Vardian Log #19: Return to Yesterday -- "Who do you believe? Him? He's a Christian!" --Acutus "Wait a minute, a Magus wouldn't steal anything." --Acutus -- Season : Winter, 1202 The Players: Acutus of House Ex. Miscellania Magus (Doug O.) Antonio Companion (Chris) Antony Grog Arridere of House Jerbiton Magus (Dave) Becki Maiden Certus of House Bonisagus Magus Chavin of House Tytalus Magus Coniuratus of the Cult of Mercury Sorcerer Christophano Grog Demorar of House Quasitor Magus (Billy) Felix Companion (Shannon) Franco Child Frederik Pretender Geronimo Grog Giovanni Grog Gotho Grog Luigi Grog Captain Marius of House Tytalus Magus (Philip) Medicus of House Jerbiton Magus (Doug L.) Mendem of House Ex. Miscellania Magus (Donald) Mercutio Grog Paulus Grog Pietro Grog Rol Faerie Bear Turelli Grog ** ** From the Collection of Prison Writings by Christophano My fourth year among the Magi of the Labyrinths was one of strife. One example shall serve to illustrate the times. It was early in the season and the other Grogs had been harassing each other mercilessly. I was called the most foul and untrue things almost daily and accussed of saying other things just as terrible. Of course none of these were true. One day, the tension broke among us when that ego filled fool Giovanni stole some of my money while I was sleeping. I thought I was dreaming, but in the morning, my stuff was gone. I accused the wretch. He denied it. Others agreed. It was a great fight. Turelli and Giovanni and I had leaped upon each other, and since I really wasn't sure who I was angrier at I decided to thrash them both. Paulus, Gotho and Mercutio had drawn weapons on each other, but the cowards were each afraid to make the first move. At least Antony had some fun smashing chairs on Pietro. Eventually a few of the Magi came in and interrupted us because that fat cook got upset. They brought along a few others and decided to try to stop the fight. As I was smashing Turelli and Giovanni into a wall I suddenly passed out, surely due to the Magi. At least Turelli finished smashing Giovanni into the wall. I later heard from others that that big lug Bolo had come in and started trading punches with Mercutio. That cheater Felix had also interrupted and Paulus attacked him because everyone knows what he said about Paulus' mother. Gotho tried to sneak up on Paulus' back, but he suddenly passed out as well. This gave Paulus the chance to slice Felix up a bit. Moments later though Felix wounded him in return and then poor Paulus dropped to the floor gurgling like a child due to some foul spell from one of the Magi. He did not recover. At least that she-demon Flamma had gone to Verdi for a season; so no fires. That darned Magus Acutus came over and distracted Turelli long enough for Giovanni to crawl off and escape. After recovering, all I did the rest of the fight was dodge flying bits of chairs from Antony and Pietro's little scuffle. Slowly the action died down. Bolo and Mercutio knocked each other silly, Turelli gave in to Acutus and Felix, and Antony was knocked out by another spell. It had been fun while it lasted, even if I missed most of it. After things had calmed down someone brought in Demorar to cast some spells on us to detect lies. I of course was proven innocent of those base charges, but Demorar said that Giovanni was not lying either. I tend to agree with Acutus, who suspected that perhaps Demorar had caused some of the problems to begin with. While this was occurring, Mercutio made the mistake of calling Felix a cheater which really, really pissed him off. Mercutio was almost killed. He should have known better; everyone knows that that cheater gets mad when you call him a cheater. The Magi then decided to wander around and cast more spells, but on the way they found some strange runes all over several of the passageways. Mendem said they were Criamon runes and that they implied magic items and mirrors. The only magic mirror around is Luigi's, so we all headed that way. I'm not sure what happened exactly, but Luigi got mad and eventually the Magi destroyed his door and entered. After a little confusion they decided to enter the mirror. As I turned to leave the Magus Acutus grabbed me and made me enter the mirror as well. ** ** From the Marginal Notes of Certus' study on Vardian's Skull Interruptions, interruptions. We were just ending Medicus' silly attempt to bribe us with vis for library time when the cook ruined the meeting by claiming the grogs had all gone insane. Taron sent off some of the young Magi to fix the problem. Since Chavin and some of the other Magi didn't even show up I decided to leave as well. I was able to get back to studying and Taron was incensed that the meeting had collapsed under him. This should happen more often. Just heard, that fool Arridere ruined a perfectly good grog while breaking up some scuffle. He shall not do so again. Interuptions. Those incompetant young Magi needed some help with spells and decided to bother me. They wanted my to cast Eyes of the Past, because they were sure something truly nefarious was going on. Finally, after they bothered me for some time, I decided that casting the spell once would let me get back to my studies. I showed them that indeed someone looking like Giovanni had stolen from Christophano's room and left the goods in that dumb Christian's room. We also discovered that Meles had been wandering about into some of the labs, leaving runes scattered about the area. I have come to the firm belief that he has had one twilight too many. ** ** From the Epic of Luigi The season began as drearily as all the others, but turned to joy for me when I discovered the mirror working again. I thought about returning, but it had been so long I decided to get Antonio to help me gather information first. I found him finally and convinced him to aid me. While he prepared I decided to return to Becki. Have I mentioned how beautiful she was then? We were rudely interrupted by the Magi while we were showing how much we cared for each other. I believe that the grog captain should get a little more respect than they gave to me. They destroyed the door I had slammed in their face and barged into the room. At this point Chavin and Antonio also entered and went through the