Scribed by Branwen

Spring 1323AD

How swiftly the years turn, and I find myself once more the author of the events within which the magi of the Covenant of Severn Temple find themselves embroiled. On this occasion I will not commence with a recounting of my mood, the events of the last few years, or even philosophical musings on the nature of fate, as is oft the case in the writings found within this tome. No, I will get straight down to the meat of the events that have passed this season, although whether I will be able to remain an entirely neutral cataloguer of intelligence over the course of the year I strongly doubt.

Our entire council was present for our meeting at the start of the season and first to speak was Jari who relayed the news that he believed that his experiments had been successful and that he has created a spell that will allow him to speak with the standing stones that can be found throughout this isle. Of course, given the complexity of crafting an enchantment to achieve something that not all present had even believed possible, he was keen to determine whether his confidence was well placed and thus we agreed that he and I would travel to the Trelloch Stones at the start of the season to enable a test of the spell. Terentius then announced that he and Theoclea plan to travel to Mynyyd Myddyn in Autumn, there to enter the crystal caves and seek another path to thwart the threat from the East.

Branwen’s Private Journal: I find myself somewhat concerned by how swiftly Terentius has located a path to the Crystal Caves, and how keen Theoclea has become to see whether there is a route to the power that her taking of the Crown of Mabh has unlocked. Of course, I am keen that we find answers to how we might contend against the great evil that we know is headed to this land, but the vision that I received on the Grey Hill still vexes me greatly, often troubling my sleep. There is ruin in that place for the Queen of the Land, but I know not how to warn her without further straining our relationship and I fear that even if I could find such a path, she is already intoxicated by the possibilities that unfold before her.

Naevius then reported that the ship we have commissioned, to replace the Severn Star that Pyrrhus lost while gallivanting with House Flambeau, is due for completion towards the end of this year. He was keen that we give some thought to what we might name the vessel, though beyond not calling it again a name almost certainly well known to our enemies I am not sure why this is such an important matter. Far more worthwhile was the discussion about which magic items we should have crafted to replace those lost and to ensure that the ship can serve our needs. Pyrrhus announced that he could craft another fan to summon winds into the sails to ensure that the ship can swiftly avoid trouble, although those of you who have read his own account of his dealings last year might wonder whether it would have been more beneficial for him to have realised the importance of avoiding enemy ships before getting our own sunk, but towards the end of the meeting he then announced that he couldn’t do this after all. I think we largely reached a consensus on the most keenly required items, but who will craft them is yet to be determined.

As is traditional at the Spring meeting of our council Naevius made a distribution of vis and coin. We received six pawns of vis for each service rendered, the highest grant for several years and one that is entirely down to Terentius having recovered good quantities from his excursions to Mynydd Myddyn.

Over the course of the season all of the magi were progressing our own studies within the covenant, save for Naevius who was extracting vis on behalf of the Covenant, so there were no events worthy of recording save for the visit of Jari and I to the Trelloch Stones. We were accompanied by Captain Merrick, who I sense is much happier travelling on such missions rather than being stuck at home trying to get some order into our unruly turb, and Gavan, who is frankly the only grog I entirely trust to do his duty despite it often taking some time to get him to commit to a course of action. I was a little surprised that Races the Wind was not accompanying us but Jari explained, with something of a rueful smile, that his familiar is not always the most reliable in this season, being somewhat afflicted by the Spring madness that affects more mundane Hares. We made a camp a short way from the stones and as night fell I looked for any sign of the spirit that I have previously seen in the vicinity but with no success. With the grogs remaining a little way away Jari and I approached the stones and he cast his spell. With the benefit of hindsight, I might perhaps have also considered remaining some distance from the first casting of the enchantment, for Jari had made it clear enough that he had incorporated some novel approaches in the development of the rite, but as Deanna once told me ‘After the event, even a fool is wise’. As he cast the spell strong vines erupted from the earth and we were both engulfed within them. Jari was entirely unaware of what had happened as his senses were deep within the ritual as he communed with the stones, but for myself it was a most uncomfortable and undignified experience. On several occasions Gavan asked whether I needed any assistance but, as the vines were causing no harm save to my pride, I declined for fear that it might affect the spell. I only wish that Jari had been more succinct in his questioning for it was a good six hours that I found myself constrained before his senses returned and the vines withdrew into the soil once more. I asked him about the experience, but he told me only that the stones had been there for thousands of years and were aware of the approaching shadow before he drifted off into a deep sleep.

The following morning we returned to Severn Temple and calling an informal council Jari was a little more loquacious regarding the experience. He said that the answers to his questions were nor formulated with words but rather with sensations and visions that he seemed to find easy enough to understand. He said that when he asked how long the stones had stood there for, he was rewarded with an instant in which he experienced their presence for thousands of years. He announced that he could sense the other stone circles scattered around the land, that they were all interconnected through lines of power and that they acted as nexus points where this power might be accessed; a revelation that might have been more impressive if I hadn’t already told the council this on at least two occasions previously. Of more import he confirmed again that the stones could sense the presence of the shadow, an evil moving beneath the earth, slowly now but gathering pace. He sensed that our suspicions that the power within the stone circles of Britain might be used to thwart the shadow were correct, although he could not discern how this might be done. He believes that the Trelloch Stones power lies in divination, having received a sense of hands in the earth and witnessed swirling skies, and thinks that these stones would grant answers to questions in return for offerings set beneath the earth. As to the issue with the entangling vines he surmised that this was a side effect of some of the articles with which he had invested the enchantment and resolved to craft a new version of the spell over the season, confident now that he understood exactly what was required. We resolved that we would travel to Avebury and then perhaps Stonehenge in the summer.

