Tiarnan's previous views

Tiarnan's previous views on the other Magi

1173 AD

Aelfwin

Aelfwin is an even-handed and fair Pontifex whose friendly, low-key manner belies his insight and strong beliefs. Though I suspect that he does not entirely trust or like me, I can find few faults with the way he has administered the covenant since he took over from Dialectica. He is usually the first to volunteer his time when anything needs doing and, perhaps Theo aside, none of us can claim to have put so much effort into helping the covenant prosper. Despite this, he does not draw attention to his achievements or chide others for not following his example. Given the fractious state of the Council, Aelfwin must continue to steer a careful course, but he is perhaps the only person here who could unite the various factions behind him.

Astrius

Astrius should be deeply embarrassed by the fact that, having spent so long here at Severn Temple, he knows so little about what is going on. He seems to have no interest in, or knowledge of, the various magical and faerie powers that inhabit these lands; indeed, it is almost as though the wider mysteries of the world are irrelevant, save when they pose a direct threat to him or his beloved Order. If he was slightly more self-aware, he might come to realise that his narrow mindedness explains why he is often the last to learn of any matter, but he would rather attribute it to treachery on the part of others. He has yet to grasp the non-too-subtle fact that people often have more than one set of priorities and loyalties, which, at his age, is frankly ridiculous. I shall not forget him quivering in a purple-faced rage as he denounced Theo, not realising that it was his own blinkered views and unwillingness to trust others that meant that Theo felt unable to confide in him. Fie on him, a fine friend indeed!

Cormoran

An appalling man, Cormoran exemplifies the notion of power without reason. Murderous and duplicitous, he cares nothing for others, exudes naked greed and represents a grave threat to any who cross him. Despite only recently finishing seven years of punishment for his misdeeds, he already demands the use of the covenant's resources in an aggressive manner, rather than making requests in the ways others do. His stories about finding magical fish in the Severn are laughable; it is clear that he has been finding food elsewhere, whether in the form of magical animals from another source or something darker. Having already slaughtered members of his own family, there must be few moral ties to hold him back, and I believe him capable of great malice.

Medius

Despite the great changes in his personal life, Medius appears to me to be little different than he was a decade ago. Our Quaesitor was always something of an anodyne man, more interested in procedure and precedent than anything that really matters, and his experiments with the faith of his bloodline does not seem to have altered this. That said, I cannot say he is anything but fair, and he sticks to his moral line despite what surely must be temptations to take an easier path on occasion. His recent attempts to press charges against Theo do not stand well with me, but for now I believe that they are sincerely motivated, rather than prompted by more deeply held prejudices. Despite his faults, Medius is one of the members of the Council most worth listening to, for his insights often illuminate problems and suggest possible solutions, and for that he has my respect.

Theo

The burdens of his position have taken their toll on Theo. He is now far more of a leader than he was once, and he is becoming used to wielding his power and using his influence to direct events. I know that he struggles with the great challenges that face him, and I am resolved to assist him wherever I can. I suspect that many of his court favour Aedan over him, but I will do my best to ensure that he is not simply discarded when his son comes of age. Theo has become more grim and determined due to his many cares, which is a shame, as he used to be fine company. I also believe that this has rubbed off on me - Kai and Kieren have both remarked that I appear more subdued and worried given the difficult road ahead. If I cannot influence future events to a great degree, I shall at least try to help Theo recover something of his old self, as the land needs a bright-hearted King, not a dour leader.

1163 AD

Aelfwin

Aelfwin and I have more in common than either of us would care to admit. It is true that our interests differ markedly, yet I sense that we both regard our personal causes as more important than the vague, overweening loyalty to House or Order that others so loudly declaim. Aelfwin's attitudes and sensibilities seem too alien for me to ever from a close bond with him, but Kai often reminds me that the priggishness he displays at Council is not a true reflection of his real character, for there is apparently an earthiness of spirit about him that manifests in less formal surroundings. If this is the case, it may be that we come to appreciate more about each other's character in future years.

