Scribed by Theoclea
Spring 1327 AD
Through Terentius’ determined efforts, in defiance of his House and perhaps fate itself, I am afforded the privilege to record the history of our covenant once again. Of my imprisonment deep below Mynydd Myddyn and my return to the Order, I shall not dwell save only to offer my deepest thanks to those who fought for me. Some made sacrifices which are well evident to others, but others paid a price which is less acknowledged. Let me record here my gratitude and my sorrow for all that was given up, and taken on, to grant me a future. In the time which has been bought for me, I know well my responsibility. Know that I shall not retreat from it, nor spare myself whatever sacrifice is needed to achieve it.
Like my aunt, Hypatia, I have spent time in the tutelage of Myrddyn. However, my tuition took on a very different form. My experience within the crystal cave can only be described as a chaotic and incoherent storm of memory:
Imagine standing in the centre of a tempest with countless pages of a seemingly endless tome being swept around you. A page lands in your hand but, even as you try to make sense of the words, it is snatched away and replaced by another. This book relates not only to the story of one life, but of many. It relates to events across an eon of time presented without care for chronology. It relates to an esoteric practice of magic, not only different from but often at odds with everything I have been taught. That might give you a flavour of my experience and the difficulty now in acting upon it.
When not dealing with the Order and my brother, I have spent some time just trying to make sense of it all. Attempting to record the experience is frustrating. My memories are vivid yet also hard to interrogate. It is as if these experiences lie within a liminal space, available to intuition but denying conscious scrutiny. Given this difficulty, I have tried recording my dreams, where Myrddyn’s countless lifetimes play out in my sleep. Upon waking, I sometimes have a tantalising glimpse of meaning within the maelstrom, only to find myself puzzled and confused the more I think on it.
One example of these efforts at introspection is my attempt to recall the prophecy of Taliesin. The memories Myrddyn shared with me contain the words, but my efforts to piece them together has taken time.
I experience them spoken in that ancient Cymric tongue which, though I am much more versed now, I have yet to master to the level of Latin. I am convinced there is more to it – additional verses which I can recall in dream but evaporate with the dawn. There are also words and phrases which have no direct correspondence in the Roman tongue, which I have been forced to approximate. Whilst I shall record this translation, I fear many layers of meaning have been lost along with that great poet’s meter.
With that caveat, let me recount what I remember:
---
Listen! See here an apple, bright and full of colour,
Suspended in a sea of stars,
Skin green as forests deep,
A land stretching farther than your eye.
From ripe surface, this apple is fair and sweet,
Yet ‘neath this bright flesh,
In a realm ‘tween living and the dead,
Stirs the great wyrm gnawing at its core.
You see, fair features belie the deep rot within this radiant orb,
From feasting silent in its secret cell,
It spreads forth through hidden veins,
The earth trembling in its sinuous wake.
His warring passions roused ever by his vain conceits,
Man is blind to his coming doom,
Even as the heavens darken,
The thund’rous presage remains unheard.
‘Ere the last gate closes and the fair retreat,
The wise make themselves fools,
Then reaches the hand of death,
Sickness swelling in its shadow.
A parent can n’er bury a child before in turn shall die,
Men beg mercy of the fates,
Yet their gods are silent,
Impotent against this storm.
Bound now in eternity to cold, uncaring stars.
Yoked to that iron wheel,
The great song is ending,
Forever into silence as the last note fades.
---
As has been related in the past, Myrddyn has a troublesome reputation. Many legends speak of him highly as the greatest of all sorcerers and, in the same story, cast condemnation on his apparently reckless ambition. I believe some of this paradox stems from his defiance; his sheer refusal to accept fate. It is clear to me that he understood something of the threat we now face – the fated death of magic – and desired to make his last act within the world one of rebellion against it. This resistance against the tyranny of fate and its agents, whether mortals or in the guise of gods, now lives in me. And in this, I am glad to say, I am not alone.
However, to break free from the ‘iron wheel’ of fate is not a simple task. My hope is that I can use Myrddyn’s memories within the crystal cave to make better sense of the methods I might use to ensure that my sodales and the ‘great song’ survive this terrible prophecy.
This journal relates already our recent unsuccessful attempt to reach the cave, and also that venture by which Terentius and Pyrrhus which rediscovered it; though their efforts to return created a rent in the veil between levels of the regio. To repair this tear in the fabric of magic, Branwen and Terentius sought out the aid of the goddess Ceridwen. Our council meeting began with news of this:
Whilst neither Terentius nor Branwen gave details, it was clear from their demeanors that the price for Ceridwen’s aid was steep. However, whatever it was, the price appears to have been met and we have a magical ‘thread’ which can be used to make the repair. Branwen reported that the final ingredient was a needle, thrice blessed in the light of the full moon, which she will attend to over the course of this season.
Last time such a rent was formed, it appears to have created a pathway to the lands of the dead – with ghosts and spirits threatening to spill forth into the mortal world until sealed again. On this occasion the character of the injury to the regio appears different; Terentius and Pyrrhus reporting a strong sense of twilight. This obviously makes any attempt to repair the rift exceptionally hazardous. Whilst Terentius has spent time learning the basics of the craft of needlework, the extreme proximity required to make repair risks that he could be drawn into that remnant of the magical maelstrom which once dominated the regio. If that was not difficult enough, the two magi believe that there is some great beast or monster lurking within the underground lake close to the location of the rift.
To mitigate some of this risk, Jari agreed to accompany Terentius and use Arcanus’ ritual to try to anchor him against the storm of twilight. He noted ruefully that the casting of the ritual was, in itself, a potential risk. Though, weighed against the inevitable prospect of Terentius coming into contact with the rift and – if he fell into twilight – failing our single chance to make repair, this risk was deemed necessary. Whilst Jari and Terentius are engaged with the rift, Pyrrhus will guard against whatever creature lurks in the deeps of that lake lest it is disturbed by their extended presence.
