That much the Captus magi could tell me. What's next I see in shards of memory. I see a desert and a great pyramid within it. I see artifacts filled with great magical power, of Egyptian design but not manufacture. I see Andron's excitement, Galla's calm happiness, and Exedus' visions of power. I see a looming presence falling across us all, a being greater than any we had encountered before, and one last vision, a face. It is a human face, with a distinguished silver mane of hair and a full beard. A golden key hangs from a chain around his neck. It is he that is the great presence. Then, suddenly, my mind fills with visions that I can not understand. And the next thing I remember is Captus. Could it be that we actually saw one of They and his presence so destroyed us? I can not say. The others are gone; I can not locate them, so I can only depend upon my own memories. This much I am sure: the creed of the Seekers is true and the Old Ones they seek after exist. Even if not for my fragmented memories, the strange things that fill my mind now assure me of this. So, let me tell you this before I reveal it to any other: I declare myself a Seeker! I have found my life's work! Drake - * - Letter from Drake to Prospectus Locus Written in Captus, Thebes Scribed November 1, 1215 My friends, fellows, and companions, I have spent the last month in fruitless search: for my fellow seekers and for the pyramid of my dreams. It has been without reward; they all seem to be gone... lost... I know not where. That dream--vision or truth, I can no longer say--grows fainter ever day, and I do not believe staying here longer will do me any good. So, I have decided to return home. On occasion, strange things still dribble forth from my brain. A strange aurora filling the sky. A hidden cave. A lost book. I do not understand the connections, but believe I will be able to better research them at home than here. For centuries the Seekers have tried to piece together a huge puzzle, but no one sees all the pieces. Perhaps I can help in this matter. Tidings came to me today of the final twilight of a Seeker named Grimgroth--the fellow I stayed with in Provencal so long ago. I plan to go to his covenant to attend his funeral. Then, it will be over the mountains and home. I will see you all again before the end of the year, and my heart leaps at that thought. And then I can put my beak to the grindstone and begin this new work: a tabulation of what I have seen, and research on what that might mean; even more I plan to try and seek out other seekers, to try and piece together the knowledges that they hold! Soon, my friends, soon! Drake - * - Albus' Dialogues November 24, 1215 Early Evening Our excavations finally turned up something today. Not a throne. A temple instead. We're not sure what to make of it. It's about thirty feet out from our covenant walls. I actually only presume it's a temple. It follows the standard peripteros style of temple design. There's a central building with columns around. There is something that looks like an altar within. A statue of a boat lies on the altar--oddly enough. So, there we are. No further clues as to where Aquil's throne is. None of us really have any clue as to whom this weird place was an altar to. Something to look into in the future--if no one has dealt with it by the time I'm done looking into our local relic and dealing with the relic I've been drawn to down in Africa. One religion at a time, my pater always said. Back to Creo. - * - Other Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal December 5, 1215 Our second new lab has been completed and tenatively allocated to Berengarius though he is only an associate member. Berengarius has expressed a preference for the third-floor lab when it is complete, and so he is being allowed to consult with our builders for the design of this lab. Completion is expected January 5, 1217, and when it is done that will complete our current efforts for lab expansion within the covenant. - * - Other Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal December 7, 1215 LAB BUILDING DELTA -- PLANS 1st Floor (design by Catorse) -------------------- /| | Bed | /\ D door / | D Room W || W window / | | | || / WC|Main Room |------| S \ | | | T \ | D Lab | A \ D | | I \| | | R --W--W--D-W----W---- S 2nd Floor (design by Catorse) -------------------- /| W /\ D door / D Main Room | || W window / | W || / WC| D S \ |------| |-------| T \ | | | Lab | A \ | | | | I \| D D | R --W--W---W---W---W-- S 3rd Floor (design by Berengarius) -------------------- /| | /\ D door D D Place | || W window / | to | || / WC| do D S \ | | T \ | Stuff | A \ | Room | I \| | R -------------------- S NO ROOF!!! - * - Drake's Diary 17 December, 1215 AD My epic trip is finally