Covenant of Ara Maxima Nova

Symbol: A wine barrel

Ara Maxima Nova is a Summer covenant made rich through trade in wine and cork. A group of Merinita and a Gifted Mercere established their laboratories while founding a splinter cult of Keepers of a Thousand Tales influenced by the Cult of Heroes and focused on the Via Domitia, the path both

Ducaru may have assisted in Ramon Berenguer IV's escape from the castle in Aragon where Templars held him prisoner until 1219. Once restored as count of Provence, Raymond married Beatrice of Savoy in June of that year; this added Savoy to his lands, but more importantly, he would have four daughters.

One, Margaret, became queen of France in 1234.

Another, Eleanor, became the queen of England in 1236; a clever trick, since France had invaded England four years earlier. Eleanor's son was the great Edward I, Longshanks, the Hammer of the Scots.

Yet another, Sanchia, became the second wife of Richard of Cornwall in 1243. Cornwall was the brother of the king of England, became one of the richest men in Europe, and bought himself the Holy Roman Empire.

The last, Beatrice, had to settle for the king of Sicily in 1246.

While the timeframe of such alliances

may be beyond the scope of many sagas, they represent exactly what Ducaru attempts to engineer from the shadows. How does he know which pairings to make? Is he a diviner? Does he have prophecies acquired from eastern oracles or is he simply an astute student of local politics? What does he gain from such alliances? What other unions are inspired by his whispers? Ducaru's longer timeframe might even run afoul of the characters, creating a rival in the established Tytalus.

Travelers who walk the Via Domitia from the Pyrenees pass near Perthus to the pass at Col de Montgenevre while carrying the skin of a lion and spending the night encamped at six of the mansion sites find the skin to contain 6 pawns of Intellego vis. However, the magi of Ara Maxima Nova tend to keep a close watch on the road, and camping, for at least one of the sites involves sleeping in an open lot within Narbonne. The magi of Ara Maxima Nova do not yet know of the road's potential to generate vis, but some of the local fae do and might barter this knowledge.

Heracles and Hannibal traveled through the region. The Merinita hope to tap into the spirits of the vineyards that have covered the hills since before Antiquity, seeking out the wisdom of the Dionysian mysteries while exploring the relationships between their journey of enlightenment, the Roman roads crossing the landscape, and the travels of Heracles.

Established 25 years ago by its Merinita magi, Ara Maxima Nova is a covenant focused on the development of the cult created by its senior magus. Having investigated the trials of Heracles in the east and experienced several initiation breakthroughs via experimentation, they traveled west to explore the remaining labors and establish a home closer to Rome. The fact that Perpignan is run as a mostly self-governed commune suits the magi perfectly, and the unfettered access to the remaining portions of the Via Domitia made the choice even easier.

Using their talents, they quickly became a top producer of wine and cork, known for high quality goods available even when weather or misfortune causes problems for others in the region. The covenant secured several dedicated customers who purchase their stock and ask few questions. With their mundane concerns and obligations met, the magi operate as they like with plenty of funds to spare.

Ara Maxima Nova ("New Great Altar") is a collection of small structures surrounding a small villa attached to a series of vineyards and cork nurseries. Not completely isolated from their neighbors, they try to keep their appearance as mundane as possible, blending in with the scores of farming estates that make up the outskirts of Perpignan. They perform their Aegis ritual under the cover of darkness and hidden behind Luc's Imaginem magics, in order to keep the ritual's effects and protections secret from even the bulk of their covenfolk. Secrecy is of the utmost importance to the members of this covenant, who, while they don't deny membership in their House, are truly estranged from it.

The covenant's location allows it to serve as an excellent base of operations, midway between the two destinations its members regularly seek out. They are friendly enough and tend not to get involved in Tribunal politics unless a matter threatens to encroach upon their research. Their studies of the Herculean legends have progressed better than investigations into the Dionysian Mysteries — if only because tales of the ancient hero were not subjected to the same sort of purging pagan mystery cults suffered. Three particular activities epitomize the magi of this well-established covenant.

The Pilgrimage to Rome

The magi of Ara Maxima Nova regularly travel to Rome to visit the church of St. Stephen of the Carriages, the namesake of their covenant (the "Ara Maxima") and a former temple to Heracles converted into a church to prevent its destruction. They research aspects of the ancient temple, seeking artifacts, possible regiones, and clues to other sites. The Dominion aura limits the magi's activities and they are loathe to draw the attention of the clergy. Over time, they hope to recreate the architecture of the structure in the heart of their covenant. Dedicated to their heroic patron, the members of Ara Maxima Nova remain ever vigilant for artwork, sculpture, or texts regarding Heracles or his labors. The jewel of their collection is an enormous sculpted head of the hero himself, bearded and gazing downward, recovered from ruins in the Eternal City.

