Ars Magica 5e, Rhine Tribunal, 1220

[ArghMark]

The Rhine tribunal; a land of deep forests, vast rivers, and an ancient history of conquerors and the conquered. Through the Rhine tribunal is a network of covenants, or agreements between small groups of wizards. They study in great forests, under magical oaks, and on desolate moors; but also in the hustle and bustle of towns, on the vast networks of trade that flow through the rivers, and even on the dangerous seas to the north.

The Rhine Tribunal. The oldest tribunal, and many would say the heart of the Order of Hermes. Inside sits Durenmar, the place where the original founders came together and set aside their differences; but many other places also exist.

Just before your wizards gauntlet, your masters received a puzzling message, which they informed you of after your gauntlet. The Prima, or head, of house Bonisagus, Archmaga Murion, despite not knowing any of your Parens (Your masters) particularly well, has asked that all of you be presented to her as of the first day of Spring, 1220. Other than a gift to your master, nothing else was mentioned.

Some of you travel by Hermes Portal, and others travel as the crow flies or as the wind blows, but you arrive in Durenmar on the first day of Spring.

If you travelled from outside the covenant and mundanely entered, you were met by a guide who took you through the dark forest around Durenmar, and when you arrived were lodged at an Inn. Otherwise, you arrive through the portal.

None of you being from particularly prosperous covenants, you see Durenmar as perhaps everything it should be. It is a beautiful valley surrounded by dark forests, with a number of towers - one is broken, and another has a great vine wrapped around it. The Great Hall where Grand Tribunal is held is here, as is a house made almost entirely of glass! A great standing stone sits near a truly enormous oak that is almost the centerpiece of the whole valley, and to the east lies what is best described as a small town.

However, despite the grandeur and beauty of the covenant, there almost seems a lethargic lull over the place. You aren't sure what you were expecting - great works of magic, vast magical items, great Certamen battles - but none of it is happening. In fact, you don't meet any mages at all. Grogs of different dispositions wander about and generally try to be elsewhere when you go near them for the most part. A few animals walk around the compound as if they belong there, and one particular tortoiseshell cat follows you at a discreet distance.

You do meet a middle aged lady - about 30, pretty, but not somebody who looks like she'd brook any trouble. She introduces herself as Heidi and lodges you at one of the inns. This doesn't shock worldly wizards such as yourselves, but she speaks fluent Latin and does not wear a had or a headpiece of any description! Truly, were this in the mundane world many glances would be cast at her and much disapproving muttering would come from the mundane women.

When you are all settled, Heidi curtsies to all of you. 'Greetings, good Magi. I hope you are well. As I have said, my name is Heidi, and if you need anything around Durenmar it will be my pleasure to serve you. The Prima has been informed that you have arrived, but is busy with important matters until this evening, where she has time for you after dinner. Unless you have any pressing matters, please make yourselves comfortable or go into town if you wish. The Prima Murion has asked that you try to get to know your fellow sodales as quickly as you can.'

Heidi waits for a moment for any questions. and if not she disappears quickly, probably busy with something else.

You are left sitting in a fairly comfortable inn with drinks and food supplied free of charge. There is a female innkeep but she appears to be busy with the open-to-air kitchen out the side, next to the pig pens. A few other travellers have pallets on the large common floor. Many games (Such as Boules or Rashing) are available to play if you wish but as it is yet mid morning there aren't many people in here other than yourselves. It might be a good time to describe and introduce your characters.

[Yair]

Leo is grateful to hear someone speaking an understandable language in these foreign lands. A thought occurs to him, and he asks "I wonder, fair lady - are all covenfolk here as fluent in Latin as you?" His own Latin is functional, but has a deep Italian accent to it.

Hearing the reply, he nods, and thanks Heidi, and then asks how he will know when precisely, and where, to go see Murion. He also inquires whether Heidi knows what Murion means by his 'sodales' - is she referring to the members of Durenmar, or does she have some other guests in mind? Satisfied, he releases her to her chores.

Canvassing the room, he looks for any of these sodales Murion has talked about - but fails to spot any magus. Noticing, instead, Guerino eying a pair of grogs playing some game, he rolls his eyes and after a few words in Italian lets the custos play his games until evening. Guerino quickly tries to join any game for-money that is available, brandishing some Italian silver.

Leo walks over to the innkeeper and orders some herb tea. He finds a place overlooking the entrance, but fidgets uncomfortably in the seat. His eyes keep canvassing the room, slowly, curiously. If he spots anyone that might be a magus, especially anyone escorted in by Heidi, he will move towards him, and introduce himself.

