2.4 - The Merchant Arrives

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Phoenix - Rise from the A
21

With a smile, raoudha replies:

With all due respect, I can't order magi around. Such were the terms of the pacts between them and my ancestors. All I can do is ensure they know your Master is coming, but I can't tell, say, to Jamie "Go up and meet that magus!". Well, okay, I can say that to Jamie if I manage to find him, but you get my point.
It is evident your master expects some courtesy, and it is normal for us to welcome him well, which is why I was asking to be present. But an hour? This is awfully short, especially as the manor is in disarray since Las Navas de Tolosa. Come, we have no time to lose.
(OOC: In short, I can't decide for other players what they magus will do :wink:)

She'll begin to quickly walk through the covenant while talking to Etienne, ordering people around so that the "guards" and grogs are warned, expect an arrival and put up some welcome. Knowing the travelers will probably be hungry and thirsty, she makes a useless detour through the kitchen, as Cecilia (already!!! Gossip + Intrigue) knows what's coming and has the staff prepare some food.

At the appropriate moment, turning towards Etienne before resuming her walk

I thank you for your advice, really, but you don't seem to understand the state of things here. We have enough place to house your master and his family, but most of it either is in disarray, or belonged to previous magi, with all the risk that entails.
So when I spoke of guest quarters, not only do I spoke about lodgings designed to house comfortably a visiting magus, with all the luxury one may ask, but I also speak of a safe and clean place, with lodgings for a shield grog. It may be smaller than what his family and he are used to, but it's more than what most minor nobles could expect.
If and when he settles here, he'll be free to take up and abandoned building or lab, and I am sure he'll find something perfect for his needs, but for now, I won't take the risk to have his children trigger some magical traps, nor his wife sleep in some unfurnished, cold and dirty hall. Truly, had I knew of his arrival and these details in advance, I would have managed something suitable, but I didn't, as I myself arrived only a few days before you. To tell you the truth, the other magi are still living in relatively poor conditions, while trying to find a place. Your master will have a way better welcome and housing than they.

Whenever she can, she'll grab Celestria or Rebecca Yatrick, and inform her to have the household prepare the guest quarters at once!!!

The rabbi... is a problem, kinda. We already have one, but, well... he is quite special. Nonetheless, the synagogue has unused living space for a rabbi, and there are quite a lot of jew here who will be happy to welcome him.
So she'll also pass along the word to some jews to prepare a welcome for the rabbi and make sure he won't feel ill at ease. She still wonders how to break him that the rabbi we've already got is dead...

22

"I quite understand, but when a Magus commands, we must obey, no? And as I had left the letter in what I thought capable hands, at the time, I am trying to ameliorate any possible ill will that might develop."
OOC: we'll have to retcon who Étienne actually gives the letter to. It couldn't have been Raoudha, as she hadn't been placed in charge at the time they could've possibly met.

Noticing the kitchen and assuming that she is ordering the staff to prepare some refreshments Étienne adds, "Please ensure any refreshment is kosher, of course. Wine is problematic, and so I recommend water, or my master can provide brandy, which is kosher. Ra'am and his family are Jewish.

"Then given the circumstances, I'm sure my master will understand, and I will do my best to make him understand. He has travelled for a long time, more than a month, and his family is weary.

"Nonsense, I'm sure the rabbis will get along famously. I've seen a few ment of the cloth together, and they get into long theological debates. Sometimes they become addled with wine or brandy and get into arguments so deep they forget where they started. At least it is so for Jewish and Christian clerics, I have no knowledge of Moorish practices."

23

Viscaria listens excitedly. "Ah, I was not clear. By all means, let us not put the cart before the horse. These matters you speak of certainly must be addressed before these plans can be fully realized, but I find that I am much energized by the mere existence of a plan. So, I come to you, and through you seek the input of all the humiliores. We new scholars want the children out of the fields and into schools, we want someplace the humiliores can gather and rebuild their sense of community, and we want a clear sense of governance to be felt throughout our small community. If I came to you with these grand ideas alone, we would still be masons staring at a rock quarry. Instead, I tell you 'This is my plan, will it work? Why not?'

"It sounds as if the feast hall will be the easiest to establish. Can you help me select the best site for the feast hall? I shall begin making the feast hall while you find me the best cooks in Cijara for the task?"

