I admit that there are times that, after 15 years, I forget that I am no longer an apprentice. And that there are times that there are priviliges associated with being a maga in my own right.
I spoke with the head cook Kasim this morning and advised him that I am not taking the Dormition fast, but rather eating as normal. He said that would not be a problem, as there are many in the covenant who are not Eastern (primarily Mohammedan, but a handful of Roman Christians as well).
I do need to remember to spread my wings more often.
September 29, 2008
September 21, 2008
August 4, 1220
Since my arrival in Mystikae Eikona, I have known that the people here did not follow the Church of Rome, but rather the Constantine "heresy." But it wasn’t until this week that I realized that there were more differences than merely where the bishop resided. This past Saturday began the "Dormition Fast" leading up to the Assumption of Mary. (I do not pretend to understand, nor care, about the differences between the Assumption and the Dormition, unless it becomes someday relevant to my studies of the Arts). The fast they keep is more stringent than any that I kept as a child. They forbid all meat but fish, they forbid eggs, milk, cheese, oil, and wine. It is practically bread and water. Luckily as a falcon I am not held to the feast or fast days, and I can eat my fill daily.
I do not mention this to my sodales or to the commonfolk, as I would not wish to either seem presumptious or to make them jealous.
I do not mention this to my sodales or to the commonfolk, as I would not wish to either seem presumptious or to make them jealous.
June 29, 1220
I have spoken with the teacher Xenophilos regarding my guards, and he has agreed to teach them Latin, as our inability to communicate is unacceptable. He did not mention payment for the lessons, and I can only assume that as a servant of the covenant that this is part of his duties. I can only hope that they can learn at least the basics of Latin before I find myself in need of their services.
September 16, 2008
June 28, 1220
I have now been here long enough and established enough that I have been assigned servants for lack of a better word. All magi here are entitled to two guards and a personal servant. Despite my being a probationary member that apparently applies to me as well.
The seneschal has assigned me a Constantine woman named Elene as my chambermaid. I am certain that the other magi have different names for their personal servants, but I believe chambermaid will suffice for Elene. Luckily she speaks a modicum of Latin, enough for her to perform her duties and for us to communicate. She normally speaks Greek, as do the majority of the covenfolk here. and those who don’t speak Greek speak Turkic…neither of which I speak as yet, which has helped me to focus on my laboratory. I feel this is to both our detriment.
The two guards assigned by the commander of the guards do not speak Latin, however. The one is a large Greek man named Stefanos, who is quite competent judging by my watching him at arms practice. The other guard, however, is a giant of a woman named Tamar, who is easily the largest human being I have ever seen, who seems to go out of her way to look impressive. She is not quite as good at swordwork as Stefanos, I believe, but I do not believe I will come to any harm under either of their charge.
The seneschal has assigned me a Constantine woman named Elene as my chambermaid. I am certain that the other magi have different names for their personal servants, but I believe chambermaid will suffice for Elene. Luckily she speaks a modicum of Latin, enough for her to perform her duties and for us to communicate. She normally speaks Greek, as do the majority of the covenfolk here. and those who don’t speak Greek speak Turkic…neither of which I speak as yet, which has helped me to focus on my laboratory. I feel this is to both our detriment.
The two guards assigned by the commander of the guards do not speak Latin, however. The one is a large Greek man named Stefanos, who is quite competent judging by my watching him at arms practice. The other guard, however, is a giant of a woman named Tamar, who is easily the largest human being I have ever seen, who seems to go out of her way to look impressive. She is not quite as good at swordwork as Stefanos, I believe, but I do not believe I will come to any harm under either of their charge.
May 14, 1220
It has now been several weeks since my arrival at Mystikae Eikona, and between the arrival of my effects from home…or my old home, rather…and the progress I m making on setting up my laboratory, I am starting to feel as though I belong.
I spoke with the discepator Metatarzes this afternoon concerning my place here, about becoming a permanent member, as every covenant I was at when I was a catulus had different requirements. Sometimes, it is easier to speak with Afosiomenos than it is with Metatarzes. He told me that all that is required of me is to abide there seven seasons and to garner the unanimous vote of confidence of the permanent members. I trust that will not be a problem, but I will have to make certain that I am personable and to keep my tongue in check.
I spoke with the discepator Metatarzes this afternoon concerning my place here, about becoming a permanent member, as every covenant I was at when I was a catulus had different requirements. Sometimes, it is easier to speak with Afosiomenos than it is with Metatarzes. He told me that all that is required of me is to abide there seven seasons and to garner the unanimous vote of confidence of the permanent members. I trust that will not be a problem, but I will have to make certain that I am personable and to keep my tongue in check.