Summer

Our council this season was a swift one with the majority of my sodales again intending to remain within the Covenant to pursue their own studies and no news to report from Spring. I had wondered whether any might have planned to attend the Grand tribunal taking place at Verdi Covenant this midsummer, but both Terentius and Theoclea were still preparing for their visit to the Crystal Caves and Naevius was perhaps put off by his previous experiences there, not to mention the difficulty of long-distance travel without our own ship. The only report made was from Jari who confirmed that he had successfully revisited his spell for communing with standing stones and was now certain that there would be no unforeseen side effects.

Thus, it was that Jari and I once again gathered our companions and set off from the Covenant. We were accompanied again by the Captain and Gavan, but also joined by another grog called Ian, and Jari’s consors Gwenithfaen and his familiar Races the Wind. The journey to Avebury took four days, taking a barge down the Severn close to Bridgewater and then heading east across the country. As we drew close to that place it was agreed that it would be just myself, Jari, Races the Wind and Captain Merrick that would make our way into the regio within which the true power of those stones lie, and that the two grogs would make camp a short way away and remain there until either our return or a month had passed, whereupon they would return to the Covenant to seek assistance. Entering the woodland that surrounds the stones Jari was able to discern the boundary of the regio and we passed beyond the threshold. Immediately we found the woods lying within the dark of night, bathed with the light of a hunter’s moon. Recalling the dangers that had been experienced here in the past I made a small invocation to the Horned god to let us pass without let or hindrance and we pressed on, eventually coming to the stones themselves. I am not sure what I had expected, but it was not the vast circle of uneven stones that we came upon, set seemingly without the guiding eye of man but rather as if they had always existed here. As I cast my sight beyond the veil I could see nine pale spirits moving around, their appearance suggesting that they were the ghosts of those who had once attended to the rites of this place. I once again made a small invocation to he who must not be named saved when necessary as we approached, though at this point it seemed that none were aware of our presence.

If you have actually read my scribing’s for the season before this one you will recall that I waxed lightly upon the nature of hindsight and so I will not repeat my musings save to say that it seems obvious now, from the size of the stones and the circle that they formed and the deeply magical nature of our surroundings, that this is a place of immense power, far greater than I had imagined from the tales I had heard in the past. As Jari cast his spell I immediately felt drawn to cast my vision beyond the veil once more and I could see the shades of the druids moving swiftly towards Jari. They did not respond to me as I challenged them and Jari too seemed unable to hear my words. Sensing something terrible might be happening I hurried across the clearing towards my sodalis to break his concentration and end the spell but as I touched his shoulder I found that my senses transformed, and it was as if I had been affected by the enchantment he had cast. Time slowed as I descended to the pace of rock and stone, and I sensed the presence of Jari beside me. We both became aware that another presence was in our vicinity, something monolithic, as old as the very foundation of the land; not a malignant presence but neither was it benign. I felt that their might be other presences somewhere close, things beyond our own understanding and judgement, much larger than us but in some ways still of a reassuring scale compared to the great entity that we faced. I heard Jari ask about the shadow from the east and immediately we were both overcome by a vast weight of power and pain, a feeling that our minds were splintering into thousands of pieces. We felt a wash of twilight and then we lurched into what felt like a vertiginous drop into the endless darkness, an immense sense of an immensely evil presence, dragging vast chains behind it as it travelled relentlessly towards the place we had left behind. With it’s coming was an overwhelming sense that we would die, that everyone and everything that we knew and cared for would die. I sensed Jari trying to cancel the spell but he was unable to and our vision was flooded with images of countless worlds, more than I could comprehend or ever truly set down on these pages. We couldn’t escape the images of these worlds and the vast power of raw magic felt like it was drowning me. Jari continued to try and force an escape from the enchantment and I sensed him rally as it felt like there were hands on our shoulders trying to pull us away. I have a recollection that I called out to the horned god and perhaps heard the distant baying of hounds but I am not entirely certain of my memories. What I do know is that suddenly I found myself lying on the ground within the circle of stones with Jari close by and Captain Merrick looking worried. Alongside us I could see Races the Wind but he was lying still and as Jari went to him he told me that his pulse was so faint he could barely detect it. He cast Soothe the Pains of the Beast, investing vis with the spell but while it seemed to stabilise the hare Jari said he could not sense the familiar bond and his worry was plain. As I looked around again I could see the shades of the druids once more and they were beckoning me towards a flat stone lying towards the edge of the circle. I do not know entirely how I knew what needed to be done but I grabbed Races the Wind’s inert form and, pausing only to reassure Jari that he needed to trust me, placed him upon the stone. I could see the spirits raise their arms around him and from an unknown place within my mind I began to incant ancient invocations calling upon the healing power of the stones that surrounded us, spilling my blood on the flat stone as I did so. I am not sure how long this lasted, perhaps one quarter of an hour, but as I ceased I could see that Races the Wind had no wounds and was in a deep slumber. Exhausted, both Jari and myself were overtaken by sleep but as we later awakened Jari said that he had felt a momentary flicker of his and Races the Winds bonds. His familiar also woke but with the bonds seemingly quiescent once more Jari had to cast the Tongue of the Beasts to speak with him. I am not sure what they said but Jari seemed to have recovered something of himself and together we made our way of the regio and returned to our camp. There we found the two grogs, relieved to see as it had been almost three weeks since we departed. I agreed to wait with the rest of our party while Jari returned to Severn Temple with his familiar. He returned a few days later, his familiar once more at his side. He reported that the bond had begun to restore after the first day and over the next day it had returned to full strength.

