Stonehenge Tribunal
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Stonehenge Tribunal Map
Related: Stonehenge Peripheral Code
NOTE: The term 'Tribunal' can refer either to the geographic region or to council of magi that governs it.
Until relatively recently, the Tribunal had problems with quorate Tribunals due to severe political in-fighting. Blackthorn held an overwhelming dominance in Tribunal politics, so other covenants stopped showing up whenever they called Tribunals. This had the effect of the Stonehenge Tribunal not being represented at the Grand Tribunal, and becoming the laughingstock of the Order.
However, several new covenants were founded in the last two decades which forced the Tribunal to become quorate. Politics have heated up and Blackthorn, while still powerful, is no longer the overwhelming force it once was. They are opposed by more progressive magi who wish to see Stonehenge take its proper place amoung the Tribunals of the Order. However, with both the Praeco of the Tribunal and its Presiding Quaesitor as members of Blackthorn, this is easier said than done.
The Tribunals are currently held at Blackthorn covenant, in southern Wales. As magi rarely come together in large numbers, a number of social events take place in the week leading up to the official Tribunal:
- Draag of Blackthorn organises the Bjornaer gathering which resembles a pagan midsummer festival. Very secretive.
- Edward of Milton, of Schola Pythagoranis, organises a Jerbiton gathering, which is a large formal dinner party, followed by a masquerade ball. Largely attended by Jerbiton, with the occasional 'civilized' guest invited to attend. Nearly every attendee has the Gentle Gift and impeccable manners.
- Scintilla of Burnham formerly organised the Flambeau Melee, however, since disaster struck the Flambeaux of Stonehenge, the Melee had been cancelled indefinitely. Rumours abound that she is looking to re-establish the custom at the Tribunal of 1222.
- Aurelia of Nigrasaxa organises the Verditius Regional Contest, a smaller version of The Contest which takes place at Verdi every twenty-two years.
- Aulus of Bonisagus and Neanne of Verditius, both from Nova Semitae, organize a small colloquium for the scholastically-minded members to give lectures, share knowledge, and otherwise discuss magical theory and methods with other members. Due to a historical debacle in the Tribunal, the number of Bonisagus magi in the Tribunal is very low, so this event is not very well attended.
- A general seller's market for enchantments, potions, books, longevity rituals, vis, and anything else magi will trade pops up. Very informal.
Covenants of Stonehenge Tribunal
The following are the covenants of the Stonehenge Tribunal
Blackthorn
Main Article: Blackthorn
A powerful Autumn covenant located in the southern hills of Wales. Home of the Praeco and Presiding Quaesitor. Former Tribunal power that caused other Covenants to stop coming to Tribunal meetings after repeated abuses. Strongly opposed by Voluntas. Still politically powerful, but no longer overwhelming. 7 members.
Burnham
Main Article: Burnham
Located in the northernmost section of the Tribunal, in the north of Northumberland. Very secretive, not much is known about them, other than that they managed to negotiate a Town Charter from King John though nobody knows how. Believed to be a Summer covenant. 6 members.
Cad Gadu
Main Article: Cad Gadu
This Winter covenant is the Domus Magna of House Ex Miscellanea, located in northwest Wales on an island in the mountains of Snowdownia. Not very politically powerful, or active due to the odd collection of magi, many of whom are aging and slipping into Final Twilight. Covenant houses the Prima of House Ex Miscellanea, but is not the Praeco due to Blackthorn machinations in the past. 7 members.
Conventus Muri
Main Article: Conventus Muri
Located along Hadrian's wall in Northumberland. Often allied with Voluntas against attacks by Saxon-descended Scottish lowland covenants who hate Normans. Houses numerous Hoplites and Quaesitores, making it martially oriented. Has historically not participated in Tribunal politics until the revival of Tribunal meetings. A strong Summer covenant. 8 members. This was the covenant where Magni was trained as a Magus.
Leo
Main Article: Leo
The newest covenant to be founded in Stonehenge, these magi have located themselves in the Scilly Isles off the coast of Cornwall. They are five relatively newly Gauntleted magi seeking the riches of a former covenant that was located here which they discovered while plumbing the Tribunal records. An early Spring Covenant. 5 magi.
Libellus
Main Article: Libellus
One of the newer covenants with relatively young magi. One of two covenant in Norfolk. An unknown quality in Tribunal politics, as they have not been very active nor done anything of note. 7 members.
Nigrasaxa
Main Article: Nigrasaxa
A Spring covenant that was responsible for reviving Tribunal politics when Maximianus of Bonisagus founded the covenant and called for a new Tribunal in 1201. One of two covenants in Norfolk. Housed by largely young magi except for Maximianus. 8 members.
Nova Semitae
A Summer covenant in the Welsh Marches near Shrewsbury and Poole. Home of the PC magi. Closely allied with the Mercer House, which is housed on covenant grounds. It is recently the home of numerous newly Gauntleted magi after losing all its Founders due to mysterious circumstances. 9 members.
