Scribed by Terentius
Spring 1321AD
Fortune’s wheel doth ever turn, her fawning friendship and manifold deceits raising mere mortals high before abandoning them to the abyss. Whether simply allegory designed to instruct over-mighty princes on the dangers of hubris, or a sincere description of immortal interference in our affairs, few possess the art to halt the spinning of the wheel at the point of their greatest glory. For the rest of us, gentle decline is the most we can hope for, else we tumble into precipitous ruin. Some say Fortune is blind, or perhaps cruelly indifferent, unable to distinguish between the worthy and unworthy. It is our Nature, I think, to test the limits of our art; to always grasp for what lies just beyond our reach. Yet if Nature and Fortune are, in this, opposed, it is a sobering thought that, no matter our prowess or mastery, we can all be brought low at Fortune’s decree. This is a lesson that those of Cliffheart would have done well to learn.
Some have declared the Order of Hermes to be dead, having failed to recover from a mortal wound struck at Durenmar. I disagree. I think this underestimates the ingenuity of its members and the resilience of its structures. The Order of tomorrow may never fully mirror the Order of the past, but I hope the core aspects can be reconstituted anew and adapted to reflect our current circumstances. There are already signs that this is beginning to happen, and I would hope that, once the foundations are in place, the rest would follow at increasing pace. I am sometimes prone to melancholy, seeing only decline from former heights, but in this matter, I feel more optimism than in quite some time.
Yet a cloud hangs over all of this: the warnings of the plague from the east. Our current plans rest on using the Crown of Math and other ancient treasures to somehow unlock the mystical resonances of these lands, which, according to some, possess the power to resist the plague. Even if this is possible in theory, the knowledge of how to do it in practice is lost to us. If Myddyn really does dwell no longer in the regio that bears his name, we may have to solve the puzzle on our own, rather than once again putting our fates into his hands. Part of me rather welcomes this, yet I cannot deny that it complicates matters immensely. Still, we are no strangers for grasping for secrets that lie just beyond our reach. Let us hope that Fortune smiles on us as we do so.
Though less cold than in years gone by, winter had been a damp and miserable season, with heavy rains and overcast skies. The early days of spring brought no respite from the downpour, and the lack of overnight frost left the ground churned with sticky mud as we assembled for the first council meeting of the year. It was a relatively short affair. We agreed that we needed to resolve the problem of the infernal entity within the forests just outside Bridgwater, and to this end, Branwen agreed to assist me in the laboratory to create three small bags of dust imbued with an eleventh magnitude version of Demon’s Eternal Oblivion. My belief is that this should be sufficient to destroy the creature that haunts the old well-house in the forest, but to ensure that we are prepared should the matter prove more difficult than expected, I said that I would perform a further season of covenant service in summer to create an additional batch. I also agreed to write to Cyrillus of Holy Isle requesting his insight into the nature of the infernal entity.
There followed a brief discussion of how best to continue our investigation of Mynydd Myddyn. Loathe as I am to delay the matter, my own view is that it must take second place to resolving the problems at Bridgwater, which will likely occupy most of my time this year. Others might still choose to go, though this would require some plan to avoid coming into conflict with the celts, unless it really cannot be avoided. Theoclea mused that they might recognise the authority of the Crown of Math, which is an intriguing possibility, though fraught with danger until we get some measure of the capability of their elementalist.
Theoclea also spoke of the growing food shortages in London, which had reduced many of the poorer folk of the city to a state of starvation and destitution. We debated what we could do to safeguard the crops in the Dean from any further deterioration in the weather, and Pyrrhus suggested using the Aegis Against Storms, a wand that is usually kept on our ship, to quiet the winds about the forest should they threaten the planting season. I thought this was worth trying, but others were reluctant to do so, arguing that it might endanger the ship should it run into stormy weather. After a short discussion, a vote was called; only Pyrrhus and I supported the motion, with Jari, Branwen and Theoclea voting against. With that issue resolved, the council broke up for the season. Pyrrhus left shortly thereafter to journey to Verdi ahead of a meeting of his House next season.
[Terentius’ private journal: I wonder whether that is the last time we will see Pyrrhus. Meetings of House Flambeau are, by reputation, dangerous affairs, and it seems possible that Guido may seek revenge against those who so disgraced the House under the previous Primus. Pyrrhus was an active and vocal supporter of Aloisius, and I have little doubt that there is blood on his hands.
A year ago, I might have wished good riddance to him, particularly after reading the utter travesty that was his journal for last year. Yet now I find myself in two minds, perhaps because the passage of time has dulled my original anger. I also recall how ready he was to offer assistance at Bridgwater and the fact that his actions undoubtedly saved Leolf, at no small risk to himself. Perhaps I am becoming soft hearted in my middle years, but I now wonder whether he deserves a final chance to show that he has put his mistakes behind him.]
Early in the season, Gaines arrived with news from across the Order. He was able to provide more background on the circumstances that led to the conflict at Cliffheart. He explained that, having heard the disturbing news coming out of the Hibernian Tribunal, the other Primi had requested that Senior Quaesitor Romanus investigate the legality of the House and Tribunal’s recent rulings. Romanus had travelled to Mora Cove, once the primary covenant of that Tribunal, where he had reviewed the records of recent meetings. He discovered that, two years before House Flambeau declared a Wizards’ March against Crannagh Tomb, the Hibernian Tribunal had heard a case against that covenant relating to the death of one redcap and the injury of another at the hands of a fell spirit. Although the magi of Cliffheart had voted that Nechtan and the other members of Crannagh Tomb should be subject to heavy sanction, this had not been supported by the rest of the Tribunal, which voted that there was no case to answer.
