Scribed by Naevius
Spring
Under our standard arrangements, it would be Theoclea who would be contributing to this record of our history this year, however she has determined to bind a familiar this year and has gone into seclusion. The stables have been converted into a laboratory space and Theoclea plans to remain there for the four seasons it takes to create and temper the cords. Thus, I shall record events for this year.
Branwen was also absent for the meeting, indeed had been absent for the whole of Winter after disappearing at Avebury during the investigation with Jari in Autumn last year. With some reassurance from Cad Gadu last year, we may only hope that she is able to extricate herself eventually and return. Given the power and dangers of the place, I can only imagine what might be within the depths of the regio. Jari has said that the site belongs to a once powerful Celtic god, the ‘Horned One’. This entity apparently represents nature, wild animals, hunting, and the underworld, and has stag antlers adorning his head. Despite the presence of these horns, Jari assures me that conflation of this entity with devils is mere propaganda of the Church rather than evidence of any link to the infernal. Still, there’s a worry that Branwen may have encountered this entity and perhaps been swept up into the ‘Wild Hunt’ that it leads through the magical realm.
Jari and I plan to return to the Gower Stone to try to better understand why the enchantment we attempted last year did not produce the outcome either of us expected. I am convinced that violent change in the weather is merely due to a quirk of experimentation, though Jari appears less convinced that this is the case. He believes that the old magic of these sites, stemming from a vast wellspring of natural magic which ties these stones and henges together, cannot be trammeled by mortal hand. He contrasted the design of Verditius runes, based as they are on geometric patterns, to the flowing forms that Myrddyn employed. I hope he is wrong.
There was little else to discuss, save for the poor state of our finances and meagre distribution of vis. At the rate we are currently bleeding coin, Terentius believes we can hold out for another six years or so. Between all members of the council, I’m fairly convinced that we hold personal wealth sufficient to extend this for many years but urged members of the council to consider any innovations or ideas for raising money for the covenant. Each season of service was rewarded with a paltry two pawns of vis this year. Hopefully, our income of vis will be improved a bit this year, with perhaps an expedition to Mynydd Myddyn later this year.
Jari and I departed for Gower following the recasting of the Aegis, thus only Pyrrhus and Terentius were present when representatives of Erus Aquilae arrived about a week into the season. Terentius recused himself from interacting with his former House member, thus Pyrrhus acted as host. I was pleased to later discover that this went without incident – as Pyrrhus is often undiplomatic – and that it appears the Domus Magnus of House Tremere merely wished to offer a proposal to all covenants of the Tribunal.
Branwen returned to the covenant about three weeks into the season. It appears she had been drawn into the ‘otherworld’ but thankfully had not encountered the ‘god-that-shall-not-be-named’. Her left arm appeared now to be covered in bark, which suggests that she paid a heavy price to escape from the realm of the Horned One. Her difficult experience left her with an insight; that the site of Avebury appears to be simultaneously a henge site and a magical grove, something I don’t think we’ve seen anywhere else. The former covenant of ‘Halls of the Forest’, for example, has a powerful grove within the magical regio but the local henge lies clearly outside of it.
Jari and I returned at the end of the season having conducted our investigation of the experimental enchantment upon the Gower stone. I confess, I returned more than a little despondent.
Summer
All were present at the council save Theoclea who remains secluded. We began with news from the previous season, starting with the message from Erus Aquilae.
Pyrrhus reported that Sallustria and Eremin came to make an offer of sanctuary against the infernal shadow which we believe imminently threatens the whole world. House Tremere has conceived a specialised variant of the Aegis of the Hearth, which they can currently cast at the 16th Magnitude, they believe will ward away the plague spirits which cause disease. They are continuing to develop the new spell, believing that – with more time – they may be able to further enhance the magnitude of its effect. They have apparently tested the new Aegis in the Transylvanian Tribunal, warding away powerful plague spirits which are said to still haunt the ruins of Coeris which was sacked by the Mongols in 1244. Whether this represents a valid test of its capability against this prophesied threat was less clear, however the Tremere appeared to have confidence in it and believed that they would be able to extend its protection across a wide area encompassing some farmland along with the covenant itself.
Erus Aquilae has formally invited all members of the Tribunal to take shelter there when the threat arrives from the East. It appears not all magi they’ve approached have taken them up on this offer – for example, we think it highly unlikely that Prima Lluddwyn would accept given the tensions between the two Houses. There is also a cost involved in accepting, a contribution to their research in the form of vis – 20 pawns per magus in the techniques and forms of Rego, Vim, Creo, Herbam and Animal – the former to support the development and casting of the ritual, the latter to build a stockpile of vis which can be used to conjure food.
The magi made also a second proposal. If we wanted to accept their offer of sanctuary, there was a danger that the threat might come with little warning. The journey to Erus Aquilae is a long one, requiring over a week of travel by mundane means. To mitigate this threat, they are willing to create Hermes Portals within the vicinity of each covenant. They have the skill and coordination to cast such a ritual, but they would need covenants to supply the appropriate vis for the casting – and each covenant would also need to ensure they had the Terram vis to activate it when the time came.
Our council briefly discussed their proposals. I think it is fair to say that we were all sceptical as to whether their variant of the Aegis would genuinely offer any protection. There was no motion raised to accept this offer on the part of the covenant, though magi are free to make their own arrangements with Erus Aquilae if they wish. We decided to send a formal letter declining their offer.
