Vardian Log #42: Dragonquest -- "Hitler lives here." --Standard Berkeley Resident -- Season: Fall, 1210 Dramatis Personae: Abrogo Grog Angus of Bonisagus Magus (Don) Arridere of Jerbiton Magus (Dave) Calios of Bonisagus Magus (Scott) Fabricatio of Verditius Magus Flamma of Tremere Maga (Eric) Iago Grog Meka Dragon Recanto Grog Samo Grog The Vicious Ballerina Boat ** ** From Flamma's Lab Notes, carefully recopied and proofed by her apprentice I had scarcely enough time to lecture my apprentice on her slothfulness when another interesting tea came about. A visitor to our covenant, one Fabricato of Verdi, had a tempting offer for us. His sources had revealed an area appropriate for founding a new covenant. Unfortunately, this place was currently inhabited by a small dragon. I was doubly interested in his story when I heard that the dragon has been ravaging the nearby area and eating young women. Arridere seemed genuinely concerned about this as well, the first show of real compassion I have ever seen from that church goer. Calios and Angus were also interested, although mostly in the prospect of killing a dragon and taking its vis. So, we gathered up Abrogo, Iago, Recanto and Samo and marched off to our boat. The sea was beautiful, if a bit stormy. The others didn't seem to mind the rough waters much, but I felt ill most of the way. During the trip I had time to reflect upon my feelings about our goal and why I had decided to go. All the others still do not understand my change of attitude. I hardly understand it myself, but I can't change how I feel. The problem the other magi have is that they have no one whom they care for, and no one who cares for them. With Primus and Segunda in my life I can no longer act as rashly as I used to. Actions have their consequences, and I must make sure that those I love are not affected by them. The incident with the sprite worried me a great deal, and I shall have to make sure that either Tolas or I am always there to watch over my children. I wish Tolas would not have killed the poor little thing, but I think if I feared for Segunda's safety as he told me he did, then my reaction may have been even more violent. Where before I held the mundanes in such low regard, I now realise that they too have loved ones. Whenever I think of that group of peasants I accidentally killed in the Alps I think about my children, and how their life would be without a loving father. Now, I am thinking of the mothers of those poor girls eaten by that horrible dragon, and the tremondous grief that must be tearing them apart. It all becomes rather depressing, so I try not to think about it. Instead, I try to think of the good things in life like a loving man and wonderful children. If only I could make the other magi understand that with their ability comes responsibility, then perhaps life in the covenant would be safer and more enjoyable. Upon our arrival in Sardinia we disembarked and took stock of the situation. The people of the area all seem harried and poor, and there were no ships besides ours at the docks. It seemed that the presence of the dragon had done bad things for the local economy. With some reluctance, I sent Calios into a nearby tavern in search of information. Shortly afterwards, a man claiming to be the barkeep approached the ship and asked for passage. He had very little money and so Angus made some terrible suggestions about him having an extra daughter. Before I could come up with suitably painful Certamen conditions, the arrogant barkeep mentioned he did indeed have an extra daughter. Enraged, I forgot temporarily of my anger at Angus and told the man that while his wife and family were more than welcome upon our ship, his presence would not be required. Angus will have to be dealt with soon unless he drastically changes his ways. I do not like the terrible ideas that he and Arridere seem to be continually coming up with. After the barkeep's family boarded, we sent the ship into the bay to await our return. Calios had collected no useful information, so we basically just headed inland to where the dragon had been sighted many times. Eventually, we came upon a still burning village. I put out the fire and we tried without success to find a calm and rational peasant to tell us where the dragon lived. After encountering several frantic villages, we decided the best course of action was simply to continue in the direction we were headed. We would be sure to come across the beast in time. The beast was indeed easy to find, but it showed great cunning by ambushing us before we had split up to fight it better. In the first great gush of flame none were harmed due to the protective magics I had thoughtfully cast. I made a small wall for those nearby to find shelter behind, but it was still not quite enough. Several were knocked to the ground and during successive blasts of flame only Samo's protective bulk protected the badly burnt Calios. Angus ran off to one side while my walls of earth protected the rest of us as we steadily closed upon the dragon. Once we were close enough I prepared the extra vis I would need to penetrate the great creature's defenses. It leapt into the air in an attack upon us, but we were ready. It was blinded by Angus as it rose, and I hurled my ball of fire towards it. Unfortunately, I was a little sweaty and tired from creating those many earthen walls. The ball slipped out of my fingers and turned upon me, as many flame have since that unsettling experience in the troll cave many years ago. Between my fire and that of the beast I was overcome with heat and pain. My magic was only successful in slightly assuaging the pain. Fortunately, Angus was more successful than I. The blinded creature flew quickly away, but not before Angus again caused it great damage. He explained the dragon would be forced to find water soon, or it would die. We decided to follow it as quickly as possible and try to reach it before it found water. The blinded creature did not make it very far. When we again came upon it, it was staggering along the ground trying to smell for water without success. A few more spells and we had the foul thing damaged more and buried partially beneath some earth. We approached cautiously as I wished to talk with it and give it a chance to explain its actions. It negotiated poorly for its fate, offering neither the reward the others craved nor the valid excuse I was searching for. We did, however, discover the names of two of the other dragons we have seen before. They are Ruka and Tara. Finally, I killed the beast to prevent it from suffering longer. After gathering the dragon's essence, We discovered it's lair, and found great quantities of silver therein. Considering the vis that we had used to kill the beast, the reward was small indeed. I, however, felt we had accomplished an immense amount of good. At the lair of the beast, Fabricatio began to act as though he was planning to use this highly magical area to found a new covenant. Seeing as this was not quite what I had in mind for the place, I immediately certamened him. He knew his place and begged not to be driven from the island. Noticing his proper respect for true power and correct authority, I released him from the certamen and allowed him to remain on Sardinia. He shall be allowed to build one lab in the place, but I am to have final say in all matters regarding the area. I shall keep an eye on him as well as I can. Respectful Verditious are a valuable comodity. ** ** From Flamma's Lab Notes, carefully recopied and proofed by her apprentice ** Winter, 1210 I had thought we would all be back to the covenant in time for the fair, but it seems the Vicious Ballerina has other plans. According to the captain, we have sailed right through where Italy should be. I have commanded him to circle about and hopefully we will not be to long in this strange realm we have again entered. At least now I can put together plans for the new covenant. It is not so much that Tolas and I need a new covenant, but that it is always safest to have plans. Thus I again list benefits and problems with new and old covenants. Vardian's Tomb: Benefits Problems ======== ======== Strong Leader in Certus Bickering Fools Powerful and Known in Order Rome Great Library Reputation not very good Many Houses Represented Restrictions for non-elders Tea Chavin Friends Dangerous Location Postestas close Long Wait for Control [Taron young] New Covenant: Benefits Problems ======== ======== My Control Lack powerful magi back-up Good Library New Covenant, No Power in Order Safe Location High Aura No Churches No Elders Power for House Can Choose Members/Friends It seems again that a new covenant is still an excellent idea. As we continue to sail around and around, my sea sickness has gradually abated, but I have now come to the conclusion that Tercero is on the way. Tolas really wishes another son, but Primus is a lot to handle already. I hope for Tercera. With luck, we will get off this damn ship in time for Luke to help out again. I trust none of the fools on board with the intricacies of childbirth.