A birth in Lesi

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Fight or Flight
48

Taliha

"The church is meddling with the day? How do you mean?"

She smiles at his sour look at Julia, "Yes. her... discomfort was the first inclination I had that perhaps you were someone I should speak to. She is not completely used to me, yet... but I suspect your gift's aura is more violent than my own... considering how immediate her response was from across the garden."

"No, I do not have any leads. I would love to return to Ifriqiya but the Roman Tribunal is also my home. Perhaps sometime in the future the Roman tribunal will settle near Tunis and Tripoli but nothing I have heard makes that seem likely anytime soon. I do miss the beauty of the desert though." Looking out across the roofs of the small city, lost in thought she continues absently, "It does not seem a horrible idea, but the sites for new covenants are few in this tribunal and I am unsure if many covenants have space for two errants to rent. Add to that a difficulty of hoping to stay somewhat close to my sept in the North end of the tribunal. Have you heard of any covenants with enough space for two?"

49

"They changed it. He was born on the 25th, but they can't have someone born the same day as their precious savior, so they're saying it was the 26th, in the records and so on." He grins. "It may never matter, but I'm sure the truth will be lost to all but a few."

He measures, and writes. Takes another drink of wine, this time gulping away thirst rather than sipping to enjoy a vintage.

"I thought about renting a laboratory somewhere... I'm sure many covenants have them available, it's good income... but renting a laboratory is a trap, I think. The covenant has no reason to allow a renter to become a permanent resident, and 4 pawns a year forever is a lot. I was thinking of trying to find an unclaimed aura. Even a chapterhouse would be better than renting."

"Maybe... If I could find a map, I might be able to find something... though like all new skills, I'm not great at it yet, I have a way of locating an aura if I can get out into the wilderness a bit. I can search a very wide area without needing to actually traverse it all."

He stops again, looking around to make sure no mundanes are present, then mutters a few words and makes a gesture, and his eyes suddenly glint in the darkness, reflecting light as a cat's would, and he makes another measurement, as the scent of heated metal wafts in the deepening twilight for a moment.

"I wouldn't mind heading north. Maybe we can find something in the mountains." He pauses, frozen by a thought. "Actually... it would be difficult travel... but there are mountains all the way up and down the peninsula... to be honest I'd be a bit worried about going alone... but..." He looks up at her hopefully. "We could travel that way, south to north, and search the mountains... there's bound to be a spot somewhere that nobody's found yet. What do you think? Maybe hire a guard or two? It would be a lot of work to build our own covenant, but I think it's worth it..."

50

Suddenly one of the two magi see a new arrival in the garden. He is in his mid-twenties, handsome, and smartly dressed, with a red cap, and grey tunic and a darker grey long vest, partly covering his belt laden with pouches and bags. He seems quite casual and indifferent, as he looks over the garden and approaches the beautiful Julia. «Good afternoon,» he says with a Genoese accent, «I was told this garden is a wonder to the eye, but you exceed every expectation.»

He pauses, attentive of any reaction, casting a glance over the rooftop. Would it be polite to introduce himself, or can he find a place at respectful distance. He is handsome and charming, but he has this disturbing air which makes Julia uncomfortable.

51

Taliha & Julia

Julia blushes and smiles politely. With a sweep of her arm she says, "Yes, the town is quite beautiful from up here in the early evening." As he follows her gesture with his gaze she glances towards Taliha as if to say please rescue me, then back at the new arrival with the same polite smile, "If I were to guess, I would say you are likely from Genoa. What brings you to Iesi?"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the garden, Taliha has been listening to Archimedes, nodding to show she's been listening but when the new arrival approaches Julia she seems distracted. As Archimedes finishes Taliha says, "All of this is very interesting and I would like to discuss it further but at the moment I believe I must rescue my friend." And without waiting for a response Taliha walks over to Julia and this new person.

"Oh, Julia," Taliha says stepping into the space between Marcus and Julia, "I'm sorry to have left you here so long but Medes and I got into quite the interesting discussion... and I see you have been making new friends as well." Turning to Marcus, "Are you going to introduce me, Julia?"

52

Marcus admires the view as Julia is pointing. «It is an amazing view indeed.» Then he turns to face her. You notice he holds a hand behind his ear when he listens. «Your guess is good, although I do not spend so much time in the city. My family has an ... estate North of Genoa. As to Lesi, well, I thought I had to see more of the World. A traveller in knowledge, so to speak. I am sorry. I can hear you are probably not from around Genoa, but I cannot guess as good as you.»

When Taliha approaches, «oh, I am sorry, we have not even introduced ourselves. I am Marcus, from Harco. Pleased to make your acquaintance.» He nods politely to both of them.

53

Taliha & Julia

At the mention of Harco, Taliha's eyes widen in surprise. Now speaking in Latin, "Harco, you say? I have heard much about it and met quite a few people from there. Oh, where are my manners? I am Taliha Fanak ex Bjornaer."

Julia raises an eyebrow in curiosity and a little surprise. Surprise at Taliha giving her full name to a man... and a stranger, no less. And curiosity because she has heard the phrase 'ex Bjoernaer' come from Taliha's mouth on a few occasions but never learning what it means. She remains quiet though, content to have Taliha as a buffer between her and this odd man.

54

«Sodalis!? I did not expect to meet one at random. It is truly chance which brought me to Lesi,» he smiles. «Yes, I am born and bred at Harco. Descendant of Mercere, of course.»

«You are travelling together, I take it, Talida and ...?» He turns to Julia. «Are you also a sodalis of the Order?»

