He'll try and find an inn, knowing Rotgiers and others here, no doubt they'll report him back. Was Alexei able to get a message off to Santiago? He can't know if he got the message, just was he able to tell a page?
He was able to tell somebody.
Alexei and his men travel for about an hour after sunset and find an inn and settle in for the night. About an hour after that, Santiago arrives looking for Alexei.
"You wanted to see me?"
Alexei will stand up with arms wide and have Helmut clear a place at their table and signals for a drink to be served to is new guest. "Sodalis! I am very glad that you got my message and have arrived." he pauses and his smile fades. "I hate to ask, but times being what they are, can I ask a question of you before we begin? When we first met on the field at the Tribunal some years ago...what did I do when I broke your ribs at the joust?"
((Hoping he won't take too much offense but perhaps he'll appreciate just a touch of discretion from me. This is a trick question that I hope he'll figure out quickly.))
"You broke my arm. And I don't recall you doing anything in particular. Now, enough of the cloak and dagger, what is it you wish, Alexei? Keep in mind, I may not be able to give you what you ask."
Before I respond:
https://forum.atlas-games.com/t/the-break-room/102/1
Alexei did something particular and remarkable. Just in case you need to edit this.
Well, again, it wasn't done in private, so his comment about cloak and dagger still fits.
"Do you not believe me because I momentarily forgot the vis? Maybe you lot from Mons Electi are crazy."
((OK, just didn't want to take a chance and assume he had forgotten or it wasn't him. The trick was that he broke the arm and also gave him the vis))
Alexei bows and offers the drink. "I'm sorry my Sodalis, with all of the things that have happened to me and those at Mons Electi, I have learned to be less...trusting. Hard lessons, but well learned." he shrugs. "And I still have much to learn. But please sit down, I would speak with you on a few things...things that I witnessed at Montvert. It seemed that you were perhaps just as uncomfortable as I at the display in front of the Baron?"
"I'm not going to discuss that.' He says simply and unequivocally.
Alexei was just about to go ahead and ask a question when that question and several future ones were cut off. Alexei nods, a bit disappointed, but he was well within his rights on that. "Well, that saves some time I suppose. This isn't a question for you, but just something that I feel I owe you. That display, which I feel you had little or nothing to do with, was something that I found not only very distasteful, but I feel it pushes the limits on Hermetic law, and so I will be seeing about taking action with it, with Rotgiers as the primary offender. I can only take action with what I saw, and I saw you as someone who did not approve of it and saw no actions on your part to suggest you had anything to do with it." he stops and shrugs. "It's pretty obvious I have no issue with you Sodalis and quite an issue with Rotgiers. Currently I believe he is involved in something that has wasted my time and resources and angered our Prima. I wouldn't expect you to know specifics of that, it involves a forged message. But as a member of the Covenant, there might be some information that you do have without any involvement. It would be about vis payments to Harco."
((Trying to follow the money basically))
"Take action, if you will, but you will anger some powerful magi. The response will likely be a Wizard War. Rotgiers is the least of your problems, there are other Magi of Montverte who don't involve themselves as publicly, and allow Rotgiers to conduct himself as he does, because he typically does well in the Tribunal Tournament. That has changed, to be sure, but causing trouble for those magi by trying to prosecute the covenant is unwise."
Alexei considers what Santiago says for a few moments. "Wise or not, what Rotgiers does and did is unwise and I feel against the Code. But, even so, your warning is also greatly appreciated...and good advice." he pauses. "A lot has been said about me, but rarely that I'm wise. No doubt, the supporters of Rotgiers would be quite angry should they lose their champion...but considering how well he has done lately and the trouble he is heaping upon himself, maybe they might reconsider. Would they still back him if he...were declared Orbus? Think about that. He leaves one honorable House." he gestures to Santiago with sincerity in his remark. "And then is cast out from Flambeau? What House would think to take him in after that? Surely they would see that it is Rotgers' own fault for this and cut their losses? As I said, Ariel is quite vexxed with the recent events, angry enough to do something like that. I have proof enough for myself that he did it, a little more evidence would remove doubt for Ariel and make her course clear. Whoever did this used Alaire and paid in vis for his service and the services of the portals, that proof would be all I'd need."
Alair, as a redcap would use the portals for free.
"He has a few more chances. Your appearance in the 1221 Tribunal and surprising win needs to be addressed by Rotgiers, but he gets at least one more chance. And I'm not sure what you saw in te baron's hall, but I doubt you came away with any useful evidence. Ariel isn't so secure in her position as you'd like to think. There are two factions within your House, and Ariel declaring a member of the faction opposing her as Orbus will be controversial, to say the least."
((I'm referring to the passage paid for by 'Ariel' that Alexei and Isen and the grogs used to go to Val Negra. Presumably Alair delivered it or supplied it or arranged it, but where did it come from? I might be putting too much stock in it, but that might be what leads to who ultimately is responsible for this))
"We live in controversial times Sodalis. Many in the House don't believe in putting off what could be seen as an inevitable confrontation. 'Attacking today is preferred to attacking tomorrow, and attacking yesterday would have been better still' as my Pater would say. And if I do prove that he did this, I hate to assume, but wouldn't that be his final chance lost? Why would any of his supporters keep their association with such a blackguard who provokes his own Prima and the Chief Hoplite of his Tribunal? I do appreciate your advice and candor sodalis, I truly do. That being said..." he pauses and looks at him a few moments. "If you were me and faced with this...what would you do?"
"I'm sure he could find membership in House ex Miscellanea, so having him cast Orbus won't do too much. It's an internal matter. But let me suggest that Rotgiers may be prepared, or even desirous of the circumstance. You have a piece of the puzzle. The who, and the what, but is that enough?"
"The more I'm thinking about it, the more I would assume he'd have to be prepared for the results when he's found out. Testing me and our Prima's patience and resolve, perhaps just seeing how we respond. If we move too strong or without proof we could be considered tyrants, too weak and we invite further conflict. The why is what I'd like to know, he did this for a reason, he gains something. I need to take that gain or make it not worth the risk he took. I hate to ask Sodalis, you are not his keeper, but was he in the castle or on Covenant grounds in early Spring?"
((I'll give a range of dates that Alexei received the letter and when he and Isen headed to Valnegra, not exaxt dates though))
"Some answers cannot be given. I have oaths and vows to keep. I danced dangerously close to that when I described how Rotgiers might be prepared to be declared Orbus." He stands and excuses himself. "I believe I've given you all I can, I wish you well in this endeavor. As it is, I must be off, I have to visit Maris at Le Maison.
Alexei stands and extends his hand. "You have helped Sodalis, and I know it was no small thing. This will no doubt cause some problems within your Covenant, yet you still came here. I shall remember this and offer you similar treatment if you need it of me. Your conduct on and off the field does you credit."
((Just checking to see if Santiago has any parting words, I wanted to make sure this was an amicable meeting. From here Alexei and party will head to Harco, where we took the portal to get to Val Negra))
Oh, no, no parting words.
So, back to Val Negra, what's Alexei going to do there?
No Actually not all the way to Val Negra, not yet anyway. At Harco he's going to try and get some answers regarding how his passage was paid for in the first place; when he and Isen and the grogs went to Val Negra. Following the Vis might give the answer to who did this. I'm pretty sure it's Rotgiers, but I'd like to have just a bit more proof.