Viscaria's short bow of greeting seems like a subtle mockery to the rug merchant. "Ah, a pleasure to meet you, venditore. I am Viscaria Lynchis, crafter of silver and stone. I have brought several forge-companions with me, and we all will have need of your well-reputed eye: another silversmith, a mirror-maker, and a lapidary. We will all need your help in acquiring raw materials for our artistry. If things go well, we may even seek your help in selling our wares. Also, we need someone to...ah, but that is for Amos to tell you. Yes, indeed. We have much and many plans for you and your wagons."

(Is there some sinister intent behind her words?)

"Crafts are good, but craftsmen would be better. I speak out of turn, though. You must conclude your mundane business, settle your previous accounts, and then we shall speak of who and what we need, perhaps at Council. Have you seen the Bath House?"

OOC: Basically, everything in the chart in Covenants, pg 66, is what the magi seem to have asked for. Stonemasons, carpenters, etc. Plus the list we generated for the school: linguists, teachers, peasants.

OOC: See my latest entry in that thread, you probably gave it to The Widow Mustafa, the Jewish Vineyard manager.

24

Okay... I had a reply to this, and then, noticed the rest of you post, so we'll say the first part never happened or was smoothed over :laughing:
Raoudha is conscious of the problem, she has a child and has traveled, too, so she'll do everything she can, but there are material limits.

I thought Etienne gave the letter to an old man. Maybe it went to Jaime, who didn't read it at the time and put it somewhere. Maybe the old man just forgot. Ah. The widow mustafa it is.

Ah, thank you for the information. The old magi were christian, so this could have paused problems.
Raoudha will pass the info along to Cecilia. Cecilia, who'll notice the tension between Etienne and Raoudha, and keep that in the back of her head.

:lol: Muslims are the grand masters of theological debates. We've got shiites, sunnites, and a miriad sects right and left. I'm not sure our rabbi will get along, but you can be sure they're gonna talk about theological matters :smiley:

There must be a hidden plan for this. Maybe she wants to sell educated children as slaves to other magi?
Yet, she remember of she thought the old magi were creepy when he was younger, yet they never did anything wrong to Cijara, on the contrary, and were true to her word to the Al'Jimni family. And Cygna sure looks like a decent and well-meaning lady. Even Hiems, despite all that is wrong and frightening with him, seemed almost pitiful in his desire to protect others from harm when they talked. Could this Viscaria actually mean well? Probably not, but some of her ideas sound good on their own. Cijara can probably benefit from her if taking care to avoid pitfalls and treachery. And if she is sincere, all the better.

Yes, I talked about this with Abdul. He think that he may be able to bring us more workforce, which is really needed at the moment. There's also the matter of the refugees you magi were supposed to check on. If we can integrate them usefully to Cijara, we should be able to free some time to educate everyone, by alterning work and study. This'll probably be slow, but given the current state of Cijara, this'd be a great step forward nonetheless.

And a Feast hall is, in my opinion, an awesome idea. We need a place to congregate, we need a place to host great events, and we need a place in which people can come if there's trouble. So, if constructing one, I'd put it about... there, at a crossroads between the 3 communities, at the center of Cijara, to stand as a symbol of unity.
That, and any treachery will be harder to spring up in the midst of cijara than at the periphery: Parents and guards will be able to take a close look to what happens there, and flee it easily if needed.
Hum... She needs to befriend Cygna. This shouldn't be difficult, she seemed a quite righteous lady. Should Hiems, Viscaria or the creepy one spring up something dangerous, the maga could be their best ally.

(In short, she perceives Hiems as meaning well, but too inhuman to understand people, probably able to hurt them without even realising it, or, worse, thinking it'll help them, and Viscaria as manipulative and having grand plans and ulterior motives. Amos, she just saw him a little, but he is creepy.)

25

"Forgive me, you've done much, and I appreciate your efforts. You may want to send messages to other Magi or Maga that have come since I've last been here another is about to arrive. When I suggested earlier he expected some Hermetic courtesy, I was of course trying to be diplomatic and suggest that you let the Magi know he will be here soon. I do not know what happened to the letter, and that is a matter for you to handle with your staff, I am of course trying to ensure that you do not bring the wrath of the Magi on you. I have experienced Magi wrath and it is most unpleasant. Adieu." Before Raoudha can utter a response Étienne is off to try and smooth over any ruffled feathers with Ra'am.