September 6, 2008
April 26, 1220
My package has finally arrived from Taneb’s Tooth this afternoon, having been shipped overland and by the Black Sea. It is fortuitous that I chose not to go that route myself, as it would have cost me a month of work setting up my laboratory, and I would have been very miserable the whole time. I did not have very much sent to me, but what I did get is of no small value to me. Mainly clothes that I had made to counter the blandness that so many of my fellows have worn - it will be nice to have a little color again in my day-to-day attire. I have also received my wooden perch for my chambers. Again, it is not fancy, but it does hold no small sentimental value for me, as my parens had it crafted for me when my heartbeast was brought out.
I have learned over the last month that Metatarzes’s familiar, a hound named Afosiomenos, is extraordinary in his own way. He has the gifts of speech and intelligence (apparently moreso than many of the covenant’s servants), and spends much time in conversation with his master. He has expressed an interest in hunting - this could make for some interesting times.
I have already started exploring the area around the covenant from the sky. It would be handy to know where all the roads in and out lead. Even, or especially, the ones that are believed to go nowhere. I’ve found nothing interesting as yet, but I am still new here. The only drawback is that, should I discover anything of interest, I would be hardpressed to be able to do anything myself, since my clothes do not change with me when I become my heartbeast, and my knowledge of magic is nowhere near extensive enough to allow me to create clothing when I land.
I have learned over the last month that Metatarzes’s familiar, a hound named Afosiomenos, is extraordinary in his own way. He has the gifts of speech and intelligence (apparently moreso than many of the covenant’s servants), and spends much time in conversation with his master. He has expressed an interest in hunting - this could make for some interesting times.
I have already started exploring the area around the covenant from the sky. It would be handy to know where all the roads in and out lead. Even, or especially, the ones that are believed to go nowhere. I’ve found nothing interesting as yet, but I am still new here. The only drawback is that, should I discover anything of interest, I would be hardpressed to be able to do anything myself, since my clothes do not change with me when I become my heartbeast, and my knowledge of magic is nowhere near extensive enough to allow me to create clothing when I land.
March 30, 1220
It has been several days since my arrival in Mystikae Eikona, and it has taken me this long to get my laboratory, as woefully meager as it is yet, to the point where I have a place to write, parchment to write on, and a quill to write with.
It was surprisingly cool, but not cold, when I arrived at my new home. I do not know why I had expected it to be hot, perhaps because of my preconceptions of this part of the world. It was still much warmer than it had been at the Sinews of Knowledge, and I had to retire almost immediately to my new quarters to divest myself of my winter garb and don something more comfortable. My personal effects have yet to arrive from Taneb’s Tooth, and I will have my complete wardrobe once more.
But at least for now, I have a place to lay my head. It will be some three months before the laboratory is usable for even the most trivial of tasks, and another three months before it can be called fully functional. Barring delays, of course.
My chambers here are more than adequate, and better than what I was accustomed to during my apprenticeship. My chambers and laboratory are set within what my new sodales call a "fairy chimney", which appears to be a large stone column with something resembling a mushroom cap on top. The name is rather confusing, as they tell me that the fae had nothing to do with their creation and they do not come with a chimney. The rooms are rather spacious, and mine has several windows around the walls that allow me to come and go as I please.
I have not as yet had much opportunity to interact with my sodales beyond the passing greeting. I did discuss the procedures for my becoming a permanent member of the covenant with Metatarzes of Bonisagus. My first impression is that he is both charming and insightful (of course, he would not be of Bonisagus were he not insightful), but at times his mind seems to wander in a new direction. From what I am told, the covenant is some 75 years old, and that Metatarzes helped to found it, so he may be forgiven his meanderings.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that both my quarters and my laboratory will be on a par with those of the other magi. I had expected, based on my observations of other the covenants during my apprenticeship, that I would be given meager accommodations and have to build from there. It seems that I am to be treated as somewhat of an equal, or at least as equal as my youth will permit. I am allowed two guards and a personal servant. I am going to have to make my choices quite carefully, as I must be certain beyond doubt that those who serve me shall be the souls of discretion. I would not be surprised if, at times, I am called to mind of my childhood. Perhaps
since I have scribed my initial impression of Metatarzes, I should also do so with my other sodales, so that I may in time look back to see how mistaken I was. Metatarzes is not the only Bonisagus follower in the covenant (for which we, and how odd that word still sounds in my head, may be grateful - for while there will always be things they are incabable of understanding, there are almost infinitely more things that they do). Iakovos, the other, I have not yet made the time to make more than a passing introduction. He casts a vast number of shadows, and the changes he goes through on a constant basis may, I suspect, require a great deal of time and effort to observe, let alone begin to understand. Annais ex Criamon appears to be somewhat standoffish.
