Saverio and Orella Part II

Saverio (Spring and Summer 804)

All goes well until you reach Literatus. The journey was actually pleasant: no sinking boats, no angry captains, no attempts on your life. It was bound to go south sooner or later... sigh.

With firm determination you approached the gates of the covenant, and knocked loudly. A servant answered the door, you explained who you were (well, who you and Orella were), and he asked you to wait a moment. Shortly, an older magus came to the gate, looked you up and down, looked Orella up and down and asked, “Well? What do you want?” You went through your spiel about Orella's importance to the covenant and such, and he said, “Huh! Don't you have some altar boys you need to go molest? I don't have time to stand around and listen to your stupid Flambeau threats, priest.” At this point, he motioned Orella in, but stayed in the way so you could not enter. You blustered a bit more, referencing Inrisor and Filius, and the covenant of Tremere that were destroyed, and he said, “Yeah, I know all about the crime the head of your covenant committed. Surprised he isn't dead already. Imagine Tremere has some plans for him. As to Inrisor, never heard of him, but I would be surprised if you could get Filius to break the law and kill members of the Order who have done no wrong!” You exploded at his “done no wrong” statement, and indicated that Orella was harmed when last she was here (perhaps overstating things a little), and he laughed. He said “Go do a mass or something priest!” and started to shut the door in your face. You said, “Well, I expected to be allowed to stay the evening, at least!”, and he just shook his head, chuckling, and closed the door. Though you pounded on it for another 15 minutes, no one came to answer. That didn't go at all as you wanted!

So, you headed down into the nearest village to get a bed, and see about getting some “talent”. The village was small enough that there was no inn, but there it did have a chapel, and the priest there reluctantly allowed you to stay. He seemed uneasy with you, and, honestly, you were in quite a state from your contact with the oaf at Literatus, which probably didn't help. You passed the evening mostly in silence, Father Jerome evidently not a big talker, or maybe he just found your nature off-putting. Anyway, it became clear that you would not be finding any “talent” in a village of this size, so you headed back toward Rome.

In Rome you spent a couple of days looking around to find the kind of person you needed. People seemed to find it quite odd that a man of the cloth would be looking to hire a sneak-thief. You eventually located someone to fit the bill, and managed to convince him that you, a priest, actually did want to hire him for his skills. You explained the job, and though he seemed reluctant, he also seemed to need the coin and welcomed the idea of getting out of the city for awhile. The two of you headed back to the environs of Literatus.

Once back near Literatus, the two of you set up a camp (as best you could; he was no woodsman, either), and began trying to watch the covenant. You do have to give Sneaky Pete (your resident thief) credit: he showed himself a resourceful man. Nothing within the covenant was easily visible from outside. So he made himself a perch in a tree a bit away from the covenant. He watched for a few days, but never caught sight of Orella. The two of you put your heads together and decided he would have to try to get inside to be able to keep any kind of watch on her. So the next night, he slipped over the wall and began prowling the grounds. He moved in and out of the covenant repeatedly over the next week, but could never catch a glimpse of Orella, let alone talk to her. He indicated that she was probably kept in one of the rooms on the second floor of the main house. It seemed she never left whatever room she was in: not for meals, not for the privy, not even to stretch her legs. You encouraged him to keep watching and to look for an opportunity.

One night, a couple of weeks later, Sneaky Pete was inside Literatus when you heard growling in the woods around you. It sounded like more than just a lone wolf, and, indeed, you could shortly see several pairs of eyes glowing in the trees around you. Shortly, the animals became bolder, moving even into the firelight from your campfire. It was clear these were huge beasts, though you could only catch brief glimpses as they moved about your camp. As the night wore on, more seemed to be gathering. Eventually, it seemed your whole camp was ringed by the monsters. You were sure they would attack at any moment when, suddenly, a scream tore through the night. The scream went on and on. The wolves slid back into the depths of the forest, and you were left alone with that scream still sounding in your ears. Eventually, the screaming stopped, though you can still hear it when you think about that night. Morning came, but Sneaky Pete did not. You waited around until that evening, but still no Sneaky Pete. At that point, you suspected you knew the source of the screams. You never saw Sneaky Pete again.

