In the early evening, Praxiteles suddenly appears in the Laurus Argenti manor, naked. A chime is sounded announcing his arrival, with a specific tone, alerting the staff. Some of the nearby servants tend to his arrival, with one of the maids bringing him spare robes kept nearby for this exact purpose. "Is Petronius in? I need to see him, as I've finalized the commission." A page takes him to Petronius sanctum and knocks, and then slips away.
Petronius opens the door. "Good tidings, amicus, and my apologies for the interruption. I've been commissioned to make a piece for a comely giantess in the Normandy Tribunal. I need your assistance in transporting the slab I have in mind. It is far too large to go overland, and beyond my Arts to transport. I am too tired to return to Mons Electi now, but we can do so in the morning. You may also find their environs interesting, as I was able to more easily cast The Leap of Homecoming. I am not fatigued in the least, which you well know is most unusual for me!"
((I'm blending certain things between sagas. In Via Experimenta, we are requiring requisites for transport, which is why Praxiteles is naked for the transport. And, I've estimated that he can barely cast the spell reliably by this time, with a CS somewhere around 23 or 24 [27 at the Manor side of Bibracte], which is why he casts it ceremonially.))
Petronius invites Praxiteles to the lobby of his sanctum, comfortably furnished in the basement of Laurus Argenti. "Good thing you advised me ahead of time that this might happen. I postponed the beginning of my next experiment a little, so I can make time for you. As you know, I'll need to travel to the destination to make preparations for the transport. This will take a few days, as usual." Knowing Praxiteles preferences in wine, he offers him an appropriate vintage for refreshment, along with some fruit and cheese. For his part, the young-looking Bonisagus pours himself a cup of water.
"Have you made arrangement for me to remain at their covenant... what was their name... to investigate those cave regiones that Tria used to travel there? It might be provide some insights for my research, and you know that such is the payment I require for my services." He smiles, "Two seasons of guaranteed access to the site, including an Aegis token and basic rights for the duration of my visit, should be adequate. That rock of yours is quite large. The covenfolk will be happy to have it gone from their field."
Thinking a bit more, Petronius adds, "Do you have an arcane connection I could use to translocate there? I might as well take a look around and start preparations. Provided, of course, that said connection is to a location outside of their Aegis. From what you told me, I might be able to punch through anyway, but that would be rude." After a pause, "Who should I ask for upon my arrival?"
(OOC: I actually have no idea how strong their Aegis really is.)
Praxiteles takes the wine fruit and cheese. "Thanks for not offering the pastries." He says referring to his past fight with sweets. The last decade has seen Praxiteles regain his youthful vigor and power, losing the vast amount of weight he had gained over the previous three decades at Laurus Argenti.
Praxiteles nods his head, "Yes, but I hadn't detailed how long you might remain. It was an oversigh on my part, as I was diverted by the comely giantess, and Alips was busy turning all the young boy's heads. It was about all I could do to keep focused and remember to ask for a spot for you. They are friendly, and I have a feeling that this piece may be one of my greatest works, and so when it is finished, asking for you to stay should be of minimal impact. And you know that they've bragged of their being rich in the past. Tribunal records their suggest that they are most likely the richest covenant in Normandy, with their many registered vis sources. I think a small request like yours should be agreeable, and, well, I think having you ask as a small favor might go over better than having me ask as a condition of the commission. My work will be but a few weeks and Alips and I will be gone.
When asked about the arcane connection, Praxiteles offers him a small rock, "I took this from the exterior of the stone wall, their Aegis begins on the interior, so you should be able to get through. I would ask for Fiona, she's the comely giantess I was telling you about. I'm so glad I took some time to learn Preternatural Growth and Shrinking." He smiles, thinking of the delights to come. "I'm not planning to go back until morning. I was thinking we'd time it to arrive together, and then you can zip back and forth as you require."
Accepting the rock, Petronius shakes his head, "If you have but a single arcane connection, it might be better for me to go ahead and introduce myself. If I wait for you to go first and retrive a second connection, that will be time wasted."
