 |
Chapter 6 |  |
The Magi have settled upon the Hermetic name of Saxum Caribetum, for their new Covenant, and it has been so entered in the rolls of the Normandy tribunal. The grogs, speaking little Latin, continue to refer to it as La Roche Caribet. Having settled upon a name, the magi of Saxum Caribetum sat down for their first formal session of Council since arriving here. That they be comfortable and private, Magus Speculor kindly provided a chamber of magnificent cloth-of-gold, woven from the fabric of Imaginem.
The principle agenda item was the discussion and agreement of a formal Charter for the covenant, that it be properly regulated, and that responsibilities be agreed and laid out. To this end, copies of several other Covenants across the Order were made available from the copious archives of Iuris Perita, and a draft Charter drawn up by Speranda with advice from Iuris Perita.
Much discussion ensued, with many minor disagreements about the implications, and acceptability, of various proposed clauses, but towards the end of a wearing day all had been agreed, a document laid out, and signed by all magi. Since the Charter designated certain Offices within the Covenant, it remained for the Magi to appoint those to hold the Offices. After debate and consideration among the five magi, the magorum positions were agreed as follows:
Two other positions were filled by Mundanes:
That done, the magi turned their attentions to the state of the Covenant building (or rather, their continuing absence). It seems that the process of recruiting stone masons has gone slowly, but that a realistic forecast indicates that the mundane workers might take 2 to 4 years to complete construction of the desired laboratories, council chambers and other important structures. Growing impatient with this, and fearing for the safety of the books in their care, the magi decided to invoke a tower by magic.
Unfortunately, as junior magi, they lacked the knowledge to Conjure the Mystic Tower from memory, and were unhappy at the thought of casting from a text (boosted by Vis); and, too, the had insufficient Vis to complete the Ritual and make the Tower become real. If they were to obtain their tower by conjuration they would have to ask a more experienced magus to cast the spell, and would need to borrow the Vis.
If they were to entertain debts on this scale, they should secure their mundane status, too, and so they agreed to borrow some £500 of silver from one of the wealthier covenants of the Tribunal. Accordingly it was agreed to write a letter asking for assistance... as it happened this was interpreted as four letters, from each filius with a parens within the Normandy Tribunal, and from Saskia to her new found patron at Taurus Candidus.
The Redcap Aversus passed by shortly after, and took the letters in his charge, and the magi set to discussing the order and design of their Tower-to-be.
While waiting for the return of messages, several more grogs arrived, hearing word in the area that the covenant was recruiting: they now have a wood-worker (who agreed to stay despite an unfortunate mis-encounter with Maga Saskia, and an exaggeratedly long Nose), and tanner and a quarryman, both pilgrims, one claiming to have received a Miracle. The wood-worker set to, assisted by some of the handier soldier-grogs, to construct some stout wooden cottages and store-houses.
The Friar, Brother Joseph re-visited the Covenant, and told the magi that he had visited Sir Jean de Ploeuc and his priest, and found them lacking in piety, and overly distracted by mundane goals. That being so, it seemed that their accusations against the Covenant magi might be base jealousy, and should be discounted. The Church at l'Hermitage would let the magi's actions speak for them, rather than Sir Jean and his troublesome Priest.
A few days later, all four parentes who had been contacted arrived in person, in various states of hurry (being in inverse proportion to their distance from the Covenant). It would seem that they all wished to help their filii, and bore offers from their respective Covenants.
Comments, feedback or problems
