Difference between revisions of "Stranggore"

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The official name of the covenant is  "the Wizards' Council of the Kingdom of Stranggore". It has a proud and regal heritage and was once one of the pre-eminent covenants of the [[Stonehenge Tribunal]], but has now fallen into the senility and decrepitude of Winter. It is located in Somerset, England on the historical site of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maesbury_Castle Maesbury Castle], along the ancient Roman road known as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosse_Way Fosse Way].
+
The official name of the covenant is  "the Wizards' Council of the Kingdom of Stranggore". It has a proud and regal heritage and was once one of the pre-eminent covenants of the [[Stonehenge Tribunal]], but has now fallen into the senility and decrepitude of Winter.  
  
−
= Introduction =
+
== Introduction ==
 +
Stranggore is a very old covenant that has sunk into stagnation and decay. It was once very well-respected and is still admired for the many great historical British magi who once called it home. It has [[Stranggore History|roots]] that go back to ancient times, before the Order of Hermes arrived in the British Isles. In the early days it was sworn to the service of a royal court. The covenant still has symbols and customs that acknowledge that heritage. Some of these are subtle -- for example, the head wizard of the covenant is called the Chancellor -- and others are overt, like the grogs' green-on-gold livery or the carved wooden throne that stands empty in the council chamber, a reminder of its ancient (and, officially, forsaken) royal allegiance.
 +
 
 +
The covenant has a certain nostalgia for the ancient Britons, though by now the Britons in England are only a legend, even among wizards. (The remaining descendants of the ancient Britons in 1220 are the Welsh.) Certainly the covenant pays no homage to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Plantagenet#Rise_of_Henry_II_and_his_sons heirs] of that upstart Norman usurper [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Conqueror William the Bastard].
  
−
Stranggore is a very old covenant that has sunk into stagnation and decay. It was once very well-respected and is still admired for the many great historical British magi who once called it home. It has [[Stranggore History|roots]] that go back to ancient times, before the Order of Hermes arrived in the British Isles. In the early days it was sworn to the service of a royal court. The covenant still has symbols and customs that acknowledge that heritage. Some of these are subtle -- for example, the head wizard of the covenant is called the Chancellor -- and others are overt, like the grogs' green-on-gold livery or the carved wooden throne that stands empty in the council chamber, a reminder of its ancient (and, officially, forsaken) royal allegiance.
+
== Location and Surroundings ==
 +
Stranggore is located in Somerset, England on the historical site of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maesbury_Castle Maesbury Castle], along the ancient Roman road known as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosse_Way Fosse Way]. It is near several interesting magical sites, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glastonbury_tor Glastonbury Tor] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wookey_Hole_Caves Wookey Hole Caves].
  
−
When the Stonehenge Tribunal was incorporated into the Order of Hermes, the wizards of Stranggore were forced, on pain of death, to renounce their allegiance to mundane kings. They re-dedicated their covenant to safeguarding the land of Britain -- though it is not clear exactly what this means.  
+
Our [[http://goo.gl/maps/IXIz Google map] shows the location of the covenant, sites of mystical interest, and the other covenants of the [[Stonehenge Tribunal]].
  
−
The covenant has a certain nostalgia for the ancient Britons, though by now the Britons in England are only a legend, even among wizards. (The remaining descendants of the ancient Britons in 1220 are the Welsh.) Certainly the covenant pays no homage to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Plantagenet#Rise_of_Henry_II_and_his_sons heirs] of that upstart Norman usurper [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Conqueror William the Bastard].
+
The nearest settlement is [[Barstow]], a hamlet whose residents are tenants of the covenant. The nearest village with a church is [[Shepton Mallet]].
  
−
= Characters =
+
As far as I can tell (from a cursory browsing of Wikipedia), Somerset is divided into about 700 fiefs, not under control of a single noble. Presumably they are a mix of royal fiefs, ecclesiastical fiefs (controlled by the [[Bishop of Salisbury]] and/or the [[Bishop of Wells]]), and local barons. Some of these fiefs no doubt are held by great nobles of the realm. The royal fiefs are each maintained by a constable; manors would be maintained by a bailiff.
−
To simplify maintenance, all characters (both player and non-player) are on the [[Character Index]] page.
 
