1228.etc: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: In the Ruins of Bibracte
161

Fiona looks at Alexei in surprise as she scratches Donner under his chin. [color=blue]"This is the runt?" she says. [color=blue]"I'd hate to see the pick of the litter."

She kneels and wraps her arms around the dog's neck, ruffing his head and grinning, a smile the likes of which Alexei rarely sees on her. [color=blue]"If he gets any bigger, you can throw a saddle on him and ride him like a warhorse."

[color=blue]"He certainly seems friendly enough," she says as she gets to her feet. [color=blue]"I would have thought you would have wanted something more...martial."

162

(( The wine thing actually is more strict than that. If the wine wasn't made for pagan purposes, it is OK for consumption... unless a libation was poured from it, in which case a Jew is forbidden to derive benefit from it by drinking it. (assur b'hana'ah) Some Orthodox rabbis hold that wine that has been touched by a non-Jew is thus assur b'hana'ah, because the non-Jew may have unknowingly poured out a libation. That's the usual Judaic practice of building a fence around the law, and then building a fence around the fence, and so on, and so on, ad nauseam. That's how you get from "thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother's milk" to having two separate refrigerators, or not eating chicken with a milk product. Chicken + cheese is not kosher, despite the fact that no one's ever seen a lactating chicken.

Pinchas gets a benefit from the Aegis even without having a casting token: he gains a benefit purely by standing within the area. So if we were to go by the most Orthodox interpretation, he'd have to refuse to even set foot in Phoenix or Mons Electi...which would, IMO, impede playability just a bit.

While Pinchas believes some fences around the law are necessary, he thinks that placing too many fences misses the point. He's not absolutely certain that the Aegis ritual is not pagan, and therefore elects not to participate in it, just in case -- but he believes that is a sufficient number of 'fences' in this case.

His OoH Lore is too low to figure out that the ritual actually has a protective effect, or that the casting token allows him to bypass the ritual's effects. If he knew, he might or might not change his mind. Whether he is actually violating halakha by setting foot within the Aegis, or accepting a token, is up to JL. ))

163

The day that Fiona returns from Grand Tribunal, she has the porters take her luggage to her cottage as she goes to the Regio manor house, to the Princeps office, in hopes that she will find Korvin there. Much to her delight, she finds him there, poring over some documents and wondering why everybody wants everything all of a sudden. She knocks on the door and calls out, [color=blue]"Korvin, it's Fiona. Do you have a few minutes to spare?"

Once he says that he's free, Fiona sashays into his office, a lustful sultry look on her face that he's seen many a time before. She turns and touches the door, casting a spontaneous Muto Herbam to cause it to expand around the frame and seal shut. ((base 3, R: Touch +1, D: Diameter +1, T: Individual, for target level of 5; CT is Sta 3 + Mu 17 + He 10 + Aura 5 – No Gestures 5 = 30 ÷ 5 = 6, for castable with no Fatigue))

[color=blue]"Would you like to welcome me home right quick?" she says, then kisses him hungrily, her hand deftly freeing his member and bringing him to life before she clears a spot on the desk, lifts her robes, hops on the desk, and pulls him to her eagerly. When he finishes, she sighs, a contented smile on her face.

[color=blue]"That should hold me until we can have a proper welcome home party. I hope you're free tonight. Shall we meet at your chambers or mine?"

164

Alexe is obviously pleased to see that Donner is responding well to Fiona, hopefully he will to the other magi as well. He chuckles at the idea of the saddle.

"That was one of the first things I thought too, but since he's basically been dragging me about ever since I took possesion of him, I think riding would be a disaster. We'll have to see what his instincts are in a fight, he was bullied a lot, but maybe now with some support he'll show spirit. But I value loyalty, and there isn't much more loyalty than a good hound. Plus with my new tasks, he might be able to help me track down those who are being marched."

Donner seems oblivious to Alexei talking about his plans as he leans into Fiona and then rolls over, exposing his belly to rub.

165

Fiona kneels down again and rubs Donner vigorously, accidentally finding the kick spot for a couple of seconds, before she gets back to her feet.

[color=blue]"Do you know yet what he can do?" she asks as she looks at Donner and guesstimates how big he is, then mutters "Darn" in Gaelic under her breath.

