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FontisNiger: Spring1220

Overview Spring 1220

Finding a New Home
Home sweet Home?
The Secret Chamber (with a very hard floor)
The Sheep, the Friar, and the Covenant
A Strange Wolf in a Dark Wood
Màili's Tale
A Visit to the Mines

Finding a New Home

27th - 31st of March 1220

All four magi arrived at Carcassonne separately.

Zeebebah, traveling together with an arabic physician and her daughter, starts to ask for Aribert as soon as she arrives. But nobody seems to know him. She made her way to the castle, demanding to speak with the local lord. When the guard refused to admit her, she settle for some advice from the guard who suggested to ask people in Glassblower Street.

Meanwhile Thalassus? had already found Glassblower Street where he found a shopkeeper who was willing to sell some information. From him he learned that Aribert was a Cathar and was burned at the stake when the crusaders took the city. Although the designated guide to his new covenant was dead, there seemed to be some hope. The shopkeeper told him that Aribert left a son, unfortunately he disappeared a few month ago.

After arriving in Carcassonne Marie? first visited the cathedral to pray. There she asked a priest for information and went to Glassblower Street. There she started to look for other gifted people and found Thalassus?. After they realized that they were both looking for a way to get to Fontis Niger they decided to return to the cathedral to get further information.

Sertorius traveling together with Màili, departed from Cruz? before entering the city. Once he was inside, he grabbed random peasants, asking for Aribert. Speaking no French he had difficulties getting answers but finally made it to Glassblower Street. Here he was pointed to the now closed shop of Aribert. He decided he should take a look inside, using magic to bypass the locked door. Inside he noticed that the shop still contained some useful glassware and packed it into a bag. He left the store less subtle, kicking the door open. Outside he ran into Zeebebah, Rafi, and Arwa and a discussion about his business in Aribert's shop ensued (with Màili translating between them). In the end they decided to go to the cathedral for some discrete inquiries about remaining Cathars in Carcassonne.

Marie? was praying in the cathedral while Thalassus? suggested to find a priest to talk to when Zeebebah, Rafi, and Sertorius entered the cathedral. The latter shouting for a priest. Eventually a priest appeared and was asked about Cathars, but he was unwilling or unable to give useful information. Zeebebah convinced him to step outside the cathedral (and the strong divine aura inside it) to be able to cast a spell on him. Once outside she invoked her spell, taking care not to attract undue attention to herself. Unfortunately the priest was very aware of her magic and started to shout something about wichse. While Zeebebah was preparing another spell to calm him, Sertorius used one of his spells to shrink the priest to the size of a child. This resulted in more screaming and a crowd building up. The gathering mob was put to sleep by Thalassus? while Sertorius was chasing the priest. The child sized priest was captured and they all left the city to find some quiet place to interrogate the priest.

While the others were interrogating the priest (without much effect), Marie? felt increasingly uncomfortable with the situation. She decided to restore the priest to his normal size. Her spell failed to do the whole job, but at least he regained some of his size. In the following confusion he could free himself but his escape was stopped by Cruz? with a bite to his leg. Finally the magi decided to wipe the priests memory of these events and to bring him back to the city. Again this spell (casted by Sertorius) failed and apparently reverted the priests mind into a child like state. It is unknown to the magi what the exact effects are or how long they will last.

The only information they managed to get from the priest was that there is a tavern, called the "Rose and Thorns" that he believed to be frequented by Cathars. The group went back into the city, delivering the priest to an asylum for those in need and then made their way to the tavern. After they spend some time in the tavern they were approached by a cloaked man. He had heard that they were looking for Aribert. It turned out that he is Eilard, Aribert's son and he offered to take them to Fontis Niger.

