Cygna listens to Azura ramble on, her body still tense, as though she were still very agitated and not sure what to do next. (Folk Ken to see if Azura is bsing her or not: Int 4 + Folk Ken (Magi) 3 + die roll of 6 = 13...unless it's based on Com 1, in which case the total is 10.)
Cygna starts to relax some as the conversation (or monologue) continues...especially when Azura mentions a proposal and being Gifted.
[color=red]"What kind of proposal do you have for us?" she asks warily.
[color=red]"Did you say you're a 'Gifted' Mercere?" Her eyes flick to one side as she waits for Azura's answer, and she shows just the hint of a smile.
(Pretty sure Folk Ken is based on Perception. Regardless Azura is making every effort to be transparent, as Cygna reminds her of a skittish dog that's been beaten in the past, and must have its trust won by treats and soothing words.) There's definitely something she's uncomfortable about when she mentions Novgorod-- maybe she just REALLY hates the cold weather there, or maybe there's more she's not mentioning. Otherwise, she seems perfectly sincere, especially about the lemon cake, which is, in fact, only very slightly squished.
"Yep, a Gifted Mercere. E scarcimus unum, and whatnot. I'm not very good at anything, really, but I'm one of twelve in existence so I don't really HAVE to be. As for my proposal... Short story is I want to mooch your hospitality indefinitely, and in exchange you get preferential treatment from House Mercere, and a Mercurian-cast Aegis to boot. Longer story is blah blah blah the-order-needs-a-Mercer-House blah blah needs-of-the-Tribunal blah blah. Essentially you get the prestige of hosting the only Gifted Mercere in the Tribunal, and I get to live among other Jews where a bunch of big guys with big swords and bigger Gifts keep Crusaders off my doorstep."
(Edited for font colour, now that I'm not posting on my iPhone)
Azura blinks for a moment. "Wait a minute. You completely dodged my question by getting me to talk about myself some more." She raises an eyebrow in a parody of sternness, then drawls sarcastically, "You must be a master of Mentem to infer so correctly that the best way to evade my questions is to keep me talking. But don't think I'll be so easily dissuaded! Why did you run off alone? Here, have some lemon cake. Isn'tit fantastic? They grow these sour little fruits on the Mediterranean coast and, Solomon's Beard, they make the most wonderful pastries in the world! I once dated this Jerbiton who insisted there is nothing to compare with French food, but when I fed him lemon cake I completely won that bet! He still owes me two pawns of Herbam for that. I should probably collect that sooner rather than later, but I prefer to wait and charge more interest.
Cygna starts to visibly relax as Azura rambles some more, and does take some of the cake Azura offered, with a polite (if quiet) "thank you." [color=red]"Actually, I don't remember saying anything. I'm sure the Council will be quite interested in your offer...especially if we, or you, are able to cast your Aegis skillfully enough to affect creatures of the magic or infernal realm." Cygna's eyes seem to shift focus, as the unseen (to any but her) shade of Adorjan Megidézó slowly circles around the unsuspecting Mercere.
"Very interesting...so this is one of the fabled Gifted Mercere. I'd heard of them, but never met one." He then looks directly at Cygna. "Of course, we have yet to actually see her cast a spell. She's a very good talker...I believe she's lying about being Gifted. If she is, you know what we will have to do."
Cygna stiffens and closes her eyes as Adorjan draws closer, nose to nose with the Bjornaer. She shakes her head and mutters [color=red]"No...no...not this time."
"Yes...and this time, you will not defy me like before." Cygna shivers violently as the shade passes through her, then takes a few deep breaths to calm herself.
She opens her eyes again. [color=red]"I'm sorry for running when you and Ra'am introduced yourselves...and for being so rude. My name is Cygna. Cygna of the Bjornaer House." She watches Azura intently to see if her name evokes any kind of reaction.
