Vardian Log #31: Pawn of Prophecy -- "That's morbid!" --Demoror "The whole universe was built by demons to deceive only me." --Fritz Leiber, "When the Changewinds Blow" -- Season: Spring, 1207 Dramatis Personae: Anser of Bjornaer Magus Arliandus of Quaesitor Primus Arridere of Jerbiton Magus (Dave) Bolo Warrior Christophono Grog Coniuratus Sorcerer Delera of Tytalus Warden (Donald) Demoror of Quaesitor Magus (Billy) Domita of Ex. Misc. Maga (DougL) Flamma of Flambeau Maga (Eric) Gotho Grog Guido Grog Hadrian of Flambeau Magus Insolitius Georgius of Criamon Magus Lord Luigi Ex-Grog Keith Soldier Pasquale Grog Recanto Grog Rupes of Bjornaer Magus (Shannon) Samo Grog Scriba Evil Demon Sophia Companion Taron of Bonisagus Magus Tolas of Tremere Magus Vates of Criamon Magus (Chris) ** ** From Rupes' Book ** Early Spring, 1207 At the Elder's Council meeting of Spring, 1207, I suceeded in making Tolas an elder at Vardian's Tomb. I feel that I owe him for coming to the Tomb when I needed a Tremere, and this is my way of repaying him. Now, even if my plan fails, I hope that he will feel as if he got something positive out of our deal. ** ** From the Chronicles of Salvadore Lately, our caverns have been overrun by mice. Dreadful little creatures. Delera of Tytalus has been named the Warden of the Library, and thus is responsible for protecting our books from the monsters. With luck, she will destroy the beasts soon. ** ** From the Chronicles of Salvadore ** Mid Spring, 1207 Sophia, an old companion of the Covenant has recently returned. She disappeared eight years ago, while on an expedition to the land of a faerie king. It seems that those eight years ago have left a mark on Sophia, for much of her seems Fay now. With her, she brought a warrior named Pasquale, who has since joined our turb of grogs. Shortly after her return, Sophia convinced Flamma of Flambeau and Hadrian of Flambeau to destroy the cauldron which Meles brought back from the Faerie island long ago. Until recently, the cauldron had been in the possession of Felix, a warrior of the Covenant. ** ** From Rupes' Book ** Late Spring, 1207 Long ago, I noticed that Flamma and Tolas wre friendly, but had chiefly attributed this to my plan, and the friendship that we had promised to show to Tolas so that it would be clear who the Tremere in the prophecy was. It seems that I have misjudged their attachment somewhat, for in truth they are much closer than I had before perceived. It is becoming apparent that Flamma is pregnant, and there is little doubt that Tolas is the father. The other Tremere of the Covenant have realized this as well, and just today, fifteen of them left. They plan to hunt down Mendem, who was once a member of our Covenant, and each extract the two seasons of service from him that Demoror has promised. ** ** From Rupes' Book ** Eight Days before Summer, 1207 It was the night before the Council Meeting of Summer that my plan began to fall apart. I was packing a knapsack of my most valuable possessions, in preparation for the trip to Venice, when I heard someone coming into my Sanctum. Looking up, I saw that it was Scriba, the scribe from Luigi's castle. However, I soon realized that this was simply a demon wearing Scriba's guise for the fiend began to threaten me. He said that unless he and I came to an agreement, he would make sure that my entire plan fell apart, by passing on information about it to certain people. All I had to do, to make sure everything went as I had planned, was to sign a certain contract that he had with him. If I had not been so upset about my whole plan crashing down about me, I would have laughed at the demon. It was clear that he had watched me for some time, and waited until this vulnerable moment to spring this trap upon me. Despite this scrutiny, he did not realize that I would never agree to a deal such as he offered. With my plan, I sought political power, knowing that it would lead to real power, and allow me to cast a greater shadow upon this world. To make such an agreement with a demon would destroy all of the power that I would gain, and it would do so eternally. Never would I make such a pact. I felt even more insulted by the way in which the fiend had presented the deal. A contract. It was such a tired image that I could have cried. Instead, I tried to kill the fiend. But, as I pulled the roof down on him, he disappeared. Lingering in the air, as if a phantom voice had spoken it, was a threat. He would take Flamma, to ensure that my plan was utterly crushed. I found Tolas in Flamma's quarters, but the Flambeau was nowhere to be seen. We spent the entire night looking for her, to no avail. She was gone. ** ** From the Chronicles of Salvadore ** One Week before Summer, 1207 The Council Meeting of Summer 1207 