Jari reported on his studies in Blackthorn, where he was able to access a tome written by Arcanus which provided something of a lengthy report on that Criamon’s investigations into the ancient past and the origins of magic within Britain. Within this record, Jari found many reports of lost settlements and standing stones investigated by Arcanus over the years. He wasn’t able to determine from this the location of the ’13 henges, of which 12 are true’. Jari speculated that this record may have been laid down before Arcanus derived this belief – or perhaps the Criamon deliberately avoided including this detail in the work he planned to contribute to the Great Library.
To continue this research, Jari plans to investigate the strange lines of magical power he perceives at sites he has investigated recently. He is keen to better understand what these represent, how they might interact with the dominion, and whether they might eventually lead him to other great henges hidden away within the isles. The investigation he makes this season shall be counted as covenant service.
For my part, this season I shall travel to the court in London to glean what I can regarding mundane news and continue my efforts to repair my brother’s trust towards the wider Order (not to mention his tolerance of the risks I will inevitably need to take to help prevent the destruction of magic). Whilst I am in court, I shall arrange for relevant papers and letters of introduction to be drawn up so that Pyrrhus and Jari might make use of the libraries and resources within the King’s College at Gloucester. Jari is keen to map the locations of important sites and their lines of power and hopes to learn something of the skills of a cartographer.
Lastly, Terentius spoke of the invaluable help he had received from our spymaster over the course of the previous season and recommended to council that we consider creating a longevity potion for him within the next couple of years. The council readily accepted this suggestion.
Whilst Naevius will extract vim vis from the aura as service to the covenant this season, Branwen, Pyrrhus and Terentius were engaged in personal study. Following the recasting of the Aegis of the Hearth, I departed to Lydney to join an escort to London.
Summer
Our council met and related news from the previous season. I began by explaining events at court.
Whilst I had thought my brother looked tired and perhaps a little pale when I arrived in London early in spring, it was only later in the season that I discovered that he was quite gravely unwell and had been so for several months.
Meanwhile, there were several important issues debated whilst parliament was in session. Prominent amongst them: the matter of a treaty with Scotland. Since Robert de Brus successfully rallied the fractious clans to his banner and scored a great victory against the English, there has been years of conflict as the two countries vied for control of the border regions. These battles and skirmishes have produced no decisive outcome and, ravaged by conflict and poor harvests, the people of the north have suffered great hardship as a result.
After such an extended period of fighting, my brother is keen to secure this border, especially as a great many of his forces are currently arrayed in Ireland to suppress rebellion and upon the continent securing lands returned under the treaty with Charles the Fair six years ago. On that second matter, there has arisen a dispute over certain castles and lands in Gascony which the English consider part of this arrangement but have yet to be returned. To resolve this argument, Queen Isabella volunteered to intercede on Urbanus’ behalf and travelled to Paris with a contingent of English nobles last year, hoping to persuade Charles to fulfil the treaty.
With these diverse demands on English forces, a treaty which would recognise the independence of Scotland and formalise the border between the countries has been drawn up. As part of this treaty, the Scottish would relinquish Notham and Bamburgh castles in Northumbria and the English will return Lochmaben and Caerlaverock castles in Dumfries. This should secure some measure of stability and peace within the region, though the proposal is controversial with a number of lords who would effectively be giving up claims to land within what would be recognised as Scotland. The Dukes of York and Northumberland have been broadly supportive of the treaty. Cumberland was initially lukewarm, though Urbanus eventually persuaded him of its benefits. Norfolk, Westmorland and several Marcher lords were fiercely in opposition to the plan. This comes as little surprise, given that these nobles would lose their claims to lands over the border – in some cases lands far greater than those they hold in England. They protested that this treaty represented the King attempting to seize lands from them, in contravention of the Great Charter. Thus, the debate in parliament was acrimonious. However, after long days of argument, my brother was eventually successful in securing parliament’s assent.
Following days of intense and lengthy debate, Urbanus fell ill and the parliament came to a premature close. Only by interrogating his physician did I discover that my brother has had grave difficulty breathing at night and suffered long coughing fits which often produce blood from his lungs. It appears that he developed this illness over the winter, something that developed shortly after his return from Ireland last year. The royal physician said that the King appeared to make something of a recovery after several weeks of illness, though it is evident that he is not broken free from the disease.
I was finally able to gain a private audience and used magic to examine him. The spell revealed evidence of a stubborn infection deep in his lungs. My knowledge of medicine is insufficient to know his prognosis for certain, but it appeared very serious to me. I understand why he would seek to keep such news secret from the Dukes, Earls and Barons who came to gather in London for parliament, but I was disturbed that he elected to also keep it secret from me. Whilst he claimed he only sought to protect me from worry, I confess I scolded him severely for not revealing his illness.
The council questioned whether there had been any magic involved, given the machinations of the unnamed House and remnants of Corpus Dominii in years past. I was unable to confirm or refute this as I have not the spells to determine active or lingering magic. In the absence of evidence for magical involvement, I was working on the assumption that this disease had a mundane origin.
I raised the prospect of using magic to assist his recovery. Pyrrhus reminded the council that we had in store a potion with the effect of ‘Gentle Touch of the Purified Body’, which already has vis imbued. This enchantment might bring an end to the infection but would not repair the damage already done by the disease. There was a question as to whether this magic would be effective, as there are some particularly virulent diseases for which it is insufficient. Furthermore, it is most unlikely that the King would be fit to travel, thus the potion would need be used within the dominion – meaning that it could fail due to the hostility of the aura. As an alternative, the flambeau went on to suggest that he and Marcellus could potentially brew an alchemical curative, though this would require at least a season to create. Given that my brother’s health appears to be getting worse with time, it seemed sensible to attempt to use the potion and explore other options if it was ineffective.