Romanus ruled that this case was identical to that subsequently heard by House Flambeau; as such, the latter ruling was declared void as the House has no authority to overall the Tribunal. As recorded elsewhere in this journal, a party of magi lead by Primus Tremere and Prima Ex Miscellanea then journeyed to Cliffheart and asked to inspect their records. Archimagus Numerius answered by striking down Fulvius, which led to the full-scale battle in which three members of Cliffheart were slain. Gaines noted that the fate of a fourth member of that covenant, Riccardus of Flambeau, was as yet unknown, though he is believed to still be at large. Romanus has been tasked with investigating further.
In other news, Gained reported that Sylvestrix of Guernicus, one of two remaining magi of that House, has been appointed Primus. His first action will be to preside over the meeting of House Flambeau this summer. Sylvestrix has also called into question the appointment of so many Quaesitori in Stonehenge in years past, noting that each of them requires his approval to have any legal authority. This matter, and no doubt many others, will be addressed at a meeting of the Grand Tribunal, which is scheduled to take place at Verdi in the summer of 1323 AD. Primi from Houses Bjornaer, Bonisagus, Ex Miscelleanea, Tremere, Verditius, Mercere, Guernicus and presumably Flambeau have confirmed they will attend. The meeting will also be open to all members of the Order, though given the limited space at Verdi, magi have been asked to inform a redcap in advance if they intend to take up the offer.
Finally, Gaines noted that King Theo has been betrothed to a French princess as part of a wider alliance. France has apparently been struck even harder than England by the recent famine, which has encouraged its king to sue for peace. The French have agreed to recognise certain English holdings in Gascony, which have been a source of conflict for many years. To seal the agreement, the French king has offered the hand of his cousin, Isabella, to King Theo. The matter will be debated by the nobility at Winchester this season.
A few weeks later, our new spymaster, Stephanus, brought news from our agents that have been recruited in the lands east of the Dean. Initial reports simply mentioned that the Church has proved to be an unsympathetic landlord to tenant farmers in Wiltshire suffering the ill-effects of recent poor harvests, but later information took a darker turn, for it seems that all the inhabitants of the small town of Wilton had apparently died where they slept on the same night a few weeks into this season. The Church had sent a contingent of priests and monks to investigate this strange occurrence, though they were unable to determine its cause. The bodies of the dead have since been buried in a mass grave at Salisbury.
Jari, Branwen and I determined to investigate the incident as a matter of urgency, and we made our way to Wilton without delay. As we arrived, we noticed a group of men from Salisbury searching each of the abandoned properties within Wilton for goods and valuables. Moving stealthily to the other end of the settlement, we were able to conduct a magical investigation that yielded alarming results. Although my spells initially detected no mystical aura in Wilton, upon recasting the enchantment from within a Circular Ward Against Demons, it became clear that there was, in fact, an infernal aura lying about the houses. I was also able to detect the lingering traces of a non-Hermetic enchantment with an effect similar to a Perdo Auram spell. This carried the sigil of a voice whispering from behind, which we have encountered before: we believe it belongs to the diviner from the Unnamed House who plagued settlements along the Welsh coast in years past. Branwen also saw the shades of a man and his wife in one of the dwellings: they were bound with hooked chains that stretched into the earth.
The revelation that the Unnamed House has been active so far from the coast represents something of a change in their strategy, and we discussed what might have caused them to venture inland. My feeling was that it might relate to the gathering of the court in nearby Winchester, whereas Jari was of the opinion that the proximity of the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge was the more likely reason. After some delay navigating royal guards and protocols, I was able to pass a message about our discoveries to Salustria and Eremon, two members of Eurus Aquilae who were watching for assassins in Winchester. While there, I also learned that it had been agreed that the king would marry Isabella of France, sealing the alliance proposed in months past. We then conducted a cursory inspection of the lands around Stonehenge – finding nothing untoward – though we did not enter the circle itself.
Returning to Severn Temple, we passed a message about the events of Wilton to Holy Isle. We received a visit from Cyrillus, Severo and Tullius some weeks later. They took note of what we had found and agreed to share any results of further investigations. Cyrillus also provided some insight on the nature of the infernal entity at Bridgwater. Although he had not personally encountered such a creature before, he told us that it reminded him of stories of a demon that lived deep underground, sending its tentacles out into the world to feed. Left undisturbed, it would hollow out the surrounding area, much in the same way a worm might work its way through a rotten apple. These stories said that the creature’s feeding limbs might be combated, but none who had descended into the earth to face its body had ever returned. A sombre tale indeed.
Summer
Pyrrhus was still absent at his House meeting in Verdi, but all of the other magi met for a council on the first day of summer. Theoclea provided a short overview of the political situation between England and France, largely confirming what we had already heard from Gaines and in Winchester. Interestingly, her view was that the alliance between the two realms would not last, largely because the English lords perceived the weakness of the French position and would likely seek to recover more of their former Gascon possessions when the time was right. Ireland remains quiet, with English allies controlling all of its territories save Dublin and some remote areas in the far west.
We reconfirmed our intention to return to Bridgwater in autumn. To the end, I agreed to spend the season creating more bags of dust imbued with Demon’s Eternal Oblivion. All other magi also spent the season in their laboratories or the covenant’s libraries.
