Isen does, too.
you mean, if you're masochistic?
Alright, it's placed outside the Aegis on the mundane side.
A few weeks after this Tristan arrives and boxes Alexei about the ears for falling into Lucius's trap and says, "Boy, if you want to be called my filius, you'd better learn something about the Order and stop presuming everyone's all nice and friendly." He's sent letters to all the Flambeau he trusts or doesn't know alerting them to your letter, and identifying himself as your filius. He tells Alexei that he politely suggests that everyone meet at Mons Electi before journeying to Castra Solis to fully discuss the matter.
Over the next two weeks, over a 100 people all told descend on Mons Electi in preparation for the journey to Castra Solis. There are about 12 magi, the rest are retainers, grogs and servants. Tristan gathers everyone into the fair grounds, and invites Alexei to speak and be inspirational...
((Very sorry for the delay issues at work and the wonkiness of the site prevented me from reading and posting. After the ear boxing and before the speech, Alexei would ask Tristan if he wanted to be considered for the position of Primus. Whether he said yes or no, he'd also want to know if any of the 12 magi that arrived had similar plans. My idea is that we'd go as a considerable voting block, as it stands we have 16 votes by my count, Alexei, Isen, Jacques, Tristan and 12 others. Based on Tristan's answer and the others in the crowd will determine what Alexei will be saying. I'd like him to be able to say that we should concentrate our 16 votes on this person more than simply saying we should take 16 votes away from Lucius. But if we can only agree on not voting for Lucius, that will have to do.))
"Hell no, my boy. I'm nominating Ariel from Stonehenge. She is far enough removed, she's not interested in the position and she's above reproach. I probably have another dozen votes for her outside, and our Housemates from Stonehenge will likely support her. Even Phillipus Niger and his ornery filius Valten have agreed to support Ariel."
"Valten? That pissant?" Alexei sighs. "He's not much of an endorsement for Ariel...I like the idea that she is beyond reproach, but Pater, we need someone that can mobilize our House. We might have a war to fight, one bigger than the Schism War. Can she do that? You said she's not interested...having a Primus who mainly is there to host our meetings is not what we need. But if you say she can and she will if properly motivated, then I will try and get her elected. It seems she'd have a considerable voting block if we can get this lot voting for her also."
((Are any of the other Flambeau seriously trying to claim they should be made Primus? Alexei wouldn't even consider anyone that was much younger than himself.))
"She'll perform the duties required as Primus of the House, and then some. I have no doubt. And while Valten is nothing, Phillipus Niger is not. The job of the Primus is one for someone of your generation, Ariel is that maga."
((I'm assuming you mention you have a Portal to ease transport to Tristan. Tristan mentions that you shouldn't be so generous as to allow everyone travel for free, but should charge at least a pawn of vis for the round trip between Harco and Mons Electi, and should instead show your generosity of being a fine host and allowing the men to revel and prepare themselves on the fair grounds.
Also, the password to the portal is only known by those you designate, and the Magical Merceres. I'm assuming all the designates are the council members of Mons Electi?))
((I was definitely going to charge something for the services. We'd show generosity by feasting the men and magi, but vis is what pays for the portal. As for the password it would be shared among the council of Mons Electi. Laetitia would not be informed, and Alexei would tell her immediately so it's no secret. it's not that he doesn't trust her, but she's already admitted that those in Guernici have power over her. It's best for all concerned if that is not a possible way in should she be compelled to betray us. I'll have the speech up shortly, and Alexei and Isen and Jacques would politely go around and ask for a pawn of vis for the trip plus any contributions for the effort before that))
((Laetitia is a council member, so not telling her is a huge slap in the face. See also the OOC commentary. You either trust her or you don't. Apollodorus pointed the way, if you choose not to follow, that's your choice, but doing so is really close to asking Arya to toss her character and build another magus, which is even more risky given the current environment. She had a sense of duty if not a compulsion to report about Xenophon, that no longer exists and is free from her House. If you need proof, Marcus can verify she's telling the truth, his Intellgo is pretty high, not as high as Laetitia's, but higher than one would expect of a combat monkey.))