The attitude of the council was not whole square behind this plan, however. Terentius reminded us that my brother had made an explicit threat against the Order in the past – though in response to what he perceived as a threat against my life. He noted that Urbanus has not always acted morally – most notably in his dealings in Ireland – and had also fallen under the sway of Hibernius, suggesting a weakness of character.
Whilst accepting these flaws, the council was reminded that the survival of the Order in Stonehenge was greatly assisted by its relationship with the crown, and that the loss of this relationship would undoubtedly cause hardship for us. Were my brother to succumb to this disease, his son is yet far too young to succeed him. Edward was born in the Autumn of 1323 – so he is not yet 4 years old – and his succession to the throne might be contested by any number of rivals over the years before he reaches majority. Beyond the hardships of a potential civil war, whosoever prevailed in such contest might have little knowledge of the Order or hold no good intentions towards us.
The council appeared minded to provide the potion, but a second question emerged regarding the legality of doing so. Given my brother has been declared an ally of the Stonehenge Tribunal and, in years past, hosted a number of magi at court to defend him against magical assassination, I felt that this would surely represent a small intervention. However, others were less convinced and so I agreed to make the long journey to Borri-Tor to seek the ruling of Romanus before travelling back to London with the potion.
With this matter agreed, the council moved on to Mynydd Myddyn. With the thread obtained and the needle suitably prepared, Terentius, Jari and Pyrrhus plan to delve into the caves and attempt to repair the tear in the fabric of veil accidentally created last year. The prospects for misadventure are high: we believe there is some monstrous creature within the large underground lake close to the rent which might be disturbed by activity so close to its lair; Jari must successfully cast a powerful and not-entirely-Hermetic ritual to anchor the magi against the ravages of twilight; and finally Terentius must use the needle and thread to make a successful repair. There is much that can go wrong but the alternative is to leave this rift to potentially grow and consume the region – producing a storm of wild magic which could indefinitely prevent travel to the crystal caves.
Thus, this season the three magi will travel to Mynydd Myddyn and attempt this feat. Naevius encouraged them to take what covenant resources and personnel they might need to maximise the chances of success.
Branwen also proposed a covenant service. She hopes to call a council of the trees to see whether the old power of the forests might help us weather the shadow from the east. Whilst she plans to seek out a copy of the ritual to learn at a future date, she needs to locate a suitable location where the council might be called. For obvious reasons, a location in the wild areas of our own forest is unlikely to be suitable. Branwen reasonably expects that Jack’s influence would mean that the debate would be likely hostile to the interests of men. For similar reasons, she argued that the old forest surrounding Cad Gadu would also be inappropriate. This season, she would like to scout a range of alternative options, such as the former covenant of ‘Halls of the Forest’ or perhaps the ancient woods at Avebury. Whilst the latter has proved dangerous in the past, the former location holds promise. The woods there have been tended historically by druids – and currently by their ghosts – so it is possible that the trees may hold humanity in higher regard than elsewhere.
With this agreed, Naevius began to bring the council to a close when Jari volunteered something of his investigation into ley lines last year. Jari thinks that something of his former capability to navigate faerie trods, an ability which emerged after his interaction with the shining one, may have changed rather than become lost after the retreat of the faerie from our world. It appears that he has discovered a way to swiftly travel along these lines of power. There was speculation as to whether these were the ‘old roads’ that Hypatia was able to travel – allowing her to swiftly reach London from the Dean in years past. I was also reminded of one of Myrddyn’s memories, where he transported a large body of Uther’s men from the Westcountry to support Aurelius who was besieged by Vortigern. In the memory, I can see Myddyn at Stonehenge conducting some sort of rite or magic and, I believe, the intent was to use these ‘old roads’ so that Uther could relieve his brother. Jari is evidently keen to further experiment with this ability in future.
With the meeting concluded, I wished the magi travelling to Mynydd Myddyn good fortune before leaving to begin my journey to Borri-Tor.
Autumn
Returning to the covenant towards the end of summer, I was relieved to discover that my sodales had safely returned from Mynydd Myddyn. At council they briefly related their adventure. It appears that they had become scattered whilst trying to follow Jari along an ‘old road’ into the regio. Whilst Jari and Terentius were able to locate Pyrrhus, they were unable to recover the two grogs that had accompanied them. Whilst loathe to leave them lost somewhere between the mundane world and the regio proper, they determined to press on with their mission rather than delay any longer.
Upon reaching the veiled hills they found the region encompassed by a storm originating from an area above the valley through which the deep cavern system could be reached. Dark swirling clouds occasionally flashed with lightning that was tinged with wild magic. The magi described the arduous journey across the hills, battling strong winds all the while. However, they successfully reached the valley and made their way into the caves beneath.
From there, they made their way through the winding passages towards the location of the rift. The boundaries between the levels of the regio proving difficult to traverse – the magi forced to retrace their steps on many occasions. At last, they found themselves at the shore of the underground lake – the damage to the veil appearing as a luminous cleft in the air, emanating chaotic waves of subtle twilight.
Taking pains to make as little noise as possible, in the hope that whatever monstrous creature in the lake would remain undisturbed, Jari began the casting of the ‘Wizard’s Anchor’. During the long period of the casting, Terentius and Pyrrhus noticed a disturbance in the water. Guessing that the magi had been discovered, Pyrrhus used magic to raise a stout wall of stone to occlude the passageway between them and water’s edge. The creature attacked this barrier – with claws and an icy enchantment. The magi think it was a draconic entity of some kind, most likely a wyrm with forelegs – sometimes called a ‘Lindwyrm’.
It continued to attack the wall and Pyrrhus became concerned that the intense cold might weaken the fabric of the barrier. He tried using Ignem magics to contest the frost which had begun to envelope the structure, though this appears to have only accelerated the damage to it. In the end he summoned a second wall closer to the site of the ritual, and this appears to have been successful at preventing the wyrm from reaching them.
