Tribunals as Fairs

By Angus Macdonald

In many sagas Tribunal meetings merely happen. This is all well and good in that playing out each vote can get, at best, tedious. Most sessions I have seen centering around Tribunals become schematic exercises in vote-counting with a bit of bribery and espionage thrown in to the mix. But there is a greater opportunity available here. When this many magi come together in one place more is bound to happen besides votes on major and minor points of Tribunal policy.

One of the greatest possibilities for these meetings, as I see it, is running a session of what happens outside the actual Tribunal halls. Consider: here are a great number of magi, along with assorted consortis and a gaggle or two of grogs. Many magi will have, in the intervening seven years, created magical items. Many more will be in search of vis, rare books and herbs, and other assorted commodities necessary to maintaining a proper laboratory. As such, the atmosphere of a Tribunal gathering seems to call out to be conducted as a medieval fair.

What would this actually mean in terms of setting? First of all, Tribunal meetings suddenly become very large gatherings. The Tribunal-qua-Tribunal is only a small, albeit important, part of the proceedings. The whole matter would last upwards of six weeks, with the largest group of people being there towards the middle of that time.

Consider some of these possibilities for your Tribunal-Fair:

Exotic Goods: the Order of Hermes is a major consumer (at least by medieval standards) of delicate glassware, rare balsams, exotic animals, and the like. Depending on how "open" the Order is in your game you might have a few select merchants or regular caravans. In addition to "necessary" goods, of course, there would also be a certain amount of "frivolous" items - magi are only human, no matter how much they might protest the matter. If someone is willing to buy a near-flawless ruby for a spell component, they might also find themselves in the market for silk cloth. A rare book on herb lore might be supplemented by an even rarer collection of Roman verse. Play to various characters' tastes to enhance this experience - a minor personality trait or quirk, such as a love of Classical authors or a desire to be dressed in the latest fashions, may suddenly become very dramatic and important to the session.
Commodities Exchange: It is quite likely that many an autocrat-seneschal-bookkeeper working for magi of the Order would look upon Tribunals as a great place to sell excess goods, make deals for needed materials, and make sure that their respective Covenants are running smoothly. These professionals who run much of the day-to-day matters of the Covenants are better versed and able in cutting such deals than the magi themselves and the networks they create could be of real aid in the future. Grain, cheese, cloth, and other such items can be exchanged in bulk, or at least promised. Of course there is always someone trying to make a little on the side, but as long as they don't get too greedy...
Vis Market: This would be a very common item at any Tribunal. Each Covenant would bring some of the vis they have excess of in the hope of exchanging it for something more useful. Too much ignem? Well, maybe another group would trade mentem for it. Some Tribunals might even have exchange rates posted, given commonality or paucity of any given "flavour" of vis in the Tribunal as a whole.
Magical Goods: Sounds like something from Dungeons & Dragons, right? But think of all those Verditius magi and how busy they have been over the last few years. Might not at least some of them specialize in "labour-saving devices" to be hawked in such a market? Sometimes it is just easier to purchase a permanent light source from a competent crafter-magus than to spend the lab time to make it yourself. Equally there are likely to be at least a few magi who are more "craft" than "scholastically" oriented, given that The Gift appears with equal frequency between the two sexes and (probably, although not explicitly stated) across all ranges of intellectual prowess and emotional temperament. As such there would be magi who are just as glad to create items day in and day out to sell (or trade) to others.
Food Sellers: Again, magi are human. Food in variety would be expected at such gatherings, for the grogs if no one else. From fine wines to sausages as suspect as those provided by C.M.O.T. Dibbler, there is bound to be food and drink. That and the impromptu taverns set up would become natural hotbeds for gossip, vote-swapping, and information gathering in general. Many's the time that over a cup of mulled ale or a tric-trac board a deal concerning the future of the Tribunal as a whole is made.
Entertainments: What would a fair be without song and dance? Where do large numbers of guardsmen come together and not have competitions of one sort or another? Such things would be unimaginable. But consider the type of entertainments. Would magi, for example, be charmed by the legerdemain "magic" of a commoner? Don't discount the idea altogether. Of course singers and dancers would be popular, along with skits and plays from the virtuous to the ribald. Gambling in all its myriad forms would abound, from the preplanned to the impromptu. And what do you think the grogs and consortis you brought along with you are going to do with all their spare time? This gives a good opportunity for a grog or companion-level adventure while all the magi are tied up in council.

In addition to these elements, suddenly a Tribunal gathering becomes a place to be seen. Grogs might be dressed out in matching tabards, or at least have some sort of insignia to designate them as coming from a particular Covenant; indeed the power and prestige of a Covenant could well be displayed in minor matters such as sartorial splendour. Perhaps a Covenant would want to display other talents - a notable tale-teller, a batch of fine wine, a sponsored contest of strength. Maybe you wish to set up a feast for specific attendees of the Tribunal gathering, be they magus, consors, or custodes, just to show off your wealth and generousity. Who knows? Maybe such display and sponsorship would convince a grog or two belonging to another Covenant to switch allegiance and join with you. How one conducts one's business in such a public arena becomes all the more notable.

One of the aspects of Ars Magica that sets it apart from other games is the sense of community it engenders. Community need not stop at the Covenant walls. Take a moment and make the world you inhabit just a bit more vibrant and a touch more real. Players respond to such details and often add more of their own, thus creating a truly cooperative game. By having a fair at Tribunal time, you foster a sense of a much larger community, that of the Order as a whole. Don't limit this situation to just a chance to air grievances amongst magi.

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