Prospectus Logs #37: The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | A messy and chaotic conflux of events. How rain falling upon a | | covenant may cause all manner of accusations, and lead to many | | thoroughly unexpected events. Templars, faeries, fuzzy animals, and | | many more enter the fray before all is done. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Dramatis Personae: Albus Magus of Tytalus (Shannon Appel) Berengarius the Bloodthirsty Magus of Criamon (Eric Rowe) Catorse Magus of Quaesitor (Kevin Wong) Fabricarious Magus of Verditius (Chris Van Horn) Frangere Magus of Flambeau (Eric Fulton) Isabella Magus of Jerbiton (Dan Webster) Lorum Magus of Merinita (Bill Filios) Risus Magus of Criamon (Dave Woo) Viator the Villainous Magus of Jerbiton (Dave Pickering) Aubrin the Evil Elder of Merinita Drake the Liminal Elder of Bjornaer Pietro Viator's Apprentice Tara Albus' Apprentice Chicken #39 Berengarius' Chicken Chicken #40 Berengarius' Chicken Gorka Pietro's Fish Jophiel Albus' Angel Cassius of Merinita Magus of Victrix Fatuus of Tytalus Elder of Hamus Acerbus Maria of Quaesitor Second of Duresca Jacob Aesthetic Paulus Papal Legate Baron Zelipe Baron of Mantiun Dux Aquil Faerie Lord of the Beaches and Shores May Queen Faerie Queen of Summer in Winter Princess Rahne Faerie Princess of Island and Fjords Duke Thom Faerie Lord of Death and Dying Vole Queen Faerie Queen of Fertility Story Guide: Dave Pickering - * - Albus' Dialogues June 9, 1219 Early Evening There have been heavy rains for the last few days. Unusual for Iberia this time of year. Today Berengarius stopped by my lab and blamed me for them. I admit I did like Germany's more humid climate. Nonetheless, I tolk Berengarius I was not to blame. - * - The Council Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal June 12, 1219 In attendence: Albus, Aubrin, Berengarius, Catorse, Drake, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Frangere, Fraxima, Larissa, Lorum, Risus, Viator, and Xanti; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal. Absent: none. Points of Debate: * AUBRIN presented Isabella for acceptance as a full member of Prospectus Locus. After a new series of questions, she was accepted by acclamation. * AUBRIN noted that we now have insufficient lab space. Various options was discussed. It was determined that the ground floor of the elder's tower, currently used for storage, would be converted to new lab space. As fourth eldest, Catorse has been given the new lab space; he states that he only needs half of the level and has no requirement for lab equipment. - * - Albus' Dialogues June 14, 1219 Mid-Evening The rains still continue. Finally, I sent Viator up into the sky today. To make sure that there wasn't a faerie castle atop the clouds. I was relieved to discover that there wasn't. I don't know why the May Queen doesn't ever respond to my letters. - * - Albus' Dialogues July 13, 1219 Evening Yet another rainy day. Many of the others find it oppressive. It reminds me of home. I finished my Animal studies today. The results were very good. I had not studied from vis before. It was much more enlightening than I would have thought. With that done it is time to move on to Tara's studies for the year. She wants to learn about Ignem. I suspect someone whose name starts with "F" has been telling her fire is good. - * - Drake's Diary 12 September, 1219 AD A most enlightening day today, full of the surprises that make life worth living. Viator asked my presence concerning a problem with his apprentice, a boy named Pietro, who is also his brother-in-law. The young boy has been immersing himself in fountains and trying to turn into a fish, it seems, which is most strange. While many would have no results from this, Pietro seems to have started to succeed. I have agreed to work with Pietro for a time to determine if he might still be young enough to set his heart beast free. - * - Drake's Diary 19 September, 1219 AD This day I reported back to my friend and fellow Viator that his apprentice does seem to have some affinity with the ways of Bjornaer. He had been engaging in certain Bjornaer rituals to discover one's heart beast, hence his strange immersions and piscine-changing attempts. Most strangely, it seems that it is I who taught Pietro these rituals, though I remember nothing. Pietro's pet carp, Gorka, mumbled something about me being evil and not to be trusted, which is odd. Note to myself: Have everyone write down what I did that I can't remember anymore. Put writings somewhere safe where I won't forget about them. I have agreed to work more with Pietro, to determine precisely what his heart beast is, though I must say I suspect it's something fishlike. Bjornaer's intuition. - * - Other Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal September 20, 1219 Gorka, the magical fish of Viator's apprentice, Pietro, was found crushed to death last night by one of the covenant's stone lions. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Thanks." | | "No problem. Man I hate those lions." | | -Viator and Berengarius, on piscinicide | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ - * - Albus' Dialogues September 21, 1219 Morning The May Queen's realm should have opened up again today. I have decided to go speak with her about these rains. Viator has been kind enough to accompany me. - * - Albus' Dialogues September 22, 1219 Evening It appears our trip was fruitless. I have waited outside the May Queen's regio the entire day. I am sure she is here, but we are unable to make entry to her realm. I have instead left her a note. Viator and I will leave come morning. Viator was weird on our trip down. He seems uncomfortable with Jophiel. With my new relationship with her. He preferred us being adversaries, I suppose. Very Tytalus. I hope my new understanding with Jophiel hasn't caused concern among my other fellows. - * - Letter from Albus to the May Queen Scribed September 22, 1219 Dear May Queen, Tired of rain. Please stop. Your relative, Albus PS: How are we related? Eagerly awaiting your reply. Thanks. - * - Albus' Dialogues September 23, 1219 Mid-Afternoon Back today thanks to Viator's flight spell. It looks like I'm heading right back out again. I talked a little with magi about the failure of my mission. Everyone is becoming pretty distraught about the rain. It has been going on for long months. Through the entire--usually dry--summer. Berengarius was mumbling something about chicken #40. I couldn't make much sense of it. The reason I'm leaving is that a bit after I got back I received a letter from the Vole Queen. These fay must all be watching each other. The Vole Queen is going to tell me about my faerie relatives. I'm off to her tree right now. - * - Letter from Rocky the Squirrel to Albus (Forged by Berengarius) Received September 23, 1219 This is Rocky the Squirrel. The Vole Queen says she knows something about your relative situation. Come see me immediately. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Chicken #40 has informed me..." | | -Berengarius, on Criamon wisdom | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ - * - The Council Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal Septemebr 23, 1219 In attendence: Aubrin, Berengarius, Catorse, Drake, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Frangere, Fraxima, Larissa, Lorum, Risus, Viator, and Xanti; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal. Absent: Albus, visiting the Vole Queen. Points of Discussion: * AUBRIN stated that the main purpose of the council meeting was to discuss our unusual precipitation situation. The rain in Iberia falls mainly on the plain. The amount of rain on our coast, especially in summer, has been very highly abnormal. * LORUM stated that it never seemed to rain when Berengarius was out of his lab. I collated my mental records of rainfall and determined this to be true. * BERENGARIUS stated that Chicken #40 had informed him that the artifact at our nearby monastery was the cause of the rain. He further pointed out that Viator's mission to Rome of last year had been a failure. The number of pilgrims traveling to the monastery that once belonged to Abbot Castello has increased greatly of late. Points of Debate: * AUBRIN arbitrated a number of different options for how the artifact should be dealt with. Lorum suggested three options: get another church to steal the artifact; steal the artifact ourself; or burn the monastery down. Viator suggested one option: get Albus to try and bring about a peaceful resolution which will move the artifact from our land. After a vote, Viator's option was taken. Lorum and Albus will talk to the Templars that Albus knows in Rome and try and convince them to take the artifact by political means. Following the council meeting, Catorse left angrily. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "There's no #5, dear." | | "She's already voted for it; I assume that means burn it down AND kill | | other random Christians." | | -Aubrin and Lorum | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ - * - Albus' Dialogues September 24, 1219 Evening A most puzzling situation at the Vole Queen's court. No one claims credit for the letter. There is a Ricky Squirrel, but he can not write. I am quite confused. Perhaps some faerie scribal error. The Vole Queen talked briefly about the rains. She said it was inconveniencing her diggers and wondering if our covenant could take some. Our covenant has avoided any floods because of the magic of some ancient statue we possess. In any case, I agreed. We owe the Vole Queen due to her yearly fertility rituals. Badgers, otters, voles, field mice, hedge hogs, shrews, rats, marmots, rabbits, gophers, moles, and more should be waiting for me upon my return to Prospectus Locus. - * - The Council Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal September 25, 1219 In attendence: Albus, Aubrin, Berengarius, Catorse, Drake, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Frangere, Fraxima, Larissa, Lorum, Risus, Viator, and Xanti; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal. Absent: None. Points of Information: * ALBUS stated that the vermin now infesting the covenant should not be hurt. We are protecting them as a favor to the Vole Queen. * CATORSE announced that he will be taking ane extended leave from Prospectus Locus. * ALBUS agreed to speak with his Templar associates. He will leave with Lorum in a few weeks' time. Points of Debate: * FRANGERE requested the new lab space on the ground floor of the elder's tower, now that it will be empty due to Catorse's departure. As next eldest magus, he was granted it. * LORUM asked that the hierarchy of Prospectus Locus be slightly changed. From this point on, age will be calculated as equal to age plus the number of years a magus has been at the covenant. - * - Other Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal September 27, 1219 Yesterday, Berengarius set up lab outside in the hope of stopping the rain. Today it rained. Albus and Lorum continue their preparations to travel to Rome, based on the theory that our local monastery's artifact might be causing the rains. - * - Albus' Dialogues October 12, 1219 Mid-Morning Lorum and I are heading off to Ostia today. I think the idea that the _caduceus_ is causing the rains is hare-brained. Nonetheless, I will be happy to speak with my Templar friends again. In the meantime, I have asked Berengarius to do me the favor of speaking with Aquil. It seems much more likely that he might know something about these rains. - * - Other Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal October 14, 1219 After an extended stay with Aquil, Berengarius returned today, stating that Aquil knows nothing about our recent rains. Mumbling something about turtle soup, Berengarius returned to his lab. - * - Albus' Dialogues October 22, 1219 Early Evening Arrived in Ostia today. The rains have been heavy here too, though nothing like Iberia. We'll travel up to Rome tomorrow. - * - Albus' Dialogues October 23, 1219 Early Evening Success, I believe. I spoke with my Templar friends today in their cathedral. My speech was well-prepared, written on our trip from Iberia. I gave it well and believe I have convinced them. It looks like they will take the _caduceus_ by subterfuge. We were required to offer them a little monetary aid, but our covenant can afford it. I must admit I feel a little guilty about the fact that we will probably be paying them based on the loot from Fraxima's pirate raid earlier this year. Nonetheless. I have given the Templars plans to the entire monastery. It is all deeply ingrained in my mind from the seasons I spent with them. They were quite grateful. My Templar friends have promised to give me warning before they make their attack so that Lorum and I may aid their escape if required. I believe we can now return home, convinced that our job is done. - * - Albus' Dialogues November 10, 1219 Evening Home. The trip back was hideous. Raining the whole time. I have never in my life been so sick. Lorum has asked me to write a letter to his master. Cassius of Victrix. Apparently that elder has never been kind to Lorum. I will speak of how well Lorum stood up to his fears of the church. How he stood on holy ground and was a valued companion. - * - Drake's Diary 12 December, 1219 AD It seems that I have a new apprentice, young Pietro, for after my last season's of work with him I have definitely divined that his heart beast is a fish, a carp to be most precise. Viator was, I think, feeling a bit strange about this heart beast thing, and so he asked me to take over Pietro's education, which I have agreed to, and the young man seemed amicable. In return, I have promised Viator that I will help him find a new apprentice, for