Alexei frowns at Apollodorus and the mention of the Intelligo vis, then addresses those present. "It's true, I won a large amount of Intelligo vis at the Tribunal for my victory in the joust. I felt it was my right, but I had too much victory wine, I didn't realize it was such a large portion of the purse for our covenant's victory. I wanted the vis for a project I'm starting, but truly don't need as much." he gives a somewhat mocking somewhat serious glare to Apollodorus. "However, my plan was to give some of the excess back to the covenant as a gift come the next Yule. But...Creo might be more to our advantage. If you'd like to trade m'lady I shall see what I need for my projects and what will remain."
((I'm embarassed to say I've completely lost track of the time on this. Alexei may have already finished his projects, the Intelligo was to add some effects to his Talisman. He was starting that in 1221.))
After they have moved to the council chamber, Laetitia will respond to this. "You won't be fined as there is no official plundering investigation. Should you choose to take this opportunity to register sources your energetic young colleagues have recently discovered, it shall be done, but no more.
"Proctor had been warned of my disposition shortly after my arrival. It should arouse no small amount of suspicion should be find me any less than what Father described."
The owl blinks thoughtfully, and chooses to reply to Apollodorus in whatever his native tongue is (in the hopes that it is neither Latin nor Welsh). "Carnivores are not pleasing to the palate. And my friend here chooses to overindulge, rather because she has a greater opinion of her own limitations than prudence would demand."
"I suspected it, but have no intention of reporting anything to Proctor which does not fall under my official assignment, which is to validate Mons Electi's seisins. It is not meet to abuse the trust the Order places in our House in the furtherance of one's personal objectives. If you were the subject of an official investigation, I would bend all my talents toward uncovering the truth. As you are not, I will not devalue my office nor undermine the faith my sodales place in the Guernicus name, by stooping to petty espionage."
A shadow crosses Laetitia's face for just the briefest of moments. (Please roll for me, as Laetitia tries to hide her discomfort at those words. Com 3, Intrigue 3.)
"You are correct that my assignment was not Proctor's choice. When I requested... reassignment, my mentor, Moebius, arranged to place me here. Of the three Tribunals which were requesting aid, Normandy offered the least amount of actual case work. More importantly, he knew that it should be much easier for me to replace the advocate here, than in the Alps or Iberia. Cavillor means well, but he couldn't convince the ocean to stay wet. Moe likely expects that I shall never return to Magvillus except as when duty requires it.
"But for what it's worth, I do not believe Proctor to be... particularly privileged... among Guernici. His Gift is not suited to it."
Laetitia is unperturbed by the assertion that Proctor intends to use her as a catspaw-- she accepts that those who hunger for power will attempt to use others, and doesn't find it particularly surprising or upsetting that the biggest blusteriest windbag in Normandy thinks she'll be his pawn.
She does, however, have trouble answering Apollodorus' last statement, and her brow furrows in thought. "My loyalties?" she asks thoughtfully. "If you asked me a year ago, I'd not have hesitated to answer, Veritas, Iustitia, Lex Hermeticum, Glaukopis, Aequitas, Guernicus. In that order. Today?" she sighs. "I wish I knew."
"I got some message that Apollodorus wanted to speak with us about a Quaesitor's vis..." He stops when he sees everyone and straightens his clothes. "Well, we need our messengers to be more clear." He bows to Laetitia. "Korvin ex Mercere at your service. I assume that you are Laetitia filia Iudicium scholae Guernici, Advocata ab Magvillus. " He looks around. "Where is Fieltarn? I sent him a message about your arrival. "
Apollodorus nods in agreement about her assessment of Cavillor, adding a slight qualification."Cavillor is young, and while he has a strong grasp of the Code and the Peripheral Code, he lacks the ability to express it. He could use some mentoring from someone better able to express herself, perhaps."
"How very unexpected." He stares intently at Laetitia as if trying to find something. "Or perhaps it's your Fae heritage clouding my perceptions."