complete and thus I have returned home, to the place of love and friendship that I know as Prospectus Locus. It has been a grand trip, alternatively terrifying and breath-taking, but above all I am finally pleased to be done with it! We have a new magus here, a young fellow whom I had not met before by the name of Berengarius. He seems a good enough magus, enthusiastic and high-spirited, and I was pleased to make his acquaintance. He was very curious about my most recent experience and asked for permission to probe my mind, and this I allowed him. He described what he saw, saying Did I mention that he has the feet of a chicken? Chickens and ducks living together, who would have thought? When he looked into my mind he said my memory had been fragmented around a single point and that a look like a rock had smashed right through it, shattering the fragile surface. Only little splinters of memory were left at that hole in the center, but as my memory spread out the chunks became bigger, until things were mostly intact. He was able to clarify a few points that I Note to myself: learn those memory probing spells so I can understand my own mind. When he looked into my mind he clarified a few things for me which will be of great use when I try to make sense of it all. Most crazy of all things, he claims that the man I saw just before the end was Bonisagus! Ludicicrous, and I might think of it as Criamon fancies, but then there was that matter of Flambeau at Interritus, though Aubrin claims that's just a power-play. In any case I forbade Berengarius to talk about this lest it look Note to myself: remind Berengarius a half-dozen times that I've forbidden him to talk about me perhaps seeing Bonisagus. That is to say, I don't want us talking about Bonisagus because it would just seem like a hostile move, trying to upstage Interritus. In any case, I plan to spend the next few seasons collecting my thoughts, and reasearching these bits and pieces that I see, memories and things that were dropped into my brain when everything exploded, and then I can go from there. - * - The Council Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal December 19, 1215 In attendence: Albus, Aubrin, Catorse, Drake, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Frangere, Lorum, Risus, Viator, and Xanti; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal, and Berengarius, an associate member. Absent: no one, for the first time in a year and a half! Quorum was achieved and Aubrin called the meeting to order. Points of Information: * AUBRIN called the meeting to describe his investigations of the trod system that overlays Prospectus Locus. He says that the trods are definitely still there, just almost impossible to make out. He also is certain that destroying the trods will not affect our magical aura. Hermetic magic can not destroy the trods, so we are forced to fall back onto another realm of power. In our copy of _the Seelie Court_ Aubrin found a reference to a faerie creature call Durstos who might be helpful in this matter: "Ye shall know Durstos the Unraveler by sight, for he can not be mistaken for any other. He stands thirteen-cubits tall and at first he may seem to be composed of darkness, but upon closer examination ye shall see that the darkness is but raiment and that below its tattered and frayed edges lie a skeleton of bright white bone. Durstos' head is the skull of a jackal and his hands are sharp and deadly claws of bone. "Durstos is always accompanied by his personal court: thirteen gremlins of most awful appearance, said to live upon the blood of the mundane. "Though the appearance of Durstos and his court is mightily fearsome, it is not that which is feared most, but rather his power. For, as his name attests, he can unravel things by his magical might. The Seelie Court says that prophecies claim he may one day unravel their whole world, and then the fay shall no longer live upon our Earth." Later references gave a good description of Durstos' home. He holds court near a mountain lake almost a hundred miles due west of Prospectus Locus. The lake is say to be unmistakable because, "it is untainted blue, the perfect reflection of the sky." A circle composed of thirteen stones lies just south of the lake. Berengarius has agreed to lead an expedition to seek out this faerie and bug him to destroy our trods. * AUBRIN opted to discuss our vis allocation today rather than holding another meeting in two days. This year we have collected: 1 Creo, 2 Intellego, 1 Perdo, 5 Rego, 1 Aquam, 6 Auram, 9 Herbam, 3 Ignem, 2 Imagonem, 2 Terram, and 2 Vim. Aubrin also noted that our ghost ship produced 2 less pawns of vis than usual, probably due to the (warranted) actions of Albus and Lorum at the start of the year. He