My winters work has not gone well, I should have taken the accidental breaking of my best alblemic as a poor omen, for indeed my efforts were doomed.

After my winter's study I gathered my brother magi and the covenfolk to demonstrate the wonder of my achievements! I shall be the first in the covenant to create a spell, my parens would be so proud, or so I thought at the time.

I drew up the bucket from the well and emptied its contents, and with much grandeur I cast my new-forged spell upon it. All seemed well as I lowered the bucket into the well. If things went as I had devised, the bucket should only draw vis from the well that we may add it to the covenant stores. Alas as soon as the bucket struck the water below events went awry.

There was some magical detonation that threw me 15 feet struck me senseless, and the events thereafter were reported to me by my brethren. They say the detonation looked to be a rippling shell of water expanding from the well, accompanied by the sounds of an army clashing like rocks in a stream. As it passed the gifted where knocked over, Agnes, like myself, was also incapacitated as if knocked down by a strong blow. The ordinary covenfolk saw none of this, and it seemed to them that the magi simply threw themselves about.

Jock, Adgius, and William recovered just in time to see a fountain burst forth from the well, a great column of water as tall as Adrianna's Oak. While everyone dragged the incapacitated to safety, the deluge began to run off towards the manor house in which Adgius and William have their household.

Under the guidance of William and Leofric a ditch was dug, directing the flow away, much to Jocks dismay. Later he did express more than just dismay to me, his Irish heritage showing in his rude manners. The water was now flowing to Jock's sanctum, being constructed like a large graben had his lab dug into the ground. Hasty digging by the men, and Jock using his skill with muto terram to seal the doorway avoided disaster.

Leofric finally had the water draining into the ditch around the village, which slowly filled and drained off to the river. The deluge was now under control, though the font had showed no sign of abating. All but myself had recovered from the detonation, and the only other covenfolk affected by the blast were two of William's daughters, Sabine and Kalensa. Kalensa was knocked senseless... while Sabine reported only seeing the 'wall of water and the crashing of waves'. I suspect Kalensa is gifted, and as usual I am baffled by Sabine, she is a most peculiar young lady.

My brother magi discussed the situation while I was still recovering and decide to take some action. William used spontaneous perdo vim to try and dispel any magical effect on the well, hoping that it won't damage the well's essence or the covenant's vital aura. His enchantment seemed to be effective and the fountain was reduced, and the well returned to it's normal level over then passing week.

There is a residual side effect, the well now freezes over regardless of the weather, and after much futile discussion by the magi on how to solve the problem magically, one of the grogs simply solve the problem by dropping a large rock down the well each morning. Cob, bless his simple nature and his strong arms, may have found a way of breaking the ice, but it was Leofric who tied a rope to the rock to stop the well from being filled in.

That end my account of the event of my mishap with the well of the Covenant of Claxby Pluckacre.

Ethylred of Tytalus

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Last updated: 29/06/2004.