There is a village on one of the slopes of the mountain, to the east and south. It is near the mountain trail that leads to Theodosopolis/Erzurum. It is three miles from the nearest gate. It's inhabitants are well aware of the mountain that looms over their life, but try to ignore it anyway. There are free-peasants, owning their own land and holding on barely. They have a great deal of stories of the mountain and some dread toward it.
There are stories in the village of ancient contacts with the mountain. More important, there are bogeyman stories that match exactly the inhabitants of the mountain. Some of these stories are quite recent.
The truth of the matter is that the village is a +1 magical aura, the only exception being the small church. During certain astrological occurrences the shroud shifts, expanding to encompass the village. At these times a regio connects a part of the undermountian to the village. A small, nomadic band of mountain-inhabitants makes use of these occurrences to raid and vary their food supply.
The Divine Aura of the village is normally restricted to the small church. However, during Holy Days (The Twelve Feasts especially) the aura of the whole village becomes a +2 Dominion, with the aura of the church rising as well.
Recent happenings have increased the difficulties around this village. An itinerant priest and his companions have moved in and are building a new church. He magi are leery of their new neighbors.
The magi and the Jinn have had several, inconclusive encounters. The jinn who claim to be of a tribe called the 'Iron Mountain' dwell on a peak to the south. They have a very evolved culture that parallels Turkish culture. The sultan claims the magi as a vassal. This relationship is one sided. The magi, for their part, have tended to be very neutral towards Jinn. As the years go by this relationship has deepened and gotten more complex.
To the north of the covenant there used to lie a monastery. The magi had very little contact with the place, the first was the abbot had a vision from God (so he claimed) about the mountain and its new inhabitants soon after they moved in.
The magi had contact with the monastery involved some Templars searching for the Ark of Noah. The magi have come to believe that this was all caused by infernal influences and have left the Church to guard its own. None have journeyed there since from the covenant.
Recently the monastery has been burnt to the ground. Stories of diabolism circulate.
The magi have had little to do with the natural spirits of the Pontos. The one encounter was with a creature quite different from Western experiences of Faerie or the magi's own dealings with the Jinn.
Several ancient spirits, of Hittite origin, have been dispossesed of their home by Mushussu. They have blamed the magi for this event. It would be a dangerous thing if the magi were ever to run into these spirits. At least one of these spirits, associated with winter, has taken to harassing the magi when they leave the covenant during his time of strength. For now it has done little more than stalking the magi and testing their parma.
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Last modified: Tues Nov 24, 1998 / Jeremiah Genest