also brought up our debt--130 pawns of vis other than Vim, at least ten of which must be paid each year to avoid penalties--and that 12 pawns of Vim would be needed for our Aegis of the Hearth--which well proved its worth this year at the time of the faerie convocation. Points of Debate: * AUBRIN suggested 2 pawns of Vim and an additional 7 pawns of forms (to be traded) be allocated for the Aegis of the Hearth. Passed. * AUBRIN suggested 2 pawns of Imagonim and an additional 1 pawn of form (to be traded) be allocated to Lorum due to his intention to write an Imagonim book after his current studies into that art are complete. Passed. * AUBRIN suggested 11 pawns of form vis go to pay off our debt. Passed. At year's end our vis stores now include: 8 Creo, 2 Intellego, 2 Muto, 4 Perdo, and 11 Rego. In addition our debt has been reduced to 119 pawns. This debt is currently owed to Barcelona, Estancia-es-Karida, Hamus Acerbus, Doissetep, Mistridge, and Windgraven, as is fully noted in the second addendum to the Spring, 1212 Council Records. - * - From The Book of Exile As Dictated by Michelle du Provencal December the Thirtieth, First Year of Exile (1215 AD) "Kill them all. God will recognize his own." So spoke the false Bishop of Citeaux, Arnald Amalaricus, when he condemned us to the fire. But, our end had already begun. When the first seeds of our downfall were sown I cannot say. Perhaps in was in 1208 when the antichrist named the pope called a crusade against us, or perhaps just prior to that when the antichrist's legate, Peter of Castelnau, was struck down. Others would place it earlier, when the Cistercian monks began to preach in 1206, or in 1184 when Lucius II issued the _Ad abolendam_, or even when the third Lateran Council spoke out against us in 1179. I place it still earlier still. I say that the seeds of our downfall were sown long ago, in a time unmeasurable, when we _credentes_ were born into this soiled world amidst pain and suffering. My name is Michelle. I am a Cathar: one of the pure. This tome is my Book of Exile, recounting the time after our church was taken away from us in Provencal, when myself and my fellow _credentes_ were forced to find a new home in Iberia. The unjust crusade against us in Provencal is well-recorded, though always with great bias. We fought long, my men and I, but Simon of Montfort was too strong. In the end, when word came of Louis of France's impending triumphal procession, we knew the time had come to flee. Gathering my last nine men about me, I went over the mountains into Iberia. That was how we came to be in Barcelona, where we met with the seneschal Lucindia this July, and that was how we came to Prospectus Locus. There is little to write of our early months here. In September I led a small expedition of warriors to Valencia, but fighting men were little needed. In October I led a force to chase squatters from my new Lords' lands. Besides that, the time has been spent training and acquainting myself with my new fellows. The Iberians are jealous of the great skill my men show, for we are the hardened survivors of a score battles or more while they are all rejects: those deemed not competent enough to die three years ago. Nonetheless, I have become their _de facto_ leader. I should note this: In these scant months at Prospectus Locus I have found no time to tell my new Lords of our religious teachings. The falsely named Church of Christ would call these Lords heretics too, if it knew of their beliefs, but I fear if I told the Lords ours we would only be exiled again. Now it is the end of December and a new expedition looms ahead of me, a trip to parley with a great demon, and I sense this will be my first brush with greatness in this new land, and so I have begun this book, The Book of Exile, my own testament. We leave today. We escort four Lords, Viator, Berengarius, Lorum, and Catorse. I have been handed a mixed batch of men to lead: the misfit Torp, the moor Hoofar, the boy Arnau, and the coward Pancho. At least I have been allowed to bring two of my own--Francis and Roger-Tien. Francis is still all but untested, veteran of a mere few skirmishes, but he has his brother Roger-Tien's size, and togther we will yet make a man of him. As I have said, we go to bargain with a demon, Durstos the Unraveller by name, in the hopes that he will unravel some magical web that lies about Prospectus Locus. My men and I, we go in case words are insufficient. - * - From The Book of Exile As Dictated by Michelle du Provencal January the Fifth, Second Year of Exile (1216 AD) "How could you expect anything but pain and suffering, after being cursed to be born into this world?" Those were the last words of Pierre, a friend and companion, killed by the army of Peter of Aragon