Essel

'''“Why Greatness? Why Is Goodness Not Enough?”'''

Born into peasant stock, orphaned at a young age, grew up living/working at a roadside inn on the outskirts of the port city of Lubek. Popular with merchants rich and poor, Essel learned early on to read and understand people of many backgrounds. This became of use to Essel's future parens Tandaline of Durenmar as she travelled to the covenent of Oculus Septentrionalis and the schemes of the Jerbiton covenent in the city proper. Due to Essel's gentle gift it took many visits before a fortuitous manifestation of her gift, whilst frightened during an inn brawl. This caused all the tankards in people's hands to explode stunning the room to silence. Essel was terrified. Tandaline delighted she had the gentle gifted apprentice she needed to carry on her own intrigues. Apprenticed at Durenmar, Essel after a basic grounding in Latin, Magic theory and artes liberalis spent most of her time on the road with Tandaline. From her Essel learned the delicate art of intrigue and how to use it to further the orders interests. Ten years into her apprenticeship (age 22) during a short fostering period with Horst and Dorana of Fengheld and his apprentice redcap Fabian. Essel and Fabian had become firm friends, on a visit to a Hermetic fair, Fabian had been teasing Essel after she adopted a new short haircut to enable her to travel as a male. He made the mistake of saying out loud within earshot of a fairy trader (a wood nymph) "it suits you; I hope you never change again" he then gave a wink and composed a teasing song.This was accepted as payment by the fairy trader to both Essel’s and Fabians surprise, as she was informed, she will no longer age, her hair will grow no longer, and even with the aid of your gift shall you transform or change your apparent age, hair or eye colour, height or weight. At first Essel was furious (she was proud of her long hair, and worried that her apparent youth would make future diplomacy harder) Fabian was mortified by his actions, however Essel was trained in intrigue as every crisis is an opportunity, she utilised this to Blackmail Fabian from then on. Upon completion of her gauntlet, during her guild training she was informed that Tandaline had secured her the Spring tenens role in the Stonehenge tribunal. Upon Essels own intrigues Fabian would also serve in Stonehenge at the Mercere House in Coventry. She had long since forgiven him, but his guilt makes him useful after all.

Virtues
Puissant IntrigueFree, Gentle GiftM, Affinity with Intellego, Diplomat, Linden guild trained, Piercing gaze, Self confident, Tenens OccultorumSpring Tenens, Unaging.

Flaws
Blackmail, Driven (bring peace to the order)M, Greater Malediction (cannot alter apparent age, hair/eye colour shape etc via magic)M, Rigid magicM

Personality Traits
Devoted to the order of Hermes +3, Dauntless +2, Empathetic +2

Wizarding Sigil
The Smell of Lavender.

Essel's Laboratory
Virtues: Dedicated BuildingFree, Superior ConstructionFree Flaws: Missing IngredientsFree, DecayingFree Size:0 Refinement:0 General Quality:-1 Upkeep:-1 Safety:0 Warping:0 Health:0 Aesthetics:+1

Specializations: Pe:+1 Me:+1

Notes: Lab totals are halved for - Ignem and Aquam

Spells
Sight of the true form, The Succubus' trick, Tossing the brawling brute, Step sideways, Trap of amber, Topple the brutish band, Prying eyes, Aura of Ennobled Presence, Wizard's sidestep, Circle of undisturbed rest, Fooling the eye, Sight of the true form, The Succubus' trick, Tossing the brawling brute, Step sideways, Trap of amber, Topple the brutish band, Prying eyes, Aura of Ennobled Presence, Wizard's sidestep, Circle of undisturbed rest, Fooling the eye.

Items and Belongings
Items to be confirmed

Magic items to come...

Opinions on Others
Mages Arianwen - Can be as aloof as her heartbeast, direct and forthright. Her Harmonist leanings give me hope however. Cirice - Trapped in a child's body must be a great burden and hardship. Although the last thing she would want from me is my pity for her plight. Edric - Brilliant mind and academic. Greedy for knowledge (and food) Thank the founder for the parma though, don't think I could face talking to him unshielded. Rian - Of all my Sodales I liked him the most, Quiet and considerate, inquiring without arrogance. I'll miss him dearly. Evelin - innocent as a child, but always flaunting her long perfect hair all the time … Could grow to like her if she gets more worldly, and a lot less vain. Companions Iris - Robin of Loxley - Tancred - A true servant of the order, his loyalty and dedication to duty are to be admired. He is rather too eager to reach for his sword though, and not everything is good or the work of the Devil. Lady Tessora of Artois - Quiet and Pious, must be hard for her to balance her convictions with the harsh world we find ourselves in. Will Scarlet - A very charming man, always looking for the next pretty face. One day he will realize that no woman will give him the adoration, loyalty and love that Gillian will. I hope it works out for them both. Grogs Silk - We all have our cross to bear!