The season itself passed quietly without any incidents of note. A few days before its end, I saw Pyrrhus return to the covenant. I wonder what tales he will have from his time in Verdi.
Autumn
The coming of autumn had yet to temper the oppressively hot and wet conditions of summer as we met as a full council on the first day of the season. We began by asking Pyrrhus whether he could provide any news from his House meeting in Verdi. He was initially rather subdued as he reported in a monotone voice that he had been convicted of breaching the Primary Code for his participation in the attack on Crannagh Tomb and his murder of a member of House Ex Miscellanea. However, any apparent contrition on his part was clearly paper thin, for he soon attempted to shift the blame to others, claiming that he had been betrayed and mislead by his former Primus, House Quaesitor and Archimagus, and that his only fault was not to have questioned their judgements more vigorously.
Pyrrhus explained that his crime was to have waited at one of the entrances to the covenant and used fire magics to slaughter a young woman as she sought to surrender after exiting the place. However, his story morphed several times during the telling: he initially claimed that he did not know whether she was a member of the Order – or just one of the covenfolk – at the time, though under questioning, he eventually admitted that he had known that she was almost certainly a maga. Indeed, I understand that he even received a tattoo in celebration for his kill. He expressed regret for his actions, though the fact that he was unable to put a name to his victim (even though it is recorded in this very journal) suggests a lack of introspection to me; it seems clear that he has not really considered her or the wider harm he has done.
Though Pyrrhus had been found guilty, his punishment seemed relatively mild: a fine of half a rook of vis and several seasons of service to the House. He revealed that this had been a close-run thing, for it was only Guido’s casting vote that prevented him being put to death for his actions. It seems likely that at least some of his penance will be spent in the Baltic region, for the House has announced a muster next year to contest the threat posed by the Teutonic Order to the nearby covenants of Crintera and Narva.
I pushed Pyrrhus to explain why he had not been more forthcoming about his involvement in the attack at previous council meetings. He initially claimed that he had felt bound by the need to safeguard the House’s private business. However, as Naevius pointed out, this excuse made little sense given that the associated legal rulings would become a matter of public record and, if he truly believed at the time he was carrying out a lawful Wizard’s March, there was no reason to hide his involvement. Pyrrhus had no real answer to this, and he just dissembled ineffectually in a way that was transparent to everyone. There was an uncomfortable silence before Naevius moved the discussion on to other business.
[Terentius’ private journal: I have never met Guido, but he has a positive reputation for both action and judgement, having slain Prudentia, assisted Primus Bonisagus in the east, and defied the worst of Aloisius’ excesses. That said, the leniency displayed to the members of his House who participated in the attack seems like something of a gamble to me, for he must know how it will be perceived by others, particularly those with close ties to those who were slain. Perhaps this is out of necessity given the small size of his House, but I also hope that his decision to spare Pyrrhus means that he perceives that our sodales can redeem himself. Given the lack of self-awareness displayed at the council meeting, I rather suspect that this will be through his deeds, rather than his words].
We briefly discussed our plans to halt the spreading of the infernal plague that we believe will reach these shores in near future. I summarised the various options as I saw them: first, that we find a route to the crystal caves to see whether Mynydd’s memories hold the secret to unlocking the hidden powers of the Crown of Madh; second, that House Tremere succeeds in creating a ritual empowered by the Wizards’ Communion that can turn back the disease; or third, that we discover whether the ancient henges of Britain have the power to strengthen the health of these lands. There was also a fourth option alluded to by Branwen in rather oblique fashion, but I confess I do not understand much of its nature, other than the fact it has some connection to her particular magical heritage. All four of these pathways seem difficult and uncertain to me, but we resolved to pursue them all for the moment until it becomes clear which, if any, hold any real prospect of success. We may have to abandon one or more of them in future so we can focus our resources on the best candidates, but it is still too early to make such a decision.
The final act of business was to discuss our plans for the season. Pyrrhus and I confirmed our intention to travel to Bridgwater to destroy the infernal entity that haunts the woods close to the town. All others will spend the season in their laboratories, save for Theoclea, who will attend her brother’s wedding at court.
Pyrrhus and I spent a couple of days making preparations before Daedalus joined us from Blackthorn. The three of us, accompanied also by Leolf, then took a barge to Bridgwater, before skirting the town and heading for the nearby woods. It was quickly apparent that the malaise that lay about the place had become worse since our previous visit, for many of the trees were afflicted with black mold, and a sour smell hung about the area. As we pressed on, the miasma strengthened and Leolf became lightheaded, though the rest of us were unaffected. Reasoning that this would only get worse as we entered the regio, I extended my Parma Magica to cover him, and he was able to press on. Crossing into the lower level of the regio, Daedalus erected a Circular Ward Against Demons and we paused to see whether our arrival had been noticed. We did not have long to wait, for Leolf noticed a smoke-like tendril emerge from the well and make its way towards our group. It recoiled at the edge of Daedalus’ ward, unable to force its way inside. Though I could not see the creature, Leolf was able to describe its location sufficiently clearly to allow me to target it with the Demon’s Eternal Oblivion, and it soon retreated within the well. We took this opportunity to press on, and I led the group down into the well shaft.
Descending through another regio boundary, we found ourselves in a most unsettling cavern. It was far larger than we had expected given the narrow entrance, the floor had a strange spongy texture, and the walls were braced by curved pillars of bleached bone. Leolf announced that we were not so much in an underground cavern as the stomach of some gigantic creature, but we had no time to contemplate this disconcerting suggestion, for we spied a large worm-like creature rapidly making its way towards us. Bloated beyond anything natural by the years it had had to feed on all life in the forest, the worm opened its immense jaws to let out a shuddering roar, revealing a strange skull and second row of teeth within its vast mouth.
