Introductory Background
Here's my background. Sorry for the bad Spanish. I forgot the names for
Germany and Spain. Note that these are Catorse's impressions, his point
of view may be far different than the other PCs.
Summer, The Year of Our Lord 1208
"Para estudiar el almaro,
no necesita mirale."
So often said my master to me. It's not something I understood then and
I'm only beginning to understand it now. We left our covenant at the
end of Spring. Master Olvera explained that I knew enough about the
magical arts. Now would begin my training as a quaesitorus - the
Keepers of Orthodoxy, he joked. For this phase of my apprenticeship we
would travel throughout the Order and observe its members. In
retrospect, I believe that he wanted one more chance to talk to friends
before he left this plane of existence.
I bid farewell to my new wife Cecilia and her brother, Raul of House
Bonisagus. Raul promised to look after Cecilia and I would be able to
talk to her through magical means, with the help of Master Olvera. I
suspected and later confirmed that this journey would take the last
five years of my apprenticeship.
Winter, The Year of Our Lord 1210
"Estudia que un hombre
hace, no te que dicen."
We stopped by yet another covenant, this one in the Rhine Tribunal.
Master Olvera visits with some acquaintances while I spend time
listening to their long conversations. Master Olvera says that a
quaesitorus must pay attention to the smallest details. Magic rarely
reveals what we need to know, only what we want to see. People will
reveal their innermost thoughts if you know how to listen.
I'd rather spend time with others my age who share the same interests.
The elder magi may know more but they talk as if there's no need to
hold a listener's attention. I must admit that I do get quite a bit of
sleep when they talk - until Master Olvera drenches me with a Creo
Aquam spell.
I do meet a lot other young mages to be. Two which push themselves
forefront in my mind are Albus and Risus. Albus was especially animated
at this time of year saying that there's nothing like a good blast of
frozen air to jump- start the soul. Winter in Alemania made me miss the
distant Summer of my native Espana. Risus - self proclaimed ladies'
mage and berserk demon- slayer - always wanted to go to the nearby city
to "study the native flora and fauna" as he put it. I can only say that
whenever I accompanied him I was the one who up painted as if I were a
rainbow, with a hangover to boot.
Fall, The Year of Our Lord 1212
"Cuando tu conversas mas,
te perdige control directo del situacion."
One of the longest sayings of Master Olvera. Master Olvera had a an
inappropriate saying for any situation, or so it seemed to me. I
believe that he had part Criamon in him, for I rarely understood what
he really meant.
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We arrived at
the Holy Lands, or the Levant Tribunal to the heathens
within the Order. The covenants we visited were the farthest from my
native Espana which now lay an ocean away. The climate was much the
same, although the lands seem more barren and empty than my home.
It was here that I met the mages Fabricarius and Incendium, who had
come to fight in the Crusade against the heathens. Both were rather
serious mages for they had seen more than their share of the killing
and depravities common in these lands. Still, they were able to indulge
my curiosity and show me Jerusalem.
Spring, The Year of Our Lord 1213
"Morir es el juez final."
That will be one my sayings. I don't believe I will have the knack for
saying the wrong thing that turns out to be the right thing. With great
sorrow this particular phrase is very apt.
Master Olvera and I were returning to Espana aboard an Venetian ship of
trade. Accompanying us partway was the mage Viator, a wanderer who
wanted to see the known lands. I suppose much like what I was doing
with Master Olvera. A storm overtook us during the middle of the night.
Later I would find out that a whirlpool had sucked the merchant ship
and delivered us into a faerie realm.
In the realm we encountered many things which I cannot begin to
describe. Shapes and patterns that made to sense to my mind. Creatures
that defied the natural order. We met the Merinita Lorum who pointed to
the way out.
We would have gotten out unscathed had I not wandered off. I was
captured by Decaesito, a fey faerie who held me imprisoned until
rescued by Master Olvera, Viator, and a Jerbiton who prefers anonymity.
In our moment of victory I'm afraid I lost my composure and killed some
kin of Decaesito's. His wrath was unimaginably savage. Master Olvera
was lost as we made our escape. I have been forever scarred and haunted
by this experience and dare not discuss it with anyone. It is my fear
that Decaesito is the cause of some of my troubles since then.
Summer, The Year of Our Lord 1213
"Un lugar nueva traes una
esperanza nueva."
I have just finished my final trials successfully and am now a full
magus in the Order. My old covenant where I spent so much of my life is
now only a place of bitter memories. Raul tried to talk me into
following him and joining Prospectus Locus which is also in Espana. It
is the news that some of my old acquaintances were also joining which
finally convince me to also join.
With my intention to relocate declared I have received a message from
the Domus Magus of House Guernicus. It appears that I will never be
allowed to let my past lie undisturbed. Nevertheless, I think that
Cecilia and I can find happiness at this new covenant and that I will
find a place I can call home.
So ends the current diary of Catorse, fourteenth and last apprentice to
the Mage Olvera of House Guernicus. |