[color=magenta]"Ah, I see - that would be Fiona. I'll send word to her," Tranquillina assures him; she turns, with a brief sidelong glance at Alips, to instruct a servant to give the news to the giant-blooded maga. She also has brought in a tray of local melon, dense and sweet and fragrant, along with some hearty bread and sheep's butter. Just for ducks, she'll tap in to her magical sense while positioning the tray on the table, just to see if Alips is secretly a magical beastie or bedecked in enchantments or something. ((Per 2 + Magic Sensitivity 3 (specialization in magic creatures) + simple die 6 = 11, enough to sense a creature of Magic Might 15 or higher, or an enchantment or active spell of level 50 or higher ))
Tranquillina lowers herself into one of the comfortable seats, closer to Praxiteles than to his wife. [color=magenta]"I am always interested to receive visitors and hear about their homes. Where have you traveled from? And what sort of piece have we commissioned from you?"
Loys finds Fiona at her cottage, where she is reading one the Corpus Tropea after having gone out for a quick stroll to stretch her legs and get a breath of fresh air. After delivering the message, Fiona thanks him and tells him to tell them that she will be there directly.
She then goes to her wardrobe and pulls out her formal, go-to-meetin' robes (since Loys didn't tell her much beyond "Tranquillina asked me to fetch you, since you have visitors" and he was anxious to go back to [strike]ogle Alips[/strike] check out our esteemed guests some more).
My. My. Forgive me, I wasn't expecting a real giant! I am Praxiteles! And I am here to build you a worthy steed. Viscaria requested a commission on your behalf.
Fiona leans over to give him a quick peck on both cheeks in greeting. [color=blue]"I am Fiona Ex Miscellanea Kore tes Kirkes, it is an honour to meet you. I'm sure that Viscaria would not have requested you if you were not the finest craftsman in the Order. Has she told you what we're needing?"
She takes a quick glance at the woman, noting that he has not actually introduced [strike]himself nor[/strike] his companion.
"Fiona, thank you, Viscaria didn't mention your name in the letter. I am Praxiteles, a Hermetic sculptor, mostly in stone. I've come from my covenant in the Rhein with my wife, Alips". He indicates the sark haired woman sitting nearby. She seems to be mentally undressing Fiona, or at least doing an intensive observation.
Viscaria was vague, saying only that you were half giant blooded, but if I may, I'm not sure she adequately described which half.. He says the jest kindly, without any trace of venom or menace "I believe I have two blocks of stone that may be suitable. My preferred medium is a black stone."
Sensing matters will soon devolve into matters of commerce Ailips chimes in, "Such a massive steed, is ordinarily an expensive piece. What are your terms?"
"Loys, get back to the library. I'm sure Alexandria has some lessons for you," Tranquillina interjects suddenly. The fifteen-year-old was hopelessly staring at Alips, to the point where it was making even Tranquillina uncomfortable. (Who knows how much of that had to do with the fact that Loys had fervently propositioned Tranquillina once or twice - she does look fifteen herself after all, at least much of the time.)
Tranquillina resumes her previous attitude of playing the hostess, mainly to stay in the conversation as long as she can while juicy information might be forthcoming.
[color=blue]"It is indeed an honor to meet you. Although, I must admit you look quite younger than I expected," Fiona replies with a smile. She glances at Alips, and does a fair job at not looking embarrassed at how Alips seems to be regarding her ((Com 2 + Guile (hiding true feelings) 3 + die roll of 7 = 12.))
Fiona chuckles at Praxiteles's jest; it's refreshing to hear something like that without any malice behind it.
She turns to Alips. [color=blue]"Did Viscaria go into detail as to just what it is we're requiring with this particular opus?"
"The letter specified a sculpture that could be ridden, and evocative of flight. Praxiteles has artistic considerations that the wingspan be twice the length, so the original block of stone must be large. We have two blocks of suitable size, which Praxiteles has determined to be free of defects within the stone. Do we understand the commission?
[color=blue]"So it would seem," Fiona replies. [color=blue]"The finished sculpture should be, basically, a pegasus that can be enchanted to become a stone animal that can be ridden or flown as a real pegasus would be...into battle, possibly.
"Of course, my Tradition is gifted in the fields of transformation, potion-making, and (to a degree) enchanting, although not to the degree that a Verditius would be. We are also skilled herbalists. Perhaps an exchange of my services in an area of my expertise for yours would be amenable?"
Fiona raises a brow. [color=blue]"Surely, you're not in need of a longevity ritual for many years yet?"
She thinks for a minute or two. [color=blue]"I'm not myself capable of creating a very powerful longevity ritual, especially for a muggle. I do know a couple of magi, however, who are. I will get in touch with them and do everything in my power to have them make one for you."
((My first thought was Jormungandr, even though his player is long gone. Fiona would try to contact him (I'm hoping he told the council where he was going?) and try to convince him to do it for her. Although she didn't tell Alips so explicitly, Fiona is expecting to front all the costs for the ritual as her part of the bargain for the statue. She suspects that, once she describes Alips, Jormungandr might not need much convincing . My second thought was Ra'am, who had set up a booth selling longevity rituals at Tribunal. I had also considered Viscaria, but looking at her character sheet, as near as I can tell her lab total for longevity rituals isn't incredibly awesome: I'm getting Int 3 + MT 5 + Philosophae 4 + Cr 7 + Co 5 + Aura 5 = 29.))