if he is to ever be an archmage, he must train one. - * - Albus' Dialogues December 21, 1219 Late Afternoon We had our yearly vis meeting today. I collected some more Animal, to study next year. Also, I was able to bring up the issue of our discussions with the Templars last month. I assured the council that the Templar's theft would probably work, and the artifact be removed. At my urging, the council offered up the twenty-seven pounds of silver required. Other funniness at the meeting. Berengarius asked for some Ignem vis so he could defeat Fabricarious at Certamen. He was granted it. Then Fabricarious asked for Ignem vis and was turned down. The covenant also agreed to pay for longevity potions. Frangere's will be the first and we will try to purchase one per year. - * - Albus' Dialogues December 28, 1219 Mid-day Received a message from the Templars today. They will sneak into the monastery on January 10. - * - Other Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal January 5, 1220 Flooding has been recorded in Bercula. - * - Albus' Dialogues January 9, 1220 Early Afternoon I somehow put it into Berngarius' mind to go down to the monastery tomorrow to see what happens. I hope he doesn't mess anything up. - * - Albus' Dialogues January 10, 1220 Late, Late Evening It seems the raid has been successful, though it is hard to say for sure. Lorum and I spent the afternoon submerged beneath the waves near Castello's monastery. We saw the Templar boat come in around noon. It left this evening. No one followed, so we did not have to hole boats. I hope the mission was a success. - * - Albus' Dialogues January 11, 1220 Afternoon Spoke with Berengarius this noon. He described a bunch of Templars running into the monastery than back out. I can only presume this is a good sign. The rain has actually begun to let up, as bizarre as that sounds. I saw Aubrin giving one of Berengarius' chickens bread and olives. I presume it was Chicken #40. - * - Albus' Dialogues January 12, 1220 Afternoon Viator brought me word today from the townspeople. The rumor is that something is missing from the monastery. Victory. The _caduceus_ is gone and I have given my Templar friends another artifact. It looks like the rain are gone. - * - The Council Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal January 13, 1220 In attendence: Albus, Aubrin, Berengarius, Catorse, Drake, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Frangere, Fraxima, Larissa, Lorum, Risus, Viator, and Xanti; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal. Absent: None. Points of Information: * AUBRIN noted that heavy rains had begun again. He assigned various magi to continue investigations. Berengarius will speak with Thom. Isabella will speak with the Vole Queen. Drake and Aubrin will take flying tours of the area to try and determine where the rain is centered. * BERENGARIUS stated that Chicken #39 stated that diabolists are the cause of the rain. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Going without your smoking jacket, very noble." | | "Gets chilly." | | -Isabella and a raccoon, on disguises | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ - * - The Council Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal January 17, 1220 In attendence: Albus, Aubrin, Berengarius, Catorse, Drake, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Frangere, Fraxima, Larissa, Lorum, Risus, Viator, and Xanti; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal. Absent: None. Points of Information: * ISABELLA stated that the Vole Queen knows nothing about our rains. The Vole Queen did mention that this area's climate was wetter twenty or more years ago. Isabella also brought new refuges in the form of thirty pheasants. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "I'm sure you're very busy, being Queen and all." | | "Especially during the flooding season." | | -Isabella and the Vole Queen, on responsibilities | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ * DRAKE said that Hamus Acerbus admited that rain had been heavier than normal. He also spoke with a Faerie Princess of the area, Rahne, the ruler of island and fjords. She knew nothing about the climatic changes. * BERENGARIUS offered no useful information from Thom. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "I talked to his wife at length." | | "Did she have anything to say?" | | "No, she's dead, you fool." | | -Berengarius, Aubrin, and Berengarius | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ * ALBUS claimed that the rain is not divine in nature, according to consultation with his angel. * AUBRIN stated that the rain seems to be the most heavily concentrated in Mantiun. He has authorized an expedition to go to Mantiun to investigate this, headed by Viator, and including Albus, Berengarius, Frangere, Isabella, and Risus. - * - Albus' Dialogues January 17, 1220 Evening Up in Mantiun to continue exploring the issue of the rain. Not a whole lot of new revelations. I spoke with the clergy men in the area. I was looking for newcomers to the area, since it seems most likely that they'd be causing this problem. I learned of some refuges living up the river. The clergy men also pointed out all of the pilgrims heading to our nearby monastery lately. I believe the others did some investigations too. Viator was going to talk to his father-in-law. I think our grogs are going to stay behind to help build barriers. Mantiun is in severe danger of flooding. Risus and I plan to go explore flora and fauna now. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "I refuse... oh I'll take the oatmeal." | | -Berengarius, on comestibles | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ - * - Albus' Dialogues January 18, 1220 Evening We decided to investigate the refuges today. No particularly useful information. I questioned them with Viator's Aura of Rightful Authority, but they remained fairly uninformative. Berengarius then strolled through their minds a bit. As far as we can tell, the refuges have nothing to do with the rain. They didn't pay taxes to another lord or something, and so fled. Viator decided to invite them home. He is leaving with them. The rest of us plan to travel to the monastery. Our last possibility seems to be the pilgrims there. Still raining, of course. - * - Albus' Dialogues January 20, 1220 Late Evening Another dead end. We showed up at the monastery today. I used my connections to speak with the assistant to the associate to the papal legate. He was quite helpful and became concerned when I said that I believed diabolists masquerading as pilgrims were causing the rain. I was assigned guards to work with me. I questioned lots of people, trying to determine which pilgrims had been there since the rain started. No luck. I eventually sent the guards away. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Excuse me, Sir, I think I saw the monastery do something funny." | | -Berengarius, on phobias | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Berengarius also questioned pilgrims--mostly while I was speaking with the assistant to the associate to the papal legate. I believe he chased away an asethetic and blamed another. The exact details are hazy. The one who remains is named Jacob. He seems very holy. So, we are at a dead end. No signs of diabolism among the pilgrims. We will return home on the morn. One other matter. I heard details of the Templar raid when I was here. Most disheartening. It appears they did steal the _caduceus_ away. However, a number of people were killed on each side. Jophiel seems quite upset. - * - The Council Records as recorded by Lucindia the Seneschal January 21, 1220 In attendence: Albus, Aubrin, Berengarius, Catorse, Drake, Fabricarious, Forticulus, Frangere, Fraxima, Larissa, Lorum, Risus, Viator, and Xanti; also myself, Lucindia the Seneschal. Absent: None. Points of Debate: * AUBRIN suggested that we hire a Quaesitor from Duresca to speak with the rains and locate their source. This was accepted. - * - The Memoirs of Aubrin the Evil January 29, 1220 It seems that our problems are finally explained, if not resolved, and we are content with that resolution for the non. Today I returned with Maria of Quaesitor, to speak with the rains that have bedevilled our covenant of late, and learned that the rains all came from the north. It seems that somewhere in the north there is a faerie lord who has been hording rain for twenty years, and that now he has decided to release it all, for whatever strange reason. The rain will continue to be heavy for a while, but should lighten up by mid-summer, and after that the rainfall patterns will be more like those that I recall from twenty years ago. So, mystery solved, it seems. One caveat is this: the rain is coming from the Pyrenees, and that makes us all suspect our old enemy, Interritus. We have offered to supply Duresca with required supplies, such as vis, so that they can determine whether Interritus sent these floods down upon us. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Yeah, that's what the chicken said. It's a chicken, crazy old man." | | -Berengarius, on irony | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+