Alexei is looking for Mufarjj first, then Valerius, then Brione in that order. If he finds Brione he'll ask him to see if he can sniff out any foreign spells.
I think Ulrich would have to be extremely hard up to try to hook up with Skinner's mom.
He will try to sit quietly next to the Redcap, watching everything quietly. If he happens to share a glance with any of the (relatively) younger women in the room, he will smile at them.
Ulrich nods knowlingly.
The apprentice looks at Korvin with surprise.
Korvin sees Ulrich's surprised face. "At the Greater Alps Tribunal, the mages present may write the name of any other mage of the tribunal on a slate called a sherd and put it in a pot. At the end of the Tribunal they got through the pot and the mage with the most sherds with his name on it is ostracized. Driven from the Tribunal within a moon."
Ulrich looks a little puzzled, but holds his tongue as this is something to ask his mentor about at a more appropriate time.
(ooc - I have the Alpine Tribunal sourcebook, so unless Korvin wants to bs Ulrich, or if there's something different then what's in there, then Korvin can just blah him what's there if he wants)
((no BS. Pg 12 of the Sanctuary of Ice))
"No one was ostracized this year." Andru says.
Mufarjj isn't in his quarters and hasn't been seen in a day or two. The others can be located relatively easily. After locating them, then what?
I had Mufarrjj as part of the honor guard, I thought, he was missing before the Primi arrived? That'd be fine, Alexei looks on him as a guest that can come and go, so if he wasn't there Alexei wouldn't suspect anything.
Once he has the others, he starts asking guards and staff where Valerius is, if they've seen a hooded man wearing green.
You most certainly did not...
I most certainly did. However, that was only if he was available. If he wasn't available Alexei wouldn't have thought anything of it.
Ahh, I missed this twice. So, my apologies for that.
In any event, Mufarjj was nowhere to be found then OR now.
After some time you do find Valerian nosing about. He has a bemused expression his face, and appears to be waiting for you, and confirms that as you approach, "It's about time. So, it would seem you had Janos involved in the construction of your halls. He's quite capable, a member of the Terrae cult, too. So, what can I do for you, Alexei?"
Meanwhile at the dinner party, Murion begins pressing the magi about their feelings on the Lotharingian tribunal issue.
[color=blue]"Yes, that is a most interesting question, isn't it? We, as a Tribunal, can speak as one either for or against the creation of the new Tribunal, but if we can't convince our sodales from across the Order at Durenmar to agree, it would be for naught.
"To be honest, I do not yet have a firm opinion on the matter. From my understanding, Lotharingia would be carved from the northern part of Normandy and the northwestern part of Rhine. I have yet to hear any proposals as to just where the new border would fall, but I suspect that Mons Electi would still be well within Normandy.
"However, whether or not we vote to cede territory for the creation of Lotharingia is not the real question to be answered, is it, Prima?"
The question will really come down to the magical resources claimed by Lotharingia Covenants. Normandy and the Rhine will not want them poaching vis sources that they consider vital. Do you know if the Lotharingia have a charter that deals with how they would handle vis? I know what they want to do with mundane relationships but not how they propose to handle vis.
Fiona looks at Korvin. [color=blue]"Then you more than I, sodalis, for I have heard nothing beyond the name of the proposed Tribunal. Would you care to share some information, so that we may hopefully make a more educated decision?"
(ooc - as best I can recall, Fiona speaks truth)
((serfs parma as my books are at home for any specifics))
Korvin's tone is like that of a teacher. I will tell you what I have heard from conversations with members of my House. Covenants from the northern Rhine and northern Normandy Tribunals are chafing under some of the rules in the Rhine concerning mundanes. They want less isolation and more...how should I put this...commerce. There was also something mentioned about relationship with Scandinavian wizards. Both sets of Covenants want to change the rules under how they are governed. Vassalage comes to mind as something that would be dropped.
