My Dear, New Friends,
It was such a pleasure meeting you all and spending time discussing the fundamentals of Bonisagus’ theory. Even though my days of travel are likely behind me, I feel more invigorated than I have in years. It meant a great deal that you should choose to spend time with a broken old man, and I appreciate it. And after our time together, I feel I have a firm sense of what each one of you are like, and what your destinies hold.
First, it is important I tell you some of the history of Rethra. The covenant was founded by a cult of Slavic magi/priests who joined house Ex Miscellanea. Their lineage worshiped a Slavic god of forests and the earth. It was said that he granted his followers prophetic abilities. Although, this line was always rather cagey about their abilities. Over the centuries, the number of magical descendants from the original 6 founders of the covenant dwindled to 2.
With the encroachment of Christendom into the area, the mundane worshipers were either driven away, driven into hiding or simply killed. Especially in the last 50 or so years, the Deutschritterorden and the Schwertbrüderorden have been relentless in their rooting out of pagans and heretics in the east. At the time of the revocation of covenant status, Rethra was believed to have been attacked at least once by a group of Christian knights. We have had reports that the complex had been looted by a war band in 1212. You may need to do additional investigations to track them down in order to recover anything of magical value they may have carried off.
Now, on to bigger things. The order is at a crossroads. Will it concede to mercantile desires and simple political maneuvering? Or, will the survivors take the more difficult path, to build something of true wonder? I can tell you that down one path lies the future of court wizards and subjugation by the dominion and mundane authorities. Down the other, I think will lead to a new expansion of the order and a more varied understanding of the limits of magic. I know I much prefer the later to the former. And I am entrusting to you, this choice between two futures.
The road ahead for you is dark and uncertain, but I have foreseen some things that I would share with you.
Anton, you have your head in the clouds and follow your instincts. You trust those you meet and always see the good in them. Never lose that sense of wonder. It will serve you well as you seek lost knowledge and ancient secrets. In you I see the best of House Bonisagus. Retain, preserve and share the knowledge you find. Seek out the past glories of the Order, and restore them for future generations to marvel at and learn from.
Sigrun, your heart is in the right place and your faith in things greater than yourself will see you through dark times in the years ahead. Men of faith rule the lands we live in. And the Order will need people like yourself, who understand them, in order to either avoid conflict or to thrive within the confines of the dominion. You are conscientious and will serve your friends as a strong advocate for the “right thing.”
Ludolfus, The path before you is convoluted. Twisting and turning back upon itself. Of all of the members of this little group, you best of all understand that change is inevitable and constant. You will accept and embrace those changes, which in turn will make you a strong defender of whichever incarnation the Order eventually takes. You will take on the sin of murder for your fellow magi.
Mathilde, there are stark choices ahead of you. We are all products of our parens, but in the end, it is up to us to decide how we make our own way in this world. And, to what ends we wish to commit ourselves. Which direction do you wish to commit yourself to? Only you can answer that question or yourself. In the meantime, your destiny is clouded as a result.
Fendrel, I must say that I feel a deep kinship to you. More so now than I would have prior to the cataclysm. I have come to understand the pain and emptiness that comes with the destruction of the gift. But one such as yourself, with the blood of an archmage in your veins, should not overly despair. There are stories of angels granting magic to mortal men. Imbuing them with the gift and then teaching them how to use it. Curses can be lifted and gifts can be restored. For now, take comfort in knowing that you have great potential to follow in your parens footsteps as a strong upholder of the code.
In closing, I hope our connection was not a one time affair. I plan to cling to this mortal frame a while longer still. And so long as I draw breath, I will be here to counsel you as best I can.
Glaucon of Bonisagus