Vardian Log #15: The Epic of Luigi -- "I don't step through mirrors. I don't even like looking at them!" --Antonio -- Season : Winter, 1201 The Players: Acutus of House Ex. Miscellania Magus (Doug O.) Antonio Companion (Chris) Becki Maiden Coniuratus of the Cult of Mercury Sorcerer Demorar of House Quasitor Magus (Billy) Felix Companion (Shannon) Geronimo Grog Giovanni Grog Marius of House Tytalus Magus (Philip) Meles of House Criamon Magus (Dave) Tolas of House Tremere Magus Tytalus of House Tytalus Founder Veritus of House Mercere Redcap (Doug L.) The Star: Luigi Grog Captain Quote of the week: "I don't step through mirrors. I don't even like looking at them." Antonio ** ** From The Legend of Luigi as related to his beautiful wife. My first official mission as Grog Captain of the Covenant was very difficult, but with my excellent leadership I was able to command the other Grogs into completing it. It was another trip to the magical lake to collect magic stuff from it for the Magi. At the lake I commanded the fight against two ferocious marmots that nearly slew us all. While gathering their remains I spotted a glimmer against one of the cave walls. This turned out to be a finely crafted mirror which I decided was obviously meant as a reward for me for my excellent work. So, I took it. One morning I accidently brushed against the mirror as I gazed upon my handsome reflection and my hand passed right through. Curious, I entered the mirror only to find myself stepping through a waterfall in a lovely green glade. I followed a rough hewn path for a while when I came upon a tremendous battle. A huge Dragon was battling four heavily armored men who were protecting a beautiful maiden. I leaped into the fray and slashed many times at the beast as my new compatriots fell about me. The monster let loose blasts of horrible flame which I withstood powerfully, but my last fellow fell to the flame. Again and again the beast burned me and slashed at me with its wicked claws, but I countered all his strokes and returned each blow with a harsher one of my own. Finally, the foul beast fell and I ate its heart. The fellow whom had last fallen was the lord of the area, and the beautiful maiden, his daughter. She took me to her castle to minister to my wounds and I enjoyed her company to the point of asking her hand. The folk of the area were delighted to have such a great warrior as their new lord. Then the Magi showed up, and my wonderful world came crashing down. ** ** From the slightly charred lab notes of Meles. The most interesting thing has just occurred. Certus found the new Magus Donus with his throat cut. Not a very professional job though. Certus told us that Luigi the Grog Captain had done it and I immediately thought less of his weapons prowess. Certus and Taron screamed at us until we agreed to find Luigi and bring him back alive. I looked for Tiro, but it seems Luke had convinced him to take the new cook up to Rome to show her a good time. Some of the others were also up in Rome helping with some stupid plague. After a few spells by Demorar we determined that Luigi had done the killing and he had brought something large back from the lake. This turned out to be a magical mirror that Demorar thought was Demonic, but no one believes him as usual. Demorar was being chicken and peeking his head into the mirror so I charged the mirror and knocked both of us into the small pond on the other side of the mirror. Meanwhile those minions Felix and Giovanni gambled away ownership of the mirror which belonged to neither. Demorar dried everyone off while Antonio decided whether or not to join us, which he eventually did. We set off down a small path after many spells were cast, detecting nothing. So, of course, Demorar gave us a lesson on how Faeries contain vis. Great. It did at least upset Marius into Certamening him. Marius lost and was to gain an apprentice as quickly as possible. Eventually, Giovanni spotted some movement and we tracked down an old hermit sleeping in his hollow tree thanks to a spell by Demorar. He mentioned he had seen someone matching Luigi's description heading down the path we were following. We noticed some ruins but passed them by and eventually found four burial mounds and a dead fire drake with its heart cut out. Up ahead we saw some blue and yellow flags flying above the treetops. This turned out to be some generic small castle with the usual group of mangy peasants loafing around. They all spoke some strange germanic tongue and Acutus managed to insult them into calling out guards on us. We didn't have to slay them though as all they did was bring us in to see the new Duke, Luigi. I knew peasants were dumb, but... We found Luigi upon a small throne dressed in rich robes with a beautiful (despite her lack of tatoos) young female seated at his side. ** ** From The Legend of Luigi So then, the Magi and some others came barging in claiming that I killed one of the new Magi. They cast a bunch of their silly spells and decided that maybe (hah!) I really didn't do such a foolish thing. They asked me to return with them and I refused of course because Desiderius is coming to visit and attend the wedding, as well as officially grant me title to the land. The magi were all upset because they decided the year was 762 and we were in Tuscany. I don't let this magic stuff bother me, especially not with the gorgeous Becki at my side. Since they were all disturbed (in more than one way) they couldn't agree upon what to do. Acutus and Veritus returned to the Covenant. Felix and Demorar went off to find the sorcerer my scribe had mentioned lived at the nearby ruins. The other three went back to consult