She shrugs. "Good enough for the riffraff, anyway; my studies are pretty generalized. For some strange reason, any time I ask around the House to see if someone can help me get more Penetration, I get funny looks. But if more penetration is necessary, I could probably quid pro quo Aegis castings with another Mercurian. I don't know Leap of the Homecoming yet, but I've mastered Seven League Stride, so any amount of overland travel is pretty much trivial."
"Pardon? Not what when?" Azura asks, but the other woman doesn't seem to hear her.
"Swan, eh? Nice heartbeast... strong swimmer AND strong flier. I slept with this Bjornaer once, he said that everyone has a heartbeast, we just don't know how to express it. I told him I was partial to the red kite (peculiarity of the blood line), and he thought it was ridiculous, that an entire bloodline would have the same "shitbird" as a heartbeast, just because we all like the same colour, but blue is my favourite colour (obviously, or it wouldn't be my sigil, would it?) and then I slapped him for being disrespectful to the Magi Milvini. I probably shouldn't have slapped him, but he deserved it. Oh, and in case you missed it earlier-- I'm Azura Merceris. Not for my eyes, because that would just be narcissistic, but I'm named for my quite conspicuous sigil."
"Hrm? Oh, yes. My mother was apparently a Merinita, but my father was a dwarf from a clan nearby here. But of course, like all magi, I was won at a fairly early age and spent most of my youth in the cage until I fought for my apprenticeship. So, in a sense, you could say I was covenant-raised. I'm aware that the different human sects worship in different rooms, but beyond that, I know little more."
"I really couldn't say. Cygna and I haven't talked of the past much. What are the Tenents of Occult Rooms? Does every Tribunal have one?"
"Well, her santcum antechamber certainly seems focused on the pleasures of the flesh. If she wasn't Jaime's sister, I would assume she was fae-raised."
"Yes, from what I've gathered, she was apprentice to a Flambeau named Salamandrus -- dreadfully obvious, that name. Still, his lab was in the tower out on the estate lawns, so I'm not sure why anyone would avoid the upper floors because of that accident."
"Sundown? By you only arrived a few hours ago, shortly after Cygna and I had broken our fast."
Viscaria blushes prettily. "Oh, the Bookstand was just a distraction. We're scouting the labs for reasons threefold. First, to choose and establish permanent residences for ourselves. Second, to locate any Vis which each former resident may have left behind, for the covenant has no central repository.
"Finally, our most complex task is to locate information regarding the execution of each wizard's duties for the covenant. Archmagus Jaime was responsible for very little of the at-home responsibilities, and seems to know very little about how any of it was performed. Cersei seemed to be responsible for the gathering of Mentem vis from the grapevines and while Cygna has determined how to collect the yearly accumulation, there is apparently nearly half a queen of rook in them left to be harvested. (I'm not sure how that could be, if Las Navas de Tolosa occurred only a few seasons ago). She was also responsible for imbuing the special stock of Cijaran wine with the mystical properties which earns us much of our income - an obfuscated process which seems to take place in the cellar from which you made your entrance, Ra'am.
"Tyrion's duties remain unclear to me, but seem to have involved the covenfolk, and possibly the Aegis." (OOC: My file with those notes has been corrupted, so if anyone has more clues that I've dropped on Tyrion's responsibilities, please share them by correcting Viscaria). "I believe he may have also been involved in the contract negotiations for shipment of the supernatural vintages. A local faerie council informed me before I arrived here that the last shipment was overdue, and asked that I look into that matter. There seems to have been a substantial amount of trade with the local Arcadians."
She glances at Hiems and Amos. "Have I missed anything? We have more tasks, of course, but these are the reasons why we search the vacated sancta-amoriumae." Viscaria again fumbles over the plural form of "sanctum."
Amos sneezes miserably in response, and begs a respite. He exits, presumably heading for his bedroom, or wherever magi linger while waiting for their Players to return.
Yes, the antechamber/studio was scavenged thoroughly by Cygna, Amos and Viscaria, and all the cabinet doors remain open, with items sorted into rough piles by the door. Many of the magical items are dwarf-forged glass "wands" of dubious purpose. Cygna and Viscaria will blush furiously at the mention of them.
