Introduction

he Covenant of Corvus Saxum was founded in 1196 in the Duchy of Steiermark. Meaning 'raven stone', the Covenant lies in the Stubalpen, perched on a rock overlooking a bend in the Mur river between the town of Bruck-an-der-Mür and Graz. Locals do not know the name Corvus Saxum, but rather refer to the site as Rabenstein (colloquial for 'raven stone'). With time, even the covenfolk began using this mundane name, since most were Germans themselves. Local folk believe it to be haunted, justified in their belief by the coincidence that the term 'rabenstein' also means 'place of execution'. Long reputed to be a place of ill-fortune, peasants give it wide berth in their journeys along the valley.

A Word to New Visitors

elcome to our humble Covenant and thank you for your visit! Let us explain a little about ourselves. The Rabenstein Saga is a reasonably historically accurate roleplaying game set in early 13th Century Austria (we liberally use Ars Magica 4th edition rules, by Atlas Games). The centerpiece of the Saga is a real medieval castle called Rabenstein, located about 20 miles north of the town Graz. In the present day, Rabenstein serves as a part-time hostel, boasting an outdoor theatre within its courtyard during warmer months (during some summers the castle even hosts a medieval banquet for tourists). One of our players recently visited the castle and provided us with many helpful insights and photographs of the region.

We hope to make this site very accessible to both historical enthusiasts and Ars Magica players. A lot of research has been invested into medieval Austria, Hungary, and the Holy Roman Empire (there is also some information on medieval Novgorod). If this interests you please peruse our collection of cartography, photographs, and descriptions of authentic medieval places in the region. In addition, we have information about medieval trade, superstitions, holidays, and other cultural anecdotes pertinent to the region.

Although many of our stories are fiction, most involve real historical persons, places, myths, and political events. We have presented the stories in a manner to be read by someone unfamiliar with the Saga, for dramatic entertainment. Hopefully other Ars Magica troupes will be able to easily extract elements of the stories they find entertaining, and use them to devise their own stories (all we ask is that you tell us how your versions wound up!). Here is a sample of the many other resources you might find of interest here: a bibliography, a collection of Hermetic Magi, new spells, a comprehensive list of forms & effects, interesting new house rules (including many new Hermetic Houses), and much more. This site is frequently updated, so enjoy your visit, and please write to us with suggestions and comments.

History of the Site

The Covenant is built upon the ruins of an ancient Roman fortification called Grazerkögel (the actual ruins are situated upon three separate steep hills, with Rabenstein occupying the lowest hill, on a cliff looming 150 feet over the river below). Well-versed in Roman history, the Magus Merento of Bonisagus has discovered that Grazerkogel was constructed in the 4th century during the rule of Valentinian I (late in the Empire), though research indicates an earlier earthworks existed. Situated in the old Roman province of Noricum (near the Pannonian Superior border), it served as a garrison to defend the pass from Flavia Solva (Graz) to Vindobona (Wien). History of the site prior to the 4th century is not documented, but Celtic influence seems likely (the Roman temple here was dedicated to the gods Lugus and Epona, associated with Mercury and Minerva respectively, according to the Roman historian Polybius). Further, Celtic faeries of the Boii tribe have insisted the site was once the tomb of kings, though evidence for this has not surfaced (an ancient Celtic graveyard has been discovered a few miles away however).

The original Roman walls lay in ruins by the 9th century, but restoration was undertaken soon after the Covenant's founding. By 1206, the walls were complete, and the fan-shaped towers of the Roman era were restored. In addition, the original Roman temple (whose pillars still stood) was converted into a library. Perched high above the Covenant lie additional Roman ruins, but the footpath leading up to them is overgrown and twisting (a 30 minute climb from Rabenstein), and its crumbling stones entangled in dusty vines offer little sanctuary to anyone but the ravens which haunt the vicinity. Unknown to most locals, a hot sulferous spring has carved out a modest group of caves within the rock upon which the fortress is perched, and a simple tunnel connects them to the temple. Finally, an old Roman cemetary sits adjacent to the Covenant on a rocky knoll.