the old hermit they had seen. My scribe says he is very wise. Just before Desiderius arrived Acutus and Veritus returned demanding I return to the covenant. They never learn. ** ** From the scattered lab notes of Meles Those two fools decided to follow me to the old hermit for some reason. I decided to ignore them until they got in the way. We arrived. Marius was in the way. I decided he should tatoo himself like me after our return to the Covenant. He got out of the way by becoming unconciousness. I'll have to thank Tremere for Certamen if I ever meet him. The old hermit had some interesting thoughts on the nature of reality. He also told me of a powerful magical room belonging to a nearby sorcerer. Secrets of the world and beyond are to be found there. Most intriguing. Antonio talked to the hermit after me, but all I was able to overhear was that the hermit made him some sort of list of ingredients for a potion. We returned to the castle to find Felix and Demorar had failed to see the sorcerer. They were driven off by some weak spells, a snake, and a ferocious spider. They did find the entrance, but could not move the huge stone slab covering it. We decided to hang around until the others returned. When they did they said Taron and Certus insisted Luigi be returned, so Demorar spelled Luigi into believing he had promised to return after the ruler visited. Then we went off to find the sorcerer. Acutus managed to move the stone and he and Felix charged down the stairs. There we met the grog Geronimo. He led us to his master, Coniuratus, an ancient looking sorcerer. He pointed out the door to the room of infinity. This, I had to explore. Meanwhile that mongrel Felix found some little box that fascinated him. Then he tried to insist upon entering the room with me, but I put him in his place. The sorcerer mentioned I might be in the room for days, so he kindly sent to young boys with supplies in with me. The room was wonderful. There were colorful, majestic runes covering all the walls. I was entranced by them as I entered my fifth twilight. [Seven and a half pages of raving about religious symbolism and the true nature of reality charred beyond readability] When I returned to this shadow of reality, I discovered I had eaten the heart of one of the kids and dissected the other so I cleaned up my mess and left the room. The fool Marius then decided he should soak in some wisdom as well. We all know how much water a rock can soak up. His only good point was that he also refused to let Felix come with him. Marius entered and never returned. I guess he learned something after all. I wish I knew what it was. So, I decided to enter the room again and Veritus insisted upon coming with me. As I entered my sixth twilight I realized I could not understand truly the enigma without some sacrifice. So I slew Veritus to learn more of nature. [More Criamon drivel lost] I cleaned up that mess after my twilight ended as well. Made up some silly lie to the others about Veritus and they believed me. Meanwhile Acutus and the others had been conversing with the sorcerer. It turns out he was raised by some twenty members of the cult of mercury over three hundred years ago. This bears some later investigation. He also offered Acutus a magic sword if he would remove a few irritating faeries for him. The sorcerer also possessed one of the great tomes of Plentarch. It had the words Infinitas Futura incribed upon the cover. I ignored it. At this point I briefly mourned the loss of Marius because Coniuratus mentioned he had driven off Tytalus, and I didn't get the chance to rub it in. Some of my brands from the twilight started to burn a bit under my robe. It felt wonderful. At this point Antonio was asking everyone to pick up four pints of a virgin female's blood. I do believe it sounds like fun. Then we went off to slay the faeries. On the little trip Demorar kept being bothered by snakes and falling branches. He assumed it was Faerie work. He magically found the faeries and Acutus and Felix charged the area. They found two goblins gambling and decided to chat. I decided to slay the little buggers and go home with their vis. They attacked and were slain by our grogs: Felix, Giovanni, and Acutus. Acutus got his sword and Felix got to keep his little box that turned out to detect lies and cause pain randomly to people. It quite annoyed Certus. Then we returned to get Luigi. ** ** From The Legend of Luigi While the Magi had their fun, I made my plans. Desiderius arrived and made me Duke of the area. I then convinced the Magi to wait a few more days until my wedding. Meles looked like he was barely holding back a burst of laughter when he met my new lord's head magus, Tytalus. Demorar got all philisophical and told everyone he was going to write down some detect lie spell so that in the future ??? he will have invented the spell. He didn't have time to finish it. I remembered my promise to return briefly to the covenant with the magi, even though but an hour without my dear one brought me pain. When we got back the first thing Certus did was hit me with a huge ball of flame. Of course it did not harm me. (I thought everone knew I was invulnerable to flame.) Some strange magus named Tolas had stopped by and convinced Certus I was innocent and flame-proof. I must remember to thank him some day. I of course immediately returned to the mirror, but I found it solid. My heart stopped as I deperately tried to return. Alas, there was to be no success. Acutus tried to assauge my pain with a gift of some material that the magi so highly prize, but what matters magic, or even life itself, when your soul has been torn away and lost forever...