Spring
Niccolo of Pavia, a student whose life had become too complicated in Italy, and Enrico the Venetian, with complications of his own, met at the Twelve Trees Inn, just West of Lucerne. Questioning the Innkeeper and a local fighting man, they discovered the existence of the "wise men" on the mountain. Both of them decided this would be an ideal place to hide for a while. Arriving at the Covenant they found their skills much in demand, Niccolo as Librarian and Enrico as general organiser of the mundane things neither the magi or Sir Gerard had much time for. Speedily they settled into their respective niches, and said little of their past.
Some time later an expedition was sent to the lakeside to meet with a supply boat. After picking up the supplies they stated to travel back even though it was getting dark. In the darkness, as they walked through the trees, they came upon an odd sight. A tall, dark man, with a noble demeanour, was dragging a large box, as large as a coffin, through the forest. Introducing himself as Karens, he greeted the party saying that his boat had been wrecked upon the lake and he was looking for a place to stay. The grogs that made up the party swiftly found themselves explaining all about the Covenant and its Masters. Declining their offer of company on the road, Karens left alone.
Next night, after the party had returned and explained what they had seen to the magi, there was a hammering at the gates. Karens, it appeared, had dragged his box up the mountain, and desired to speak to the magi. He appeared unwearied by his journey. The magi were instantly charmed by this suave scholar and agreed that he should be allowed to stay, since all he asked was the unused room below ground. In return he offered them some badly needed cash, and, when they could be recovered from Zara, use of his books. Although each magus had a few doubts, none of them raised any objections to Karens residing in their Covenant. Next day Roland the tracker was sent to check whether Karens had indeed dragged his box alone from the lakeside, a heroic feat of strength and endurance. He reported back that this was so.
In the months that followed Karens refurbished the room he had taken tastefully with no regard for cost. All monetary transactions were handled through the Banco St Michel of Venice, who conveniently had a representative in Lucerne. It would be a year before the expedition was sent to Zara, and return with some unwelcome truths.
Summer
The Ghoul of St Lazare
This is a published adventure; I won't spoil it by repeating what happens.
The village of Vezay is situated near the shores of the lake, in the shadow of Mt Pilatus.
Friedrich von Hahne took several grogs with him and barely managed to sort the problem out.
End
Death at Dolgold
Friedrich von Hahne, accompanied by Enrico and several grogs, journeyed to Dolgold to raise the curse from the lady using the Black Wand. Arriving at the town he found an aura of distrust and hatred surrounding the place. At the castle he found Nordegai, the disgraced Tytalus magus, still in chains and roughly used. Sir Brin's lieutenant, Gaston, was noticed later that evening having words with Nordegai, then disappearing out towards Dolgar's villa. Next day Friedrich tried to talk to Nordegai but received only taunts and sly innuendo's for his efforts. Speaking that evening to Gaston, the latter indicated he had persuaded Nordegai to reveal his source of Ignem vis, and would sell the vis to Friedrich at a high price. An argument ensued as Friedrich realised that Gaston had been corrupted by the evil in the villa, and by Nordegai's words. Eventually the two roused each other to such anger that they decided to visit the villa immediately, despite it being night, so that Gaston could show Friedrich what he had found. Sir Brin, now also aware of the corruption of his lieutenant, insisted on accompanying them. Enrico and the grogs, including the shield grog Hans, followed along.
Entering the infernally tainted ruins under the cover of night, Gaston made a beeline straight for the infernal temple. As they approach this dark place an awful foreboding fell upon the party. Some less brave (or more intelligent), including Enrico, chose not to enter, hiding instead in the hall before it. Those entering saw that the alcove at the other end of the temple, containing the altar, was shrouded in darkness, and an evil Presence pervaded the area. Issuing from the darkness came a fearful voice, declaiming that they had all come to offer their souls up to him. Sir Brin, turned on Gaston and declared him a traitor, drawing his sword and attacking. The intense fight that followed did not last long, but ended as both men simultaneously ran each other through, their blood seeping onto the steps in front of the dark alcove.
Pride comes before the fall it is said, what follows is an example of the truth in this.
The sneering voice in the darkness, told Friedrich that now both souls were his, and that Friedrich's would follow at some point. Friedrich, debating with the demon, denied that this was so. The malicious voice told Friedrich that his use of magic and his pride had already damned him. Friedrich's denials grew more heated as he strove to tell the demon that he was beyond the reach of Hell's minions. The firmer his denials became, the more the deadly voice taunted his pride and anger. Eventually, realising that he was losing the argument and that he could not walk away from it, he demanded that Hans knock him out. The feeble blow that followed this statement did nothing but enrage Friedrich further. Reiterating his demand, he told Hans that if he did not succeed then he would suffer for the rest of his short life. Forgetting his earlier reticence, Hans put all his might behind a massive sledgehammer punch. Friedrich fell, smashing his head on the steps with an awful crack that reverberated around the chamber. As the evil voice in the darkness began to laugh, Hans and the others lifted the body of the magus, and escaped into the night.
Arriving upon the hill over the ruins, they checked the magus. Friedrich von Hahne was dead, his skull cracked, killed by his own shield grog, obeying his own command. Later, hearing the story, some would ask why he had knowingly entered an Infernal temple at night, with little thought to the consequences. Most blamed his pride in his own abilities, and an inability to resist the taunts directed at his ego.
Arriving back at the Castle, Enrico and the grogs found an uproar, as the barrack building burnt to the ground (with the prison beneath it). The fire had been so sudden and intense that no one had been able to rescue the prisoner. It was hoped that he had died in the fire. Directing the grogs to arrange an immediate exit, Enrico went to the keep to see what he could find. Exploring the cellars he came upon a locked chest which he managed to open. Inside were 8 large bars of gold, obviously hidden by Sir Brin, and equally obviously untraceable. Carrying the chest up to the courtyard, Enrico decreed an immediate exit of the castle, despite the rigours of the night. Two days later in the graveyard of a small village, Friedrich von Hahne was laid to rest.
Returning to the Covenant, Enrico explained the events that lead to Friedrich's death, and revealed the seven gold bars that were to solve the immediate cash problems bedevilling the Covenant.
End
Autumn
Augustus and Callistro decided that they should investigate Friedrichs's death further, and that some way should be found of dealing with the infernal taint of Dolgar's villa. Once in Dolgold they found that Sir Brin's brother, a local Abbot, had taken charge of the place, and that this cleric and his minions had exorcised the villa. Deciding there was little more they could do, they returned to the Covenant, regretting the waste of a season's research.
Winter
Mercifully, little happened this season, and the three remaining magi were able to continue their researches uninterrupted.
Back to 1197.
Forward to 1199.
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