A small frown, "And I'd rather have their agreement to my conditions in writing before I start spending more time on this. I do not know these magi, and though I would assume they will abide by their word once given, not all are so forthcoming once the services they require have been rendered. I have learned that it is better to have all such things clearly defined and written in a contract. Less time is then lost, in the end."
Escorting Praxiteles out and walking with him up the stairs to the main hall, Petronius concludes, "I shall wait for you tomorrow morning to go back there, so have someone get me when you are ready to leave."
Once Praxiteles is back to his quarters to rest, Petronius makes his own way back to his quarters, taking a few minutes to inform the on-duty guard that he would be out for the rest of the day. Once back in his sanctum, he assembles his traveling kit, including the drawings and list of his required materials as well as his wand, and changes into appropriate attire. Then, concentrating on the rock, he casts The Leap of Homecoming.
At the base of the wall, where Praxiteles retrieved the small rock, the air starts to shimmers as if intense sun was falling upon the ground. After but a moment, Petronius emerges from the wall through the shimmer, which slowly fades. Orienting himself and sheathing his wand within his right sleeve, he walks to the gate and adresses the guard in Norman French.
"Greetings, my good man. I am Master Petronius, here to see the Lady Fionna." If the guard doesn't look like he understands, Petronius repeats his greeting and request in High German, then in Latin.
(Strangely enough, my last post doesn't show up as the last post in the list of topics, so adding this one so that everyone sees that something new has been posted.)
"No, need, I have a token to the Aegis, and I took a sliver from the door to my guest quarters. Either should be sufficient to return me to Mons Electi."
"You can make the argument that if they want the slab faster, or the work done there, that your services come at some small price. Otherwise, I can complete the commission here, and we can offer them hospitality in our covenant, for them to enchant it or whatever it is they want to do with it to make it easy for them to transport it. That's a matter that is...outside of my area of expertise. And you know Alips handles most of these details on my behalf. If I had told her, it would have been done and settled. I'm not too concerned, though. I will see you in the morning. Here's a chip to the slab I want, too."
(Petronius will still visit Mons Electi on the same day, as previously described. He's been disturbed from his work anyway, so the sooner he can get this over with, the earlier he can get back to his lab to start his next experiment.)
Praxiteles is a good for nothing hedonistic so-and-so who can't be bothered with all these petty details. 
The guard politely asks Petronius to wait there (in French), then turns to one of the other guards. They have a quick, whispered conversation, then throw paper-rock-scissors. The other guard looks dejected, but then takes off at a brisk trot toward the manor house. The first guard returns and stands there, engaging Petronius in idle chatter.
After a while, an incredibly tall, red-headed woman dressed in a white robe (with designs of various leaves and cauldrons woven into the fabric) arrives, accompanied by the guard.
[color=blue]"Master Petronius?" she says. [color=blue]"I'm Fiona. How are you?"
And since Petronius knows him well enough to understand that, he will the details which are important (to him) directly.
Although a little distracted as he looks around what he can see of the covenant, Petronius chats with the guard, inquiring about recent weather and duties common to grogs everywhere. Aware of the effect of his Gift on the guard, he tries to engage the man on a subject of his choosing, or simply lapse into silence.
"I am well, lady Fionna, thank you. May I enter your covenant walls safely as a visitor? I am a covenant-mate of Praxiteles, who is to provide a sculpture for you, and he asked me to arrange transportation of the stone." With a small shrug, he adds, "Knowing Praxiteles as I do, he may not have gone into the details of what this entails, so I figured I'd drop by and see to those myself, while he rests at home."