((Alexei would bring it up at the council, he wasn't going to keep the password from her and just shun her. He would be forthright about it. He can be convinced, as I said in the OOC thread a part of Alexei's newly found distrust is because of not only hard lessons, but from Laetitia's own counsel to him. It's a legitimate in-character concern, but he can be convinced otherwise.))
((And now for the speech making))
Alexei steps forward to speak with the assembled Magi and personnel after squeezing his Pater’s hand one more time.
“Sodales, I am glad you have made it to Mons Electi on your way to Castra Solis for this grave service we must perform. Further glad am I that you flatter me by listening to my letters and entreaties. I am quite impressed at the turnout as well as the high expectations we might have and perhaps the confidence you placed in me by coming at all. Impressed because that confidence, however much it may be, is misplaced…for I…am a fool.” He pauses and smiles at Laetitia.
“A greater fool in fact than most would ever meet! So great a fool…if there were a contest held today to find the greatest fool in the Order…I would come in second. Why second? Because I’m a fool!”
“So foolish was I, I joined the wizard’s joust at the Tribunal, believing that all my opponents would follow the rules. So foolish that when I knew one was not…I still followed the rules! God must love fools, for I won that day. That is my foolishness. That I can blunder my way through the world thinking that all are as foolish as myself I guess, counting on good nature, on my ability to see good and evil, right and wrong, honour and villainy. It is that foolishness that led me to believe that Lucius was the right choice as our next Primus. Not only did I think that…I fooled others into thinking that! Or tried to. But Garus is dead, slain, assassinated. Why were the Milites not called in? Do you understand? Our Primus killed…and the Milites left unaware, the Horn not blown.”
“Then I write a letter to Lucius, saying that I want to support him, that I will carry water for him. How proud he must have been that I was so foolish! He thought I was so foolish, he asked me to write to all of you, to speak with all of you on his behalf…knowing that I would probably be unable to attend the vote in Castra Solis! And fool that I am…it nearly worked! If not for good covenmates thumping some logic into this empty helmet on top of my shoulders.” He knocks on his head three times. “I’d still be on the road trying to meet with you and hold up your course to Castra Solis…or worse, fallen prey to whatever happens to fools that have served their purpose as they travel away from home on dangerous roads.” He pauses ominously before continuing.
“It took my covenmates and my Pater, the honourable Tristan Flambonis, to finally make this fool see reason. Like a fool coachman who’s driving his coach and passengers to a cliff, I only just now woke up to the danger and am steering the coach away from doom." Alexei pause again as he regards the assemblage.
“No doubt you are asking yourself, or should be, ‘Why then should I follow, much less listen to someone who admits he is such a fool?’ Why indeed? Why should you give me any more time or anything more than your laughter and scorn? Because, you will be the greater fool if you do not profit from my foolishness! Look upon Lucius’s fool and know that he is not the one that will lead this House in the dark times ahead! No! Lucius is in fact the doom that the coachman is heading towards and only by taking hold of the reigns can we prevent that doom! Take some wisdom from me, this poor fool, and do not be fooled by his treachery! Do not reward his scheming! Vote for someone who is above reproach, someone with honour and integrity, someone who can lead us where Garus left off. There is a path that lies before us my Sodales. One is foolish, one is deadly. The foolish path will be difficult, it requires honour, determination, and now…just a bit of wisdom and hopefully God’s love. The other is deceptively easy, and seems to be wise, but it will poison you slowly until when you try to fight, you’ll have found the dagger in your back…just as Garus did I fear.”
“My vote will be for Ariel Flambonis from Stonehenge! I’m not saying you have to vote for her, but you should be far wiser than me and cast aside any vote for Lucius! Let us make Lucius…who tried to hinder your vote, be left at the dock as our ship of fools sets sail under Ariel as Primus! On to Castra Solis my friends! The fool has the reigns again and is steering us away from the cliff!”
