Vardian Log #7: The Stand Betrayed

--
"Violence has its best effect if used only when necessary."
	--Karantia of House Flambeau
--

Season: Winter 1199

The Players:

Angus of House Bonisagus			Magus		(Don)
Apertus of House Flambeau			Magus
Aquilonius of House Ex. Misc.			Magus		(Shannon)
Certus of House Bonisagus			Magus
Chavin of House Tytalus				Magus
Christophano					Grog
Demorar of House Quaesitor			Magus		(Billy)
Diavoli						Priest		(Phil)
Flamma of House Flambeau			Maga		(Eric)
Geoffrey of House Verditius			Magus		(Phil)
Giovanni					Grog
Gotho						Grog
Inimicus of House Tremere			Magus
Karantia of House Flambeau 			Maga
Luigi the FireProof				Grog
Mario						Grog
Myrta						Warrior		(Dave)
Paulo						Grog
Tristus						Magus

**
** From the Diary of Aquilonius

After missing  Certus' humiliation several weeks ago, I was determined not
to avoid the second Council Meeting of this season.  Of course, I would
have been sure to go anyways, for it was not our usual seasonly Council
meeting, but rather an additional one, that, it turned out, was called due
to some interesting circumstances.

When I arrived in the Council Chamber, I found that Paulo was there, and
that the meeting had been called because of his presence.  Paulo was the
one grog of Vardian's Stand, the damned Covenant which had manipulated us
in the past, and the Covenant which has turned Certus into a bumbling
fool.  They had, however, taken Chavin from us, so they could not be
called utterly evil.  In any case, it was this same Paulo who stood before
us in our Council Chamber.

As he spoke, it became clear that the Covenant of Vardian's Stand had been
sundered in some way, and I was pleased by this.  Karantia was up in Rome,
apparently hiding from Apertus.  After telling us that Karantia wished to
meet us in the Garden of Paradise, in front of Saint Peter's, Paulo
demonstrated that he too wished to abandon the falling Covenant of
Vardian's Stand.  He asked to stay in our Covenant, and Hadrian quickly
showed his approval of this.  Before anything could be done, Hadrian had
killed Paulo with a Ball of Abysmal Flame.  The unfortunate grog of the
Stand has not left our Covenant since.

Knowing the someone would need to watch for Karantia's treachery, I made
sure that I was included on the expedition to speak with Karantia in Rome.
Demorar and Geoffrey also went, no doubt because their studies had already
been disrupted by their last expedition up to Rome.  Flamma was the last
magus who went up to Rome on this trip, probably wishing to prove herself,
for at that time, she had still not been accepted to our Covenant.

We took along Myrta, our grog captain, and a number of grogs, including
Luigi, Christophano, Mario, Gotho and Giovanni.  The last member of our
huge expedition was Diavoli, the priest who had come into our Covenant.
No doubt, he wished to make sure that the Bonisagus did not create the
same chaos up in Rome that they had scant weeks before.  And finally, we
set off.

Shortly after our arrival in Rome, the results of the magi's last visit
became readily apparent.  Just weeks before, several Bonisagus magi had
been up in Rome, and caused a large amount of trouble, getting into
numerous fights, and killing several people.  At the Hog's Breath Inn, my
favorite eating establishment, we were refused service, due to a conflict
that Demorar, Geoffrey and Myrta had started.  However, the Quaesitor took
his usual approach to dealing with Mundanes, and cast a spell to make the
Innkeeper remember them as good friends.  And, we were once again able to
eat at an Inn that we had been welcome at in the past.

After a mostly pleasant meal, we set off to the Gardens of Paradise,
planning to arrive at our meeting with Karantia early.  This was a quite
fortunate decision, for we were able to catch the back-stabbing betrayer
holding discussions with another member of the Order.  We were able to
determine that he was Inimicus of House Tremere, but little more than
that.  Inimicus rapidly left, and we soon learned that Karantia had grown
afraid of Apertus, and had decided to move on from manipulating our
Covenant to betraying him.

