Spear Peak

Timeline 1200

This is a published scenario sequel to The Ghoul of St Lazare (4^th ed. Version combines both scenarios under the Festival title).

I won't spoil the scenario by publishing details here. Suffice to say that nearly all the inhabitants of the Covenant were involved in the events in Vezay. Of note is the unsettling reputation of "women-killer" that the grog Aedric gained at this time.

In the hope of getting the Dragon's vis two years in a row, Callistro accompanied by Al-Nasir decided to take his new spell to the contest. As before magi from other Covenants were there first. Clemence of Mercere and Lac Neuchatel again represented his Covenant. High Valley had sent an itinerant Certamen expert, Tempus of Tytalus, to prove a point upon our magi. Insisting that Callistro, as only half human, had no right to represent the Order, Tempus challenged Certamen, with the loser unable to take part in the contest for vis. Against such opposition, Callistro lost the battle, but vowed to raise the issue at the upcoming tribunal. He gave his spell to Al-Nasir to present to the Dragon in his stead. As a taunt to Haas, the High Valley grogs deliberately slew a captive Great White stag in a grisly manner. Since he was not present the taunt fell slightly flat.

Upon entering the caves of the Dragon, Al-Nasir was soon assailed with visions of possible futures for the Order. In each successive vision the Order fell into ruin. Each time Al-Nasir was given a chance to save the Order but each time his actions, whilst staving off disaster in the short term, made the eventual fall that much worse. Eventually recovering from his visions, Al-Nasir found himself and the other magi back outside, at the camp. The contest it seemed had been won by the spell from Lac Neuchatel.

In parting Clemence promised to help guide the Spear Peak magi to the upcoming Tribunal meeting at Valnastium, as they had no idea as to its location.

One night as a great storm struck Mt Pilatus, Augustus and Callistro felt a change in the aura. The magic surrounding them seemed stronger, wilder and more vibrant. Upon meeting the two found that they and they alone, could see a new path had opened leading up the mountain, to areas no one remembered having been before. Unable to take their grogs with them they took the path. The terrors of narrow ledges and tight funnels took some navigating. Their spells were definitely much more powerful, but also wilder and less controllable. Even the storm seemed wilder the further up the mountain they progressed. Several clues told them they were passing through regio boundaries into successively higher aura areas, and with each passage the storm grew wilder.

The storm and the terrain were not the only dangers. The magic abroad seemed to be bringing life to obstacles. A tree in a narrow valley struck out at them and could only be passed after a particularly virulent Pilum of Fire. Later the grave of an ancient magus opened up and the occupant rose to oppose them. It seemed as though something did not wish them to continue, even though they had been invited up the mountain in the first place by the opening of the path. Near the top of the mountain, in a small flat clearing, they found a set of standing stones that had not been seen even when Callistro flew over the mountain. The stones were covered in strange diagrams and glyphs, possibly Astrological. There was also an obvious path leading to the summit, although the storm was so fierce that any journey up it would be very perilous.

Braving the storm they set off up the path, into the highest level of the regio. The magic was so powerful that any spells seemed easy, apart from those with which Callistro tried to affect the storm. These proved singularly ineffectual, proving that the storm was intrinsically linked to the effects.

Upon reaching the summit they found a small ruined building, looking Roman in origin. At its centre was a man sized archway, whose opening glowed, and through which could be seen another landscape of rolling grassy hills. Whilst attempting to investigate this phenomenon Augustus began to have the feeling that he was being watched. Casting The Invisible Eye Revealed, he discovered a group of men watching his every move. Using magics only possible to him in this place, he managed to contact this group. They insisted that it was they who had drawn him up the mountain. His task they said was to re-seal the Bargain, although what the bargain was they would not elaborate. Distrusting their motives, but fascinated by the possibilities, both magi walked through the archway.

They found themselves upon the green rolling hills that they had observed. However there was no other life to be seen. Deciding to explore this empty landscape further they felt drawn in one direction. After over an hour's walk, they espied a magical glow from beyond the next hill. Cresting the hill they saw an archway similar in every respect to the one they had come through. Deciding that this was their destination they attempted to enter, although only Augustus passed through.

He found himself back on top of Pilatus, but his time surrounded by older magi, obviously in the middle of a powerful ritual. On seeing him they let out cries of indignation, followed swiftly by recognition, terming him "only an apprentice". As the others questioned the leader of the ritual whether this was what he had planned, Augustus found his vision sliding down the mountain. Trudging up the mountain he saw himself! As recognition dawned the whole scene became distorted and Augustus found himself back on the grass beside Callistro and an inactive archway.