Peregrinatores Glandis
Main Article: Peregrinatores Glandis
The wandering covenant, led by a Criamon whose travels take him up and down the Tribunal with no apparent meaning. Difficult to find, rarely shows up at Tribunal meetings. Translates to 'Travelers of the Acorn'. Most think it's a Criamon riddle of some kind. 3 members.
Redcap/Mercer House
Main Article: Mercer House
Home of the Redcaps of Stonehenge, located at Nova Semitae, though politically independent. 10 members.
Schola Pythagoranis
Main Article: Schola Pythagoranis
A Jerbiton-dominated Summer covenant in Cambridge and is encouraging the growth of the university there. Most of its aims seem to be directed at the increase of mundane scholarship, rather than towards Hermetic goals. Tends to stay apolitical. 7 members.
Unaffiliated
Main Article: Unaffiliated Magi
Many magi are without covenant, as it is not a requirement in Stonehenge. They live singularly, or in informal groups that have not sought out official covenant status. Solitary magi are known as eremite magi. Wandering magi who take up temporary residence at a covenant for a year or two are known are peregrinator magi. Approximately 13 members.
Ungulus
Main Article: Ungulus
A Winter covenant located in the Lakes Region of Lancashire. Founded by House Flambeau 200 years ago, also home of productive Verditius magi. Most of the magi are old and expected to die out in the coming decades. 5 members.
Vigil
Main Article: Vigil
The newest covenant of the Tribunal created in 1227 by order of the Extraordinary Grand Tribunal of 1226. Built on the Roman ruins of Epiacum (Whitley Castle), the rudimentary covenant houses visiting Quaesitores serving for one Tribunal period at a time as part of the settlement of Grand Tribunal. In theory, this covenant should no longer be required once both Tribunals staff up to at least eight Quaesitores each - a task which the Tribunals have until Grand Tribunal 1261 to accomplish.
Voluntas
Main Article: Voluntas
Located in the northwest, near Ungulus, in Cumberland. Politically active, largely due to Julia of Jerbiton. Active against Blackthorn. Known to have one of the better libraries in the Tribunal and is relatively open to having magi use it — unless they're from Blackthorn. A Summer covenant slipping into Autumn. 5 members.
Factions
Due to the covenant's excellent political connections, the magi of Nova Semitae also know about the various factions that exist in the Stonehenge Tribunal.
Blackthorn Faction
As the former dominant covenant in the Tribunal, Blackthorn has an interest in reasserting its dominance in Tribunal affairs. They maintain their edge by having both the Praeco and the Head Quaesitor among their ranks, as well as the Senior Tremere in the Tribunal, who currently holds all the Tremere sigils in Stonehenge.
- Leader: Blackthorn
- Members: Ungulus, Libellus
Anti-Blackthorn Faction
Led by Julia of Jerbiton from Voluntas, this faction was responsible for a quorate Tribunal in 1201 after decades of inquorate meetings. They seek to keep Blackthorn’s influence under control, which they’ve largely done. Only Julia pushes the issues continually and risks looking like a petty opponent by continuing to aggressively go after what the rest of the Tribunal considers a beaten opponent.
- Leader: Voluntas
- Allies: Schola Pythagoranis, Nigrasaxa, Cad Gadu
Northern Border Coalition
These four northern covenants suffer the brunt of the Lowland covenants attacks on England. Led by Saxon magi who were pushed out of England by William the Conquerer, they once sought to reclaim lands held by the Normans. This is no longer possible, but their attacks continue as an expression of hatred of Norman-descended magi and mundane Norman rulers. This coalition is frustrated by the Loch Leglean Tribunal’s inability or unwillingness to reign in cross-border attackers. Aduro of Conventus Muri is rallying magi to address the problem from the Stonehenge Tribunal's side.
- Leader: None
- Members: Voluntas, Conventus Muri, Burnham, Ungulus
Neutral Voters
Many votes are up for grabs at Tribunal, either due to lack of interest in setting an agenda or because they seek only to gain whatever advantage they can.
- Members: Nova Semitae, Peregrinators Glandis, Unaffiliated voters; For non-border issues, Conventus Muri, and Burnham
Tribunal Meeting Notes
- Stonehenge Tribunal of 1222
- Extraordinary Grand Tribunal of 1226 -- This emergency Grand Tribunal assembled to address a general war about to break out between Stonehenge and Loch Leglean
- Extraordinary Stonehenge Tribunal of 1227 -- This is used to determine the issues to go to the Grand Tribunal
- Grand Tribunal of 1228
- Stonehenge Tribunal of 1236
- Stonehenge Tribunal of 1243
- Stonehenge Tribunal of 1250
- Stonehenge Tribunal of 1257
- Extraordinary Stonehenge Tribunal of 1260 -- This is used to determine the issues to go to the Grand Tribunal
- Grand Tribunal of 1261