The next day they left Carcassonne, following Eilard to Fontis Niger, avoiding most villages on the way. At the evening of the second day they reached Bugarach, a small town at the foot of Pech de Bugarach. Eilard told them that Fontis Niger is located on the top of the mountain. They camped outside the village, leaving before dawn on the next day. On the top Pech de Bugarach they found a group of worn down cottages and a large stone building surrounded by the remains of a wooden wall. Instead of all the magi, companions, and grogs that are usually part of a covenant they only found a group of seven mercenaries camping on the central square. After a short discussion with their leader the mercenaries were hired for three month.

Home sweet Home?

31st of March 1220

Thalassus?, terrified by consequences that the actions of her sodales are about to bring down on everyone in their company, left the group of young magi before they reached the covenant site. Marie? went off to a quiet place to spent the day in prayer, seeking forgiveness for her and her sodales' sins. Zeebebah fell into a deep depression, certain that they are all about to die.

Despite the warnings of the mercenaries who told them that one of them never returned from exploring the large stone building Sertorius and Màili entered it bravely to investigate the fate that had befallen this covenant. Later they were joined by Zeebebah.

The main building is two stories high. Apart from the large front gate there are no visible openings in the outer wall. Entering through the gate the way leads through the gate house into a central courtyard. The courtyard is dominated by a fountain. A large hexagonal stone basin sits on top of a stone pedestal. In the middle of the water filled basin a small pedestal supports the remains of a black pillar. The top part of the pillar seems to be broken off.

From the courtyard doors lead into other parts of the building. Most notable among the rooms on this floor is the council chamber, a large room, two stories high, is dominated by the council table. Sertorius, using a spell to enhance his eyesight in the dim light, notices a different colouring of the floor at one end of the room. The storage room found on this level is almost empty, what remains seems to be very old. There is also a small bookbinding workshop, some guard quarters, a kitchen and dining hall, and a room filled with broken furniture.

On the upper floor the exploring party discovers an empty library, a scriptorium, some sleeping rooms, and several laboratories marked with sanctum signs. These don't keep Sertorius and Zeebebah from entering the rooms. Inside the sanctum of a Flambeau they find the burned body of a man lying in front of a door. Sertorius immediately tries to open the door and is hit by a fire lance, causing a serious wound.

Most of the labs they found are in bad shape and barely usable. All the books seem to be missing. The only book they encountered is a journal found in the lab of a Bonisagus. Large parts of it were destroyed by fire and it gives only vague hints on what happened at the covenant.

On the flat roof of the building they find a small study located in a tower above the gate. This room houses a telescope, pointed out of the only window in the outer wall of the building. The only other noticeable feature of the roof (besides the great view of the countryside) is a circle of hermetic symbols.

At this point it seems that they have seen every room in the building except the one behind the trapped door. But they haven't seen any of the books, vis stocks, and mundane treasures that would be in the possession of a covenant. Sertorius casted a spontaneous spell to discover if there is any vis inside the building. He is certain that there is vis somewhere, but where?

Looking down into the courtyard they notice an inscription on the fountain that is reflected by the water. A closer inspection also reveals roman numerals underneath the basin. There is no clear indication how to read the inscription but the magi agree that the most likely interpretation is this (with numbers that are found on the same side as the word given in the second line):

While the magi are discussing theories about the meaning of this, the mercenary captain suggests that repairing the wooden walls would help them greatly in defending the covenant. Màili is send to Bugarach, the nearby village to find a carpenter for this task. She comes back with an old woodcutter who agrees to organise the required wood. But they will have to do the building themselves.

The Secret Chamber (with a very hard floor)

