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."