Spring

Tribunal

May
Meetings of the Rhine Tribunal are held every seven years and by tradition always take place at Durenmar.
The formal proceedings begin on the eve of the 1st of May (Walpurgis Night), and typically last for well over a week, with a great deal of politicking taking place before, during, and afterwards. In addition, each gild (and some of the Houses) hold separate meetings during the three days immediately before the Tribunal opening.

• Briefing on topics and NPCs
• Tribunal 1221

Artal met Flashtail, an Ilfetu member with a peacock heartbeast. Falke was also present at the tribunal.

Andreas’ Notes Helena is an exceptionally beautiful woman. Helena claims to have posed as an Aunt Pandora towards Ilse when she was ten years old.

Serapis
+ discusses access to the Great library with Caecilius. Caecilius will negotiate access with the librarian and will send letter to Serapis.
+ collects payment for Quaesitorial service from the Mercer house. 5 seasons @ 4 pawns/season. (5Co, 5Me, 2Cr, 2In, 2Mu, 2Pe, 2Re)
+ gives a letter of Quaesitorial authority to Andreas so that he can continue the investigation into the Northman Magician and the potential connection with Ilse and/or Helena. The authority expires on the winter solstice prior to the next Rhine Tribunal.

Outcome

There is a lot of talk about Oculus’ obligation following the tribunal. Of course, you are not privy to the formal discussions among the magi, but word is out among the covenfolk, and there is a lot of gossip and speculation, as the challenges and opportunities are debated over the course of several weeks.
Towards the end of the season, Henri talks to the characters. “I am sure you are aware of the gossip,” he says, “and I understand that you are looking for an opportunity to settle. It seems that this covenant will have to establish a solid presence further North, and to do that we need more members. Would you be interested in founding a chapter house for us?”
Henri outlines the terms. Oculus will pay all the costs to explore, and treat the work you put in as service in lieu of rent. When/if you find a satisfactory location, you get covenant membership as permanent residents at the chapter house. The covenant will want to use the chapter house as a trade outpost as well. The covenant will pay all the silver necessary to found and run the covenant. They will supply a modest number of staff (in practice only PCs, servants. and teamsters). You will be allowed to copy any books from the library, and some may be copied for you. The covenant has little vis, and expects the chapter house to be a source of vis, splitting the harvest between the chapter house and the mother covenant.
In practice, I think we can say that PC scribes can copy books for the chapter house as their two seasons/year of work, and that is the copying capacity Oculus has. (This is keep it simple thinking)

• Source Quality 5
• One confidence pt per magus.

After the tribunal

After the tribunal, Serapis will give Andreas a letter granting him Quaesitorial authority to continue the investigation into the ‘Norse magician’.

• Letter_of_Quaesitorial_authority.pdf

Seasonal activity

I don’t think book study will be possible this season. Travel to Durenmar and back will take most of the season, unless travel is magically enhanced somehow. I have put some calculations on the discussion page.
Exposure XP is always an option. Characters might be able to gain XP by Practice, Training or Teaching depending on the skill, but I feel the travelling environment is not ideal so would present a distraction and reduce the XP.
An easy solution for the season is to award ADV XP for the Tribunal.

• Andreas +5xp adventure
• Artal gets adevnture xp for Tribunal, Bjornaer Lore, SQ5
• Serapis. Adv XP. Order of Hermes Lore +5XP.
• Jenico Adventure. Order of Hermes Lore +5XP.
• Basilus
  
• Gesche teaches bows to Angelhart, SQ 11

Summer

NOTE. Rent is due for guests.

• Serapis offers service in lieu of rent. Covenant declines, so Serapis pays the rent (3 pawns of Vim vis).
• Artal offers a season exploring Sweden for possible sites (autumn).

Seasonal activity

• Artal learns Blade of Virulent Flame CrIg15
• Andreas reads the Muto primer (capped at 21xp) (or second choice Vim or embarks on a mision if necessary)
  
• Serapis studies Rego. (L17Q14, The Kingly Art by Etimarian ex Tremere)
  
• Basilus experiments while inventing spells, 2 xp exposure + special or story event
• Jenico reads Imaginem (L10Q17) +17 Im, +1 In, +1Pe

Autumn

• Jeppe is introduced to the group.
• A group of Danish crusaders appear in town, and the son of the chief is under a faerie curse.

Seasonal activity

• Artal explores Sweden for possible sites , SQ 7, Area Lore: Sweden
• Andreas reads the Vim primer if he has time and it is available. 25xp assuming a collection of vis is sufficient to gain study bonus (alternatively he could travel to the badger’s regio or maybe Basilus’ cave to use the aura).
• Serapis studies Rego. (L17Q14, The Kingly Art by Etimarian ex Tremere)
• Jenico reads Danish (L3Q14)
• Basilus

Winter

Note: Covenant final payment of 3 pawns of vis compensation is due to the magi guests.

• Andreas is given 3 pawns of Animal vis (3 black feathers)
• Jenico is given 3 pawns of Aquam vis (3 glass vials filled with slightly sparkling water)
• Basilus receives 3 pawns of Mentem vis (the pickled brain of a Raven)
• Artal receives 3 pawns of Imaginem vis (a perfect quartz prism).

Seasonal activity

• Andreas
  
• Artal learns Bjornaer Lore from Ardea in Crinthera , SQ 12 (+1 from Correspondence)
• Basilus
  
• Jenico reads Rego (L17Q14) +1 in An, Au, Ig, and Me
• Serapis reads Magic Theory (L5 Q12, New omnibus after Bonisagus), no ability increase yet.