Session Date: 7/23/00
Gamma Storyguide: Patrick Murphy
Father Brendan, intending to visit Cartmel Priory and his friend Canon William, learned that the magi also had business in nearby Lancaster. As they were sending the two apprentices along with Edmund and Franklin to collect some glassware they had arranged to buy (and trying to collect vis from Sunderland), Brendan decided to accompany them. Brendan stayed at the Priory as the others journeyed across the sands of Morecambe Bay at low tide to Lancaster, with the help of Godwin the guide. Edmund procured the glassware and some paper, and struck a deal with the merchant Godfrey to deal with him in the future in return for reduced prices. The next day, the group set off on the overland route back to Cartmel.
While the others had journeyed to Lancaster, Cartmel was shaken by the news of a robbery. Cedric, a member of the Augustinian Order, had been traveling with an endowment from the Archbishop of York to try to stave off financial ruin of the poor religious house. The local constable suspected a local man of the crime - perhaps a fisherman - since the trail had grown cold when the culprit's tracks had reached the rising waters of the marshy area of nearby Holker. The Prior and Subprior and Brothers William and Roger were the only ones who knew of the money, and Brothers Willym, Roger and Thomas were the Priory's fishermen, so these men became suspects. Roger had noticed Brother George returning late to his cell the night of the robbery, so the group questioned him as well. Andrea took the lustful monk on a walk, and as she seduced him, the others searched his cell and found only a woman's ring.
When Brother Willym told the group that George and another Brother (Roger or Thomas, he thought) argued about a "bird", Brother Roger realized they had been discussing "Martlet", a local mute girl who lived near Holker. Martlet proved quite adept at communicating despite her handicap, and soon the group learned of her affair with George, her bearing witness to torches on the water the night of the robbery, and that she had found the bag of coins and taken them. However, she told them that she had spoken to an angel who wanted the coins, so she gave them to him. The angel, it seemed, looked like Brother Thomas.
Searching Thomas' cell, they found absinthe, rosemary, and magpie feathers secreted away. Unaware of their exact significance, Brendan nonetheless recognized the trappings of a natural magician. Attempting to present Prior William with their suspicions, it became clear that he had been bespelled, as he was quite convinced that Brother Roger had done it, and no amount of reasoning could change his mind. The group confronted Thomas but briefly left him when he would not confess to his crime. Returning with constable Phillip, they found only William. William protested having to aid them in their search, and finally he and Edmund returned to the Priory.
Upon returning to the Priory and discovering the real Brother William had not left the Priory all day, the group set out after the imposter and caught him headed north. Taking him aside, Andrea and Tori told him that they knew his spell would end with the quickly-approaching dusk, and that all magicians must join the Order of Hermes or die. He seemed quite unaware of the Hermetic Order and offered them a share of the money to help him escape. They declined and Brother Thomas was taken back to await the King's justice.
Returning to Corona Montis, the magi seemed pleased with their apprentices' success, and decided to let the matter run its course; should Thomas escape justice (by means of magic or otherwise), he might be contacted again.
Cast: Father Brendan and Andrea Porter (Mike), Edmund and Andrea Porter (Ann), Tori Pulacci and Celer (Chris).
This page last modified August 26, 2011 10:55 PM
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