Editing Aquila Saxum:Covenant (section)

== Hooks and Boons ==
The players may each choose one hook (either a major hook, or a minor hook) and a corresponding boon or boons to balance it out (one minor boon for a minor hook; three minor boons or one major boon for a major hook).  Hooks and Boons may be chosen from the core book, from the 5th edition Covenants book, or you can come up with your own!

=== Site ===
The baseline site of a covenant is in a magical aura of 3 (4 with minor boon), located somewhat distant from other settlements such that unexpected visitations are uncommon events.

<B>MAJOR HOOK</B> <I>The Chevoleur. (Monster)</I> 

It lives among us.  You can hear it skittering just at the edge of your hearing at night.  In the empty halls of the covenant it prowls at night - and it lurks in the dark corners that litter the buildings of the covenant.  Tales have circled about some devious thing that stalks the darker hours of the (Name to be announced?) covenant's lands, preying on the goats and occasional child.  Some have said it takes the form of a shadowy hound, with glowing green eyes... and others say its a shadow itself, amorphous, save for its gnarly, grasping talons... stories about the thing appear more often than its own physical appearances.

Whatever it is, it is real.  And it is dangerous.  And it wants our goats.

'''MAJOR HOOK''' ''Road''

There is a major mystical route that passes near the covenant.  Atop a nearby peak is a magical spring that is frequented by many magical and faerie creatures.  This brings many strange mystical visitors to the covenant's proverbial doorstep.

<B>Minor Boon</B> <I>Difficult Access</I>

The covenant rests upon a magical plateau in the mountains, its only mundane avenue of access lies in a treacherous and twisting mountain path that includes a guarded Troll Toll Bridge.  This deters a lot of would-be invaders, robbers, and opportunists away from the covenant's valuable resources - and saves the covenant's members the trouble of building their own defenses.

<B>Minor Boon</B> <I>Aura</I> 

Due to the presence of the nearby magical spring and all the magical traffic it generates, the aura of the covenant is stronger than average.

=== Fortifications and Buildings ===
The baseline fortifications of a covenant is a manor house or small tower (choose one).  Baseline buildings are whatever buildings are required from the fortifications and residences for the magi and their covenfolk.

'''Minor Boon''' ''Fortification''  

A thick ancient wall of ebony stone jets out of the ground and surrounds the covenant. Across its top like a spine lays razor sharp iron spikes.

=== Resources ===
The baseline covenant possesses either one typical source of income (100 pounds per year), or two lesser (40 pounds per year each -- there are benefits, however, to diversity).

'''Minor Boon''': ''Wealth'' 

Herding the goats to the magical spring has caused them to gain many strange special properties -- a few have even begun to produce golden fleece.  The covenant's goat herding income source is advanced from typical (100 pounds per year) to greater (250 pounds per year).

=== Residents ===
The baseline residents of a covenant are normal medieval peasants whose customs are neither particular convenient nor inconvenient to magi, making difficulties with its inhabitants an uncommon event.. In addition to any specialists and magi, the covenant possesses a number of NPC soldiers equal to the number of magi, and a number of NPC servants and laborers equal to twice the number of magi.

<B>Minor Boon:</b> <I>Criminals</I>

The covenant has found some unlikely friends with the "Mountain Trolls".  A group of bandits that holed up in the mountains and named themselves after the Troll that guarded the pass to where the Covenant now rests.  Led by a man named Jarl, they are an unruly and wild lot, used to the harshness of a life living in the mountains, surviving only on what they could collect in tolls and booty from travellers unfortunate enough to cross their path.  After befriending the eponymous troll, the bandits sought out the wizards and offered their specialized services and arms - in exchange for a bit of protection from the less mundane threats of the mountains.  So far, the pact has worked well - the Trolls are a rough and rowdy bunch, but they do a good job of deterring those that might otherwise bother or molest the covenant.

Residents
*Magi: 3 (15 pts)
*Companions: 3 (9 pts)
*Warriors: 3 (3 pts)
*Bandits: 5 (5 pts)
*Specialists: 6 (12 pts)
*Servants: 10 (10 pts)
*Laborers: 0 (0 pts)
*Teamsters: 5 (5 pts)

=== External Relations ===
The baseline covenant exists in a state of unsteady neutrality with its neighbors, making conflicts and intrigue an uncommon events.

<b>Minor Boon</b> <i> The Mountain Troll (Local Ally)</i>

Guarding the pass that leads to the magical plateau in the mountains is a Troll named Girblerfangramen.  He has for ages tended to the singular bridge that provides the access a mundane traveller would need to get to the plateau.  A horrible looking thing, his age showing in forms of crags and wrinkles as deep as ravines - his age does not diminish his apparent might - and the aged troll has stacked high the bones of those that had not paid proper tribute over the decades in order to pass the bridge's toll.  He is dimly aware of the world outside of the bridge - and knows of the magi that have made their home on the plateau.  A formidable beast, he is no unhinged monster - and he recognized the potential harm that might befall his beloved bridge should he make war against them... Instead, he bargained - and as long as the covenant pays him a sum of three goats a year, all of its members shall be granted free and unmolested passage o'er the bridge.

=== Surroundings ===
The surroundings of a covenant deal with everything within 20 miles around it.  The baseline surroundings of a covenant are somewhat common and mundane, making emergencies and issues involving the surroundings uncommon.