over two years ago now. I may draw some succor in the fact that that barbarian is no friend of my new fellows here at Prospectus Locus, for the part he played at Las Navas de Tolosa, but still the last words of my friend ring true, for I have seen new pain and suffering this day. It was late afternoon today when we came upon the lake where the demon Durstos was said to reside, and we were struck at once by a surprise, for there was no circle of stones, no demon in a throne of bones holding court, but rather a small village, Lago Alto by name. We circled around to make camp by the lake shore. It was not long before a villager came out to meet us, and I was not shocked to see that he wore the clerical robes of the false church. Its clerics have always felt the need to impose upon the lives of others. Viator went to speak with this priest, Salvadore by name, and when he returned he brought warnings of a demonic curse that stalked the village every night during the winter. The priest had invited us all into his church, to spend the night praying to his pope. We declined. At the time I let my pragmatism overcome me and I was sure it was a ploy by this Salvadore to indoctrinate us with his belief. But, sometimes, even the church of wrong can be right. This was one instance. And so his story is worth repeating here. According to Salvadore a hero came to this land eight hundred years ago, the so-called Saint Varosh. Here he found the demon Durstos, and he slew him, cut off his head, pierced his heart with an iron spike, and then scattered his circle of stones, and so he destroyed his power. To show his contempt for the demon Varosh then built a church atop his grave. But, Durstos' curse still lies upon the land and every night during winter it falls upon any villagers who does not remain in the church, where the prayers of the faithful are said to protect them. As darkness fell we began to hear scufflings beyond the light of our campfire. Calling upon his powers the lord Viator caused the campfire to burn suddenly bright and then we saw outlined in the light four demonic shapes--the gremlins that old tomes had warned us of. They ran back into the darkness, but the gremlins began to speak then, to offer to negotiate with us, and Lorum proved that he was not just a Lord, but also a man, and a brave one. He stepped toward the edges of the light to speak with these demons and finally, lighting a fire about his head, he stepped out. Bravery cannot defeat treachery, as I learned so well during those last desperate years in Provencal. No sooner had Lorum stepped out into the darkness then he was set upon by the demons he had tried to speak with. Their numbers were now grown to ten and then charged upon him and began to rend and tear. Chaos set upon us. The demons were fierce beasts, perhaps four-feet tall, made of stone, their faces lean and pointed, their arms sharp and clawed. We Cathars understand this world is the creation of the Devil, and here was our proof of that, for his stamp was clear upon these beasts. Ordering my men to guard the other Lords, I charged out into the darkness, war maul swinging. The Lord Catorse was at my side, and from behind I heard arrows flying through the air as Torp shot at the beasts. Still, we were almost too late. I had hoped to grab Lorum and flee, but he was already wounded by then, and suddenly the three of us were surrounded. I fought bravely, I even wounded one of the demons that attacked us, but I thought sure we were doomed. Then, behind me, Berengarius called a charge. As a half-dozen men and more bore down on the demons, they turned and fled back into the darkness. Lorum slumped to the ground, barely conscious, but we were all alive. We have kept the fire burning bright since then, and have cowered near its flames. It seems clear that the demons are not willing to attack us here where we are strong. So, we are safe, until morning. - * - From The Book of Exile As Dictated by Michelle du Provencal January the Sixth, Second Year of Exile (1216 AD) "When nothing but death lies ahead of you, there is no dishonor in fleeing." Those were Pierre's words too, but he did not heed them. Yet, it is only for the memory of those words, and of what happened to Pierre afterward, that I finally found the strength to abandon my home and come here, to Iberia. Today my new Lords made a similar decision. When the sun rose this morning we finally descended into welcome sleep. Except Berengarius, that is, and the unfortunate guards he selected to accompany him, for Berengarius decreed that today was shiny-stone-collecting-day, and proceeded to do so. At first I thought Berengarius a _prefecti_ in disguise; his words seemed so wise. Then, when I saw him dressed in armor and wielding his