Hiems seems to ponder cygna's words, hiding behind a facade of reflexion the fact that this puts ill-at-ease. Not only is he too acustomed to be a loner, and thus uncomfortable with cygna's kind words, but this clashes with his chevalrous ideas to have someone else protect him, especially a lady.
Point taken. Yet, you'll pardon me if I wish to spare you problems with these. I really appreciate your support and kindness and thank you for these, but, should you be right, I'd hate to have drawn unwanted attention to our covenant. I must say that this is a difficult matter for me to judge. There are too many different factors involved, and I can't seem to determine if my presence there would be a boon or doom. All I know is that I don't like the idea of sending someone else into the Lion's Den, and, should you go, I feel compelled to come with you and share your fate.
Viscaria: Perhaps, then, you should go, but stay in the shadows. Maintain some safe space for Cygna to retreat to, and give counsel on what would be hidden to those who have not your experience."
"This Templar business seems quite important and could impact us all," Amos ponders aloud. "I would wish to observe and accompany also and can provide assistance if needed. Perhaps as a Lady's favored pet kestrel? I have a set of cloth jesses and hood that is quite permeable and easily slipped out of, nonmagical. They might question the use of cloth instead of leather but I'm sure I can be "well-behaved" enough." As he starts checking off things on his fingers he pauses again, "Oh. That might actually conflict with the time for the Trading Trip. I don't think it'll work out."
[color=red]"Does that sound like something within your capabilities? The ability to travel unseen, or pass unobserved by the Templars whilst I...meet with them, try to determine their objectives here, why they've come here of all places?"
Cygna raises a brow. [color=red]"Do you really think that this reconnaissance will take more than a day or two...or possibly even three?"
[quote="The Fixer"]
Hiems nods.
I understand. I am sure that, in time, we'll be able to get rid of him.
Very conscious of cygna's discomfort, he'll say no more.
[/quote]
[color=red]"Thank you," she says quietly.
Cygna will harvest the vis from the Vintners. Hiems will search the tower ruins for vis. Viscaria will construct Unity Hall, and organize a school for languages and for the children. Amos will research our vis sources, and meet with Abdul al-Faisal about trade issues when he arrives tomorrow. While he is doing that, Amos, Cygna and Viscaria will examine the unclaimed sanctums.
Cygna and Amos will assess the refugee situation, along with several grogs.
In a day or two, we will convene a short council meeting to select teams for the vis gathering expeditions, and confirm Amos's plans regarding the trade situation.
We will instruct Claudia to establish an alchemy lab under Viscaria's direction, and to work with our new autocrat, Raoudha Al'Jimni, to restore smooth mortal governance. I'll instruct the scriptorium to begin working on the history projects. While I'm at it, I'll instruct our blacksmith to examine the state of our armory. I believe he has some history with weaponcraft, but Amos, you should probably include such concerns among our trade issues.
Have I missed anything? Amos, it has been a long meeting. Can you summarize the different trade issues you'll be working on?"
Hiems nods.
To some extend, yes. I know a spell that can make myself invisible, and a magical ring of flight that can be of some use, although it might be better for me to shed some glamour upon me, so as to appear as someone else. Spying on them should be within the realm of my abilities, yes.
My nature and spells aren't well suited to subtlety, but, luckily, my ability to harness my faerie blood for power allow me to cast most low-level effects, given some preparation.
Amos scratches his head a bit, his hand still outstretched as he visibly counts off some thoughts from his fingers. "Yes, yes, of course, Archmagus," Amos starts, a finger folding down with each item. "First and foremost, we need some version of Aegis of the Hearth, preferably a Casting Tablet, but translated text will do. I believe I'm aiming for the Fourth Level of Magnitude (Level 20)? We could also use a Bountiful Harvest text to boost our vineyards, and we also need the Vis needed to cast either spell. In our travels for trading, we should be on the lookout for a Scribe fluent in the Arabic language. And with our loss of humiliores accustomed to Cijara, or the influx of new refugees, I should really get a list of critical supplies from Raoudha that the Covenant cannot presently provide. I'm sure in the future they will be handled between Raoudha and the trader exclusively, but might as well combine it into this trip." Amos nods.
"As for what we have to trade, we have a high Magnitude Aegis of the Hearth, the services of our Library Binding staff, any remaining inventory of dwarf and ice-metal trinkets, and what Personal vis we brought or Covenant vis that can be gathered from sources. We should review the list after we look at Labs and Sanctums tomorrow morning. Oh, and we probably need to get or do an inventory from Raoudha of the foodstuffs we used to trade with Dwarf-lord Orbhammer, and verify what capacity we'll be bringing to the table when we 're-negotiate.' But I'm sure that'll be a seperate trip with another magus 'supervisor'".
Viscaria chimes in. "While you're looking at library trades, I'd love to see works on mundane crafts and such topics for our craftsfolk, as well as books on various unnatural skills, particularly on the keenness of faerie eyesight."
This is a good idea. My pater taught me some exercises that improved my ability to see the unseen, but he told me that there are many such methods, as well as techniques on how to concentrate on your vision in order to pierce illusions. These will prove useful sooner or later and, if we make a copy and teach them how to write, might be a boon or those of our servants that are gifted with the Sight.
[color=red]"While I'm all in favour of increasing our abilities, both as magi and as a covenant...how many of our craftsmen can read? It might be different here than back in England, but the mundanes, the 'mortals' were typically not able to read or write beyond making their mark."
Jaime : "While the Jews and Moslems have a tradition of educating their children, the last generation or two seems to have been very lax on this score."
Viscaria : "Part of the school effort, then. Helping them reclaim that tradition will aide in our integration."
Cygna thinks it over for a long moment or two, then nods. [color=red]"And if we expand it to include the Christian youth, then that might in turn bring all three groups closer together."
Hiems agrees
This seems strange, but it will surely be useful in a lot of ways.
Even if we don't educate everyone, a few key specialists might be useful. Even among grogs, having someone knowledgeable about magical creatures or faeries can be very useful.
Moreso, I prefer educated covenfolk that fight through religious debate than illiterate ones that just try to stab each other.