Ars Magica 4th Edition - Mit

272 Pages·2003·2.95 MB·English

Ars Magica
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Development, Editing, Layout, and Project Management: Jeff Tidball
Development, Editing, and Layout:John Nephew
Fourth Edition Design Contributions:Bill Brickman, Bob Brynildson, David Chart, Nicole Lindroos Frein, Geoffrey
Grabowski, Peter Hentges, Lydia Leong, Marc Philipp Messner, John Nephew, Chris Pramas, Wade Racine, Roderick
Robertson, John Snead, Jeremy Strandberg, Jeff Tidball, and Robbie Westmoreland.
Original Ars Magica Design:Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein•Hagen
Contributing Authors:Shannon Appel, Bill Brickman, David Chart, Sam Chupp, Ken Cliffe, Christopher Earley, Chris
Frerking, Geoffrey Grabowski, Kevin Hassall, Peter Hentges, Lydia Leong, Aaron Link, Dave P. Martin, John Nephew, Wade
Racine, Mark Rein•Hagen, Carl Schnurr, John Snead, Jeremy Strandberg, Jeff Tidball, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, and Travis
Lamar Williams.
Journal of Antoninus of Jerbiton:David Chart
Interior Art:Dave Allsop, Neil Edwards, Josh Hoops, Eric Hotz, Janine Johnston, Alexis Liosatos, William O’Connor, Dom
Reardon, John Scotello, and Jock Simpson.
Cartography:Eric Hotz
Wizards of the Coast Fourth Edition Developer:Wade Racine
Wizards of the Coast Fourth Edition Contributions:Steve Bishop, Bob Kruger, and Jennifer Clarke Wilkes.
Special Thanks:Peter Adkison, Bill Brickman, Bob Brynildson, Jerry Corrick, Woody Eblom, Lydia Leong, Clay Luther,
Susann Lyon, Paul Nurnberger, and Jonathan Tweet.
Playtest Coordinators:Bill Brickman, Bob Brynildson, Timothy Carroll, David Chart, Chris Daianu, Jeremiah Genest,
Damelon Kimbrough, Scott Lien, Marc Philipp Messner, and Robin Steeden.
Playtesters:Bill Brickman Playtesters (Philadelphia): Paul Curtis, Tamara Duran, Erik Hanson, Leonard McCain, Stephen
Mulholland, and Christopher Page. Bill Brickman Playtesters (Los Angeles): Tavis Allison, St. John Colón, Ingrid de Beus,
Steve Hanna, Robert Jimenez, Duncan MacClaren, and Gintaras Valiulis. Bob Brynildson Playtesters: David Appleby, Peter
Hentges, Joseph Knight, Tony Lavalle, Donald Prust, Robin Sivill, and William Vos. David Chart Playtesters: Dinan
Gunawardena, Adam Mosley, Mike Pitt, Helen Steele, and Chihiro Yamada. Chris Daianu Playtesters: Art Apicella, Chris
Balow, Richard Brooks, and Steve Drexler. Jeremiah Genest Playtesters: Nathaniel Bennett, Ry Boltors, Charles Schafer, and
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Messner Playtesters: Tanja Bader, Nina Baur, Alexander Gerber, Jochen Gutjahr, Jens Oesterle, Sabine Voëlkel, and Stefan
Kreutzer. Robin Steeden Playtesters: Gordon Bowie-Reed, Michaël de Verteuil, Thomas Erskine, John Garay, Ian Hargrove,
and Chris Roberts.
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DIGITAL EDITION • MARCH 2003
This PDF edition has no ISBN assigned. The ISBNs of the print editions of Ars Magica 4thEdition are
1-887801-55-3 (softcover) and ISBN 1-887801-56-1 (hardcover).