As we became questioning the manipulating Karantia, she told us that
Apertus had "taken" Chavin, and admitted that Certus was "elsewhere."
Then, after protesting that she had been under Apertus' influence the
whole time, Karantia began to list Apertus' crimes.  She said that he had
scried on us, that he had denied Certus his freedom, that he had sought to
deny Certus his life and that he had attempted to take Chavin's gift from
him.  Karantia went on to say that he had committed these same crimes
against others, and that he had dealt with infernal vis in the past.

Just coming up to speed in her tally of betrayal, Karantia stated that
Apertus had modified the piece of the skull which they had held for a
short time so that it would mark one who studied it.  With Certus thus
marked, Apertus was able to steal away his soul, leaving an empty shadow
behind.  Nearly spent, Karantia finally told us that Apertus had removed
the protection from their magical "device," and that if nothing was done,
it would become a serious threat to us.  Finally, having fully betrayed
Apertus, and having showed herself the manipulator that I had always
suspected, Karantia announced that she wanted to join our Covenant, hoping
that she would there be protected from Apertus.  (It was to hide from
Apertus that Karantia had come to the Garden of Paradise, a place strongly
protected by the Dominion.)  I decided that I would aide Karantia, again
using my earlier philosophy of turning one evil person against another.

Flamma and I returned to the Covenant to get the Little House of Tranquil
Dwelling, so that we could use it to hide Karantia from Apertus' Intellego
spells while we travelled to our Covenant.  While there, Flamma insisted
that she be made a member of the Covenant.  Realizing that it would do no
harm to him, Taron acceded.  Flamma had passed the test of patience that
we had set a little over a season ago.  However, as we arrived back up in
Rome, to collect the rest of the Magi, and the betrayer, Karantia, Flamma
showed that she was actually no better than the average Flambeau.  Showing
no respect for the Mundanes of Rome, she randomly burned a barn down, for
no apparent reason.  I at once charged her to a Certamen, and due to my
victory, she may now no longer burn things in Rome.  It is lucky that
there are some of us Magi who watch out for the Mundanes, or the Flambeau
and Tytalus of the world would destroy us all.

Soon after this incident, we finally rejoined our friends, and after the
traitoress Karantia entered the Little House of Tranquil Dwelling, we set
downwards again, confident that Apertus would not be able to detect
Karantia's movements, due to the powerful befuddling magics of the box.
However, it seems that this magic was not enough, for, on the return to
our Covenant, we were attacked by a skeleton.  It sent a shiver up my
spine, as I recalled the visions that Karantia had shown, of skeletons
killing me, but I knew that that had been but a lie, and I was safe.

It was fortunate that we had so many grogs with us, for the skeleton was a
fierce foe.  Worse was the fact that this beast brought an infernal aura,
making all of our spell casting more difficult.  It was remarkably
Giovanni who knocked apart the beast, but the battle was still not over,
for Luigi was being corrupted by a sword that he had acquired in Rome
above several weeks before.  He almost killed the fool Geoffrey before I
was able to destroy his sword, and restore him to his normal state.

Shortly after our return to the Covenant, a Council Meeting was called.
Demorar, our resident Quaesitor, quickly called a Wizard's March against
Apertus when he heard the charges.  Notification of this was sent to
Magvillus, as is appropriate.  Karantia thought this silly, remarking that
Violence had its best effect if used only when necessary.

Karantia then revealed that she had planned with Inimicus a distraction of
Apertus, and said that we could use this time to free Chavin and Certus.
She went on to say that they were being held in the shadow world of their
magic mirror.  (She called it a mirror, although it had seemed to be to be
little more than a circle of stone encircled by Hermetic Runes.)  I had no
real desire to free Chavin, since I was still pleased with myself for
having helped to get rid of him, but I decided that helping to release
Certus might help to show him that caring for others did have it's
benefits.  So, I set out, along with all who had gone up to Rome except
Geoffrey and Flamma, who were both unwilling to aide in freeing Certus,
and Gotho and Diavoli whom we had left in Rome above to buy some supplies.

