"Oh, everything is here. There's the matter of your Covenant's charter. A clause about Apollodorus's untimely device and someone here being accused of that muder. I'm not a legal scholar. It's a bit above my head. In any event, I won't keep you from your studies, or other matters, whether Hermetic or mundane. If someone can see me to some guest quarters. I'll make my stay short, or offer something in return for an extended stay. I'd like to look on Mufarjj. I feel bad for the poor chap."
[color=blue]"Alexei's...squire? Helmut should be on his way, he can get you situated and show you to Mufarjj as well."
"Ahh, excellent news! My experience on Thera was far more filling than I had ever imagined it could be. By the way, what brings two magae out to offer hospitality? Did I interrupt some shared lab exercise?"
[color=blue]"You could say that," Fiona says.
"...You were riding the Verditius' familiar?!?"
Looking at Laetitia somewhat offended, "Certainly don't know what you are talking about with regard to a Verditius's familiar."
To both generally he says, "Very well, I'll leave you two to it. I'm going to look up your Princeps as son as he returns from wherever he is and ask to investigate some of the Celtic ruins about. Or at least whatever was left after the Diedne covenant that was here might have left behind Supposedly in antiquity Bibracte was reputed to produce enameled goods. Those kinds of things fascinate me."
Helmut arrives leading Alexei. Alexei seems genuinely pleased to see Marcus.
"Marcus! Sodale, what brings you here? It is good to see you, and may I thank you again for the aid you provided at the last Tribunal!" he dismounts and offers his hand to Marcus.
"Thera... that's the name of Viscaria's giant spider," Laetitia explains.
(Correct me if I'm wrong, as it would be player misunderstanding and not character misunderstanding.)
"Actually, Fiona and I are venturing in to the ruins. They are a doorway into the Magic Realm, and we have..." she exchanges a look with Fiona, "...business there. Would you care to join us?"
Marcus returns Alexei's hearty greeting. "It was nothing." he waves the matter off.
Looking at Laetitia, "No, the Thera I was spoken of was the island formed from an extinct volcano now currently invested with vampires. I wouldn't ride around on anyone's familiar, without permission, especially my own."
"I believe what you're describing is a vestige, which is interesting for all sorts of different reasons. No, I was speaking about the mundane ruins. That there is a vestige connected to this area would be unsurprising, given the way the renounced House disappeared after their fortunes started changing. Many covenants were reputed to have disappeared from the mundane world entirely. I can join you, I'm obviously not doing anything pressing, presently."
Laetitia smiles. "Excellent! Someone strong and bold to protect us, and quite knowledgeable as well. How fortunate we are, Fiona!"
(Is Marcus at all good-looking?)
No, he's postively ugly, the only thing he's got going for him is he's a polite speaker (Pre of -2) He has a broken body, and the handicaps are difficult for many to overcome, including his fellow magi. Of course, he uses this to his advantage. "Laetitia, your reputation precedes you. Apollodorus said you were a charmer." He looks as if he has more to say, but doesn't.
To Alexei, "My familiar is likely lingering in some unfortunate shepherd's pasture, they literally dotted the countryside as we approached. I'm sure we'll need to recompense the shepherd for the loss, if the covenant can manage this on my behalf, I will repay the covenant upon our return. It appears I'm off to help these lovely ladies."
[color=blue]"Yes...quite," Fiona says, sounding exceedingly skeptical.
[color=blue]"Will you excuse us just a moment, Marcus?" She then moves to one side and whispers to Laetitia.
[color=blue]"Do you think it wise to invite a near-stranger to accompany us on our task to treat with refugee members of a House that face certain death under the current law?"
"Fiona-- If we can't win a personal friend of Apollodorus to our cause, then what do you think are our chances of living through the next Tribunal? The wisest thing to do would be to find a place to hide and never show our faces within the Order again. We've already decided we can't live with wise. In the interests of justice, we will have to take some risks. Think of this one as... practice.
"Besides, those we seek may be likely to shoot first and ask questions later. I saw this guy in the Tournament, though I didn't know who he was at the time. Having an ally who can neutralize enemy magic may make the difference. It would be a tragedy if we found who we sought, but had to kill them-- and an even greater tragedy if they killed us."
Alexei frowns. "I believe some of the men had reported an incident or two, but I could be mistaken. What does your familiar look like? I'll inform the men, but if you can, call it off. We wouldn't want anything to happen to your property. So you'll be assisting them? I went through a regio not so long ago to speak with some giants. They are not unreasonable, and they're not entirely stupid either. So be careful. It didn't help that a Bonisagus was trying to abduct their son."
"Small dragon, about yay big." Marcus puts his hands up to about the height of a large sheep dog commonly seen in the area. "I had to let him run around a bit, he's been cooped up in Valnastium and then Thera for some time."
Talking about the giants, "Giants eh? Is that what we're going on? Say, Alexei, would you happen to have a shield grog I could take with me?" ((Note, I'll just grab one of the grogs, he's just asking for permission to take one along, and he doesn't have to be anybody named.))
Laetitia purses her lips in thought, and continues in a whisper to Fiona. "Speaking of refugees facing certain death... maybe it would be wise to bring Moebius along. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to him while I was away. I can't have another loved one's death on my conscience."
[color=blue]"My apologies. I'm just a little on edge right now, with everything that's going on, finding out that everything we knew is a lie, and that we might need the help of a house that we've all been taught was the ultimate evil in the Order's history."
She looks down and sighs. [color=blue]"It's just going to take a little getting used to, is all."
"I insist. Bring Brionne, he went there the last time, he'll keep you safe. Michelle La Rouge also went I believe."
When Laetitia looks up Moebius, before attempting to depart again, he indicates that he is quite happy to be conversing with the gnomes. "If I'm to die because this covenant is attacked, so be it. I've lived a full life. I have no interest in pursuing these mysteries, these gnomes are much more interesting."
"He went where, last time? To find the Diedne, what a precocious grog you have!"
Laetitia hugs him and cries.