That evening, the wolves were back. They evinced the same sort of behavior, ringing the camp more swiftly this time. You were preparing, again, for an attack, when you heard a startled “yip“ on one side of the camp, followed by an anguished howl which was cut suddenly short by a loud snapping sound. The eyes on that side of the camp began scattering quickly as a purple glow moved through the woods toward your fire. Soon, the source became clear. Striding into the firelight came a creature; a large, muscular, naked figure with two curved horns on it head (much like a bull's horns) and a tail ending in a barb like an arrow head. The creature had shaggy fur at its ankles, and cloven hooves for feet. Its skin was a deep red, and it seemed to be the source of the purple glow. You were filled with dread. You managed to get off one spell, but the fire did not seem to affect the creature at all. The dread increased, and you broke and ran. You could hear it charging through the forest, chasing you. You ran for all you were worth. You could hear the wolves baying in the distance, and, eventually, out of breath, no strength left in your legs, you collapsed to a stop. As you regained your breath, and calmed your nerves, you came to a terrifying realization. You were completely lost in the middle of the wild lands around the covenant.

You can only conclude, in retrospect, that your mind must have become a bit unhinged. Looking back, there were probably dozens of things you could have done to determine where you were, find your way out, and so on. All you can say is none of them came to mind then. You awoke, shivering and cold, with the dawn. You had no food, you were exhausted, and had various painful cuts and scrapes from your flight the night before. Even thinking about that almost set you to running again. You managed to calm your self a bit, and begin the task of finding some food. It turned out to be much more difficult than it ever looked when the companions went about doing it.

Over the next days and weeks, your struggle for survival was complicated by another factor: you were being hunted. The first night, it became clear the wolves had not left. They were still stalking you. Anytime they showed themselves, you could easily drive them off; unlike the creature, fire did affect them! But they proved very canny. They learned quickly. Before long they would rarely reveal themselves long enough for you to cast on them. You assumed, at first, that they must not be natural wolves. Examination of one of the corpses, though, showed that thought to be false. Big, but completely natural so far as you could tell. But their actions spoke of a mind guiding them. They would lead you into traps. They would offer one of the wolves up as a sacrifice in order to damage you in some other way like ruining or stealing your food or water. They seemed to recognize that you were strong enough to keep them at bay, so they had to act more cleverly. And some of the traps they set were remarkably cunning. Not only would they lead you or herd you into areas that were inherently dangerous, but they would lead you into deadfalls and snares that, you first assumed, some hunter had set up. You, in fact, first thought this was their fatal mistake! If a hunter set the trap, then surely he would be around to collect what it caught! But though you waited several days near the sprung trap, no one came by. You finally decided that they must have a leader, a man who built the traps perhaps. Maybe someone who had some sort of control over the animals.

This thought also proved false. You eventually caught a glimpse one night. You had crossed a clearing, and were waiting to see if you could catch one or two of them out and kill them. The moon was full and bright, and of one of the wolves stepped briefly into the clearing. You could not be sure at the distance, and it was only a glimpse, but it looked like a weasel or a ferret was standing on the wolf's head! You are sure it must have been Anton! You immediately started to cast, but the wolf stepped back into the shadows too quickly. But now you had a cause: you must get Anton before he got you!

It took awhile, but you finally managed to find a piece of ground that you thought would suit. You had some cover in some rocks, and were not so close to the trees that one could just be dropped on you. It was near an area that had some more traps set by your opponent, and they seemed to be driving you in that direction. You knew that Anton would be alert for a trick, so you thought long and hard about how to pull him in close enough to kill. You created a corpse and dressed it in your clothes. You took cover in the rocks. You waited until you could see the animals coming your direction. No sign of Anton, but you were sure he was nearby. You then cast a spell to give the corpse a strong sent of blood. You were sure this would draw the wolves. You cast a subsequent spell to enhance the scent to drive them to a frenzy. The plan worked almost too well. The wolves, indeed, could not contain themselves. They rushed out of the woods, madly attacking the body. They poured over the rocks like a wave. You were sure they would see or smell you as well, and were certain they would attack at any moment. But your lure did its job, and they began fighting over the corpse. When they were all fully engaged, fighting one another over the “finest bits”, going mad with the lust your spell had induced, you stood and cast. And kept casting until there was nothing left but charred corpses. Exhausted, you collapsed.