As the creature closed rapidly on us, I managed to let a couple of arrows fly, but they bounced harmlessly off its hide, and the spells they carried appeared to have no effect. Daedalus had once again erected a tenth magnitude Circular Ward Against Demons, but the creature crashed through it without pausing, and our party was scattered in all directions as we sought to avoid being crushed. Alas, Daedalus himself was unable to leap away in time, and I saw him fall beneath the worm’s bulk. Recovering our footing, Pyrrhus, Leolf and I each threw the dust imbued with the Demon’s Eternal Oblivion at the creature, and it was encouraging to see it twist in agony as the white light of the spell engulfed it.
Still, it was not enough to slay the beast, and so Pyrrhus brought potent spells of raging fire against it, causing it to lash about in fury as its hide erupted in flame. Pyrrhus thus became the target of its ire, and the worm managed to seize him in its jaws. I saw him fumbling within his pack as the creature bore him to the ground, but the object he sought – a small barrel of dark wood – rolled away as he disappeared beneath the creature. I recalled that, as we prepared our expedition, Pyrrhus had suggested bringing along a barrel of his black powder with him, and reasoning that this must be it, I incanted a spell to set it aflame. A few moments later, there was a tremendous explosion, and I momentarily lost my bearings. As I recovered my wits, I saw that the creature had been entirely rent in two by the blast. Cutting our way through its corpse, Leolf and I were able to recover Pyrrhus’ unconscious form. There was initially no sign of Daedalus, but after much effort, I was eventually able to find where he had been crushed beneath the creature. Alas, he had not survived the encounter, though I was able to recover his mortal remains. Leolf and I were able to extract both of our companions from the regio and return to the regio. There, Pyrrhus made a full recovery, though his injuries lingered for much of the season.
I shall record here for posterity the great debt that I owe Daedalus. Twice he provided me with selfless aid against terrible infernal enemies, knowing the great risk on each occasion, but never asking for anything in return. Though I will never be able to thank him in person for his most recent efforts, I shall bear his example in mind in future should others ask the same of me.
Winter
We held a short council meeting at the start of the season, though much of what we discussed – including the events at Bridgwater and the signs of hardship across the land due to high food prices – are recorded elsewhere. Jari proposed to spend the winter on covenant service attempting to extend our spy network into eastern England. He hopes that this will increase the likelihood that we pick up on any rumours of activities of the Unnamed House beyond our traditional lands. I was granted permission to harvest any of the vis sites within Mynydd Myddyn for personal use, though I explained the primary motivation of my planned visit was to find a route to the crystal caves. All the other magi proposed to spend the season in the laboratory or library.
Several weeks into the season, Gaines arrived with news from across the country and Order. He confirmed that the marriage had taken place between the King of England and Isabella, the cousin of the King of France. As part of the associated peace treaty, some – though not all – of the lands seized by the French in Gascony had been returned to their previous owners, and several English nobles had travelled to the continent to reassert their control. Gaines said it was common knowledge that the French King’s debts had forced his hand, and he speculated that future conflict with the Holy Roman Empire over border territories was possible given France’s weakness. Closer to home, continued poor harvests across England had led to significant hardship, particularly in major settlements, which were struggling to import sufficient foodstuffs to feed their inhabitants. Livestock had been much reduced due to disease, and open banditry had broken out in several regions.
In terms of Hermetic news, Holy Isle confirmed that they had carried out an investigation of the recent events at Wilton. Using Eyes of the Past, they were able to discover that at least one, and possibly two, members of the Unnamed House had conducted what appeared to be a divination involving reading the stars. The primary instigator was an aged man with a white beard, though his face was always covered by a deep hood. He had first unleashed a host of black shapes from his cloak that slew the villagers as they slept, after which he used spells to clear the skies of all occlusions. Holy Isle believes that the villagers’ sacrifice was used to empower an infernal ritual of divination, though its purpose remains unclear. The figure was accompanied by another man who held himself with similar status. This man’s face was also covered, though he was taller than the first and had broad shoulders. Pyrrhus noted that the former covenant of Swallowcliffe was not so far from the village, and he speculated that there may be some connection with the ritual. Gaines agreed to pass this information on to Holy Isle. In final news, Gaines reported on the events of the recent meeting of House Flambeau, noting that the House had committed itself to supporting House Bjornaer against the Teutonic knights who threaten Novgorod and Crintera.
I once again spent a season exploring the caves below Mynydd Myddyn, though I shall not burden the reader with a step-by-step account of my travels. Suffice it to say that, by the end of winter, I had mapped a great deal of the cave system, though I had yet to find any sign of the crystal caves. There was clearly significant magic within the place, and I located two additional sources of vis to augment the one discovered last year, but I did not encounter any regio boundaries that might suggest there are further mysteries hidden deeper within the network. Still, though I ruled out a great many possibilities, there are other areas to explore, and I remain hopeful that one will hold the key to unlocking the great mystery that lies before us.
As winter once again turns to spring, I shall turn this journal over to another. Looking back at the year, I see some achievements, though tinged with loss. I cannot help but feel, though, that we have made insufficient progress given the looming threat. We are a year closer to disaster with relatively little to show for our efforts. Perhaps there is still time, but I grow less certain with each passing day.