In 1209 construction was begun on a large central keep within the refurbished Roman walls. Called the Principia , in honor of the hillock's Roman heritage, the large stone structure will take several years to complete (the Magi hope to accelerate the process with the use of several formulaic spells specifically tailored for the task).

Local Politics

In the first few years of the Covenant's existence, bandits, harsh winters, and suspicious peasants wary of anyone who would choose to live at such a haunted place made the Covenant both inhospitible and unimportant. But with completion of the fortifications in 1206, Rabenstein became a visible castle along the valley, often called Burgrabenstein ('burg' meaning 'castle' or 'fortified town') by denizens of the valley. Thereafter the Covenant swore fealty to the Bishop of Seckau (one of the four diocese of the Archbishop of Salzburg) and have amicable relations with his two canons. Rabenstein actually lies on land owned by the Bishop.

The nearest village, a few miles north of Rabenstein, is the rapidly growing market town called Frohnleiten, built just south of the rocky Barrenshutzklamm waterfalls along the Mür river. A cart-path leads from the village uphill and through the woods to Burgrabenstein (according to one of our players who visited the castle recently, it is a 45 minute walk up to Rabenstein, but only a 30 minute walk back down due to the incline). Rabenstein's soldiers helped to build a stone toll along the road in Frohnleiten in 1207, which collects taxes from merchants passing from Graz to Bruck for the Bishop. To defend the town, the Bishop annointed Rabenstein's knight Sir Hammond von Braunschweig as its Marshal, and he now lives within Frohnleiten along with two other knights from Seckau. Although the villagers continue to keep a healthy distance from Rabenstein, they are learning to respect their strange neighbors, and some of the villagers are at last beginning to develop personal and business relations with the castle.

The Duchy of Steiermark

The March of Styria (Steiermark in German) was upgraded to a Duchy during the reign of Ottokar near the end of the 12th Century, with his central seat located at the Schlossburg of Graz. But when Duke Ottokar died of leprosy in 1192 without an heir, rather than elect a new Duke, Emperor Frederick incorporated Styria into the Duchy of Austria, effectively dissolving Steiermark as a political entiry. The Duke of Austria, a position held by the Babenberg family of Wien (Vienna), became then the ruler of both Austria and Styria with this ruling. Hereafter the land became known as the Duchy of Steiermark of the Greater Duchy of Austria.

Many ministeriales and their Rittern (non-landed knights) resist the leadership of their new Duke (who has frequent troubles of his own with neighboring Bohemia and Movaria), making his arm weak here and making the land rich for petty fiefdoms. It was in this state of affairs that the Covenant of Corvus Saxum was founded, and though the Duke will assuredly grow stronger in the future as his power is consolidated in Styria, the Covenant may be well-established by then. Currently the Castellan of Graz is the most powerful noble lord nearby, and his relationship with the Covenant has been abusive at best, as he has treated them as court wizards to humor his personal needs. Though the Magi have claimed to be staunch Imperialists, their fealty to the Bishop and involvement in the death of a knight of nearby Ehrenhausen will certainly strain their relationship with the Castellan.

Many other nobles of Steiermark, Carinthia, and Austria have begun to hear tales of the strange 'mystics' of Rabenstein, and the course of their acceptance or rejection and subsequent role in the Duchy will play out in the coming years.

Saga Troupe

The saga is now entering its 14th year of play (approaching 3 years of real-life play). The group meets in Chapel Hill, NC. Alpha Storyguide is Jason Buss <jcbuss@interpath.com>, who wrote most of what appears on these pages. Notable exceptions include Magus backgrounds. Web pages created, edited and maintained by Patrick Murphy <murphy@email.unc.edu>. Other players (past and present) are listed on the Rabenstein Saga player roster.

This page last modified 4/4/98.

Comments to madirishman@mad-irishman.net

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