Given that it was clear that the Avebury stone circle was far more powerful than we had first suspected we discussed what our next actions should be. There were other standing stones that we knew of – a single stone near Usk with a weak magical aura, another such at Northleach which lies east of Gloucester and the stones at the ancient barrow where we have a contested Mentem vis site, but we did not feel the former two would grant us any greater knowledge than the Trelloch Stones and the latter was not a place we wanted to risk spending any time given the fractious relationship that the Magi of Severn Temple have with the spirits there. Thus, imbued as much with curiosity as bravery, we determined that we would make an investigation of Stonehenge, though as to whether Jari would cast his spell again we were not yet so certain. It is not a great distance between Avebury and Stonehenge and thus it was that the following day we came to that place. The stones there are very different from Avebury, a smaller circle much more clearly set by the hand of man, though it is no less magnificent to behold, the lintels upon the vertical stones clearly reminiscent of doorways as had been suggested to me by my Prima. Lying atop a gentle slope within a forest it is positioned so that the light of the sun strikes clearly upon it, and calculations that we made over the time that we spent there made it clear that upon the solstices and equinoxes there are alignments with the positioning of the stones of both the sun and the stars. As we first approached however I took the time to observe it with the second sight and it’s presence was very solid, transcending the veil. As we drew closer I could see a haze at the centre of the circle, a subtle ghost light, and as we came closer still I could see that there were nine ghostly spirits such as I had seen at Avebury, although these were lying still upon the ground. As I investigated further I could see that each appeared bound with chains, with sharp barbs biting into what would once have been their flesh, and that all bore savage wounds upon their throats. While I have made no great study of infernal practices the little knowledge that I do have was more than enough to surmise that this was of such fell nature. Jari speculated that it might be the work of a demon with the power to wound a spirit. Jari erected a ward against the infernal and then made further investigation using the spell Sense the Lingering Magic. He determined that on each body there was some non-hermetic representation of hellish flames but also that another ritual, akin to a Rego Vim enchantment but again not hermetic in origin. Had been cast at the centre of the circle. He believed that it must have been of an effect akin to no less than the 10th magnitude, and possibly much greater, which seemed to seek to control or influence the magic of the place. He determined a sigil also, the sound of a whispering voice from behind, one that he recognised as belonging to the elderly diviner of the Un-named House who had previously been identified as present at the dread deeds in Wilton.

We made camp some way down the hill and the following morning Jari apported back to the Covenant to take message about what we had discovered to Cad Gadu and Holy Isle. Alas, the magi that he wanted to speak to were all abroad at the Grand tribunal and he instead informed Maga Ydenia, in her role as Quaesitor. She said that she would pass on his message as soon as the magi had returned. He returned to meet us at Stonhenge and decided he wanted to see if there were any traces of active magic to be found. His initial casting went awry, leading a bright light emanating from his and his familiar’s eyes that clearly caused them some pain. The effected lasted for approximately one quarter hour and after recovering he recast the spell successfully. While the stones themselves radiated with the glow of ancient magic he could discern the presence of no other enchantment still in effect upon that place.

The reader may think us foolhardy, although I prefer to think of us as committed and valiant, but we elected for him to cast his enchantment to speak with standing stones once more and question Stonehenge. Races the Wind, still shaken by the trauma of for a while being separated from Jari, did not wish to be within the geographical limit of their bond and he and the grogs relocated to a new camp some two miles away. In truth we believed it was something of a calculated risk, for we had speculated that given it’s obvious man-made nature Stonhenge might be less wild than Avebury and so it proved. Shortly after dusk, and choosing one of the smaller stones as the focus for his magic, he cast the spell once more and entered into a trance. He remained so until perhaps two hours before dawn and after he had slept he was able to share what he had learned. He said he felt the same presence as at Avebury but here it was tempered in some way, the raw power constrained and ameliorated. We surmised that perhaps that was at least part of the purpose of Stonehenge, to allow a mortal to commune with the presence, which I believe must be the very magical heart of the land, without losing their life or mind. He had asked several questions of the stones and he reported that he saw images of human hands using simple tools to hew the stones from vast slabs of rock. He saw blood spilled upon the stones and then a long journey over land and water and across the veil, where the hands of men, giants and faeries placed it at this site. He said that he was shown that there was once a fairly large settlement here. He confirmed that it was one of many nexuses of power, some bright, sharp and chaotic and others dim, but more complex and nuanced. He saw the lines of power spread across the land, with many converging here at Stonehenge. He witnessed the passing of the years and understood that the circle had been created to influence the course and nature of the seasons, possibly beyond the borders of this isle. He saw the stars change and surmised that the henge also had influence over the future. Much as at Avebury, although this time without being overwhelmed, he had a sense of many different worlds and felt that he was seeing both their past and their future. My sodalis then asked how this power might stop the shadow that comes and was granted a vision of a group of robed figures, one woman prominent among them. He witnessed them perform a ritual of some kind and then saw between the stones a lush and bountiful land. In response to his query as to who might be able to activate such a power he saw a seemingly endless flood of faces, leading him to speculate that there was no one specific individual who might do this.

We spent several days thereafter making further study of Stonhenge and the land that surrounds it as we waited for the Summer solstice and the alignments which we determined must occur on that day. On the morning of the solstice, as the sun’s rays were perfectly aligned with the spaces between the stones, I looked beyond the veil and saw the light dissipate the chains that bound the slain sprits as their essence dissolved and passed into the earth. At night we looked again and there were no signs of their presence, and I am sure that those former guardians and tenders of this place have passed on to the Halls of Arawn.

