Saga of Stranggore
Centuries ago, in the days before King Arthur, a wise king assembled a council of wizards to advise his court. For generations, their spells and their mystical allies -- the ravens, the ghosts of pagan knights, the spirits of wood and stream -- have watched over the land. Now, the line of kings is long since broken. The castle still stands, but its walls are crumbling, its banners hang faded and moth-eaten in a nearly empty hall. Yet the Wizards' Council of Stranggore still keeps its lonely vigil.
It is now the Year of Our Lord 1200. Good King Richard has died in battle, leaving his scheming brother John to seize the throne of England. Across the land, the people suffer under his harsh taxes and corrupt officers. If ever the realm needed the wizards' wisdom, it needs it now. The time has come for the Wizards' Council of Stranggore to rebuild its strength and reclaim its destiny. One of the aging wizards sent forth a flight of ravens from his crumbling tower, and a handful of young wizards hand answered his call. Can they bring the Wizard's Council of Stranggore out of its long Winter and into a new Spring?
The Saga of Stranggore is a campaign for Ars Magica Fifth Edition. Set in late twelfth century England, it tells the story of the ancient covenant called the Wizards' Council of Stranggore, whose rich heritage pre-dates the Order of Hermes itself. At the start of the Saga, the covenant is deep in Winter, with only two magi remaining. Will a pair of new magi and an apprentice be able to reverse the Council's decline and thereby claim an honored place in its history?
Quick Links
- Covenant of Stranggore
- Stranggore Events
- forum for online play and seasonal activities
- Stranggore Characters
Style of Play
We want to emphasize the mystical, rather than the political, aspects of the Order of Hermes. The magi in our version of the Order want to perfect their arts and achieve great things with their magic, not backstab one another over resources.
We are using a full troupe style of play with multiple storyguides. Andrew G. is the alpha storyguide and is responsible for overall continuity and for one of the major plot arcs. We utilize all three character types in Ars Magica: companions, magi, and grogs. Most stories involve one or two magi with the other players playing companions or grogs. This both makes it easier for the storyguide to provide challenges (too many magi together are simply too powerful) and makes our Saga more three-dimensional by giving companions and grogs important roles in the stories. There is an informal rotation with the players taking turns in the "starring" magus role for a given story.
House Rules
Annual Events
Certain things happen at the covenant every year. See the covenant's vis sources for further details on the vis.
Spring
Most grogs, except Angus, are working.
Magi collect 1 pawn of vis from foraging and possibly another as an award for player participation.
Summer
Grogs, except Angus, have a free season. Angus usually provides weapons training to those who want to learn.
The covenant collects 6 pawns of Vim vis, sufficient to maintain its Aegis of the Hearth.
Autumn
Most grogs, except Angus, are working.
Magi gain 1 vis/magus from foraging, up to 1 vis/magus as participation incentive.
Winter
Grogs, except for Angus, get a free season. (Angus is available to teach.)
- Oath Renewal
- Magi renew their oaths to the covenant. The covenant gains 2 pawns of Rego vis per magus, which it distributes to the magi.
- Imbolc Feast
- Mid-Winter since 1194, Hywel Mawr has been hosting an annual feast for Imbolc. Guests include neighboring magi as well as an increasing diversity of plants, trees, and boulders, with whom Hywel can speak using his magic.
Stories and Events
See the Stranggore Events for a timeline of stories and events since the Saga started.
Stranggore History is the page for background events.
Covenant of Stranggore
Main article: Stranggore
The covenant of Stranggore is a once-great covenant with a proud and regal heritage, now fallen into the senility and decrepitude of Winter. It is located in Somerset, England on the historical site of Maesbury Castle, along the ancient Roman road known as the Fosse Way. Some notes on Travelling from Place to Place.
- Stranggore (covenant main page)
Stonehenge Tribunal
Main article: Stonehenge Tribunal
The Stonehenge Tribunal in this Saga is large and very loosely governed. There are a large number of covenants (about 20 in all), but they tend to be small, with most have five members or fewer. There are also a large number of magi living as eremites, outside any recognized covenant. We have a Google map showing important sites.