166

Alexei's is covering his mouth trying to hold back giggles as he watches Donner's reaction.

"Yes, he is very fierce is he not?" he mutters. "Well, I believe he can change his size, I'm not sure if he can grow or shrink, and the giants said they used the dogs for hunting, so I imagine if trained he can track things and might be able to help bring them down. I'll know once I spend time in the lab with him. I've never had a familiar before, so this is a bit new to me as well. I'll want to add some enchantments to protect him and enhance him, much like I add to myself and grogs. Plus some magic items perhaps, I bet he'd like that."

[size=150]ROWF![/size] Donner barks as he rolls to his feet and pushes his way inside, sniffing around for something to eat.

"Donner no! Out! We do not enter without being invited! I'm sorry Fiona." Alexei stays at the threshold of the door however.

167

[color=blue]"You can come in if you want, Alexei," Fiona says, then suppresses a shriek as Donner brushes against a table, setting the apparatus on it to wobble.

[color=blue]"Donner! No! Here, boy!" she yells as she moves toward the door again.

She steps outside the door and casts a quick spontaneous Creo Herbam to make a thick stick the size of her arm[sup]1[/sup]. She waves the stick to get the hound's attention, then heaves it as far as she can, grinning as Donner slips on the floor momentarily before tearing off after it. She then goes and adjusts the equipment, which had been displaced ever so slightly.

[sup]1[/sup] Base 1 to create a plant product, R: Touch +1, D: Diameter +1, T: Individual, for a Spell Level of 3. Her CT is Sta 3 + Cr 6 + He 10 + Aura 5 = 24 ÷ 5 = 5.

168

Donner runs out after the stick trailing slobber as he does so. Once outside he pounces on the stick but comes up confused.

[size=150]ROWR?[/size]

He returns to trying to work at the stick but is getting frustrated at his inability to pick it up

[size=150]ROWF! ROWFROWF!![/size]

He barks at it in frustration while Alexei is laughing again. "Here Donner." and hands over his staff which Donner immediately begins to chew on. "He can't pick it up, it's not penetrating. Anyway, I just wanted to say hello Fiona and introduce my new friend, I hope I wasn't intruding too much. I'll work on his manners, I promise."

169

[color=blue]"That's okay, it will only last a minute or so, just long enough to get him out of my laboratory...he's too big to play in there, I think.

"I do know a spell that gives an animal human form until sunrise or sundown, but I think he's too big for it to be effective on him."

Fiona smiles at Alexei. [color=blue]"Thank you for bringing him to meet me. That was sweet of you." She grins as she looks at Donner worrying Alexei's talisman. [color=blue]"I think you might want to get him a new chew toy before he destroys the one he has now."

Once Alexei's done, she looks down at herself and casts a spontaneous Perdo Animal on herself to destroy all traces of Donner[sup]1[/sup] before she goes in and pours Paul a double scotch in his bowl and sets it on the floor by way of apology and waits for Sheelagh to return so they can resume her lesson.

[sup]1[/sup] think it's Base 3, "Do superficial damage to a beast (for example, remove its hair)," R: Personal, D: Momentary, T: Individual. Her CT is Sta 3 + Pe 5 + An 7 + Aura 5 = 20 ÷ 5 = 4.

170

"Hopefully he can't destroy it, it's supposed be harder than iron." Alexei says and then an ominous creak can be heard from the staff as Donner really gets to chewing on it. "But one can't be too careful. Alright Donner that's enough." Alexei snaps and grabs the staff. Initially the dog won't let it go and growls menacingly as Alexei struggles with it, but with a cocked eyebrow and a smile Alexei disappears and reappears almost 20 paces away, staff in hand. Donner looks at him quizzically and then disappears as well!

"What the..!" is all Alexei can manage before the dog reappears and tackles him to the ground...again. "So that's how you kept up with me! Good boy! Oh, that is useful! Now don't crush me...Donner...I can't breathe...get off!"

After disentangling himself from the mammoth dog he finally leads him back to his lab and sanctum.

171

((Not that it matters, but I think this would probably have to be Group rather than Individual, since you're not trying to affect yourself.))