  
−
Residents of the covenant include:
+
=== Neighbors ===
−
== Magi ==
+
* Village of [[Barstow]]
−
* [[Argus]], Chancellor of Stranggore
+
* [[Mericas]] the hedge wizard
−
* [[Merewen]] and her apprentice, [[Agnes]]
+
* The covenant of [[Aquae Sulis]]
−
* [[Ozerk]], currently missing
+
* The [[Bishop of Wells]]
−
* [[Sandre Paen]] of House Tremere
+
* [[Godwyn's Chase]]
−
* [[Caballus]]
 
−
* [[Peregrine]]
 
−
* [[Hywel Mawr]]
 
  
−
=== Deceased Magi ===
+
== Inhabitants ==
−
* [[Astia|Maga Astia]], in Twighlight since 1163; declared in Final Twilight in 1187.
+
The living magi of Stranggore are:
  
−
== Fighting Grogs ==
+
* [[Argus]]
−
* [[Bloody Bill]]
+
* [[Merewen]]
−
* [[George the Bastard]]
+
* [[James]]
−
* [[Junior]]
+
* [[Sandre Paen]]
−
* [[Randolph]]
+
* [[Hywel Mawr]]
 +
* [[Agnes]]
 +
* [[Godwyn]]
  
−
In addition, there are several grogs who take more comfortable quarters in [[Barstow]]:  
+
See also the category pages for Stranggore's [[:Category:Stranggore Grogs|grogs]] and [[:Category:Stranggore Covenfolk|covenfolk]].
−
* [[Angus]]
 
−
* [[Edgar]]
 
−
* [[Eustace]]
 
−
* [[John the Pedlar]]
 
  
−
== Servants ==
+
=== Ghosts ===
−
* [[Bertha]] the cook
+
The ancient hall of Stranggore is haunted. The following are the known ghosts:
−
* [[Catherine]] the chambermaid
 
−
* [[Joseph]] the errand-boy
 
−
* [[Rhys]] the orphan
 
  
−
== Ghosts ==
 
 
* [[Ghost of Charles]]
 
* [[Ghost of Charles]]
 
* [[Ghost of Lady Elinore]]
 
* [[Ghost of Lady Elinore]]
Line 49: Line 43:
 
* [[Ghost of Wilfrid]]
 
* [[Ghost of Wilfrid]]
  
−
More ghosts to come ...
+
== Maps and Floor Plans ==
−
 
+
{{Main
−
= Covenant Statistics =
 
−
 
 
−
== Hooks ==
 
−
 
 
−
Hooks are more interesting than Boons, so we list them first.
 
−
 
 
−
; Centralized Kingdom
 
−
: Simply setting the Saga in England is worth a Hook, because every piece of land has an owner and everyone is subject to the king's law. This is especially a Hook when the king is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lackland John Lackland].
 
−
; <s>Contested Resource</s>
 
−
: The covenant used to lay claim to an enchanted pear tree in The Weld. In the past, this was a Contested Resource. In the autumn of 1197, [[Hywel Mawr]] relocated the tree to the covenant grounds, so it's no longer contested.
 
−
; Crumbling
 
−
: The castle is ancient and crumbling. The player characters are probably going to want to fix it up, which would require stories to get both the money and the labor.
 
−
; Flickering Aura
 
−
: The magi of Stranggore must perform occasional mystical ceremonies in order to maintain the Magical aura. Sometimes these ceremonies require odd ingredients, involve obscure prophecies, or are otherwise interesting.
 
−
; Protector
 
−
: The covenant is the mundane landlord of the village of [[Barstow]] and some surrounding hamlets. This provides income in the form of rent but also creates an obligation to protect the village.
 
−
; Rights and Customs
 
−
: The grogs and covenfolk have traditional rights and customs that go back to ancient days. They expect lots of holidays and two annual feasts. Only the Chancellor can dismiss grogs from service.
 
−
; Road (minor)
 
−
: The covenant is located along the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosse_Way Fosse Way], one of the mystical ancient roads of Britain. We chose this as a Minor Hook because we don't want it to dominate the Saga. It will definitely create some stories, though.
 
−
; Rival (minor)
 
−
: [[Stephen]] is a probable danger to the covenant of Stranggore
 
−
; Unknown (x2)
 
−
: We have two Unknown hooks that can be developed later.
 
−
 
 
−
This totals 10 points of Hooks.
 
−
 
 
−
== Boons ==
 
−
 
 
−
The Wizards' Council of Stranggore enjoys the following Boons:
 
−
 
 
−
; Fortifications (Major)
 
−
: We are using the Fortifications Boon from the core book, rather than the Castle Hook from ''Covenants'', because we don't really see how having a castle produces a major amount of stories. The covenant is an ancient ringwork castle with a (less ancient but still crumbling) manor. There are some additional magical defenses to round it out to Major Fortifications.
 