You are encouraged to play Ra'am based on the assumption you made from my earlier, deliberately obtuse statements which you have quoted above. In truth, I haven't figured out where they all are, and so expounded on the philosophy of her security measures to see what ideas we all generate.
Semi-related tangent: Though I haven't made frequent mention of them, there is a large population of Warders wandering around the Phoenix Manorhouse, all bearing marks of their final demise. At moments like this, Cygna's troubles might be punctuated by the brief appearance of a Warder whose death-wounds punctuate her disquiet.
"So, if I had to make a guess, I'd say pleasuring oneself at the some lunar event probably would open the secrets of the lab. Perhaps as moonlight strikes somewhere in the lab?" I could perhaps do some measurements and work the geometry of the room, and do an astrological analysis of where the full moon's light will next strike the room? Given the -" Ra'am coughs delicately, implements involved over there. and he points at the "wands."
"The seraph or cherub said something about breaking the bounds of time... and told me to remain with the people here until they leave. Ostensibly, I'd guess that would be close to the time of the council meeting?"
"It may have appeard I came from the cellar, but I saw nothing of the sort from my point of view. A queen or a rook of Mentam?"
"So, it appears we've done all we can here, unless I stop and do the calculations now. I'd prefer to move onto Tyrion's lab, unless there's no objection"
"Half a queen, or thereabout, is what I remember being told." [OOC: During Covenant build, 35 pawns of Mentem were selected as "in stores," as well as 50 Vim -- but they also chose the Illusory Resources Hook and Vis Grant Boon. So, I deliberately chose to enact the Vis Grant in a method that was easy to do for a four-person coterie, but ill-advised for the new size and unfamiliarity. Since the Lannisters would have left the covenant armed for bear when heading to Tolosa, the Mentem vis is in the form of unharvested grapevine. You could harvest less than 35 or more, and both options have consequences. ]
Viscaria nods her accord, and leads the way out to the corridor, into the central courtyard area (where Cygna and Azura are) and across to the opposite side of the Manor. Unlike Cersei's sanctum, which had a studio/antechamber to receive guests in, Tyrion's sanctum begins at the door from the hallway.
"That's an impressive amount. Of course, I have little interest in Mentem at this time. Well, only to the point where I can train it and achieve master status and take an apprentice. Despite my apparant age, I'm a relatively new magus, just 5 years past gauntlet. I was a scholar before my Gift was discovered and opened."
Ra'am considers the sanctum marker carefully, looking for any apparent signs of defenses. (Awareness check, 5+0+0=5"I'm concerned about defenses. I could probably work up a ceremonial casting to determine whether there are magical defenses, but to do so would probably take on the order of three quarters of an hour to an hour. If she assents, and doesn't get bored during the affair and just walk in, Ra'am will do this. If she (or Heims, if he came with) just walks in, Ra'am will follow.
It's actually a 4th magnitude affect if I make the sense be smell to detect a 6th magnitude magic.
(Base 3 + 3 for whatever is in sight +2 for smell, which is equivalent to group target)=20th level effect.
I can get to (Te 5 +Fo 5 +Sta 2 +Artes 5 +Philo +4+1 +Die Roll of 0=22, check for botch: no botch). Expending fatigue results in an 11 casting score, and he fails utterly.
"Well that was a waste of time."
Incorrect. Base 3, + 0 for Personal (the target of the spell is you), +1 Concentration (as designed, you had it Momentary, which is silly in this case), +2 to affect your sense of smell = 10th level effect. See MRB 159, Sight of the Active Magics as your baseline.
A Sight, Momentary, Smell InVi spell would target anyone within sight, and grant them a momentary sniff of the magic around them of 6th magnitude or higher.
...and succeeds. There are no magics in the hallway.
(It is a bit weird for Viscaria to be the only other magi exploring the rooms, as she is played by the SG).
