[color=red]”No, I don't. But my husband does,” she replies in Occitan (which, if I'm reading the house rules on language relationships right, is an effective Spanish: 3). [color=red]”Let me call for him right quick.”
She turns and places her fingers in her mouth to give an ear-splitting whistle. [color=red]”Honey, you got a couple minutes?” she yells when Jaksic turns to see what the noise was.
Vibria turns back to the clerk. [color=red]”We are not priests and nuns, no. We are a gathering of scholars and students.”
[color=red]"We come from the free city of Andorra, in the mountains between Catalonia and Toulouse," Vibria says. [color=red]"Although we owe fealty to no crown, which allows us more time to dedicate to our studies."
"I see" he looks dubious. "There may be others who will follow up on this report. Until you hear otherwise two people at a time may leave the ship, so that you can resupply while we come to our final decision."
A bit past the absolute middle of the night a Djinn appears in Vibria's quarters on the ship. "So, you want to make this easy on me and just tell me why you are here?"
"We have heard many great things about the library and knowledge that can be gained here. We wish to see of there is any truth to this and, if so, to explore setting up a collegium that will allow us to come study in more comfortable climes."
He considers this a moment, then you feel something press against your parma magica, but fail to penetrate. "I think it is clear you are not just scholars, and most academics could hardly afford a ship like this." He leaves the statement hanging as an invitation for you to be more forthcoming.
The Djinn leans back on the air arround it and contemplates what you have said "There are many forms of knowledge that might be gained here. Could you be more precise?"
Vibria thinks for a minute. "No, not really. That is, there are several of us...well, not just me. There are a couple of others, and I wouldn't presume to speak for them. Personally, I'm rather fond of fire magic, and battle magic, and finding a nice warm place to my husband and I to spend the winters rather than getting snowed in for four months, because I am not fond of being cold.
She thinks again for a minute. "And there are plenty of legends and stories I could learn. Especially about dragons.You know any good ones?
She grins and spreads her arms. "Any more questions I can answer for you?"
"I believe that will satisfy my master's requirements, what he will do with this I cannot say." The Djinn then vanishes.
Come morning orders are brought to the ship that all may travel ashore freely, along with an invitation for any of the "esoteric scholars" to attend a luncheon at one of the local noble households.
Vibria will let the other magi know about the djinn's visit early the next morning, shortly after sunrise (once everyone's had a chance to do their Parma.) Including Jaksic and Felix if they slept through the Djinn.
When the invitation arrives, she'll be all in favor of going. Especially if she can take her husband and Felix.
She can actually get some of that done on the way to the Luncheon, especially if she leaves early. This is a major port city so there are all kinds of shops with merchanidise from all over the Mediterranean, and eventually she arrives at a town-manor where she is welcomed by a doorman and escorted to the 'casual dining room;, along with anyone else who decided to attend. Your host arrives shortly afterwards. "Miss Vibria? Mrs? I get confused on these western titles. Please, have a seat, my friend told me of your esoteric interests, and I wanted to take a moment to discuss what sort of interests you have. Obviously I belong to a different tradition than your order, though we call ourselves an order as well, does your order focus on summoning, or some other aspect of the arcane?"
Vocis would like to walk with his apprentice through the marketplace and see a little of the city, allowing ample time to not be delayed for the luncheon. He's not buying anything, more to see this new place a little.
Some of the things she’s looking for is silk (if she can get it at a bargain), gold and silver (if she can get it at a bargain), maybe some gems or jewelry (if she can get it at a bargain), some nice armor or weaponry (if she can get it at a bargain)…and they play chess here, don’t they? Maybe she can find a nice chess board (if she can get it at a bargain).
Vibria smiles politely. “Just ‘Vibria’ will do. Or ‘Maga’ if you insist on a title. My order doesn’t really focus on any one aspect of the mystic arts, although individual members might. I know members of the Order whose magical focus is to seek more pleasure in life, some who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge, some whose magical interests take a more diplomatic bent, some who seek knowledge of mysterious creatures (some would say monsters, even). Personally, I’ve been more of what you could call an adventurous soul, and one who takes pride in my martial prowess with magic.
“Surely members of your order aren’t unanimous in your interests?”