was held one week early due to the Tribunal of that year. Certus spoke first, to give word of several grogs who had recently left the Covenant. Antony, who has gone to Padua to serve his Father-in-law, reported that he was feeling much better. Apparently, shortly after his penance had begun, the Malatestos plague began to recede, and the survivors are now in good health. Irena reported that the faeries had been considerate since the magi set things right, but now she was having troubles with diabolists. She did not request any aid, however, and thanked the Covenant for what they had done earlier in the year. Arridere spoke next, to give a report of Insolitius Georgius. It seems that the recent fanatical attack on him in Rome did little to slow his work. His sword has been completed, and given to the pope. Insolitius is now residing in the faerie forest to the Southeast, with the Merinita maga, Silva. At that point in the meeting, a bird of ill omen showed up. It hopped into the middle of the table, and looked curiously around, as Taron brought up a very grave topic. Taron told everyone that Flamma had gone missing, and that all sources said that nefarious forces were at work. He said that an expedition would be needed to rescue her, and promptly called up his Taron deck, to do a reading on the missing maga. After Taron did his first reading, his face became very grave. He said that the mission was extremely dangerous, and he would not force anyone to go. Afterwards, he did two other readings. He said that Flamma was well, and then looked strangely at several of the magi. Quickiny gathering up his cards, he was willing to give no further explanations. As the younger magi tried to edge out of the room, not wanting to endanger themselves for Flamma, Tolas of Tremere began to certamen them. In this way, Rupes, Demoror, Arridere, Domita and Vates all volunteered to go. The younger magi who escaped this expedition were simply those who had not come to the Council Meeting. A large number of warriors also volunteered to go. With Bolo, Christophono, Guido, Gotho, Pasquale, Recanto and Samo in tow, the expedition set out, and the Council Meeting was ended. ** ** From Rupes' Book With demons interfering, I knew that all was lost, and I was ready to return to my lab, waiting for another chance at power ten or twenty years down the road. But, that fool Tolas would not let me do this. Despite the kindness I have shown him, despite the position I gave him in this Covenant, he forced me to go and help recover Flamma. The whole time, he blamed me for the danger that she was in, not realizing that it had all been her own choice. Even then, after we had started in this quest, fate tried again to warn us off. Leaving the Covenant, we numbered thirteen magi and warriors. Flying behind us was the bird of ill omen that had landed upon on our Council Table. But, Tolas would not listen to the augeries, and so, we continued on. As we ventured on, it seemed like the entire world was working against us. On the way up to Rome, we came upon a strange white basin, which delayed us for a time. Finally, Demoror took possession of it, and we headed on. As we left the city of Rome, we came upon a band of soldiers, led by Keith, the man who had brought us to Baron Nulf's land six years before. He was quite unfriendly to us, and for a time, I thought that we might have to slay his entire envoy. Finally, we edged around each other, and he and his troops fled. As they left, a priest who was with him screamed "evil magi," and we all began to understand the source of the problem. Since, we have learned that one of Baron's towns was destroyed by a group of rampaging magi who had been hunting someone. This Germanic group had come to Rome to complain. Finally, two days out of Rome, we neared where our spells told us that Flamma was. Looking around, Demoror announced that we were at the present day site of Luigi's valley. It seems that he and the late warrior, Felix, had once journeyed here, curious of what the place now looked like. We all doubted that our location was a coincidence, and our suspicions began to increase. As we continued to track Flamma, we came to the ruins where Coniuratus had lived. Our spells told us that Flamma was right below us. As we prepared to enter Coniuratus' dwelling, a lion, a tiger, and a bear suddenly appeared upon the slab that cover the entrance. The battle that followed was a fierce one. Pasquale was killed, and Recanto and Guido were both incapacitated. Demoror would have been slain if not for his Imagonem magics. Even as we slew the beasts, more appeared. Finally, we were all forced to flee. Then, as we tended our wounds, a figure appeared over a nearby rise. The sun was behind him, so for a time all we could see