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Chapter I: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Chapter II: Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Chapter III: Hermetic Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Chapter IV: Laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Chapter V: Spells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Chapter VI: Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Chapter VII: Storyguide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Chapter VIII: Saga. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Chapter IX: Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Chapter X: Mythic Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Chapter XI: Realms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Chapter XII: Bestiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Appendix I: Latin Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Appendix II: Conversion Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Character Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Virtue and Flaw Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Spell Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
General Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
CChhaapptteerr II
IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn
Extracts from the Journal of pass our other time in labor and study of the Holy Bible.
There is great wisdom in such simplicity, as St. Bernard says.
Antoninus of Jerbiton, formerly I, William, write this with my own hand. Adelard wrote
the above with my help. I wanted the opening of this book
William of York to not be marred by my poor Latin.
The third day of Advent, in the year of our Lord eleven
The Feast of St. Hugh, in the year of our Lord eleven hun- hundred and ninety nine.
dred and ninety nine.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the holy Virgin
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the holy Virgin Mary, and Ailred of blessed memory.
Mary, and Ailred of blessed memory.
Fulk of Cîteaux visited the monastery today, and the
abbot summoned me to a conversation with him. He want-
May the God of Majesty who has watched over my life
ed to read my book, and I brought it to him. He asked me
watch over the pen with which I write it, lest I stumble in
many questions about my studies, and my life as a monk. He
the retelling. I am William, called of York for I was born in
seemed happy, but I do not understand what he wanted.
that city, and I am an oblate at the monastery of Rievaulx. I
came into this world of suffering in the year of our Lord
The Feast of the Circumcision, in the year of our Lord
eleven hundred and eighty six, and it pleased God to take
twelve hundred.
my mother to Him at my birth. In my eighth year my father
May the Lord Jesus Christ, the holy Virgin Mary, blessed
died, and my uncle gave me as an oblate to the monastery,
Bernard, and Ailred of holy memory have mercy upon me
where I have lived since. I shall take my vows as a monk
and guard my soul.
next Easter, and never leave the monastery thereafter.
I have left the monastery. Fulk of Cîteaux, who is nei-
I was given the book in which I record my life by Fulk
ther Fulk nor of Cîteaux, came for me and took me away. I
of Cîteaux, a monk of our Order. He has visited this
am sitting by the fire in a camp, surrounded by men of war,
monastery many times, and is much in conference with the
and Julia who is Fulk is watching me write from the other
abbot. He has shown a great interest in me, and I do not
side of the fire. I would leave, but I have nowhere to go.
believe Geoffrey’s suggestion that his interest stems from a
Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison.
mortal sin. I believe that Geoffrey will be a bad monk and
I shall tell the story of these days calmly. Fulk who is
bring scandal to our Order, but God alone shall judge.
Julia came to the monastery on the Feast of the Innocents.
The abbot gave Fulk permission to grant me this book, He went to see the abbot, and I was summoned to speak to
and required that I obey his command to record my life. The them again. Fulk asked me more questions, and then stared
monastic day is unchanging as the eternal God is unchang- at me as if he could look into my soul. Perhaps he could.
ing: we pray seven times per day, as the psalmist says, and When I returned to the novices they were all whispering
4
CHAPTERI INTRODUCTION 5
about me, and Geoffrey said wicked things about Fulk. His I am sitting in my room, which is lit by a fire which
imagination fell far short of the truth. never goes out. The worm which never perishes will come
for me when I sleep, for this is an unholy place, surely cut off
Yesterday I was summoned again to the abbot, and Fulk
from the love of God.
was with him once more. The abbot seemed distracted, and
told me that I was to leave the monastery and go with Fulk It does not look like the mouth of Hell. It is a stone
to his home. I was shocked, because the abbot has always manor house, well built around three sides of a courtyard,
preached firmly that monks must stay in their monasteries. I the fourth side closed by a wall with a gate in it. Two towers
began to protest, but he stopped me, telling me that I was rise from the rear corners, and there are people busy within
sworn to obedience. I left, but it was not true. I have not it. It even looks something like a monastery, but without a
taken my vows yet. I could have disobeyed him and chapel. There is no chapel, and no church in the village.
remained. Instead I left. Truly, all those here are lost, and I am among them.
