"I see, sorry, so many different things going on right now. Perhaps a few grogs from Jacques turb instead then, they could use the field time."
((I'll assume that Alexei sends for a grog and that Fiona and Laetitia already have grogs. We'll handle Laetitia's interaction with Moebius as an event that happened before they decided to go off on this errand.))
When the grog joins them and introductions are made (I'll name him shortly) Marcus says, "Ladies, if I may interrupt? I'm ready to leave whenever you say you're ready for me to come along. If you don't wish me to come along, I'll have this fine young lad digging some trenches or something." At that the grog visibly sags and send Laetitia and Fiona a pleading look that says, anything but that, please! The day is getting hotter, and it's nearly noon.
"We are ready, Marcus. First we should tell you what we're doing..."
She'll make sure we have privacy somewhere, and then explain what happened, and where we're going, and why.
"Details aren't all that important to me. It is wise to take someone capable in combat magic as a precaution, given the history of this place." Marcus sweeps his arm around indicating the entire hilltop, "Apollodorus told me a bit about this place and why he chose it to start a new covenant, he called me one of his harbingers of doom and said I deserved to know some of what he asked me to do." Looking directly at Laetitia, "you were his other harbinger of doom. With me, he sought to repay a debt, which I happily helped. With you, he saw a way to undo the harm of some grievous crime, although he refused to elaborate." ((Depending on how much Laetitia shared, and I'm presuming only the details of this particular episode, I'll compartmentalize the information I know from him. If I lose track, keep me on the straight and narrow, I'm likely to confuse myself.))
((Paging Laetitia and Fiona to the Land of Giants))
Laetitia told Marcus why Apollodorus was killed, about the Curse of Thoth amd whom it was used on (and that they were planning to use it again), amd explains we are lookin for Diedne's descendants to aid us against Magvillus' inner council and to rejoin the Order after the inner council has been exposed.
((Sorry, was waiting for Laetitia and Marcus to finish their confab so I can put my theory on how to get through to the test.))
Marcus puts two and two together from Laetitia's earlier comment about an Arcane connection and joining house Jerbiton he extends an invitation, "If you find yourself in need of a House, as a favor to Apollodorus, may he rest in peace, I'd be honored to extend to you an invitation to House Tytalus. Do not let the stereotype of the banal, blatantly gifted necromancer dissuade you. As an advocate, I'm sure you understand the necessity for conflict to distill Truth from facts. I've never had a filia or filius, and the period of instruction would be light, I'm sure. My gauntlet experience was unusual, in that my pater was killed by sahirs and the Jinn they controlled. I escaped, but no one would call me an magus or teach me the final secret to Parma magica until I multicasted two Balls of Abysmal flame in the face of another Tytalus. It was, of course a forceless casting." He gives a big grin over the last bit. "I'm sure we can come up with something more consistent with your skill set, though."
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind," Laetitia replies.
Now, Diedne Reconnaissance Team... Transform and roll out.
Fiona and Laetitia make there way back towards the manner house, Marcus appears to be studying everything while floating along behind them. Apropos of nothing, Marcus comments, "Apollodorus's death must have aligned this aura with the art of Rego. Very interesting."
Fiona looks at him thoughfully as they approach the regio entrance. [color=blue]"Do you think it's possible that he was somehow able to tie his life-essence to the covenant and to some of the people? Rego, I believe, was a strength of his, and I'm still somewhat disturbed by how quickly Reynault went downhill after Apollodorus passed."
She then looks at Laetitia and Marcus, being careful to stand a little behind Laetitia. [color=blue]"Are we ready, sodales?" Without waiting for an answer, she shoves Laetitia through the regio barrier.
Before the shoving begins, "Well, it's been speculated that Trianoma's death after the Grand Tribunal of 832 incresaed the aura around Durenmar significantly." Marcus muses. "I wonder if Trianoma was murdered like Apollodorus was?"
Oh and Laetitia needs to make a Dex +Size roll of 9+ to stay standing from the sudden push.
[color=blue]"If so...and by the same people and for similar reasons...then this is even bigger than I thought it was."
((Has Fiona heard this rumour, or has she always heard the standard "she went back to her room and died in her sleep" version? Int 1 + Order of Hermes Lore 2 + die roll of 8 = 11.))
The rumor of her death increasing the aura? Yes, that's common knowledge that anyone with OoH Lore knows. Even if they didn't have any Lore, I'd probably allow a really easy roll for it.
The rumor that her death was the result of a murder? No. To Fiona's knowledge she's never heard the murder speculation before now. Marcus comment was more along the lines of idle speculation, not suspicion.
Laetitia nods. "Yes, I th--" and tumbles over at Fiona's shove. Caught off guard, her hands reflexively clench, and Glaukopis can't pull his feet free of his mistress' grasp before she tumbles over.
((I really do want a roll, because on the off chance you make it, I want the comic effect of Laetitia being all indignant, if it's too tough to do on the phone I can roll it on your behalf.))
I rolled the d10 I keep in my purse. It was a zero, no botch, but I only rolled one botch die.
Well, alright, that's no fun. Try and use invisible castle, though.
Laetitia falls and disappears from view.
I am thinking of throwing this die out. It keeps giving zeroes 
I can use IC when at home (or when I log in from my work computer) but ForumRunner keeps losing my login cookies whenever I switch apps-- very frustrating.