was a dark silhouette. As he came closer, in his shining armor, covered with the crosses of the faith, it seemed that one of God's Crusaders had come to aid us. But, when he took off his helmet, shaking out his dark hair, we recognised him. It was Luigi, who we had last left four hundred years in the past, or so we had thought. ** ** From the Epic of Luigi In my time at the Tomb, I had seen magi embarassed, I had seen magi angry, and I had seen magi acting foolishly, but never in my life had I seen so many magi as utterly astounded as when I approached them on that warm Summer day. Tolas, the apparent leader of that sorry expedition, soon came up to me, asking if I had seen Flamma recently. His voice cracked as he spoke, and his eyes were red and watery. For a moment, I thought that he might be dying of some dread illness, and I prepared to step quickly back. Then, I realized that he was a man in love. Containing my smirk, I told him that I had seen her just two and a half days ago. She had stopped by and returned the armor that Rupes and she had made. And then, she had left. Almost frantic, Tolas began to demand of me what the year was. Worrying about his mental health, I gave him the answer quickly. It was the late eighth century, just as it had been when last the mages were at my castle. The magi seemed very confused at this basic fact, and argued for several minutes. For a time, I was reminded fondly of the Tomb. Eventually, as Rupes continually turned to me, and accused me of being a demon, it became tiresome. Within a few scant hours, however, the mages had come up with a new, better plan. Thanks to the fact that I was along, it almost suceeded. ** ** From Rupes' Book Our next attack was at sunrise. We approached the slab without trouble, and quickly destroyed it. Luigi was the first in. After he had once burst into flames, the rest of us followed. As we had earlier guessed, Coniuratus' creations were fading away even as we entered his lair. It seems that the supposed Mercurian Magus cast remarkably Hermetic spells. Without pause, I blew open the door to Coniuratus' inner sanctum, hurting Geronimo and the two lions standing behind it. By this time, I had become infuriated. Ignoring the lions, I rushed at Geronimo, determined to slay all of those who had destroyed my plan. Demoror was kind enough to sew up Geronimo's pants as I rushed at him. One well place morning star blow ended his ill fated life. Suddenly, I was overcome by a wave of heat. My armor began to spark, and my pants smoldered. I nearly doubled over in pain, but somehow managed to get out of the passage that Geronimo had led me down. My anger had been replaced by other emotions, and I suddenly I decided that it was a time for discretion, and so I fled. Behind me, the two lions had been quickly dispatched, but both Christophono and Luigi had been overcome by some spell. Carrying our wounded, we retreated, determined that our third assault would be the final one. Luigi suggested that we return to his castle, and tend our wounds there, and once more we were astounded. Demoror insisted that the castle had not been here when before he had visited Luigi's realm in the present, but soon, we were within it's walls. By that time, my suspicions were many. Either we had simply walked into the past, while traversing the roads of Italy, or the whole thing was an elaborate deception. It seemed more and more likely that the latter was true. Somehow, someone had played an complex trick upon us all. While we had thought we were travelling to the past, instead we were being transported two days to the North. Even now, though, I must question why. Was the whole thing simply a ruse, designed to gain my soul? It seems a bit much for one such task, but who can understand the ways of demons? In any case, my questions were simply to multiply that night, when Scriba once more came to my room. He offered his help, and I was so angered that I began to yell. He fled, before I could even cast a single spell. The next morning, I swallowed my pride, and went to the fool, Arridere, for help. He tried to destroy Scriba with a spell of demon banishment, but to no affect. Either, it was a different being who had come to me before, in the Covenant, or Scriba is such a powerful fiend that even Arridere can not affect him. When Arridere failed, I next asked Demoror for help. He cast Frosty Breath of the Spoken Lie, and we began to question the scribe. Scriba said that it was 769, and went on to say that he had lived in Venice for a time, and thus was sure that that was the year everywhere in the Christian world. Scriba's breath was not frosty, and thus he was either telling the truth, or immune to such spells, as a demon would be. Since my mind rebels at the first possibility, for