With half of the season still available to us we decided to visit the long abandoned Covenant of Swallowcliff, which we had suggested as a possibility to the council at the start of the season. With neither of us having previously visited that place Terentius had made a map and his skills at Cartography proved most adept for after a couple of days travel we found the place with little difficulty. The hill leads up to a steep cliff and it does indeed bear a passing resemblance to the wing of a swallow emerging from the land in flight. We made our way up the slope of the hill, passing through forest that is old, although not the ancient wildwood that can be found in other parts of the tribunal such as our own Forest of Dean. We were able to find signs of the foundations of the Covenant, or at least those parts of it that sat above ground, and Gavan was also able to determine that there was a patch of land where a camp had previously been set for some period of time, perhaps a couple of weeks, although its occupation had ended months ago. We also found indications that there had been an attempt to excavate some of the ground, filled with the rubble of buildings that had collapsed or been brought down many, many years ago. Some were slightly blackened with scorch marks as if someone had tried to set them aflame. The delving was perhaps four or five paces but had not resulted in any breakthrough and it was clear that it would be many months work to gain access to the tunnels and caverns beneath, if possible at all. Using his facility with Inetellego Vim spells Jari was able to determine that several hermetic spells had been cast in the vicinity, both Perdo Terram and Rego Terram, and also a large Creo Ignem spell, not entirely hermetic in nature, that must have been used to summon hellish flames. The sigil was another that we knew from the Un-named House, a sulphurous hue to the air. Jari speculated that they may have been digging for some days when there was another collapse and that the flames were nothing more than an expression of immense frustration. We made camp ourselves nearby and spent some time investigating the area but discovered nothing else save further evidence that a small group had been here for a short while many months ago. Jari questioned the cliff but discovered only that the earth has close doff the entrance to the caves below and there is no other means of access. With that we decided to return to Severn Temple, arriving back with less than a month of the season remaining.

About a week and a half later the covenant was visited by Gaines and he brought news of the Grand Tribunal. While I can’t say that everything he told us was of great interest to me I can’t deny that this was an event of some historical importance, marking as it does something of a return to the structures of the Order of Hermes, and so despite the fact that it is a warm and pleasant evening outside the tower I will be diligent and note down the details, or at least of much of them as I can be bothered. The tribunal was chaired, as I understand is traditional, by Praesulis, Primus Bonisagus. Also in attendance were Primus Dulag of Bjornaer, Prima Lluddwyn of my own House, Primus Guido of Flambeau, Primus Salvatrix of Guernicus, Prima Aliana of Mercere, Primus Argentius of Tremere, Prima Armanda of Tytalus and Prima Ovidia of Verditius. It seems that only Houses Criamon, Jerbiton and Merinita are yet to present a leader to the wider Order, assuming that you exclude House Aethiopicus which doesn’t appear to have been mentioned for many decades. There was a little information regarding each of those three Houses presented, which I will relate now while I think of it, despite Gaines bringing such news later in his telling.

No magi of House Criamon were in attendance at the tribunal and it seems that they are locked in a bitter feud between two rival factions, one of which believes that the former magus of this Covenant Volutus was the reincarnation of Criamon himself and the other of which thinks he was just inspired by him. It seems that this particular area of disagreement has sparked murderous conflict with several magi slain, including incidents outside of formal Wizard’s War. Gaines also told us that two magi of House Jerbiton were in attendance but it sounds like there aren’t very many of them left and that they aren’t entirely sure whether they can be bothered to try and reform the House. A number of members of House Merinita also attended but no-one has claimed the right to lead the House, which bizarrely seems to involve spotting a deer. They are talking about establishing a new Domus Magnus in Hibernia but without a claimant it seems that no-one thinks they can do this. While I am not given to the wearisome pronouncements that it is the end of the Order that one of my sodales is so fond of making, it does feel that there are wizards out there who really shouldn’t be claiming any kind of mantle of wisdom.

Primus Flambeau spoke regarding the activities of the Teutonic Knights and their ongoing crusade. The activities of House Flambeau last year were related in some detail but the gist of it is that Crintera and Narva covenants were defended against attacks by the knights and four of their warships were sunk, though no mention seems to have been made of the demise of our own Severn Star. Interestingly a member of the renounced House Corpus Domini was encountered by one of House Flambeau. He was named as Tibertius and is believed to be between 130 and 140 years old. He has, somewhat redundantly it seems to me given the status of his House, been declared an enemy of the Order. There was some good news regarding this matter as it was reported that some Duchies, Lithuania and Sukov I think he said, have raised armies to contest the Teutonic Knights continued expansion in the East.

My own Prima raised the infernal threat from the East, highlighting the many auguries and omens that have occurred and the departure of the Fae, shutting their gates behind them as they leave this world. She spoke of the great famine and plague that we believe will come and the particular threat that it will bear against those of us connected to the realm of magic. There was some discussion regarding the contact that has been had with the eastern part of the Order and that there have been no reports of a great disease arising in that far flung region. Indeed, they have apparently expanded their trading routes in that direction even further than previously. Gaines told us that there was much discussion of this issue and that the Grand Tribunal has declared that they take the warnings seriously but have no clear plan on what action should be taken. Lluddwyn volunteered House Ex Miscellanea to lead an investigation into the matter and report back and Primus Tremere expressed his support for this. Argentius also spoke of the continued machinations of the Un-named House within the western isles and the conflict between Covenants and Houses within Hibernia and Loch Leglean.

Armanda of Tytalus presented herself to the Grand Tribunal as Prima of the House and as none opposed her she was recognised as such. She suggested that the Order should look to expand away from its traditional European heartlands, establishing Covenants in the lands believed to be under the sway of the order of Odin, the more remote regions of Novgorod and to the south beyond the mediterranean sea. Prima Verditius was supportive of such an approach, particularly in relation the southern lands but others were more cautious. There was no firm agreement following the discussion save that House Tytalus agreed to look for lands that might be presented as suitable for the Order to consider in the future. Prima Verditius welcomed the Order to Verdi but highlighted that the magi who had taken refuge there were somewhat of a burden on the wellbeing of the Covenant and asked the Grand Tribunal to provide some measure of recompense through a tithe upon the Order. She sugared the request by claiming that this would aid Verdi in continuing to maintain its service to the dispossessed, but the Grand Tribunal was unmoved by her entreaties and rejected the petition.

Prima Mercere was next to speak and reported that the House was slowly rebuilding its numbers and resources. Three new ships have been commissioned and a number of Redcaps recruited. Gaines seemed more than a little proud about this news as he relayed it, and also the fact that within Stonehenge tribunal the service of the redcaps had continued uninterrupted. In truth he has every right to be for I certainly can’t fault the rigour with which he has attended us and passed on messages on our behalf, even if on occasion his news holds little interest to me.