[When someone does]:

Leo settles down his cup, and rises majestically from the table, his wizardly robe flattering about him slightly, as if made from the finest silk. He is a large man, with blonde hair and beard that are somewhat unkempt but are somehow still dignified and fair. He steps towards Heidi and the newcomer with confident, long strides, but doesn't intrude on their conversation. As soon as the conversation allows, however, Leo tilts his head in respect and introduces himself - "I am Leo Ilfetwis, of House Bjornaer. I believe you too have been invited here by Murion?"

------

OOC: Leo casts his Clothes to the Bjornaer, MuIm 4; with a Casting Total of +2 and within Durenmar's aura, I assume he succeeds, and as this is a Simple roll I didn't bother rolling it. If he was not formally invited in, so is still under the covenant's powerful Aegis, he won't cast the spell.

[ArghMark]

As you ask your questions, Heidi smiles politely and explains. 'By Sodales, I believe Murion meant the people who are to arrive. It is possible you may meet others, as Fengheld house is always open, but the other mages lodged here are whom she meant. As for my Latin, it is a part of my duties and I have picked up the knack of it. Most of the coven folk will speak passable Latin, though some of the new men-at-arms may only have very basic amounts.


Note: You have not been formally introduced. Durenmar's Aegis is powerful.

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Gorgamesh limps around the covenant and smiles as Heidi escort him along the way, he asks the woman’s arm and leans on it for support. The magi is hunchback and is horribly disfigured man whose master only added sin to inequity by blatantly tattooing his face with mystic symbols. Gorgmaesh is regular for people to glare at him with awe and disgust. At first, little children fled from his sight screaming. Now, they somehow avoid his presence or laugh secretly. If he wasn’t a magus, he probably had been a target to tomatoes and rotten lettuces. The grogs in the covenant pay him respect and leave him to be – as for other magi - he is socializing with few.

Entering in to the inn, Gorgamesh ignores the whispering and let Heidi escort him to a seat. He glances around and asks for a glass of hot water. The wizard prefers to be sober and does not like the cloudiness of the mind spirits and ales are doing. He unties a small pouch from his belt, takes out lemon grass and stir in the drink.

********************************

Seeing the big blonde haired magi, the hunchback nods
"Gorgamesh of house Criamon"
He replies
"Like you, I’m am intriguing by the invitation of Murion."

[Shayuri]

On the heels of two weary-looking workers entering the inn comes another magus, though it is forgiveable that she was not immediately greeted as one. The figure was not particularly imposing...small in stature and slimly built, like a youth. Her clothing was well made and sturdy, but utilitarian...nothing fancy in the slightly baggy brown breeches, white tunic top or dark blue hooded cloak; certainly nothing magical. Most telling of all though, completely absent in this newcomer was that slight aversion from The Gift that was all but ubiquitous here. Even among those who had long lived with it, even among mages themselves, that undertone of unease marked mages beyond shadow of doubt.

Then the stranger pushed back her hood, and her stature as magus was immediately conferred. It was like unveiling a lamp in a dark room. She was radiantly, extravagantly beautiful; a character from heroic stories that had somehow strided out from the pages and into reality. Golden blonde hair that fell in waves down to her shoulders, cheeks that still bore some of the roundness of youth, full rosebud lips and large, gorgeous emerald green eyes that almost seemed to sparkle even in the relatively dim light inside the inn. She had an unearthly quality to her as well. A hint of soft focus, a suggestion of the play of light and shadow being slightly -different- on her than in the surrounding room. A trained eye might see the effects of glamour around her, though surely not from a spell. Not under the Aegis. Squinting just so and focusing the eyes as if just beyond her, and one could see that the glamour was merely enhancing a natural beauty, working with what was already there and lifting it even higher...rather than plastering a face of illusion over an ugly, or even plain, visage. In any event, like eyes adjusting to new light, after a few minutes the 'impact' seemed to dwindle.

The new magus spied Heidi and made her way over with an open, disarming grin spreading over her face.

"Hello, I'm new here but I think I'm expected? I'm Ilshana." Her voice was high pitched and had a sort of singsongy tonality to it. She held out one of her small, almost dainty little hands. "Pleased to meet you!"

[Walking Dad]

What follows look most like a rather rustical hermit. He seems clearly uncomfortable at entering the building. His eyes dart through the room, seeming like the sudden movements of birds sitting on the outside trees.

"My name is Thomas. Is this the right place?" he asks.

ooc: Just found the thread.

