Theandric: Journeyman

Sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest,
Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight,
Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd horns;
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,
And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner.
You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know
The superstitious idle-headed eld
Receiv'd, and did deliver to our age,
This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth.
— William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor

----

She shrieked.
The great stag loomed above her, smelling of sweat and fear and blood.
Hurriedly she half crawled and half run away, only to fall upon a holly tree, entangling herself in its branch. She wrestled free, tearing a new wound in her hand, and run on, clutching the wound and calling for help in any language she could muster.
The black stag snorted, as if pouting at her unseemly behavior. It roared, a most unnatural roar that sent the forest into silence. Its bloody hoofs dug deep into the earth as it gave chase. It will taste blood tonight.

----

You have all arrived, at long last, at the site that is to become Teneo. The trek from Fengheld was long, though some of the party only joined you towards the end. Then you had to skirt the forest's edge to reach the site, a forest of fir and holly, dark and bitter. You sensed its malevolence, even as you skirted it to reach the clifftop.
The site itself was a shallow plateau, with a ring of ancient stones squatting at its center. The stones seemed beaten and battered, and stood dry and grey, rudely protruding from the snow-covered white ground in the dim evening light.
A short while after the artisans settled in, you heard the scream. A woman's scream, a horrified yell, deep from within the forest. Then a roar, that no mundane throat can bear.

OOC: Feel free to describe your actions after or prior to the scream or even sooner, ask questions, or whatever. All the magi are there, as well as the grogs and covenfolk and some artisans sent from Fengheld. It is twilight, some day on the beginning of the winter of 1220.

Gorgamesh of Criamon

Walking in the middle of the group, Gorgamesh talks to no one, even if someone asks him something he answer shortly and keeps his eyes on the ground, this voyage is difficult for the hunchback with the walking stick.
he only wishes to arrive to Teneo. there he will focus on his studies. rest to the feet of the large stones, Ohhh... Teneo he sighs, the quite place in the middle of the forest.

What that? he thinks to himself when he hear the scream. he raise his eyes and scan the area. , then he hears the roar.
Hurry up he says in quite voice, not paying attention if someone even heard him. This forest seeks blood tonight he thinks to himself and raise his walking pace.

Titus Creperius : Arrival

Despite a mere light dusting of snow whitening the landscape, a chill had penetrated Titus’s fur-lined cloak during the long journey from Fengheld. The trek had given Titus Creperius, scion of his ancient equestrian family and journeyman magus of House Jerbiton, time to think. Think about who may have cursed him with the appointment to such a remote convent as Teneo.

Could it have been his own father? No, he carried no weight in the council of magi, though certainly he had placed him in the school that had allowed him some mastery of his natural magical talents. Perhaps the Douche of Venice? Again, a longshot. Though he had been friends, or perhaps more, to his daughter, the Douche was a mundane, and was not a voice on the council. It must have been one of the other scheming archmagus, probably Murion of Durenmar, seeking to weaken the House Jerbiton by scattering its members to the four winds. He had requested a posting at Triamore, or Ocularum… but it was not to be.

He glanced at his traveling companions. What of these other magus who were to share his exile? The deformed, muttering hunchback? Surely he would enjoy the isolation. And, Gasparius, of House Ex Miscellana? His beauty spoke of a faerie-influenced past, yet, Titus had caught a glimpse of his missing ear… it reminded him of the old statue of Trajan in his father’s garden, which was missing the same ear… though imperfect, it retained its noble and commanding air. Yes, noble Gasparius may find kindred spirits in this dark, uncut wood.

He would have to make due with the seeds that he had been given to sow. Surely there was magic that could be harnessed in this remote area. And just as sure, mundanes for him to instruct and enlighten. In this wilderness, forsaken by the gods, it was up to him to bring the niceties of knowledge and law to the people. He would make the best of this situation! Refine his skills, master his spells, and return some day to the council and civilization, a leader of men, both magus and mundane!

As the convent came into view, Titus’s optimistic thoughts came crashing down. Although the circle of stones was promising, and definitely worthy of further study, the haphazardly placed buildings, primarily of wood, that made up the convent proper were disappointing in the extreme. Those must come down, to be rebuilt in a more permanent stone, at the first opportunity. He mentally began planning a reconstruction of the entire compound along the lines of a Roman villa. There was the perfect thing in volume six of De Architectura by Vitruvius. A rectangular courtyard with colonnades could enclose the stones…. A reflecting pool here, surrounded by the statue garden… But his thoughts were interrupted by a scream from the woods.