Returning whence they came, the magi passed through their archway back into the storm. Behind them the keystone of the archway fell to the ground and shattered into dust that was blown away by the storm. Refusing to tell anyone of the details of what had happened, Augustus returned to his lab, whilst Callistro vowed to investigate the regiones of the mountain further.

Days later a proper path up the mountain was discovered. Upon investigation it led easily to the site where Augustus and Callistro had found the standing stones. In place of the standing stones, cherry trees were in place bearing blossom and later cherries that turned out to contain Imaginem and Creo vis respectively. Callistro reasoned that the standing stones existed on a higher level of the regio on the same spot. No path to the summit was found nor any ruins upon it.

 Guided by Clemence of Mercere, Augustus Al-Nasir and Callistro with several grogs set out for the Tribunal meeting at Valnastium. Along the way Clemence explained Tribunal procedure and the relative power of the various Covenants. The Praeco was Hascale Ex Miscellanea, although most magi expected him to enter twilight at any moment. The presiding Quesitor would be Jonah of House Guernicus and Matterhorn Covenant, one of the few attending from that isolated haunt of Tremere and Criamon magi.

Once at Valnastium the magi were amazed at the size of the Covenant. The quarters of the grogs and covenfolk alone were the size of a medium town! The grogs were given temporary lodging here, as no one but magi and the Valnastium senior servants were allowed into the hidden valley that contained the Tribunal Chambers and the sancta of the Valnastium magi. Close by the Tribunal Chambers were six large buildings to house visiting magi, one for each of the other Covenants in the Tribunal. Prestige and seniority decided which Covenants had the best of the chambers, those closest to the Tribunal Chambers. The Cave of Twisting Shadows had always occupied the first building, but some magi were surprised to find that High Valley occupied the second ahead of the Matterhorn whose isolation had obviously cost them.

 On the first day of the meeting it became obvious that the real director of the meeting was Andru, Primus Jerbiton, as he stood by Hascale's throne and interpreted his statements. In this he was abetted by the Quesitor Protanus who posed most of the questions brought by the Quesitores, leaving Jonah to make law rulings.

The first order of business was the listing of magi who had died or entered Final Twilight since the last Tribunal meeting. No one mentioned the senior Spear Peak magi at this stage. Throughout the course of the meeting it became obvious that none of the assembled magi could remember much about them except that they had existed. Even the Quesitorial records were vague.

The second order of business was to witness the oaths of newly guantleted magi, after which the order of business was decided. Callistro's wish to debate his status was over-ruled by the Quesitores ruling that his inception into the order gave him the same rights as any other magus. As well as several minor points and accusations High Valley demanded a discussion of the status of the magi at Spear Peak saying they were illegally in residence and that caretakers from other Covenants (clearly including High Valley) should be sent there. The major discussion was clearly to be about the restrictions of the Oath in interfering in mundane affairs. Both High Valley and their apparent enemies, Lac Neuchatel seemed keen to tread upon this dangerous ground.

The session was declared over for the day and the magi went outside to circulate among themselves. Augustus visited the quarters given over to the Cave of Twisting Shadows where he found five Criamon magi in close conference. So close were they that they often finished one another's sentences and collaborated in spells. After an exercise in oddity, Augustus left knowing more about his House but less about the standing of the Cave on the political issues at hand.

All three Spear Peak magi indulged in vis trading with members of other houses, although Callistro was dissatisfied to find that there was no Auram Vis to be had at any price. It seemed that there were several powerful Auram magi at the Tribunal and that their favour was more of an impetus than that of Callistro. Searching around, both Callistro and Al-Nasir were accosted by one of those magi, Tempestus of Bonisagus and the Matterhorn, who tried to persuade them to become his lab assistants. Neither accepted.

Later, Al-Nasir and Augustus were approached by Alexander of Verditus and Valnastium, who enquired after the "Throne of Pilote", an item that neither magus had heard of. To gain the goodwill of this senior magus they agreed to allow him to search the Covenant for it, and if found, research it.

On the second day, one of the accusations brought nearly lost them their new ally as Alexander was accused of molesting the faeries and bringing their wrath down on other magi. Since no proof was presented, the accuser Marie-Claire of Merinita resorted to Certamen to get Alexander to subject himself to the spells of the Quesitores. Using over a rook of vis, Alexander triumphed in style to cheers from several Valnastium magi.