Essel's Journal
1189 The prelude

After being awarded the great honor of serving the House as Spring tenens, I was ready to leave the familiar and walk my own path. Invitations had been sent to recently gauntleted mages to found a new covenant within Sherwood Forest. A convenient location with easy travel to the Loch Legan and Hibernian tribunals, as well as a deep magical history.

I left Durenmar in company with Tandaline (my parens) who was en-route to Normandy tribunal, stopping briefly at Fenghald covenant. There after some negotiation I left in the company of Haeddi a failed apprentice with much still to contribute to the order. After an emotional farewell at Rouen with Tandaline, we headed to the coast and a boat to England.

In England we stopped briefly at Coventry to check Fabian arrived safely, before setting off for Nottingham. After some struggle we passed through Sherwood Forest to behold the place I would now call Home. Now the true scale of the task was revealed, from the splendor of Durenmar to nothing but a ruin, inside a deep and eerie wood.

The rest of the year was spent establishing a functional lab, inside the cave complex, and introductions to my new Sodales and what few companions and grogs had arrived. As well as the mysterious ‘Robin Hood’

''“Alone in an un-familiar land, the weight of responsibility to my house, to Tandaline and the order itself. The 15 years of my apprenticeship seemed a life time, why do I now feel so unprepared for the future?”''

1190

Spring 1190

It was regrettably necessary to free a group of football playing men, from a prison awaiting execution. I rarely condone interfering with the mundane affairs of the local nobility. However, they were to be executed for a most petty offence, and in good Christian conscience, I couldn’t let this injustice persist. This and the need for additional covenfolk convinced my sodales that we had no choice. The operation was carried out efficiently enough (or so we believed) I spoke to the group and offered them freedom in return for 1 years' service and an offer to stay if they chose after that.

Later in Spring I travelled to Coventry to register the covenant with the Mercere House, after many adventures on the road (learning much about our new covenfolk, virtues and vices) and completing a book deal to begin our library. At Coventry I was able to learn little about the old Covenant that Sage hollow is built around the ruins of (A former Diedne Covenant it seems) as the records were destroyed during the schism war. A reference to a Regulus of Tytalis who had recorded a vis source near our location, but hadn't been heard of for 65 years will be worth looking in to.

Before I could leave, I met Fredegisa The junior Quesetor of Stonehenge tribunal (of scholae covenant) who informed me that she was aware of the prison break (Thanks to Evelin’s hole in the wall spell) How she discovered this I don’t know, ‘fortunately’ she had a solution to avoid any further complications. I was introduced to Sir Balian commander of the Knight’s templar at Newark, who wanted to procure Evelin’s services to create 2 magic devices. After agreeing a fair price, he departed. I wrote to the shadow tower to name Sir Balian as a person of interest and one to watch in the future. And returned home to tell Evelin the good news about her commissions.

''“It had taken mere weeks since arriving to have the code tested against the harsh realities of the world. From interfering with the mundanes in the name of justice. To bandits on the highways forcing me to use magic to defend myself and new friends. To intriguing and deals with a Quesetor who was more interested in the letter of the code than in the justice it aims to give. I must trust my instincts and remain commited to my path, the first year is always the hardest, right?”''

Summer 1190

In company with Rian, I set out for Cad Cadu, Domus magna of House ex misc. The journey was interrupted by the discovery that Will Scarlet (Turb captain) is cursed with lycanthropy. After escaping our camp, we tracked him across country, this pursuit led us into a magical Regio home to a most curious creature.

This creature was a Giant (with a childlike intellect), who kept an assortment of ‘prisoners’ (unfortunate mundanes) on an island on a lake, for his own amusement. He also grew large ‘vegetables’ that contained vis. After an elaborate escape, involving false trails, a zip line and impressive team work we were able to escape along with the Giants prisoners. In the lead up to the escape I was able to harvest seeds from one of these plants, and hope to grow them at Sage hollow. This Giant will require further investigation in the future. Some of the rescued playthings of the Giant agreed to move to Sage hollow, the remainder were free to return home.

''“Thank the lord I learned that teleport spell, without it we might all still be on that island. Trapped, playthings for a Giant child, an ignoble end for us all.”''

After escorting our new covenfolk to Sage Hollow, we began our journey to Cad Cadu anew. Posing as merchants we made could progress, despite a rather embarrassing interlude. I fell under the charm of Will Scarlet and was enjoying his company greatly, alas I was unaware that Gillian was greatly in love with him (he gave no indication, Damm him!) After discovering the truth, I promised to help her fulfil her desires and suppress my own for him.

