Windlied uber der Mosel Rhine Tribunal, begun in year 993, virtually ended in 1013 On a grassy bluff a day upstream of Trier on the Mosel, sits a collection of stone buildings surrounded by a smooth stone wall. The ships that pass here see the dock and the small boat at the riverside below the fortress. Most figure that the structure holds a monastery, or perhaps some powerful manor. Only the best informed know that this is the home of Windsong, a relatively large convocation of the magi of the Order of Hermes. All the laboratories of the covenant are contained in one large building and in the caverns beneath it. The top of this building, 50 feet off the ground, is used as a watch tower, from which the Mosel can be surveyed for miles in each direction. The courtyard on the landward side of the building holds a quite esoteric garden, the focal points of which are a slender oak with shimmering, translucent leaves that seem to dance even when there is no breeze, and a round spongey plant bristling with spikes and thorns. Two other buildings, connected by cloistered passageways surround this courtyard: a two story library which holds the council chambers of the covenant, and an eating hall with guest quarters above it. Other buildings about the compound house the grogs and other covenfolk. A barn outside the stone wall serves as stables for a large collection of high-quality horses. All about the covenant is forest, but up-river a mile or so are the vine- yards which form the primary source of income for the covenant. The covenant's boat is constantly journeying to and from there, and to Trier and Metz to sell wine. As a result of an adventure in which a knight and a magus perished, the covenant also claims the lands which once belonged to Grayforest covenant, across the Rhine from Koblenz. This is some days' journey from Windsong proper, but several magi enjoy the higher aura and more natural setting there. Grayforest sits in the midst of a large forest, quite near several faerie glades and residences. The covenant is nothing but a collection of one- story buildings in a clearing in the forest. Windsong keeps most of its resources at the main covenant, but a small library is maintained at Grayforest for the use of magi who wish to sojourn there. One magus is appointed Exarch of Grayforest, and makes most decisions there. The Magi: Three magi founded Windsong in the middle of the 10th century: Winnan Weiss of House Tremere, Robert Sousmanche of House Bonisagus, and Magt Cluwi of House Bjornaer. In 993, they invited two of their apprentices who were just passing their gauntlets to join the covenant, and also extended an open invitation to others. Winnan Weiss was the driving force in establishing the covenant in the Rhine Tribunal, but he passed into final Twilight in the last years of the 10th century. He was a Muto specialist, particularly adept with Terram and Corporem. Robert Sousmanche is a research magus, striving always to extend the limits of Hermetic magic. He specializes in Aquam, especially with Rego. Recently, he constructed a magical fountain for the gardens of the covenant which draws vis from the magical aura to make the water it produces actually potable. Magt Cluwi is an irascible old falcon of Bjornaer. He is quite powerful with his Auram magics. It is said that he is quickly approaching the time when he will become a falcon, or perhaps simply a breeze, and go to live in the wild. Tomas d'Arten, filius of Rober Sousmanche, has followed his pater's path into research. His specialties are Ignem and Aquam, and he seeks always to find the purest forms of these elements. Most other magi are happiest when they aren't thinking about what he is capable of. Hroka Havicht, follower of Bjornaer, filius of Magt Cluwi, an Auram specialist with an Eagle Heartbeast. Hroka perished while reconnoitering Grayforest. (He decided to try his nifty new lightning bolt spell on the Bjornaer-Twilight lion, and missed...) Agatha of House Jerbiton, a generalist with emphasis on Muto, joined a convent shortly before the beginning of the Schism War. She felt that the wiles of Satan were becoming too ubiquitous around the covenant. Wilhelm von der Stein, follower of Tremere, a Terram specialist, has been striving to become the youngest Arch-Mage ever. The beginning of the Schism War was problematic for Wilhelm, as his House called him in a different direction than his heart wished to lead him. Rose of House Merinita, Herbam specialist, Exarch of Grayforest. Rose views all of life as an excuse for celebration, and the covenant was quite relieved to find an excuse to shuffle her off to Grayforest. The magi who were planning to go there to live weren't quite so pleased... Rose is married to a half- man, half-dragon, yet another good reason for her to be a hundred miles away. Flavius Donetti of House Jerbiton, a Mentem specialist, developed strong ties with the nobility of the region around the covenant. In fact, he installed his son as Graf de Bolar, a vassal of the Margrave of Diedenhofen. Were it not for the problems of the Schism War, his involvement in mundane affairs might come under closer scrutiny by the Order... Occam of the Axe of House Guernicus, Quaesitor and specialist in divination. He left Windsong to join the covenant of Darkgrove after a mishap with a lunatic Criamon devastated that covenant. Zilia Ribley, magus Ex Miscelanea, a specialist in the natural world, joined the covenant shortly after the death of Hroka Havicht. She is from Magyar lands, and often seems out of place here. Sebastian Barbarosa of House Flambeau, an Ignem specialist, was an apprentice at Blazehall, a covenant which often comes into conflict with Windsong. He hated his pater at Blazehall, and decided that joining Windsong was the best way to get back at him. Perhaps he was right... Malthus of House Bjornaer, an Intellego specialist with the Hearbeast of a (panther?), always curious and inquisitive, we figure that Malthus will soon suffer a similar fate to that of Hroka. Helena, magus Ex Miscelanea, an Auram specialist, recently specializing in wards and healing magics, was traumatized when she was attacked by a possessed grog, and has since become almost obsessive and paranoiac. Rianna, magus Ex Miscelanea, an Aquam specialist, spoke out against the Schism War, and worked hard to garner support for a vote to end it. Simon, follower of Verditius, a Terram specialist, creating magic items that shape and change things. Hans Besten, magus Ex Miscelanea, a beast master, only joined the covenant a short while ago, and has yet to do much. Other characters: With all these magi, it was hard to develop others to any great extent, but a few stood out: Eleira, wife of Flavius, sister of Ariele, has visions which often lead to stories Ariele, sister of Eleira, deep in her faith, had to be rescued from a magus in the Theban Tribunal, was wandering the land performing miracles at last report Arwuln, an alchemist and scholar, accompanied the magi on many adventures Heinrich der Grau, a gallant knight who went on nearly every adventure that the magi had until he died repelling a lion at Grayforest Nick, husband to Rose, half-dragon, deus ex machina, and general annoyance :) His sister, full dragon, pre-adolescent, much worse annoyance Kit and Kitty, a good grog and his sister who was so annoying that we refused ever to take them anywhere. Aethelred, a grog who nearly died fighting a stone giant, and later became grog sergeant Maurice, a rogue companion who proved handy on a number of occasions and never got into nearly as much trouble as he could have Horik Oxeson, a great Danish warrior grog who was shrunk to about 3 feet tall as a result of a faerie adventure, and was then consigned to Grayforest This covenant ran for about two years real time, and finally broke up when three members left for colder parts. We went through about 20 years of game time, during which the covenant grew quite large and involved, we stopped the Schism War in mid-stride, and we realized that there were some serious flaws in our backgrounds and so decided to start a new covenant. Tomas d'Arten and Zilia Ribley came along to the new covenant and are still being played. More on them when I post Turmaris.