As we approached Vardian's Stand, It became obvious that it was easy for
Karantia to move through the caverns that seemed to twist around the others
of us.  This made it quite clear that Karantia had been manipulating not
only us, thanks to Apertus' modified skull fragment, but the caverns as
well, to make life more difficult.

However, I put this aside, for Karantia's accusations were given even more
credence as we approached The Stand.  Inside the Covenant, we all felt
evil about us, and a few spells revealed that there was a powerful
Infernal Aura here.  Apertus had indeed been associating with unholy
powers.  As we entered the Council Room, shrouded with the smoke that had
once been contained in their device, we could all clearly see the
tarnished mirror that had been hidden from us before.  And slowly, we
shifted again into the Mirror's shadow world.

Karantia revealed that Apertus was hiding in the Rome above of this shadow
realm, and we began heading in that direction.  The trip seemed more
difficult than any other trip I have made to Rome, and Karantia confided
that she thought that Apertus was slowing us, but finally we did make it
to Rome.

Or at least to the Hell on Earth that Rome was in this Shadow Realm of
the Mirror.

The air was smoky, stiffling breathing, and making the atmosphere hot and
uncomfortable.  There were few people on the streets, and those that we
saw quickly fled from us.  In several places in Rome, flames merrily
danced, decimating buildings, but the population seemed to not notice at
all.  Near the center of Rome, the largest column of flame rose above a
palace, and it was there that we set out for, to steal the two elders away
from Apertus.

As we approached the palace, we saw that it was guarded by four beings
that could only be described as demonic.  We realized that we would have
to defeat these beasts to get into the palace where Apertus was holding
Chavin and Certus, and we quickly engaged them.  One of the beasts managed
to hurt me badly, but finally our grogs were able to defeat them.  Several
times, the beasts caused flames to rise up at Luigi, but at the end he was
unscathed, and loudly claiming that he was flameproof.  Angus joined us
during this battle.  He had been sent by Tractare, who, it seemed, wanted
Chavin back more than anyone.  His help was very useful.  However, while
we were recovering from the battle, and preparing ourself for what may be
within, Demorar and Myrta, becoming anxious, entered the doors to the
palace.  When we looked within, they would be gone.  Later, we would find
that they had been cast back into our own realm, but in the meantime, we
would be robbed of their aide.

Through the gate was a court yard, and beyond that the main door into the
Palace.  Beyond that door, we coudl see flashes of light.  Karantia
rapidly assured as that that was simply Inimicus, providing our diversion.
Looking around, we quickly spotted a secondary door into the Palace, and
entered it, confident that Apertus would be distracted.

We climbed stairs until we arrived at the top of the Palace, and decided
to systematically search from there.  Most of us did, that is.  Giovanni,
however, was busy systematically looting the Palace.  When we passed over
the main entry way, we could see all the way down to the main level, and
were able to see the causes of the earlier flashes of light.  Apertus was
engaged in a great battle with another magus.  The magus was wearing a
crown of vines, and was unknown to any of us (although we would later
learn that his name was Tristus).  Lying nearby was Inimicus, the magus
whom Karantia had been speaking with earlier.  He was unconcious on the
ground, his staff broken apart beside him.  Looking back to the conflict
again, I thought that they might be engaging in Certamen, for great walls
of water were gushing back and forth across the floor, but the techniques
and forms changed as they fought, and I realized that there was more to
the conflict than a simple Hermetic Wizard's Duel.