Primus Guernicus reported that there were just three members of the House in total, including himself. All three were committed to taking apprentices a swiftly as they could locate suitable candidates but he was adamant that the shortage of their number should not lead to further appointments of Quaesitori by regional tribunals without the approval of his House. He recognised that perhaps such efforts were needed immediately following the fall of Durenmar but announced that all such must now be retrospectively approved by himself, with any future candidates seeking approval prior to taking up the role. Last of the presentations from the Houses came from Bonisagus with Praesulis speaking more widely on his efforts to reforge bonds with our former sodales who now sit under the auspice of the Order of the East. He said that he was optimistic that as well as any prospect of direct conflict now seemingly avoided, a range of treaties and agreements have been struck, with firm lines of communication established and new trade arrangements made. He believes that with further diplomacy the two halves of the Order will be rejoined again in not so many years.

Gaines also went through the details of the votes held and decisions reached but now I really have reached my limits of duty and there are only two that I deem of any interest to this Covenant. The first was that the Grand Tribunal ruled that the Wizard’s March raised against Cliffheart was legal, supporting all the decisions made. Not a surprise perhaps, given the most senior people involved were the ones adjudicating on that decision. The second concerned House Flambeau’s ruling on those who breached their oaths by attacking Crannagh Tomb. Gaines reported that the discussion was quite heated, with my Prima objecting strenuously to the generous penalties levied against the murderers. In this she was supported in the debate by both Argentius and Dulag but when it came to a vote the latter abstained and the vote of the Grand Tribunal ruled in support of the decisions that were levied at the House meeting. I suppose that the decision of Primus Bjornaer is understandable, if craven, given the ongoing support of House Flambeau in the matter of the Teutonic Knights, but it seems to me that the lives of magi of House Ex Miscellanea continue to be treated with lesser regard within this new incarnation of the Order of Hermes.

Branwen’s Private Journal: It does not come as a surprise to me that this new Grand Tribunal has chosen political expediency over justice, but I remain confident that Lluddwyn will not let the slaying of Seannafair and the others of my House lie unavenged. If I am called upon to aid in any way she will have my full support.

Following the recounting of events at the Grand Tribunal our council had a short discussion concerning the lack of any signs of sickness to the East. Terentius suggested that it might mean that we will not receive as much warning that the threat was drawing close as we had hoped. We resolved that we would continue to press on in our search to find a solution.

Autumn

With most of my sodales having barely ventured out of the Covenant over the past two seasons there was little to discuss at our council. Jari and myself recounted our expedition and our hope that this might well be a profitable route to seeking to oppose the eastern plague, though there is still much to be learned before we can be certain that the power of the land can be harnessed in such a way to our benefit. The question as to what the Un-named House has done at Stonehenge has still not been answered though I feel sure that they may be seeking a means of escape from what is to come. I sense that Terentius and Theoclea remain more invested in the Crystal Caves and the power of the Crown of Mabh as a solution and they reiterated their intention to visit that place this season. Terentius reminded us of the warnings we have received that the time will come where we will need to turn our focus to just one path but we could not reach any consensus on how we might make that decision. I suppose we shall have to await their return.

***

I write this on the last day of the season, which has passed peacefully enough, with all my sodales but Terentius and Theoclea remaining firmly ensconced within the covenant. I myself spent my time in the forest, primarily making study of the Myddin Stone which I found gave me more than a little insight into my own ability to take different forms. Indeed, I have learned how to take a fifth form, that of a bear. I have barely begun to explore its potential, but I think it’s fair to say that I feel slightly more confident in my ability to resist violent assailants in the future. As of yet there has been no sign of Terentius or Theoclea returning to the covenant – I do hope that they haven’t got themselves lost.

Winter

Our sodales haven’t yet returned from their adventures in Mynydd Myddin so we began our council by discussing the possible difficulties that might arise should Theoclea be absent from court over Christmas if they are delayed much longer. One of our number, I will leave the reader to guess who, suggested that we might reach out to the faerie smith Gofynwy to find the Crystal Caves and hunt for our sodales on our behalf, although this was quickly dismissed due to the obvious flaws in such a plan. We eventually decided that if their absence persisted for more than a couple of weeks we seek out the assistance of House Tremere, who have close contact with the King and should be able to assure him that there is nothing to concern himself about should she be unable to attend.

We then turned our attention to how we might locate a suitable captain for our new ship which is due to arrive shortly. The steward has managed to recruit a crew but finding the right man to lead them is an altogether more difficult task. It was agreed that as his service to the covenant Pyrrhus would spend this season visiting some of our nearby covenants, and speaking with House Mercere, to see if anyone might be able to provide such a man in exchange for suitable recompense. Let us hope that if such a man can be found the price is less exorbitant than it was for our spymaster.

We followed this by talking about how we might pursue a further understanding of the ritual that was performed at Stonehenge by the Un-named House. A number of suggestions were made including speaking with House Ex Miscellanea, utilising the waters of Nectan’s Pool (a suggestion made by Pyrrhus who seems obsessed with this as a solution to many problems) and seeking out the writings of the late Magus Arcanus, which we presume to be held by his former filia Phaedra. We resolved that we would pursue the first and last of these next year. The final news to record was that the harvest at Lydney was extraordinarily good and that improvements had been seen even in the wider area, although there are still some shortages. We appear well set for the time being should we see poor harvests again on the next few years.

Save for Pyrrhus all of us planned to spend the season within the covenant.