Branwen related something of her escape from Avebury. She believes she inadvertently entered the ‘otherworld’ rather than an ordinary regio. She was able to speak to some of the trees within that realm but in the end had to draw upon the power she possesses by virtue of the wyrd bond with the ‘first tree’ to extricate herself from the realm. The cost was significant, however, as the movement of her hand has been restricted to a degree. She shared her impression that the grove pre-dated the henge at Avebury – which led to a brief speculative discussion regarding the relationship between ley lines, henges and groves. The presence of a henge at all struck her as strange, as sacred groves are typically places dedicated to nature and the ancient people who revered such places avoided building man-made structures within them. Races enquired about the druid spirits present at the site, and whether they might know more – though Branwen believes that they would have been alive and practicing long after the construction of the henge.
It’s not clear to me quite what all this may signify, but it implies that Avebury may be even more unique than we already believed it to be. There’s clearly great power concentrated here, but whether and how such might be employed against the coming shadow is less immediately apparent.
Jari also reported the outcome of our investigation of the Gower stone. In brief, it seems his hypothesis was confirmed and the unpredictable effect of the enchantment was not merely an artefact of experimentation but a fundamental incompatibility between the configuration of Verditius runes and the wild nature of the magic involved. The problem appears to be that the runes seek to subtly constrain the magic and the wellspring of power resists this attempt to direct it – with magical energies amplifying chaotically as the enchantment is enacted only to be unpredictably and even violently discharged before the activation is even complete. There is evidence that Jari’s spell ‘Sailor's Foretaste of the Morrow’ is imbued upon the stone, marked by the presence of his sigil (though sometimes my sigil … it’s honestly all a bit odd), but the magic simply refuses to be safely directed by the design of these runes.
The flowing designs on the Myrddyn stone appear to serve a similar function to Verditius magic, but the form of them is quite different – apparently able to act as a conduit for the natural magic without those energies rebelling chaotically. It appears that Myrddyn possessed a secret runecraft which might take a life’s work to hope to uncover.
However, there is a possibility that Myrddyn’s secrets may not be entirely lost. Our journal records encounters with to the spirit of Morgan or Morgana le Fae; most recently in 1286 by a former magus of the covenant, Oratio. On that occasion, she provided some insight into the runes Myrddyn had wrought upon the ‘Pale Blade’ which Oratio had brought back from the faerie realm. Jari cautioned that she was a dangerous and unpredictable spirit, and may no longer even exist given her ties to the magic of the fae – but as Myrddyn’s former apprentice, she represents arguably the only entity in the world who might feasibly know the secrets of his runic magic. Branwen, Jari and I will seek her out this season as covenant service to discover whether she is still present and might be willing to teach one of us.
The following day, we travelled overland via Gloucester then south east towards the town of Glastonbury. The journey was relatively straightforward – though Branwen’s familiar appeared mortally afraid of crossing water which caused her some difficulties. We avoided as much interaction as we could with mundanes on route given Branwen’s unnatural appearance and our extant gift.
The ‘island’ tor is a short distance from the town – the area surrounded by a knot of swampland. Jari warned that the flooded marshland between the trees and the hill once possessed a strong faerie aura – with a regio boundary close to the hill itself. However, Morgana was encountered within the dense swampland before those marshes – close to a small, ruined tower. Races added a reminder that legends say that Morgana became a mortal enemy of Myrddyn and so we should be careful about invoking his name.
We made a camp a short distance from the site and searched for two days to find this ruin within the swamp. On the third day, we successfully located the ruin; ancient stones covered in moss and lichen mostly consumed by the swamp. Branwen and Gwyla eventually spotted a shade moving between the trees and approached cautiously. It was indeed the shade of Morgana. As Branwen spoke her name, she responded fiercely – uttering a doom-laden prophecy of shadow and death, and mourning the loss of the fae as the only hope that might have spared us. Confronted by an angry and powerful spirit, Branwen was circumspect in her address. Irrational and furious with grief for the departure of the fae, it was quickly apparent that, whilst Morgana likely had knowledge of Myrddyn’s runecraft, trying to reason or bargain with the anguished spirit would be futile.
We retreated to our camp to discuss what possibilities might still be open to us. As the sun set, we settled around the fire to explore whether there was any hope or leverage we might possess to negotiate with Morgana. It was during this discussion that Races – rather carelessly – accused Jari of being responsible for the departure of the fae, having neglected to take a last opportunity to persuade them to stay. As he spoke the accusation there was a sudden shift in the direction of the wind. Branwen called out a warning, arriving too late, that Morgana might be able to hear our words. Roots and branches of the nearby trees sprung to life – snatching at the group as they attempted to flee the scene. I took my potion of Leap of Homecoming rather than suffer Morgana’s ire. The rest of the group fled across the wetlands back towards Glastonbury, several of the group ensnared briefly by roots and vines seeking to drown them in the mud. Alas, this was the fate of Gavan, who disappeared into the brackish waters before the Captain or Branwen could help him.
The survivors eventually returned to Severn Temple, and we briefly met again to see what might be salvaged from the season. It was apparent that Jari was still furious with Races – the accusation that he was in some way responsible for the sealing of the last Silver Gate clearly stung him deeply; and the chaos and death that claim had wrought compounded the loss of any hope of gaining Morgana’s aid.