From what Fionna can see, Petronius looks like a magus only a few years out of apprenticeship, barely 30 years old. Of course, longevity potions can make looks deceiving, and no magus this young would have earned the title of master in the Rhine Tribunal at such a young age. Physically, he is only taller than average human height, but without much musculature on his bony frame. He has pale brown hair, and a thin and unimpressive beard that simply looks like he has forgotten to shave. His brown eyes are fairly ordinary, above a mouth that is wider than most. He is dresses in simple clothing -- linen undertunic and breeches, knee-length wool tunics and striped chausses -- of dark brown and gray colours, along with a crenelated chaperon. He carries a small shoulder bag and a simple unadorned short walking staff.
((Dang it, I keep forgetting her talisman in her description – she's carrying a long staff of hand-carved Scots Pine...long for anyone else, anyway; for her, it's the size of a normal walking-stick, about 7½ feet long))
Fiona looks confused for a second, then smiles. [color=blue]"Indeed. You must be his sodalis that he mentioned would be coming. He neglected to mention your name, I fear, and it took me a moment to put the two together. I take it he described the nature of the sculpture we're commissioning?"
After he answers, she turns to head back to the manor house, motioning for him to accompany her. [color=blue]"From what I understand, the block he will be carving it from is of a substantial size," she says as she walks. [color=blue]"Large enough that he felt it beyond his ability to move here by magical means. Our Aura is aligned with Rego, and is quite powerful...roughly ten magnitudes, I believe...so that should make things a little easier for us." Once she reaches the council chambers, she retrieves a casting token and formally invites Petronius into the Aegis.
[color=blue]"Have you any idea how long you'll be staying? And do you have any particular needs or requirements during your visit?"
She takes him to the manor house and finds him suitable quarters, in the general vicinity of Praxiteles and Alips but not too close.
((Aura is 3 at the point of transport. On the regio side it is five and then in both places it is doubled for Rego.))
Petronius makes a quick gesture with his right hand, like throwing something away behind him, "He probably mentioned the nature of the sculpture, but I must admit that I didn't pay much attention to that. This is far from the first time he's asked my assistance for such purposes, although rarely for stones that large." He quickly follows as Fiona leads him towards the manor house.
"Thank you, sodalis," says Petronius as he accepts the Aegis token. His next words are formal. "I pledge my support to the Covenant of Mons Electi, just as I am pledged to the Oath of Hermes. I will neither betray the covenant nor give aid to its enemies. In times of need, I will aid the covenant in whatever way I am able. I will treat my fellows with respect and fairness, and I will not attempt to harm them in any way. Their blood is my blood. This I so swear, upon the honor of my house and its Founder, and for as long as I am a guest of Mons Electi."
The formalities over, Petronius answers Fiona's other questions. "Hmmm... yes. The strength of your aura may actually help, although it is by no means a critical factor. I have a spell that should do the job just fine. It is, however, quite experimental and requires lengthy preparations to be suitable for an object this size. A few days at most, provided the suitable materials can be made available to me." Petronius digs up a list from his shoulder bag. The list contains a sizeable list of mundane objects, such as pieces of wood from specific kind of trees, as well as some ingredients used in the laboratory. "This should suffice to build the appropriate portal on this side. I will be back tomorrow morning with Praxiteles, and you can let me know then how long it will take you to assemble those items."
The animated magus tilts his head to one side, gauging the gigantic maga for a moment, before continuing, "But my visit had a more important reason. Did Praxiteles or his wife," there may have been a slight tone of contempt on that last word, "mention the price for my services?"
(I'm assuming, having read the thread, that they haven't.)
"Oh well," a little exasperation, "As you may know, I am primarily a researcher. My domain of interest is that of portals, as a mean of travel. As such, I look for and investigate effects, items, spells, and regiones that display portal-like effects."
"A sodalis of mine, once mentioned that she had travelled here by way of a regio in on of the caves located here. I would like to study that regio entrance, as well as any other similar phenomena, that exist here. Hosting me here for two seasons would be the price for my services. A lab would not be required, but I would require a guaranteed Aegis token for the duration of my stay as well as room and board as befits a guest magus." Apologetic now, "And this would need to be a written contract. I'm afraid I have had bad experiences in the past from some parties that shall remain unnamed, but who place no value on their spoken word."