Fulk spoke to me before I left the abbot, and told me When we arrived it was clear that Julia had come home,
that we would leave before dawn. I own nothing, and so for everyone rushed around to make her welcome. She sent
brought nothing but my clothes and this book. Fulk met me a servant to summon a council, and led me to a large cham-
in the cloister, and we left in the half dark. Fulk quickly led ber in the rear of the house. In this room stood a large table,
me away from the road, and I heard voices ahead, and saw a round like Arthur’s, and she sat in a chair finer even than
camp fire. Fulk led me to the top of a hill, and stood between the abbot’s, with her name carved on the back. She told me
me and the rising sun. to stand behind her and keep silent. As I waited, the others
came.
“Watch and learn,” he said, “for this is your destiny.” I
faced the old man, dressed in the plain white habit of the The first was a man, small and thin, dressed in robes of
Cistercians, and for a moment nothing happened. As the deep red, the color of blood. He brought with him a smell of
sun rose above the horizon, a darkness spread through his burning, and there was ash on his hands. The second was
robes, and through his hair, his skin became fair, and his another woman, taller than Julia, and very pale, dressed
body changed, and I thought that a demon had surely pos- entirely in white. Her cheeks and forehead were covered
sessed him. Perhaps it had. The white habit of a monk
with scars in an intricate pattern, as were her hands. In one
became rich robes of deepest blue, decorated with shining
hand she held a dagger which glittered like ice, and she
silver, and I was frozen to the spot as ice seemed to clutch at
toyed with it throughout the council. They had entered
my heart. The old man was gone, and a beautiful woman
through the door by which we had come, and I was sure then
stood before me. The silence of that moment seemed to last
that I was in a house of demons.
forever, as she seemed to gather the disappearing darkness
Then a bird, a raven, flew in through one of the win-
into herself.
dows and settled on another chair. In a moment it had
“I am Julia, follower of Jerbiton, and I am your mistress.”
changed to a man, small, with dark hair, who sat naked in
The words broke whatever spell held me there, and I turned
the seat, staring at me with hungry eyes.
to flee back to the monastery, but men from the camp had
climbed up behind us, and one of them caught me. One chair remained empty, and I fixed my eyes on it to
avoid looking at the others, who were talking in Latin, too
We walked all day, the warriors guarding me so that I
quietly for me to follow. As I watched, the final councilor
could not flee, and Julia leading the way. We camped short-
appeared in the chair, appearing from nothing amid a stench
ly before sunset, and I watched carefully to see if she would
of rotting flesh. He was robed in rough brown, and his face
change back. She did not, only performing some ritual.
had the pallor of a corpse. I was about to run, but Julia had
Now, she watches me across the flames, and I see my soul in
seized my wrist, and I found that I could not move. She
hell, watching her through the flames for eternity. Lord have
spoke to the assembly.
mercy, Christ have mercy.
“Sodales, this is William of York, my new apprentice.
The Feast of Epiphany, in the year of our Lord twelve hun- He is under my protection.” I am sure that the raven looked
dred. disappointed at that.
May our Lord Jesus Christ protect me, the Blessed Then I was sent from the room, and guarded by two of
Virgin Mary send angels to guard me, and Ailred of holy the soldiers who had come with us from the monastery, until
memory intercede for me, for I am in the den of vipers, yea, Julia emerged to lead me to my room. And now I sit here,
the very house of robbers. and dare not sleep. Oh lord, save me from this place.