[Yair]

Leo can't help thinking about the contrast between the visage of his companions, but tries to push such thoughts from his mind. "I take it", he says, "that none knows why Murion summoned us?" He smiles, a warm and friendly smile. "I must confess, I am curious. Perhaps, if we could determine what we have in common, it will be a clue?" Leo continues to discusss his interest in the ancient magic of the forests, trying to steer the conversation to what the others like and do.

OOC: Leo will try to see if others are members in the Huntress or other similar groups (such as the Cult of Mercury, or pagan groups), but without actually mentioning it. According to Houses of Hermes: True Lineages that's probably a Communication + Intrigue roll, putting Leo at -2 to his roll, so he's not very good at it; the roll has no effect on player characters, of course, this is just to inform you all how bad Leo is at this. I'm also not sure how we handle rolling dice in this game...

[ArghMark]

OOC: Sorry, my fault. If we use invisible castle it might be best.

Roll Dice

Game:

It is around lunch time by the time everyone arrives. The open air seating on the outside with rough tables and the like lies next to the preparation area outside so the smell of cooking meat and woodsmoke is strong. Unlike many villages there isn't a great deal of filth or rubbish clogging up the place; people probably throw whatever they waste in the forest instead of out the back of the house. Progressive!

As laymen enter you see most of them give you the eye over - Ilshana often several times - but for the most part don't worry too much about you. Some weak beers are tossed back by the thirsty patrons and the food that comes about is hot and quite remarkably tasty. If you are hungry you all use your hands to scoop whatever you wish from larger bowls or trays in the center of the table on to whatever serves you to eat off; for many it is the table itself.

As for finding out things through your roll, that would be up to how the PC's react to your questioning.

[Walking Dad]

Thomas eases at the theme, speaking about forests and nature magic. But he grows reserved ones he recognizes Leo as a Bjornaer.

[Shayuri]

"What we have in common," Ilshana muses as she takes a seat. "Well...we're all newly gauntleted, so maybe he's seeking magi who are relatively 'unspoiled'?"

She takes a heel of bread and mashes some berries into it until the juice is deeply absorbed by it...then gnaws contentedly on the result as she eyes the other mages to see how her speculation is greeted.

[Yair]

"Perhaps", Leo concedes to Ilshana's suggestion, "but why us, and not others? I feel there is more than that here".

His mind is already whirling with possibilities, but none appear sensible. He keeps with the conversation, although his mind is already half elsewhere, contemplating Thomas' erronous understanding of animal nature and the limitations of Hermetic shapechanging spells.

[Walking Dad]

Thomas becomes more quiet each passing minute, looking through the windows at the woods with a longing.

[ArghMark]

OOC: If you wish to continue the conversation, please do so. Otherwise I'll move on.

The rest of the day is interesting in that you find that none of you can gain access to the magical books of the Great Library without payment of some kind, excepting things such as notes from tribunals and laws.

Night approaches quickly enough and after dinner Heidi appears again, curtsying to you all. She speaks in clear Latin once again.

'Greetings again, Magi. I am here to ask that you follow me to the Prima, Archmage Murion of Bonisagus. She wishes to make you welcome to Durenmar, and so wishes you to come to the standing stone at the center of the vale.'

Assuming everyone comes, you make your way to the standing stone that stands eerily lit under the half moon and the torches that light the magical village of Durenmar.

Next to the standing stones stand three magi; a lady looking to be towards the older end of middle age with a cloak of pure white feathers that seems to drift and change through a thousand colors with a single look with a large dark raven on her shoulder, a very elderly man with a long beard who clutches an elaborate wooden staff next to a powerful silver wolf, and a much younger maga with a 'I'm not certain what is going on' expression on her face.

As you approach, the three stop their conversation; that is to say, the two elderly magi stop their conversation and the third remains silent. The three look you over for a moment, before the older lady with the cloak of feathers opens her mouth, and with an imperious and brooks-no-fools expression begins to speak.

'Greetings, young Magi. I am the Archmage Murion, this is the Archmage Caecilius, and this is Winfreda of house Guernicus. We would first like formally welcome you to Durenmar.'

Winfreda walks forward and gives each of you a small token.

Murion continues. 'Now, the Aegis no longer affects you. On to my second business of the evening. I wish you to form a covenant in the Rhine valley, and I feel you may enjoy the opportunity this gives you. The Rhine valley has no covenants currently active, as the twenty year ban on Hermetic activity in the area has been lifted. I want you all to find and establish an independent covenant.' She looks you all over imperiously, her eyes judging. 'If you make it through the next year Durenmar will support your claim at tribunal. That is all.' Murion waits for a hearbeat, before vanishing instantly. The raven that was on her shoulder hops on to the standing stone, however.

