 |
Winter 1222 |  |
| Calendar for 1222 | This is the Vilicus' personal view. |
Winter Solstice, Wednesday December the
14th:
The Winter Solstice passed peacefully, though I had an aching premonition in my old bones. Maga Gwénolé le Guen comes to us tomorrow - perhaps it is just her?
The Magi held their Council, and re-arranged the Officers of Council: now Maga Speranda becomes Princeps, handing her precious books to Magus Speculor, while fiery Magus Constantinus takes over as Defensor. Maga Iuris Perita stated her intention to take time away from the Covenant over the next year.
Thursday, December the 15th:
Constantinus took Redwald and Caspar and started his Season's service hunting
Vis. Very prompt I thought. Also, Maga Gwénolé le Guen arrives today,
and they mix all too well!
Maga Gwénolé arrived with her apprentice Seanna, showing off her Faerie magics. Magus Speculor took them in charge, and took them off to the fields.
We gathered later for the casting of the great ritual The Bountiful Feast. The spell went quite well, though she seemed very tired afterwards: casting from a text is so very taxing! I am uncertain where the apprentice girl ended up, but suspect the "duplicate Speculor" was a gisguised small Apprentice! Something wound him up, as he put much effort into a magical display of Lights, later on.
Friday, December the 16th:
Oh woe!
Achilles, the village headman, held a feast
in his Hall last night. Everyone went who was not on guard duty. Someone let in
the Field Faeries, and I fear Faerie Dust got into the wine - people seem to have
lost control of themselves, and given in to debauchery. I don't like to put names
to paper, but several who should have known much better and held themselves in proper
dignity, did not do so, but let themselves down... Now I know why my bones
ached!
Fortunately young master Constantinus went away before Gwénolé arrived, so he could not disgrace himself again. As it is, Gwénolé got up to quite enough on her own. No, not on her own, of course, but with some of the well Gifted among the grogs; no blessed union there I predict!
Prima Speranda was looking very pleased with herself, and I was quite worried - but it appears she reserved two bottles of the contaminated wine, and finds that it contains magical Vis: a valuable benefit to the Covenant.
Saturday, December the 17th:
I have been reflecting on yesterday's entry, and Prima Speranda's Vis. It occurs
to me that the magi may wish to repeat the Vis find, and may therefore wish to repeat
the circumstances leading up to it... Oh Woe!
Huon has been in trouble. Achilles made enough fuss that Magus Speculor has had to calm him by imposing punishment on Huon. This is not right, as Magus Speculor should be free to do as he sees fit!
Sunday, December the 18th:
The Priest, Edwin, has been very busy since the night of the 15th. I expect
he preached at them again today: some of them deserve it!
However, the Magi are gloomy about this, and seem to fear that he might make trouble with higher authorities in the Church.
Thursday, December the 22nd:
Maga Iuris Perita and Prima Speranda have been exercised over the Priestly
business. I think they will have words with Constantinus when he returns from Vis
Hunting, and have him deal with Edwin.
Sunday, December the 25th:
Some of the grogs gave me small gifts today. This is not proper tradition -
we should reserve this for the Midwinter Solstice, as we always did at Mummolides.
This new festival is something to do with Fr. Edwin.
Maga Speranda was trying to avoid Edwin, but he turned up at the dedication of Constantinus' magical Statue which will protect the vineyard, when we get it planted. Edwin turned the event into one of his own ceremonies, and Constantinus backed him in this. I saw Speranda glowering, though, so some still respect the Old Ways!
Monday, December the 26th:
Constantinus took Redwald, Elli, Zane and Jean Rouet to go to a Faerie
Castle he has found. I am pleased he is taking Jean Rouet, even though he is
then removed from guard duty. He is a solid fellow, and much more stable than Redwald.
Last time Constantinus fought Faeries, he was struck by arrows when Redwald was
overcome by fury and ran forward to fight the foe rather than let the Magus handle
matters properly.
Friday, December the 30th:
Constainus and his grogs returned, with no Vis, small wounds and some mundane
gold or such. There is some rumour
about a Dragon!
I have totalled the gold at some £15, which will add to our Treasure, but I am disappointed that so fierce a magus has not defeated some monster and brought Vis...
Sunday, January the 1st:
I have heard several
stories about the exploits of Magus Constantinus. Either he is a brave hero,
out-matched by great opposition, or he ran from danger. I cannot tell.
Friday, January the 27th:
Maga Elise filia Hadis ex Miscellenea arrived. Her visit was heralded by a cryptic
note from Bertrand le Marchant, stating that a Maga and her "invisible cat"
had been asking after the Covenant and were planning a visit.
Wednesday, February the 1st:
Today Maga Elise led her expedition to the Barrow at Plaintel, taking Garth and
Alain, and Zane; Maga Iuris Perita (and Duncan) and Maga Speranda (and Julius) accompanied
Maga Elise. Some were surprised to see Speranda go, as she had seemed determined
to avoid the danger, but it seems she could not restrain herself from interfering...
It is to be hoped she will not return wounded this time!
Thursday, February the 2nd:
Magae Speranda Princeps and Iuris Perita Quaesitoris returned unharmed, and laden
with both Vis and gold. I was most pleased by this, and sent message to Jimena la
Doctora to unmake the beds reserved for the magae.
I was especially pleased to see that they had not overlooked the mundane aspects of reward, as otherwise the Treasury of the Covenant can become quite bare. The magi spend freely, to improve their Laboratories and to further their researches or wild projects, but they often have little thought beyond the required Vis, whereas I must provide the rest of their requirements!
Wednesday, March the 1st:
There has been little mention of the Bridge which Achilles, the village head-man,
has been building. The road has been too wet and muddy for the heavy timbers to
be carted down there, so they have worked on other projects, bettering the village
itself, so that our grogs might live more comfortably, and perform their labours
more usefully for the service of the Covenant.
I hear some silly rumour that they are waiting for Edwin-the-Priest to say a Blessing to open the new season's labours, and that Ediwn in turn is waiting for Constantinus. If it were an Hermetic blessing or even a Folk Magic blessing, I could understand this, but this is Church Business. Oh well...
Friday, March the 10th:
Magus Constantinus has returned and presented the Covenant with the fruits of his
service: a single icicle, which does not melt, and which as assures us contains
I pawn of Aquam Vis. He is in good time to make his confession to his personal Confessor,
and to hear Mass, before the Hermetic Rituals of the Equinox on Tuesday.
Tuesday, March the 14th:
another Equinox, another new Journal...
Now that we have an established place, and the married couples have settled in properly, they are increasing, as is necessary for the long term prosperity of the Covenant. As Vilicus, I should record these increases, and this, the end of the Hermetic Year, is the proper time to do so:
There are also rumours regarding the aftermath of the Midwinter Feast, but I am waiting for live briths before recording those...
Up to the diary link page, or back to Autumn 1222, or on to Spring 1223.
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