When the question of Spear Peak arose it appeared that only High Valley had any stake in ejecting the magi from the Covenant. The magi from Lac Neuchatel were noticeable by their support for the magi although few others could be found. Augustus made an eloquent and forceful speech declaring his rights as an ex-apprentice in Spear Peak and current resident. After a close vote in which Alexander led several Valnastium magi in support of Spear Peak the motion was rejected with the proviso that the Quesitores should investigate the disappearance of the old magi.

 Once the session had finished Al Nasir headed for the steam baths where many magi congregated. Circulating around he saw many magi in quiet talks, obviously preparing for the big debate on the morrow. The most interesting conference was that between Brendan of Jerbiton and Lac Neuchatel and Unkaus of Tytalus and High Valley, alleged enemies who had traded accusations and insults during the day. Running into Henri of Jerbiton and Lac Neuchatel he was asked on his opinions of the mundane issue. When Al Nasir answered neutrally, citing the code, Henri was obviously disappointed; inferring that Lac Neuchatel's support during the day should be repaid in the next day's debate.

At the end of the day Finissille of Jerbiton and Valnastium, a senior maga of the house, stopped by the Spear Peak quarters to ensure that they remembered their place as magi on dicey ground, and follow the lead of more sober magi. No threats were offered but the intent was obviously there.

The debate on interfering in mundane affairs proved to be stormy and controversial. It opened with the Lac Neuchatel magi, particularly Brendan, insisting that they should be allowed to use magic in their affairs with mundanes. Since the growth of mundane population had forced magi into closer proximity with them, Lac Neuchatel were forced to use magic just to ensure their position. Counter arguments were put that Lac Neuchatel had brought this upon themselves and could easily survive if they withdrew from mundane affairs completely, renouncing any feudal rights.

Helmuth Bigbeard of Bjornear and High Valley in an angry diatribe pointed out that Lac Neuchatel was just a small example. All over the Tribunal mundanes were infringing on the affairs of magi and threatening vis sources. Severe punitive action was needed to drive the mundanes back, including large numbers of deaths. The ramifications of this statement caused a stir among many magi present and worried looks from Andru and Protanus. Calling quickly for a vote, they hoped to nip such inflammatory speech in the bud. The entire gathered magi of High Valley instantly voted for the relaxing of this section of the code. Turning to the Matterhorn magi, who had with them the sigils of many Tremere magi (even if none were present), Andru was shocked when they abstained, although Shanack and Unkaus nodded and looked satisfied. The magi from Kaiseraugst and Valnastium both voted against the issue, as did the few Criamon present from The Cave of Twisting Shadows.

Marshalled by Baron Albrecht and Brendan, the Lac Neuchatel magi voted for the proposal. The Mercere magi from that Covenant unexpectedly joined them! A shocked hush fell across the assembled magi before the Redcaps from Valnastium and Kaiseraugst jumped up to oppose them. The votes so far being equal, all eyes turned to the three magi from Spear Peak who had remained silent throughout the debate.

Callistro indicated abstention, but Augustus and Al Nasir, after a brief conference, voted against the proposal, bringing sighs of relief from the Quesitor benches.

Jonah of Quesitor rose to declare that the proposal could not have been passed anyway and called upon the Tribunal to censure Lac Neuchatel for even raising it. At this Baron Albrecht shouted in disgust, and stormed from the meeting, followed by the other magi from Lac Neuchatel. Without them the motion of censure was swiftly passed, supported by the delegation from High Valley. The Tribunal was then swiftly closed before any further surprises could arise.

Although Lac Neuchatel left Valnastium immediately, the magi of High Valley were noted partying late into the night that followed. They obviously revelled in the chaos and antagonism that had occurred and the disgrace of their enemies from Lac Neuchatel.

The Spear Peak grogs too, had a run in with High Valley. On the second night, Stephan had returned to their quarters after being attacked and beaten up by High Valley thugs. In response Sgt Gerhard arranged a late night raid upon the High Valley quarters, where the Spear Peak grogs gained access to the enemy dormitory and catching them sleeping, ran along the line striking their legs with large clubs. Making a swift exit, the two parties were kept apart subsequently by the efficient Valnastium men-at-arms.

As the magi were due to leave, Al Nasir was approached by Adolphus of Tremere and Valnastium, who invited him to stay for a few seasons. He had proved himself reliable in the vote and so Valnastium could offer him study opportunities not available to Spear Peak. It was obvious that Adolphus felt that the Tremere representative at the Covenant needed a boost. During the following three seasons Al Nasir was allowed to study from restricted books on Rego written by both Jerbiton and Tremere themselves.

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