1227.3 What Happens Next

((This was more out of character than anything, but here is Alexei's IC response.))

Alexei claps a hand on Roberto's shoulder. "Take no offense Sodale, the Squire term is an antique of this Tribunal, not a title I shall refer to you. As far as I'm concerned as Chief Hoplite, any magus who is assisting me is a Hoplite and I shall refer to you as such, feel free to correct others." he sighs heavily. "Regarding avenging the Covenant...it is something I most sincerely wish to do. I've made detailed plans on who to attack, when and with what forces. The problem is...every one of those plans either breaks the Code or involves Wizard's War on a scale that is not in balance with the crimes committed against us. I am not afraid to go to war, but I swore an oath when I joined the Milites to serve the Order more than my own desires." he sighs again.

"I suppose what I'm saying is, success will have to do for our revenge at this time Roberto. Doing well in the contests, and I understand you did very well. Heaping prestige on this Covenant and its wizards, these will serve as our revenge. And believe me, it will gall our enemies. I know how they laugh at my ways, my airs, both behind my back and in front of my face. But who is Chief Hoplite now? Who has been disgraced and recalled to Magivillus? Which Covenant shall likely host future Tribunals? Which Covenant has won the contests in the past? Who not only survived their previous attempts but has emerged more powerful? Let that fester in their cowardly bellies, and when they cannot help but step across the threshold of law and order, we shall be there. But, we must continue our investigation. E'ev though Guernicus is against us, enough lapses in their application of law and even they cannot hide from it."

((Actually, the term Squire used by Celeres is an affectation of the Praeco, and not part of the Tribunal. The term is used to identify an apprentice. He thinks that someone in such a position should have trained an apprentice.))

((Actually, the term Squire used by Celeres is an affectation of the Praeco, and not part of the Tribunal. The term is used to identify an apprentice. He thinks that someone in such a position should have trained an apprentice.))

bump

I'm not clear on what you're bumping. Tribunal is not finished, yet. Some things that Roberto wants to do, such as the dinner with Ariel are contingent upon the end of the Tribunal.

And there are other things that Roberto stirred up that can be restarted.

((I'll put this mini-thread here, even though it's taking place in 1227.2 - just after the Tribunal ends.))

Tranquillina summons Loys to her receiving room. "Young man, you have been doing an excellent job during this Tribunal, and I thank you on behalf of myself and the Mons Electi council," she lauds him. "Today, your primary task is a simple one - passing a message along; but its priority is above any other responsibilities you might have. And the message must be heard only by the magi of Mons Electi, or covenfolk whom you are absolutely sure I trust." She lists a very few names in the latter category: Moire, Helmut, Henri, Adeline, Mélanie. "The message is thus: Two magi have requested membership in Mons Electi. They are Rose ex Tremere and ... Stultus Maximus ex Tytalus." She has a bit of trouble getting the end of that sentence out. "I have invited them to dinner two nights hence, and I hope we can all be present. I also recommend a council discussion beforehand." She has Loys repeat the message to her, which he does flawlessly the first time.

"Ma'am," Loys stammers as he is being dismissed. "Thank you for your compliment - I have striven only to serve you to the best of my abilities." His Latin has been getting even better this last year. "At the end of this day's obligations - if it please you, ma'am - I have a request to, ah, request from you." He runs off, tripping slightly over the threshold, before Tranquillina can respond.

((Do we want to have the dinner and/or meeting in this thread, or create a new thread(s)?))

((I'm fine either way))

Fiona shows up for the Council meeting at the appointed time and place, arriving a few minutes early as is her custom. She is wearing her customary Hermetic robes, but her normally curly hair is straight and is tied back with a white thong.

Korvin arrives still straightening his more formal House robes. He pours himself a cup of wine and goes to his seat. His fingers are stained with ink and it is apparent he has just come from his lab.

As Korvin arrives, Tranquillina is speaking animatedly with Fiona; she smiles when the giantess laughs and puts a hand sympathetically on the top of her head. In quite a rare occurrence, Tranquillina has not magically altered her face or hair, nor even her attire: her wolfskin cloak surrounds her form without adornment, other than her Bonisagus fibula. The two women had been speaking Gaelic, but Tranquillina switches to Latin when Korvin enters.

"... so then I just invented a name - salve, Korvin, good to see you! - I said, Barbaern or something like that, hoping he'd tell me the Bjornaer Quaesitor's actual name. But he wasn't having any of it. So I decided to give up my plan to speak to Bilera or to find the Bjornaer at all, and just sat down to watch Marcus in the finals of the Dimicatio. And that's when she sat down next to me!"