Spring 1321AD
Fortune’s wheel doth ever turn, her fawning friendship and manifold deceits raising mere mortals high before abandoning them to the abyss. Whether simply allegory designed to instruct over-mighty princes on the dangers of hubris, or a sincere description of immortal interference in our affairs, few possess the art to halt the spinning of the wheel at the point of their greatest glory. For the rest of us, gentle decline is the most we can hope for, else we tumble into precipitous ruin. Some say Fortune is blind, or perhaps cruelly indifferent, unable to distinguish between the worthy and unworthy. It is our Nature, I think, to test the limits of our art; to always grasp for what lies just beyond our reach. Yet if Nature and Fortune are, in this, opposed, it is a sobering thought that, no matter our prowess or mastery, we can all be brought low at Fortune’s decree. This is a lesson that those of Cliffheart would have done well to learn.
Some have declared the Order of Hermes to be dead, having failed to recover from a mortal wound struck at Durenmar. I disagree. I think this underestimates the ingenuity of its members and the resilience of its structures. The Order of tomorrow may never fully mirror the Order of the past, but I hope the core aspects can be reconstituted anew and adapted to reflect our current circumstances. There are already signs that this is beginning to happen, and I would hope that, once the foundations are in place, the rest would follow at increasing pace. I am sometimes prone to melancholy, seeing only decline from former heights, but in this matter, I feel more optimism than in quite some time.
Yet a cloud hangs over all of this: the warnings of the plague from the east. Our current plans rest on using the Crown of Math and other ancient treasures to somehow unlock the mystical resonances of these lands, which, according to some, possess the power to resist the plague. Even if this is possible in theory, the knowledge of how to do it in practice is lost to us. If Myddyn really does dwell no longer in the regio that bears his name, we may have to solve the puzzle on our own, rather than once again putting our fates into his hands. Part of me rather welcomes this, yet I cannot deny that it complicates matters immensely. Still, we are no strangers for grasping for secrets that lie just beyond our reach. Let us hope that Fortune smiles on us as we do so.
Though less cold than in years gone by, winter had been a damp and miserable season, with heavy rains and overcast skies. The early days of spring brought no respite from the downpour, and the lack of overnight frost left the ground churned with sticky mud as we assembled for the first council meeting of the year. It was a relatively short affair. We agreed that we needed to resolve the problem of the infernal entity within the forests just outside Bridgwater, and to this end, Branwen agreed to assist me in the laboratory to create three small bags of dust imbued with an eleventh magnitude version of Demon’s Eternal Oblivion. My belief is that this should be sufficient to destroy the creature that haunts the old well-house in the forest, but to ensure that we are prepared should the matter prove more difficult than expected, I said that I would perform a further season of covenant service in summer to create an additional batch. I also agreed to write to Cyrillus of Holy Isle requesting his insight into the nature of the infernal entity.
There followed a brief discussion of how best to continue our investigation of Mynydd Myddyn. Loathe as I am to delay the matter, my own view is that it must take second place to resolving the problems at Bridgwater, which will likely occupy most of my time this year. Others might still choose to go, though this would require some plan to avoid coming into conflict with the celts, unless it really cannot be avoided. Theoclea mused that they might recognise the authority of the Crown of Math, which is an intriguing possibility, though fraught with danger until we get some measure of the capability of their elementalist.
Theoclea also spoke of the growing food shortages in London, which had reduced many of the poorer folk of the city to a state of starvation and destitution. We debated what we could do to safeguard the crops in the Dean from any further deterioration in the weather, and Pyrrhus suggested using the Aegis Against Storms, a wand that is usually kept on our ship, to quiet the winds about the forest should they threaten the planting season. I thought this was worth trying, but others were reluctant to do so, arguing that it might endanger the ship should it run into stormy weather. After a short discussion, a vote was called; only Pyrrhus and I supported the motion, with Jari, Branwen and Theoclea voting against. With that issue resolved, the council broke up for the season. Pyrrhus left shortly thereafter to journey to Verdi ahead of a meeting of his House next season.
[Terentius’ private journal: I wonder whether that is the last time we will see Pyrrhus. Meetings of House Flambeau are, by reputation, dangerous affairs, and it seems possible that Guido may seek revenge against those who so disgraced the House under the previous Primus. Pyrrhus was an active and vocal supporter of Aloisius, and I have little doubt that there is blood on his hands.
A year ago, I might have wished good riddance to him, particularly after reading the utter travesty that was his journal for last year. Yet now I find myself in two minds, perhaps because the passage of time has dulled my original anger. I also recall how ready he was to offer assistance at Bridgwater and the fact that his actions undoubtedly saved Leolf, at no small risk to himself. Perhaps I am becoming soft hearted in my middle years, but I now wonder whether he deserves a final chance to show that he has put his mistakes behind him.]
Early in the season, Gaines arrived with news from across the Order. He was able to provide more background on the circumstances that led to the conflict at Cliffheart. He explained that, having heard the disturbing news coming out of the Hibernian Tribunal, the other Primi had requested that Senior Quaesitor Romanus investigate the legality of the House and Tribunal’s recent rulings. Romanus had travelled to Mora Cove, once the primary covenant of that Tribunal, where he had reviewed the records of recent meetings. He discovered that, two years before House Flambeau declared a Wizards’ March against Crannagh Tomb, the Hibernian Tribunal had heard a case against that covenant relating to the death of one redcap and the injury of another at the hands of a fell spirit. Although the magi of Cliffheart had voted that Nechtan and the other members of Crannagh Tomb should be subject to heavy sanction, this had not been supported by the rest of the Tribunal, which voted that there was no case to answer.