1st of April 1220

On the next morning the magi decided to intensify their search for the hidden vis. First they tried to get a look into the room behind the trapped door. After they managed to cast a spell to view through the wall and Marie? created some light inside the room (the latter resulting in blinding everybody temporarily...) they found the room to be nearly empty. A new plan was developed and Sertorius casted a spell to allow him to hear the vis. Struggling to control the effect of the spell he was almost deafened as they approached the council chamber. Here they discovered a secret chamber and stairs leading down to it below the floor. Unfortunately there seemed to be no obvious way to get into this chamber, in which they had located three chests. While they all were trying to find a way to get down there Sertorius had a brilliant idea. He turned the floor into air while everybody was standing on it. Marie? was quick enough to jump out of the way once she realised what was going on, but Zeebebah wasn't so fortunate and dropped down to the floor of the secret chamber while Sertorius was falling down the stairs. Zeebebah broke her leg. The floor closed above them. They were rescued by Marie? who created a hole in the floor, large enough to use the stairs. Examining the contents of the chests Marie? found four mundane books, the charter of Fontis Niger, a chest full of silver coins and a few odd things. These include 4 small flasks of water, a pouch with 10 colourful stones, another pouch with 4 clear crystals, and a small box containing a sphere, apparently made from smokey glass. Zeebebah and Sertorius were helped to their rooms to rest. Marie? turned her attention to another pressing matter: food. She was able to get enough provisions to feed everyone for a few weeks, from the village.

The Sheep, the Friar, and the Covenant

2nd to 4th of April 1220

The next day Marie?, Màili, and two of the mercenaries left for Rennes-le-Chateaux to find a more permanent solution to the food problem. She bought some sheep and chicken. During her visit to the church she met Father Francis, a Dominican monk. He told Marie? that he is the head of a group that is about to found a priory in Bugarach (i.e. in or near the village next to the covenant!). Màili? gathered some information about the current progress of the crusade, which seems to suffer some drawbacks. They also heard rumours about a strange place to the North-East, possibly another covenant. Màili And André? (one of the mercenaries) set out to find this covenant. Meanwhile Marie? returned to Fontis Niger.

A Strange Wolf in a Dark Wood

14th to 18th of April 1220

A group of five Dominican monks arrived at Bugarach to found a priory. With them they brought a group of workers and a strange knight. His pale skin and long limbs give him an alien look and may explain why most people tend to stay away from him.

While his travel companions made themselves at home in the village this knight went up the hill to investigate rumours about the strange things going on there. He arrived at the covenant where he was greeted by Marie? who mistook him for a magus, leading to some confusion. The knight introduced himself as Dominic. He met Zeebebah and Sertorius. He also showed some interest in the fountain from which he received an odd sensation.

While Marie? was still leading Dominic around the Covenant, Bother Abelhart, one of the newly arrived monks, approached the gate. He had heard some stories of a plant with extraordinary healing powers. The villagers told him that the people on the mountain may be able to help in locating it. Nobody at the covenant had heard about it but curious what this plant might be Marie?, Dominic, and Rafi set out together with Abelhart to find it.

Following crude directions to a strange and frightening forest mentioned by the villagers in Bugarach, they eventually arrived at the outskirts of a dark and menacing looking forest. Only with a vague idea of what they were looking for they entered boldly, guided by Marie?'s magic they found their way to clearing. Here they found some plants matching the description of the healing plant. Rafi collected their berries and the party set up camp on the clearing. During the night while Dominic was on watch he spotted a wolf approaching the camp and suddenly found himself surrounded by five apparently identical wolves. He could just hold them of but struggled to land any serious hits with his favoured mace. Meanwhile the others woke up and Marie? raised wards against demons and animals around the group. When Dominic retreated into the warding circle they had to realise that these wards are useless against their attackers. A fierce attack of the wolves left Abelhart badly wounded. The situation was finally resolved when Marie? used more magic which resulted in four of the wolves disappearing and the remaining one trotting off into the wood.

Màili's Tale

17th April 1220

Sertorius and Zeebebah, both recovering from their injuries, were drawn out of their rooms by a great commotion outside. They had to discover that a Redcap had arrived, delivering not messages but a badly wounded Màili. Ash, the Redcap, reported that she had found Màili on the road to Narbonne. After Màili regained consciousness she was questioned and recounted the events that had led her there.