You awoke with the dawn, cold, but pleased with yourself. You stirred through the corpses, looking for both something to wear, and a small ferret-y body. You found neither. Cursing the fates you screamed your frustration! So close! So close! But no sign of Anton! Slumping on a rock, you began to cry. As you sobbed, a smell penetrated your mind. Woodsmoke. Looking up, you saw smoke from what must be several fires not too far away. Quickly making your way that direction, you stumbled into a village, nearly naked and starved, covered in soot, mud, and your own blood. You imagine you must have looked like a wild man. The villagers backed away from you, but finally one brave one came forward and offered you a cloak.

You spent about a week being tended by one of the villagers, regaining your strength and getting on the outside of some food. You found out you were about two weeks north of the village near Literatus, and that most of summer had passed. You quickly thanked the villagers and made your way south to see what had become of Orella.

Orella (Spring and Summer 804)

All goes well until you reach Literatus. The journey was actually pleasant: no sinking boats, no angry captains, no attempts on Saverio's life, no accusations from Saverio.

With firm determination you and Saverios approached the gates of the covenant, and Saverios knocked loudly. A servant answered the door, Saverio explained who you two were, and the servant asked you to wait a moment. Shortly, an older magus came to the gate, looked the two of you up and down,and asked Saverio, “Well? What do you want?” Saverio went through his spiel about your importance to the covenant and such (as if you weren't standing right there), and the fellow said, “Huh! Don't you have some altar boys you need to go molest? I don't have time to stand around and listen to your stupid Flambeau threats, priest.” At this point, the fellow motioned you in, but stayed to talk to Saverio a bit more (and to block his entrance). You heard Saverio bluster a bit more, referencing Inrisor and Filius, and the covenant of Tremere that were destroyed, but then you were in front of the Criamon. You said, “I'm concerned about the lack of memory from when I was last here. I understand that you want to protect your lab creations/research but given that the memory lapse occurred right after I had disturbing/horrible Visions, I am quiet frankly upset. I need to know that you are not putting my covenant, my House, or the Order in danger.” He responds, “This is not the place or time. Walk with me.” You and he wandered through an inner courtyard (which you did not know existed) and out to the back of the enclosed covenant. He then continued his response. “I can understand your concerns. I trust they did not bother you overly nor disturb your actions in the intervening seasons?” You shook your head “no”, and he continued. “Good, good. I assure you, what happened was necessary, and was not just for my benefit. What I have done does not, in any way, endanger your House or Covenant, other than if you try to bring them here to exact some sort of “justice”. The Order can take care of itself, but it is certainly not my intention to bring danger to it, either. Quite the opposite. I am working, like so many of us, to improve the standing and power of the Order. What we do here may have far reaching effects. It may end up benefiting all Magi. So, I assume you are ready to continue, then?” You, reluctantly, agreed. You were not certain what he said was entirely true, but, you had agreed to aid him for two more seasons, so...

You were taken to the lab again, and given clear, explicit, and strict instructions not to leave it for any reason. Work proceeded as before. The Spring and Summer passed quickly. You were tired every day, and fell into a dreamless sleep every night. He worked you hard, getting as much from your efforts as possible. At the end of Summer, he bid you farewell, and you were escorted to the nearest village. Saverio was not present. As you waited for Saverio to show up, you reflected back on your seasons of work here. All four were profitable, and you feel sure that the research the Criamon is doing will benefit the Order as a whole. You are confident he would do nothing to harm you, your House, or your Covenant. The “visions” of last year were almost certainly just a bad dream brought on by overwork and, perhaps, some bad food. You feel content. Your only real complaint, as you sit sipping wine and waiting for Saverio, is that your back stings a little.