Geographic Locations

Many places of both history and magic in the Pyrenees have importance outside of their local area.

A sorginak akelarre site (or folk witch gathering place) since antiquity, the enormous gallery of Zugarramurdi cave opens into a large meadow. A small stream runs through the cave and sorginak from Normandy, Iberia and Provence meet here every three years on the summer solstice, in a great gathering. Strange rituals and initiations take place while sorginak barter for vis and secrets. It has a Magic aura of 4, but vis extracted here is vis Infesta (Realms of Power: the Infernal, page 18).

Part of the Way of St. James and the site of the great defeat of Charlemagne's army, Roncevaux pass hosts a church, the Chapel of Puerto de Ibañeta, a hostel for travelers and pilgrims, and a marker indicating where Roland fell in battle. The actual battlefield is in the nearby Valcarlos; the site is often visited by Verditius as part of their mystery rites. (Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, page 121)

King Sancho VII of Navarre donated a portion of his spoils from the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa to the church, including the great emerald that once adorned the turban of the sultan Miramamolín. The church also contains the statue of Our Lady of Roncevaux, a cedar and silver statue supposedly revealed to the priests by a deer. The whole area has a Divine aura of 3, which increases to 4 on the anniversary of the battle.

Covered in pine forests and icy glaciers, Mount Perditu is the tallest moun-

tain in the Pyrenees and draws its name from its remote nature: it is "lost" from the rest of civilization. It is part of the same area as the Breach of Roland, and its trio of peaks are said to have been formed by three sisters, transformed by their faith and grief after their village was destroyed by Visigoths. The Ghost of Pyrene sometimes lingers near its base or at the Breach of Roland.

The Breach of Roland is a gap 40 paces wide with 100 pace-high cliffs, located in the opening above the circus of Gavarnie. Supposedly cut by Roland in an attempt to destroy his fabled sword Durendal as he bled to death from a terrible wound, the Breach is actually over 100 miles from Roncevaux. Inexplicably, the Breach has an aura of 2 which is randomly Magic or Divine, suggesting something very unusual.

Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, the nearly vertical pillars of the Mallos de Riglos are sedimentary stone, some rising 300 paces into the air.

Roughly six miles to the east, on a limestone bluff, stands the mighty fortress of Castle Loarre. Built in the 11th century, it has been expanded several times, most recently by Pedro II, who built the outer walls and towers. A small village surrounds the castle, also called Loarre. An order of Augustine canons from Montearagón operates within the castle, and has done so since Pedro I granted them the privilege.

Two days south of Perpignan, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, is the Gorges de Galamus with high, stark walls and a narrow passage of the Agly river. Clinging to the canyon walls is the hermitage of St. Anthony, dating back to least the seventh century. A curious place with a Divine aura

A partially ruined tower sits atop Mount Urkulu, offering an excellent view to the north and south, and of the route through the Roncevaux Pass. Built by the Romans, many claim it is a Mercurian site, and it serves as a watchtower, allowing the sheriff's garrison to protect travelers. Men stationed there quickly depart on Fridays, however, as an active coven of sorginak hold akelarre within its walls—often summoning a wild aker for instruction or service or using their ecstatic magic (see Sorginak, later in this chapter) to answer questions or avenge slights.

A covenant established in one of Pallars' many valleys or ruined keeps would have little concern regarding mundane interference both for their remote nature and for the limited governance — at least for a while. This situation remains unchanged until Roger II succeeds as count in 1234, becoming much more involved in regional politics and potentially taking an interest in any pet administrators or pretenders. In the interim, however, the covenant might see some competition for vis sites from the Basque sorginak or Dama's cult.

The count of Ager, Urgell's cousin, claims Aurembiaix cannot inherit the county and threatens to take control of the county by force upon the countess' death. If your saga follows history, Guerau IV de Cabrera seizes Urgell in the winter of 1220 and Aurembiaix flees into exile, attempting to find a way to recover her birthright. She might become a Companion within a covenant, or act as a potential patron. In 1228, James I took an interest in her and had her marriage annulled on grounds of consanguinity. She then became James' concubine and he confirmed her rights of inheritance in exchange for the town of Lleida.