***

It is two weeks into the season as I write this, and what I must relate is hard to comprehend let alone set to parchment. Theoclea is at death’s door and we are unsure how she might be saved. The implications of losing her are immense and we have barely begun to consider them but even as I record this news Jari has left for Blackthorn to seek further insight into her condition and Terentius will shortly depart to Eurus Aquilae to speak with his Primus. Myself and Naevius are ensuring that a vigil is maintained over Theoclea’s motionless form at all times, although I will also be heading out of the covenant tomorrow in order to seek out the Morrigan and see if there is any guidance that she might proffer. I should perhaps be trying to sleep but on his return Terentius called an informal council to relate the events that have led to this situation and I would rather update this journal now while his words are still fresh in my mind. As I have previously recorded our two sodales left for Mynydd Myddyn at the start of Autumn and with Terentius having previously prepared maps of the route were able to swiftly make their way through the caverns and tunnels that lie underneath and reach the Crystal Caves. As they entered Terentius reported that from one of the crystals they could hear the faint voice of a man speaking in what he believes was Cymric, an ancient form of the Welsh tongue. While he could not understand what was being said Theoclea could and she relayed something of what was being said. The voice claimed that it was Merlin and that he knew why it was they had travelled to that place, further saying that he had expected their arrival. He said a terrible storm was coming and that it would bring death and destruction to the land, but that he believed that it was possible to resist it. He spoke of a great power within the land that he could teach Theoclea to draw upon but that he would have to do so with urgency as we had less time than we believed. At that point Terentius believes that Theoclea momentarily glanced at the crystal and within the barest moment collapsed insensible to the floor. He was unable to rouse her at all and we believe that her spirit may have passed into the crystal. Terentius believed at that moment that the best thing he could do would be to remove her from the caves and break the link and so he reduced her size with magic and set out to return. However, as he passed through the regio boundary that surrounds those caverns he realised that her condition had worsened and he realised that he had made a dreadful mistake, his action having separated the link between her mind and body and leaving only a shell on the very brink of death. He identified that a non-hermetic enchantment had been cast upon her to preserve her life but that this had been affected in some way by their transition out of the regio. The spell bore the sigil of White and Red dragons entwined, a sign that we know is associated with the magic of Merlin. He tried returning her to the Crystal Cave but this led to no improvement in her condition and he thus decided to return to the covenant. He told us that as he made his way back, being careful to follow the path between Mynyyd Myddyn and Severn Temple where the magical aura remains unbroken, that he espied a raven near Huntley Hill which he believes was watching his progress. This is the reason why I shall travel to speak with the Morrigan for that is surely a mark of her interest. On his return he told us the tale and Jari cast further spells upon her to determine whether any other magic might be affecting her. Beyond the spells that Terentius had cast to reduce her size and those that she had cast upon herself he found another non-hermetic effect, marked again with Merlin’s sigil, which he surmised allowed a connection between her and the caster and the ability for Merlin to draw her mind into the crystal. And thus I have brought this tale up to the current hour. I am certain that there will be much more to record of these events later in the season.

Branwen’s Private Journal: I have been careful, when scribing in our journal the disastrous events within the Crystal Cave, to leave any reader who does not know the full tale with the impression that Theoclea is on the brink of death rather than the terrible truth that she is most surely lost to us. As a council, with only Pyrrhus unaware, we have decided that this is the best course of action to ensure that we have time to consider the best course of action to follow and to prepare for the ramifications of her demise.

***

The cold chill of winter is finally beginning to pass as I once more take up my quill to record the events of the covenant and there is much yet to relate concerning the fate of Theoclea. I will tell the tale as best I can but if at times aught that I say is unclear or poorly scribed I beg the indulgence of the reader for my heart is still heavy with all that has come to pass. When last I wrote I recorded that Jari had left for Blackthorn to seek out any arcane means by which we might address Theoclea’s condition, that Terentius had left for Eurus Aquilae to speak with his House regarding what had befallen her and that I planned to travel to find the Morrigan. I will address each of these journeys, starting with that of Terentius for it will be the shortest of the accounts.

Terentius did not relay the detail of his journey to Eurus Aquilae though I have no doubt that it is likely he completed much of it in the form of the beast for he has travelled that path often enough and can move swiftly when he desires. There he was received by Argentius and Pravia, and he spoke with them as to whether they knew any way that her spirit might be returned to her body. Alas, their position was that a body without a spirit could not be considered alive and given the dark history of their House they have a strict injunction against any attempt to rejoin the two. I am sure that Terentius will have challenged their interpretation with vigour but they demanded that a quaesitorial ruling be made as to whether she was dead or alive, and announced that they would seek out Quaesitor Romanus to visit our covenant and make such a ruling. I imagine that would also have spoken with them regarding the mundane politic of the news but if he did so I can not now recall whether he spoke of it with us.

My own journey took me into the forest, making my way to Huntley Hill in the form of a wolf. There I performed a small rite asking that the Morrigan grant me audience. After a short time I heard the cry of a raven and glancing up spied such a bird in the bare branches of an old oak, larger than most of its kind and with bright silver eyes. The Morrigan spoke to me through the bird and revealed that she believed that Theoclea was lost to the world, even though she had seen no sign of her spirit to accompany on its final journey to the Halls of Arawn. She said that all hope of defeating the evil that was coming was now lost and that even as we spoke the lords of the fae were preparing to leave the world. She told me that the news of Theoclea’s passing was travelling swiftly and that both our allies and enemies will soon learn of it. She said that we should expect to see other ancient artefacts begin to emerge in the world as others seek out their power. To me she offered to take my own spirit beyond the veil when the end comes but that she could give no greater aid.

Branwen’s Private Journey: The Morrigan told me that I had betrayed Theoclea by not warning her of the vision that I had regarding her death in the Crystal Caves. It is a decision I bitterly regret even though I tell myself that I cannot be certain that Theoclea would have turned away from that path if she had known of what I saw. I kept it secret due to my desire to maintain a closer relationship with her, fearing that the vision suggested I would have a hand in her demise, without realising that it was my inaction that condemned her rather than any direct intervention. Perhaps my fear that the vision concerned the latter is tied to the warning that Jack in the Green gave me that I would have to make very difficult decisions if there was to be any hope to overcome the threat from the East. I feel greater doubt in my decision making that at any time before and find myself badly torn as to whether I should try and claim the Crown of Mabh or whether to continue to place my hope in other paths. After speaking with the Morrigan I travelled swiftly to Cad Gadu, following the secret paths between the great trees upon Huntley Hill and within the heart of that covenant. There I spoke with my Prima who said that it was vital that we identify any means by which we can ensure the Crown does not fall beyond the control of our council. She believes that to work any ritual through the power of the henges will likely require some of the ancient treasures including that one. She said that I should make every effort to persuade Jari to teach me the spell he has learned that enables communication through the ancient stone circles, a task that seems to me to be no easier than any other I face given his clear reluctance to risk being excluded from such matters.

