1237, Autumn
In our previous session of Ars Magica, we had gone to see Brude Deathless to find out about the history of the events which seem to now be occurring. Armed with further information, we of course decide to spend some time sitting in our libraries and reading books.
We (the players) do get a bit distracted in this session, due to the problem with using Google Maps to see where our characters are going. There were some rather nice parts of Scotland we’re exploring, and I happened to wonder what house prices were like in that area. You can get some quite nice houses for not very much at all.
Other than that, there was player level discussion of our plans, and also time spent making ageing checks and learning skills. And yes, I am aware that cannons aren’t available in Europe during this period, but it was amusing.
Pisciculus ex Criamon – Summer 1237
After returning from our visit with Brude Deathless, we decide to do nothing for now. It’s time to settle down and further our studies. For me, it’s reading our book on Corpus magic. The better my power over bodies, the less harm I can do to people when preventing them from harming me or my sodalis.
Jack, Summer – 1237
I spend the summer teaching the young people at my school some basic fighting ability, so they can defend themselves. Mostly though, it is about teaching them to just run away.
There is talk amongst the magi about whether any of my students might be cursed with the ability to work magic like the magi do. Given how much support the magi have given me, I suppose I’d have to let them take someone as an apprentice if that is what they want.
Jack, Autumn – 1237
Aidan mentions that he’s willing to teach people all about Cannons, which seems really interesting. A couple of days into his lectures though, after getting bored hearing him just talk about the Church, I ask him when we’re getting to the interesting stuff. Apparently he meant Canons, which are completely different, and not at all interesting.
When he finds out that I can read and write he offers me some texts on how to teach people. I already know how to shout at people when they get things wrong, so I don’t need to know much more. But I read it anyway to keep him happy. I also draw a few doodles in the margins to make the text more interesting. I think the magi call it “illuminating”. My illuminations mostly involve pictures of men and women. I haven’t figured out how to draw clothes yet.
Pisciculus ex Criamon – Autumn 1237
As the year end approaches, we receive word from the Redcaps about what has been happening over the last few months.
- A powerful earthquake rocked the country, most strongly along the East coast from St Andrews to Aberdeen. But it was the town of Stonehaven which was struck hardest, with several buildings collapsing and many of the townfolk trapped and wounded. Fortunately, a group of travelling scholars were on hand to render immediate medical assistance without which the death toll surely would have been higher. Some of the bodies are yet to be recovered.
- The 1238 Tribunal of Loch Leglean will be held this summer at Loch Leglean covenant. Weighty issues to be discussed are: the incident at Horsingas and the legal status of Horsingas covenant; diplomatic relations with the Stonehenge tribunal; an accusation of scrying against Mage Domhnall ex Miscellania by Maga Mairead ex Miscellania; An accusation of interfering with mundanes and molestation of faeries against Mage Uillean MacGruagach ex Miscellania.
- A group of great flying beasts were observed in the vicinity of Kaervaig cove. However, as the observers were sailors, most are putting this down to drink or adding it to the “bigger fish” story list.
- The hamlet of Ardmair has been found deserted. No people or animals were present. Seaweed was found scattered all about the area, in places draped over the buildings as if trying to drag them into the sea.
Kaervaig Cove is where we went to see Brude. Do we want to check to see if he’s okay? Maybe, but also maybe not. He might not appreciate being disturbed again, and I’m sure he can handle himself.
Jack – Winter, 1238
There is a plan to head to the hamlet of Ardmair, to find out why everyone vanished. Allistair, and Maedbh want to go up there, so I go with them. Blane goes along since he can sail a boat, and Malcolm as a shield grog.
It takes us just three days to get around the coast. We find a nice flat bit of land where we can land the boat. It is quite green, but some of the green is on the hamlet houses. There is strong smell of rotting seaweed wafting across to us. There are no sounds of animals as we approach, not even seagulls.
There are boats pulled up, though they are also covered in seaweed. It really does look like tentacles of seaweed has grown over the houses. The seaweed comes out of the water, stretching across the land and up to the houses. It’s very unnatural.
Allistair casts a spell to see through the water, and reports that the tentacles seem to stretch back to a mass of seaweed deep underwater, heading back into underwater caves a couple of hundred yards from the shore. Whatever happened here seems to have come from the sea, and presumably taken everyone alive back there.
