1240, Autumn 3

We are back at our covenant, and we have information on where the faerie magi might be performing their ritual at the end of the year. The Diedne are of the opinion that we should ambush them, and I guess kill them. This doesn’t seem like a great idea to me.

However, the magi we are up against seem to be down a path that could lead to massive harm to the world. Quaesitor Whitburh Frithowebba might be able to give us permission to use scrying, otherwise we are in a very shaky legal position when it comes to trying to figure out what is happening.

From what we can tell, there are a number of magi involved, from a variety of different covenants. They are all of House Merinita though:

• Alois – Fithich Spog (Arch Mage)
• Imogen – Rupres Vitri
• Finlay – Mhor Retri
• Eabha – Winter Wind (dead)
• Cion & Ciara Dun Naomhaig

There is a long conversation about our options. They will be casting a big, complicated ritual involving human sacrifice. If something would happen to distract them during the casting of the ritual, then there would probably be a good chance of them losing control of their magic. They might go into Twilight. They might destroy themselves. However, doing anything to harm another magus is very much against the Code, which gives us a big legal complication.

We go to visit the Quaesitor at the newly being rebuilt Horsingas covenant. Whitburh has her sanctum in a small cottage. We meet there, since we want to have a very private conversation with her about what we know. Somehow, we need to do this without her suspecting that we think that the magi on the magical island aren’t all descendents of House Diedne.

We tell her that there are a couple of groups, one of which is involved with keeping Damhan-Allaidh imprisoned, and a second group that are seeking to destabilise things. We think the latter lot probably think they are doing it simply for their own gain of magical power, but are being influenced by Damhan-Allaidh to ultimately free him.

She says that there are secrets that the Quaesitor have kept from the rest of the order, about various bad things that have happened before. Generally, such things are dealt with, and quietly forgotten.

She thinks something must be done, but we must be careful. She thinks it would be best for everybody if this problem were to go away, without the need for show trials. Because the information is dangerous. She doesn’t see a reason to interfere with those trying to keep the Spider locked up, and doesn’t ask too many questions about them. Which is good. Either she suspects and doesn’t want to talk about it, or trusts us.

It is mostly Maedbh outlining the information, and me bringing up some legal concerns about us getting involved. As far as the investigation of a potentially diabolic group conducting human sacrifice and creating earthquakes goes, she is willing to provide us with authority to act as Quaesitors in scrying and putting things to an end.

However, she does want it done on the quiet, so that it doesn’t need to go to trial once it is all over. So no witnesses, and no mass carnage.

Personally, I really don’t want to be trying to kill anyone. Bu they are causing a lot of harm and suffering in what they are doing. Talking to them very probably won’t work, and if it fails it tells them that we know about them, and leads to them killing us.

Since they have a potential Arch Magus in their group, our only chance of putting a stop to them is to surprise them and put them down before they have any chance of responding. Our chances are low, but that’s not the bit I don’t like. Harming others is the bit I don’t like.