55

Taliha & Julia

Taliha give a quick shake of her head. "This is my friend, Julia. we came from Venice." Putting a hand lightly on Marcus's arm, "Surprisingly enough you are not the first I've met," nodding towards Archimedes on the other side of the roof. "Perhaps we could discuss a few things and leave Julia in peace," Taliha says with a friendly smile towards Julia.

56

«If you want to,» Marcus replies ruefully, and turns to go with with Taliha. Turning his head back, he says over his shoulder, «nice to meet you, Ma ..» He stops himself, and the name turns into an incomrprehensible whisper. «See you later ... I hope.»

57

Julia waves weakly but feels much better outside of the radius of the magi's gifts.

As they slowly walk across the roof Taliha asks Marcus how long since his gauntlet and whether he currently has a covenant he calls home. [Let me know if he answers other than honestly and fully and I'll alter the following.]

Approaching Archimedes with Marcus, Taliha says, "Sodales, surprising things are afoot here in Iesi. As if we, members of the order, have been breeding like rabbits." She smiles at the metaphor. "Marcus, my dear, meet Archimedes. We were discussing the thought of finding a place to reside... somewhere we would not have to rent from a landlord... perhaps you, Archimedes, could fill in Marcus on your plan... he is from Harco and I am sure the maps of the Mercere are better than you or I have access to."

58

Marcus answers truthfully, «it has been two years since my gauntlet, and I decided to leave. Rents are too expensive, and I find I can do quite well on my own, with no fixed abode.»

Marcus greets Archimedes politely, except for mispronouncing his name, and listens with interest to the two magi's ambition.

59

Archimedes rises as the newcomer approaches, and responds to the greeting in Latin. "I am Archimedes ex Verditius. Good to meet another mage-errant. We were discussing... well, I was proposing... that we try to find an uninhabited aura and found a covenant. If we travel along the base of the mountains, I can find any auras on the mountains themselves. A map would be helpful for the travel and for the divining, I was thinking of trying to find one tomorrow."

60

Taliha

“While this does seem an intriguing proposition, in the future I would like to return to my childhood home, the native lands of my heartbeast, in Ifriqiyah... though that is unlikely to be possible for another 30 years. Not until the treaty ends. Could you see this new and likely unofficial covenant you are proposing helping to found a chapterhouse on Ifriqiyah’s northern coast? And what of you, Marcus, if you were to join us in this endeavor?”

61

Marcus hesitates before he answers, «interesting proposal. I thought all the auras were taken, with little chance of establishing oneself. The challenge frightens me, but even if I am content as a mage-errant for the time being, there will be a time when I want to settle down. If we can see a promising opportunity, I won't turn it down.»

He turns to Archimedes, «I am afraid I did not bring a map either, and I am most familiar with the North, towards the Alps. You wanted to search the Appenines, didn't you?»

[OOC. I have no idea how easily one can procure a map in a medium city, or how easily one can relay a letter via the redcaps as a mage-errant. Maybe I know the itineraries of some of the redcaps, and could intersect them, or maybe not. Is there a Mercere House other than Harco in Rome? Acquiring a map from the Mercere I would assume would take months.]

62

Archimedes shrugs. "They may be all taken, but there could be a remote one that was overlooked. Traveling may be a little risky, but without risk there is no reward, eh? We can hire a few guards if that would make you feel better, I was planning to anyway. As far as the map, we can do without one if we have to, it's a convenience, not a necessity. I, at least, don't have a laboratory, so I don't mind spending some time, I thought to go south to the beginning of the Apennines and travel along the eastern foot of the range, checking each mountain as we pass."

He turns to Taliha. "We have a few years until the next tribunal, we may be able to convince two of the triumvirate to recognize us, or convince other covenants. Even if we are unofficial, we can have laboratories without paying rent, and that's the important thing. We just need to be secretive about the location until we are recognized. I wouldn't mind relocating or building a chapterhouse in Africa, though it is probably a bit remote to supply a covenant so far out. Though if vis is plentiful that makes it worthwhile."

63

Taliha

Taliha chuckles. “Tripoli is more populous than many cities here in the Roman Tribunal and, from what I have heard, Tunis even larger.”

64

As the three sit chatting on the rooftop a man accompanied by two soldiers approaches the inn. He gives Julia the willies, about the same way that Marcus did, and the soldiers do not look happy about escorting him either. Archimedes will recognize one of the soldiers as being from the palace gate.

65

Archimedes looks down as the men enter, and mutters a curse in Sardinian. He says, "We... I might have trouble." He quickly puts away the astrological equipment and notebook he's been using in his pack, and sticks it under the bench again. "That was a guard from the palace. I went there earlier today, trying to find out more about the birth. I didn't do anything even close to objectionable, just asked for admittance and was turned away. But I'll understand if you want to distance yourselves."

66

«I do not have a laboratory either. I was planning to spend most of my time reading, but ...» Marcus is interrupted by the arriving guards as he tries to reply to Archimedes' question. He looks at the guards. Is Archimedes pointing to man being escorted or one of the escorts? Are all three of them soldiers or only the two?

Either way, Marcus lets Archimedes take the lead. He takes a step back, but he does not walk away.

67

Taliha

"I am no coward. I will help you should this mean trouble but I must send Julia back to our room." And with that, Taliha quickly moves to Julia and in a low voice says, "There may be trouble and I would feel better if you were safely away from it. You should either go to our room or, better, find someplace away from this Inn."

[OOC: I know I've been given license to play Julia but here I'd like Silveroak to decide whether she follows the advice or not.]