Astrius

Astrius' conduct is often brutish and ill-mannered in a way that even Cormoran fails to match, yet I find the visceral dislike that this once inspired in me now turns more to indifference. I do not think that he has changed over the years; rather, I have realised that he is not the malevolent force that I once thought him. Apart from a few brief skirmishes at Council, all of which amount to little more than exchanges of snippy remarks, we have never really clashed in a serious way, and so I find myself wondering whether my usual policy of judging a book by its cover is the best course of action in this case. Perhaps I shall give Astrius the benefit of the doubt for the moment. I do not expect that we will soon be sharing fishing tips, but at least it may help to lighten the atmosphere at Council a little.

Cormoran

How could I have so misjudged someone? I was optimistic that Cormoran would prove to be a welcome breath of fresh air when he joined the covenant, but this poisonous dullard has come close to ruining all my plans. I might be able to accept this if I thought his actions were just the ill-considered blundering of someone who did not appreciate the implications of what he had done, but Cormoran seems actually seems to relish his role as the Erechwyth's puppet. I cannot believe that he has simply been won over by her blatant flattery; no, there must be an icy core to his being that predisposes him to her wintry machinations. By word and deed he has declared himself an enemy, and my main hope is that he so infuriates the rest of the Council that he is either further reigned in - or even expelled - before he causes irreparable damage.

Dialectica

What a curious enigma is our esteemed Pontifex! On the surface, she is a forthright and single-minded leader, ever willing to do whatever is necessary to strengthen our covenant and the wider Order. However, her relationship with Theo indicates that there is much more to her than this; indeed, I wonder whether her public persona masks an entirely different character. Was her decision to bear his child a simple act of love or attraction, or was it motivated by knowledge of what he is or will become? I could tie myself in knots trying to fathom her motives, but at least Kai's marvellous intuition means that I shall not be taken in by her outward facade any longer. What an unexpected and intriguing turn of events!

Medius

Our stern Quaesitor has grown into his role in recent years, and he now commands no little respect among the members of the Council. Medius has shown himself to be straight and fair, and he appears to have no personal agenda to pursue. I find his dour demeanour wearying at times, and I can scarcely think of anyone I would less enjoy sitting next to at a party, but at least I know that he will strive to assess issues in a neutral and cerebral manner, regardless of the circumstances. Quite how he manages to distance himself from issues, I shall never know - perhaps there truly is nothing to the man? Nevertheless, I cannot help but respect his dedication, impartiality and thoroughness.

Theo

Theo remains my favourite member of the Council. I sometimes wish he would be more forthright in his use of his authority, for there is much he could accomplish were he to act more decisively, but I can appreciate why he is reluctant to do so. It must be difficult to reconcile the status his crown conveys with his more limited role within the Order and even the covenant. Then again, perhaps he has more cunning than I give him credit for, since his friendships span most of the Council, giving him considerable influence. I should certainly not under-estimate him, even if it is sometimes tempting to do so given his actions - as his future decisions may have enormous ramifications for us all. I do not know how much he suspects about the role the fae played in the downfall of his predecessor, but I must assume that he will learn the truth in the end. In the end, he must make the right decision, or he must not be given the opportunity to drag us down to ruin.

1152 AD

Aelfwin

Aelfwin feels a close bond with the mundane sphere, and he sometimes appears more like a milkmaid than a Magus. Though I do not doubt the sincerity of his views, I find his constant interventions on behalf of the grogs and villagers to be grating and tiresome. He is so fixated on the potential sufferings of the mundane folk that he is usually unwilling to countenance action of any sort in case someone, somewhere is made worse off. If his voice is allowed to prevail at Council, we shall become a covenant of perpetual worriers that sits passively while our enemies take advantage of our inaction. I recognise that Aelfwin has a kind and considerate nature, but the natural sympathy that this elicits from certain members of the Council means that his impractical views carry more weight than they deserve. I sometimes wish that he were a Christian so that he could retire to a monastery to contemplate good deeds. His arrival would undoubtedly provoke a great exodus among the monks, since even the most pious would not be able to put up with him for long.