Fiona looks over the list. Everything on the list is something that they either have in their stores or should be able to get within a day or two. She's fairly certain that she's seen those trees in the area, but will have to speak with Wilhelm to have him get the wood. [color=blue]"At a glance, I would say that we should have these for you within the week, if not sooner," she says casually.
[color=blue]"I see. What House did you say you were, again?" Once Petronius tells her that he's Bonisagus, she nods and gets to her feet.
[color=blue]"If you would wait here for a moment?" she says, then makes her way to the library to get some parchment, ink, a quill, and blotter, then returns to the Council chamber.
She sits down and writes out a contract, granting Petronius room, board, and all the benefits of a Protected Guest (as defined in the charter), access to that regio entrance and any other known regio entrances, and an Aegis token, for a period of six months from when he expects to begin (she will ask when that is). ((If we need a Code of Hermes roll to make sure she got the legalities right, it's Int 1 + Code of Hermes 3 + die roll of 7 = 11.)) As far as she's concerned, this is well within her purview as Interpres, although she will have to speak with Viscaria (as Aedilis) to make sure he gets his stuff.
When she's done, she hands the contract to Petronius. [color=blue]"I trust this meets with your satisfaction?"
"What a dolt you must think me for not introducing myself fully! I'm afraid I have gotten too used to dealing with magi of the Rhine Tribunal, where the," a slight grimace of distates, quickly banished with a shrug, "politics mean that most magi know each other by reputation, if they have not met at Tribunal." He smiles brightly up at Fiona, "My full name is Petronius filius Octavius scholae Bonisagi Mercurii." (OOC: You may make a Organization Lore: Order of Hermes roll to see if the name is familiar to you.)
As he reads the contract Fiona has prepared, he nods with satisfaction, "That is quite satisfactory. And may I say that your scribing hand is quite elegant." Rising quickly, he adds, "As I said, I shall be back tomorrow morning with Praxiteles. We can then begin preparing the arrival point for the stone. Shall we return at the gate as I did, or should we translocate directly inside the walls? And do you have specific arcane connections that you wish us to use?"
Once he has answers from Fiona, he will thank her again and translocate back to Laurus Argenti, without any of the elaborate preparations that Praxiteles used, in a slight distortion of the air before him which dissipates soon after he steps through it.
((Int 1 + Order of Hermes Lore 2 + die roll of 5 = 8. Meh.))
[color=blue]"Not at all, Petronius. Every Tribunal has their own way of doing things, it just takes time to get used to them."
[color=blue]"Thank you."
[color=blue]"Inside the walls, that way you don't have quite so far to walk. Why don't we find you a couple of Arcane Connections to use?" Fiona walks with Petronius out into the covenant grounds and finds a couple of rocks near the manor, on or just off the path, and bends over to pick them up, handing them to Petronius with a smile. [color=blue]"Here you go."
Fiona then heads home after Petronius leaves (I have got to learn that spell, she thinks, not for the first time), still keeping an eye out for Viscaria as before, and plants a bug in Moire's ear about Alips's desire for suitable company. Not having received an answer from Praxiteles, she suggests that Moire run any...candidates past her first to make sure she doesn't get anyone too skeevy. She doubts that Moire's gossipy ways would find anyone within the next couple of hours.
She returns to her study of the Tropea for a while, then heads back to the manor house after dinner. She times her return so that she performs her Parma ritual just inside the front door, in the foyer, and heads up to Praxiteles's and Alips's suite. Pausing to make sure Alips doesn't sound already occupied, she knocks on the door. [color=blue]"Alips? It's Fiona."
((Let's say the connection is to the place where Praxiteles will be working on the slab.))
((Anyplace is fine for Petronius. He just finds it is more polite to ask for an Arcane Connection rather than simply collecting one.))
((As previsouly stated, he will wait for Praxiteles to come and get him when the Jerbiton is ready to depart for Mons Electi. So post something to let me know when that happens.))