Albanus ex Flambeau seems to be rather vocal and argumentative. It will be interesting to see if he argues for the argument’s sake or if he argues on what he believes.
Humbertus Eques the Quaesitor I have not seen much around the covenant since I have arrived. I am told that he spends much of his time tending to the horses, which I find interesting. I do not know if the horses play some part in his research, or if it is some part of his mundane life that he holds on to.
The last magus I have met is Domazhir Slipoi ex Verditius, another newcomer who has apparently spent the winter constructively in his laboratory building a forge for his studies.
As a whole, the magi of Mystikae Eikona seem at first glance a personable lot, with much less of the infighting and machinations to which I am accustomed. It will be some time, though, before I feel familial with them...as Terminus ex Tremere has said so many times, "A friend is simply an enemy who has not yet betrayed you."
It was surprisingly cool, but not cold, when I arrived at my new home. I do not know why I had expected it to be hot, perhaps because of my preconceptions of this part of the world. It was still much warmer than it had been at the Sinews of Knowledge, and I had to retire almost immediately to my new quarters to divest myself of my winter garb and don something more comfortable. My personal effects have yet to arrive from Taneb’s Tooth, and I will have my complete wardrobe once more.
But at least for now, I have a place to lay my head. It will be some three months before the laboratory is usable for even the most trivial of tasks, and another three months before it can be called fully functional. Barring delays, of course.
My chambers here are more than adequate, and better than what I was accustomed to during my apprenticeship. My chambers and laboratory are set within what my new sodales call a "fairy chimney", which appears to be a large stone column with something resembling a mushroom cap on top. The name is rather confusing, as they tell me that the fae had nothing to do with their creation and they do not come with a chimney. The rooms are rather spacious, and mine has several windows around the walls that allow me to come and go as I please.
I have not as yet had much opportunity to interact with my sodales beyond the passing greeting. I did discuss the procedures for my becoming a permanent member of the covenant with Metatarzes of Bonisagus. My first impression is that he is both charming and insightful (of course, he would not be of Bonisagus were he not insightful), but at times his mind seems to wander in a new direction. From what I am told, the covenant is some 75 years old, and that Metatarzes helped to found it, so he may be forgiven his meanderings.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that both my quarters and my laboratory will be on a par with those of the other magi. I had expected, based on my observations of other the covenants during my apprenticeship, that I would be given meager accommodations and have to build from there. It seems that I am to be treated as somewhat of an equal, or at least as equal as my youth will permit. I am allowed two guards and a personal servant. I am going to have to make my choices quite carefully, as I must be certain beyond doubt that those who serve me shall be the souls of discretion. I would not be surprised if, at times, I am called to mind of my childhood. Perhaps
since I have scribed my initial impression of Metatarzes, I should also do so with my other sodales, so that I may in time look back to see how mistaken I was. Metatarzes is not the only Bonisagus follower in the covenant (for which we, and how odd that word still sounds in my head, may be grateful - for while there will always be things they are incabable of understanding, there are almost infinitely more things that they do). Iakovos, the other, I have not yet made the time to make more than a passing introduction. He casts a vast number of shadows, and the changes he goes through on a constant basis may, I suspect, require a great deal of time and effort to observe, let alone begin to understand. Annais ex Criamon appears to be somewhat standoffish.
Albanus ex Flambeau seems to be rather vocal and argumentative. It will be interesting to see if he argues for the argument’s sake or if he argues on what he believes.
Humbertus Eques the Quaesitor I have not seen much around the covenant since I have arrived. I am told that he spends much of his time tending to the horses, which I find interesting. I do not know if the horses play some part in his research, or if it is some part of his mundane life that he holds on to.
The last magus I have met is Domazhir Slipoi ex Verditius, another newcomer who has apparently spent the winter constructively in his laboratory building a forge for his studies.
As a whole, the magi of Mystikae Eikona seem at first glance a personable lot, with much less of the infighting and machinations to which I am accustomed. It will be some time, though, before I feel familial with them...as Terminus ex Tremere has said so many times, "A friend is simply an enemy who has not yet betrayed you."
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