Romanus ruled that this case was identical to that subsequently heard by House Flambeau; as such, the latter ruling was declared void as the House has no authority to overall the Tribunal. As recorded elsewhere in this journal, a party of magi lead by Primus Tremere and Prima Ex Miscellanea then journeyed to Cliffheart and asked to inspect their records. Archimagus Numerius answered by striking down Fulvius, which led to the full-scale battle in which three members of Cliffheart were slain. Gaines noted that the fate of a fourth member of that covenant, Riccardus of Flambeau, was as yet unknown, though he is believed to still be at large. Romanus has been tasked with investigating further.
In other news, Gained reported that Sylvestrix of Guernicus, one of two remaining magi of that House, has been appointed Primus. His first action will be to preside over the meeting of House Flambeau this summer. Sylvestrix has also called into question the appointment of so many Quaesitori in Stonehenge in years past, noting that each of them requires his approval to have any legal authority. This matter, and no doubt many others, will be addressed at a meeting of the Grand Tribunal, which is scheduled to take place at Verdi in the summer of 1323 AD. Primi from Houses Bjornaer, Bonisagus, Ex Miscelleanea, Tremere, Verditius, Mercere, Guernicus and presumably Flambeau have confirmed they will attend. The meeting will also be open to all members of the Order, though given the limited space at Verdi, magi have been asked to inform a redcap in advance if they intend to take up the offer.
Finally, Gaines noted that King Theo has been betrothed to a French princess as part of a wider alliance. France has apparently been struck even harder than England by the recent famine, which has encouraged its king to sue for peace. The French have agreed to recognise certain English holdings in Gascony, which have been a source of conflict for many years. To seal the agreement, the French king has offered the hand of his cousin, Isabella, to King Theo. The matter will be debated by the nobility at Winchester this season.
A few weeks later, our new spymaster, Stephanus, brought news from our agents that have been recruited in the lands east of the Dean. Initial reports simply mentioned that the Church has proved to be an unsympathetic landlord to tenant farmers in Wiltshire suffering the ill-effects of recent poor harvests, but later information took a darker turn, for it seems that all the inhabitants of the small town of Wilton had apparently died where they slept on the same night a few weeks into this season. The Church had sent a contingent of priests and monks to investigate this strange occurrence, though they were unable to determine its cause. The bodies of the dead have since been buried in a mass grave at Salisbury.
Jari, Branwen and I determined to investigate the incident as a matter of urgency, and we made our way to Wilton without delay. As we arrived, we noticed a group of men from Salisbury searching each of the abandoned properties within Wilton for goods and valuables. Moving stealthily to the other end of the settlement, we were able to conduct a magical investigation that yielded alarming results. Although my spells initially detected no mystical aura in Wilton, upon recasting the enchantment from within a Circular Ward Against Demons, it became clear that there was, in fact, an infernal aura lying about the houses. I was also able to detect the lingering traces of a non-Hermetic enchantment with an effect similar to a Perdo Auram spell. This carried the sigil of a voice whispering from behind, which we have encountered before: we believe it belongs to the diviner from the Unnamed House who plagued settlements along the Welsh coast in years past. Branwen also saw the shades of a man and his wife in one of the dwellings: they were bound with hooked chains that stretched into the earth.
The revelation that the Unnamed House has been active so far from the coast represents something of a change in their strategy, and we discussed what might have caused them to venture inland. My feeling was that it might relate to the gathering of the court in nearby Winchester, whereas Jari was of the opinion that the proximity of the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge was the more likely reason. After some delay navigating royal guards and protocols, I was able to pass a message about our discoveries to Salustria and Eremon, two members of Eurus Aquilae who were watching for assassins in Winchester. While there, I also learned that it had been agreed that the king would marry Isabella of France, sealing the alliance proposed in months past. We then conducted a cursory inspection of the lands around Stonehenge – finding nothing untoward – though we did not enter the circle itself.
Returning to Severn Temple, we passed a message about the events of Wilton to Holy Isle. We received a visit from Cyrillus, Severo and Tullius some weeks later. They took note of what we had found and agreed to share any results of further investigations. Cyrillus also provided some insight on the nature of the infernal entity at Bridgwater. Although he had not personally encountered such a creature before, he told us that it reminded him of stories of a demon that lived deep underground, sending its tentacles out into the world to feed. Left undisturbed, it would hollow out the surrounding area, much in the same way a worm might work its way through a rotten apple. These stories said that the creature’s feeding limbs might be combated, but none who had descended into the earth to face its body had ever returned. A sombre tale indeed.
Summer
Pyrrhus was still absent at his House meeting in Verdi, but all of the other magi met for a council on the first day of summer. Theoclea provided a short overview of the political situation between England and France, largely confirming what we had already heard from Gaines and in Winchester. Interestingly, her view was that the alliance between the two realms would not last, largely because the English lords perceived the weakness of the French position and would likely seek to recover more of their former Gascon possessions when the time was right. Ireland remains quiet, with English allies controlling all of its territories save Dublin and some remote areas in the far west.
We reconfirmed our intention to return to Bridgwater in autumn. To the end, I agreed to spend the season creating more bags of dust imbued with Demon’s Eternal Oblivion. All other magi also spent the season in their laboratories or the covenant’s libraries.