"I have been blessed with a relatively easy life, and our covenant has resources devoted to maintaining the health of the magi. Being Praxiteles wife, I share in those advantages. And finally, I am already under the influence of a Longevity Ritual, but I seek a more robust one, as this one could fail at any time." She waves Fiona to lower her ear so she can whisper, when she does, she whispers, "I'm in my 60s, though I look to be in my late 20s."
[color=blue]"You certainly don't look it," Fiona whispers back, her lips almost against Alips's ear. [color=blue]"Your secret is safe with me."
After a moment, Fiona straightens back up again. [color=blue]"The gentleman who invented my longevity ritual was able to invent one that offered about twenty-two or twenty-three magnitudes of protection. I know I've expanded my knowledge of the relevant Arts since then, and I can only assume that he has. The other one I'm thinking of, I don't know for certain how potent his rituals are, but he is a Bonisagus who had set up a stall at the last Tribunal offering his services, so I can only assume that his would offer more protection than what you have now. If what I offer strikes you as being a reasonable trade, I will send out letters immediately."
She laughs, "Not so much of a secret, as a I don't want everyone to know. A lady and her age, you know?" She smiles coyly. Praxiteles seems lost in thought, "Darling. They have agreed to procure a more powerful Longevity Ritual for me, isn't that wonderful?" He nods absently and murmurs, Mmm hmmm. It's difficult to tell if he even heard what it was.
"I need a temporary workshop space. It's a rather large block to start with, so something out in the manor house courtyard should be fine. A place for Alips to be in the shade, too. She is my muse, so she stays close by me at various points of the process. Let's pick out a suitable location, and then I'll transport the block's to that location."
((Didn't realize this chapter was about Praxelites's entrance, but figuring that Viscaria's sanctum is quite a walk up the mountain, this makes the delay reasonable.))
Viscaria bursts into the room like a hurricane made entirely of sunshine. "My friend! At last we meet in the flesh!" She pauses just long enough to determine which one of the figures in the room is her penpal before leaping at him with a tackle-hug that causes his wineglass to spin in midair a few times before dropping to floor.
She extracts herself from this assault/greeting with the skill of a seasoned assault-hugger, and turns to Alips. "And this must be Alips! Oh, I can certainly see how she must inspire you. Dear, you are absolute vision!"
Short little Viscaria reaches up straight past Alips's......inspirations, and gently clasps her face, moving her head from side to side. "Such cheekbones! My dear you simply must let me sculpt you once you get some maturity on this face..."
((just for fun - ))
Gasping, Tranquillina flings her arm out at the wineglass, attempting to slow or halt its fall before it breaks embarrassingly.
((Fast Cast roll, I dunno, against a plain stress die for the wineglass? Qik -1 + Finesse (moving things) 3 + stress die 9 = 11 beats the wineglass's stress die 3.))
((ReTe spell, +1 for glass, +2 Voice, Mom, Ind, rolling up for base spell level/amount of control: Sta -3 + Re 9 + Te 5 + aura 10 - fast cast 10 + stress die 9 = 20 / 2 = 10, good enough for a Base Level 3 spell!))
The wineglass falls only to about waist-height (on Praxiletes - shoulder-height on Viscaria) before suddenly halting in mid-air, then settling itself upright on the tabletop as Tranquillina lowers her hand, panting noticeably. Unfortunately the wine itself wasn't saved....
((no score for an Aquam requisite, durnit))
She puts her hand to her mouth and tries to muffle a cough, or is it a gagging sound?, as a bit of color drains from her face.
Tranquillina's efforts successfully saves the glass, but what comes next amazes the other magi who are present. Not the casting of magic, but the grace and precision of what follows.
While being tackled hugged by Viscaria, Praxiteles maintains his composure, and manages to form a cup with his hands behind Viscaria's back and then cries out ancient Greek, "Not the rug!" The wine is suspended in mid air for a moment, sloshing around in an invisible cup. Once the wine has come to rest, it appears to pour itself back into the resting wine glass on the table, defying gravity, and not a drop being spilled in the process.
Praxiteles fast cast roll totaled 18. I did a rough estimate of his CS for Rego Aquam by this far into his career, at 1225 he will be ~47 years PG, I think it would be sufficient to do this, and indeed, he may have even invented such a spell by this time.
Edit: I kept his Finesse ability score static here. By the time he would arrive here, it would be much higher. I have to estimate what it would be, though...
Tranquillina definitely appreciates the grace and precision (as well as the dry rug), but she's perhaps most interested in the fact that Praxiteles speaks Ancient Greek....
"It is good to finally meet you, Viscaria. I'm glad you facilitated this commission for me, it gave me a good excuse to make a Tour de France, visit some friends, including my pater now in Paris. After I'm done here, I'll go on and visit several other amici and my pater." He smiles, and pulls his wine glass back into his hand, holding his hand so it can grab the glass as it approaches.
"Viscaria, my hope is that maturity will be a long time off. Fiona and I have just concluded negotiations for the sculpture. She is going to intercede on my behalf and find a longevity specialist to create a more powerful longevity ritual." She smiles, as if she's just nabbed the greatest of prizes.
))
. My second thought was Ra'am, who had set up a booth selling longevity rituals at Tribunal. I had also considered Viscaria, but looking at her character sheet, as near as I can tell her lab total for longevity rituals isn't incredibly awesome: I'm getting Int 3 + MT 5 + Philosophae 4 + Cr 7 + Co 5 + Aura 5 = 29.))