In the end, I would extract Vim Vis for the covenant. Jari decided to travel to Cumbria – perhaps to get a little distance and solitude. Branwen withdrew her claim on service to the covenant and returned to her studies of Ignem – though she indicated had not yet lost all hope in gaining Morgana’s aid. She hinted that she had an ‘important decision to make’ and that she might return to the Glastonbury Tor.
After what was a pretty disastrous start, the remainder of the season passed without event.
Autumn
Our council met with all present save Theoclea, who continues binding her familiar in seclusion. We began with Jari discussing his investigation of the henge in Cumbria.
The focus of his research was understanding how the inherent powers of the stones might be accessed. He started by delving into the past through the ritual ‘Greet the Maker’ – the resulting vision showing the stone being hewn by primitive tools by many different hands, many bloodied through their labour. Watching this process, which involved the stones being transported great distances, Jari came to believe that the many henges across this land were made by many different tribes of humans, each taking stone from different sites. Given the legends that these places were created by gods, giants, or a single powerful wizard like Myrddyn, it was surprising to hear that they represent a very human endeavour.
However, it was an insight provided by Races that provided direction to Jari’s experimentation. Speaking with the Moon, he was able to reveal something of the methods these ancient peoples used to access the Land’s power. Rather than any formulaic or systematic ritual, it appears the ancients used an eclectic mix of approaches to produce in themselves a reverie or trance. The Moon described thick, sweet-smelling smoke from bundles of herbs, exotic concoctions mixed with blood being consumed or smeared on the skin, and figures in animal masks engaged in wild dancing to the point of exhaustion. The Moon advised him that seeking control over the Land is futile. Instead, the ancients used a variety of methods to give up control, losing themselves in an almost dream-like state.
Thus, Jari attempted to replicate this approach, dancing around the stone and trying to enter a similar state of reverie. His first attempts were not successful – he described how difficult it was for a Hermetic magus, reliant on rigid formula and quantified theory, to give up such control when interacting with magic. However, it appears that he eventually achieved a measure of success; Races describing him sometimes moving with uncanny celerity – aligned with the stone’s power to grant warriors speed and skill in battle. The implications are that, to draw upon the power of the Land to defend against the Great Shadow, it will require a very different way of thinking.
The council discussed this insight. Terentius, recognising the success, was keen to understand what Jari thought the next steps would involve. Jari was unable to provide a clear answer. He noted that his experience shared some similarities to the challenge Theoclea described when seeking to use her knowledge of Myddyn’s magic. She would chant verses in Cymric to the point, she said, where they lost all meaning and her mind’s focus became diffuse. However, she described a similar difficulty in ‘letting go’ and simply letting the magic flow through her rather than seeking to direct it.
Pyrrhus asked whether he had inadvertently crossed a Regio boundary during the process; a question which appeared to puzzle Jari. Races was some distance away, not involved in the informal ritual, and reported no sign of Jari moving between levels of Regio. Pyrrhus also wondered who might have taught these practices to the ancients, speculating perhaps the Fae or even the Shining One, something none could answer.
He did not pursue these questions further, simply noting that alchemy and herbalism might be used to create potions which could change the mental state of an individual, and these may be conducive to the process. Terentius concurred, indicating he knew that the Witches were able to brew a potion which facilitated magical visions. Branwen diffidently confirming that the Witches possessed such craft.
Returning to Terentius’ question regarding next steps, Jari indicated that he would try to replicate the effect at a different henge site, to confirm whether this approach could be utilised more generally.
Discussion turned to the events involving Morgana last season, with Branwen revealing that she had returned to speak to the shade of Myrddyn’s apprentice.
Following the disastrous events at Glastonbury, Branwen initially sought out Maga Blanche, who resides with Agnes in the Cave of Dead Things. With Branwen’s help, she sought a vision regarding the time remaining to us before the arrival of the Great Shadow. In this vision, she saw day and night accelerating to a flicker and the Moon’s face passing from new to full many times, before finally the great darkness descended and smothered all light. She admitted that she could not tell a certain date, but believes we have – at most – ten years to find some protection against this coming doom.
Perhaps girded by this dreadful prophecy, she resolved to return to Glastonbury and seek out Morgana once again. This time, however, she bore the crown of Madd and, perhaps because of that object’s magical authority, the audience went better than before. Though initially evasive and reluctant, Branwen eventually secured a commitment from the shade to teach one person the secrets of Myddyn’s runecraft. This tuition will involve spending extensive time in Morgana’s company, and given her capacity for murderous rage, becoming her ‘apprentice’ involves risk. However, Branwen believes that the shade can be held to its word, and that a ‘price’ has already been ‘paid’ – to an extent (a comment she did not volunteer expanding on).
The council discussed who might be best placed to take up such an offer. Branwen suggested that either Theoclea or herself might be more acceptable to Morgana than myself. Pyrrhus strongly advocated that we wait for Theoclea to emerge from seclusion to take up this tuition, though Terentius counselled that could not afford to wait – a position I concurred with. Jari felt that there were potential opportunity costs if either Theoclea or Branwen took up the offer – especially as it was unclear how long it would take to learn these secrets. In the end, the majority of the council agreed that Branwen was best placed to take up Morgana’s offer – and Branwen agreed to return this season.
As covenant services then, Branwen will travel to Glastonbury, initially accompanied by Terentius who will then assay any changes and seek out vis sites in Mynydd Myddyn. Jari announced that he would continue his research, returning initially to Cumbria.