Jari first travelled to Blackthorn to see whether there were any copies of Arcanus’ spells within the Great Library there, reckoning that no one in more recent times had known more about the magical power of the ancient sites of the land than he. Sadly all that he found was a philosophical treatise on places of ancient power which he said barely made any sense at all. He then decided to speak with Arcanus’ former apprentice, Maga Phaedra, and so booked passage on a ship from Chepstow that would take him close to the port of Exeter, the closest such landing to Carrion Moor. On his arrival at Exeter he was surprised to find that Pyrrhus had arrived only a few hours before and had sought out one of the guides that Carrion Moor covenant lodges within that city. Our sodalis had been advised by the magi of Boscastle that the best person to help with finding a ship’s captain was almost certainly Magus Valance and they had provided a vessel to take him around the Cornish peninsular. They departed to cross the moor together and made camp as night fell. The moon was full and Jari’s familiar Races the Wind, who professes some mystical connection with that heavenly body, said that he had been told that the Queen of the Land was dead, gone forever from the world. He claimed also that the moon had told him not to despair, but rather remain hopeful as the land both rises and falls. While it is not uncommon for Races the Wind to behave in a manner that borders on lunacy, his visions in the past have often proved prophetic and perhaps there is some hope yet in that. After a day travelling across the moor in dreary conditions of fog and drizzle, my two sodales arrived at the covenant and were met by Loraticus. I understand from Jari that Pyrrhus began by asking about locating a suitable man to command our new vessel, a request that Loraticus thought they might be able to help with, but then created something of an awkward atmosphere by talking of an injured sodalis in a way that Jari felt revealed rather more than he had suggested to Pyrrhus would be wise when he first related the events of the Crystal Cave to him. Despite his advice it turned out that Pyrrhus continued to discuss the matter with Loraticus later on during their stay, leading to that esteemed member of House Tytalus demanding that our council call for an emergency tribunal of Stonehenge to discuss the matter and threatening to do so himself if we did not acquiesce, despite Jari’s best efforts to undo the trouble that our sodalis had created. Pyrrhus’ presumably unintended mischief doesn’t come as any great surprise to me though I was shocked to learn that he had actually managed to negotiate for a captain to be delivered to us at the end of next year for a fair sum of 500 pennies and a rook of vis. In these times of dire tribulation it is something of a relief that miracles can occur.

Jari learned from Phaedra that she has spent much time deciphering the research notes that her Pater left behind, with the majority of his completed works having been taken by House Criamon, and had translated and learned the ritual that Arcanus created which allows a magus to tether himself to this world, which has been previously referred to in this journal by earlier residents of this covenant. She was not prepared to travel to the Crystal Caves herself, for fear that she might not return, but did make him an offer to teach or scribe the spell in exchange for him doing the same with his spell to speak with the Stone Circles of the land, as well as a payment of vis to cover the cost of not performing her due services to her covenant. Jari agreed and has elected to reside in Carrion Moor over the next year, although he told us that he expects to be able to return to us each season and attend council.

At midwinter we held an informal council to relay all the information that we had learned and to determine our next course of action. It was quite a despondent affair, although with moments of lively debate, and there was little to show for the more than an hour that we spent together. We agreed that we would not seek to oppose a quaesitorial investigation into Theoclea’s condition and Jari proposed that he would seek a divination at the Trelloch Stones, to which I agreed to accompany him. We set off the following day, accompanied by Races the Wind, Gavan and Gwinyfaen. There was a bitter frost in the air and the snow dusted the ground, both of which made difficult the digging of a hole near the stones for Jari to place his offering, a finely crafted lute, but Gwinyfaen’s strength made it possible. Jari had determined that he would seek an answer as to whether Theoclea’s spirit could be returned to her body so that she might live once more and following the setting of the sun he began the ritual which he had previously determined was required, laying his head upon the grave of his instrument. He was motionless for about an hour and then there was a savage rumble of thunder, the wind picking up to presage a storm. As he roused himself he informed me that he believed that the answer he had been given was that there was no way to restore our sodalis. As he spoke I caught a momentary glimpse of a spirit standing near the stones, a man of middle or even older years with a beard and dark orbits where his eyes should have been found. It was a different spirit than the one I had seen here before but standing by a different stone. Perhaps each has a different guardian. We returned to our camp and it was not long before the storm came, leading to an uncomfortable night but causing no damage.

Returning to the covenant we once more called for an informal council to gather to relate the news. Despite our increasing belief that Theoclea may be beyond recovering Jari stated that he still intended to spend next year at Carrion Moor learning the spell. It was also agreed there that there might be value in speaking with Gofannon due to his ties with the Crystal Caves as well as the henges and many of the treasures of Britain. Jari and I agreed to make the journey and in an uncommon display of selfless behaviour Pyrrhus gave us two faerie items he possessed to use as bargain, a jewel named the Heart of the Mountain and the broken sword that once belonged to the faerie knight Turold.

