The covenant of Pax Hermeticus was the focus of an Ars Magica saga that spanned two years of real play, or around eighty sessions (guessing here) from 3/2003 to 3/2005. Unfortunately, all the stories are not fully recorded, but this site was not created until a year of real play had passed. We hope to improve this chronicling in our next saga, The Covenant of the Door.


Pax Hermiticus, which means ”Hermetic Peace”, roughly, is a covenant set three days travel Northwest from the costal city of Nice in Southern France (or Provencal). The covenant was re-founded in 1113 A.D., with six yearling magi joining the venerable Callidys of Criamon who resided alone after the unexplained disappearance of his previous sodalis.

Current Affairs
The sky fell, and we were here to see it. Arc Malus was stripped of his Quaesitor and Hoplite titles, but retained his life, which is impressive. Radican was stripped of his Quaesitor title, and is actually quite happy about his prospects. Evanthus was granted and accepted Quaesitor training by Julius, the new presiding Quaesitor of the Normandy Tribunal. Prenestine was seen palavering with Julius, and is now seen smiling smugly whenever Radican or Evanthus pass...

Bufonis is now even less human than an oddball half-man-half-toad Ex Miscellanea could be considered, giving to the immersion in the dragon mud. He gives a portion of his loyalty to a greater reptile than his former toad master (or so his sodalis would say), and so by all accounts is both less sane, and better guided than ever.

Umphridas? Well, Umphridas saved the day with his shrewd puzzlings, and provided us those answers that saved our covenant from ruin. So it’s back to the lab... which is all he really meant to save.

Agnew is giving up conversing with faey for a while; something he has wanted for some time. He shall spend his time chasing unwilling she-elks, and compiling a book on wolf herding.

A Summary Of Events To Date
The Tribunal of Normandy has concluded, and there is time to reflect on the affair as Roth, Bufonis, Radican, Umphridas and Evanthas journey back to Pax Hermeticus. What will become of Tortius and Turtle Island? Will Arx Oceanus take loan from Larius and Quaesitor, or Fedarus and Tytalus? Does Dilitantius have a child apprentice, or a youth, and when will he adopt a name? When shall Morris be called to duty by Fenris, Hopolite?

When Pax Hermeticus receives it’s travellers what shall await them? Will the local demon have been dealt with by Quaesitor and the pore to hell sealed?

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The Lord Martenne is dead, dragged off from his doomed township by the king of wolves, Menfir. The Magistrate Chival arrived just in time to see it happen, so instead of demanding recompense for the loan he gave the barbarous noble, he led the survivors of the attack back to San DuCroix with the aid of Evanthas and Roth. What will the commonfolk think of it all? What rumours will grow from Menfir’s appearance?

Agnew’s subtle warfare upon the planned township was perhaps too succesful. His alliance with the fey has proved itself, but is it at the expense of the alliance he holds with his sodalis? Surely Evanthas, and perhaps Roth, will question his intentions at the next Council meeting. The conflict between man’s will and the forest is growing, and our peaceful distance from things mundane is dwindling.


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A strange old fey has brought to Agnew a crying babe, and refers to it as fruit of the seed of his master. She tells of the babes ability to be both Oak sapling, and human child, and how she and the other oaks have been given the task if caring for it’s infancy. Bound in the hair of hte babe is a red ribbon that is a shape-shifted Morae, a fairie of dreams and nightmares, and it’s presence is keeping the child from sleeping. The OakenWoman bids Agnew to deal with the thing before he return the babe to the grove.

Agnew journeys to the court of the Faerie Princess and interrupts a meeting of great import. He is introduced to a mysterious Lady name Denora Elahee, and four Leshiye, who the Princess names as her sergeants. They are hairy creatures of the same coloring as the local lizards, and all sprout a short horn above a single eye in the middle of their heads. One among them, the yellow, is skinnier than the rest, and one could say even, sickly.

The conversation at the table disturbs Agnew, as it centers on the violent destruction of the swamp by fire, and is fueled by the strange Lady entreating the others to root out the sickness of the swamp, and restore it to its former glory. In the end, Agnew leaves the valley with a furrowed brow, and bad taste in his mouth.

