Ars Magica 5e, Rhine Tribunal, 1220

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.

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?"

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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.

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.

Gorgamesh



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."

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!"

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.

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...

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.

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

"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.