"Excellent, we off to the upper Morvan, about 30 miles from here. This area is outside either of our covenant's Hermetic territory. It's a slight bit closer to yours, so when I requested some house assistance from Murion she indicated that a Miles had joined a new covenant about 30 miles from our quarry and would intercede with them on my behalf. I need to capture a giant and require your assistance. Although, it looks like you already have one." He says the last eyeing Mufarjj studiously.
The expression on Alexei's face seems to lock into place at the revelation of the task. A moment later he speaks again. "A Giant? That's all? I thought it would be a bit of a bigger problem." he chuckles a bit at his jest before continuing. "Well...so we'll be off on an expedition then. My men should be able to help as well, do you have a means of finding this giant and subduing it, a spell or item you've prepared? This will be a first for me. And what have you brought? We'll need to bring some gear no doubt."
"Brought? I've brought nothing. I need the giant to continue my research. As he's been routinely harrassing farmers around Avallon, he was suggested as the closest one to procure. I have some spells that will assist with transport of the giant after you've subdued and secured him." You should be getting the sense that this is a bigger mission than you currently have manpower for, especially if Xander is going to be nothing more than an observer and participate only after all the dangerous work has been completed.
Alexei now looks skeptically at Xander. "So...let me get this straight. You need a giant for your studies and asked the Miles to provide? I was under the impression I was protecting you from a threat...not giant hunting. So you have no spells or items for subduing it...but you do have a means of transporting it." he strokes his beard thoughtfully. "How soon do you need this done?"
He begins mumbling as he looks at his staff. "For Freeze the Beligerant Brigand it was roughly 3rd magnitude, figure 4th magnitude for a giant, assuming it's around fifteen feet tall...and then there's penetrating it..."
"I could possibly stun the giant, depending on how big it is and how powerful. I'd have to do it spontaneously, though if I had a season or so maybe could actually make a spell or item. We'd want to get some of its blood." He's pacing back and forth as he does this occasionally speaking to Michelle in Latin even though he'd have no understanding. He finally turns back to Xander with a rather energetic smile on his face.
"Well! I love a good challenge! When would we be leaving for this little hunt?"
"My Primus wanted me to research something, in order to advance my research, I need to have a giant. She said she'd help me get one and I was directed to seek you out.
"Excellent! So when would you want to do this? And...how hurt can it be?"
"One or two light wounds, no more. And we should go now, it is the reason why I'm here now, I was told you'd be expecting me. I have my own provisions, of course, enough for a week." You don't see any sign of them.
"We'll have to travel a couple of days through the Morvan to the outskirts of Avallon and then begin searching for its lair."
Mufarjj looks incredibly annoyed and disgusted by the entire scene transpiring before him and is almost glaring at the Bonisagus. Michelle is quite offput by the Bonisagus, as well, and is rolling his eyes and huffing his disgust.
Alexei knows the reactions well of the men; they're sensing his Gift, so horses were out of the question.
"Very well Sodales, I had been preparing for a journey just in case, though I was given little information as to what and where. We have a handcart prepared with some provisions...it's not sufficient to move the giant of course, so it's good to hear you have that prepared. If you'll give me a moment." he turns to Michelle and begins speaking in German.
"Grab a page and we'll bring the handcart with supplies we had laid aside. Please mind your temper around this Magus, I know your sensing something you don't like but that is normal. He means no offense to you or I, remember that, both of you. If you have a complaint bring it to me first, not to our friend Xander."
He turns back to Xander. "Sodales, my Grog Michelle la Rouge (Reputation as a butcher) is getting the supplies. This is Mufarrj, he shall accompany us as well. I have spells that can offer you some protection, just in case, it is one of my specialties. I'd like to offer you these when it seems that we'll be getting near the giant."
"Mufarjj takes you aside. I'm familiar with the effect that many with magical power have had on me. His effect is a bit more intense than I've encountered.
"Truly? I hadn't noticed. His Gift must be very potent then. I'm sure you can endure it, and I thank you for your pains." he turns back to Xander. "We're going to have to walk of course. Do you have any information on the giant? Any local legends? What realm is it from?"
"It is said it returns periodically, in the year prior to the Tribunal meeting, but it is always to the same spot. As far as I know it is from the Magic Realm, or so aligned, not faerie in origin. I'm told it has a fondness for sheep. If we take some time to collect some hairs from some of the sheep, I have means of transporting them."
Alexei is going through strategy in his mind as he hears what little information there is to be had about their quarry. "We have food enough for a week. Allow me your indulgence as we proceed. I may try some different tactics to get this giant. While I'm perfectly willing to help you, an honored Bonisagus, should vis be required to subdue him or to heal afterwards...well...I think you see what I'm talking about. That's fair, yes?"
"What do you suggest, then?"
While waiting for Michelle and the page to come back with the supplies, Alexei continues with Xander. "Well...if giants are anything like the stories they are quite stupid. I'd like to possibly trick him, perhaps into coming quietly or to give up an arcane connection to himself. From there I might be able to use a variant on an effect I have in my staff that will hold him motionless. We move him from there. Once subdued, you said you have means of moving him, what about keeping him compliant? It might be difficult to keep stunning him like that as I'll have to do it spontaneously."
((Would Alexei be able to gain an advantage for knowing a similar effect when trying to stun the giant, since he enchanted it into his staff already?))
"I have a ward prepared to keep him in place, but I need him unconscious and alive. I'll also need you around while I cast the ward, in case he revives during the casting.
"How are you planning to trick him. Wouldn't sheep be useful for that?"
((No, similar effects don't work that way, as I understand them))
"The sheep are a precious commodity, I'd rather not use them, we'd have to pay for them. Regarding how to trick him, I find conversation and deception tend to work well, plus a few spells. My gift and magic are rather pleasant to the recipient. It can be useful. But should that fail, it will likely buy us the time needed to get into position and subdue him. I have Vis that will help if it comes down to it."
He pauses as he strokes his chin. "Wine. Some wine could also be useful, perhaps we can acquire a barrel or two. A drunk and sleepy giant might be more tractable."
"If we need to pay, I'll pay for the sheep. I am aware of where we and Apollodorus. I wrote my Magnum Opus on his parchment. This work may be even bigger! In any event, I think collecting the hairs might be a suitable backup plan that prevents us from having to trudge back here if we fail in the first attempt. I know it likes sheep. Your way is like shooting a Pilum of Fire blindfolded."
Alexei's smile becomes more forced. "Well, if you're willing to pay for them, I'll see about having some procured. As for firing a Pilum blindfolded, well I certainly wouldn't want to do that. Perhaps it would be best and safest if I spent a season or two, maybe three, working up some spells and effects to subdue him." he raises an eyebrow rather smugly as Michelle returns with a handcart and a page.
"It was my understanding that you had the capability to do so, already. Of course, I could do the same, in a season. However, the Primus is most interested in me advancing my research, when I indicated that I needed a giant she suggested you, and the rumor of the giant that tends to recur periodically. My Primus said that the Miles cold help me, was she in error?"
Alexei waves over Michelle and the page, still smiling as he turns to Xander. "She was not incorrect. So let us dispense with the inferences upon my skill and power, or my plan. Your plan was to seek me out to subdue a giant. Unless you have a different plan, you should probably defer to mine. You'll have your research, and I'll have my glory." he turns to Michelle and speaks in German. "Fetch one of the shepherds if you please, we shall be purchasing some four or five sheep and pay for them a premium rate. Tell the Page that we shall also be getting some wine, two or three barrels. We'll add that to the cart. Thank you Michelle."