−
; Favors Owed (Major)
 
−
: In ancient days, before the Order of Hermes came to Britain, the Wizards' Council of Stranggore forged alliances with numerous mystical beings: spirits of the wood and streams, ghosts of pagan kings, Ravens of Virtue, and so on. Some of those alliances are still honored, though they will require research and diplomacy to activate. (Whether those allies can also ask help of the covenant falls under the Unknown Hooks we've left to the discretion of the storyguides.)
 
−
;<s>Aura</s>
 
−
: The Magical aura for the covenant and its living area use to be +4, but when John usurped the throne the aura suffered as England suffers.
 
−
; Informants
 
−
: The villagers of [[Barstow]] report interesting happenings to the covenant. [[Merewen]] also has other descendants scattered about the shire who can occasionally feed information, and of course [[Argus]] (or more accurately, his familiar, [[Cedric]]) is a significant source of information in his own right.
 
−
; Loyal Covenfolk
 
−
: Largely because of their rights and customs, the covenfolk and grogs are especially loyal.
 
−
; Hidden Resources
 
−
: There is probably all kinds of useful stuff in the hoard of [[Brian the Mad]], the disused laboratories, and the sancta of the senior magi.
 
−
 
 
−
This totals 10 points of Boons.
 
−
 
 
−
== Resources ==
 
  
 +
== Covenant Resources ==
 
The covenant is designed with 1250 points of resources, which puts it at the high end of the "medium" power scale. Our objective is to give the player magi enough resources that they can develop and pursue their own agendas, but not so many that they can get everything they need without leaving the covenant walls.
 
The covenant is designed with 1250 points of resources, which puts it at the high end of the "medium" power scale. Our objective is to give the player magi enough resources that they can develop and pursue their own agendas, but not so many that they can get everything they need without leaving the covenant walls.
  
−
=== Players' Discretionary Build Points ===
+
* [[Stranggore Mundane Resources]]
−
 
+
* [[Stranggore Enchantments]]
−
Each player (except Andrew G., the Alpha Storyguide) has a budget of covenant build points to spend on anything he or she wants, subject to the limits imposed by the rules. Here is how much each player has remaining:
+
* [[Stranggore Grimoire]]
−
 
 
−
* Andrew M.: 0
 
−
* Casey: 40
 
−
* John: 0
 
−
* Matt: 0
 
−
* Vesna: 40
 
−
 
 
−
Players, please reduce your point totals here when you add something to the covenant.
 
−
 
 
−
=== Specialists ===
 
−
 
 
−
* [[Valera]], scholar of [[Barstow]]
 
−
* [[The Skull of Cissa]] (currently in [[Peregrine]]'s lab, Summer 1195)
 
−
 
 
−
=== Library ===
 
−
 
 
−
see
 
 
* [[Stranggore Library]]
 
* [[Stranggore Library]]
−
* [[Stranggore Grimoire]]
+
* [[Stranggore Specialists]]
−
* [[Stranggore Labtexts]]
 
−
 
 
−
=== Enchanted Items ===
 
−
 
 
−
see
 
−
* [[Stranggore Enchantments]]
 
  
 
=== Vis Stocks ===
 
=== Vis Stocks ===
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* 14 pawns Vim
 
* 14 pawns Vim
 
* 12 pawns Intellego
 
* 12 pawns Intellego
−
* 12 pawns of Muto
+
* 20 pawns of Muto
−
* 15 pawns of Corpus - Giant Bones (3 build points)
+
* 15 pawns of Corpus - Giant Bones
  
 
=== Vis Sources ===
 
=== Vis Sources ===
−
 
 
The covenant's vis sources are worth 130 build points.
 
The covenant's vis sources are worth 130 build points.
  
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See the [[Saga_of_Stranggore#Vis_Guidelines|Vis Guidelines]] for this Saga.
 
See the [[Saga_of_Stranggore#Vis_Guidelines|Vis Guidelines]] for this Saga.
  
