Novgorod Tribunal

The OOC stuff

Following the end of our Stonehenge Tribunal game that ran from 2020-2024 (covering the years 1189-1264), we have started a new campaign beginning in September 2024 set in Novgorod (beginning in 1242).

The Forum - The Official Forum for the game - although it is likely defunct in favour of Discord.

The Google Map of Covenants in Medieval Europe

House Rules and Clarifications:

Adventure tracker

Languages of the Novgorod Tribunal

5th Edition Spell Guidelines reformatted

5th Edition Spell parameter summary

Travel Times between Covenants guide

The roles

Head ST - Andy
Plot ST - Phil
Novem Pontes - BBQ Jack
Saulés Vartai - James
Zakladnu - Martin
Dom Rosta - Dennis
Mysteries ST - Ellie

The Setting

Mundane Culture

We are drawing heavily on the setting described in the 4th edition book The Dragon and the Bear. Although we are disregarding many of its rules.

Redcap culture:

Because of the great distances Redcaps in Novgorod need to travel, it is traditional to have a set of horse shoes available for visiting Redcaps. (It's common for them to decline as they do not need them, but it's customary to offer them.)

They treat their horses with care and reverence that would be well recognised in Mongol culture (Often referring to them as their Familiars) and Covenants whose grogs were either careless or cruel to Redcap horses have been shunned by House Mercere for years at a time.

Whilst the size and shape has changed over time, it is traditional for Redcaps to move in a fixed circuit, a lap of which (with three days stop over at each covenant along the route) can be done within a single season.

Traditionally each Redcap does one lap clockwise in one season and one lap anticlockwise in another (fulfilling their 2 seasons of annual service). When Redcaps meet each other going the other way they stop and share food and stories. This means that they need to travel at about 50 miles per day.

Elder Redcaps have little respect for younger Redcaps until they prove that they can do a circuit of the Tribunal in a single season. They also claim that when Thousand Caves was still a member they had it tougher. (Although the four additional covenants makes the journey more or less the same length now.)

Redcap Mechanics

Tribunal Culture:

The 7 year Tribunals are held at Three Lakes Covenant due to its relative political importance.

Current Peripheral Code:

1132 - All members of the tribunal are strictly enjoined not to reveal themselves to any member of the Royal Russian House.
- 1220 - Amended to include members of the Royal Polish House.
1249 - "In cases before this tribunal - a proportionate defence of the faeire and magical forests of these lands shall be considered a just and complete defence of the actions of the accused magi to the extent that it was necessary for defence of the aforementioned forests. "
1263 - "This Tribunal agrees that every spell that exists in writing as a translated lab text within the Novgorod Tribunal (or book on the mastery there of) specifically for the destruction or foiling of demons, including but not limited to demons eternal oblivion must be made available as a copy, to copy or to study for a mage of the order for a token payment of a pawn of Vis or a season of service, that can be done without danger to the mage."

Folios:

Novgorod Tribunal of 1249 -

Novgorod Tribunal of 1256 -

Novgorod Tribunal of 1263 -

The Player Covenants:

Dom Rosta - The House of Growth

When: Tuesday 15:00 or 16:00 (UK time)
ST Contact: Ellie
Setting: On a farm outside the city of Vladamir
Vibe: Research based Covenant
Plot focus:
Available spaces: Full

Saulés Vartai - The Gate of the Sun

When: Wednesday 19:00 (UK time)
ST Contact: James
Setting: A rural village in Lithuania
Vibe: Defending the Fantastical
Plot focus: Paganism vs encroaching Christianity, Deals with the Faerie Gods of the land, mercenary conflict.
Available spaces: Full

Novem Pontes - Nine Bridges

When: Friday 19:00 (UK time)
ST Contact: Yoav
Setting: The Old Ducal fort ruins in the city of Wroclaw
Vibe: Sanctuary from Disaster
Plot focus: The Polish Crown's Fate, Encroaching Rhine Influence, Ancient Secrets
Available spaces: 2/5

Zakladnu - Foundation

When: Sunday 18:30 (UK time)
ST Contact: Martin
Setting: About 2 days south of Voronezh, East of Kharkiv in Ukraine
Vibe: What the fuck terribly beast is in the forest?
Plot focus: Mediating between the supernatural and mundane.
Available spaces: Full

NPC Covenants:

With the disappearance of the Thousand Caves Covenant, the destruction of Leczyca, and the isolation of the covenant of Pripet Maior, this has left them with only 2 active Covenants, not enough to convene a Tribunal with.