My attention was drawn away from the conflict, however, when I realized
that Giovanni and Christophono had moved on without us.  Quickly following
them, I found them in a room speaking with an old man, sitting on a small
chair, positioned next to a large throne in the room.  It was obvious that
he was a demon, for he was offering Giovanni great riches as we entered.
I managed to drag the grogs out of the room, but not before he revealed to
Christophono that Certus was being held far below, in the Cellars of the
Palace.  I only hope that the beast does not later try and collect a fee
from Christophono, in return for this information.  Chatting amiably with
myself, and the other magi, the demon said that he had lied to Apertus,
and told him he would win this battle.  The beast seemed quite pleased by
the fact that Tristan was destined to kill Apertus in their conflict.

As we fled the demon, I convinced Angus to try throwing some spells at
Apertus, but the spells had no effect, and Apertus did not turn and kill
Angus, as I had hoped he would.

Quickly, we headed down for the wine cellar, so that we could free Certus.
Surprisingly, the demon had not led us astray.  At the rear of the cellar
was an iron shod door which Angus quickly destroyed, revealing a lab
beyond.

In the center of the lab was Chavin, bound to a table, with his blood
slowly leaking away, into a rune-covered cup.  Karantia had earlier said
that Apertus was planning to steal Chavin's gift, and we soon realized
that this was the method.  I quickly fed Chavin his blood back, feeling
guilty for being the cause of this.  He still seemed quite disorientated,
and would for some time.  Thus, Angus and I began ransacking the lab.  In
doing this, we found a small spherical ball, filled with mist.  In the
ball, we could see Certus wandering, appearing lost.  Thanks to Karantia's
distraction, we had managed to locate both of the missing elders.

When we ascended to the Court Yard again, we saw a stunning sight.  The
entire front of the palace was gone, and the rest of the palace was slowly
crumbling, and being over run by vines.  Tristis stood in the rubble of
the palace.  Looking at the destruction, we realized that Apertus must be
dead, as the demon had promised.

Tristus approached us, and we soon realized that he was a quite decent
fellow.  He explained that the only way to free Certus would be to pour
the blood of a gifted person over the globe, and then to bring it into the
presence of his body.  But, he warned, it would be costly.

Slowly, I considered my options, and realized that I could let no one, not
even Certus to suffer like he was.  The others suggested draining Chavin
again, since he was still quite delirious, but I could not allow that to
happen.  So, to aide one of the damned Bonisagus, I made a long cut across
my left arm, and let my blood drain into the runed cup.  The world began
to spin around me, and I realized that I was experiencing one of the
Twilights that the Riddlers so covet.  Eventually, the world came back to
me, and I was able to bind my wound, which was still bleeding badly.  I
poured my blood over the globe, knowing that Certus would be freed as soon
as I brought it into his presence.

Tristis was still speaking with us, when Angus became angered at Mario, a
few moments later.  Before we could react, he had killed the poor grog.
Turning to us, he proclaimed "I don't take backtalk from grogs."  Tristis
seemed quite upset by this, and after making the cryptic proclamation that
our order would fall, and his would live, he left us.

So, we made the slow, and uneventful trip back to our Covenant, in the
real world.  I was able to restore Certus, and a Council meeting was
quickly called.  In a mere few moments time, he had Certamened both Taron
and Angus, regained control of the Bonisagus faction of the Council, moved
the Council table back to it's appropriate position, and made Angus
promise never to kill an inhabitant of the Covenant again, except in
self-defense.  The fool accepted Karantia into our Covenant as well, no
doubt due to the aid she had given in freeing him.  And, our dealings with
the fallen Covenant of Vardian's Stand were finally at an end, for Tristis
had killed Apertus, and Karantia was now less of a threat.

But, I have been deeply affected by that Covenant.  For, the wound that I
inflicted, to provide the blood that Certus needed still has not healed,
and all of the Mundanes of the Covenant have begun giving me a much wider
berth, as if they were uncomfortable to be around me.  I grow wary of the
Mundanes, and wonder if my past attitudes to them were indeed correct.

And, the runed cup sits in my lab.  A temptation.  Perhaps I can regain
what I have lost, if I could drink the gift of another.