We departed the next morning accompanied by Jari’s familiar and consors. Jari swiftly found a trod and as we followed the route he alone could see the scenery swiftly changed from the cold winter of the Forest of Dean to the warm summer of a thick forest and within a very short time we found ourselves at the base of the cliff within which Gofynwy’s cave lies. We made our way up the steep stairs and were greeted at the top by the faerie stonesmith. He demanded that Gwinyfaen wait outside, for it seems his nature is not well aligned with the court of stone, but readily agreed to take the remaining three of us along the dizzying path to Gofannon’s realm. As we eventually arrived at the large cavern containing the silver pool we found that there was quite a sizeable congregation of the strange misshapen stone fae that we have encountered before. Just a moment after our arrival Gofannon emerged from the pool, as always with not a single ripple appearing upon the surface, and took his place on his throne. He said that he was aware that the Queen had died and bid us tell what we knew. Before we began to relay the tale Jari stepped forwards and presented the items that Pyrrhus had earlier given us, with Gofannon taking them saying that he was glad they had been returned to his realm. Jari then relayed the tale of what had befallen Theoclea and after he had finished Gofannon spoke saying that the Crystal Caves had been designed as a prison but even entrapped within them as he was Myddin was still finding ways to continue his mischief. He did acknowledge that it was unlikely that Myddin had wished any harm to Theoclea and it was the error in attempting to remove her body that had lead to the dread result. He confirmed that he had helped Nimue build the caves but that they had not reckoned with Myddin’s cunning that still allows him to work magic from his cell. He said that as the prison had not been designed for Theoclea it was not impossible that her spirit might leave but her body was now dead and there was no magic of the fae that could restore a corpse to life. He said that he could craft a vessel for her spirit to re-enter but recognised that the Order of Hermes would never accept such as who she was. He asked whether we had attempted to use the chalice, one of the treasures of Britain, to restore her body. Neither Jari or I realised that we were in possession of it but he said that Astrius owned it and had hidden it away, reminding us at the same time that we also had the scabbard that Excalibur was once held within. He said that as we had not yet tried the chalice then he would speak with Nynniaw and delay their return to Arcadia to no earlier than next midsummer, despite their original intention to leave the world as swiftly as they could, though ultimately the timescale would be set by the Lord of the Summer Glade as he controlled the gate. Jari asked him about the power of the stones and Gofannon said that when the land was young there was a time when mortals entreated with the fae with great respect. He said that he had shared with them the endeavour of crafting the henges which allowed them to draw upon a small fraction of the power of the land, with each dedicated for a particular desire of mortal men and able to perform specific tasks. He said that Stonehenge can affect the seasons and can also act as a doorway, including to a place where the plague cannot touch though he does not know where that might lie. He was clear that it was not the Summerlands however. I then asked what would happen if another claimed the Crown of Mabh. He said that it was not easy to take such a burden upon oneself, especially if there was no true right to it, although any might claim it and perhaps even learn to wield its powers. He said that he believed such a decision would not end well however and said further that the fae will not risk the shadow reaching Arcadia confirming to us that if Theoclea does not live the faeries will not remain in this world. I then mentioned another of the treasures of Britain, a stone said to have the power of healing. Gofannon visibly reacted to these words and it was clearly not with pleasure. He eventually confided that he knew of such saying he was not sure it would be of any value in this matter and that it contains something of his power. He thought for a moment longer then declared that it was a thing beyond the reach of mortals and that we should not look for any solution there. Before dismissing us from his court he said that he is still looking for hope as he does not want to leave this realm but without firm evidence that it exists he does not believe Nynniaw will remain and he must therefore follow him before the gate closes. With that we returned with Gofynwy once more and he bid as well, saving only to warn Jari against brining Gwinyfaen to his cave again. Again Jari was able to identify a trod to return via and we reached Severn Temple once more with about a month of the season remaining.

The day before our return Romanus had made his way to the covenant and commenced his investigation by questioning Terentius at length on what had occurred within the Crystal Caves. We had a chance to speak as a council but determined that while we did have the chalice in our possession none knew how to use it. Naevius said that he would make investigation over the course of spring. Shortly afterwards we were joined by Romanus who outlined the plan of his investigation. While he looks like an innocuous enough young man, his brown curls only slightly touched by the faintest hint of grey, there is something about him that I don’t like. Perhaps it is just his role within the Order of Hermes, for his House has many misdeeds directed against my own in their past. I can’t fault his approach to the investigation however for it seemed meticulous, involving as it did a number of spells and rituals cast over the next couple of weeks. There were a number of conversations between we magi during that period as we tried to determine what else we might do. Some of them became quite heated, with so little clear pathway revealing itself to us, and I can’t deny that at one point myself and Naevius became quite agitated with each other when discussing how one might weigh the future of magic against the life of a single wizard. This was brought to a close when Romanus delivered his ruling, one obvious by the troubled expression on his face as he brought us the news. He confirmed what we had already learned regarding the spell effects upon her but added that he had learned further that when her spirit was taken her life processes were greatly slowed, meaning her body could have survived without food and water and with no aging, for a period of one year and a day. Her removal from the regio had broken this however and she was now dead. Terentius was clearly gravely affected by this, at one point challenging whether Romanus had undertaken any formal training in medicine. He had. Before leaving us to our further deliberations he offered to make a formal ruling on the matter of her possessions and where they should be passed. There was some discussion as to whether we should oppose his ruling as to her status, for once ruled dead she would be deemed so in the eyes of the Order even should we find some way to make her body available to her spirit once more, and after a vote we decided to do such with all in favour save Terentius who abstained. We informed Romanus of that decision the following day and he took it well, saying that he sincerely hoped we were right, while making it clear that he did not believe we were. He did confirm that he had reached a ruling on her inheritance and confirmed that he had located a will bequeathing all her belongings to the covenant unless she had taken an apprentice. As she had not done so he confirmed that they, including the Crown of Mabh, rightfully belonged to the covenant.

And thus this dreadful year comes to an end and my scribing duties are fulfilled for the time being. I don’t particularly enjoy the responsibility of maintaining this journal but I very much hope that there will be another opportunity for me to complain about it. I consider myself an optimist but it is hard to find good cheer at this time.