Casting Maintain the Demanding Spell, 20th level: concentration roll of 15 Success. Spell wll succeed, as Ra'am's CS is 22 inside the aura (I forgot it on the last spell). Roll in case it is stressful, success.
"I'm not detecting any magics of 6th magitude or higher. Shall we proceed in?
Ra'am will take over concentration after they've entered the sanctum and he's scanned the contents. Spent a half hour on the durned spell, he's going to keep it active as long as he can.
(Please describe your sigil effects for the spell.)
As Ra'am opens the door, he smells the sharp tang of oxidized air come from almost directly in front of his feet. He halts just before stepping on the wide stone tile. Viscaria peers into the room from behind him.
The room is lit with the by-now-familiar ring-flames in glass winecups -- all of which are too simple to register as scent to Ra'am's nose. Circles have been engraved over much of this simple bedroom, but none of them smell of magic, either.
A door opposite, stands ajar, revealing portions of the lab. From within, you hear mournful singing, so badly slurred that you cannot make out the language, let alone the words.
If Viscara's hair is very fine, it's probably full of static and standing on end. Heims probably is for sure, if he's hanging about. There's a faint buzzing sound ongoing. I'll work these descriptions into spells in the future. Ra'ams arm hair is standing on end. The closer one stands to him the more they feel the effect.
"Ra'am calls out, not stepping in. Hello?" Did Ra'am get the sense that it was a man or woman singing?
The voice sounds female. As Ra'am calls out, the singing pauses, and then resumes with another sound under it, the sound of something being dragged.
Viscaria comments, "This tile in front of the door is the same age as the others, but the mortar is newer. The rest of the rest of the floor between here and that door seems to be unaffected, unless you count those circle spells."
On a table near the bed, Ra'am notes a book with a bookmark in it.
MT 10+Int 3+Die roll of 0, botch) he doesn't believe the intersecting circles have any significance and steps boldly across the threshold of the room in pursuit of the voice.
Sadly, Ra'am is quite mistaken. As he takes his fourth step, he feels magic blow through his Parma as if it were a paper shield, and finds himself looking upon a serene forest path. As he moves his head foreward, the landscape around him changes in a nauseatingly quick fashion. Next a mountain path; two inches forward, an abandoned ruin, 3 inches after that, a covenant dining hall that Ra'am recognizes from his travels but cannot identify, because as he turns his head to examine it further (unable to slow his purposeful gait), his left eye finds itself still in the hall, but Ra'am's right eye is in the ruins....
....and in the thin place where the two circles do not overlap, something dark and sinister is watching him.
His Parma flaps uselessly about him as spell after spell penetrates his Parma as if it wasn't there, but seems to do nothing to him.
When he gets to the door, the space is mercifully free of illusions.
The door is slightly ajar. Beyond it, you can see a small table that has been set up to look like part of a laboratory. Now that Ra'am is closer to the door, he can see that to the left is an easel, and several stretched canvases lying nearby, all showing several color variations on the same painting.
The room is about 100 square feet. The ceiling is covered in ten times as many engraved circles. On the other side of the easel, is another door, also ajar. The slurred singing sounds like it is coming from that door.
(I RP'ed the botch rather well, though!)
I'm assuming whatever blew his parma down blew down the spell to smell magic, too? Probably smelled something and then it was gone.
Is Viscaria still in the hallway? If so, Ra'am tells her to not step across the threshold, or if she does, be prepared for some powerful visions.
Couple of details to sort out. Was the singing voice apparent through what Ra'am assumes are visions, or did he have sounds of those places, and no slurred singing?
In the event that Ra'am's experience is sufficient to try again to make sense of the circles based on his new experience with them. Perhaps to try and recognize some pattern? Artes Liberales:5 or Magic Theory 10, die roll of 9, a result of AL:5+3+9=17 or MT:10+3+9=22
The circles in this room are on the ceiling, were they on the ceiling in the first room?
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