1223-1226 In the Living Years

((And now for something complete different.))

When the magi gather for their Winter (1225) Council Meeting in the council chamber, they may notice a new addition to the decor.

Hanging on one wall is a tapestry depicting a ram holding a banner, which is the covenant's coat of arms on a flag. Several other animals of various types surround the lamb (lions, unicorns, wolves, eagles, etc), on a mountain landscape. The tapestry is about three feet high by five feet wide, and seems to be fairly well done.

Viscaria stands up close to the tapestry and admires it minutely. "I bet the lion represents Alexei, and the unicorn must be...."

Alexei is quite impressed by the ornate tapestry. "It's marvelous! We should have it enchanted! It can be a great presentation for us at the Tribunal!" his chest also swells with pride at the suggestion that he represents the lion.

Fiona, who was the first in the meeting and is sitting in the princeps chair, blushes a little bit.

Tranquillina waits her turn to get a good up-close view of the tapestry. [color=magenta]"Is this artistic addition your doing, friend?" she asks Fiona in Gaelic, after noticing her blush. When Tranquillina has room to approach the tapestry, she regards the wolf nearest the banner for a couple of minutes, smiling at some unknown details.

[color=blue]"Aye," Fiona replies in the same tongue. [color=blue]"It took several years, in my spare time, and it was a little harder when I got bigger a couple of years ago, but I made that with my own hands. Thought it would be a nice touch."

Absent-mindedly, Viscaria comments, "It's nice seeing a bit of color in here, too. Some texture on the wall. We really ought to think about decorating this room more. Maybe hang some of Apollodorus's paintings."

She looks up critically at the ceiling. "I am still trying to figure out how to build a murderhole in the ceiling here for us to escape into, you know. But it'll be quite decorative, once I do. It's mostly a question of load bearing capacity. Perhaps I could just build a walkway along the edge and cover it up with some kind of Imaginem spell...."

(Hubris is all about making every conversation about you.)

While at Durenmar, Fiona will try to ask around (maybe starting with the librarian) to see if she can find someone to take this assignment for her. Or at least write to Viscaria to cement a deal.

Com 2 + either Bargain or Charm 3 (both are the same score) + die roll of 4 = 9.

I'm pretty sure that JL said this sort of thing doesn't actually happen. Might be interesting to see how it gets roleplayed out, all the same.

Isen looks at the tapestry, then fiona.
Nice.

After a moment or two of fiddling with her giant-sized robes, Blanche shakes her head and mutters, [color=blue]"This will never do" in Gaelic.

She looks at Alexei and makes a "turn around/don't look" gesture. Once he's turned around, she wraps the robe around her sideways, like a large bath towel.

[color=blue]"I suppose I should go back home and get some decent-fitting clothes, then."

She makes her way back to the regio entrance and stops there, with a puzzled look on her face. [color=blue]"I know there's some trick to this," she mutters. [color=blue]"How did it go again? Turn in a circle three times?" ((I believe that's how it goes.))

She passes through the regio and walks slowly toward Fiona's cottage, looking around and taking everything in as though it were new to her.

((p.s. this is a good spot for anyone who wants to, to jump in.))

[color=blue]"Thank you, I'm glad you like it."

Alexei will later on knock on "Blanche's" door with a young maid and some clothes that would likely fit her, uncertain of how long this 'fit' she's in may last. But he'd like her to have her own chamber maid for at least a Moon to serve her needs and to report to Alexei of any issues that may arise. With any luck the spell (or Twilight, Alexei has no way of knowing) will end soon. In the meanwhile Alexei will not do anything that could be considered scrying on her, just have mundane resources available should she need them.

Moire is, needless to say, quite confused by what's going on when this strange woman shows up and claims that this is her cottage. Moire's clothes almost fit Blanche (Moire is 4'11", 145 pounds; Blanche is 5'2" and about 115 pounds). But if Alexei wants to have someone keep an eye on this...whoever this is, that's fine with her.