"In any event, I asked for this council, and since Fieltarn seems to be indisposed, I wish to thank Jormungand for calling it to order. Laetitia's presence here is a harbinger of things to come for us, Proctor wants to know more about me, more about my past. Some of you know that I was gauntleted in House Tremere, and for those of you who don't, now you do. Tremere rarely leave the House, and that has roused Proctor's interest. For nearly 30 years, I maintained a low profile in Autun, and so he rarely bothered me. I amassed a huge mundane fortune and began making plans to share the largesse with others, so I could pursue my interests in art, literature and culture. I'm sure that he's suspicious of how that was done, whether I interferred with mundanes, or what. I'm sure that the Church's and the Duke's lack of interest in us are also warning signs, but those have come about as favors given to a shrewd business man. Our entirely mundane income source also pumps the economy of the duchy, indirectly enriching the Duke, and generating tithes for the Church. We are the golden goose to them, but this would be the case for any normal business man." Apollodorus pauses, and drinks from a glass.
"So, be prepared for spies. Spies will be here to gather information about our dealings, with the ultimate goal of uncovering my past. Korvin, forgive me, but Redcaps sell information they acquire. Some drop innocuous tidbits here and there, and some actively mine information. Be cautious in all your dealings. My past isn't shameful, dishonest or anything sordid or scandalous, but it is mine. My reasons for leaving Tremere are my own, and those within the House know those reasons. Those within House Jerbiton who need to know, know as well. In time, I may share elements of my past with you, but that time isn't now.
"And if Proctor or any Quaesitor contacts you directly, be friendly, be honest and be concise. Yes or no to questions, as if it's an interrogation. If you're asked to elucidate, do so as concisely as possible. Laetitia, do you have any further reccommendations?
After Laetitia makes her comments, "I'll answer what questions I can. Some I may defer to a later time."
Laetitia frowns, then sighs. "You're right, of course. It is tempting to think that if I establish a position in Normandy much like I had in Rome, that... I might feel a sense of belonging again. But of course that is naive fantasy."
"Surprising? What is? What my priorities were before? Or that I don't know where they are now?
"As far as my fae heritage goes, my father has not the slightest bit of sense where Mother is concerned. But I inherited mostly her looks, and not much of her grace. I am not fishing for compliments, either-- you would understand if you met her." She smiles.
"You are under no obligation to speak with any Quaesitor who is not on an official investigation. We are all trained in mundane ways of detecting lies and other obfuscation, so your best bet is to avoid such interactions to begin with. You are well within your rights to tell nosy Quaesitores to get stuffed when they are abusing their reputations to fish for information outside of official business, but in practice this will draw more unwanted attention. Avoidance is best. Particularly," she notes with a wry glance at Alexei, "for those who might be unpracticed in concealing one's emotions. And for those who are drunk.
"Princeps Jormungand, if I might entreat you for Guest status, I should like to perhaps exhaust any tractatus you might have on Parma before I return to Confluensis. I have an excellent Cow and Calf tome on Terram I could lend, in exchange. Or I could grant leave for your scribes to copy either of the texts I have authored."
Alexei seems annoyed at being told how to talk to anyone, but a smile creeps over his face at Laetitia's comment.
"I will speak how I will, to whomever I speak with. I have never feared to speak with Quaesitors, Masters, Primi or anyone, including my enemies. I shall say what I mean, or say nothing at all, and I will deal with the response that follows. I am not afraid, and I do not play word games to dissemble." this is said rather plainly and simply, though one gets the feeling that a few moments before he might have said the same thing a bit more forcefully, perhaps to dare others to prove him otherwise. As it is, it sounds like he's merely admitting a fact.
"So, we are in agreement to hastily declare our sources? If so, until we receive word that they have been accepted, we should keep a keen eye on our sources so they are not poached in the meanwhile."
"In the event my vote is necessary to split a tie, and I don't think it is, I agree we need to declare all our sources, and then have them judged around midsummer for any that are on the edge. Given that necessity, Laetitia, I invite you to stay and enjoy our hospitality until then." He hands her a token for the Aegis [didn't see that this happened].
"I want to take this opportunity to inform you all that I will not be present at the Spring council meeting. Andru has asked a boon of me, and I've been engaging in correspondence with Marcus and he's agreed to help us. Laetitia, here is a copy of my will, just in case. Your arrival was fortuitous." Turning his attention to his covenant mates he says, "There are other identical copies in my sanctum, Reynault knows how to retrieve them. Those copies need to be delivered to the Greater and Lesser Secundus of House Jerbiton, Poena and Maris by someone personally, one other copy is to remain for Mons Electi. I hope to return before the Hermes Portal at my pied-à-terre expires. In the event that it does expire, I'll send word ahead that we've returned safely to Valnastium."