6 ARSMAGICA THEARTOFMAGIC
The feast of St. Antony, in the year of our Lord twelve hun- larder, and told me that I was not a magus yet. He showed
dred. me round the dormitories, and took me to the door of the
library and showed me a crack in the door. I peered in, and
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the holy Virgin
I was amazed. There were dozens of books, maybe more than
Mary, and Ailred of blessed memory.
two hundred. Jocelin told me that the library was off-limits
I am still alive, and I have a friend here. Jocelin is a min- to all but the magi, but that most covenfolk could not read,
strel, and not much older than me. He lives here all winter, anyway. Then he took me to meet the grogs, the soldiers
and for much of the rest of the year, but he also travels round who had guarded me on the way here. The leader of the
England. He assures me grogs is a woman,
that I will be allowed to although I didn’t realize
leave. that until she spoke. I
think I was a bit rude in
He came to me on
my confusion, but Maud
the day after I arrived,
just laughed and went
and offered to show me
back to training the oth-
around the place. This is
ers. Jocelin explained
the covenant Voluntas,
that the grogs were there
part of the Order of
to protect me, and were
Hermes. The magi,
supposed to die to
those whom I saw at the
defend me, if necessary. I
council, rule the
asked him why, since I
covenant, while the
was nobody important.
consortes like Jocelin
Jocelin laughed then,
see to day to day admin-
and sat me down on a
istration and the turb
mounting block to
does all the menial
explain. I will try to
work. The magi all have
write down what he said.
private areas, which
Jocelin refused to show “William, you have the
me: he said it was too Gift, and you are Julia’s
dangerous. Julia of apprentice. In a few
Jerbiton, my mistress, is years you will be a
the most approachable magus, able to command
of them. Kirist of the birds of the air and
Flambeau, the one in the beasts of the field.
red, has a nasty temper, The winds and waves
and can make you burn will answer to your will,
by snapping his fingers. and the earth itself will
Phessallia of Merinita, rise up to form your
the woman in white, is dwelling. Age will flee
cruel and cold, and I from your face, and
should stay away from flames will shrink from
her. Corvus the Raven of Bjornaer is just wrapped up in his your body in fear. People will see what you wish them to see,
own world, and doesn’t like interruptions. Desiderius of and think their thoughts at your whim. The power of a king
Verditius is a necromancer, and would be more interested in pales beside that which you may attain, and no-one but the
me were I dead. I asked Jocelin where all these places — Tribunal of the Order may judge you. You may be only an
Jerbiton, Flambeau, and the rest — were, and he laughed, apprentice now, but everyone here respects what you will
saying that they were not places, although they were hous- become.”
es. He said that Julia would explain that to me, and that he
I wonder if he is right.
did not fully understand it.
Jocelin took me to the kitchens, and introduced me to Fifth day of Scorpio, thirteen hundred and thirty ninth
the head cook. She warned me about stealing from the year of Aries.
CHAPTERI INTRODUCTION 7
I think I should write down what I have been taught, would not harm us, and then escorted us to the edge of their
because I am sure that my mistress will not repeat it. She, territory. Jocelin noted the route, and says that we will
and the other magi here, are members of the Order of return another way. I don’t see why: we dealt with them eas-
Hermes, which seems to be much like the Cistercian Order ily, but Jocelin is afraid to rely on magic too much.
to which I once belonged. It is divided into twelve Houses,
of which Jerbiton is hers, and will, as her apprentice, one day Twelfth day of Leo, thirteen hundred and forty first year of
be mine. The Order governs magi by the Code, which is Aries.
enforced by the Quaesitores and at the Tribunals, which
We have arrived at the covenant Semitae, and I see
meet every seven years, one in each region of Europe. My
what Jocelin meant. The covenant lives in several large
mistress wants to build a Great Chamber, a new meeting
wagons, and travels around the Tribunal. Their route is
place for our Tribunal, in London, because she says that the
planned by Gerfallon of Criamon, the head of the covenant,
covenant of Blackthorn, as host, unduly influences the deci-
which Jocelin says makes it nearly impossible for any sane
sions. There are no abbots in this Order, and every magus
person to track them down. My mistress is closeted with
has a say, so there is no-one to stand against Blackthorn’s
Gerfallon, but I haven’t seen him (or her, I don’t know) yet.
corruption.