Pyrrhus was granted access to the tome containing the spell ‘Conjuration of the Speedy Retreat’ to support his magical studies this season.
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It was only a few days after the meeting when Prima Lluddwyn and a small contingent of witches and grogs arrived at the covenant. Lluddwyn was keen to speak to Branwen regarding some matter she did not reveal. I explained that Branwen was engaged in covenant service this season and was not expected to return until the Winter council but similarly did not expand upon my answer. The Prima appeared somewhat irked by news of Branwen’s absence and, despite an offer of hospitality, left quickly following our conversation. I did not get the sense that Branwen had made any agreement with the Prima for assistance this season. However, it was evident from her reaction that Lluddwyn had expected her to be available for whatever House business the Prima was engaged in.
Around the time of the equinox, the Red Cap Gaines arrived at the covenant to share news. Of mundane news, it appears that two cardinals, Peter Gomez and Bertrand of Montfavence, were sent by Pope Benedict XII to seek the avoidance of war between King Edward of England and Philipe VI of France. During these negotiations, a comet was seen in the skies of France and widely interpreted as a bad omen signifying war was on the horizon. Indeed, only a couple of months later, the French King sent ships to help the Scots – who were attacking English merchant shipping and ports. Despite these attacks, King Edward’s forces reached the besieged castle at Stirling; with supplies to assist the defending English garrison. It appears that Scottish forces were also, once again, engaged in raids across the border into Cumbria – news I hoped Jari was aware of given his plan to travel to the region this season.
Of Hermetic news, at the request of House Tremere, Lluddwyn will convene a meeting of the Tribunal in the Summer of 1339. Whilst no specific agenda was announced, Gaines indicated that Primus Argentius was keen to gain Tribunal support for the development of the experimental aegis and building efforts required to house and feed large numbers of magi.
Other than these visitors, the season passed without further events of note.
Winter
Our council met with all present save Theoclea, who completes binding her familiar this season.
Branwen began by describing something of her season’s study with Morgana. The ancient shade has begun teaching her the rudiments of forms involved in Myddyn’s runic script – focusing on practicing the creation of fluid, interlinking shapes, yet not revealing the meaning behind these structures. It also appears that, perhaps in deference to Branwen’s affinities, Morgana is teaching her how to apply these subtle carvings to wood rather than stone. The shade revealed that, long before such markings were made to stones, they were applied to henges made of wood – sometimes living wood. This precursor to the stone henges we see today was something Myrddyn overlooked or ignored, but Morgana assured Branwen that this approach was no less potent.
Branwen believes she has made good progress in learning these non-Hermetic forms but would benefit from developing a spell to allow her to make them more easily. This season, therefore, she plans to develop a Muto Herbam spell which she can use to mould the fabric of wood more easily when practicing this runecraft. She was unable to say, however, how many more seasons of work might be needed to truly master this craft.
Jari reported that, hearing news of unrest in Cumbria, he travelled instead to the Llan Clecht stone near Swansea. On route, he heard news that the bounty of Gower had provoked significant envy amongst the neighboring farmers and landowners. Indeed, it appears that the quality of the harvest in the area beyond Gower has been particularly poor – leading Jari to speculate whether the focus of growth in the region has impacted the area beyond it. He reminded us of Brochwel’s prophecy:
“Bitter truths strike thornwise through the breast: Where tide flows, its waters elsewhere must ebb.”
This might imply that focusing the Land’s power in one place may essentially reduce its influence nearby. Therefore, it is possible that local resentment is not entirely without cause – Gower’s good fortune coming at the expense of its neighbours.
Jari pressed on, setting up a camp close to Llan Clecht and attempting to interact with the power of the Land using non-Hermetic means. Rather than dance, Jari intuited that he might more easily foster a reverie through song. Over the course of the season, he experimented with using singing to facilitate communion with the Land. He described some success – the stone’s power appearing to resonate with his song.
Jari’s investigation leads him to believe that Race’s insights garnered from the Moon are correct – that there exist countless ways in which the magic of the Land can be invoked. He described the process as feeling paradoxical: to channel the magic one must lose all sense of self and conscious purpose, yet at the same time lightly hold onto a loose intention or goal. He suggested that it might take a long time to fully master such an approach. However, his season of investigation granted him an insight into how he might weave in song to bolster the effectiveness of the semi-Hermetic ritual spells he uses to interact with the powers of the henges. This season he plans to experiment with such magic, to see whether such a musically augmented ritual is possible.
Finally, Terentius reported on his travels through Mynnyd Myddyn and retrieval of vis from various sites. It appears that Myddyn’s tower is naught but moss and weed covered ruins, but other than this sign of decay there were no other signs of change within the Regio.
With discussion of news complete, we turned to activities this season. The only note for here is that, as covenant service, Pyrrhus will extract Vim vis from the aura.
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Later in the season, we received news via the Spymaster of a disturbance in Bridgewater. It appears that several, quite prominent, individuals have mysteriously disappeared over recent weeks. This news coincides with a report from Trevalga that agents of the Cult of the Red Moon may have been extending their activity eastwards into Somerset.
Concerned that the disappearances in Bridgewater are likely connected to the activities of this cult, Terentius decided to take some time away from his personal studies to investigate.
Other than this news, the end of the year passed peacefully.