sword, I thought he might be a warrior. Now I must believe he is a madman, one who collects shiny stones on the sixth of every month and purchases chickens every twenty-third. There is no dishonor in that--madmen are simply those who have seen the world for what it is. He could become one of the _credentes_ if we were brave enough to approach him. After a few scant hours of sleep we began to plan what to do with our attackers. By this time we were sure that they were the gremlins--Durstos' demonic court--that the priest's story had been true, and that Durstos was indeed buried beneath the village's church. The Lords thought that Durstos could be raised from death but first they wanted to know more of our attackers of last night. We decided to track the gremlins, and once again Torp proved his merit. I misjudged him before, when I looked only at our appearance. Just because he has been touched more deeply than most by this foul world does not make him less a man. Torp was able to track them, each one, back to one of thirteen huge stones scattered about Lago Alto. We had found Durstos' sundered circle of stones. We spent several more hours talking to the villagers, and in doing so we saw that many of them were touched by the presence of the demon within their land, but we learned nothing that we did not know: that Durstos was dead and buried under their church, actually forming the hill that the church lies upon; and that Durstos' gremlins still bedevil the village every winter night. In the end the Lords could make no unified decision, for they had been surprised to learn that Durstos was laid down under the ground, and they were not sure they wished to waken him simply to benefit our own home. So, we decided to leave, to return to Prospectus Locus so that the Lords could make a decision there with their fellows. Using his powers Viator took to the skies, dragging the injured Lorum behind him. The rest of us began a long trudge back to Prospectus Locus. We are several miles out of Lago Alto tonight, and no fierce demons endanger us. Thus, though we are still many days from home, I believe I can end this first chronicle here, with us having bravely gone and fought well, but having retreated in the face of ignorance and indecision. - * - The Council Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal January 13, 1216 In attendence: Albus, Aubrin, Catorse, Drake, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Frangere, Lorum, Risus, Viator, and Xanti; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal, and Berengarius, an associate member. Absent: no one. Quorum was achieved and Aubrin called the meeting to order as elder. Points of Information: * VIATOR and LORUM opened the meeting by discussing the situation at Lago Alto, explaining that the faerie Durstos was imprisoned, and that they had decided not to free him without first speaking with council. Aubrin delineated the situation thus: the council must decide whether to put the good of the covenant of the good of fay as a whole forefront. Points of Debate: * AUBRIN brought forth the first vote concerning Durstos: whether he should be freed. This suggestion was not even seconded. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "If they can, I'm wrong." | | -Catorse, on Quaesitor surety | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ * AUBRIN then brought up the second vote: whether Durstos' gremlins should be harvested as vis. Since they must return to their stones every night, it was deemed that this would be an easy task with only minimal danger, thus the question was whether the covenant wished to risk angering Durstos if he may rise at some time in the future. After a vote it was decided that Aubrin and Viator will lead an expedition of grogs back to Lago Alto; by ambushing the gremlins as they leave and enter their stones this group will kill 12 of the gremlins and harvest their vis; the 13th will be brought back for study by Drake. * FABCRICARIOUS suggested that people should exchange their chairs for comfortable Roman-style couches. It was declared no vote was necessary and Lucindia will arrange for couches for those people who do not want to keep their chairs. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "I don't like anything that makes me comfortable" | | -Viator, on asceticism | ------------------------------------------------------------------------+ * LORUM suggested that serving girls be allowed into council to bring food. This was later ammended to state that such serving girls must be mute, deaf, and illiterate. The issue failed. * AUBRIN brought up a recent rift that has developed between our older Iberian grogs and our newer Provencal grogs. The Iberians feel resentment over Michelle, a newcomer, being put in charge. If this decision were reversed and Rodrigo and Federico were restored to power, the Provencal grogs would feel resentment over being commanded by a much less competent leader. As a compromise, the council voted to elect Sergio the new grog captain. Though a relative newcomer, he is an Iberian, and also quite competent. Sergio will be allowed to select his own seconds. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Any other issues to bring up?" | | "No, I have to go get a sandwich." | | -Aubrin & Fabricarious, on mute, deaf, illiterate serving girls | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ - * - Albus' Dialogues January 16, 1216 Evening Out of the covenant tonight. The change of scenery is good. Yesterday I finished my Creo studies. I now feel competent enough to teach Tara that art. This morning I assured myself that Tara is working on her next season of study. Then, it was on to the next task. A visit to the monastery to learn of this relic that the Papal Legate studies. The monastery surprised me when I arrived. It has changed much since my last visit. It is fortified. There are numerous fighting men. A great excavation is going on. Even more surprising is this--the Abbot is gone. Returned to Rome. To be given recognition for his discovery, I am told. More likely this discovery is of too great importance to be in the hands of a fool. I have asked to speak with the Legate or his representative but I am told I must wait until tomorrow. So, I wait. Outside the monastery. - * - Albus' Dialogues January 17, 1216 Late Evening Back home, though just until morning. As I had hoped I was brought into the monastery today. The changes within were even greater than those without. They are doing huge renovations. It is clear that the Legate plans to turn Castello's monastery into a huge pilgrimage site. I met with a man named Pier-Carlo. A dusty sort of archaeologist. He is clearly the sage that the Pope has assigned to oversee this matter. Pier-Carlo complained about the lack of funds and I understood that with a small payment of silver I could gain the access to this site that I desired. I promised him a pound of silver. So, it was back to the covenant. I just missed Aubrin, who left this morning for Lago Alto. Sucking vis from faeries. So, I wrote him a note explaining the changes at the monastery. We should be concerned over the growth there. Then it was off to see Lucindia. She was tight-fisted as ever, but eventually gave up the silver. A two week delay on our third lab, to January 19, 1217, now lies upon my head, she says. So be it. It will be useful to our covenant to see exactly what these Christians have unearthed. To understand it so we may destroy it. Back to the monastery tomorrow with my ill-gotten gains. I plan to spend the season there. Watching. Learning. Scheming. As I write this entry my eyes grow ever more weary. But, one question burns across my brain. If Castello is gone, where is She? - * - Aubrin's Memoirs January 19, 1216 Viator and I caught up with our grogs today, in Lago Alto. Their seven-day trip was but two for us, for we could fly in the sky. The area here has an interesting aura, and I can definitely feel the presence of something powerful here, and I think my fellows were right when they elected not to free it. We have set up camp about one of the stones and hope to slay the first gremlin as it emerges tonight. If all goes well we can get two a night, one each morning and one each evening, which would mean we would be done in but six days. However, from Lorum's report these things are cunning, so I expect more time will be needed. - * - Aubrin's Memoirs January 28, 1216 Our task is done, and it went as well as planned. A few of the grogs got a little banged up due to the desperation of the gremlins, but we were able to take them all. Though cunning, they were cowards, and thus never willing to assault us frontally. That, combined with their need to return to their stones every day, proved their downfall. I felt a little guilt when I first voted to allow this vis gathering, for I share the common Merinita belief that a faerie drained of vis will never rise again in this world, but these monsters were ferocious, cruel, and animalistic; they gave faeries a bad name and our world is better without them. So, it is farewell to Lago Alto, farewell to Durstos lying under his hill, and may Merinita grant me insight in searching for a new way to deal with our trods. Viator and I, and that pet stone for Drake, will be back in two day's time, the grogs will come following after. - * - Drake's Diary 30 January, 1216 AD I do not know what secrets you hold, o' gremlin rock, but they will be mine. Note to myself: don't let the gremlin eat the villagers.