[color=blue]"If by 'hastily' you mean 'immediately,' then yes, we are in agreement to 'hastily' rectify the oversight we made nigh two years ago, and pray that this oversight does not come back to bite us on the arse."
She then turns to Laetitia. [color=blue]"Will you require the services of our cursor in the morning when you verify our seisins?"
(yes, I am in the process of creating our Cursor yea verily even as we speak)
"I accept your offer, and will strive to be as gracious a guest as my hosts are accommodating." She grins, and raises her wine glass before taking a swig.
Laetitia raises a hand. "Apologies for the presumption-- but if you wish, I can hand deliver those addressed to Coeris, and have them there first thing upon the morrow."
Apollodorus seems genuinely moved, "I appreciate your willingness to undertake the task, but would prefer that it would be Alexei or Fiona to deliver the items to Maris. Maris can then take either to Poena. If for some reason neither is available, I would ask that it fall to a covenant member, first, as there will be some instructions that only Poena or Maris can clarify."
Apollodorus smiles and looks upon Laetitia, "There is a task that you can take care of for me. This past summer I visited our vassal, Atsingani, and Viviana asked me to send the lost ewe to her when she arrived. Would that apply to you, dear?" It doesn't appear that anyone else heard what Apollodorus just said to Laetitia, as everyone is carrying on their discussion of how to handle the logistics of showing her the undeclared seisin.
Laetitia giggles. "Require? Strictly speaking, no... But if your seisin rights rely on my athletic abilities, you would find your income severely minimized."
The Quaesitor does her best to appear unperturbed. "I should think that a mundane or a Gently Gifted magus might be more suitable than myself for the delivery of livestock to your vassals," she replies in a voice which suggests yes, I know what you meant, but I'm not going to dignify that with a straight answer. "But if it isn't far from here, or if you have an arcane connection there, I could see if my skill with Intellego could help her find the poor beast she's looking for."
"Yes, they are close by, within a half a day's walk. I believe they will need your services to verify their new seisin, as well. I'm sure you'll find we have quite enough to keep you busy. We do not have a guest lab setup, but we certainly have space for one, so you can configure it as you desire. I'm not sure of your Arts, but if you have any of your family's talent with Terram, you could probaby bring the contents of your previous lab here, unless it is boxed up."
"I have studied only as much Terram as necessary in the event that I find a child suitable to train as an apprentice. I do intend to spend some quality time with Velarian's summa, but currently I have no way to transport my lab from Magvillus. I should probably invest in one here-- I will need a longevity ritual soon."
"I can make my own at eighth magnitude, possibly ninth if I push myself and have a good laboratory. I am afraid there are not many favours I could trade to either Jormungand or Korvin that would account for a season of their time... I am singularly focused on Intellego, which is often unappreciated by most. If I make a ritual before next winter, then it would only cost me ten pawns of vis; after next year it would be eleven. I had hoped to bear a Gifted child before succumbing to the ritual, but my time has nearly run out."
[color=blue]"You definitely want to talk to Jormungand, then. I'm certain you two can work out something to your mutual...satisfaction," Fiona says with a knowing smirk.
If you supply the Vis for the ritual, I will accept a season of you teaching me the art of Intellego. And given a year I should have my lab fully set up to add in Longevity Rituals.
"What magnitude Longevity Ritual can you achieve? I am a better writer than a teacher... You're welcome to read the summa I've authored, if its level is sufficient as to be useful to you. Maybe by the time you exhaust it, I will have learned better how to teach more effectively."
Jormungand perks up and at the mention of a child and leaves the discussion about the vis sources. "Ah'm sorry, but Ah couldn't help overhearing that last bit. Ah AM a Priest of the Goddess of Fertility, Freyja in her beauty be blessed. Guaranteeing gifted fruition is not within mah abilities but so far, all of mah bestowed blessings on her behalf have yielded progeny. It would be a shame to put aside her gift before you've had a chance to use it properly." When he says "gift" he is lovingly looking at Laetitia's belly. Hungrily or reverently, your choice.