[color=blue]"I can certainly understand chafing under the status quo," Fiona replies, slipping into the adversarial role in a disputio (I think that's the term) with Korvin, [color=blue]"but would it not be easier to change the rules you dislike than to try to get a new tribunal recognized by the Grand Tribunal? I assume that the magi pushing for Lotharingia have proposed changes to the rules, say, concerning distribution of vis and ownership of vis sources, and legitimizing vassalage, without any luck?
"And if, say, down the road a group of magi remaining in Normandy take issue with another rule, or an interpretation of the Code, and cannot garner enough support among their sodales to change what they dislike, what is to keep them from deciding to create their own new Tribunal?
"I'm not saying yet whether I'm for or against the new Tribunal, as I've not made up my mind. I'm just trying to ensure that everyone involved has considered all of the potential ramifications."
They are following the Order's rules for setting up a Tribunal with the number of mages and Covenants. What they are doing is not a trivial matter by some petulant spring Covenant. What has never happened is forming a Tribunal from two existing Tribunals.
Murion speaks, "I am of two minds on the issue. I have personal feelings about this, as it diminishes the Rhine Tribunal, and thereby would seem to diminish my House. However, such a change could be an impetus for change. Our Order is stagnating. Our borders have not expanded. The young," and she indicates all the members of Mons Electi, "are intimately involved in politics in their Tribunals and not pushing the borders of the Order. Some speak in fear of the Order of Odin, and yet we have a Norseman amongst us. Some speak in fear of the Sahirs, and yet they are being driven back in Iberia. Yes, we have had occasional losses to our population here and there, but these have been ill-prepared groups.
"I digress, I'm intending to put this on the agenda for Grand Tribunal. It's a vigorous debate, and one we haven't had in such a very long time. I do know that those in Florum and Spider's Rest have marshalled considerable resources towards securing votes, and will continue to politic across the Order. I would expect them to call upon Mons Electi at some point, to find out where you might vote, or perhaps even if you're interested in joining the New Tribunal. I believe Eloi is interested in joining, despite his attempts to maintain cohesion here in Normandy. Eloi operates on a very fine line, and can appreciate a relaxation of interference rules possible with a new Tribunal and an opportunity to draft a new Peripheral Code." When Murion mentions Eloi, Andru's interest becomes quite intense.
[color=blue]"Begging your pardon, Prima, but I would be quite surprised if the Lotharingian Tribunal would take so much territory from Normandy that it could include Mons Electi. Not inconceivable, however, especially if they were to draw the lines to look like it had been done by a drunkard holding the quill in his teeth. Not to sound insular, but I still have not heard anything to move me in one direction or the other. Perhaps it's because of my own rustic upbringing, coming as I do from a Tribunal that has had the same Prima since it was founded, and with only one Quaesitor in attendance, in a covenant that had become mired in a winter of its own making. So I can certainly see where the Order may be perceived as 'stagnant', particularly if my experiences aren't as isolated as I would like to believe. And perhaps more, smaller Tribunals may be the way to go. God only knows. But I would like to see the motivating factor for the new tribunals' creation as more than simply 'I don't like the rules here, so I'm leaving.' It should be because of a more grandiose vision of the Order, or perhaps our own little corner of it. And I can understand how a smaller Tribunal may be more manageable, more amenable to the changes needed to keep the Order from stagnating to the point where it ceases to exist."
"Fiona, you have a point. And so does the proponents. A vigorous debate is necessary. Perhaps by signalling to your Tribunal that I'm placing the item on the Grand Tribunal agenda, it may cause a serious discussion to happen within your own Tribunal."
Alexei extends his left hand to shake with Valerian and looks about him to admire the stonework. "Isn't it grand? I know I was quite impressed when I first arrived. As to what you can do for me?" he shrugs. "When you first arrived I was too caught up in the presence of the Primi that I failed to recognize you. But I certainly would not miss the chance to talk shop with a redoubted warrior and defender of the Order as yourself. A fine escort to such esteemed and powerful members of the Order." he pauses and smiles, stroking his chin whiskers. "But of course I have to ask...with the recent interest in our Covenant, is there perhaps another reason you are here and slipped away from the festivities?" he produces a bottle of wine and two cups and holds them up in hospitality.