Spring 1223 - Council

The Season begins at the Equinox with the Council meeting, Vis gathering and the Aegis.

The Council meeting was begun early, with breakfast served during the meeting - which disconcerted some of the magi. The stated intention was to finish the Council session early, then cast the Aegis and still have time to investigate the inner workings of the Regio and its side areas.

A modest discussion took place over how to express the opinions of Magus Joachus in his absence, with the general feeling that a consensus on his views would arise naturally during later motions. It was however clear that his time absent from the covenant should be his own time, and so he should volunteer for Service this Season. Other activities took some discussion, as some magi appeared to have plans extending until the end of the year, and wished to arrange immediate Seasons to fit those plans; this aspect had to be debated until a resolution was obtained.

When all other matters had been finished off, Princeps Speranda raised the matter of the Covenant's Vis Debt to Objurgator. They hold a chip off the Covenant's Menhir, until such time as Saxum Caribetum repays the combined fee for its release, which fee being owed in collection to Objurgator who had paid the immediate fee to its previous holder. Speranda summarised the Covenant's vastly increase in Vis stores, and explained how they might discharge the fee while remaining within the limits set forth in the Charter. Speculor objected to the profligate expenditure of Imaginem vis, when there were other Forms which could be expended... The matter of conveyance also emerged, with a suggestion that since Iuris Perita had convinced her sodales to allow her time away to visit Objurgator in person, then she could carry the Vis! In that case the balance of Vis paid over could be re-evaluated, since two more Seasons would pass before then... a debate ensued...

Eventually the Magi emerged, blinking, into the light, and summoned the Covenant members to "beat the bounds" while Maga Speranda cast the ritual Aegis of the Hearth, having performed service to commit the spell to memory. Once the bounds had been marched, conversation naturally turned to the matter of the expected feast, and the menu for same.

Inside The Regio

By now, the Parfumier was waiting for the magi, since she was expected to receive the harvest of Bluebells from inside the Regio, to distil the Vis-bearing flowers into drops of perfumed essence. The magi now led a careful party in, and watched carefully to ensure that the grogs did indeed gather the flowers with due care, and trampled none, and all were safely conveyed out of the Regio.

Regio Keys

By now, much of the day had passed... There were still the IV Keys to be formed in the sub-Regiones. Since the paths between the Regiones are long, and take some time to walk, it was finally decided that the priority had to be to collect Vis, and then to explore later.

By now, the magi had come to ignore the signposts of the narcissus flowers, and used the existing Keys to open the gates to the sub-Regio of their choice.

Constantinus levitated Maga Speranda into the air by the cliff, with the Rune of Air, and she cast her Muto Terram on the piece of copper she bore. Some wayward air current, or a momentary lapse of someone's concentration must have disturbed her, for she lurched and nearly had an accident as she cast the spell... Slightly shaken by this, and the prospect of a magical accident in the tense Aura of the Regio, she did not protest when Speculor took the other metals and led the way, casting the other three transformations.

At the end of this, there were still several hours before sunset, but not all that many. The magi felt that a detailed exploration might risk being present in one of the sub-Regiones at sunset: this way clearly likely to be a matter of great magical significance, and even of major change. As such, discretion suggested deferring that particular action until they had studied a number of books on the matter of Vim and Regiones - for now they would explore only the central area and contemplate what they had seen on their straightforward circuit of the Regiones.

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