OOC: Where does that information originate? I didn't have any impression concerning Philipius Niger's attitude toward non-Apromor Flambeau. Obviously, any attitudes toward Antonio are unique to this particular saga.
Vares would, however, have some indication of Philipius Niger's attitudes based on his experiences and observations at the Durenmar Tribunal meeting. As the most senior Flambeau in the Tribunal, Vares would of course have paid respects to him, bringing some type of appropriate gift and word of the expedition to Val-Negra, which WAS the Domus Magnus of the House! I'm not saying that Philipius Niger would have necessarily cared for Vares, who is not the "traditional" battle-obsessed Flambeau. Only that Vares would have some idea of Philipius Niger's disposition toward Andorra and other Flambeau. This is the first I've had any indication of such a hostile or uncaring attitude in this regard.
Contents of Andorra's library noted. Antonio can probably better his own works given that he's right there and can supply his OWN, immediate words. Admittedly, he might "forget" some point, but in the absence of any indices in the era, it might take an excessive amount of time to locate them. The story of the last trip is another matter: there could easily be other details in there that he hasn't had TIME to explain just yet.
That’s just my take on the Apromor lineage. A very dour and unfriendly lot. However, according to GotF, his Personality Traits are as follow: Alarmist +3, Condescending +3, Obsessive +2, Cool Tempered -1, Cheerful -3. This formula adds up to quite an unpleasant person.
And the covenant does have Elders as a Hook, so the effects will indeed spill over on to the rest of you. Look, these two guys just don’t get along. Pillipus is Antonio’s elder, he thinks that he is an upstart whelp and leader of a rogue Societates. Antonio thinks Phillipus is a total P (rhymes with Rick). P is worse than D
Butkisser more razzing ya. I played Roberto at GT, and I was introduced to a Flambeau-Quaesitor Archmagus who was described to me as “Judge Dread”. I thought that was so cool, I couldn’t help brown nosing
There are also a couple of things you are missing. The Knights of Seneca carry a lot of baggage. The Lineage of Delendos is not recognized as a founding line. The party line is that Flambeau had two apprentices, Apromor and Elaine. Old Delendos was a Schism War Veteran and a hero, but had delusions of grandure. Also keep in mind that the House is currently controlled by the Milites and the Cult of Mithras. The School of Julius (filius Delendos) is a Mercurian style of magic, focused on Mastery. And it was Vanacastium (filius Julius) that accused the Apromor and Mithras magi of conspiracy and cover up when he quit the post of primus. To tell the truth, there are a few Flambeau who are unsettled about the rediscovery of Val-Negra. They would rather the place be buried and forgotten. On the other hand, this is not House Tremere. It is a disorganized House of freewheeling warrior wizards. Antonio has garnered much prestige as a symbol of defying unjust authority, and many of our (the KoS) radical ideas are becoming popular. There is also a resurgence in new Lumina legends. There is a Flambeau magus in Stonehenge that claims to be the Lumina, and in the Levant they have found evidence that the True Lumina is the magus who founded the Covenant of Lions.
You will learn
There is more to it than that. Whatever you want to look up about Jinni, the Efreet, and the Arc of Fire; you will find information quicker using these few books immediately on hand and the information you find will me more accurate and to the point. As storyguide, I am trying to tell you that Durenmar is a waste of time that will not yield the results you wish. Catalogue of Magical Beasts and Beings: has entries on all sorts of magic creatures; giants, dragons, genies, ghosts, smurfs, griffons, and more. Commentary on "Catalogue of Magical Beasts and Beings": Yes, this is Antonio’s commentary and you have the guy right here. However, the incident was fresher in his mind when he wrote this, and his writing is more forml and technical than his speaking. Concerning Auras, Regiones, and the Magic Realm: This is the reference book you’ll need. It even makes reference to a number of Mythic Places with interesting features to theor Aura or Regio. There is a short reference to “Campi Flegrei del Mar di Sicilia”, the regio wherein is located the Arc of Fire. Tales of the Jinni: This one is a no brainer. It was a gift from the sahir of Estancia es Karida to help the old guys against the efreet. It is much more accurate and precise than anything you will find at Durenmar. There is even an entry on the guy, the bookmark ribbon is on that page.
Marie nods, when she hears Inigo is going to chat up the dragon.
"Well, since I haven't got any dragon buddies, I'll have to do with checking a few tomes at the library. I doubt I can find much in the 2 days and 22 hours we have before Carmen must be saved, but it's worth trying. Leyla..."
Leyla eagerly interrupts: "Actually we should put a nose into every book that might help. I'll reassign the scribes. We'd better read the books in the council chamber, though we don't miss the debate. Can that apprentice girl of yours read?"
Marie mumbles something to herself, while Leyla sends off a few servants.
Vares will start on "Tales of the Jinni", assuming it is in Latin and not Arabic.
OOC: I was citing my logic, Marko. And visiting extremely senior Magi in one's House is a mark of respect, not sycophantry. In fact, it would be a mark of disrespect to ignore him, and when dealing with the likes of Philipius Niger, that would not be wise. I'm well aware of the fact that he is a very grouchy old man. He's so Twilight-ridden, and so far gone even with his Bonisagus-brewed Longevity Potion that this isn't a surprise.
Vares sometimes feels like a marginal Flambeau in any event. I occasionally think he has stronger connections to the Mercere, or Ex Misc. He's not "orthodox", and I've noted previously that one of the only reasons he doesn't have the Hedge Wizard Flaw himself is the prestige of his Mentor.
I always thought her name was Lejla. I can't find where the sheet was posted, but in the copy I saved it reads "Lejla - A chaaaarming companion". But Layla is cooler. Totally Clapton 8)
I shall presume the servants bring forth the aformentioned stack of books and lay them on the table
I know. I pointed out how a character I played was naturally drawn to do the same thing. To a young Flambeau, meeting Flambeau elders of power and prestige is an awe inspiring experience. But your peers and other elders are still going to razz you about it. That's just human nature.