26

(Given my schedule for the next several weeks, it's probably best if somebody beside Viscaria is asked to greet the new magus.)

27

Well, since Raoudha will probably be present, it might be better if he was welcomed by Cygna and/or Amos. Hiems... depending on his mood, he might make the effort of showing up and being social, or stay holed up in his tower.

28

Hoping that he Raoudha can complete the preparations for a suitable a greeting for Ra'am, Étienne makes his way back to the group and approaches Ra'am who is at his usual spot in the rear of the party.
"Ra'am, I'm not sure they'll be ready for us. The letter seems to have been lost, and no one seemed to know you were coming, or if they did know, didn't tell all the new people that have arrived."

Ra'am pauses and considers Étienne for a moment, "You've done everything I could've expected of you. I once told you that I had lessons for you, that you were in need of them in light of the situation that removed you from your position as Autocrat under Prospero. Consider this the first, a lesson in humility. You told me you left the letter in someone's care, that a grapevine told you that the last surving Magus of the covenant was in grief over the loss of his "grove" as the grapevine put it. I can only interpret that to mean some sort of family, and it is probably his Hermetic family, filius and filia perhaps. I think you used your judgment to determine the best course of action given the circumstances. I did not set out an easy task for you this past many weeks. You had to go to places where you didn't speak the language and prepare the way for me. I have no complaints in your service, and my hope is that I have none in the future."

For sometime Ra'am continues on describing on how he'd like to some day have Étienne show Samuel the ropes of leadership and administration, but for the present time he doesn't believe either is ready for that particular job.

"Étienne, you're not going to be in a position of power for quite some time. There are appear to be people already established doing jobs you know how to do. And you don't know the language. Your lessons in humility will continue for some time, and I'll continue to devise lessons as appropriate while watching you closely." As he says the last to Étienne, Ra'am sees that they have arrived in the courtyard. His face is troubled. "Étienne, after Lucia has completed the task I set for her and organized things a bit, announce me as we discussed."

Lucia brings her cart, unloads a cask from it, and returns to the 4 other carts and inexperienced teamsters. All are seeing to their horses and disconnecting them from the carts.

Étienne walks up to the cask and, as loudly as he can, announces Ra'am's arrival in Latin, "To the Maga, Magi and covenfolk, I introduce Ra'am ex Bonisagus filius of Aurelius ex Jerbiton, Tria and Prospero ex Bonisagus. He has heard rumors that Phoenix seeks new members and wishses to reside amongst his fellow magi and take up their causes as his own, as they do the same for him. If no offer of membership to the covenant is offered, he requests to abide two weeks, while other arrangements are made. As a token of hospitality, he offers this cask of the finest brandy."

A slender, rail thin man in a woolen grey Jewish hat, holding a walking stick makes a sign to another man in a colorful yellow and what appear to be rabbinic dress. He goes to stand beside Étienne and says the same thing Étienne said, but in Castilian.

The party is quite a site, inexperienced teamsters all. Back with the carts is a large woman who unloaded the cask of brandy effortlessly, another woman and two children one man at arms, a young man in a Jewish hat, and an older fat man in a Jewish hat who appears to be licking his fingers. The taller rail thin man, dressed in a long grey tunic and the grey Jewish hat is holding a walking stick taller than he is. He is standing well of to the side, well away from the horses and people.

29

I think Friday is when the council meeting that Jaime had called was supposed to happen, anyway (which is why Cygna's been in the kitchen all day). Which should, theoretically, work out well. Or not, depending on just what time and how long the meeting goes.

30

Better to do it that way, then.

So, back to Raoudha and Abdul, and we'll resolve Ra'am elsewhere?

31

Sounds good to me, but I thought Raoudha and Abdul had finished RP'ing enough for Ra'am to show up in this thread. Certainly, Raoudha will want a chance to greet her first Hermetic guest, and Abdul will smell the potential for money.

32

Okay, so we'll need to deal later with that dire warning Abdul have for Raoudha...

33

Later that evening, in the common room (not the tavern, which serves alcohol and would be most inappropriate) - I'm thinking something like a Great Hall, but my mind's drawing a blank on what we have atm. Ah...the patio of the Manor House where he is doubtless lodged. I think that would do nicely! Thank you, right brain!