−
==== Uncontested Sources ====
+
==== Spring Vis Sources ====
−
*'''Throne:''' Oath blood which stays wet (12 pawns Rego/year each Winter). Each year the magi renew the [[Oath of Stranggore]] and drip their blood onto the arms of the throne. Due to mystical forces beyond Hermetic theory the mingled blood ceases to be an Arcane Connection to any of the magi and remains fresh and liquid for the whole year. This yields two pawns of Rego vis per magus per year.
+
None.
−
*'''Moss from Milestones:''' The magi gather moss from the milestones along the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosse_Way Fosse Way]. This provides 6 Vim / year (sufficient to sustain the ''Aegis of the Hearth''). It could be harvested for more but that could diminish or destroy the yield for future years.
 
−
 
 
−
==== Contested Sources ====
 
−
* '''Pear Tree:''' Located in the Weld. Fruit ferments as soon as picked (4 pawns Muto/year, 2 in Summer and 2 in Autumn). Can make anyone who eats one drunk for Moon.
 
−
 
 
−
=== Mundane Resources ===
 
−
See:
 
−
* [[Stranggore Animals]]
 
−
* [[Stranggore Armory]]
 
−
* [[Stranggore Buildings]]
 
−
 
 
−
=== Income ===
 
−
 
 
−
We want to downplay the importance of money in the Saga. We take the view that magi need a lot less money than ''Covenants'' suggests. Most covenants keep a small turb so they don't have to spend a lot of money on equipment and payroll. Low expenses mean low income, and allow covenants to blend into the landscape instead of dominating it.
 
−
 
 
−
The covenant gets most of its income from two sources:
 
  
−
# Rents from the village of Barstow and surrounding hamlets.
+
Magi who vis to forage for vis may each collect one pawn. Player-magi may also gain another pawn as a reward for contributing to the Saga (by updating the wiki, running a story, etc.)
−
# Sale of potions and magical services, mostly by [[Merewen]].
 
  
−
=== Cash Reserves ===
+
==== Summer Vis Sources ====
 +
;Enchanted Pear Tree (2 Muto)
 +
:[[Hywel Mawr]] moved the covenant's magical pear tree from the distance forest of The Weld onto the covenant grounds in 1197. Fruit from the tree ferments as soon as picked. Anyone who eats one of the pears will be drunk for Moon duration.
  
−
50 pounds of silver available for covenant business.
+
==== Autumn Vis Sources ====
 +
;Moss from Milestones (6 Vim)
 +
:The magi gather moss from the milestones along the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosse_Way Fosse Way]. This provides 6 Vim / year (sufficient to sustain the ''Aegis of the Hearth''). It could be harvested for more but that could diminish or destroy the yield for future years.
 +
;Enchanted Pear Tree (2 Muto)
 +
:The enchanted pear tree also bears fruit in Autumn.
  
−
= Location and Neighbors =
+
Magi who wish to forage for vis may each collect one pawn. Storyguides may award one additional pawn to magi whose players have earned a bonus for their contributions.
  
−
The covenant is located in the county of Somerset, on the real-world site of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maesbury_castle Masebury Castle] (see the [http://goo.gl/maps/IXIz Google map]. It is near several interesting magical sites, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glastonbury_tor Glastonbury Tor] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wookey_Hole_Caves Wookey Hole Caves].
+
==== Winter Vis Sources ====
 +
;Oath Blood (2 Rego per magus)
 +
:Each year the magi renew the [[Oath of Stranggore]] and drip their blood onto the arms of the ancient royal throne, which stands empty in the great hall. Due to mystical forces beyond Hermetic theory, the mingled blood ceases to be an Arcane Connection to any of the magi and remains fresh and liquid for the whole year. This yields two pawns of Rego vis per magus per year.
  
−
The nearest settlement is the small village of [[Barstow]], inhabited by peasants who work the covenant's land. It is about a mile away from the covenant. The nearest sizable village with a church and market is [[Shepton Mallet]].
 
−
 
−
= Physical Structure =
 
−
 
−
The covenant of Stranggore stands in the center of an ancient ringwork fort on a hilltop with a panoramic view of the countryside.
 
−
 
−
== Outer Defenses ==
 
−
The ancient earthworks are still very much intact, consisting of a steep rampart (well drained and sodded) between 15' and 20' high. There a gateway through the rampart, but as of 1195 it is just a gap in the rampart with no wall or gate.
 
−
 
−
From outside, only the peak of the roof and the towers are visible. Travelers often mistake the place for an abbey or a large church.
 
