((Here is where I hand the remainder of this story to the troupe.))
Tranquillina arrives at the south gates of Mons Electi.
Thanks to a quick stop before reaching the gates, where she used a quick Outfit for any Occasion and Disguise of the New Visage after reverting back to human form, Tranquillina doesn't look like she's been traveling overland; instead she is wearing an opulent red dress with golden strip highlights and white sleeves, certainly more of a Stonehenge style, but one that complements her coloration well; she has also lengthened and curled her brownish-red hair, and aged her appearance slightly to a woman in her mid-twenties.
(Ok, this is not me to describe this kind of things, as this is more Alexei's domain, but this makes sense, and serves to highlight how we've done something)
By then, the grogs have certainly be drilled by Alexei to warn of any intruder, especially in the regio.
Since tranquillina arrives openly, alarm isn't raised, but still, the watchmen become more alter, some surveying tranquillina, while the others stay at their post and scan the surroundings in case this is a diversion. As her clothes clearly signal her as an extraordinary traveler, a belt is ringed, to warn the magi that there's a visitor from the OOH
She is quickly told to stop before the gates, in what is basically an open field, should they fire on her: All wood and natural cover has been cleared from the covenant's surroundings, should the crossbowmen fire on her.
(Sorry, I have a headache, thus the poor descriptive text and lack of roleplay. Hard to think.)
Hearing the bell ring, Isen uses one of the ACs he has collected to various points of the covenant, and use 7-league stride to teleport there,
1d10=3 + Dex 1 + Finesse 6 = 10, arriving gracefully.
He then comes out of the walls towards Tranquillina. Not that it is his role to handle hermetic diplomacy: The serious talks should be done with fiona. But it is his, and Alexei and Jacques, role to ensure the visitor is not an agressor. To be the first line.
Salve Sodales. And welcome to Mons Electi. What brings you to our home?
((Alexei isn't at Mons Electi, so for Isen to step up isn't unreasonable. And handling situations differently than Alexei is part of the story, IMO. For ST:TNG fans think of the switch over from Picard to Jellico in Chain of Command. That being said, the aggressor would have to be insanely powerful to walk up on a known covenant and start attacking. Especially when they are by themselves. I think that Isen would run those things through his mind before being too confrontational.))
((Summer of 1223, we're still using the seasonal princeps rotation system. Viscaria is Princeps that season, and Isen Vice-Princeps, since he was Princeps the season before. If someone does want to fetch Fiona for whatever reason, she's teaching Sheelagh, so she'd bring her apprentice along unless she thinks it would be dangerous.))
((Or powerfully insane! :mrgreen: ))
Tranquillina stands patiently while she waits for a magus to arrive - all standard procedure, in her experience - and passes the time by observing the mundane fortifications. The fact that there are several guards at this one entrance speaks to her of the covenant's resources: even though this is surely the main way in, she knows from past correspondence with Apollodorus that there are vast pasturelands that need patrolling as well. So the turb must be plentiful, a couple dozen at a bare minimum. Seeing more than one crossbow pointed in her direction, she has to resist the urge to cast Wizard's Sidestep.
"Salve, good sir. I am Tranquillina Bonisagi, and I bring a petition to your council." She removes the copy of her letter from her pouch, and offers it to the unnamed magus to read. When he finishes, she adds, "The original letter, of which this is but a copy, bears the signature of our friend Alexei von Kroitsau ex Flambeau. I am unsure whether the Redcaps have yet delivered that letter to you here - it was dispatched about a month ago."
The letter has been received, and all of the magi have been made aware of it. Whether Viscaria or Isen received the letter, I think it's reasonable that other magi would have been informed of the contents of said letter...
Yup, this is why the alarm wasn't raised.
As I see it, it kinda ran like this:
- It attacked, ring the alarm bell
- If it's an announced visitor ("I shall come tomorrow"), welcome him in, go fetch the magi who's waiting for X
- If it's anything else, it means it managed to get into our regio, so it's not ordinary. Ring the "May a magus come, please?" bell.
Also, there's the power of diversion 
So, no, Isen is not confrontational (Hum. I mean, he doesn't intend to, he's just grumpy as usual), but he wonders what/who the visitor is.
(Head feeling better, but still...)
Salve, sodales. Isen Flambonis, current vice-princeps of Mons Electi.
He’ll take the letter and inspect it. He hasn’t yet blown into full-on paranoid mode due to his defense reflexions, so he doesn’t expect tranquillina to be an impostor, yet he’ll take care to signs that this was well written by Alexei, such as turn of phrases and context.
We were expecting you, but you are a little late. Did you have any problems coming here?
He’s thinking of valerian, of course, but then realizes he sounds like a cop. So he adds
Some of our most recent visitors had… trouble on the road here. I hope you were not similarly bothered.
((Just to make sure I'm on the same page: Tranquillina, and visitors in general, are greeted on the mundane side, possibly within the magic aura but outside the Aegis and certainly far from the regio - is that right?))