“Ah, the denizens of yonder wood welcome us,” he said in rough German to one of the grogs nearby who was unloading his travel chest from their wagon. “Are we to be treated to this sort of display every night then?”

“Master, tis the witch of the woods, gone a hunting….” He replied, eyes to the ground.

“Yes, what a hideous scream, and that must have been her bestial companion I wager….” He paused and scanned the treeline. “I look forward to making her acquaintance.”

“I didn’t say the witch was a woman, master.” And the grog hefted the chest and carried it quickly to one of the buildings that Titus assumed would be his quarters.

Titus looked for the men-at-arms. Although the light was waning, it may be worthwhile to investigate this disturbance. But, he certainly wasn’t going to go alone...

The Covenant (OOC)

OOC: I was unclear as to the covenant's status; too many versions in my head, not enough online. It is nonexistent yet, you've basically been sent to set it up. Here is a fuller description.

For a long time in the ancient past, the old records say, the site of Teneo was occupied by the Hermetic covenant of Rethra, although it wasn't at the covenant proper (which lies some 20-30 miles to the east). It is unclear when it was abandoned, perhaps as late as 1202.
Rethra was an ancient covenant, predating the Order itself. Its magi served as pagan priests, at least for a time, but it has fallen into deep Winter and when the Knights of the Sword came in 1202 to pillage and destroy it, they found nothing but empty ruins.

Currently, the site is a snow covered plateau on a clifftop, with a circle of standing stones as its center and the remains of a few wooden buildings around it. Some may be habitable with but little work, which is suprising given the time it was allegedly abandoned, but most are in utter ruins and need to be taken down. The place needs to be rebuilt, and it is for this purpose that Fengheld has provided you with artisans and mundane resources to oversee the construction.
The forest encircles the plateau, spreading from its sides onto the side of the road. From both of the cliff's sides, a trek through the forest's outskirts will lead, with some climbing, to the site. The cliff is large enough and the lay of the land is such that the place is not visible from the road or sorounding countryside; only the cliff is visible, not its top.

OOC, Yet More: I'll post the next installment tomorrow; Olive, I'd appreciate some post till then.
Edit: Changed OOC thread accordingly.

Journeyan post 1.1

You hear a scream for help, growing nearer, from within the forest. In a few seconds, a woman bursts out of the woods. At a glimpse you see she is young, wearing a redcap (marking her as an Hermetic messenger) and a bloodstained shirt. She stops for only a moment, taken aback at seeing you all. That’s a mistake.

Something dark and large slams into her from behind, and suddenly she is flang up in the air, borne on impossibly large antlers. It’s a stag, a huge stag taller than a warhorse and just as massive, with a black coat. It shakes the woman loose, throwing her at its feet where she gasps for air, the wind taken out of her by the blow. You can see holes in her fur shirt, where the antlers pierced deep.
The stag stomps its feet and straightens, as if showing off its size and strength. It puffs, frost forming off its humid breath in the cold, as it looks you over.

OOC: You may wish to throw initiative before describing your action [basically Quickness+stress; see here under Obstacles on page 3].
Gasparius [Olive’s character] recognizes it as the Black Stag, the companion of Veles the Hunter, god of the Underworld and Agriculture, he who makes the sacrifice [giving away the bounty of nature], and he who takes it [taking sacrifices in return].
You may assume Gasparius tells you of this, if you like, unless Olive steps in to tell otherwise before you post. [Oh Olive, where art though?]
You can google Veles and Cernunnos for some taste of the god; seek out the darker themes.

Hakon Olafsson & Titus Creperius

After the scream and otherworldly bellowing had rent the deep silence of the dark forest, Hakon Olafsson had reached immediately for his woodsman’s axe from the baggage wagon. Alas, he found it wedged between a sack full of clothing and a bushel of potatoes, and he had to struggle to get it free.

“Relax…” he thought to himself as his face turned as red as his hair in frustration as he pulled at the tool, finally drawing it with a grunt from the luggage pile. As he extracted the axe from the clutter of the wagon, he turned and saw the enormous stag with its gruesomely adorned horns. The sight nearly caused him to drop the axe as he awkwardly made the sign of the cross over his chest with his free hand.

To his side, he saw the magus Titus, his jesting at the screams replaced by wide eyed silence at the sight of the stag. His eyes full of fear (or was it fascination?), Titus waved a cautionary hand at the towering Dane.

“Hakon my good man, have a care!” he exclaimed. “Your axe is fearsome but I wonder if it, or your faith, will stand you in good stead against this minion of the faerie god. Remain at ready-- perhaps we can parley with it.” Titus did not sound at all convincing in his stilted German, but Hakon held, axe only slightly lowered from a fighting position.

