Flamma Aeterna was founded in 835 by Placidus, Salaco, Livia, Scelus and Aequus as a haven for Roman and orthodox views in the new and relatively wild Brittania. Placidus was deeply disturbed by the magi of the Order of Miscellany and did not see them as reasonable members of the Order and was concerned for a Tribunal dominated by non-Romans. Along with his friend Salaco, and an idealistic young quaesitor, Aequus, whose views resembled his own, he sought out a site for a new covenant. Joined by Livia and Scelus, looking for a challenge, and keen for a showdown with non- hermetics, together they founded Flamma Aeterna with the unwritten and unacknowledged brief of the protection and strengthening of Roman values within Brittania, and the observation of (and potential intervention with) covenants only paying lip- service to the Order.
The early years were not easy. Placidus and Salaco had been saving money for some time, and so the construction of the buildings itself was straightforward. The covenant was isolated from all but the smallest communities and so they had little interference from mundanes, but unfortunately it was located near a Fae forest, the inhabitants of which took exception to the covenant. The fae began to interfere with the magi and their companions and grogs, first only minor irritation but culminating in the death of Placidus¹ apprentice, Caitlin. Salaco constructed a Ward against the Fae, and both he and Placidus worked up a reasonable aegis, but the fae simply took their war of attrition out of the covenant to the surroungding area. Some negotiations between the fae and Aequus had limited success, but the peace was always uneasy and short, and eventually the magi recruited a Merinita magus, Mico. He joined, and began negotiations, and since, there has been a longlasting and uneasy peace between the two.
The late 9th century was a time of reasonable growth, with the steady expansion of the library, and eventually, the building of the second court and the new quarters for guards and covenfolk. Income was stabilised and, as the covenant expanded physically, it was able to recruit new magi.
Disaster struck in 908 when the library was attacked by outside, non- hermetic forces. Placidus and Salaco were able to craft a powerful magic item to counter the effect, but this vast amount of magic affected Salaco and he slipped into Final Twilight in 911.
Mundane Resources | Ars Magica | Roleplaying | Return to Main | Email