Spring
Under our standard arrangements, it would be Theoclea who would be contributing to this record of our history this year, however she has determined to bind a familiar this year and has gone into seclusion. The stables have been converted into a laboratory space and Theoclea plans to remain there for the four seasons it takes to create and temper the cords. Thus, I shall record events for this year.
Branwen was also absent for the meeting, indeed had been absent for the whole of Winter after disappearing at Avebury during the investigation with Jari in Autumn last year. With some reassurance from Cad Gadu last year, we may only hope that she is able to extricate herself eventually and return. Given the power and dangers of the place, I can only imagine what might be within the depths of the regio. Jari has said that the site belongs to a once powerful Celtic god, the ‘Horned One’. This entity apparently represents nature, wild animals, hunting, and the underworld, and has stag antlers adorning his head. Despite the presence of these horns, Jari assures me that conflation of this entity with devils is mere propaganda of the Church rather than evidence of any link to the infernal. Still, there’s a worry that Branwen may have encountered this entity and perhaps been swept up into the ‘Wild Hunt’ that it leads through the magical realm.
Jari and I plan to return to the Gower Stone to try to better understand why the enchantment we attempted last year did not produce the outcome either of us expected. I am convinced that violent change in the weather is merely due to a quirk of experimentation, though Jari appears less convinced that this is the case. He believes that the old magic of these sites, stemming from a vast wellspring of natural magic which ties these stones and henges together, cannot be trammeled by mortal hand. He contrasted the design of Verditius runes, based as they are on geometric patterns, to the flowing forms that Myrddyn employed. I hope he is wrong.
There was little else to discuss, save for the poor state of our finances and meagre distribution of vis. At the rate we are currently bleeding coin, Terentius believes we can hold out for another six years or so. Between all members of the council, I’m fairly convinced that we hold personal wealth sufficient to extend this for many years but urged members of the council to consider any innovations or ideas for raising money for the covenant. Each season of service was rewarded with a paltry two pawns of vis this year. Hopefully, our income of vis will be improved a bit this year, with perhaps an expedition to Mynydd Myddyn later this year.
Jari and I departed for Gower following the recasting of the Aegis, thus only Pyrrhus and Terentius were present when representatives of Erus Aquilae arrived about a week into the season. Terentius recused himself from interacting with his former House member, thus Pyrrhus acted as host. I was pleased to later discover that this went without incident – as Pyrrhus is often undiplomatic – and that it appears the Domus Magnus of House Tremere merely wished to offer a proposal to all covenants of the Tribunal.
Branwen returned to the covenant about three weeks into the season. It appears she had been drawn into the ‘otherworld’ but thankfully had not encountered the ‘god-that-shall-not-be-named’. Her left arm appeared now to be covered in bark, which suggests that she paid a heavy price to escape from the realm of the Horned One. Her difficult experience left her with an insight; that the site of Avebury appears to be simultaneously a henge site and a magical grove, something I don’t think we’ve seen anywhere else. The former covenant of ‘Halls of the Forest’, for example, has a powerful grove within the magical regio but the local henge lies clearly outside of it.
Jari and I returned at the end of the season having conducted our investigation of the experimental enchantment upon the Gower stone. I confess, I returned more than a little despondent.
Summer
All were present at the council save Theoclea who remains secluded. We began with news from the previous season, starting with the message from Erus Aquilae.
Pyrrhus reported that Sallustria and Eremin came to make an offer of sanctuary against the infernal shadow which we believe imminently threatens the whole world. House Tremere has conceived a specialised variant of the Aegis of the Hearth, which they can currently cast at the 16th Magnitude, they believe will ward away the plague spirits which cause disease. They are continuing to develop the new spell, believing that – with more time – they may be able to further enhance the magnitude of its effect. They have apparently tested the new Aegis in the Transylvanian Tribunal, warding away powerful plague spirits which are said to still haunt the ruins of Coeris which was sacked by the Mongols in 1244. Whether this represents a valid test of its capability against this prophesied threat was less clear, however the Tremere appeared to have confidence in it and believed that they would be able to extend its protection across a wide area encompassing some farmland along with the covenant itself.
Erus Aquilae has formally invited all members of the Tribunal to take shelter there when the threat arrives from the East. It appears not all magi they’ve approached have taken them up on this offer – for example, we think it highly unlikely that Prima Lluddwyn would accept given the tensions between the two Houses. There is also a cost involved in accepting, a contribution to their research in the form of vis – 20 pawns per magus in the techniques and forms of Rego, Vim, Creo, Herbam and Animal – the former to support the development and casting of the ritual, the latter to build a stockpile of vis which can be used to conjure food.
The magi made also a second proposal. If we wanted to accept their offer of sanctuary, there was a danger that the threat might come with little warning. The journey to Erus Aquilae is a long one, requiring over a week of travel by mundane means. To mitigate this threat, they are willing to create Hermes Portals within the vicinity of each covenant. They have the skill and coordination to cast such a ritual, but they would need covenants to supply the appropriate vis for the casting – and each covenant would also need to ensure they had the Terram vis to activate it when the time came.
Our council briefly discussed their proposals. I think it is fair to say that we were all sceptical as to whether their variant of the Aegis would genuinely offer any protection. There was no motion raised to accept this offer on the part of the covenant, though magi are free to make their own arrangements with Erus Aquilae if they wish. We decided to send a formal letter declining their offer.
