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Chapter 029 |  |
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Iuris Perita, as both Princeps and Quaesitor had sent to ask after the bona fides of Magus Constantinus, who claims to be a member of the Order of Hermes - although he shows little sign of Gift and has not been seen to cast any spells (which he states is simply modesty: to show off would be immodest and boastful, and Sin).
The Quaesitores of the Normandy Tribunal have responded to her
request by stating that his claimed parens, one Scintilla Flambonis ad Burnham
in Britannia, is a known member of the Tribunal Britannia, and of the stated
Covenant. She has not reported having an Apprentice (but was under no obligation
to do so) nor the Gauntlet of any such Apprentice. The Quaesitores of the Normandy
Tribunal would expect that their Sodales in Britannia would notify them of the
Gauntlet of any new Magus, and their entry onto the Tribunal Rolls "as
soon as the Magi Britanniae get round to notifying their Quaesitors".
[It seems to be a matter of some discontent, that those magi are so lax in their
reporting - that, or that the Quaesitores of Britannia cannot make them
report - it is hard to tell which... The other magi seemed to find some amusement
in the views of one set of Quaesitores upon another, although this amusement
seemed to escape Iuris Perita herself.]
In the meantime, Constantinus has worked in the IIIrd floor Laboratory, and has distilled two Pawns of Vim Vis (in the form of two small fiery fish). This generous contribution (alone) seems to have convinced the local magi of the genuine powers of Magus Constantinus...
He was therefore invited to attend Council sessions as a nonvoting observer, as permitted by the Covenant Charter.
The elections had been anticipated this year - especially after the fiasco last year, when the Council forgot to hold them until the Spring Equinox...
After all the discussions, each of the existing officers was proposed, seconded and elected unopposed. No-one actually got to cast any votes after all, despite the build-up. (Perhaps next year will be more exciting.)
The Covenant continues to grow... it is now abundantly clear that further construction cannot be permitted in the Glade, lest the crop of (Vis yielding) Bluebells be diminished, or worse the very Aura itself. Further, they confirm the intention to undo some of the damage by moving some of the Grogs out to the "New Village" of Caribet. [Incidentally pleasing the new Lordling, Sir Achilles.]
Two fields have been cleared (and are being extended even now), but will not yield enough to feed all in the Covenant. It was proposed to spend VII Pawns of Herbam Vis from the Covenant Stores, to cast The Bountiful Feast and increase all yields. (This will boost the fields, the cottage gardens, and even boost the Vineyard, if Johan Staen can get it planted. The Vineyard is unlikely to yield much this year, he tells us, as the Vines must be established, but he can promise more next year, if the magi will work with him to keep away frosts and bring good sunny weather, and drive off pests.)
La Doctora Jimena reported that she had made an initial perusal of the Libros Del Saber De Astronomia, and could now confirm that the Spanish text covered matters on Astronomy (one of the Quadrivia of the Artes Liberales), but also contained details of Occult Lore. She believes that she can accomplish an adequate translation into Francien (enabling all the magi to read the books), but that since it will take her some II Seasons, she should defer a start until after the Winter Season, when her medical skills are most needed!
There is to be another Vis Hunt this season, but without requiring the efforts of a Magus: a party of grogs is to be sent to the Landes du Mené, to hunt in the Peat Bogs as Speculor did, using the Vis Detection Wand as their guide.
There was some debate over the Services of the magi:
Some would have Constantine write out texts of the Ignem
spells he knows (before he might depart taking that information away in his
head!), while others would have him distil more Vim Vis to help pay off the
Covenant's debt. However they then came up with the notion that their overall
ability to distil Vis would improve if they had a book on the Art of Vim - and
Constantine was best placed to write such a work.
The Libraria, Speranda, was not so pleased by this, for while it would expand
her precious Library, she would not benefit herself by reading it (except in
providing her an excuse to write a Commentary on the book, to make her own pointed
views on Constantine's limited understanding of the Art).
So, then, Constantine is to write a beginner's level Liber Quaestionum on the
Art of Vim.
Joachus had hoped to continue distilling Vis, as he needs
a supply of this (which he can in turn borrow from the Covenant stores)
for his Longevity Potion, which he must needs brew soon. However, the Masons
have been complaining of the time and effort taken to haul stone from the Quarry
to their work, so that the Stone Cutter is scare employed and all the time consumed
in hauling the cut stones. So, it is decided that Joachus must enchant another
small device: a tool to apply The Unseen Porter to what it touches, so
that heavy objects may be made light and moved easily.
Once this was approved, Joachus became more enchanted of the idea and moved
on to forms it might take, describing a small Gargoyle with a long tail (to
pull upon) and outstretched grasping hands to apply to the target load.
Iuris Perita and Speculor will take up Distillation, while Speranda is already committed to study and learn the Aegis of the Hearth in time for the Spring Equinox and the renewal of the Covenant's Aegis.
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