Junius of Verditius, who makes the wagons, is entertaining
Covenants, like Blackthorn and Voluntas, are some- us. They are fashioned of iron, so that a magus may have his
thing like monasteries, I think. Several magi live together, laboratory in one, and they change the ground that they
sharing resources and governing themselves. Voluntas has a cross to make a firm road. Junius told us about his new pro-
council of all the magi, and my mistress believes that we ject, which is to make a wagon that can be pulled through
should build a fine new chamber for the council meetings, so the sky and over the seas. He said that the main problem is
that their importance is more obvious to the other magi. I the horses, and he thinks that he may have to make them as
think that she wants Corvus and Desiderius to regard them well, mundane horses not being suitable. I suggested that he
as more than simply distractions from work. They complain just make the wagon move itself, but he didn’t like that idea.
every time they are forced to leave their laboratories, even if Wagons do not move themselves naturally, while horses do,
it is only to fetch a book from the library.
so it is easier to enchant a horse to move than to do the same
My training will last for fifteen years, and at the end of for a wagon. There are so many things to remember when
it I will be admitted to the Order, and then I shall have the working magic.
same rights as my mistress, and the power that Jocelin spoke
of. Thirteenth day of Leo, thirteen hundred and forty first year
of Aries.
Fourth day of Leo, thirteen hundred and forty first year of We have left Semitae, and my mistress is pleased with
Aries.
the results of our visit. I asked Jocelin why we had to walk,
My mistress is going to visit another covenant, and she and he told me that most magi cannot ride horses, because
has decided to take Jocelin and me along. This will be the the beasts hate their magic, and throw them off. I am unusu-
first time I have been out of the covenant since I arrived, al in that. He told me not to ask my mistress about it,
apart from brief visits to Wilton, and Jocelin has been help- because she is sensitive on the subject.
ing me with preparations. Henry the Tailor has made me a
proper traveling cloak, and Henry the Smith has prepared Twentieth day of Virgo, thirteen hundred and forty second
me a dagger and an ax. We leave at dawn, and Jocelin is year of Aries.
being deliberately mysterious about our destination. He
My mistress is in a foul mood. She went to the council
won’t tell me where the covenant Semitae is, telling me that
today to try to convince them to build the new council
I shall understand when we get there.
chamber. I have seen the plans: it is heptagonal, with a
vaulted stone roof supported by a slender central pillar. It is
Eighth day of Leo, thirteen hundred and forty first year of
truly beautiful, but they made her choose between that and
Aries.
the Great Chamber. She chose the bigger project, and made
We were attacked by brigands today. They were waiting them promise to give her the money for the land next year,
in ambush, and the grogs had to fight them off at first, until but she is still raging about their lack of vision.
my mistress could cast a spell. The spell, and the speech that
she made after casting it, convinced them that we were Ninth day of Gemini, thirteen hundred and forty third year
important allies. They swore by the Holy Cross that they of Aries.
8 ARSMAGICA THEARTOFMAGIC
The covenant council have given my mistress the enough of them. I don’t know if they would have killed me,
money for the land, and so we are going to London. Jocelin but Jocelin arrived, with the household guards of some
is coming along as well, because he knows London better noble, and they fled. He has promised not to tell my mis-
than we do. My mistress has been sketching new plans all tress, and hopes that I have learnt a lesson.
day, wondering whether she needs to buy a larger plot of
I certainly have. I must get my mistress to teach me
land. Jocelin says that we should have some time to look
more Intéllego.
around the city while she negotiates with people.
Twenty third day of Gemini, thirteen hundred and forty First day of Cancer, thirteen hundred and forty third year
of Aries.
third year of Aries.
The negotiations are complete, and my mistress holds
We have arrived at London. There are so many people
the deeds to a large plot of land just outside the city. She has
and houses here, and they are so big. Not as big as Rievaulx,
on the whole, but large all the same, and so many of them. spent most of today expounding her plans for the Great
We are staying in an inn that Jocelin knows. We have pri- Chamber, both as a masterpiece of architecture and art and
vate rooms, in return for a lot of money and a promise from as a place where all the magi of the Tribunal can meet away
Jocelin that he will perform. I don’t think that I have ever from the influence of Blackthorn. Apparently Semitae has
actually heard him sing. also agreed to support this idea. We shall leave London
tomorrow, and I still haven’t heard Jocelin sing.