Despite the quantity of vis involved and the hazards inherent when casting an unfamiliar ritual, Jari was successful in the casting. Fortified against the wild magic surrounding the rift, Terentius took up the magical needle and thread to begin the work of repair. It sounds like the first wall may have been breached by the wyrm, at least partially. However, Pyrrhus’ wise plan to erect a secondary wall served to prevent the beast from interfering with the mission. With careful stitches, Terentius sealed the rift – and the magi swiftly left the location as quickly as they could.
On the return journey, the magi noted that the storm had all but abated. They were also able to locate and retrieve Norman – one of the grogs they had lost on the way in. It seems he had been forced to survive for several weeks whilst the magi delved into the caves. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the other soldier.
The council congratulated them for the success of the mission. The vis Jari used to cast the ritual being repaid from the covenant’s reserves.
Next, Branwen outlined her exploration of the old forest surround the long-abandoned covenant near Clun. It seems that some of the trees in this region are awakened and able to converse – though in that ancient form of Welsh that few in the covenant can speak. Branwen was able to use magic to speak to one of them and reported that – long ago – a wizard called a council of the trees in the central grove which lies within a regio close to the ruins of the covenant. It seems likely this was Llandoddwyn – given we know he frequented the site – though the identity of this wizard was not confirmed. During her exploration, Branwen found two sites which appear to be vis sites registered to Blackthorn. One of these is a collection of stones – though further investigation of the site would need discussion with the council of that covenant.
On her return journey, Branwen reported that many of the farms and villages she travelled through appeared concerned. The weather has been damp for much of the season and once again people are worried that it will be a poor harvest. Our steward has standing orders to take additional coin to ensure we meet our needs and maintain a sizable reserve of food, but the prospect of food shortages again means that prices could rise steeply over the year.
I related my visit to Borri-Tor and subsequent journey to London. Senior Quaesitor Romanus appeared surprised that I had made the long journey to the northern border of England to ask for his ruling on the matter. He was firmly of the opinion that providing a modest curative, whose effects were subtle enough to be explained through herbal or alchemical skill, was entirely justified given the Tribunal ruling on its relationship with the King. He gently implied that I had wasted time seeking out an unnecessary ruling on the matter.
Slightly frustrated, I made the journey back south again to London. Here I was able to deliver the potion and use ‘Reveal the Flaws of Mortal Flesh’ to confirm that the enchantment had successfully halted the progress of the disease. Whilst my brother still has damage to his lungs which may still leave him out of breath through exertion, there is no longer any sign of active disease.
The season continued peacefully with all magi within the covenant engaged in personal study and experimentation.
Gaines arrived just after the equinox with some additional news. Most notable were reports that a new college has been founded in Cambridge. The magi of Narwold have announced that they have contacts within the University and can afford some access to members of the Tribunal. Further afield, in the East, there was news that a large army of the Ottoman Turks have been attacking towns and cities belonging to the Byzantine empire. Some of these attacks have occurred within the area claimed by the independent splinter of the Order. Apparently, a great force of over ten thousand men were led by Sultan Orhan the first were successful in besieging and then capturing the city of Bursa. Gaines says this city lies only about 50 or 60 miles to the south of Constantinople – as the crow flies – suggesting that magi of Thebes may yet come under threat from this Turkish invasion.
Lastly, he reported that poor harvests across much of Europe have left to extreme price rises and shortfalls in food in many of the great cities. This situation has not been helped by renewed conflict between some of the great city states along the coast of the mediterranean. It appears ships belonging to Genoa and Venice have been involved in several large engagements and smaller skirmishes at sea, impeding the passage of trade across the region. Magi are warned to be especially careful should they seek passage to Verdi.
There was little discussion of this news, though Terentius remarked that it was curious that there were no signs of any disease emerging from the lands of the east. Given that the Turks appear strong enough to take on the Byzantine Empire, it implies that – despite it being a significant period since the first visions and portents of the threat – there is yet no evidence of this terrible plague. This is true. If memory serves, it was back in the Summer of 1316 that we first received warning of this terrible shadow arising in the east.
On the one hand, this is extremely good news; the lack of any notable plague arising in the east implies we have time yet to continue searching for ways to defend ourselves. This is time we need as none of our ideas have thus far provided a solution.
On the other, the absence of any evidence of a threat for so many years may mean that members of the Order may begin to question the veracity of the warning or – in the face of so many other events and threats more immediate and local – become distracted or forget the warnings. Given the Order’s capacity for bickering amongst themselves and ignoring impending disaster, this may become a cause for concern.
The rest of the season passed peacefully. The only event to note is that he harvest across the region was poor again and we were forced to spend additional coin to maintain our supplies and reserves.
Winter
The council meeting was a short affair after a quiet season.
There was a little discussion regarding the character of the various henges, stone circles and similar structures that Jari might investigate. Jari had reviewed some of the records at Blackthorn to identify examples of such sites registered as sources of vis and found some belonging to Blackthorn, Cad Gadu and Erus Aquilae – with potentially some additional sites belonging to Holy Isle on Anglesea. He plans to send letters to ask for permission to visit them and make an investigation.
It was noted that the isles of Britain are home to countless barrows and cairns, man-made hills and stone markers. There must be many hundreds – perhaps thousands – of such old sites within Stonehenge Tribunal alone (let alone Loch Leglean, Hibernia and Normandy). Jari could perhaps spend decades searching and investigating and yet not visit them all – a task he likely won’t have time to complete even if he were so minded! How many of them are even remotely relevant to our goal?
However, no great insight or conclusion was generated from this discussion – so I suppose it is something Jari will have to decide as he goes along.
With all magi electing to remain in the covenant and focus on their magical studies, it was another quiet season with no events to report.