mirror at once. Eventually the others followed, after I had insulted them thoroughly. I was certain they would cause nothing but trouble. Eventually, Antonio returned with the bad news. Some rat named Frederik had taken control of my castle and realm. He sent me an invitation to return at once, but I could smell treachery a long distance away. I had to somehow convince the Magi to help me take back what is rightfully mine and my lovely wife's. The reason Chavin had accompanied Antonio was eventually told to me. While headed for my room, Antonio had come across strange runes along the path, and while avoiding these, was grabbed by Chavin. It seems that Chavin needed him as a guide into the mirror. Something about Meles being missing. Anyway, he earned my thanks which I shall return when I am Duke again. ** ** From the Collections of Prison Writings by Christophano So there I was, being dragged along by the Magi following Chavin and Antonio, who had entered the mirror before us. We stopped at some ruins which some of the Magi wanted to explore, but Medicus and Mendem continued on without us. They eventually met us again at the ruins after they had found Chavin and Antonio. Chavin had had a chat with Meles and returned to the covenant. Antonio joined the others when they returned to meet us. At the ruins, we discoved there had been a great fiery battle. Felix and I had to help shove over the entrance rock, but we kept getting queasy and had to rest. The Magi made a small hole and called for Geronimo, the local grog. He led us to Coniuratus, the sorcerer. While waiting for him to exit his lab Felix put on the stupidest looking hat I have ever seen, and with it he kept bumping into everyone with its enormous rim. When Coniuratus entered the room he told us the charred ruins above had been occurred when some silly flame Magus called Flambeau tried to kill him. He didn't seem in bad shape for someone who looked older than even Certus. The Magi asked some questions about Meles, whom Coniuratus had not seen, and the Christian Magus suggested that the old guy kill Tytalus, Flambeau, and Tremere. I believe they are other really old Magi. Coniuratus said he didn't wish to hurt anybody, but he did need a bear's heart for a really neat magic liquid he had made. The liquid made weapons be able to cut right through other metal. So we decided to head for the bear cave, while Antonio headed back home. The search for the bear was rather dull, but eventually Felix luckily spotted it on the side of a cave. When we arrived, we prepared for battle, but all that emerged was a little child named Franco. The Christian Magus got in a big yelling match with him and finally I was ordered to grab the boy. While I held the little brat he kept screaming, "Rol! Rol!". Soon we were rewarded by the appearance of a huge speaking bear. He demanded I release the child, and being the sane grog that I am, I did. Then there was a big discussion and Acutus got mad because he didn't want to harm the bear and everyone else was really confused. Felix asked to stay behind for a bit so he did. When he caught up with us he looked really terrible, like someone had hit him in the stomach with a tree. He also mentioned the bear had a magic healing wand in the cave. When we arrived back at the ruins we met Medicus and Mendem. They said they had found Chavin, but that he had simply returned to the covenant after talking to Meles and getting some strange knowledge from him. Acutus insisted he would have nothing to do with an attempt on the life of the bear, so he stormed off back to the covenant. Mendem also decided to return. I would have liked to, but the Magi wouldn't let me, even though I didn't have any armor or weapons. When we reached the cave again Medicus made me some magic armor and weapons, but they chafed. This time when we found the child, Felix grabbed him and ran off towards the ruins. The bear was of course angry at this. Therefore, while the Magi tried to magic it to death, I had to stand toe to claw with it and try to survive. It was a really big bear. The flames of the Magi did not seem to be helping my efforts much, and the bear tore easily through my armor. Ouch. About then, I thought of fleeing, but recalled the kindness of the Magi in bringing me in to work, ignoring my past. So I stood my ground despite the bear and the flames that flashed about me. Then, the bear ripped into me again and I decided that since it could talk it might be nice enough to leave me alone if I just crawled off bleeding. My action distracted it long enough for the Christian Magus to burn it to toast. We all sort of have a mutual understanding not to mention this to Flamma. The Magi took the heart of the bear and returned it to Coniuratus. He made his liquid and some of us got to put our weapons in it to make them magic. Felix bragged about his magical long spear for a month. Then, we returned home. When we returned I expected them to go back to discovering how Giovanni had stolen my stuff, but they decided to do some of their silly magic fights first. It seems Marius was annoyed that Acutus and Mendem left early and did not help kill the bear. If I understood it correctly, Acutus needed to wear a red cape for a month, while Marius had to work for Mendem for a season. They finally went back to my room and magically tracked my stuff. The trail led to the room of the Christian Magus, who had left us right after we arrived home. He said he wanted to do something with Franco, who he had taken with us. Well, we found my stuff in his room, but he denied guilt as did Giovanni. I finally got frustrated and left with my stuff. ** ** From the Marginal Notes of Certus' Study on Vardian's Skull I am still a bit bemused due to the recent happenings. From my casting of Eyes of the Past, I know that the one who looked like Giovanni took the grog's stuff into the Christian's room. All of the young fools assumed it was due to Meles, but that is foolish because he is in twilight and my other spells showed him not looking like Giovanni. The youngsters finally decided it was the work of Demons and gave up, as they did when that other Magus, Donus, was found dead. Of course it is the work of Demons! The only question is .... which one of them is the Demon?