Twenty fourth day of Gemini, thirteen hundred and forty
third year of Aries. Tenth day of Libra, thirteen hundred and forty seventh
year of Aries.
My mistress gave me leave to wander London today.
Jocelin took me around for an hour or so, showing me how My mistress talked to representatives of many covenants
to get to the inn from St. Paul’s, and where I could buy food. at last year’s Tribunal, and now we are traveling about the
Then he left me. I think I lost my purse less than half an country to negotiate support for the Great Chamber. She
hour after that, but it is no matter. The merchants balance plans to form a religious order to look after it while the magi
the thieves, and I can make as many silver pennies as I need. are not using it, thus giving it legitimacy while preserving
I watched a miracle play, which showed the martyrdom of our control. Personally, I doubt that many magi will want to
St. Catherine, and wandered round St. Paul’s, listening to
meet in the Dominion, but she plans to portray that as a
people conduct business until they realized I was eavesdrop-
benefit: it grants additional safety to those attending
ping.
Tribunal.
Then I wandered up among the merchant houses, and
We have come to the covenant Schola Pythagoranis in
met Elisabeth. She is working as a servant for one of the big
Cambridge. They are well-disposed to us, as House Jerbiton
houses, and was happy to go with me to an inn. I bought her
dominates them, but they are more interested in scholarship
wine, rather than the cheaper ale, and made sure that we
than art, and I think that our visit is somewhat ill-timed.
were away before sunset. It’s amazing what a tiny amount of
They have taken advantage of the dissolution of the univer-
magic can achieve. Perdo Mentem made her forget the time
sity at Oxford to lure the Masters and scholars here, and the
and the greetings from her friends, Creo Mentem enhanced
town is bursting at the seams. It is strange to be in a town,
her liking for me, and Creo Corpus made her burn with lust.
and all the churches be closed. Even the round church of the
Magic, and a bit of timing. The sun set while we were in fla-
Holy Sepulcher is closed, although I thought that the
grante delicto, so she barely noticed the magic wear off. She
Templars had an exemption from the interdict. Jocelin is
did hurry home as soon as we had finished, though, and I got
nervous about his immortal soul, but I told him not to worry:
back to the inn to discover that I had missed Jocelin’s per-
the faithful are not damned merely by dying during an inter-
formance. Ah well.
dict.
Twenty sixth day of Gemini, thirteen hundred and forty We are being accommodated in one of the covenant’s
third year of Aries.
houses for tonight: they have buildings scattered through
Elisabeth had a young man, it seems. Quite a wealthy the town. The sancta of all the magi are in a large stone
one, with a large number of rough friends. They sent a mes- house near St. Sepulcher’s, but the grogs and covenfolk live
senger, claiming to be from her, and like a fool I followed in other buildings, sometimes in single rented rooms. At
him. They were all waiting for me, and I couldn’t affect least this covenant will not have any problem about meet-
CHAPTERI INTRODUCTION 9
ing in the Dominion. I wonder how they manage their we could not get it off him in time. As we stood there, com-
research. pletely unarmed, Jocelin said, quietly, “I seem to remember
that faeries dislike iron.” My mistress turned on him, and
Twelfth day of Libra, thirteen hundred and forty seventh seemed about to do something serious, but after a moment
year of Aries. she relaxed.