((The letter was composed by Tranquillina - Alexei's signature was only as a stamp of approval or some such. On the other hand, Isen's interpretation is reasonable enough given what Tranquillina said out loud - although he'll find out when he reads the letter.))
((Looking over at the Road to Bibracte thread - Tranquillina's journey was comparatively smooth! 
But still: ))
"In troth, I had planned to remain at Le Maison d'Levrier until I received a response to this letter," Tranquillina admitted. "But a traveling party of Tremere were headed in this direction by chance, and so I decided to arrive unannounced." Her hazel eyes become distant for a moment. "It was ... a smooth journey, in some ways. Not without its surprises." She wonders how she will bring up the matter of the Field Aegis to this council's members, most of whom she has never met. In time, in time....
It is at this point that the name "Isen Flambonis" registers with her. ((Isen's Reputation (cold-blooded killer) 3 + stress die 9 = 12, defeats an Ease Factor of 9 (ArM5 page 19).)) Dear God, she flinches, taking what she hopes is a casual step or two away from Isen. Oh, Lord - I gave him that letter. How long ago did I write it? Is it still an Arcane Connection to me?!
If isen notices tranquillina's reaction, he says nothing (funny thing, this reputation comes from his tutelage under Axion ).
So. This sure looks like Alexei's words. I guess you are who we were expecting. Come, I'll lead you to the covenant proper
He won't propose her a token, in part because he's a little defiant, in part because he just doesn't think about it.
So. What are you good at? We are in sore need of a Perdo of Intellego specialist, but any new specialty is welcome. I also heard you were selected by Xenophon, is that right?
The first question is to factor tranquillina into his defense plans.
THe second is actually a little test. Unless I'm wrong, Tranquillina shouldn't know that xenophon = appolodorus, and should correct him, unless she's a guernicus spy and is so used to think of the one as the other that she doesn't notice.
This would make sense, but is it possible? I'm not even sure we have much people on the mundane side. And given that everyone seems to have access to our regio, it never occured to me that tranquillina would arrive elsewhere
In this case, though, she'd have announced herself, and someone would have been sent through the regio to fetch a magus. End result similar 
((There are a number of people on the mundane side. All the mundane workers who tend to the sheep operation live there. The manor house staff, and Reynault's replacement, I'm forgetting his name at the moment. The interior (to the covenant) ruined wall is the Boundary line for the Aegis, the gatehouse is on the exterior side.))
Still extremely wary, Tranquillina follows Isen towards the covenant. At least the guards seem to have relaxed, she observes, that's something positive.
((Unclear whether Xenophon has/had a Reputation within the Order ... my understanding is that Xenophon was last seen half a century ago, so I'll assume no special modifier to Tranquillina's Reputation roll, which is a stress die 6.)) "Selected by ... I'm sorry, Xenophon, did you say?" Tranquillina says, appearing honestly confused.
As they pass over the boundary of the covenant, Tranquillina gulps at the expected tingle and wills herself to maintain her pace forward. "As for magical strengths ... well, none in particular, inside a powerful Aegis," she tries to quip.
I had assumed that people would be met on the mundane side, probably at or just outside the Aegis boundary, and escorted in.
Henri
Isen relaxes somewhat (Per 1 + Folk Ken 2 + 1 magi + 1d10=5 = 9).
Tranquillina is probably who she is, although she could still be a master of deception. All this makes his head hurt. You can't live in a constant state of suspicion, yet this is how you get fooled and backstabbed. He remembers well Axion pulling this kind of things once or twice. Where is Adeline when one needs her? She is good at these things.
An old magus from around this parts, just recently deceased. I thought he was the one who invited you to join Mons Electi?
Isen stops, turns towards Tranquillina, and eyes her strangely.
Of course, although I would be surprised if our current Aegis impeded anything else than junior magi. (It's currently lvl 20, at least until the tribunal, assuming Isen can get reforged through the blacksmith)
I'll give you a token soon, though, so you won't have to worry about this.
But understand me. As I told you, our friends and allies have had problems coming here. We had some, too, and you should know we may have more in the future. So I need to know what you're good at, and if I can count on you should this covenant be attacked again.
(At any point in the future, Isen will warn another magus of Tranquillina's arrival, take a token and then formally invite her into the aegis. They're just heading towards a token storage space, since one can't assume we go on we token on us)
"Ah, no, it was Apollodorus who invited me here. I truly hope some of my correspondence with him can be found ... indeed, I have his letters to me, but they are ... not on my person," she ends vaguely, not remembering whether they are at Nigrasaxa or Le Maison. I should read those letters again - see if he mentioned this Xenophon at all - I don't recall reading, or hearing, that name.
Tranquillina bristles at this perceived insult. Without a word or a gesture, she performs a Wizard's Leap to end up behind Isen, but about five paces away. ((Sta -3 + Re 9 + Co 27 + aura 6 + Talisman attunement (travel) 4 + Mastery 2 - silent 10 (mastered for Still Casting) - half Aegis level 10 + stress die 1/exploder 5 = 35)) "Far be it from me to surprise you," she says caustically from her new location.