Agnew eventually makes conversation with the Morae, and agrees to take the burden of it’s dreams from the babe, and unto himself. Of what does Agnew dream? Knowing the prophetic nature of such creatures, what wisdom will Agnew garner, and how will he use it?

Upon journeying to the Oaken Grove to return his babe/master to it’s growing place, Agnew happened to meet the Blue Leshy, and Master of the Crows, Bontis. Bontis allays Agnew’s fears that these four are in cahoots with the Lady Denora, and that it is only the Yellow, Netsy, that has a current nasty-streak. He bequests Agnew to investigate, and grants him a token of his association, a leather charm with three crows feathers.

Agnew and four stout Grogs (Green Briar, Nimbus son of Dingus, Norb of Norc, and Jacques the woodsmen) travel to the Yellow Leshy’s quarter, near the Swamp, and are quickly beset by feral beasts known as Moon-Dogs. The Moon-Dogs lead the crew, snarling and threatening, to a great Cypress tree wherein lies their Sickly yellow master, Netsy. He greets the Magus and his folk, and invites Agnew up into his tree. Pensive, yet determined, Agnew bids his grogs to wait for his return, and climbs into the branches of the great tree.

In a quick, and almost forseeable, turn of events, the Nasty Leshy traps Agnew in a little room lined with the skulls of Moon-Dogs, and calls upon his pets to eat the grogs waiting below. Craftily, Jacques tosses his venison provisions at the mass of beasts, and they begin a bloody battle over the treat. Not all are so easily duped, however, and the Grogs must fight for their lives against the golden yellow terrors. After a pitched battle, and having sustained a few serious wounds, the dogs are beaten back, and the Grogs survive.

Meanwhile (and remotely aiding the grogs?), Agnew nearly exhausts himself trying to escape his woody prison, and also destroys the Skulls that line its walls. This upsets the Yellow Leshy, and he re-opens the prison door, only to have Agnew escape, and assuming his elken form, over-power the little menace and beat him senseless. After subduing him, Agnew notices that Netsy has a severly swollen foot that has abscessed around a large thorn. He takes hold of the thorn, and, pulling with great strength, slides it out of its purchase between meat and hoof. What follows is a great flow of ichorous puss, and an unconscious sigh of relief from the lips of the Leshy. Agnew then washes clean the wound with water from the RockBiters gift, and, gathering up his grogs, leaves the Cypress Grove, and the milling Moon-Dogs behind.

Agnew sends the grogs home, and journeys himself back to the Oaken Grove where he first met Bontis.....

The Story of Our Formation
The troupe arrived at the Covenant Somnus Sopor in March of 1113 A.D. Callidys had written a letter to all the magi imploring them to bring soldiers and coven folk.

Instead of a ceremony at the gates, the troupe was confronted with an unruly pack of soldiery camping in the courtyard of Somnus Sopor. Brazen and rude, it was momentarily decided by Evanthas and Radican that these were not the covenant grogs, but rather some interloping band taking advantage of Callidys’ neglect. Just as quickly, the action was over as Radican dispensed a Ball of Abyssmal Flame, and Evanthus took control of a horsed rogue as he attempted escape.

It was determined that these rogues, know locally as Le Barbe Rogue (or Red Beards) for the red dyed horse hair beards hung around their necks, had been camped here for some months, and their numbers and reputation had left the few grogs no choice but to endure their stay. More startling still was the discovery of a small ransom of silver in the rogue leaders saddlebag, and a note addressed from Baron to Baron! A courier group from Baron Melois must have been overtaken by the Barbe Rouge when delivering this silver, a dowry, in fact, to Baron DuBois. An impressive feat to be sure, that a group of rogues could take down an armed escort carrying this quantity of silver. And, by the note, this silver was only a fraction of that being transported. Where was the rest?

The magi pondered these things. There was enough silver here to start a small war. In fact, by the note, this silver was intended to be converted to ’arms’ to be ’used against our common enemy’. In the end, it was determined that risking intervention into baronal affairs was prudent as compared to remaining silent and pouching the silver.