We met with Edward of Milton, the Warden of the “Yes, I should have thought. My apologies, lord.” I was
covenant, today. Of course, I merely sat and listened, but my confused for a moment, until I followed her gaze, and saw
mistress did allow me to stay this time. He had taken our
that the faeries had arrived. Their lord was dressed in gleam-
request to the covenant council, and they had considered it
ing silver armor like the scales of a fish, and sat on a throne
carefully. As expected, they were sympathetic, but they had
of ice, which sparkled in the sun. Beside him stood his
a request for us. The magi here do find that the Dominion
guards, great bears in a silver livery, carrying clubs the size of
interferes with their work, but they have identified a magi-
young trees. At the lord’s feet sat his minstrel, a tiny crea-
cal area in a nearby forest. Unfortunately, most of the forest
ture with enormously long, spindly fingers, which cradled a
is under the control of the faerie, and all attempts to con-
lute. I sensed other eyes on us, but I could see nothing.
struct laboratories have been thwarted. He wants us to nego-
tiate a peace with the fay. If we succeed, he will support my “Why have you sought me out?” the lord asked. My mis-
mistress’s plan at the next Tribunal. She agreed, of course. tress replied.
She looked worried on the way back here: I suspect that she
“We are here on behalf of the magi of Schola
was trying to figure out how to deal with the fay. I suggested
Pythagoranis. They seek permission to build a laboratory on
that we should go and get Phessallia, but she merely stared
the edge of your wood.”
at me. I suspect that Phessallia is not fully behind her pro-
ject. “Why should I permit that?” My mistress was silent, and
Jocelin stepped forward, clearing his throat.
Fifteenth day of Libra, thirteen hundred and forty seventh
“Would you accept a wager for your permission?” The
year of Aries.
faerie lord considered him, and nodded.
We will enter the faerie forest tomorrow. I shall leave
“Perhaps. What wager, and what contest?”
this journal here, with a note instructing the covenant to
retain it if I do not return. “A singing contest, between me and your minstrel. If I
win, you will allow the magi of Schola Pythagoranis to build
Eighteenth day of Libra, thirteen hundred and forty sev- and use laboratories in that area of your woods, for as long as
enth year of Aries. they wish. If he wins, they will give up any attempt to build
there.”
I have returned, and we were successful. This event
deserves a more detailed account, however. The forest is “And you will remain here as my servant, until you die.”
only an hour’s travel from Cambridge, and so we left shortly
“Agreed.” He said it quickly, before any of us could
before dawn, my mistress preferring to deal with the faeries
intervene. My mistress was pale, and went to talk to him,
of the light. We arrived there a while after the sun had risen,
but he waved her away, turning his attention to tuning his
and walked into the forest. My mistress was calling out that
lute. He looked at me over the frets and winked, and I real-
we wanted to speak with the ruler of this place, and the
ized that I was finally going to hear him sing.
grogs were looking around nervously. I, of course, main-
tained my poise and dignity, as did Jocelin. He said that the
He struck a chord, and began. It was an old lay, the tale
fay were well known to be fond of minstrels, so he felt safe.
of a faerie maiden who enslaved human knights with her
After we had wandered for an hour, Guy, our woods- beauty, and kept them imprisoned in a cave. He sang well,
man, announced that we were lost, and that he could no and the faerie minstrel joined in. Its fingers moved like
longer make sense of the vegetation. My mistress was lightning over the strings, and it seemed to be playing three
pleased at the news because, she said, it showed that we had parts at once. It opened its mouth to sing, and three voices
entered the faerie forest. I felt a burning by my side, and spilled out, the high voice of a young boy, the deep voice of
realized that my knife was glowing with red heat. I plucked a mature man, and a voice that was like the singing of birds
it from the sheath and threw it to the ground, where it melt- in the dawn. My heart sank, but Jocelin only smiled, as he
ed and ran away like water. All around me, the grogs were played a little interlude between verses. The maiden’s latest
doing the same. Poor Stephen was wearing chain mail, and victim was led into the cave, and there met the previous
10 ARSMAGICA THEARTOFMAGIC
prisoners. Still the faerie minstrel seemed clearly better, and churches and no service, as the interdict continues. Kirist
the faerie lord was grinning. has spoken of the possibility that the Dominion will fade if
it continues, since the power of God will lie less heavily on
Then the music changed. Jocelin was improvising, and
a land that He has rejected, but I have noticed no fading
changing the story. The newcomer spoke to the imprisoned
while I have been here.