Three Lakes:

Still the guiding light of the Tribunal. It is the site of tribunal meetings and the major political heavyweights act to head off Rhine and Transylvanian interference.

The covenant is situated in a fertile lowland valley surrounded by dense woodlands.

The valley walls and some of its floor have been cleared for pasture, but much of it is dominated by a wide, placid lake. Three Lakes itself is a large compound, split into three portions within a functional wooden stockade. The outermost portion is the Trade Yard; this is dominated by warehouses, reindeer stables, and a sled yard. It is occupied by drovers, fisherfolk, trappers, hunters, servants, and common grogs. Above the Trade Yard is the High House, which is on sloping ground leading up the valley wall. This is an ornate manor, dominated by the Great Hall.

The mages’ specialist servants, favoured grogs, friends, and guests live here. Above the High House is the Keep. This stone bastion sits in a minor pass in the valley wall and houses the treasury, library, and the quarters of the magi.

Leczyca:

Leczyca covenant sits atop a ridge in gentle hill country. Rough ground renders the east and west approaches difficult and the southern one rather tedious. There is an easy ascent to the north along the track which leads to Leczyca town. The covenant is an impressive, well-built castle, with a large outer bailey, stable-yard, and tilting run.

Of all the Novgorodian covenants, Leczyca is most at odds with the older tribunals. Its powerful turb is principally geared to harrying bands of Rhine interlopers. They are perpetually ready for siege, and have stood off more than one Wizards’ War. Their merchant contacts bring them information about road conditions and troop movements as well as the opportunity to fund merchant ventures.

Leczyca’s outlook is strongly flavored by the general Polish attitude toward the Germans. The Germans are the Enemy, eaten up by envy, resentment, and guilt. Was it Leczyca who betrayed the Order of Hermes in the Schism War? No! It was the Germans! Is it Leczyca who has abused and impoverished their local vis resources? No! It is the Germans! And yet, it is the German covenants who accuse innocent Leczyca of treachery and abandonment! Having a strong external enemy helps keep Leczyca’s very argumentative magi basically united.

Destroyed in 1240, stories differ about its demise. Some say they were destroyed by the Mongols others that they sort aid from the German covenants but were cruelly betrayed.

Thousand Caves:

They last attended the Tribunal in 1221 where they were censored for their Aura research and bringing the secret of the Heartbeast to so many mundanes. Stormed out after Pripet Maior was not similarly punished for its raid of 1217. Did not attend 1228. Subsequent visits discovered the valley seemingly completely abandoned. No magi nor their labs or texts could be found. The mundane population had also disappeared and little wildlife remained. There were signs however of bodies having been burnt, seemingly the Mongols so thoroughly sacked the valley that nothing remained.

Pripet Maior:

They refused to attend tribunal in 1221, however after interference from Crintera they were only slapped on the wrist and received a small vis fine of one pawn ro be paid in 1228. Again in 1228 they did not attend. Subsequent visits by Redcaps found the area to be inaccessible.

A vast fog bank surrounded the covenant and locals spoke of horrible beasts haunting the fog. A dragon now inhabited the lake. Its tough skin was impenetrable by arrows and its huge scaly head would dash men against tree trunks and rocks. Other darker beings lurked there as well, a huge Ox who slayed many workmen as they tried to drain the lake, eagles harash loggers, and most foul of all men became crazed beasts within the swamp. A foul sickness that started as a black blemish on the legs and led to convulsions, bloody flux and eventually a screaming death. Few now venture there, fewer still return.

Sudak:

Former Tremere Oppidum on the Crimean peninsula. Contested by both Transylvanian and Thebian Tribunal formally joined Novgorod in 1235 as a compromise between the Tremere and Jerbiton members.