Tranquillina shakes her head and chews a deep purple grape. "I can't believe I didn't break into.... In any case, I will tell you what she said, but that is probably something everyone should hear. Along with what I managed to get from Rataxes and Cavillor."

Roberto is here somewhere

Korvins nods and grunts at the greetings but it is apparent that he is preoccupied in thinking about something. He sits in his seat with a 1000 yard stare at a knot in the table.

Fiona greets everyone with a friendly "Salve" as they enter and takes her seat, with a smile on her face. She pulls a bowl of the grapes closer and takes one at a time, sucking them slowly into her mouth through pursed lips. After a moment, she notices Korvin's preoccupation and leans over to whisper in his ear.

[color=blue]"Is everything all right, Korvin?"

((I want to keep inputting into this thread, but feel free to continue side conversations - don't worry about chronology.))

"Well, before I come to events with an even more direct impact on this council," Tranquillina announces, "I should report on what I managed to learn about the investigation into Praxiteles's death at Valerian's hands. Bilera, Prima of House Guernicus, called five Quaesitors into service to look into the event; these five were all from outside the Normandy Tribunal, and none, as far as I am aware, were of high enough standing in their House to be free from coercion by their inner circle. Two of the Quaesitors were from Houses other than Guernicus: I spoke to Rataxes ex Verditius, but was unable to learn anything about the Bjornaer Quaesitor. I also spoke to Cavillor about the investigation, and later, ahem, Bilera took it upon herself to speak to me."

Tranquillina is now pacing circles around the room's perimeter, ticking off items on her fingers. "The spell was found to be incredibly strong, stronger than almost any spell ever known to be cast. In the history of our Order, only specialists in a particular narrow type of effect, who had a life of study of the Hermetic Arts behind them, could manage such a spell. Because Valerian was 'well known' not to have such a narrow focus, they concluded that the spell must have been a mistake, an accidental unleashing of magical force beyond Valerian's intentions. They also found a trace of Valerian's sigil in the spell, but one that had been changed somehow, still in the manner consistent with an uncontrolled spell."

She frowns at the other magi in the room. "But I am not convinced. We know of one magus - our departed Apollodorus - whose Arts were far more advanced than almost anyone in our Order's history. Where there can be one, there might be two.... I did manage to ascertain that none of the Quaesitors ever questioned Valerian - at least not under the assurance of Frosty Breath of the Spoken Lie. So in my mind, there is every chance still that Valerian intentionally murdered Praxiteles. If so, the dire corollary is that he is even more powerful a Terram mage than we feared."

"It is also perhaps appropriate to report that Bilera herself went out of her way to goad me, to insult me and essentially warn me that danger might befall me or those allied with me, such as Tria Trianomae." Tranquillina faces towards one wall as she says this; the psychic wounds from the encounter are still raw. "And I also found out that Valerian had been reassigned out of this Tribunal, into the service of the Guernicus inner circle. Whether this is punishment or reward, I do not ken. - Do any of you have any questions, or observations or facts to add?"

Korvin takes a short moment to snap out of it and whispers back. I was just thinking of my meeting with my Gifted Housemates and this Guernicus problem. I feel I need some better strategy to combat them.

Jacques arrives during Tranquillina's speech and takes his seat. When she has finished...

It might be rash to presume that Valerian is this epic Terram magus without some more information. I would like to ask if anyone knows if a Wizard's communion is used to boost a spell, does the sigil of the casting magus become changed or confused because another is adding to the power?

Jacques arrives during Tranquillina's speech and takes his seat. When she has finished...

It might be rash to presume that Valerian is this epic Terram magus without some more information. I would like to ask if anyone knows if a Wizard's communion is used to boost a spell, does the sigil of the casting magus become changed or confused because another is adding to the power?

[color=blue]"Have you spoken with Alips about Praxiteles and Valerian?" Fiona says almost hesitatingly.

[color=blue]"If you want to talk later, use me as a sounding board, I might be able to help."

[color=blue]"I believe that a spell cast by wizards acting in communion manifests the sigil of the lead magus," Fiona says with a touch of doubt in her voice. ((Int 1 + Magic Theory 6 + die roll of 4 = 11.))

((I held off entering the meeting until I find out what happens in the joust, it could be dangerous, and since I'm typing this before the most recent update on the Joust page, it may have already been decided...))