knights of their homes and families, left behind desolate,
and of the glory to be won on the battlefield, not in this As guests of this lord, we were entertained well in the
cave. He spoke to them of the shame of being held in thrall Great Hall, a truly spectacular room. Of course, my mis-
by a woman, and roused them to action. As the knights rose
tress’s Great Chamber will be yet finer. Minstrels played, and
to their feet and girded on their arms, preparing to leave, the
Jocelin joined them for a while. He really loves these places
faerie minstrel began to falter, losing time with Jocelin, the
— I think it has something to do with the servant girls. The
notes clashing. As they turned on their captor, who revealed
food, at any rate, was better than I have eaten in some time.
herself as a fiend with golden claws dripping ink, which
The winter stocks here have hardly been touched, it seems.
scored wounds on the heart, and a voice that pierced the
ears with poetry, the faerie minstrel was reduced to singing
Thirteenth day of Capricorn, thirteen hundred and forty
fragments, off key, and often mistakenly continuing the
eighth year of Aries.
story. As the faerie was defeated and the knights rode to
freedom, he dropped out completely. My mistress spent today closeted with the lord, negoti-
ating for his support. I was employed as a valet, bringing
The face of the faerie lord was like thunder, and dark-
food and drink so that none of the lord’s servants need know
ness swirled within his throne.
what was going on. He spoke of the possibility of magical
“You have won, mortal. Leave the forest, if you can.” assistance against the Pope, in Ireland, or against the King
of France. Of course, my mistress had to refuse. She can
“My lord, I was only to serve you if I lost.” The faerie’s
hardly break the Code that blatantly in order to build a
face twisted for a moment, then he relaxed.
meeting place for the Tribunal.
“True. You may leave. Your companions, however, were
The talk turned to more personal things: long life, pro-
no part of our bargain.” Jocelin turned to look at us, strick-
en, and I felt little better. My mistress, however, was undis- tection from his enemies, and such like. I was sent from the
turbed. She gathered us close to her, and bowed to the faerie chamber at that point, ostensibly to fetch wine. Since the
lord. I could see the shadows taking shape around us, war- agreement had been concluded by the time I returned, how-
riors with cruel, dark blades. Then she held up a piece of ever, I suspect that the real reason was to prevent me from
wood from our chambers in Cambridge, and began chanti- learning what the terms were. My mistress seemed happy,
ng. The faerie lord screamed with rage, even as he vanished however.
from our sight, and we found ourselves back in Cambridge.
Twenty first day of Sagittarius, thirteen hundred and forty
We spent two days in the faerie forest, it seems, but
ninth year of Aries.
Schola Pythagoranis are happy, and my mistress has their
support. And I have heard Jocelin sing. My mistress has just spent three seasons solidly training
me, and now she has told me to amuse myself for a while. I
Twelfth day of Capricorn, thirteen hundred and forty think she must be working on her side of the bargain with
eighth year of Aries. the lord. I have convinced Jocelin to take me to York, as the
council will not give me access to the library. It is time to
I dislike traveling in winter. We have come to Norwich
to meet with a lord. My mistress has told me not to write become a monk again for a while.
down his name, for his protection. I suspect that ours may
also be involved: the Quaesitores might be inclined to take Eighteenth day of Leo, thirteen hundred and fifty first year
a dim view of such goings on. My mistress needs a public of Aries.
sponsor for her religious order, and this lord is likely to be it.
Another journey in search of support, this time to the
This is a great city, not quite so large as London, but other side of the country, amid the mountains and lakes
large nonetheless. From the towers of the castle keep, it is all looking across the sea to Ireland. Ungulus is an old
spread out below you, the great cathedral dominating, and covenant, housed in a great tower, raised by magic from the
the dozens of smaller churches pushing their towers up mountain on which it stands. The outside is covered by
beyond the level of the houses. It is strange, all these intricate carvings which no human being has ever puzzled