Together with André? she had left Marie? in Rennes-le-Chateau to follow rumours about another covenant in the area. Eventually they came to a tavern near Narbonne where they met Geoffroy, a minstrel who was playing the lute and telling very life like stories about powerful wizards, faeries and dragons. After some probing questions that established that they all were related to a covenant in some way, he agreed to take them to Mistridge, the closest covenant. Their way let them though a strange and confusing forest to a large, well fortified covenant. Geoffroy organised a room in the main tower for them. There they were left to wait. Not intending to sit in their room until the magi decide to talk to them, André? and Màili wandered around the ground floor of the tower. André? quickly found the kitchen and Jeanette, a maid working there.

The next morning André? and Màili were escorted to the council chamber by Sergius, one of the magi at Mistridge. He questioned them about Fontis Niger and showed particular interest in the black stone. Without paying much attention to their requests for assistance with healing magic Sergius sent Màili and André? back to their room. Waiting for a reply to their request for help, Màili and André? felt increasingly uneasy, noticing that a guard was placed at their door, trying to keep them inside their room. Jeanette warned André? to be careful. Concluding that staying at Mistridge might be dangerous they left the next morning despite the guards (non violent) attempts to keep them in the room.

Lost in the forest surrounding Mistridge they finally made camp within the forest. When Màili awoke the next morning André? was gone. Unable to find any trace of him Màili left the camp site and finally found her way out of the forest. In a village nearby she found a place to sleep in a barn. She awoke the next morning, hearing voices inquiring about travellers that passed through the village recently. A group of guards from Mistridge tried to bring Màili back to the covenant but she was able to make her escape.

On the way back to Fontis Niger she was ambushed and gravely wounded. She cannot remember her attackers but is sure that it were guards from Mistridge.

Furious about the attack, Sertorious proposes an attack on Mistridge. Instead they decide to write letters to the Praeco (Grimgroth of Mistridge (!)) and the Presiding Quaesitor (Manvil of Val-Negra) to officaly announce their presence in the Tribunal and their intention to found a new covenant on the ruins of Fontis Niger. Ash, the Redcap, agrees to collect these letters in a few days.

A Visit to the Mines

23rd April 1220

During the night a boy was caught by the guards while he was sneaking around the covenant. The magi were alerted and the boy questioned. He was frightened and hungry, but after Marie? had organised some food for him he answered their questions willingly. The assembled magi and Dominic soon found out that his name is Olivier and that he grew up at the old covenant of Fontis Niger. He told them that he never got along with the other inhabitants very well and when they abandoned the covenant they left him behind. He seemed to have some idea where they went but was very reluctant to lead the magi there. Finally he agreed to lead them to the entrance of a mine that he believed to be the hiding place of the covenfolk.

On the next morning Dominic and Rafi followed Olivier with a few Mercenaries to the Pech Cardou. On the road leading from Montferrand to the mine they observed two young men, each holding a chicken, running along the road. Olivier pointed out that they were part of the covenfolk the party was looking for. They were followed by two armed men on horseback. After they passed the party continued on their way, meeting the chicken thieves and soldiers again after a few minutes. A short conversation revealed that the two young man were accused of stealing chicken and other food on several occasions and that Gilbert de Angers?, a knight at the court of Bernard de Montferrand intended to hand them over to his Lord to be judged and most likely be hanged. Dominic convinced Gilbert de Angers? to release the offenders, promising that he would make sure that no further thefts will occur and that the peasants will receive compensation for their loss.

Happy to be rescued from certain death the two thieves led them to an old silver mine where several people, many in bad health, were living in a camp. They thanked Dominic for the safe return of the two young men and were glad about the the medical attention they received from Rafi. Everybody was happy to return to the reestablished covenant. Some of the covenfolk enquired about news from Brother Umberto, a friar who had lived at the old covenant and had let them to the mine but vanished shortly afterwards.

While the others made their way back to the covenant Dominic and Rafi went to investigate another mine close by which was reported to be haunted. Dominic went inside. After almost falling into a pit he discovered and retrieved the remains of Brother Umberto and his Journal from the bottom of the pit. He also encountered several blocked passages and the ghost of a miner who caused several stones to drop on Dominic which finally drove him out of the mine.