Why Build in a Volcano?

Why might magi want to build a covenant inside a volcano? For some magi, merely the challenge and the fact that it can be done is enough of a reason. However, some other reasons for colonizing a volcano include:

• • Living inside a volcano could be a part of a Mystery Cult initiation.

• • The heart of the volcano could have a very high magic Aura, which makes the effort of building a laboratory in the volcano worthwhile.

• • Laboratories built inside a volcano can be designed to take advantage of the volcano's natural features for a bonus to appropriate laboratory work (some examples are given later in this chapter).

• • A magus whose magic suffers from a particularly harsh Necessary Condition or Restriction Flaw (see ArM5, pages 56 and 58) may only be able to use his magic within volcanic regions.

• • A magus with a Study Bonus Virtue or a Study Requirement Flaw (see ArM5, pages 49 and 59) who already has an Ignem Art Score in excess of 35 can only take advantage of his Virtue when he improves his Art (or improve his Art at all, if he has the Flaw) if he studies in an extreme location, such as a volcano's heart.

• • The volcanic heart could contain vis sources that the covenant wants to ensure do not fall into the hands of other magi, or other forces beyond the Order of Hermes.

• • The volcano's heart could contain an entrance to the Magic Realm, the Infernal Realm, or the Faerie Realm, which the magi want to monitor, control, destroy, or explore.

• • A covenant built inside a volcano is likely secure and hidden from mun-

• dane interference. Even many Hermetic or other supernatural foes would be reluctant to casually assault a covenant embedded in a volcano.

• • A volcanic covenant may be allied to indigenous inhabitants of the volcano. The covenfolk could include fire elementals and other magical creatures, faeries, or humans with lava flowing in their veins (perhaps due to ancestors who were volcanic creatures).