Astrius

Astrius provides evidence that a person's true character often manifests in their outward appearance. Following his run in with the Morrigan, he looks rather like a three day old corpse, and his cold, rasping voice would not seem out of place on a member of the undead. Violent and unpredictable, he represents a danger to any who would cross him. He is clearly no fool, for he has managed to convince most of the Council that he is a noble and loyal defender of the Order, despite mounting evidence that his only solution to problems is to rain destructive fire down on his enemies. I hope that he will not be able to pull the wool over their eyes for long, for it is plain to see that his apparent reserve is nothing more than a mask. I shall shed no tears for the nobles he has slain, but I cannot believe their deaths will satisfy his appetite for long, and his list of targets will surely lengthen as his own powers grow over time. He has already been involved in the unnecessary slaughter of a member of the Unseelie Court, and he must be opposed if he turns his attention to the Faerie Regio in a search for future enemies against which to test his skills.

Cormoran

Cormoran seems straightforward and honourable, which are two characteristics that I've always despised. However, he is at last showing signs of independent thought, after having spent the last few years slavishly following Astrius and Dialectica around like a loyal puppy. I certainly hope this trend continues, since he would be far more interesting were he to return to his magical roots rather than try to ingratiate himself with those at the core of the Order. Cormoran is often difficult to talk with, since his speech has all the dynamism of a bucket of treacle and he employs arguments so circular they could roll as far as Blackney. He reminds me somewhat of a member of the Court of Stone, in that he may have all sorts of interesting information to give, but it's almost impossible to summon sufficient willpower to keep talking to him long enough to find out about it.

Dialectica

Dialectica has proved to be a successful Pontifex over the past few seasons, and it is likely that any other member of this covenant would have done a worse job. I have some doubts about her ability to judge people - after all, she believes that Medius is a suitable candidate to handle diplomatic relations with other covenants, despite the fact that his manner and approach have quickly made him the least popular member of the Council, and she does not see the gaping flaws in Astrius' character - but she has handled most matters in a fair and reasonable way. Thankfully, Dialectica seems less high-minded than I had at first feared, which means that we are not disadvantaged by the chivalric code of behaviour that some other members of the Council find so appealing. She has not abused her position as Pontifex so far, and I feel that her political and managerial skills should serve us all well in the future.

Medius

Medius is rather like a trout that has travelled too far down the river and now finds itself lost in the salty waters of the sea. His surroundings ostensibly seem familiar, but there are significant differences that may cause him great problems unless his able to adapt or flee. Brought up in the Rome Tribunal, where the avaricious activities of Magi and the hateful influence of the Dominion have leeched almost all the magical and faerie power from the land, he is as yet unaware just how far his attitudes and prejudices make him stick out, particularly in a covenant such as ours. Perhaps he sees himself as a beacon that may draw others to the light of the Roman tradition, but I rather suspect that he will make more enemies than friends here. I would feel slightly sorry for him were he not such a pompous clot, but in truth he deserves everything he gets.

Theo

Theo is by far the most interesting member of the Council. His magic scarcely seems Hermetic in nature, and he speaks far more often of strange entities such as the "otherworld" and the "old powers" than he does of Hermetic Techniques and Forms. This is no bad thing, for Theo's background and talents make him an intriguing companion, and his mild manner and ready wit make him agreeable company in all circumstances. Indeed, I almost wish that I did not like him so much, for if he were an enemy, I would take great delight in prising his secrets from his grasp and using them against him. That said, as someone who bears him no ill will, I see no reason why I should not keep a close eye on his activities, for he seems bound up in many of the mysteries of the local area. The greatest danger he faces is that he lacks guile and cunning, and I fear that those in the Order who are suspicious of his House may find it easy to assemble evidence to use against him should he put a foot wrong.