one does not slip randomly between the centuries, I must accept the second one. But, since Arridere was powerless against the fiend, we were forced to leave him be. With Luigi and a number of his warriors in tow, we set out towards Coniuratus' dwelling, for the final confrontation. We tried a peaceful approach this time, and sent the Criamon, Vates, in to talk with Coniuratus. He returned, said that Coniuratus only wished to speak with Demoror and Tolas, and then went back to his meditations. Tolas looked around a bit for support, and then finally decided upon a course of action. He went bravely into Coniuratus' dwelling, determined to free Flamma from her captor. He did not return. ** ** From the Epic of Luigi The magi waited a long time when Tolas did not return, although it was easy to see that he was not coming back. Finally, I managed to convince them that Coniuratus had taken him captive as well, and we were going to have to fight to get Flamma and Tolas out. Fortunately, I had convinced the magi to come up with a better plan this time. And that is why we were finally able to suceed at our siege. Rupes quickly destroyed the earth directly above where Flamma was being held. Then, before Coniuratus could react, Demoror and I leaped down the hole, taking the battle straight to the sorcerer. The foolish magus tried to burn me with flames, not realizing that I was immune to such magics. Thus, I was able to strike him once, wounding him greatly. I would have slain Coniuratus if he had not fled me, running madly for his life. He escaped into what I had heard called the Twilight Room, and only the magus Vates was willing to follow him there. He did not return. Having banished the enemy, I turned to Flamma and Tolas. They had been tied up in the corner of the room, their magic bound with amulets that hung around their necks. I freed them, and the magi began their dreary task of dividing up magical vis. ** ** From Rupes' Book After we had freed Flamma and Tolas, things were just a few days from the end. After we had determined that Vates was not going to return, we sealed up Coniuratus' labs with solid stone, wanting to make sure that he would never be able to exit the Twilight Room into this realm. Then, we set off for Venice, to see things to the end. Arliandus had scheduled an early meeting before the Tribunal itself began, and Flamma, Tolas and I were all invited to it. Soon, it became apparent that the demon had revealed all, just as he had promised to, for accusations began to fly. We were accused of trying to manipulate our elders, and many seemed mad at that fact. An archmage of Flambeau declared Wizard's War upon Flamma, and Anser of Bjornaer declared a War upon me, for Urgen, my primus. No war was declared upon Tolas, and it even seems that he has gained some respect within his house. Flamma plans to return to the Tomb, determined to do her best to fight off the Magus, if necessary. She showed quite a bit of bravery during the meeting, when she strode forward, pulling out several hairs from his beard, declaring at the same time that she was no longer a Flambeau, but rather Flamma of Tremere. I plan to stop by the Tomb, collect my personal possessions, and head for Crintera. If my primus truly wishes to slay me, I will make myself available. Else, I shall do my best to make ammends. ** ** From Rupes' Book ** Fall, 1207 I seem to have survived to see the changing of another season. Urgen accepted my offer, and I have been working with him since, almost as his apprentice. It looks like I will not be returning to the Tomb soon, if ever. However, fate may work in strange ways. If only Urgen can live long enough, I will gain his trust, and I may be able to acquire the position that I had before tried to subvert. Word from the Tomb says that Flamma has also survived. It seems that the Flambeau Archmagus was unwilling to kill a pregnant woman. Sometimes, compassion can be found in the strangest places. Despite how I have acted at Crintera, and despite what I have told Urgen, I can not truly say that I regret what I have done. I made an attempt to increase my personal power, by manipulating political events, and to an extent, I have suceeded. I did not gain the position that I was working for, but still, I have gained another. I am stil an elder at Vardian's Tomb, and I will do what I can to hold that position until I may return to it. I am working in my Domus Magnus, at the right hand of the Primus of my house. My reputation has increased, and I am now sure that there are many Tremere that I could count upon, for at least they respect what I have done. I truly think that the last seven years at the Tomb have given me an excellent base for the rest of my life. I can only wonder now what the future will bring.