1231, Summer – Ratomancy

Maedbh ex Merinita wants to raise the question about what to do about Dierdre. She is a Tytalus maga who has caused trouble up in Loch Leglean, though we don’t have definite proof of that. She has wiped out a monastery, and unleashed undead upon the land.

Maedbh drags me along to speak with Caitlin ex Merinita. Maedbh explains to her that something that wasn’t written down in the report was about the attack on the royal monastery. It was done by someone called Dierdre, and the options are an ex Misc from Arbroath Covenant and an ex Tytalus from Non Metuens – the latter of which is now here complaining about attacks by Horsingas on Stonehenge. It seems far more likely that the maga responsible is the Tytalus.

Caitlin agrees we might be able to use this against them, but that we also do want to try and reign in Horsingas covenant (who consider themselves to be Saxons, and who have a strong hatred of the ‘Norman’ nobility to the south) before things get out of hand. There is a discussion about the difficulties in dealing with members of House Tytalus, who are firm believers that growth is only possible through strife.

That evening I have a bath followed by dinner. There is discussion amongst the magi as previously, but I head to bed before anything really exciting happens in order to prepare for the seminar I’m presenting tomorrow with Allistor.

The next day, we are introduced by Radislav ex Criamon, and I start by discussing the use of rats in mazes to uncover the underlying nature of the universe. It kicks off a number of questions, initially about whether other animals can be used, and Maedbh tries to encourage the use of faeries. Could a maze be constructed across a regio boundary? A member of House Verditious starts talking about ways of constructing a device to get rats into a maze. A Bonisagus claims the right to begin an in depth investigation into ‘Ratomancy’.

Afterwards, discussion spreads out into all sorts of topics about Hermetic magic. I do try to notice what the Stonehenge magi are getting involved with, but don’t manage to get more than the occasionally glimpse of them – they’re probably lurking somewhere and being up to no good.

The following day starts perfectly normally. I spend some time discussing with Radislav ex Criamon about suitable caves to use for the next step on my path.

Over the course of the day, it becomes clear that there’s quite a bit of resentment that Voluntus covenant is here to to raise complaints against magi of Loch Leglean. But Horsingas does not have a great reputation, and a lot of the other covenants of Loch Leglean dislike them. So whilst the magi seem to have strong feelings on the matter, they aren’t sure who they like the least. Maedbh comments at one point that she just wants to punch both of them.

One thing that I notice is that the only time I’ve seen Maedbh speak to a Merinita magus was when she was talking to Caitlin. Then it occurs to me that I haven’t seen any Merinita at all other than Maedbh and Caitlin. Asking around, it turns out that the Merinita have been hiding out in a building by themselves and not mingling with the others. I mention it to Maedbh, who is surprised. Apparently nobody told her about this secret meeting of her House.

The next day is the debate on the matter of Horsingas and Stonehenge.

The Praeco brings the meeting to order and gives a short speech about how the Order of Hermes is a single united entity across Europe, and that we should conduct ourselves with the knowledge that we are brothers and sisters, using use logic and reason rather than emotion.

He then invites Pieter ex Bonisagous to describe the case that Stonehenge want to bring. Pieter begins talking about Bonisagous being the founder of the Order, and then goes on to describe historical cases where conflict between wizards has resorted to Wizard Wars. There has never been a case of one Tribunal taking action against another Tribunal. If it were to happen, then the Order itself would probably step in.

Then he goes on to list a large number of times when Horsingas had crossed the border to interfere with Stonehenge. Most of his argument seems to be that one shouldn’t get involved in the politics of mundanes, and Horsingas’ actions are motivated by political reasons – namely that as Saxons they hate the Normans who conquered England (165 years ago – one would have thought they’d have forgotten by now).

I point out that most of his arguments are based on the rules that forbid providing aid to nobles. Horsingas are not doing that. They may be politically motivated, but they aren’t really breaking the Code of Hermes there. They are possibly stirring up the mundanes against the Order though, but that is a different matter.

They also have failed to list situations where Horsingas have actually been caught using magic, so they would just be seen as border reavers and not magi.

Pieter falls back on the argument of Horsingas just being bad neighbours, and if they continue then they might get twatted. He probably doesn’t realise that he’s probably lost the argument for a lot of the magi here – who would love to see Horsingas get twatted. However, though Horsingas are dicks, they are our dicks. And what’s wrong with raiding? It’s an important part of the local culture! Pieter ex Bonisagous is being culturally insensitive.

The general feeling seems to be coming around to the point that the raiding is something that we do, and Stonehenge should get better at defending itself; and that they should just stop being dicks. I mutter that maybe if Horsingas want to bother Normans, maybe they want to focus on Lord Goulis and his ‘Lidless’. With help from Maedbh, a few others start picking up on the idea. Maedbh also starts a discussion about why was the Flambeau allowed in, and doesn’t he deserve a kick in the head? Apparently the magi of Loch Leglean hate the Flambeau. I seem to recall something a while back that involved Flambeau coming up this way burning magi they didn’t like. As a non-native, I don’t quite get all the local hatreds. Not that we didn’t have our own in Thebes.

Eventually, votes are called on whether the Tribunal will penalise the covenant of Horsingas. This is voted down quite clearly, 80-20. Will Horsingas be censured? That is also voted against, but a closer 60-40. As a demonstration that they are a covenant in good standing though, they will investigate the matters in the North – the details of which to be discussed tomorrow. This final motion is carried almost unanimously. 

There is a final vote on whether they should refrain from raiding into Stonehenge. The motion is rejected with a small majority.

After the session, things relax a bit more. Not only has the issue with Stonehenge gone okay as far as Loch Leglean is concerned, there might also be a positive movement on tomorrow’s session as well.

Talking to the Stonehenge magi, it seems they would have preferred a better outcome, but weren’t really expecting one.

The next day there is a discussion about Lord Goulis – a discussion that the Stonehenge magi are barred from. It seems that things in the North are worse than we’ve heard. There have been a lot of battles, and casualties have been high. The dead have then been raised and joined the Lidless. Magic seems to be used on both sides, but it doesn’t seem to be Hermetic magic.

There have been rumours that Lord Goulis is calling on dark powers – even though he is fighting on the side of the King, and is also fighting against the Lidless. It is probably down to him that the undead hordes are being kept in check. So he’s using dark magics, but fighting darker magics?

Most magi don’t want to go anywhere near the area. However that issue isn’t as big as it was thought it was going to be, since it’s already been decided that it’s now Horsingas’ problem to investigate. Everybody is relieved that there is a plan.

On the final day, it is mostly speeches and a chance to clarify the decisions made on the previous days. During the final parties, someone does eventually try to deck the Stonehenge Flambeau – who turns out to be skilled in unarmed combat.

As thanks for the work done in investigating the fey issues over the previous seven years, we are granted 14 pawns of vis in payment. We ask for 4 Creo, 4 Rego and 2 in each of the other Techniques.

There is a final trade on books, and we manage to arrange the following trades:

• We get a Perdo 12/12 in exchange for providing a Creo 12/12.
• We get a Vim 14/11 in exchange for a Intellego 12/12
• We get a Corpus 14/12 in exchange for a Muto 12/12

Which means we will be spending the next couple of seasons copying books.