The group is certain ascension is possible through retracing the route of Heracles' labors and completing rituals which mirror the tasks, complete with crimes and penance as a path of the Dionysian Mysteries. They believe the tomb of Pyrene lies somewhere to the southwest, and regularly seek it out when they have the time or pass through the area.

Seeking the Hesperides

The magi of Ara Maxima Nova have yet to find the Hesperides, renowned as one location of the 12 labors of Heracles, and would eagerly trade or collaborate with any magi who could reliably present an accurate route to the archipelago. They have made several trips to various libraries, such as Durenmar, the remnants of the Museum of Alexandria, the collections in Constantinople, various established universities like those in Paris or Montpellier, trying to establish the location of the islands. As dictated by their charter, such quests occur every five years, undertaken by a magus with a complement of supporting grogs for a period of no more

Spirits of the Vineyards

The faeries which coexist with the many farms and vineyards of the region are of particular interest to the Merinita of the covenant. They engage these creatures whenever possible, attempting to learn their natures and personalities, seeking to glean ancient secrets of the Dionysian mysteries. At this point, they have found several nymphs and satyrs, but none knowledgeable or willing to share about cult ceremonies.

Four magi currently make their residence at Ara Maxima Nova.

Luc of Merinita

Age: 66 (Apparent age: 54) Personality Traits: Intense +3, Charismatic +2, Outspoken +2

The mystagogue of a splinter cult of the Merinita faction of the Keepers of a Thousand Tales (which is taking on aspects of the Cult of Heroes, see Houses of Hermes: True Lineages, page 96) and the unofficial leader of Ara Maxima Nova, Luc is a man fascinated with mysteries and obsessed with delving into them. Considered a master of Imaginem, Mentem, and Vim, he waited until nearly reaching the age of 50 before he created his Longevity Ritual, because the possible impact on his ability to successfully explore the more sexual aspects of the Dionysian Mysteries deeply concerned him. An inventive genius many suspect of having been initiated during his apprenticeship, Luc experiments with cult rites, blending aspects of seemingly disparate esoterica, tales of and interactions with Faerie creatures, and astrological and natural signs in order to craft new initiations—all with the help of visions experienced while consuming draughts laced with mandrake root or poppy's tears. His wife, Miriam, is a failed apprentice, his lab assistant, fellow cultist, and regular muse, but his promiscuous attitudes have led him to take several lovers of both genders throughout the course of his studies, a fact he does not advertise. He has two children, both eligible young women, and quite possibly a number of unidentified illegitimate children scattered across the Mediterranean region. Luc relies heavily on his sister, Jeanne, for advice, seeking her out in moments of crisis or frustration, and often feeling only his true sister by birth can fully understand the rigors of the life they led as children of a strict and sometimes abusive deacon in Brittany. His main focus is on the cult, and he tends to ignore the more dayto-day operational requirements of the covenant, much to Etienne's frustration.

His goals at this point include:

• Locate and visit the Hesperides, so that he might complete the final two tasks in his attempt to reenact the Labors of Heracles. Once he has stolen the Apples of the Hesperides, he believes he knows the site of a lapis manalis, or stone covering the gate to the underworld, which will lead him to a regio where he might find Cerberus.
• Establish a legacy ensuring the continuation of his cult and its teachings at least within House Merinita, quite possibly within the Order of Hermes in general. This will require an excellent text, one reasonably but carefully distributed to likeminded and sympathetic individuals. If he ever learned about them, Luc would be very eager to incorporate the Elysian Ecstasy or Olympian Pact mentioned in The Sun-

dered Eagle (page 126).

• Find a way to reverse the sterilizing effects of his Longevity Ritual so that he might sire a literal son to carry on his line. An apprentice is a barely acceptable substitute for this goal, but a male child who could also become his apprentice is perhaps the only dream that could make him postpone his search for ascension.