The locals in Loarre claim a jentilak sorgina (a Basque giant, see the section on Basque Mythology and Magic later in this chapter) resides amongst the columns of the Mallos de Riglos, and once served as the folk witch of a village named Foz de Escalettes. As her gigantic nature became more apparent, the villagers fled. She used magic to pull more rock up from the earth in order to hide and live in seclusion. Magic auras and vis sites are common there.

of 2, it has a pool deep within a cave fed by a spring dedicated to Mary Magdalene. The pool has a Magic aura of 3 and is reputed to have healing powers. An ancient stone set at the hermitage entrance is carved with a magic square reading "SATOR – AREPO – TE-NET – OPERA – ROTAS" which some claim imperfectly translates as "he who guides the plough sows the seed" and others believe means "to extinguish fire without water."

Caves riddle the Pyrenees, and any of the numerous large subterranean systems might be potential covenant sites. The caves of Betharram (on the Toulousain side of the Pyrenees) are one possibility. The caves extend nearly three kilometers under the surface while boasting several large galleries and a flowing underground river. Many of

In a drunken indiscretion, Heracles seduced the nymph, Pyrene, while he enjoyed the hospitality of her father's court. He then continued on his task to steal Geryon's cattle. Pyrene bore a serpent as a result of the union and ran into the forest to tell her story to the trees. Drawn by her sobbing, wild animals tore her apart. When he returned, Heracles found her dismembered body. Overwhelmed with grief, he gathered her body and built a cairn of stones, demanding that the surrounding area preserve her name.

The very hillsides responded, piling stones upon stones and thus creating the Pyrenees Mountains. Somewhere, deep in the range, lies the secret tomb of Pyrene. Several magical animals supposedly lurk in the vicinity and her ghost haunts the region. On the night of her death, the spectre appears before the cairn, weeping until sunrise. Dew collects a shallow depression of the large boulder where the spirit sits, and the liquid contains 4 pawns of Mentem vis. This place has a Magic aura of 4 and links to a larger regio network stretching throughout the mountains.

What does the tortured ghost of Pyrene know of Heracles? What happened to the serpent she bore? Is it a voivre (Realms of Power: Faerie, page 101)? Can characters convince Pyrene to reveal and share the regio network created with the Pyrenees' birth?

Magic Might: 14 (Mentem)

Characteristics: Int 0, Per +1, Pre +6, Com +1, Str –2, Sta 0, Dex +1, Qik +1

Size: –1

Season: Autumn

Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: Magic Spirit; Magic Monster; Good Teacher, 2x Great Presence, Homing Instinct (Boulder marking vis site), Inoffensive to Animals, 2x Lesser Power, Mountain Regio Network, Master of Magic Creatures, Voice of the Mountains; Curse of Venus, Magical Air; Baneful Circumstances (day), Proud, Small Frame, Soft-hearted

Magical Qualities and Inferiorities: Improved Presence; 2x Improved Abilities, 4x Improved Might, Improved Power

Personality Traits: Grieving +3, Reclusive +3, Proud +2

Reputations: Weeping woman of the hills 3 (local)

Combat:

Fist: Init +1, Attack +3, Defense +3, Damage -2

Soak: +4

Fatigue Levels: None.

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–4), –3 (5–8), –5 (9–12), Incapacitated (13–16), Dead (17+)

Abilities: Animal Ken 4 (pacifying), Area

Lore: Pyrenees 5 (passes), Athletics 2 (sprinting), Awareness 5 (the living), Brawl 2 (dodge), Charm 5 (apologies), Dead Language: Gothic 4 (commands), Dead Language: Latin 4 (commands), Etiquette 4 (nobles), Folk Ken 3 (discerning motivation), Intrigue 2 (spotting conspiracy), Leadership 2 (maintaining a household), Living Language: Euskara 5 (conversation), Living Language: Occitan 4 (commands), Magic Lore 5 (creatures), Stealth 3 (keeping hidden)

Powers:

Invisiblity, 0 points, Init –1, Imaginem. Pyrene becomes invisible when she wishes, but can still be seen by Second Sight. PeIm 15 R: Touch, D: Conc, T: Ind. (Base 4, +1 Touch, +1 Conc, +1 moving image): Lesser Power (25 levels, –2 Might cost)

Donning the Corporeal Veil, 0 points, Init –2, Corpus: Pyrene can assume material form. Lesser Power; Improved Power (–5 Might cost)

Encumbrance: 0 (0)

Vis: There are three pawns of Mentem in Pyrene's dress.

Appearance: Pyrene manifests as a ghostly pale, yet breathtakingly beautiful, raven-haired woman with mangled lower legs, bloodied feet and a tearstreaked face. She wears only a ragged linen dress.