Anyway, as Raoudha and Abdul sit across the table from each other, talking and drinking their grape juice, Abdul looks around to ensure that there are no prying eyes or ears. Of course, if those scoundrel Magi were to eavesdrop, there would be nothing he could do, but who can prepare for every eventuality?

He will lower his voice and lean forward for Raoudha alone to hear. [color=green]"I have most dire news indeed, my friend. I fear that Castilblanco has fallen to the Christians. They are already building one of their churches, and are destroying relics left and right. The knights...Templar, I believe they are called, have the run of the city, but there is something to the east of Castilblanco that has them...preoccupied. They come and go at all hours of the day and night, mostly in that direction. Unfortunately, none of my friends seem to know what has them so interested."

He pauses to take a sip of the juice. Even though it's not been fermented, he can still tell that there is something special about the grapes that are grown here, as the juice of Cijara is the best that he's ever tasted. [color=green]"And worse yet...many of the former faithful of Castilblanco have 'converted' at swordpoint. Unfortunately, many of them have taken their new god to heart, claiming to have witnessed 'miracles' of some kind. But again, none of the people I have spoken to know anything about these miracles except that they were 'miraculous'."

He shakes his head sadly and sits in silence (and listening to Raoudha's reply).

[color=green]"Perhaps tomorrow, I can see if I can find those poor souls hiding in the hills. I know in the past that Cijara has been a sanctuary to people of all faiths. Is that still the case?" (pause for reply)

[color=green]"Would it be too much of an imposition if I were to invite them here, as a place of refuge, to escape whatever disaster has driven them into the hills?" Raoudha has known Abdul long enough to know that this is not mere idle chatter or a show of compassion...Abdul is the kind of gentleman who would give a stranger his only cloak in the driving rain.

34

Raoudha listens to Abdul carefully, becoming more and more alarmed as she hears the dire news he brings. Christians are no good, crusaders even less so. To have them so near Cijara, a place where muslims, jews and maybe sorcerers, are known to reside, can't be a good thing.

Sigh... You bring me dire news indeed, and I fear for the people of Cijara. I'll have to inform the magi of this, as it is their duty to protect Cijara, but I think we may need to send a small party there in order to know what brings the Templars here. Christians, of course, but bright people... Did you see that Etienne du Lévrier? He might be suited to the task. More so, anyway, than any guard we might spare.

Similarly, I can understand people converting at swordpoint, but these claims of Miracles are troubling. Has Allah abandonned us? I'm even more worried by the lack of precision about these. This seems like some kind of deviltry was used to convince the people the christian god is the one true god. But if such is the case, the matter is even more serious.

As per those people... As I told you, we need people, and specialists, but I'm all for helping them anyway. So we can at least provide them a temporary haven, and maybe more, if they're willing to work here and accept our rules.

35

Abdul looks up at the rain pouring in the courtyard, thankful for the cover that the balconies provide and aware of the lateness of the hour.

[color=green]"If this rain lets up in the morning, I would very much, with your permission, of course, like to find these refugees and offer them sanctuary here. Of course, some protection would be welcome in case they are not what they seem. Unless, of course, your magi and their people have already taken care of the situation, which I somehow doubt.

"And then, after I return, either tomorrow or Sunday, I can meet with anyone who has any needs that I can fill in my travels."

36

Raoudha is clearly torn out: On the one hand, there's her duty and honor. On the other, of course, her compassion for suffering people.

Sigh... I had it that the magi wanted to investigate this themselves.
Yet, it appears they have all but forgotten it, and we can't leave these people like this, especially with these templars nearby.
Sigh... So yes, you should go, but probably not alone. There may be danger. We haven't much guards, most of them incompetent, but maybe you can have some of the soldiers that came with the magi. I'll speak with Gerard, we're old friends, maybe you can convince some other people... Fati may be abe to advise you.

(OOC: I 'm worried with this, someone had a story seed with these, but it's been dangling...)

37

Chico laid the seed, but left it for the rest of us to fill it out.

38

So, I guess start a new 2.4 thread for going after the refugees, then?

39

While I'm tempted to say yes, I think it might be wiser for us to focus our efforts on getting to the council meeting, and leaving the refugees for 2.5

Unless y'all are bored, in which case, go ahead.