Not sure what Sheelagh thinks of this, seeing as how this was supposed to be Fiona's season of teaching

Blanche doesn't know what she's supposed to do. She does know she wants to have fun, so she'll go out to the local pub/tavern, wherever the locals hang out at the end of the day, and carouse. Of course, she doesn't remember how to do the Parma, and she has the Gift to deal with, so....shrug

He eyes Fiona
By the way. You have grown some more, haven't you?
a slight pause
This is great. I must say, you look even better than before. We just need to have you in the finest clothes possible, and you will be perfect as our representative.

((answered in the Blacksmith thread, because that's where it feels like it belongs.))

After the meeting, Fiona approaches Isen. [color=blue]"Is there somewhere we can speak in private, sodalis?"

Once they find a place and settle down, Fiona leans forward. [color=blue]"When I first went to Magic, the Blacksmith told me that Silviatos had passed through some time before...figuring the time dilation effect and when he was last seen here, it would have been...three or four months, as it passes there. The Blacksmith gave me Silviatos's notes and a lab, which became a mirror of mine as I slept. Silviatos's notes were not about my problem specifically, but rather his own attempt to reforge himself, to rid himself of the neccessity to study in the presence of exemplars of the appropriate Art in exchange for some other limitation of his magic. But I was able to analyze his notes and extrapolate his efforts to apply to my own deficiency.

"It also entails consuming a quantity of vis that is found within your body. It wasn't a painful process for me, and while my magic is still flawed, to a degree, I find that I am more than happy with the results of my reforging.

"I can't guarantee that the Blacksmith will help, but I would be more than surprised if he didn't."

Fiona leans back and waits for Isen's reaction and any questions he may have.

((No takers? Ah well.))

Let's see. Winter solstice was 14 December. Two or three days after that is, say, December 17. Next New Moon is 20 December, Full is 4 January 1227 (at 09:24). So, her Moon duration spell/Botch aftermath is 18 days (or, more relevantly, 18 nights).

She's going to be basically a party girl, going out to wherever the guys are, see who she can pick up and take back to her cottage for stuff. I'm thinking Charm is the more relevant skill than Carouse. So, it would be Com 2 + Charm 3 – effects of the Gift 3 = 2 + die roll, 18 times.

18 die rolls yield 3 0s (on nights 3, 7, and 11) and 2 1s (on nights 4 and 8 ). Other than that, there are totals of 5, 3 6s, 4 9s, 2 10s, and 3 11s. The three 0s yield no botches (so, totals of 2), while the 1s have a 3 and a 5 on the follow-ups, for scores of 8 and 12.

So, in descending order: 12, 11, 11, 11, 10, 10, 9, 9, 9, 9, 8, 6, 6, 6, 5, 2, 2, and 2.

Don't know what Paul and Sheelagh are going to do when she brings these guys home, since she tends to be kinda noisy. I'm sure they'll cope

Isen flinches when Fiona talks about consuming vis. This sure seems like the kind of thing that would ensure warping. Yet, one must do what one must do.

I thank you, sodales.

Although I sure hope it'll go as smoothly as it did for you, this is becoming more important than my own comfort and safety. I don't have your charm or your charisma, nor do I like my fellows company much, so I could never shoulder your duties. But I can fight, for you, for my sodales, and for the people here.
I could do finely so long as it was only me and my ennemies, but now, I have a covenant to protect, and can't just think of my own safety, my own victories.

This blacksmith... Will you present him to me? I don't even know how you manage to go from here to... there. But if he can help me, I must see him. I must try.

[color=blue]"It's not as bad as it sounds," Fiona says gently. [color=blue]"And I'm not sure that 'consuming' is the right word, since I didn't literally eat it. But it's more like how you consume vis when you're enchanting an item, in a way. And, granted it's only been a year or so, but I haven't felt Twilight approaching any faster than it would normally."

[color=blue]"That is so sweet, Isen," Fiona says with a smile, then leans over to give him a kiss on the cheek.

[color=blue]"I suspect that several of us will be going there to talk to or retrieve the Flambeaux we rescued, and to go after Marcus. I'll be sure to introduce you to him when we do, regardless."