Branwen related something of her escape from Avebury. She believes she inadvertently entered the ‘otherworld’ rather than an ordinary regio. She was able to speak to some of the trees within that realm but in the end had to draw upon the power she possesses by virtue of the wyrd bond with the ‘first tree’ to extricate herself from the realm. The cost was significant, however, as the movement of her hand has been restricted to a degree. She shared her impression that the grove pre-dated the henge at Avebury – which led to a brief speculative discussion regarding the relationship between ley lines, henges and groves. The presence of a henge at all struck her as strange, as sacred groves are typically places dedicated to nature and the ancient people who revered such places avoided building man-made structures within them. Races enquired about the druid spirits present at the site, and whether they might know more – though Branwen believes that they would have been alive and practicing long after the construction of the henge.
It’s not clear to me quite what all this may signify, but it implies that Avebury may be even more unique than we already believed it to be. There’s clearly great power concentrated here, but whether and how such might be employed against the coming shadow is less immediately apparent.
Jari also reported the outcome of our investigation of the Gower stone. In brief, it seems his hypothesis was confirmed and the unpredictable effect of the enchantment was not merely an artefact of experimentation but a fundamental incompatibility between the configuration of Verditius runes and the wild nature of the magic involved. The problem appears to be that the runes seek to subtly constrain the magic and the wellspring of power resists this attempt to direct it – with magical energies amplifying chaotically as the enchantment is enacted only to be unpredictably and even violently discharged before the activation is even complete. There is evidence that Jari’s spell ‘Sailor's Foretaste of the Morrow’ is imbued upon the stone, marked by the presence of his sigil (though sometimes my sigil … it’s honestly all a bit odd), but the magic simply refuses to be safely directed by the design of these runes.
The flowing designs on the Myrddyn stone appear to serve a similar function to Verditius magic, but the form of them is quite different – apparently able to act as a conduit for the natural magic without those energies rebelling chaotically. It appears that Myrddyn possessed a secret runecraft which might take a life’s work to hope to uncover.
However, there is a possibility that Myrddyn’s secrets may not be entirely lost. Our journal records encounters with to the spirit of Morgan or Morgana le Fae; most recently in 1286 by a former magus of the covenant, Oratio. On that occasion, she provided some insight into the runes Myrddyn had wrought upon the ‘Pale Blade’ which Oratio had brought back from the faerie realm. Jari cautioned that she was a dangerous and unpredictable spirit, and may no longer even exist given her ties to the magic of the fae – but as Myrddyn’s former apprentice, she represents arguably the only entity in the world who might feasibly know the secrets of his runic magic. Branwen, Jari and I will seek her out this season as covenant service to discover whether she is still present and might be willing to teach one of us.
The following day, we travelled overland via Gloucester then south east towards the town of Glastonbury. The journey was relatively straightforward – though Branwen’s familiar appeared mortally afraid of crossing water which caused her some difficulties. We avoided as much interaction as we could with mundanes on route given Branwen’s unnatural appearance and our extant gift.
The ‘island’ tor is a short distance from the town – the area surrounded by a knot of swampland. Jari warned that the flooded marshland between the trees and the hill once possessed a strong faerie aura – with a regio boundary close to the hill itself. However, Morgana was encountered within the dense swampland before those marshes – close to a small, ruined tower. Races added a reminder that legends say that Morgana became a mortal enemy of Myrddyn and so we should be careful about invoking his name.
We made a camp a short distance from the site and searched for two days to find this ruin within the swamp. On the third day, we successfully located the ruin; ancient stones covered in moss and lichen mostly consumed by the swamp. Branwen and Gwyla eventually spotted a shade moving between the trees and approached cautiously. It was indeed the shade of Morgana. As Branwen spoke her name, she responded fiercely – uttering a doom-laden prophecy of shadow and death, and mourning the loss of the fae as the only hope that might have spared us. Confronted by an angry and powerful spirit, Branwen was circumspect in her address. Irrational and furious with grief for the departure of the fae, it was quickly apparent that, whilst Morgana likely had knowledge of Myrddyn’s runecraft, trying to reason or bargain with the anguished spirit would be futile.
We retreated to our camp to discuss what possibilities might still be open to us. As the sun set, we settled around the fire to explore whether there was any hope or leverage we might possess to negotiate with Morgana. It was during this discussion that Races – rather carelessly – accused Jari of being responsible for the departure of the fae, having neglected to take a last opportunity to persuade them to stay. As he spoke the accusation there was a sudden shift in the direction of the wind. Branwen called out a warning, arriving too late, that Morgana might be able to hear our words. Roots and branches of the nearby trees sprung to life – snatching at the group as they attempted to flee the scene. I took my potion of Leap of Homecoming rather than suffer Morgana’s ire. The rest of the group fled across the wetlands back towards Glastonbury, several of the group ensnared briefly by roots and vines seeking to drown them in the mud. Alas, this was the fate of Gavan, who disappeared into the brackish waters before the Captain or Branwen could help him.
The survivors eventually returned to Severn Temple, and we briefly met again to see what might be salvaged from the season. It was apparent that Jari was still furious with Races – the accusation that he was in some way responsible for the sealing of the last Silver Gate clearly stung him deeply; and the chaos and death that claim had wrought compounded the loss of any hope of gaining Morgana’s aid.