Thus ended the year.
Spring 1327 AD
Through Terentius’ determined efforts, in defiance of his House and perhaps fate itself, I am afforded the privilege to record the history of our covenant once again. Of my imprisonment deep below Mynydd Myddyn and my return to the Order, I shall not dwell save only to offer my deepest thanks to those who fought for me. Some made sacrifices which are well evident to others, but others paid a price which is less acknowledged. Let me record here my gratitude and my sorrow for all that was given up, and taken on, to grant me a future. In the time which has been bought for me, I know well my responsibility. Know that I shall not retreat from it, nor spare myself whatever sacrifice is needed to achieve it.
Like my aunt, Hypatia, I have spent time in the tutelage of Myrddyn. However, my tuition took on a very different form. My experience within the crystal cave can only be described as a chaotic and incoherent storm of memory:
Imagine standing in the centre of a tempest with countless pages of a seemingly endless tome being swept around you. A page lands in your hand but, even as you try to make sense of the words, it is snatched away and replaced by another. This book relates not only to the story of one life, but of many. It relates to events across an eon of time presented without care for chronology. It relates to an esoteric practice of magic, not only different from but often at odds with everything I have been taught. That might give you a flavour of my experience and the difficulty now in acting upon it.
When not dealing with the Order and my brother, I have spent some time just trying to make sense of it all. Attempting to record the experience is frustrating. My memories are vivid yet also hard to interrogate. It is as if these experiences lie within a liminal space, available to intuition but denying conscious scrutiny. Given this difficulty, I have tried recording my dreams, where Myrddyn’s countless lifetimes play out in my sleep. Upon waking, I sometimes have a tantalising glimpse of meaning within the maelstrom, only to find myself puzzled and confused the more I think on it.
One example of these efforts at introspection is my attempt to recall the prophecy of Taliesin. The memories Myrddyn shared with me contain the words, but my efforts to piece them together has taken time.
I experience them spoken in that ancient Cymric tongue which, though I am much more versed now, I have yet to master to the level of Latin. I am convinced there is more to it – additional verses which I can recall in dream but evaporate with the dawn. There are also words and phrases which have no direct correspondence in the Roman tongue, which I have been forced to approximate. Whilst I shall record this translation, I fear many layers of meaning have been lost along with that great poet’s meter.
With that caveat, let me recount what I remember:
---
Listen! See here an apple, bright and full of colour,
Suspended in a sea of stars,
Skin green as forests deep,
A land stretching farther than your eye.
From ripe surface, this apple is fair and sweet,
Yet ‘neath this bright flesh,
In a realm ‘tween living and the dead,
Stirs the great wyrm gnawing at its core.
You see, fair features belie the deep rot within this radiant orb,
From feasting silent in its secret cell,
It spreads forth through hidden veins,
The earth trembling in its sinuous wake.
His warring passions roused ever by his vain conceits,
Man is blind to his coming doom,
Even as the heavens darken,
The thund’rous presage remains unheard.
‘Ere the last gate closes and the fair retreat,
The wise make themselves fools,
Then reaches the hand of death,
Sickness swelling in its shadow.
A parent can n’er bury a child before in turn shall die,
Men beg mercy of the fates,
Yet their gods are silent,
Impotent against this storm.
Bound now in eternity to cold, uncaring stars.
Yoked to that iron wheel,
The great song is ending,
Forever into silence as the last note fades.
---
As has been related in the past, Myrddyn has a troublesome reputation. Many legends speak of him highly as the greatest of all sorcerers and, in the same story, cast condemnation on his apparently reckless ambition. I believe some of this paradox stems from his defiance; his sheer refusal to accept fate. It is clear to me that he understood something of the threat we now face – the fated death of magic – and desired to make his last act within the world one of rebellion against it. This resistance against the tyranny of fate and its agents, whether mortals or in the guise of gods, now lives in me. And in this, I am glad to say, I am not alone.
However, to break free from the ‘iron wheel’ of fate is not a simple task. My hope is that I can use Myrddyn’s memories within the crystal cave to make better sense of the methods I might use to ensure that my sodales and the ‘great song’ survive this terrible prophecy.
This journal relates already our recent unsuccessful attempt to reach the cave, and also that venture by which Terentius and Pyrrhus which rediscovered it; though their efforts to return created a rent in the veil between levels of the regio. To repair this tear in the fabric of magic, Branwen and Terentius sought out the aid of the goddess Ceridwen. Our council meeting began with news of this:
Whilst neither Terentius nor Branwen gave details, it was clear from their demeanors that the price for Ceridwen’s aid was steep. However, whatever it was, the price appears to have been met and we have a magical ‘thread’ which can be used to make the repair. Branwen reported that the final ingredient was a needle, thrice blessed in the light of the full moon, which she will attend to over the course of this season.
Last time such a rent was formed, it appears to have created a pathway to the lands of the dead – with ghosts and spirits threatening to spill forth into the mortal world until sealed again. On this occasion the character of the injury to the regio appears different; Terentius and Pyrrhus reporting a strong sense of twilight. This obviously makes any attempt to repair the rift exceptionally hazardous. Whilst Terentius has spent time learning the basics of the craft of needlework, the extreme proximity required to make repair risks that he could be drawn into that remnant of the magical maelstrom which once dominated the regio. If that was not difficult enough, the two magi believe that there is some great beast or monster lurking within the underground lake close to the location of the rift.
To mitigate some of this risk, Jari agreed to accompany Terentius and use Arcanus’ ritual to try to anchor him against the storm of twilight. He noted ruefully that the casting of the ritual was, in itself, a potential risk. Though, weighed against the inevitable prospect of Terentius coming into contact with the rift and – if he fell into twilight – failing our single chance to make repair, this risk was deemed necessary. Whilst Jari and Terentius are engaged with the rift, Pyrrhus will guard against whatever creature lurks in the deeps of that lake lest it is disturbed by their extended presence.