Etienne of Merinita

Age: 68 (Apparent age: 43) Personality Traits: Calm +2, Curious +2, Dedicated +2

With Luc since the beginning through a chance fostering, Etienne is primarily responsible for the maintenance and administration of Ara Maxima Nova as well as for interactions with visitors. An Animal, Herbam, Muto and Rego specialist, he contributes by keeping the structures in superior condition with an almost obsessive attention to detail. Stocky and taciturn with dark features and a piercing gaze, Etienne is a former lover of Luc, but ended the relationship when Luc married Miriam. While he is an active member of the cult, he has no desire to seek its innermost secrets. Rather, he wants to remain close to Luc and support the mystagogue's search for wisdom in anyway possible. Blessed with the Gentle Gift, he has a weakness for sweets and a good game of chess, often making excuses to enter Perpignan looking for both. Outside specific cult initiations, Etienne remains celibate and makes no effort to seek companionship. He does feel the time is right to begin training an apprentice, and intends to search for one very soon.

Using the material presented in chapter 7 of Ancient Magic, a storyguide could easily create a joint venture between Ara Maxima Nova and the players' covenant, where the wealthy covenant funds an expedition driven by information gathered by the troupe's magi. Should a storm, created by the dragon which embodies the fierce currents, separate the groups' sailing vessels or cause a shipwreck as the group arrives, then separated groups could explore the islands for their secrets while attempting to find other survivors and a route home. Divided groups might even conflict with one another for control of the Hesperides after reuniting.

Age: 63 (Apparent age: 46) Personality Traits: Dedicated +3, Energetic +2, Reliable +2

The younger sister of Luc, Jeanne compliments Etienne's support of their mystagogue — where Etienne is relaxed and easygoing, Jeanne is excited and concerned, evaluating everything for possible advantage. Jeanne dislikes Luc's wife, and the two regularly bicker about the best course of action for the cult. Luc often finds the compromise which leaves neither one unnecessarily irritated, but perhaps pleased at seeing the other thwarted. When Jeanne's original pater died, Caprican of Oleran in Aquitaine (The Lion and the Lily, page 72) took the girl in to complete her apprenticeship as a favor to the dead magus, despite Caprican's age at the time. Jeanne does not share her second pater's interest in the Stone Couches or the legacy of that covenant's leadership. Initiated during her instruction, she corresponded with her brother and the two began to form the nucleus of what would become their cult in its current form. It is possible that Caprican may seek her out in the coming years, believing a reluctant champion is just what the Apple Mile needs. Jeanne's personal interest lies in finding secrets of the Dionysian Mysteries known to the faerie, and she is the covenant's expert regarding Arcadia, interaction with faeries, and their customs. Each winter, she records any experiences with faeries in book which she plans to later refine and publish as an authoritative summa on Faerie Lore.

Guillermo of Mercere

Age: 56 (Apparent age: 33) Personality Traits: Bold +2, Foolhardy +2, Proud +2

The youngest magus of Ara Maxima Nova and the only one originally from outside of France, Guillermo recently became a member of the cult. His research into Hannibal and Heracles through the Cult of Heroes (and a misunderstanding with a local lord about Guillermo's relationship with the lord's wife) led him to leave his home in Genoa and seek the Via Domitia, where he repeatedly crossed paths with Luc. After several encounters, including some failed but genial certamen bouts fought over access to resources and ruins which culminated in extended discussions regarding the ideas of heroic ascension, Luc invited Guillermo to join and take the first series of initiations. His extensive knowledge of ancient tales and extreme familiarity with the area intrigued Luc, and the elder magus became fascinated with the Gifted Mercere. Guillermo recognizes this infatuation and nurtures it, hoping to learn as many of the cult's innermost secrets as possible. His loyalties, however, lie strictly to himself, and should he be forced to choose between some form of extreme sacrifice for the covenant and his own well-being, he is certain to choose himself. Shortly after his Gauntlet, Guillermo rescued a young Tremere named Sagittaire, who had been accosted by bandits. In gratitude, Sagittaire taught the Mercere the secrets of the Carvers' school of Certamen dueling (Houses of Hermes: True Lineages, page 138) and Guillermo has a reputation for freely acting as a champion for any Redcap in the Tribunal who asks.

Ara Maxima Nova regularly recruits new covenfolk from peasants seeking new lives in the town proper of Perpignan, including those seeking respite from the Reconquista to the south. Despite occasional arguments about the practice, Etienne even supplements some personnel needs with slaves from Arab merchants. Many who work in the vineyard or cork operations have no idea of the masters they serve. A dedicated cadre of covenfolk work within the main structure, dutifully tending the specialized needs of the magi. Drawn from servants who show promise and loyalty, these covenfolk are well-cared for and generously compensated. However, covenant policy rarely allows them to travel any great distances — Luc wishes to keep his cult secret and has no desire to take unnecessary risks. The exceptions to this rule are, of course, the fairly small turb of welltrained grogs who accompany magi afield, work foremen, and those who negotiate with merchants in Perpignan.