''“I will always carry a torch for you Will, and imagine what it could have been like for us. But I could never care for you as deeply as Gillian will for you, as much as I yearn for you! I can’t stand in the way of a love so honest and pure.”''

Finally, we reached Cad Cadu, for a place with such history it was disappointing to see how much it had declined, crumbling and inhabited with insular and warped covenfolk, the mages likewise. Rian received more information about Regulus of Tytalis. We met with Immanola (Primus of House ex. Misc) who delivered a cryptic prophesy and agreed to send a representative to the next Tribunal meeting at Blackthorn.

At Cadu we met Cirice a soon to be gauntleted mage, looking for a new covenant, away from the crumbling Cad Cadu, after getting to know her a little I offered her an invitation to join us at Sagehollow. I’m pleased to say she accepted.

Autumn 1190

This season I decided to visit Schola Pythagoris in Cambridge. Before I could depart, I was visited by Iudicium (senior Quesetor from Blackthorn covenant) who was heading that way, so we shared the road. It was clear from the beginning that he meant to test me, with subtle, leading and probing questions. Culminating in an arranged ambush on the road in which my bodyguard Falko was injured. He tried to blame a former associate of Silk for the deed. I was also let down badly by indiscipline from Cass (who was thankfully repentant when reproached) and Silk (entirely unrepentant)

''“He wanted me to know that he knew everything about my associates (people in silk’s past) he also showed he could harm me whenever he chose (‘Bandit’ raid organized by him) He even had an awakened sword in his grog’s possession, he seemed impressed that I had noticed. He clearly meant to intimidate and threaten me. It worked to an extent I was in such fear the rest of the journey, Silk made a trying situation so much worse. I need Iudicium to respect me as an equal, not underestimate me as a fool!

Luckily, I did not show my fear, I feel I reassured him that I aim to work with all mages to build a stronger tribunal, not working against anyone, especially not himself or Blackthorn covenant. All Covenants must be equal for a stronger Tribunal.”''

I parted ways with Iudicium at Cambridge and met with the mages of Schola Pythagoris, I explained the importance of attending the next tribunal meeting, and potential rivalry with Normandy Tribunal. They listened attentively, but were uncommitted unless Julia of Voluntus also agreed to attend. I accepted this Julia is a rival of Blackthorn, and another political player, I will need to speak to her next year and gain her trust.

While I was in discussion at Schola Pythagoris, the rest of my entourage were attending a local fayre, with much mischief arising, culminating in me having to pose as a faery villain and ‘Winter queen’ to protect a child under the influence of a faerie godmother, from feeding a daemon of pride.

''“You really couldn’t make it up, although I guess we did in part. This Thomas will have a troubled life, although I expect this will not be the last time, we hear of him.”''

Winter 1190

I spent the winter of this year planting the seeds gathered from the Giant’s vegetable patch. With some intellego Herbam I was able to find the correct soil/light conditions to plant them. To my great relief they have taken and will grow anew in Spring. Grateful for a season of rest after a year of travelling, I was able to enjoy the hot spring, participate in the casting of the Aegis ritual. And attend council meetings.

''“I am grateful my fellow mages have nominated me as Consul for the covenant, it is nice to have their trust. Hopefully next year we can grow the covenant stronger, and make it much more habitable.”''

1191

Spring 1191

After hearing the tragic news about Rian’s demise, I resolved to use all the order’s resources to recover his head, and learn more about this Ascian threat. I travelled to Coventry to inform the redcaps and sent out letters to all the covenants to warn them of the potential danger. I sent a letter to Iudicium requesting quesetorial authority to investigate Rian’s death, as well as a letter to his parens both to inform him of Rian’s passing and incase he had any reason Rian might have been targeted. I also commissioned copies of spells that might be useful to speak to Rian’s ghost and to track these malignant spirits (paying with my own vis to speed up delivery). After Stopping briefly to grieve with Fabian, I travelled through the Mercere portal to Durenma there to use the great library.

At the library I spoke to Murion and Occulties asking their advice, and informing them of the necessity of my investigation. Information was scarce, I found one damaged reference about an encounter with an Ascian by a mage of house Flambeau, it answered some questions and reinforced some information remembered by Haeddi before I left. I will spend at least another season researching, hopefully I find more answers. Particularly what their weaknesses and motives might be.

''“Rian, taken from us far too soon, just like me a young mage with hopes and dreams cut short. A reminder against complacentry, mages may live hundreds of years, but we are mortal, one mis-step and our dreams die. Know that you will be missed and always in our thoughts, and forever a pivotal part of Sage Hollow’s history”''

Summer 1191