Jari reported on his studies in Blackthorn, where he was able to access a tome written by Arcanus which provided something of a lengthy report on that Criamon’s investigations into the ancient past and the origins of magic within Britain. Within this record, Jari found many reports of lost settlements and standing stones investigated by Arcanus over the years. He wasn’t able to determine from this the location of the ’13 henges, of which 12 are true’. Jari speculated that this record may have been laid down before Arcanus derived this belief – or perhaps the Criamon deliberately avoided including this detail in the work he planned to contribute to the Great Library.
To continue this research, Jari plans to investigate the strange lines of magical power he perceives at sites he has investigated recently. He is keen to better understand what these represent, how they might interact with the dominion, and whether they might eventually lead him to other great henges hidden away within the isles. The investigation he makes this season shall be counted as covenant service.
For my part, this season I shall travel to the court in London to glean what I can regarding mundane news and continue my efforts to repair my brother’s trust towards the wider Order (not to mention his tolerance of the risks I will inevitably need to take to help prevent the destruction of magic). Whilst I am in court, I shall arrange for relevant papers and letters of introduction to be drawn up so that Pyrrhus and Jari might make use of the libraries and resources within the King’s College at Gloucester. Jari is keen to map the locations of important sites and their lines of power and hopes to learn something of the skills of a cartographer.
Lastly, Terentius spoke of the invaluable help he had received from our spymaster over the course of the previous season and recommended to council that we consider creating a longevity potion for him within the next couple of years. The council readily accepted this suggestion.
Whilst Naevius will extract vim vis from the aura as service to the covenant this season, Branwen, Pyrrhus and Terentius were engaged in personal study. Following the recasting of the Aegis of the Hearth, I departed to Lydney to join an escort to London.
Summer
Our council met and related news from the previous season. I began by explaining events at court.
Whilst I had thought my brother looked tired and perhaps a little pale when I arrived in London early in spring, it was only later in the season that I discovered that he was quite gravely unwell and had been so for several months.
Meanwhile, there were several important issues debated whilst parliament was in session. Prominent amongst them: the matter of a treaty with Scotland. Since Robert de Brus successfully rallied the fractious clans to his banner and scored a great victory against the English, there has been years of conflict as the two countries vied for control of the border regions. These battles and skirmishes have produced no decisive outcome and, ravaged by conflict and poor harvests, the people of the north have suffered great hardship as a result.
After such an extended period of fighting, my brother is keen to secure this border, especially as a great many of his forces are currently arrayed in Ireland to suppress rebellion and upon the continent securing lands returned under the treaty with Charles the Fair six years ago. On that second matter, there has arisen a dispute over certain castles and lands in Gascony which the English consider part of this arrangement but have yet to be returned. To resolve this argument, Queen Isabella volunteered to intercede on Urbanus’ behalf and travelled to Paris with a contingent of English nobles last year, hoping to persuade Charles to fulfil the treaty.
With these diverse demands on English forces, a treaty which would recognise the independence of Scotland and formalise the border between the countries has been drawn up. As part of this treaty, the Scottish would relinquish Notham and Bamburgh castles in Northumbria and the English will return Lochmaben and Caerlaverock castles in Dumfries. This should secure some measure of stability and peace within the region, though the proposal is controversial with a number of lords who would effectively be giving up claims to land within what would be recognised as Scotland. The Dukes of York and Northumberland have been broadly supportive of the treaty. Cumberland was initially lukewarm, though Urbanus eventually persuaded him of its benefits. Norfolk, Westmorland and several Marcher lords were fiercely in opposition to the plan. This comes as little surprise, given that these nobles would lose their claims to lands over the border – in some cases lands far greater than those they hold in England. They protested that this treaty represented the King attempting to seize lands from them, in contravention of the Great Charter. Thus, the debate in parliament was acrimonious. However, after long days of argument, my brother was eventually successful in securing parliament’s assent.
Following days of intense and lengthy debate, Urbanus fell ill and the parliament came to a premature close. Only by interrogating his physician did I discover that my brother has had grave difficulty breathing at night and suffered long coughing fits which often produce blood from his lungs. It appears that he developed this illness over the winter, something that developed shortly after his return from Ireland last year. The royal physician said that the King appeared to make something of a recovery after several weeks of illness, though it is evident that he is not broken free from the disease.
I was finally able to gain a private audience and used magic to examine him. The spell revealed evidence of a stubborn infection deep in his lungs. My knowledge of medicine is insufficient to know his prognosis for certain, but it appeared very serious to me. I understand why he would seek to keep such news secret from the Dukes, Earls and Barons who came to gather in London for parliament, but I was disturbed that he elected to also keep it secret from me. Whilst he claimed he only sought to protect me from worry, I confess I scolded him severely for not revealing his illness.
The council questioned whether there had been any magic involved, given the machinations of the unnamed House and remnants of Corpus Dominii in years past. I was unable to confirm or refute this as I have not the spells to determine active or lingering magic. In the absence of evidence for magical involvement, I was working on the assumption that this disease had a mundane origin.
I raised the prospect of using magic to assist his recovery. Pyrrhus reminded the council that we had in store a potion with the effect of ‘Gentle Touch of the Purified Body’, which already has vis imbued. This enchantment might bring an end to the infection but would not repair the damage already done by the disease. There was a question as to whether this magic would be effective, as there are some particularly virulent diseases for which it is insufficient. Furthermore, it is most unlikely that the King would be fit to travel, thus the potion would need be used within the dominion – meaning that it could fail due to the hostility of the aura. As an alternative, the flambeau went on to suggest that he and Marcellus could potentially brew an alchemical curative, though this would require at least a season to create. Given that my brother’s health appears to be getting worse with time, it seemed sensible to attempt to use the potion and explore other options if it was ineffective.