Aguirre, the castellan was sent to the local town, San Du Croix, to the magistrate with a letter. The note was addressed to the baron or his men, and as chance would have it, Provost Arnauld of DuBois was just a day away combing the countryside for bandits. Soon, a combined force of the militia of San Du Criox, under sergeant Franc, and a crack regiment under the provost arrived at Somnus Sopor.

It may be said that the provost was not entirely unprepared for this meeting with magi. He was wary and forth-right, warning the ’masters’ of the house that no ’idle tricks’ would be tolerated in the presence of his men. Thus began the trying relationship between Pax Hermeticus (as Somnus Sopor was renamed) and Provost Arnauld of DuBois.

Aguirre, ever observant and knowledgeable in local lore, fingered a Red Beard which remained in the turb, and had likely clued his fellows to the covenant originally. Here for the first time we see Radican’s ruthelessness to an enemy. Information garnered, and the rogue’s corpse rolled unceremoniously into the swamp, Radican, Evanthas and the baron’s men set out on the fleeing men’s trail.

Many days later, still quite certain of their tracking, the troupe is deliberately misdirected by an old lady, ”Gertie”, living in the forest. They take speed to make up for the lost day, and on the morning of the tenth day, they attack the Red Beard camp. The battle is punctuated by exploding barrels, and stinging smoke, both forms of what will later be dubbed ”Oriental Powder”. Regardless, the camp is taken, and the balance of the dowry recovered. The strange powder goes with Radican to the covenant. With the provost goes a strange man, wiry and hairless, and covered in old burn scars. Here is Maldeux, hedge wizard of the Barbe Rouge. He shall be interrogated and gaoled, and the silver shall complete its wayward journey to DuBois’ coffers.

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After routing the Red Beards, and delivering their leader to the provost, Pax Hermeticus turned to the tasks of restoring the covenant and it’s staff. Aguirre, the castellan was given the duty of minding the turb until a captain could be found. Rodney, a grog was raised to sergeant. A new covenant charter was assembled, as well as goals deemed crucial to the success of Pax Hermeticus, as the covenant was now dubbed.

The dark faey in the swamp soon impinged on the Roman road which borders their domain. Bufonis, a Ex Miscellanea with extreme fondness for all things damp, took an interest in this issue. For several years the Roman road would remain dangerous to travel, and the swamp would claim a few of its travellers and a grog or two. Finally, Bufonis untangled the mystery of the unseelie Ambassador, who was the rightful heir of the swamp, and aided in supplanting the dark seelie lord with the rightful, and more tempered heir.

Meanwhile, the covenant looked to its future. Grogs were taken on to fill in the dwindled ranks. Evanthas and Umphridas nurtured a parchment trade they hoped would provide income for the covenant. It seems that the former members had a stipend that evaporated with their departure. The business of parchment would take Evanthus to Nice, and the covenant Vanitus Vitae several times. The Baron DuBois would repay their efforts with the Red Beards by supplying a monk to tutor Evanthus in the trade.

It would be discovered through Richard, former captain at Vanitus, that Dilitantius, a Jerbiton there, was involved in a child slave ring. Radican and Evanthas took exception to this news, and travelled to Domus Aquas, where they obtained a supporting voice from archmage and Quaesitor Anthus. Though Dilitantius protested that his illicit business was secure from marring the reputation of the Order, Radican nevertheless served eviction on Vanitus Vitae. The ensuing months would see Vanitus harried out of Nice by Father Sebastio. During his travels to Nice, Evanthas would meet and befriend Richard, and Sir Ardenne Lanois du Chartres. These two soldiers, one noble, and one devout, would form the backbone of turb discipline at Pax Hermeticus as Leuitenant and Captain. Additionally, Roth of Verditius, a former member of Vanitus, and dissenter to Dilitantius’ slaving, joined Pax Hermeticus as a member.

Now established and manned, Pax Hermeticus provided a base from which the magi explored their particular interests. The swamp rested easy, and the monk provided by the baron taught Evanthas and Claven (a smart handed grog) the parchment trade. A herd of elk provided a surprise in the spring by revealing one of their numbers as a Bjornaer mage. And so Agnew of Bjornaer joined the covenant, and the roster was complete.