Titus addressed the creature in Latin: “Cernunnos, Lord of the forest, forgive our trespass! We do not wish to interfere with your rightful sacrifice, but we do wish to understand your ways and laws. Please hold your rage against our fellow human and grant us a moment of your time to gain wisdom of this place!”

Hakon understood only a smattering of Titus’s plea to the animal, having picked up what little Latin he knew from church services… he doubted that the stag would respond, and clutched his axe with an even tighter grip.

OOC: As a student of Greek and Roman Theology, as well as some pagan religion, it is possible that Titus may have also heard of the god Cernunnos. Certainly if Gasparius mentions him, the connection would have a chance of being made. Yair, let me know if any of this is not feasible, or if there wouldn't be time to say all this.

MummyKitty said:

“Cernunnos, Lord of the forest, forgive our trespass! We do not wish to interfere with your rightful sacrifice, but we do wish to understand your ways and laws. Please hold your rage against our fellow human and grant us a moment of your time to gain wisdom of this place!”

Hakon understood only a smattering of Titus’s plea to the animal, having picked up what little Latin he knew from church services… he doubted that the stag would respond, and clutched his axe with an even tighter grip.

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The beast snorts, releasing another frosty breath. Below it the woman squirms, trying to get away. The stag places a hoof on her back, and she whimpers in pain as she is pinned to the ground. The snow around her is getting red with blood. The stag observes her with an air of bemused puzzlement.

OOC: As a student of Greek and Roman Theology, as well as some pagan religion, it is possible that Titus may have also heard of the god Cernunnos. Certainly if Gasparius mentions him, the connection would have a chance of being made. Yair, let me know if any of this is not feasible, or if there wouldn't be time to say all this.

Click to expand...

Hmmm... Cernunnos is a Greek name but not a Greek/Roman deity; and you just don't have the XP (or interest) to cover Faerie pagan religion so I only gave you points in Magic pagan religion (Hermes/Mercury, Hecate, Isis, and a few others). Nevertheless, the Horned God is a major pagan deity so you may have heared of him circumventally.
I don't think it will be appropriate for you to recognize the Black Stag as Veles's companion, but I agree that once Gasparius mentions him you will make the connection. [I'd alllow you to recognize Veles, but not his servant.] So - no problems.
Edit: Also, I added a little clarifying note in the OOC thread.

Gorgamesh

With fear in his eyes, Gorgamesh steps back. he know that he his the slowest man of the party. but when Gasparius tells the legend of the god and his beast he calms a little.
still ... no words come from his mouth, Gorgamesh just stares the mighty stag.
and listen to the pleadge of Titus.
Let this creature be, we have no business with him Gorgamesh whispers to himself, again...not paying attention if someone heard him.
he limps to Titus and say... Let's not interfere to what ment to be by the gods.
Gorgamesh knows he have no power against this creature so he stands between Hakon and the wagon.

OOC: 3 things -
1.Can i cast a spontenous divine spell to uncover the secret if this is "The" stag or if this "a" stag.
2. Can you list the companios and grogs in the OOC thread so I can pickup a favor one to role play, maximum ... just invent one.
3.maybe you should email Olive and tell him to join, try to recruit another one

Strahd_Von_Zarovich said:

OOC: 3 things -...

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See OOC thread.

Yair said:

The beast snorts, releasing another frosty breath. Below it the woman squirms, trying to get away. The stag places a hoof on her back, and she whimpers in pain as she is pinned to the ground. The snow around her is getting red with blood. The stag observes her with an air of bemused puzzlement.


Hmmm... Cernunnos is a Greek name but not a Greek/Roman deity; and you just don't have the XP (or interest) to cover Faerie pagan religion so I only gave you points in Magic pagan religion (Hermes/Mercury, Hecate, Isis, and a few others). Nevertheless, the Horned God is a major pagan deity so you may have heared of him circumventally.
I don't think it will be appropriate for you to recognize the Black Stag as Veles's companion, but I agree that once Gasparius mentions him you will make the connection. [I'd alllow you to recognize Veles, but not his servant.] So - no problems.
Edit: Also, I added a little clarifying note in the OOC thread.

Click to expand...

OOC: Thanks Yair. I was actually going to make the post without the god's name in it, just using "Lord of the forest" (in that case just guessing on Titus's part). In one of my books on Roman life it does mention the widespread worship of Cernunnos by the Celts during Roman times but of course as you say he's not a Roman deity. (Although the Romans were known to absorb the deities of their neighbors into their pantheons...)