In the end, I would extract Vim Vis for the covenant. Jari decided to travel to Cumbria – perhaps to get a little distance and solitude. Branwen withdrew her claim on service to the covenant and returned to her studies of Ignem – though she indicated had not yet lost all hope in gaining Morgana’s aid. She hinted that she had an ‘important decision to make’ and that she might return to the Glastonbury Tor.
After what was a pretty disastrous start, the remainder of the season passed without event.
Autumn
Our council met with all present save Theoclea, who continues binding her familiar in seclusion. We began with Jari discussing his investigation of the henge in Cumbria.
The focus of his research was understanding how the inherent powers of the stones might be accessed. He started by delving into the past through the ritual ‘Greet the Maker’ – the resulting vision showing the stone being hewn by primitive tools by many different hands, many bloodied through their labour. Watching this process, which involved the stones being transported great distances, Jari came to believe that the many henges across this land were made by many different tribes of humans, each taking stone from different sites. Given the legends that these places were created by gods, giants, or a single powerful wizard like Myrddyn, it was surprising to hear that they represent a very human endeavour.
However, it was an insight provided by Races that provided direction to Jari’s experimentation. Speaking with the Moon, he was able to reveal something of the methods these ancient peoples used to access the Land’s power. Rather than any formulaic or systematic ritual, it appears the ancients used an eclectic mix of approaches to produce in themselves a reverie or trance. The Moon described thick, sweet-smelling smoke from bundles of herbs, exotic concoctions mixed with blood being consumed or smeared on the skin, and figures in animal masks engaged in wild dancing to the point of exhaustion. The Moon advised him that seeking control over the Land is futile. Instead, the ancients used a variety of methods to give up control, losing themselves in an almost dream-like state.
Thus, Jari attempted to replicate this approach, dancing around the stone and trying to enter a similar state of reverie. His first attempts were not successful – he described how difficult it was for a Hermetic magus, reliant on rigid formula and quantified theory, to give up such control when interacting with magic. However, it appears that he eventually achieved a measure of success; Races describing him sometimes moving with uncanny celerity – aligned with the stone’s power to grant warriors speed and skill in battle. The implications are that, to draw upon the power of the Land to defend against the Great Shadow, it will require a very different way of thinking.
The council discussed this insight. Terentius, recognising the success, was keen to understand what Jari thought the next steps would involve. Jari was unable to provide a clear answer. He noted that his experience shared some similarities to the challenge Theoclea described when seeking to use her knowledge of Myddyn’s magic. She would chant verses in Cymric to the point, she said, where they lost all meaning and her mind’s focus became diffuse. However, she described a similar difficulty in ‘letting go’ and simply letting the magic flow through her rather than seeking to direct it.
Pyrrhus asked whether he had inadvertently crossed a Regio boundary during the process; a question which appeared to puzzle Jari. Races was some distance away, not involved in the informal ritual, and reported no sign of Jari moving between levels of Regio. Pyrrhus also wondered who might have taught these practices to the ancients, speculating perhaps the Fae or even the Shining One, something none could answer.
He did not pursue these questions further, simply noting that alchemy and herbalism might be used to create potions which could change the mental state of an individual, and these may be conducive to the process. Terentius concurred, indicating he knew that the Witches were able to brew a potion which facilitated magical visions. Branwen diffidently confirming that the Witches possessed such craft.
Returning to Terentius’ question regarding next steps, Jari indicated that he would try to replicate the effect at a different henge site, to confirm whether this approach could be utilised more generally.
Discussion turned to the events involving Morgana last season, with Branwen revealing that she had returned to speak to the shade of Myrddyn’s apprentice.
Following the disastrous events at Glastonbury, Branwen initially sought out Maga Blanche, who resides with Agnes in the Cave of Dead Things. With Branwen’s help, she sought a vision regarding the time remaining to us before the arrival of the Great Shadow. In this vision, she saw day and night accelerating to a flicker and the Moon’s face passing from new to full many times, before finally the great darkness descended and smothered all light. She admitted that she could not tell a certain date, but believes we have – at most – ten years to find some protection against this coming doom.
Perhaps girded by this dreadful prophecy, she resolved to return to Glastonbury and seek out Morgana once again. This time, however, she bore the crown of Madd and, perhaps because of that object’s magical authority, the audience went better than before. Though initially evasive and reluctant, Branwen eventually secured a commitment from the shade to teach one person the secrets of Myddyn’s runecraft. This tuition will involve spending extensive time in Morgana’s company, and given her capacity for murderous rage, becoming her ‘apprentice’ involves risk. However, Branwen believes that the shade can be held to its word, and that a ‘price’ has already been ‘paid’ – to an extent (a comment she did not volunteer expanding on).
The council discussed who might be best placed to take up such an offer. Branwen suggested that either Theoclea or herself might be more acceptable to Morgana than myself. Pyrrhus strongly advocated that we wait for Theoclea to emerge from seclusion to take up this tuition, though Terentius counselled that could not afford to wait – a position I concurred with. Jari felt that there were potential opportunity costs if either Theoclea or Branwen took up the offer – especially as it was unclear how long it would take to learn these secrets. In the end, the majority of the council agreed that Branwen was best placed to take up Morgana’s offer – and Branwen agreed to return this season.
As covenant services then, Branwen will travel to Glastonbury, initially accompanied by Terentius who will then assay any changes and seek out vis sites in Mynydd Myddyn. Jari announced that he would continue his research, returning initially to Cumbria.
