Notes on Speculor's Activities in Nantes

...Lest we forget what really happened!

While F. Timmaeus appreciated that it was clearly his duty to help a brother in trouble, and was conscious of the risk that Speculor was taking in coming to him on Albertus' behalf, he was not going to lose this opportunity. He asked Speculor if he would show him the Divine Regio that had brought Speculor directly from Caribet to Nantes last time they met. Initially, Speculor attempted to put him off by talking about the great difficulty in stepping between Regiones. This was no use, simply sharpening Timmaeus' interest.

Speculor next tried to postpone having to do anything about the request by suggesting that F. Timmaeus pay a visit to Caribet at the equinox, where he might show him the catacombs from that end - he did think to mention that his sodales might not approve of such a visit! Perhaps thinking of the trouble that it might cause if the priest took up this invitation, the image of Maga Industria came into Speculor's mind and he asked Timmaeus' if he knew her. Timmaeus' did not allow this to divert him, and brought the discussion back to the Regio, emphasising that he wanted this favour from his visitor to aid him in his studies - a form of request that any Bonisagus should have sympathy with, after all.

So, later that evening, at a time when Timmaeus' knew there would be hardly anyone about in the cathedral, the pair made their way to the cathedral accompanied by two of Timmaeus' most trusted servants. Speculor thought he remembered the way and led down to the basement. The storerooms looked very similar to one who had not taken careful note, so it took a while to find the right one but there, once the servants had moved the stack of boxes away from the far wall, they found the wooden door. It was stiff, but opened. Behind it, thick with dust and covered in cobwebs, was the first part of the catacombs. Timmaeus' was delighted. He had heard rumours that such a place existed under the cathedral, but it had long been considered just a fanciful idea. They had come prepared for this, so lifted their lanterns and entered. Inside, the catacombs showed signs of disturbance, but very long ago. There were bones scattered and tumbled about, all thickly coated in dust and draped with cobweb. Speculor tested the aura and found it was the same as the city above.

They walked through the catacombs, trying not to breath in too much dust, until they came to the brick wall. Speculor had been through this by 'getting lost' but he did not want to take F. Timmaeus any further so said nothing of this, hoping they could now turn back. Timmaeus' hesitated only a moment before instructing this servants to break down the wall. Speculor now saw that they had come prepared for this, carrying heavy bars beneath their clothing. He made no effort to stop them.

Behind the wall was a dark tunnel. Speculor stepped through and cast an Intellego Vim spell which told him that the aura there was the same Dominion level three as the first catacomb. Instead of leaving it there so as to keep Timmaeus' in the mundane area, he span round on the spot a few times, to dizzy himself, then took a few steps backwards, and vanished from Timmaeus' sight. A minute later, Timmaeus' was standing near him again, having copied Speculor. Now they were in a level five Dominion aura. Timmaeus' said that the place felt comfortable to him, that it was blessed. Whatever it felt like, it looked very like the catacomb they had just left - scattered bones and layers of dust. By this time, it seems that either Speculor had decided to give in to the inevitable or he had become carried away with enthusiasm for the exploration. He agreed with Timmaeus' that they should go back for the servants so they could come through and demolish the next brick wall. Timmaeus' went, brought the men through, and they did indeed knock down the next wall.

It took four attempts to cross the Regio boundary between the level five aura and the level seven, but they eventually reached the peaceful, blessed place where the holy martyrs' bones lie undisturbed. However special this place was, Timmaeus' would not stop, and had the last wall demolished. There was a tunnel behind. They walked into it and before long the flames in their lanterns faded, leaving them in total darkness. Speculor recognised the effect, which started just at the point where, from his point of view, the discomfort of the strong Dominion aura was replaced by the agreeable high magic aura. F. Timmaeus did not feel so good here, and Speculor had little difficulty in getting him to turn back. Speculor must be curious about what he would have found had he continued on!

The journey back through the catacombs was quick and easy, like walking down a slope. They listened carefully before emerging from the storeroom. Timmaeus' went first and did not beckon Speculor onward until he was sure there was no-one about. They were unhindered and reached Timmaeus' rooms again safely.

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