−
 
−
== Bailey ==
 
−
[[File:Stranggore_Exterior.PNG|thumb|Stranggore exterior]]
 
−
The bailey is an oblong area about 900' by 700'. It's open and grassy with a few apple trees scattered about. It encloses the main building, the grogs' cottages, and a few outbuildings, now all ruined.
 
−
 
−
== Main Building ==
 
−
The main building is a large manor house about 85' x 65'. It is two stories high and has four square towers at the corners, each three stories high.
 
−
 
−
=== Ground Floor ===
 
−
[[File:Covenant_of_Stranggore_Floor_1.PNG|thumb|Floor plan, ground floor]]
 
−
* Entry Hall
 
−
* Autocrat's Office
 
−
* Parlor
 
−
* Great Hall
 
−
* Kitchen
 
−
* Pantry
 
−
* Servants' Quarters
 
−
* Servants' Day Room
 
−
* Guards' Quarters
 
−
* Northwest tower: [[Hywel]]'s sanctum
 
−
* Southwest tower: sanctum (currently used for hoarding by [[Brian the Mad]])
 
−
* Northeast tower: [[Caballus]]'s sanctum
 
−
* Southeast tower: [[Sandre]]'s sanctum
 
−
 
−
=== Second Floor ===
 
−
[[File:Covenant_of_Stranggore_Floor_2.PNG|thumb|Floor plan, 2nd floor]]
 
−
* Great hall (upper gallery)
 
−
* Autocrat's quarters
 
−
* Library
 
−
* Scriptorium
 
−
* Small meeting room (currently used as "storage" for various odds and ends)
 
−
* Northwest tower: sanctum (in ruins)
 
−
* Southwest tower: [[Argus]]'s sanctum
 
−
* Northeast tower: [[Peregrine]]'s sanctum
 
−
* Southeast tower: [[Merewen]]'s sanctum
 
−
 
−
=== Third Floor ===
 
−
[[File:Covenant_of_Stranggore_Floor_3.PNG|thumb|Floor plan, 3rd floor]]
 
−
* Northwest tower: empty sanctum (repaired Autumn 1196) - no laboratory yet
 
−
* Southwest tower: [[Argus]]'s sanctum (second level) and observatory
 
−
* Northeast tower: sanctum (haunted and abandoned)
 
−
* Southeast tower: [[Ozerk]]'s sanctum
 
−
 
−
=== Basement ===
 
−
* Armory
 
−
* Middens
 
−
* Storage for food and building materials
 
−
 
−
=== Sub-Basement ===
 
−
* Treasury
 
−
* Vault (contains vis and enchantments)
 
−
* Laboratory stockroom
 
−
* Summoning chamber
 
−
* Dungeon
 
−
 
−
== Stable (ruined) ==
 
−
There was once a stable large enough to house ten horses, with an adjacent smithy. The roof has fallen in and the building is an abandoned ruin.
 
−
 
−
== Guest House (ruined) ==
 
−
The guest house on the grounds is a spacious two-story cottage whose second level is large enough to serve as a laboratory. Unfortunately the building was gutted by fire over a hundred years ago and never rebuilt.
 
−
 
−
== Potter's Shed (abandoned) ==
 
−
Until about 1170 the covenant maintained a potter on the premises to make containers and stoneware for the magi. This was a wooden building that is now dilapidated and abandoned.
 
−
 
−
== Grogs' Cottages ==
 
−
The remaining grogs have built wooden cottages for themselves on the covenant grounds, where they live with their families. They also have a common barn where they keep chickens, pigs, two milk cows, and about a dozen sheep.
 
−
 
−
= Surroundings =
 
−
Stranggore is located in Somerset, which as far as I can tell (from a cursory browsing of Wikipedia) is divided into about 700 fiefs, not under control of a single noble. Presumably they are a mix of royal fiefs, ecclesiastical fiefs (controlled by the [[Bishop of Salisbury]] and/or the [[Bishop of Wells]]), and local barons. Some of these fiefs no doubt are held by great nobles of the realm. The royal fiefs are each maintained by a constable; manors would be maintained by a bailiff.
 
