The story for Gabriele and the Secret Society Gabriele and the Secret Society:
Cycle 1: A messenger for the Augustan Brotherhood approaches Gabriele while he is in town and expresses concern about several songs Gabriele has been trying out. The messenger presents a strongly worded invitation to meet with one of the Brotherhood’s members to “avoid further complications”. Gabriele realizes the inherent threat, but impresses the courier enough that he does not pose any imminent danger. Curious, Gabriele agrees to travel with the courier to meet the member.
Cycle 2: During the meeting with the Augustan Brotherhood functionary, Gabriele is commissioned to create a song cycle glorifying a “united Italy” and include a particularly scathing piece about “the County of Tripoli dividing lands they do not hold.” Gabriele manages instead to convince the functionary to set up a meeting with higher-up in the organization.
Cycles 3 and 4: While travelling to the larger meeting, Gabriele and the courier are confronted by enemies of the Brotherhood. Gabriele manages to avoid any direct altercation through guile and etiquette. Knowing the danger, Gabriele convinces the courier they should leave during the night. The pair sneak out, then take off running, and manage to elude their would-be attackers.
Cycles 5 and 6: Gabriele manages to talk his way into the next level of the Augustan Brotherhood, through good manners and some serious bluffing, hinting that he helped the Brotherhood avoid a possible entanglement with their enemies. During the meeting, he recognizes the fear the Brotherhood (as a group of Hedgies) has for the the power of the Church, and convinces them that trying to use someone associated with the Order of Hermes would be more likely to get the Church involved than anyone wants. The Brotherhood decides that using Gabriele’s talents might not be in their best interest, and let him return to the Covenant. In return for his advice and service, Gabriele receives a vial of blood containing 2 pawns Corpus vis (magic).
Cycles 7 and 8: On the way back, Gabriele gets distracted by a pretty lass, and feeling confident after his encounter with the Brotherhood, seduces the girl. Of course, her brothers find out, and a merry chase ensues. A couple of well-aimed thrown knives manage to deter the defenders of their sister’s honor, and Gabriele escapes without being recognized (this time).
11 xp, 14 days, 8 confidence gained, 3 conf used
16 Rewards: +5 reputation points wipes out the bad reputation; 2 pawns of vis; +9 reputation as an entertainer; +1 Conf