[color=blue]"It will take several months for me to get my lab and my garden to an acceptable level for me...and unfortunately I cannot foresee taking months off from tending the garden to attend to the day-to-day duties of the Princeps. So...if I must choose now, I choose Winter for my first tenure as 'humble' leader."
As whomever is reading the charter quotes this passage, Fiona glances at Alexei with a knowing smile.
[color=blue]"So," Fiona says, making no effort to hide her skepticism, [color=blue]"If, God forbid, Apollodorus, you were to meet an untimely end, and the Quaesitor should decide that one of us, or any future parties to the Covenant are responsible, then the covenant is void?"
Fiona nods. [color=blue]"Yes...a tournament among those who wish to play the gnomes sounds like a reasonable way of choosing our 'champion'."
[color=blue]"Onesiphorus - may I suggest that if we have any in our employ whom we feel should have his mind probed from time to time, that we need to find a more trustworthy replacement?"
"Indeed you understand it well, Fiona. Of course, this is only for a period of 20 years at most. After 20 years, that clause carries no weight. It only applies if a member of this covenant were to murder me, and of course it could be proven so. If I die by other means or pass into Final Twilight, then the items would belong to the Covenant. I have been ill-used in the past, and I wish to ensure that I am not ill-used again. It is a reasonable precaution.
"Perhaps I see your concern. Let me adjust the text once again." With a gentle flick of his wrist the letters on the page squeeze together on the line, and some new text is written by the quill. It now reads "In the event of foul play, prior to the vesting period, by a member of the council, as determined by a Quaesitore, all items will be turned over to House Jerbiton and this Covenant shall be void."
"Is that more agreeable? That's my intention. After 20 years, there's little reason to murder me. Before then, there's every reason not to murder me."
Iosephus perks up at this, and says: "Well, I've been very excited about running the covenant - I've never done anything even remotely similar to this before, so I'm bound to make all sorts of interesting mistakes. Therefore, it seems only apt for me to take the first turn in the cycle. That way, I will serve as an example for the others of what not to do."
He smiles brightly.
[OOC: Clearly, I'm fully expecting Apollodorus, or someone else, to balk at this and politely (or impolitely!) suggest that he take last place instead... ]
[color=blue]"Actually, Apollodorus, I have no problem with the wording. Let me propose a hypothetical for your consideration." Fiona gets to her feet and starts to pace as she speaks, keeping a wary eye on the ceiling before her as she does.
[color=blue]"I believe you said that you have always had a good relationship with the Quaesitores here in Normandy. That you have had their favour, I believe was the phrase you used? But, let us say that there is a new member of House Guernicus come to Normandy, or perhaps simply new to the Tribunal, who has not yet had a chance to grant our fair covenant her favour. Let us imagine for a moment that she is not interested in gifts of vis...but rather the charms of, say, good Iosephus here." Fiona stops for a moment and places her hands on the back of the Criamon's chair.
[color=blue]"But, alas, our sodalis spurns the fair Quaesitor's advances. She does not take it well," Fiona says as she resumes her pacing, [color=blue]"and turns her indignant wrath to the Covenant and, for reasons of her own, decides the Covenant must fall. She remembers seeing this clause in the Charter. She, by some nefarious means, manages to bring about your demise. And, as a Quaesitor, the somber duty falls to her to determine who has taken your life. She declares that Iosephus is the murderer, which by the terms of the charter means that the Covenant is no more. It matters not what judgement is rendered at Tribunal. The damage is done."
Fiona returns to her seat and looks around at her sodales. [color=blue]"I trust that you see my concern?"
"So, this person would need to be powerful enough to kill me, and also to kill or deter the Chief Quaesitor of the Tribunal? And also has unquenchable ardor for unattainable men? But first, she must be able to lift the details of the charter from the minds of anyone who sees it. Since the only ones who see it are presently in this room, the Quaesitor I have here and possibly one other[1], I find this unlikely. Tell me, what else are her powers?"
"You'll have plenty of time for mistakes, I'm thinking you need to focus on some more mundane pursuits than you have 'lo these many years."
[1] Currently in negotiation for another player (maybe two) to come into the game, but obviously comes in after the council meeting.