The attitude of the council was not whole square behind this plan, however. Terentius reminded us that my brother had made an explicit threat against the Order in the past – though in response to what he perceived as a threat against my life. He noted that Urbanus has not always acted morally – most notably in his dealings in Ireland – and had also fallen under the sway of Hibernius, suggesting a weakness of character.
Whilst accepting these flaws, the council was reminded that the survival of the Order in Stonehenge was greatly assisted by its relationship with the crown, and that the loss of this relationship would undoubtedly cause hardship for us. Were my brother to succumb to this disease, his son is yet far too young to succeed him. Edward was born in the Autumn of 1323 – so he is not yet 4 years old – and his succession to the throne might be contested by any number of rivals over the years before he reaches majority. Beyond the hardships of a potential civil war, whosoever prevailed in such contest might have little knowledge of the Order or hold no good intentions towards us.
The council appeared minded to provide the potion, but a second question emerged regarding the legality of doing so. Given my brother has been declared an ally of the Stonehenge Tribunal and, in years past, hosted a number of magi at court to defend him against magical assassination, I felt that this would surely represent a small intervention. However, others were less convinced and so I agreed to make the long journey to Borri-Tor to seek the ruling of Romanus before travelling back to London with the potion.
With this matter agreed, the council moved on to Mynydd Myddyn. With the thread obtained and the needle suitably prepared, Terentius, Jari and Pyrrhus plan to delve into the caves and attempt to repair the tear in the fabric of veil accidentally created last year. The prospects for misadventure are high: we believe there is some monstrous creature within the large underground lake close to the rent which might be disturbed by activity so close to its lair; Jari must successfully cast a powerful and not-entirely-Hermetic ritual to anchor the magi against the ravages of twilight; and finally Terentius must use the needle and thread to make a successful repair. There is much that can go wrong but the alternative is to leave this rift to potentially grow and consume the region – producing a storm of wild magic which could indefinitely prevent travel to the crystal caves.
Thus, this season the three magi will travel to Mynydd Myddyn and attempt this feat. Naevius encouraged them to take what covenant resources and personnel they might need to maximise the chances of success.
Branwen also proposed a covenant service. She hopes to call a council of the trees to see whether the old power of the forests might help us weather the shadow from the east. Whilst she plans to seek out a copy of the ritual to learn at a future date, she needs to locate a suitable location where the council might be called. For obvious reasons, a location in the wild areas of our own forest is unlikely to be suitable. Branwen reasonably expects that Jack’s influence would mean that the debate would be likely hostile to the interests of men. For similar reasons, she argued that the old forest surrounding Cad Gadu would also be inappropriate. This season, she would like to scout a range of alternative options, such as the former covenant of ‘Halls of the Forest’ or perhaps the ancient woods at Avebury. Whilst the latter has proved dangerous in the past, the former location holds promise. The woods there have been tended historically by druids – and currently by their ghosts – so it is possible that the trees may hold humanity in higher regard than elsewhere.
With this agreed, Naevius began to bring the council to a close when Jari volunteered something of his investigation into ley lines last year. Jari thinks that something of his former capability to navigate faerie trods, an ability which emerged after his interaction with the shining one, may have changed rather than become lost after the retreat of the faerie from our world. It appears that he has discovered a way to swiftly travel along these lines of power. There was speculation as to whether these were the ‘old roads’ that Hypatia was able to travel – allowing her to swiftly reach London from the Dean in years past. I was also reminded of one of Myrddyn’s memories, where he transported a large body of Uther’s men from the Westcountry to support Aurelius who was besieged by Vortigern. In the memory, I can see Myddyn at Stonehenge conducting some sort of rite or magic and, I believe, the intent was to use these ‘old roads’ so that Uther could relieve his brother. Jari is evidently keen to further experiment with this ability in future.
With the meeting concluded, I wished the magi travelling to Mynydd Myddyn good fortune before leaving to begin my journey to Borri-Tor.
Autumn
Returning to the covenant towards the end of summer, I was relieved to discover that my sodales had safely returned from Mynydd Myddyn. At council they briefly related their adventure. It appears that they had become scattered whilst trying to follow Jari along an ‘old road’ into the regio. Whilst Jari and Terentius were able to locate Pyrrhus, they were unable to recover the two grogs that had accompanied them. Whilst loathe to leave them lost somewhere between the mundane world and the regio proper, they determined to press on with their mission rather than delay any longer.
Upon reaching the veiled hills they found the region encompassed by a storm originating from an area above the valley through which the deep cavern system could be reached. Dark swirling clouds occasionally flashed with lightning that was tinged with wild magic. The magi described the arduous journey across the hills, battling strong winds all the while. However, they successfully reached the valley and made their way into the caves beneath.
From there, they made their way through the winding passages towards the location of the rift. The boundaries between the levels of the regio proving difficult to traverse – the magi forced to retrace their steps on many occasions. At last, they found themselves at the shore of the underground lake – the damage to the veil appearing as a luminous cleft in the air, emanating chaotic waves of subtle twilight.
Taking pains to make as little noise as possible, in the hope that whatever monstrous creature in the lake would remain undisturbed, Jari began the casting of the ‘Wizard’s Anchor’. During the long period of the casting, Terentius and Pyrrhus noticed a disturbance in the water. Guessing that the magi had been discovered, Pyrrhus used magic to raise a stout wall of stone to occlude the passageway between them and water’s edge. The creature attacked this barrier – with claws and an icy enchantment. The magi think it was a draconic entity of some kind, most likely a wyrm with forelegs – sometimes called a ‘Lindwyrm’.
It continued to attack the wall and Pyrrhus became concerned that the intense cold might weaken the fabric of the barrier. He tried using Ignem magics to contest the frost which had begun to envelope the structure, though this appears to have only accelerated the damage to it. In the end he summoned a second wall closer to the site of the ritual, and this appears to have been successful at preventing the wyrm from reaching them.