The other elderly mage smiles at all of you. You see his eyes are in fact mirrors, and his hands and skin seem more like cracked glass than wrinkled skin. 'Careful, young ones.' He says, and in a quick flash like sunlight on a mirror, he, too is gone. His wolf pads off.

Winfreda looks left, then right, and then sighs. 'I suppose you have questions.' she says in a long suffering voice.

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

"They haven’t categorize their choice by presence"
Gorgamesh add some humor to the table and begin to cough loudly. He wipes saliva from his lips using his sleeve.
"Ilshana may be right. Sometimes, being without experience and without knowledge can be beneficial ... why you ask? ..."
Gorgamesh take a sip from the blanching he made for himself.
"...New ideas to counter old problems."

**********************************************

At the meeting...

Gorgamesh stares to the spot where the archmages stood a moment ago.
He says nothing, waiting for the other to ask first.

[Shayuri]

Back then, in the inn...

"That," Ilshana agrees with Gorgamesh, "and it's lot safer to push NEW mages around than it is to push old, wise, experienced mages around." She says this with odd cheerfulness though. "Whatever it is, it's got to be important coming from Murion...and probably not for the reason that we'll be told it is."

Later, at the Standing Stones...

Ilshana purses her lips and peers at the token, turning it over in her hands a few times. The token, she decided, was kind of like this whole situation. The illusion of choice. The token gave them the option of using magic...in the middle of a vast sea of Parma Magicas. They had more freedom here with the tokens than they did without, but it was freedom within narrow constraints; freedom to pick the color, but not to go outside the lines.

This covenant thing was probably the same. They were being offered a chance to 'go find a covenant to start.' In her heart, she felt that they were being offered the illusion of choice about covenants. How many had there ever been in the valley? How many would be even partially recoverable?

She eyed Winfreda. "I guess we'll just need to know where we can find maps that show where the old covenants were. You've got records of all that stuff, right?"

[Yair]

At the Standing Stones...

Leo suppresses an inner sigh. Setting up a covenant? With this lot? Well, there goes my future plans... And still no idea why us, or how she even knew of me... Determined to obey Murion's instructions, he focuses on the more pressing questions.

He nods at Ilshana's request, but quickly piles some of his own. "Another thing - what is this 'twenty year ban' Murion has been speaking of? Why was it imposed? Also - why won't we last a year, and would we have some support beyond the tribunal, like in access to books on magic?"

[ArghMark]

Facing Ilshana, Winfreda nods. She speaks quietly, and without any force behind her; she seems a nervous woman. 'Yes. Almost anything is available in the Great Library. Chances are high in the Tribunal records there will be something; it may take some time though.' She turns and nods at Leo. 'Well... I'm not entirely certain, as it was integrated just as I came here for the first time. I believe a number of covenants were destroyed by angry mundanes and for the interests in letting time settle issues, the policy was placed.'

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

"Can we go and have a seat somewhere to discuss the matter"
It is hard for Gorgamesh to stand a lot of time so he shifts from leg to leg.
"First thing are recruited grogs to protect the area, build, gather equipment and food and to spy after hostile activity."
The magi begin to list things in his memory

[ArghMark]

Winfreda interjects 'Hold a moment, Gorgamesh. Before I go, I should mention to you a few things first. Before you can legally be recognised as a tribunal in the Rhine, you must have the support of at least one mage from each of the other covenants. Each is required by tradition to give a gift of some sort. As well as that you are required to be a member of one of the gilds by the time of your second tribunal. Tribunal is summer next year, so you have some time to have a look about.

Due to not having a covenant, you are all effectively perigrinators, which means that you may stay at any covenant up to three years, and none may refuse you. Due to many reasons, the majority of the Rhine and especially in this area you will find people will be wary of allowing a new covenant to form, though settling in the Rhine valley may lessen that.

And unless I miss my guess, the mundane matters of hiring Grogs and the like may be something that you'll need to sort out once you have a place, unless you want them all traveling with you.

And before I go, I have been told that there are three labs available to use here in Durenmar if you wish to claim Peregrinator status, and I believe Fengheld House has an opening also.'

She fiddles about in a small sack for a moment. 'And Murion has given you two Mythic pounds for your expenses.'

'Now, if there aren't any more questions?'

[Yair]

"One more question" says Leo. "Maps and books and so on are nice and all, but a wise guide is irreplaceable. I was wondering if there was any person you could recommend that actually knows this 'rhine gorge'? Perhaps a redcap, or a former member of one of the destroyed covenants?"