Huh, that was even a bit easier than I thought it would be, she muses. She reaches out with her magical senses to investigate the aura, but the effort of punching her spell through the Aegis has temporarily disoriented her. ((Magic Sensitivity roll: Int 3 + MS 3 + simple die 1 = 7 fails to detect an aura of strength 3, much less its Rego alignment))
"I can claim to have some facility with manipulating the human form," she deadpans without humor. "I am well suited for stealth, being able to change my form or conceal my image; and also for reconnaissance, being able to extend my senses over vast distances. And aye, I am familiar with the Art of Perdo. I can write you a primer if you'd like."
Taking a deep breath after her monologue, Tranquillina smiles grimly. "You are not the first Flambeau of Mons Electi to warn me of the dangers associated with membership here. I have been frank with you; kindly return the favor. Are you expecting an attack imminently, and by what agent?"
(For the record: It wasn't an insult, he really things their aegis is crap. And aren't you supposed to use words and gestures when sponting? I always hated that bit anyway, so fuck )
Surprised at seeing her disappear from his side, Isen turns at hearing her voice behind him, and she can see his hands amorcing the preliminary gestures of a spell, but relax once he understands that no, this ain't a tentative to backstab him.
He is disgusted when he understand what she's done.
I see you get my meaning... We need to cover so much size, the effective strength of our aegis is barely worthy of a spring covenant. I just hate this.
Isen doesn't answer at first, pondering what asset tranquillina might be to the covenant. Her abilities are quite useful, but there's the scrying prohibition, so, so long as a semblance of peace holds, that's out of the question. Perdo... Perdo is good, but she isn't a specialist. He'll have to think about it.
He then realizes he's left the question dangling
Excuse me. I was pondering options.
An attack? Maybe, maybe not. Appolodorus was killed, in this very covenant. [strike]And a friend of ours, Tria, was assaulted last season.[/strike]
So yes, just by living here, you probably are at a risk. I can't say when or how our enemies will strike, but I expect they will. The same... man was involved both times, or, at best, someone posing for him. Valerian Guernici. The tribunal's chief hoplite.
By the way, would you happen to know Wizard's Communion?
Edit by SG: struck the text about Tria and being attacked, because it hasn't happened, yet.
((Tria was not assaulted last season. That story happens in 1227, after even the Tribunal. There's been no word nor sightings of Tria since she took Ulrich from Mons Electi.))
((Tranquillina is really oversensitive to comments that she perceives to be a slight on her abilities, so it's all her, not Isen. (and, just to be clear, I-the-player am having a great time and I didn't think it was intended as an insult) Also she knows the Wizard's Leap as a formulaic spell, mastered for Still Casting, which is a big part of the reason why she could swallow the no-words-no-gestures penalty to spellcasting. Showing off, as a defense mechanism.))
Tranquillina's fists ball up at her side. "This ... profanity, is exactly what Alexei told me. I cannot fathom how such a crime can be tolerated by the Order. You have my sympathies, sir."
She grimaces somewhat. "Aye, that chancy remnant of Mercurian lore. I am no great admirer of this spell; yet Maximianus convinced me once to make myself familiar with it, for the sake of my sodales at Nigrasaxa." Although my contribution to such a communion would be token at best, Tranquillina thinks but does not say aloud.
Sorry, I was confused by the topic title 
So that was... 4 years ago.
I guess one can assume there were other incidents over these years, too?
Isen is secretely pleased to see tranquillina's reaction. At least, her heart is in the right place!
That's the difficult part. The order must know, to condemn him. And this proves difficult.
But let this serves you as a warning. We have ennemies, and they won't spare you just because you're a newcomer.
Good.
And then, Nerd-Isen show up It is an entirely different man, a lot less grim, a lot more taken by his ideas.
You see, I have plans for us to have a better Aegis. It will require some effort on my part, as well as some help from an ally, but I believe it can be done. We should soon be able to cast a better Aegis, even without your help.
But you won’t be useless. Every magus that contributes to a Communion adds his part, and helps in making it more effective.
Now, there are some problems, as I am not a mercurian, and, given the magnitude of the spells involved, there’s a good chance that things could go wrong. Best thing would be for Korvin to become our caster, but, sadly, he ain’t up to the task. So, for now, it is I who must take upon the the risks associated with this.
Yet, this is not enough. Given the power of our enemies, I plan to increase my arts yet again, to the point where I may cast an even more powerful Aegis. This will take some years, though, and be quite dangerous, as we’re talking of a thirteen magnitude ritual here. Sooner or later, this will lead to a magical catastrophe of epic proportions. At this point, it would probably be better if Korvin could just induct me into his mysteries, but, even if he is willing to share his knowledge with me, it is so alien to my experience, I don’t know if I’ll be able to reconcile it with my own magical practices.
Now, this ain’t the only things I have in mind, and your help is welcome, once I get a better grasp of your abilities. I am trying to come up with ways for each of us to prepare for another attack on our covenant. And this proves difficult, both due to the Code, and to the high magnitude of the enchantments required.