172

No. It is just simpler than giving a token. Korvin walks for a bit. Abagail knows he is sorting through this information and grinding it like a mill grinds wheat.[1] Korvin turns to Pinchas. Would it be against your religion for me to heal you with a ritual spell if you were injured or sick?

[1] I've been trying to think of a phrase like wheels turning or gears turning to express Korvin's thought process. i'll try this one for now :smiley:

173

You may come to my cottage. We can give your poor maid a rest. Korvin caresses her face. He seems to want to say something but fails and just gives her a long kiss while his other hand drifts south of her stomach.

174

((That would raise it to a spell level of 5, and require a roll: CT 20 + die roll of 5 = 25, halved is 12. Still good. That was more of a "Dear God, don't let me botch" than anything else :laughing:))

175

She moves against his hand, moaning softly, then whispers [color=blue]"Plenty of time for that, and more, later."
Fiona shows up that evening, almost immediately after sundown, with a bottle of wine in her hand, wearing a sheer white robe that he can almost see through. She smiles and enters his cottage at his invite and pours a glass of wine for each, handing him one.

[color=blue]"Do you want the normal me or the petite me?" she asks once the pleasantries are aside. Either way, she will take him back to his room, her robe falling by the wayside, and pulls him into bed, where she will love him more enthusiastically than he can remember in a while.

After a multi-climactic session which leaves them both gasping for breath, she curls up against him, her hand between his legs, and kisses him warmly. [color=blue]"You have no idea how much I needed that, dear," she says quietly, then lays there for a few minutes.

[color=blue]"Korvin? Can we talk? About us?" she finally says. She sounds a little nervous (which is surprising, from her), but her hand never stops caressing his manhood.

[color=blue]"I realized something when I was at Grand Tribunal." She looks at him. [color=blue]"I realized that I missed you. I missed being with you." She looks down as she continues.

[color=blue]"And I decided that...well...I love what we have, but I want to...I don't know...define it a little bit better. I realized that there are times that I need to be plowed, and there are times that I need to be plowed by you." Her hand squeezes him gently.

[color=blue]"So...I was thinking if we could have something like dibs on each other. I don't want us to be exclusive. I don't know if I could keep you satisfied, and I still like a little variety in my diet. But...if I want you tonight, say, and you have plans with someone else, they would be changed. Either some other time, or maybe you, me, and her. Or them." She grins. [color=blue]"And vice versa. If you want me, then if I had plans to be with someone, they'd have to change."

She moves against him. [color=blue]"What do you think?"

176

I was thinking the same thing. Korvin moves an hand down to continue what he had started earlier. I missed you when you were gone. Celestina is traveling and I can not track all of the other Redcaps whom I know. I was not desperate to go to town but I thought about it. Having dibs on you sounds like a wonderful idea.

177

And they celebrate their understanding well into the wee hours of the morning.

178

"Not in the least," responds Pinchas. "Er.. that is, unless the ritual spell was overtly idolatrous or involved... erm..." He frowns, but his face clears almost immediately. "No, it will be all right. If your magic involved practices that would make it impossible for you to heal me, Ra'am would not have fostered his daughter with such a man. Not a concern."

(( I like it. :smiley: ))

179

Korvin mulls this for a short while. Since all of our ritual spells have a root in Mercurian magic, would they not all be considered idolatrous to you? I say this not to be difficult but to understand. I am often call upon to heal sick or wounded members of Mons Electi. I do not want to find myself in a position that I cast a spell to save your life but found that I have instead hurt you in a philosophical sense.

180

Pinchas perches on the corner of Korvin's desk, looking thoughtful. "It was not the Mercurian roots of the rituals that gave me pause, it was the outward trappings. This 'Aegis' ritual of yours involved everyone walking around in a big circle, chanting at compass points... I was not certain that it was not idolatrous. When I witnessed a magus conjure a tower out of thin air, I did not see or hear anything untoward."
"Let's settle on this as a guideline. If you have to cast a spell to save my life, and seconds count, you may take whatever steps are necessary. You are a gentile, after all. If seconds do NOT count, then please obtain my consent before doing so, or ask Avigail what would be considered 'kosher' and what would not." He smiles at the young woman. "She possesses the requisite knowledge."
(( 'Avigail' is the Hebrew version of Abigail's name. ))