Augustus awakens to find the Covenant devoid of senior magi, and seemingly lacking in the accoutrements of a powerful Covenant, like a decent library or vis stores. He also has no memory of who the old magi were, even his parens, or of where the Covenant resources had disappeared to. He decides to reinvigorate the Covenant. He accepts the arrival of Sir Gerard, who has been sent by the local mundane authority to keep an eye on things.
The Beast Woman of Dolgold
When investigating the Library, Augustus chances upon the only mundane work, which, although damaged, seems to point to an interesting site of an old magical battle, somewhere south of Augsburg. He, Sir Gerard and a couple of grogs set out to investigate. Arriving at the small town of Dolgold they find some strange happenings involving the disappearance of several townsfolk, and a feud between the several communities that make up the town. The local knight, Sir Brin, was found to have dealings with other magi, in relation to a curse upon his wife, who had been changed into a Troll. In return for their help, Augustus and Sir Gerard were offered a reward in gold. (There is a local gold mine).
After a short search they find the buried Roman villa whose rumour had brought them here. Within the villa undead creatures carrying strange wolf pendants attacked them. Once in the heart of the villa, they discovered a Satanic temple and a library containing works relating to the summoning and control of demons. In the patrician's living quarters they were attacked by the Ghost of Dolgar, the diabolist whose villa this had been.
Returning from looting these chambers they were attacked by the magus Nordegai of Tytalus and four Arabs! The magus openly gloated about his diabolic ties and about an Order of the Wolf. One of the Arabs also displayed some small magics. The combat was proving inconclusive when The Arab suggested a Certamen duel between Augustus and Nordegai to decide who should gain the loot from the villa. Augustus won the duel handily, and the Arabs left, leaving the unconscious Nordegai to be taken prisoner. Also found was a Black Wand which it was felt may help with the curse. Leaving Nordegai to be imprisoned by Sir Brin, Augustus and Sir Gerard returned to the Covenant with the loot, promising to return once the Black Wand had been researched. [Note: later it was confirmed that Nordegai had already been renounced by the Order for diabolism, but had escaped the Wizard's March against him.]
End
Summer
Callistro of House Merinita, having escaped from Irencilla, searched for a new home among the mountainous Alps. Looking for a Covenant with windy prospects he flew across Mt Pilatus and espied Spear Peak Covenant. Landing on the roof, he was soon met by Augustus, who, after a short chat, invited him to join. Augustus privately had doubts about Callistro's humanity, leading later to a clause in the Oath.
Roman Haas Ex Miscellanea returning to the Covenant after a sojourn in the forest, was very surprised to find all the older magi absent. Even more surprising was his lack of memory of the other magi, including his parens, and of how the Covenant used to look. Joining with Augustus and Callistro, he swore the new Oath of the Covenant.
Autumn
Friedrich von Hahne of House Jerbiton, a fashion conscious magus, came looking for a Covenant where he could make his mark. Upon arriving at Spear Peak, he immediately noticed their lack of anyone who would deal with any less than esoteric problems. The other magi were pleased to accept another magus into their ranks, especially one who would take care of the mundane for them.
Augustus chose to investigate the Black Wand found in Dolgold. In it he found the enchantment of The Troll's True Shape, whereby anyone transformed into a troll would revert to his or her true shape. With winter approaching it was decided that Friedrich would go to Dolgold sometime in 1198 to lift the curse and deal further with Nordegai.
Winter
The Giant, The Fae and the Knights
Whilst for much of the season the Covenant is snowed in, on occasion the weather lifts enough for folk to travel down the mountain. On one such occasion, several grogs decided to visit the Twelve Trees Inn, situated at the foot of the mountain on the Luzern to Bern Road. Also situated here is a small smithy. One evening, after a few drinks, the grogs heard a terrible crashing from the smithy. Running out of the Inn the saw a huge Giant, smashing up the smithy. This caused the forge fire to ignite the rest of the building. When they saw the Giant pick up a burning beam from the wreckage, the grogs decided they were out of their depth, and ran for the Covenant in panic.
Arriving at the Covenant, they were soon interviewed by the magi. Unfortunately, this bunch of grogs had particularly poor grammar, and was drunk. The most common word in their explanation of events was "thingy". Eventually, after the magi got the gist of what had happened, Haas and Friedrich went to investigate. At the Twelve Trees, they found that the giant had left northwards, towards the forest. On the way he had destroyed a couple of farmhouses, setting fire to their remains, and equipping himself with a burning beam from each (the previous beam having burnt out).
Once into the forest, the magi and their grogs were aware of anger and a gathering of might, which they took to be the fae of the forest. When fully into the depths of the forest, the party was surrounded by fae, they baleful green and yellow eyes glowing in the darkness. The faerie shepherd, with whom the Covenant has vis dealings, then stepped forward, a terrible anger upon his face. He demanded vengeance for the slaying of one of the "sable kin". Threatening to break the agreement, and withhold the vis, he demanded that the magi destroy whoever was responsible for this atrocity. This they did with some alacrity.
Tacking the giant further, they eventually came across it, and immobilised it without too much difficulty. However they found it to have a mortal festering wound, and to be suffering from severe exposure. Obviously this giant could not normally live in winter conditions. Haas attempted to keep it alive but, even after strenuous efforts, it died. But not before telling its story. The giant lived in an isolated valley, high in the mountains. During the winter it usually kept to its cave, where it was warm. However, a group of men had come with swords and spears. During the conflict that followed one of them had given the mortal wound that had driven the giant off, searching for warmth and succour. Here were the culprits, probably trapped in the valley, according to the giant's tale. After a discussion back at the Covenant it was decided that Augustus, Haas and Friedrich would seek out the knights who had done this. Unsure of the grog's loyalty at this stage, and not wanting any rumours of magi killing knights, they decided to go alone.
After a strenuous march over treacherous paths, the magi eventually reach the valley of the giant. Here they were welcomed as saviours by the three knights, priest and six servants, that they found there. Apparently the giant had killed the knights' guide and they did not know the way out of the mountains. The magi, unsure of whether they could fight these knights, decided to bide their time until an opportunity presented itself. Unfortunately, this camaraderie meant that the magi were cajoled into joining the confession and mass that the knights took - an unwelcome task, as the priest enjoined them to bring all back to civilisation in safety, under God's eye. The magi eventually decided to look for a way to kill the one knight who had inflicted the fatal wound. As they set out it soon became clear that the way to do this would be to collapse an area of path above a ravine. This would require some subtle Terram magic, so as not to cause suspicion among the rest of the party. The deed was done without too many complications and, after farewells to the other knights, the magi returned home, satisfied with their murderous deed.
End
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