The season itself passed quietly without any incidents of note. A few days before its end, I saw Pyrrhus return to the covenant. I wonder what tales he will have from his time in Verdi.
Autumn
The coming of autumn had yet to temper the oppressively hot and wet conditions of summer as we met as a full council on the first day of the season. We began by asking Pyrrhus whether he could provide any news from his House meeting in Verdi. He was initially rather subdued as he reported in a monotone voice that he had been convicted of breaching the Primary Code for his participation in the attack on Crannagh Tomb and his murder of a member of House Ex Miscellanea. However, any apparent contrition on his part was clearly paper thin, for he soon attempted to shift the blame to others, claiming that he had been betrayed and mislead by his former Primus, House Quaesitor and Archimagus, and that his only fault was not to have questioned their judgements more vigorously.
Pyrrhus explained that his crime was to have waited at one of the entrances to the covenant and used fire magics to slaughter a young woman as she sought to surrender after exiting the place. However, his story morphed several times during the telling: he initially claimed that he did not know whether she was a member of the Order – or just one of the covenfolk – at the time, though under questioning, he eventually admitted that he had known that she was almost certainly a maga. Indeed, I understand that he even received a tattoo in celebration for his kill. He expressed regret for his actions, though the fact that he was unable to put a name to his victim (even though it is recorded in this very journal) suggests a lack of introspection to me; it seems clear that he has not really considered her or the wider harm he has done.
Though Pyrrhus had been found guilty, his punishment seemed relatively mild: a fine of half a rook of vis and several seasons of service to the House. He revealed that this had been a close-run thing, for it was only Guido’s casting vote that prevented him being put to death for his actions. It seems likely that at least some of his penance will be spent in the Baltic region, for the House has announced a muster next year to contest the threat posed by the Teutonic Order to the nearby covenants of Crintera and Narva.
I pushed Pyrrhus to explain why he had not been more forthcoming about his involvement in the attack at previous council meetings. He initially claimed that he had felt bound by the need to safeguard the House’s private business. However, as Naevius pointed out, this excuse made little sense given that the associated legal rulings would become a matter of public record and, if he truly believed at the time he was carrying out a lawful Wizard’s March, there was no reason to hide his involvement. Pyrrhus had no real answer to this, and he just dissembled ineffectually in a way that was transparent to everyone. There was an uncomfortable silence before Naevius moved the discussion on to other business.
[Terentius’ private journal: I have never met Guido, but he has a positive reputation for both action and judgement, having slain Prudentia, assisted Primus Bonisagus in the east, and defied the worst of Aloisius’ excesses. That said, the leniency displayed to the members of his House who participated in the attack seems like something of a gamble to me, for he must know how it will be perceived by others, particularly those with close ties to those who were slain. Perhaps this is out of necessity given the small size of his House, but I also hope that his decision to spare Pyrrhus means that he perceives that our sodales can redeem himself. Given the lack of self-awareness displayed at the council meeting, I rather suspect that this will be through his deeds, rather than his words].
We briefly discussed our plans to halt the spreading of the infernal plague that we believe will reach these shores in near future. I summarised the various options as I saw them: first, that we find a route to the crystal caves to see whether Mynydd’s memories hold the secret to unlocking the hidden powers of the Crown of Madh; second, that House Tremere succeeds in creating a ritual empowered by the Wizards’ Communion that can turn back the disease; or third, that we discover whether the ancient henges of Britain have the power to strengthen the health of these lands. There was also a fourth option alluded to by Branwen in rather oblique fashion, but I confess I do not understand much of its nature, other than the fact it has some connection to her particular magical heritage. All four of these pathways seem difficult and uncertain to me, but we resolved to pursue them all for the moment until it becomes clear which, if any, hold any real prospect of success. We may have to abandon one or more of them in future so we can focus our resources on the best candidates, but it is still too early to make such a decision.
The final act of business was to discuss our plans for the season. Pyrrhus and I confirmed our intention to travel to Bridgwater to destroy the infernal entity that haunts the woods close to the town. All others will spend the season in their laboratories, save for Theoclea, who will attend her brother’s wedding at court.
Pyrrhus and I spent a couple of days making preparations before Daedalus joined us from Blackthorn. The three of us, accompanied also by Leolf, then took a barge to Bridgwater, before skirting the town and heading for the nearby woods. It was quickly apparent that the malaise that lay about the place had become worse since our previous visit, for many of the trees were afflicted with black mold, and a sour smell hung about the area. As we pressed on, the miasma strengthened and Leolf became lightheaded, though the rest of us were unaffected. Reasoning that this would only get worse as we entered the regio, I extended my Parma Magica to cover him, and he was able to press on. Crossing into the lower level of the regio, Daedalus erected a Circular Ward Against Demons and we paused to see whether our arrival had been noticed. We did not have long to wait, for Leolf noticed a smoke-like tendril emerge from the well and make its way towards our group. It recoiled at the edge of Daedalus’ ward, unable to force its way inside. Though I could not see the creature, Leolf was able to describe its location sufficiently clearly to allow me to target it with the Demon’s Eternal Oblivion, and it soon retreated within the well. We took this opportunity to press on, and I led the group down into the well shaft.
Descending through another regio boundary, we found ourselves in a most unsettling cavern. It was far larger than we had expected given the narrow entrance, the floor had a strange spongy texture, and the walls were braced by curved pillars of bleached bone. Leolf announced that we were not so much in an underground cavern as the stomach of some gigantic creature, but we had no time to contemplate this disconcerting suggestion, for we spied a large worm-like creature rapidly making its way towards us. Bloated beyond anything natural by the years it had had to feed on all life in the forest, the worm opened its immense jaws to let out a shuddering roar, revealing a strange skull and second row of teeth within its vast mouth.