"I don't see your case as a problem for me, though. The House then gets my estate, it is a problem for you, certainly. I just don't see that any such powerful Guernicus actually exists."
[color=blue]"Nor do I. I'm certain that, should there be a Guernicus so Hermetically talented as to be able to cast a spell upon you that would take your life, their fame would have extended even to Loch Leglean." She takes a sip of her wine, looking at the archmagus over the rim of her goblet, then sets it down and looks around the table.
[color=blue]"Now that that's decided...what's next?"
"Who knows Aegis of the Hearth? I'm afraid I've never picked it up in my studies. Although, I have participated in the casting via Wizard's Communion and know an 8th magnitude version of that spell."
Onesiphorus: I can’t see how any mundane who oversee the daily operations of the servants should ever interfere with my work. We just have to make sure that funds for our laboratories should be readily available without question. If we need to have his form of governance then I take the second season but I really think that we should rule as equals at every given time as I suggested. What are your thoughts on the matter my soldaes? Onesiphorus looks at the others hoping to sway someone to his cause.
Alexei speaks up after Onesiphorus. "I think 'rule' is a bit strong of a word for the duties involved. By governing for a single season at a time it may prevent the accumulation of too much power in the Princeps, but manage effectively." he looks over to Iosephus and a mischievous grin spreads slowly across his face. "Well Sodale, I withdraw my earlier nomination of myself. I vote that our friend in Criamon; you are a Criamon yes? That Iosephus be the Princeps for this first season. That will allow me more time to attend to the poor defenses and organize the turb."
Totally out of character stuff follows:
Just to throw this out there, this is pretty easy to reconcile to the story so far. Alexei's intereaction with the Tremere Exarch could be explained as he's the most easily accessible. Jonah just doesn't stay in his office, whereas Alexei is either out in the field, and accessible via runners, or in his office, or barracks, or other easily designated places. Whereas Jonah could be that puddle of water he stepped in while a page was looking for him.
Now for some more totally out of character stuff, this time from me:
Well, this is quite funny, since I was just joking when proposing that Iosephus go first. I laughed when I saw Alexi mischievously agreeing to second the idea. I can't really imagine Apollodorus going for it, though - but we'll see!
Actually Apollodorus doesn't have a say in this. It's a troupe decision, and a council decision (majority rules here). Alexei has enough to keep him busy. If he didn't have to be responsible for managing the covenant, he could focus on other stuff more effectively.
Onesiphorus: No I don’t think that rule is a too strong word. If we each takes turn to rule our covenant the we all rule each other. I think that we should all be in power at the same time and rule by vote and debate. I can’t see why we should not at all times use our collective wisdom to make difficult decisions and that the magi closest at hand take care of a problem that they see before it gets too late.
OOC: Yes I intend to make Onesiphorus someone who you don’t like and think that his ideas are the wisest.
Alexei scowls. "That seems frightfully inefficient. The whole purpose of a leader being in charge, for whatever period of time, is to allow for fast decisions to be made as the situation requires. Plus it allows the rest of us the freedom to pursue our other tasks. As regards to a magi on hand making a decision...well I believe that's already the case. If an emergency presents itself a magi on hand will not likely take the time to consult a leader or convene a council if there is not time. I think we can trust each other's wisdom to do that...and if necessary answer for the consequences afterwards."
"My dear Verditius, you, and arguably anyone else continuing this discussion, are forgetting something. This matter is not open to debate. I will not agree to a change in the charter. Perhaps if we find it unwieldy over time, but I have reasons for bringing you together. You can't possibly imagine that you are the only ones who were interested in this opportunity? You've all been choosen, for various and disparate reasons."
[color=blue]"How is having all of us making every decision that must be made in the covenant any more efficient than having the decision made by whomever happens to be Princeps at the time? If you doubt your ability to make the correct decision, or if you feel that the decision is too big to be made by one magus alone, then you would call upon the Vice Princeps or call for a meeting of the Council to make the decision...which, hopefully, we won't have to have that many decisions of that magnitude.
"For myself, I would much rather we each rule for a quarter than to have one Princeps rule until he decides he no longer wishes to."