−
 
−
Nearby settlements include:
 
−
* Village of [[Barstow]]
 
−
* Village of [[Shepton Mallet]]
 
  
 
= History =
 
= History =
Line 284: Line 116:
 
The Wizards' Council's Oath of Stranggore has been unchanged for many years, last one being when they joined the Order, and has always been a blood oath.  Every year on the Winter Solstice every member of the covenant cuts thier hand and swears the Oath of Stranggore before the Council:   
 
The Wizards' Council's Oath of Stranggore has been unchanged for many years, last one being when they joined the Order, and has always been a blood oath.  Every year on the Winter Solstice every member of the covenant cuts thier hand and swears the Oath of Stranggore before the Council:   
  
−
''By this blood, I swear to serve the kings of Stranggore so that through my wizard's council fulfill thier noble charge to protect this land from man and beast both magical and mundane, and through this service form a brotherhood of wizards whom together strive to keep this land fruitful magical and safe, and as this is the will of the Wizard's Council of Stranggore so it is my will to serve within the boundaries of my Hermetic Oath and conscious to God. This I do swear.''
+
''By this blood, I swear to serve the kings of Stranggore so that through my wizard's council fulfill their noble charge to protect this land from man and beast both magical and mundane, and through this service form a brotherhood of wizards whom together strive to keep this land fruitful magical and safe, and as this is the will of the Wizard's Council of Stranggore so it is my will to serve within the boundaries of my Hermetic Oath and conscious to God. This I do swear.''
  
−
When the oath is complete one places thier hand on the Throne of Stranggore; this is the source of the Oath Blood Vis.
+
When the oath is complete one places their hand on the Throne of Stranggore; this is the source of the Oath Blood Vis.

Revision as of 15:29, 15 December 2012

The official name of the covenant is "the Wizards' Council of the Kingdom of Stranggore". It has a proud and regal heritage and was once one of the pre-eminent covenants of the Stonehenge Tribunal, but has now fallen into the senility and decrepitude of Winter.

Introduction

Stranggore is a very old covenant that has sunk into stagnation and decay. It was once very well-respected and is still admired for the many great historical British magi who once called it home. It has roots that go back to ancient times, before the Order of Hermes arrived in the British Isles. In the early days it was sworn to the service of a royal court. The covenant still has symbols and customs that acknowledge that heritage. Some of these are subtle -- for example, the head wizard of the covenant is called the Chancellor -- and others are overt, like the grogs' green-on-gold livery or the carved wooden throne that stands empty in the council chamber, a reminder of its ancient (and, officially, forsaken) royal allegiance.

The covenant has a certain nostalgia for the ancient Britons, though by now the Britons in England are only a legend, even among wizards. (The remaining descendants of the ancient Britons in 1220 are the Welsh.) Certainly the covenant pays no homage to the heirs of that upstart Norman usurper William the Bastard.

Location and Surroundings

Stranggore is located in Somerset, England on the historical site of Maesbury Castle, along the ancient Roman road known as the Fosse Way. It is near several interesting magical sites, including Glastonbury Tor and Wookey Hole Caves.

Our [Google map shows the location of the covenant, sites of mystical interest, and the other covenants of the Stonehenge Tribunal.

The nearest settlement is Barstow, a hamlet whose residents are tenants of the covenant. The nearest village with a church is Shepton Mallet.

As far as I can tell (from a cursory browsing of Wikipedia), Somerset is divided into about 700 fiefs, not under control of a single noble. Presumably they are a mix of royal fiefs, ecclesiastical fiefs (controlled by the Bishop of Salisbury and/or the Bishop of Wells), and local barons. Some of these fiefs no doubt are held by great nobles of the realm. The royal fiefs are each maintained by a constable; manors would be maintained by a bailiff.

Neighbors

Inhabitants

The living magi of Stranggore are:

See also the category pages for Stranggore's grogs and covenfolk.

Ghosts

The ancient hall of Stranggore is haunted. The following are the known ghosts:

Maps and Floor Plans

{{Main

Covenant Resources

The covenant is designed with 1250 points of resources, which puts it at the high end of the "medium" power scale. Our objective is to give the player magi enough resources that they can develop and pursue their own agendas, but not so many that they can get everything they need without leaving the covenant walls.

Vis Stocks

The vis stocks are available for use for covenant business. Members may take loans of up to 10 pawns of vis, to be repaid in kind within 2 years, at low interest (one pawn per year).

  • 12 pawns Creo
  • 14 pawns Vim
  • 12 pawns Intellego
  • 20 pawns of Muto
  • 15 pawns of Corpus - Giant Bones

Vis Sources

The covenant's vis sources are worth 130 build points.