((I meant to say Alexei will spend a Confidence point to help the roll))
Sorry, here's the roll:
1d10+3 → [7,3] = (10)
invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3547425/
Adding a Confidence point, total is 13
The speech does well. It appears Ariel will have quite a block of support.
Mons Electi manages to collect 35 pawns of vis (all form vis, I'll detail it later) for the transport. Some groups balked at paying the fee for each individual, so a compromise was struck. If you want it to be more vis or a specific form of vis, bargaining rolls would be necessary, but might result in less vis, too.
It's the day before the festivities at Castra Solis and people are making way to go through. Who's going through the portal first?
((How long can a Mercere Portal last or be used? A year?
Alexei is not going to bargain or quibble to get more vis or specific Forms. He's not good at it and this probably came as a surprise to them, so I'm happy to get 35, if the portal lasts awhile and these same Magi wish to use it again in the future they'll have no excuse and will pay as normal, that's the way Alexei sees it.))
After summoning his armour and modifying it as normal ((weight and extra protection)) and adding the speartip to his staff, Alexei will go through the portal first.
((Hermes Portals last a year. Mercere Portals are permanent.))
Alexei goes through and upon his arrival at Harco he's greeted, "Alexei von Kroistau, it's a pleasure to see you again." the voice is cold and lifeless, and suggests anything but pleasure. Valerian continues, "It would seem you've used Mons Electi's vast wealth to ease your transport to Castra Solis. How...unexpected." He offers a faint smile that is every bit as forced as Alexei can imagine it.
((OK...yes unexpected...here's where those lessons from Laetitia pay off. Alexei is not going to just attack him))
Alexei has no smile to force at the moment, only a deep scowl that seems more like a scar carved into his usual jovial face. He regards Valerian with open contempt and grips his spear tighter.
"Valerian...I am certain I feel the same as you. But I am surprised, I would think you'd scarce have the time to travel, with all of the conspiracies and crimes you are involved in...settling of course, I mean. But yes, what's the use of having vast wealth if one doesn't use it. Since I'm travelling with so many of my House, who are quite thoroughly engaged and emotional about recent events that you likely are well aware of, we felt it was best to take the most direct route. Like a spear cast, it must travel swiftly, to the heart of one's target." he thumps his staff on the ground once for emphasis. "That is the way I prefer to settle things." he looks around Valerian, to see who else might be with him.
"Don't you usually travel with two other accomplices...I mean sodales with you, going around settling scrolls...I mean scores...I'm sorry, I seem a bit tongue tied." Now a smile creeps slowly across his face.
"You're a droll fellow, aren't you? No, I had been passing through here, heard rumors of a new portal between Mons Electi and Harco and sought to see it for myself." Alexei had activated the portal out of site of anyone else, and is leaving it open by holding an arm in it, as Valerian finishes speaking others begin coming through. "I hope you find your time in Castra Solis...well spent." He chuckles and departs.
As others start to come through Alexei calls after Valerian.
"And I hope you spend your time well Valerian. Time is all the more precious when you have less of it!"
At the arrival of others ((probably Tristan or Isen and Jacques will be next)) Alexei whispers to them.
"Be on your guard. I just tilted words with Valerien, our welcome at Castra Solis might be...sharp. Pass this on to the others please...with subtlety."
I agree.
Like Qcipher, I was under the impression that Laetitia was under a compulsion.
IMO, from Isen's POW, there's nothing wrong telling "We trust you as a person, we know your heart is in the right place, but we can't trust the magic, so we'll have to withold the password from you". He's understand if the situation was reversed.
Having stood aside Alexei during his speech, to show an united front and led support, Isen, hating all the way to speak in public, but feeling compelled by shame and duty, adds
And I will, too, vote for Ariel.
For I, too, was fooled and used by Lucius.
But I, too, have realised my error, and am trying to avert disaster. Follow the fool, my friends! For Garus, for justice, for Flambeau and the Order!
Isen will have summoned his buff spells, and follow.
(You guys are too fast! I'd have liked a few words to valerian 
Anyway)
Oh. This explains the stench, then.
I'll concede the man one thing. He has balls of steel, to show himself here.