Despite the quantity of vis involved and the hazards inherent when casting an unfamiliar ritual, Jari was successful in the casting. Fortified against the wild magic surrounding the rift, Terentius took up the magical needle and thread to begin the work of repair. It sounds like the first wall may have been breached by the wyrm, at least partially. However, Pyrrhus’ wise plan to erect a secondary wall served to prevent the beast from interfering with the mission. With careful stitches, Terentius sealed the rift – and the magi swiftly left the location as quickly as they could.
On the return journey, the magi noted that the storm had all but abated. They were also able to locate and retrieve Norman – one of the grogs they had lost on the way in. It seems he had been forced to survive for several weeks whilst the magi delved into the caves. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the other soldier.
The council congratulated them for the success of the mission. The vis Jari used to cast the ritual being repaid from the covenant’s reserves.
Next, Branwen outlined her exploration of the old forest surround the long-abandoned covenant near Clun. It seems that some of the trees in this region are awakened and able to converse – though in that ancient form of Welsh that few in the covenant can speak. Branwen was able to use magic to speak to one of them and reported that – long ago – a wizard called a council of the trees in the central grove which lies within a regio close to the ruins of the covenant. It seems likely this was Llandoddwyn – given we know he frequented the site – though the identity of this wizard was not confirmed. During her exploration, Branwen found two sites which appear to be vis sites registered to Blackthorn. One of these is a collection of stones – though further investigation of the site would need discussion with the council of that covenant.
On her return journey, Branwen reported that many of the farms and villages she travelled through appeared concerned. The weather has been damp for much of the season and once again people are worried that it will be a poor harvest. Our steward has standing orders to take additional coin to ensure we meet our needs and maintain a sizable reserve of food, but the prospect of food shortages again means that prices could rise steeply over the year.
I related my visit to Borri-Tor and subsequent journey to London. Senior Quaesitor Romanus appeared surprised that I had made the long journey to the northern border of England to ask for his ruling on the matter. He was firmly of the opinion that providing a modest curative, whose effects were subtle enough to be explained through herbal or alchemical skill, was entirely justified given the Tribunal ruling on its relationship with the King. He gently implied that I had wasted time seeking out an unnecessary ruling on the matter.
Slightly frustrated, I made the journey back south again to London. Here I was able to deliver the potion and use ‘Reveal the Flaws of Mortal Flesh’ to confirm that the enchantment had successfully halted the progress of the disease. Whilst my brother still has damage to his lungs which may still leave him out of breath through exertion, there is no longer any sign of active disease.
The season continued peacefully with all magi within the covenant engaged in personal study and experimentation.
Gaines arrived just after the equinox with some additional news. Most notable were reports that a new college has been founded in Cambridge. The magi of Narwold have announced that they have contacts within the University and can afford some access to members of the Tribunal. Further afield, in the East, there was news that a large army of the Ottoman Turks have been attacking towns and cities belonging to the Byzantine empire. Some of these attacks have occurred within the area claimed by the independent splinter of the Order. Apparently, a great force of over ten thousand men were led by Sultan Orhan the first were successful in besieging and then capturing the city of Bursa. Gaines says this city lies only about 50 or 60 miles to the south of Constantinople – as the crow flies – suggesting that magi of Thebes may yet come under threat from this Turkish invasion.
Lastly, he reported that poor harvests across much of Europe have left to extreme price rises and shortfalls in food in many of the great cities. This situation has not been helped by renewed conflict between some of the great city states along the coast of the mediterranean. It appears ships belonging to Genoa and Venice have been involved in several large engagements and smaller skirmishes at sea, impeding the passage of trade across the region. Magi are warned to be especially careful should they seek passage to Verdi.
There was little discussion of this news, though Terentius remarked that it was curious that there were no signs of any disease emerging from the lands of the east. Given that the Turks appear strong enough to take on the Byzantine Empire, it implies that – despite it being a significant period since the first visions and portents of the threat – there is yet no evidence of this terrible plague. This is true. If memory serves, it was back in the Summer of 1316 that we first received warning of this terrible shadow arising in the east.
On the one hand, this is extremely good news; the lack of any notable plague arising in the east implies we have time yet to continue searching for ways to defend ourselves. This is time we need as none of our ideas have thus far provided a solution.
On the other, the absence of any evidence of a threat for so many years may mean that members of the Order may begin to question the veracity of the warning or – in the face of so many other events and threats more immediate and local – become distracted or forget the warnings. Given the Order’s capacity for bickering amongst themselves and ignoring impending disaster, this may become a cause for concern.
The rest of the season passed peacefully. The only event to note is that he harvest across the region was poor again and we were forced to spend additional coin to maintain our supplies and reserves.
Winter
The council meeting was a short affair after a quiet season.
There was a little discussion regarding the character of the various henges, stone circles and similar structures that Jari might investigate. Jari had reviewed some of the records at Blackthorn to identify examples of such sites registered as sources of vis and found some belonging to Blackthorn, Cad Gadu and Erus Aquilae – with potentially some additional sites belonging to Holy Isle on Anglesea. He plans to send letters to ask for permission to visit them and make an investigation.
It was noted that the isles of Britain are home to countless barrows and cairns, man-made hills and stone markers. There must be many hundreds – perhaps thousands – of such old sites within Stonehenge Tribunal alone (let alone Loch Leglean, Hibernia and Normandy). Jari could perhaps spend decades searching and investigating and yet not visit them all – a task he likely won’t have time to complete even if he were so minded! How many of them are even remotely relevant to our goal?
However, no great insight or conclusion was generated from this discussion – so I suppose it is something Jari will have to decide as he goes along.
With all magi electing to remain in the covenant and focus on their magical studies, it was another quiet season with no events to report.
Thus ended the year.