Pyrrhus was granted access to the tome containing the spell ‘Conjuration of the Speedy Retreat’ to support his magical studies this season.
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It was only a few days after the meeting when Prima Lluddwyn and a small contingent of witches and grogs arrived at the covenant. Lluddwyn was keen to speak to Branwen regarding some matter she did not reveal. I explained that Branwen was engaged in covenant service this season and was not expected to return until the Winter council but similarly did not expand upon my answer. The Prima appeared somewhat irked by news of Branwen’s absence and, despite an offer of hospitality, left quickly following our conversation. I did not get the sense that Branwen had made any agreement with the Prima for assistance this season. However, it was evident from her reaction that Lluddwyn had expected her to be available for whatever House business the Prima was engaged in.
Around the time of the equinox, the Red Cap Gaines arrived at the covenant to share news. Of mundane news, it appears that two cardinals, Peter Gomez and Bertrand of Montfavence, were sent by Pope Benedict XII to seek the avoidance of war between King Edward of England and Philipe VI of France. During these negotiations, a comet was seen in the skies of France and widely interpreted as a bad omen signifying war was on the horizon. Indeed, only a couple of months later, the French King sent ships to help the Scots – who were attacking English merchant shipping and ports. Despite these attacks, King Edward’s forces reached the besieged castle at Stirling; with supplies to assist the defending English garrison. It appears that Scottish forces were also, once again, engaged in raids across the border into Cumbria – news I hoped Jari was aware of given his plan to travel to the region this season.
Of Hermetic news, at the request of House Tremere, Lluddwyn will convene a meeting of the Tribunal in the Summer of 1339. Whilst no specific agenda was announced, Gaines indicated that Primus Argentius was keen to gain Tribunal support for the development of the experimental aegis and building efforts required to house and feed large numbers of magi.
Other than these visitors, the season passed without further events of note.
Winter
Our council met with all present save Theoclea, who completes binding her familiar this season.
Branwen began by describing something of her season’s study with Morgana. The ancient shade has begun teaching her the rudiments of forms involved in Myddyn’s runic script – focusing on practicing the creation of fluid, interlinking shapes, yet not revealing the meaning behind these structures. It also appears that, perhaps in deference to Branwen’s affinities, Morgana is teaching her how to apply these subtle carvings to wood rather than stone. The shade revealed that, long before such markings were made to stones, they were applied to henges made of wood – sometimes living wood. This precursor to the stone henges we see today was something Myrddyn overlooked or ignored, but Morgana assured Branwen that this approach was no less potent.
Branwen believes she has made good progress in learning these non-Hermetic forms but would benefit from developing a spell to allow her to make them more easily. This season, therefore, she plans to develop a Muto Herbam spell which she can use to mould the fabric of wood more easily when practicing this runecraft. She was unable to say, however, how many more seasons of work might be needed to truly master this craft.
Jari reported that, hearing news of unrest in Cumbria, he travelled instead to the Llan Clecht stone near Swansea. On route, he heard news that the bounty of Gower had provoked significant envy amongst the neighboring farmers and landowners. Indeed, it appears that the quality of the harvest in the area beyond Gower has been particularly poor – leading Jari to speculate whether the focus of growth in the region has impacted the area beyond it. He reminded us of Brochwel’s prophecy:
“Bitter truths strike thornwise through the breast: Where tide flows, its waters elsewhere must ebb.”
This might imply that focusing the Land’s power in one place may essentially reduce its influence nearby. Therefore, it is possible that local resentment is not entirely without cause – Gower’s good fortune coming at the expense of its neighbours.
Jari pressed on, setting up a camp close to Llan Clecht and attempting to interact with the power of the Land using non-Hermetic means. Rather than dance, Jari intuited that he might more easily foster a reverie through song. Over the course of the season, he experimented with using singing to facilitate communion with the Land. He described some success – the stone’s power appearing to resonate with his song.
Jari’s investigation leads him to believe that Race’s insights garnered from the Moon are correct – that there exist countless ways in which the magic of the Land can be invoked. He described the process as feeling paradoxical: to channel the magic one must lose all sense of self and conscious purpose, yet at the same time lightly hold onto a loose intention or goal. He suggested that it might take a long time to fully master such an approach. However, his season of investigation granted him an insight into how he might weave in song to bolster the effectiveness of the semi-Hermetic ritual spells he uses to interact with the powers of the henges. This season he plans to experiment with such magic, to see whether such a musically augmented ritual is possible.
Finally, Terentius reported on his travels through Mynnyd Myddyn and retrieval of vis from various sites. It appears that Myddyn’s tower is naught but moss and weed covered ruins, but other than this sign of decay there were no other signs of change within the Regio.
With discussion of news complete, we turned to activities this season. The only note for here is that, as covenant service, Pyrrhus will extract Vim vis from the aura.
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Later in the season, we received news via the Spymaster of a disturbance in Bridgewater. It appears that several, quite prominent, individuals have mysteriously disappeared over recent weeks. This news coincides with a report from Trevalga that agents of the Cult of the Red Moon may have been extending their activity eastwards into Somerset.
Concerned that the disappearances in Bridgewater are likely connected to the activities of this cult, Terentius decided to take some time away from his personal studies to investigate.
Other than this news, the end of the year passed peacefully.