As the creature closed rapidly on us, I managed to let a couple of arrows fly, but they bounced harmlessly off its hide, and the spells they carried appeared to have no effect. Daedalus had once again erected a tenth magnitude Circular Ward Against Demons, but the creature crashed through it without pausing, and our party was scattered in all directions as we sought to avoid being crushed. Alas, Daedalus himself was unable to leap away in time, and I saw him fall beneath the worm’s bulk. Recovering our footing, Pyrrhus, Leolf and I each threw the dust imbued with the Demon’s Eternal Oblivion at the creature, and it was encouraging to see it twist in agony as the white light of the spell engulfed it.
Still, it was not enough to slay the beast, and so Pyrrhus brought potent spells of raging fire against it, causing it to lash about in fury as its hide erupted in flame. Pyrrhus thus became the target of its ire, and the worm managed to seize him in its jaws. I saw him fumbling within his pack as the creature bore him to the ground, but the object he sought – a small barrel of dark wood – rolled away as he disappeared beneath the creature. I recalled that, as we prepared our expedition, Pyrrhus had suggested bringing along a barrel of his black powder with him, and reasoning that this must be it, I incanted a spell to set it aflame. A few moments later, there was a tremendous explosion, and I momentarily lost my bearings. As I recovered my wits, I saw that the creature had been entirely rent in two by the blast. Cutting our way through its corpse, Leolf and I were able to recover Pyrrhus’ unconscious form. There was initially no sign of Daedalus, but after much effort, I was eventually able to find where he had been crushed beneath the creature. Alas, he had not survived the encounter, though I was able to recover his mortal remains. Leolf and I were able to extract both of our companions from the regio and return to the regio. There, Pyrrhus made a full recovery, though his injuries lingered for much of the season.
I shall record here for posterity the great debt that I owe Daedalus. Twice he provided me with selfless aid against terrible infernal enemies, knowing the great risk on each occasion, but never asking for anything in return. Though I will never be able to thank him in person for his most recent efforts, I shall bear his example in mind in future should others ask the same of me.
Winter
We held a short council meeting at the start of the season, though much of what we discussed – including the events at Bridgwater and the signs of hardship across the land due to high food prices – are recorded elsewhere. Jari proposed to spend the winter on covenant service attempting to extend our spy network into eastern England. He hopes that this will increase the likelihood that we pick up on any rumours of activities of the Unnamed House beyond our traditional lands. I was granted permission to harvest any of the vis sites within Mynydd Myddyn for personal use, though I explained the primary motivation of my planned visit was to find a route to the crystal caves. All the other magi proposed to spend the season in the laboratory or library.
Several weeks into the season, Gaines arrived with news from across the country and Order. He confirmed that the marriage had taken place between the King of England and Isabella, the cousin of the King of France. As part of the associated peace treaty, some – though not all – of the lands seized by the French in Gascony had been returned to their previous owners, and several English nobles had travelled to the continent to reassert their control. Gaines said it was common knowledge that the French King’s debts had forced his hand, and he speculated that future conflict with the Holy Roman Empire over border territories was possible given France’s weakness. Closer to home, continued poor harvests across England had led to significant hardship, particularly in major settlements, which were struggling to import sufficient foodstuffs to feed their inhabitants. Livestock had been much reduced due to disease, and open banditry had broken out in several regions.
In terms of Hermetic news, Holy Isle confirmed that they had carried out an investigation of the recent events at Wilton. Using Eyes of the Past, they were able to discover that at least one, and possibly two, members of the Unnamed House had conducted what appeared to be a divination involving reading the stars. The primary instigator was an aged man with a white beard, though his face was always covered by a deep hood. He had first unleashed a host of black shapes from his cloak that slew the villagers as they slept, after which he used spells to clear the skies of all occlusions. Holy Isle believes that the villagers’ sacrifice was used to empower an infernal ritual of divination, though its purpose remains unclear. The figure was accompanied by another man who held himself with similar status. This man’s face was also covered, though he was taller than the first and had broad shoulders. Pyrrhus noted that the former covenant of Swallowcliffe was not so far from the village, and he speculated that there may be some connection with the ritual. Gaines agreed to pass this information on to Holy Isle. In final news, Gaines reported on the events of the recent meeting of House Flambeau, noting that the House had committed itself to supporting House Bjornaer against the Teutonic knights who threaten Novgorod and Crintera.
I once again spent a season exploring the caves below Mynydd Myddyn, though I shall not burden the reader with a step-by-step account of my travels. Suffice it to say that, by the end of winter, I had mapped a great deal of the cave system, though I had yet to find any sign of the crystal caves. There was clearly significant magic within the place, and I located two additional sources of vis to augment the one discovered last year, but I did not encounter any regio boundaries that might suggest there are further mysteries hidden deeper within the network. Still, though I ruled out a great many possibilities, there are other areas to explore, and I remain hopeful that one will hold the key to unlocking the great mystery that lies before us.
As winter once again turns to spring, I shall turn this journal over to another. Looking back at the year, I see some achievements, though tinged with loss. I cannot help but feel, though, that we have made insufficient progress given the looming threat. We are a year closer to disaster with relatively little to show for our efforts. Perhaps there is still time, but I grow less certain with each passing day.