The covenant does not have a lot of reliable, perennial vis sources. The meta-game reason is that we want to encourage magi to go out and search for their own vis; the vis hunt will not often be a story in its own right, but it gets the magi out into the countryside where they can more easily discover story hooks. The in-game reason is that stable, renewable sources of vis are uncommon in our version of Mythic Europe. Most vis exists as one-off sources that magi harvest and deplete. This enables us to let magi find as much vis as they need, while still making perennial vis sources special and valuable.

See the Vis Guidelines for this Saga.

Spring Vis Sources

None.

Magi who vis to forage for vis may each collect one pawn. Player-magi may also gain another pawn as a reward for contributing to the Saga (by updating the wiki, running a story, etc.)

Summer Vis Sources

Enchanted Pear Tree (2 Muto)
Hywel Mawr moved the covenant's magical pear tree from the distance forest of The Weld onto the covenant grounds in 1197. Fruit from the tree ferments as soon as picked. Anyone who eats one of the pears will be drunk for Moon duration.

Autumn Vis Sources

Moss from Milestones (6 Vim)
The magi gather moss from the milestones along the Fosse Way. This provides 6 Vim / year (sufficient to sustain the Aegis of the Hearth). It could be harvested for more but that could diminish or destroy the yield for future years.
Enchanted Pear Tree (2 Muto)
The enchanted pear tree also bears fruit in Autumn.

Magi who wish to forage for vis may each collect one pawn. Storyguides may award one additional pawn to magi whose players have earned a bonus for their contributions.

Winter Vis Sources

Oath Blood (2 Rego per magus)
Each year the magi renew the Oath of Stranggore and drip their blood onto the arms of the ancient royal throne, which stands empty in the great hall. Due to mystical forces beyond Hermetic theory, the mingled blood ceases to be an Arcane Connection to any of the magi and remains fresh and liquid for the whole year. This yields two pawns of Rego vis per magus per year.


History

Main article: Stranggore History

The covenant of Stranggore traces its existence back to the days shortly after King Arthur. When Camelot fell, the petty kings who had sworn allegiance to Arthur re-asserted their independence. Stranggore was one of those small, early British kingdoms. Perhaps following the example of Arthur seeking the aid and counsel of Merlin, one of the kings of Stranggore gathered to his court the three most powerful wizards in the land. Under his patronage this circle of court wizards throve and grew for generations.

The Mythical Land of Stranngore

Stranggore is an early British kingdom mentioned briefly in the legend of King Arthur; in Le Morte D'Arthur, [Book I, Chapter XII], King Brandegoris of Stranggore is one of eleven kings who joined forces against King Arthur. In our history of Mythic Europe, the kingdom of Stranggore was defeated by Arthur and assimilated into his realm. After Camelot fell, several of Arthur's vassal kings reclaimed their independence, and Stranggore was one of these. It was in this post-Arthurian period of independence when the Wizards' Council of Stranggore was established.

No one really knows where Stranggore was in Mythic Europe; it's not a real place. It was probably in the northwest of England. The kingdom of Stranggore was eventually conquered by the invading Angles and Saxons. The Wizards' Council went into exile but survived, clinging to the hope of one day restoring the rightful British ruler.

The Wizards' Council and the Order of Hermes

When the wizards of the British Isles joined the Order of Hermes, the Wizards' Council of Stranggore was forced to relinquish its ties to the broken royal line of Stranggore. It renounced its royal ties and re-dedicated itself to the service and protection of Britain as a whole. The Grand Tribunal stipulated that the Wizards' Council of Stranggore must relocate away from its ancestral lands. So it came to settle in Somerset.

For two centuries Stranggore prospered. It was among the mightiest and most prestigious covenants of the Stonehenge Tribunal, attaining a size of twelve members. The events of the eleventh century -- the Schism War, followed by the Norman conquest -- sent the covenant into a slow but irreversible decline.

The Oath of Stranggore

The Wizards' Council's Oath of Stranggore has been unchanged for many years, last one being when they joined the Order, and has always been a blood oath. Every year on the Winter Solstice every member of the covenant cuts thier hand and swears the Oath of Stranggore before the Council:

By this blood, I swear to serve the kings of Stranggore so that through my wizard's council fulfill their noble charge to protect this land from man and beast both magical and mundane, and through this service form a brotherhood of wizards whom together strive to keep this land fruitful magical and safe, and as this is the will of the Wizard's Council of Stranggore so it is my will to serve within the boundaries of my Hermetic Oath and conscious to God. This I do swear.

When the oath is complete one places their hand on the Throne of Stranggore; this is the source of the Oath Blood Vis.

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