"Mutual-- what? We are Flambeau, not Tremere. Do you assume that because I don armour, I will blindly trust a man I've never met? This 'mutual membership' you invoke attends an expectation that one would not seek to part a miles from his amici in these uncertain times. Or have you forgotten why we are here?!" He moves to Ariel's side and whispers in her ear; she glances at Alexei and nods.
At the commotion, an enormous woman enters and crosses quickly to the Jew. "Deiectus. Is there more trouble? So soon?" She sounds almost eager, and runs her big hands absently over her fuzzy halo of bright red hair.
The miles shakes his head. "It is nothing, sodalis. But it is good that you remain alert."
Alexei makes a slight wince as he a sudden flash of anger rushed through him but nods and holds up his hand. "Please...I meant no offense, you are correct. Accept my apology, there will be plenty of talking and deeds during this gathering, my questions will wait. And again...I am glad you came, and those close to you."
At the entrance of the enormous redhead he smiles. "Is...could this be...Sinmara?" he asks with his German accented Latin, he recalls meeting William and his giant child-girl of an apprentice some years ago.
The redhead regards him positively frostily for a moment or two, then steps forward and looms over him. Alexei stands his ground and looks up at her unintimidated.
She holds up a massive paw, three fingers extended.
"Only three men have called me Sin-mara, one is my pater." she counts off a finger. "Another who is dead." she counts off another finger. "And the last...taught me a trick or two with sword play..." she seems lost in thought for moment as she regards Alexei.
"Aye, and I received a few broken ribs in payment, and that was when you were only as tall as me...while I sat in the saddle!"
"Alexei?!" she exclaims as her face breaks into a smile and she opens her arms wide. Alexei interposes his staff between them.
"Ah-ah! Spare my ribs this time if ye please and just give me a kiss instead." he says with a bit of a laugh, but his eyes say he's not kidding.
Sinmore scowls and pushes aside the spear. "Like this toothpick would hurt me." nevertheless she leans down and plants a smooch on his cheek. "It is good to see you again."
Jacques continues to mix and talk to other Flamebeau. He finds this very interesting as he has never been to one of these before and is not sure what to make of it. At one point he will be seen talking to Lucius in a group of other Magi.
Isen is very ill at ease. Here we are all, discussing and boasting like nothing happened, while our primus was slain and the order is in danger. This is madness, Garus death should be at the forefront of any and all discussions, the killer sought and brought to justice!
When he sees Lucius appear, one could hear Isen's teeth grinning.
When jacques engages him, he is surprised, and curious. What is jacques doing?
He considers going, too, and stabbing Lucius. Sure, he'd be marched and killed, but this would cripple Valerian's plans far more than Isen's death. Save that, even if he hasn't protective magics, Lucius can very well survive that one, and the act would boost his sympathy. Moreso, this would be a stain on the milites, and a damaging blow to their movement and ideals.
Thinking: We need a secret society for cases like this. Lucius, Valerian... A cadre of magi and mundanes, spies and assassins that can strike from the shadows and disappear. Something that the milites are not a part of, but that will serve them, and help them shape the house. Since the light of the quaesitores has become perverted, we need to obsfucate and confuse it. Which means this must be greater than House flambeau, in truth. But this is such a controversial idea! Fraught with risk of corruption, too. Meaning it'd need magi of great character and wisdom. Meaning, first and foremost, that I don't see how I could discuss it with someone.
But when he sees Lucius and Jacques shaking hands... Ok, what's that traitor doing? Well, maybe he's not a traitor and he's fooling lucius, but I have a hard time stomaching it.
He'll go to Jacques once the two depart
So... Anything interesting?
((I've decided not to continue this thread when I return from vacation.))
Ariel is elected Prima of Flambeau. However, she is not offered residence at Castra Solis, in contravention of tradition that the primus lives at the established Domus Magna. When word gets out that they will not let her reside at Castra Solis, she declares that she intends to reform Val Negra, and asks any who are interested in aiding her in this endeavor to join with her. A few from Castra Solis do join with her, and in the process they remove from the library and treasury of all things that are domus magna owned. She indicates she will need some assistance from other interested parties who don't wish to reform Val Negra and they shall be rewarded for that assistance.
To Isen, this means that there's probably a problem with Castra Solis. Could the resident there be accomplices to Lucius and Valerian? Where does lucius resides? What does he do?
He'll signify shortly to Ariel that he's with her, and will support her. He's just not into social graces, so he won't be flowery, but he'll be clear about it.
Lucius is the castellan of Castra Solis, it was his job to sound the horn, he never did. He will likely be Princeps of Castra Solis.
Not all the resident magi were in league with them, 8 magi remained with Lucius. While Lucius and the others had been reveling in what they thought was a sure win, Ariel had been working behind the scenes. While she was quietly garnering votes to become Primus she also convinced a few members of Castra Solis to join with her. When she was elected Primus and was not extended an invitation to join Castra Solis those members she'd recruited quickly repossessed the vis stocks, books, items and other materiel that belonged to the entire House. This process does leave Castra Solis in a significantly weaker position, but it isn't weak. Does that help?
I'll make sure to help carry stuff out right in front of Lucius and his cronies. Is Ariel in charge of the Milites now? Does she appoint a new castellan? Alexei will advise her to do so if she can, but he's not bucking for the job himself.
Yes and yes. For a time, the Domus Magna will be in Stonehenge. Also, regarding all the times Alexei's going to help with Val Negra, unless you actually want to write out stories for those, please pick something else for him to do. It's such a vague and undefined thing in Alexei's schedule I have nothing to base it on, and I don't know what effects you're intending to create with your help. So, if you want to take on a greater share of things and SG your own stories a bit, go for it. Otherwise, ratchet it down to one, and we'll treat it like a Princeps season in addition to the others you have.
That's fine, the easiest way might be to just chalk it up with the story flaw he already has with the Milites then. So whenever that suits story purposes for you. I'll add some additional studies then to his list.
))
