These are the best fragments from my notes as SG for the Hermetic Midsummer Fair in the Greater Alps 1227.

• The play was organised using the principles recommended by the Alexandrian
• Some topics of discussion should be prepared, both directly relevant to the PCs and some background flavour. My ideas were not good enough to share.

People

• 20+ local magi mostly Criamon and Jerbiton
• 15-20 redcaps, from every tribunal
• two Tremere from Transylvania
• 4-5 quaesitores
• 10+ Flambeaux - with their tournaments
• 5-10 Verditius - showing off
• This totals 55+ magi or 4% of the Order

About a dozen characters should be detailled for roleplay.

Locations

The fairground is the outer courtyard of the Motherhouse of the Icy North, between two circular walls.

• The Arena
• Three different tents give room to drink, eat, and converse. Each tent is served by several cooks, brewers, and wine merchants.
  • The Ale Tent. This is mainly for the grogs.
  • The Winery. This is mainly for learned companions, redcaps, and Gently Gifted magi.
  • The Refectory. Most Gifted magi meet here.
• Librarium. A wooden roof with canvas walls, where book traders gather.
• The Verditius Camp. A handful of Verditius Magi have clustered together, each having a small camp for his entourage. I the circle between the camps, the Verditius like to show off and bickle in their ways.
• The Menagerie. Several visitors, mundane and Gifted, sell animals, both magical and exotic. There are several pens for larger animals.

Schedule of Events

Opening Feast

This is provided by the host.

Announcement

Those who want to compete in the tournaments can sign up here.

Great items on sale are announced. Most sellers announce the item asking a rather high initial price. If it is not sold during the first day, they slowly lower the price towards the end of the week.

Certamen Tournament

The Certamen Tournament is spread out during the week. The most junior duelists compete on the first day. Some of the most senior duelists have their first match on the fifth day.

Each match is three duels.
In the first and last duel, the youngest magus chooses the form, the opponent the technique. In the middle duel, it is the other way around. In the first to duels, the each magus may veto the opponent’s initial choice of art. In the third, they may not.

Opponents:

1. Hugh at gauntlet [MoH:45]
2. Gaborius ex Tremere
3. Ranulf +15 years [MoH:106]
4. Tolides +30 years [MoH:129]

Except for Gaborius, they are all local to the Greater Alps, and Flambeaux magi.

Targetting Tournament

This is a contest in aimed spells, much like an archery contest.

Vis auction

Vis is auctioned, as well as silver.
Bids are taken in pawns of Vim vis. Generally, each lot is 4-10 pawns of vis.

Grand Auction

Items of magic are auctioned.

• Books
  • The Quest through Elysium by Quendalon filius Merinita. Tractatus Faerie Lore Q7. Allegedly, this is an original manuscript, and it looks the age. Asking price 50pvv. It will sell for 12pvv.
  • Healer’s Grimoire by Gwendae ex Miscellanea.
    Severed Limb made Whole CrCo25; Cheating the Reaper CrCo30; Incantation of the Body Made Whole CrCo40. Asking price 10pvv. Sells for 4p.
  • Laboratoriana by Philippus Magnus ex Bonisagus. Chamber of the Summer Breezes CrAu(Ig) 15; The Resolute Mind [Cov:122] ReMe20; Gleam of the Freshly-Polished Glass PeTe25. Asking price 6pvv. Sells for 3pvv.
  • Traditiones terræ by Fenicil filius Guernicus. L16Q12. This is claimed to be the original manuscript for the famous Branch of Terram. It lacks certain sections which are found in more recent versions of the book, and therefore it does not have the same quality.
    Asking price 300pvv. It will sell for 120pvv.
• Greater enchanted devices
  • Tree Hive [MoH:43] (ReHe44 + ReAn39). Standard price 57pvv. Asking price 125pvv. It will sell for 54pvv.
  • Traveller’s Oilcloth [TTT:111] see below. Asking price 20pvv. Sells for 8pvv
• Lesser enchanted devices
  • Crown of Hermes [Cov:121] Asking price 25pvv. Sells for 12pvv
  • A magic Plow. Asking price 10pvv. Sells for 4pvv.
• Raven of Virtue [RoP:M]
  • Asking price 200pvv. It will sell for 64pvv.

Oilcloth

Oilcloth of Dry Nights; ReAq 6; Pen 0, 24/day: This oilcloth is an Invested Item with two powers. It is eight feet long and five feet wide. This first effect causes it to repel all water. (Base 1, +1 Touch, +2 Sun, +1 slightly unnatural control; +1 2/day)

Oilcloth of Useful Shapes; MuHe 12; Pen 0, 6/ day: The above oilcloth can become as rigid as wood on command. Rufus can fold it into a shape such as a boat, tent, or plank for crossing streams before uttering the trigger. The cloth retains its shape until shaken vigorously. (Base 3, +1 Conc; +5 maintains concentration, +3 6/day)

Silk Auction

Not only silk is auctioned. The currency here is silver, by weight.

• incenses
• spices
• silk
• gold
• gems
• exotic woods and minerals
• animal hides
• herbs
• Art (products of craft magic)

A lot of the materials auctioned are valuable for the purpose of making enchanted devices.

Grogs’ Tournament

This is a standard medieval melee contest.

Dimicatio

This is the controversial Flambeau tournament of forceless casting.