You need to learn to turn your thinking around. Like this: "It would be a mark of spinelessness to ignore him and wait for him to call upon me. I am Vares of Flambeau, Knight of Seneca, from the expedition that discovered lost Val-Negra. I insisted that he make an audience for me and hear me out, and he did so. I presented him a gift of (whatever), as a display of humility as I am not arrogant."
Regardless of how the meeting came about or how it went down, this is what you tell other people.
And he's a psychotic nut job too! And have you noticed that none of the Wards on his Talisman have a Penetration score
My view is that all Flambeau are heterodox to some degree or another. The Knights of Seneca especially so.
Books are in Latin unless otherwise noted. Though in retrospect it would have been cool to have made it so that it is in both (left page in Arabic, right page in Latin). But the Hermetic Sahirs of Estancia es Karida are still Hermetic Magi, and ths still must use Latin for most of their magic (excepting their use of Sihir). However, this is a Magic Lore book, not one on the Arts. But they wrote it for other magi, not for themselves or for non-Hermetic moslem wizards.
You flip open the book to page marked by the last person to have studied the book. It is the story of Khyron al-Efreet, Great Amir and Malik of the Arc of Fire.
What is to follow is a paraphrased summation of the entry, and shall be in my next post
"Let us go chat with the dragon and see what he says. We might not need to use your favor, we might used carmen's, we might be able to call upon something else. I am sure that God will help us find the wisdom to say the right thing." She has faith and the dragon might be fascinated by someone that has absolutely no interest in getting vis from him.
Al-Malik ‘Izz al-Sayf Khyron ibn Kashia’ al-Efreet
Kyhron al-Efreet is one of the twelve Great Amirs of the Efreet tribe of the Jinni, and is the king of the Arc of Fire. This dreadful land consists of a palace of bronze on an island of basalt surrounded by a boiling sea; over which stands a massive arc of perfect geometry, composed of pure essential fire. Kyhron spends his days brooding, plotting intrigues against his cousins and revenge against his enemies. He is an impious jinn with many heathen habits, though he makes claims and pretenses to submitting to Islam. Invocations from the Koran do not repel him or force him into submission, but those of Faith are afforded respect and hospitality.
It is likely that he just pays lip service to Islam, either because he wishes to fool mortals or because he fears the wrath of Suliman. There are several indicators that suggest he is a non-believer. Khyron is a true Genus Locus, and is associated with the Art of Ignem as his essential nature. If he had taken up the faith he would have transformed in nature to become a faerie, if he was Infernal then he could not be affected by Ignem based summoning and warding magic since all demons are considered Vim only.
The efreet are one of the strongest and most powerful of the tribes of the Jinni, second only to the Marid. The tribe is ruled by twelve Great Amirs, who choose amongst themselves a Grand Amir to rule over them all. This system was fraught with rivalry and warefare, and was already dysfunctional before the war with Suleiman disrupted it. Eight of the Great Amirs sided with the Sons of Ilbis, and in turn were defeated by Suleiman and imprisoned in objects. Of the remaining four, one submitted to Suleiman and two others were imprisoned as a result of other conflicts. Some have since been freed, but the only one who has never bowed to Suleiman nor been imprisoned by him is Khyron. This is not because of boldness or power. Rather, it is because of shrewd wisdom and caution. He built his palace in a hidden location under the sea, and avoids conflict with the Divine whenever possible.
Khyron’s palace of Bronze is located in a land called the Arc of Fire. This is a magical realm found at the end of a powerful regio located halfway betweenthe Island of Pantelleri and the city of Agrigento in Sicily. This is a Mythic Place known in as the “Campi Flegrei del Mar di Sicilia”, which means the “Burning Fields of the Sea of Sicily”. There is a magic aura here and the waters are nearly scalding hot. As one passes deeper into the regio the air fills with steam and the waters start to boil. The sea also becomes much more shallow, shrinking to a depth of mere yards in some places. Piercing the final layer of the regio, twin volcano peaks breach the surface and spew in an arc of fire between them. Sailing between them under the arc leads to the basalt island upon which is built the palace of bronze. This is a dangerous journey into a regio with wide gaps between its layers, and thus is nearly impossible to navigate. However, once every one hundred years, the volcano peaks breach the surface of the water in the mundane realm outside the regio, forming the arc of fire, and at these times it is easy to pass through.
There are seven hundred and seven jinni in direct service to Khyron at his palace, and many times more that are subject to his rule. His followers include members of his tribe, vassals that have pledged their allegiance to him, and refugees who have escaped their prisons. Some of the efreet in his service are of fire such as he is, and others are the efreet of stone and sand known as Dao. Khyron has a bitter rivalry with his cousin Zhakkar, Sultan of the Scarlet Sand.
Like all jinni, Khyron can assume a corporeal form, and if he chooses he can infuse the form with fire or take a form composed of fire instead. He is immune to damage from heat and flames of course, and presumably he is immune to non-magical weapons (as many efreet are). He has many other powers common to the efreet, such as the ability to fly, to create all sorts of spectacular fire based effects, dominate the minds of mortals, and he transmute or destroy stones and metals. Khyron also has powers of conjurations, able to fabricate materials out of pure magic in a way that magi can only do with rituals.
Inigo: Only Carmen can call in Carmen's favor. Those are the rules, and the dragon Sigmundo is a rather rules focused sort of creature (I read up on him recently). But come, let us travel you and I. I shall fly ahead, landing periodically so you can catch up. I shall give you an Arcane connection to myself, I trust you enough.
The pretty Arabian sinks her face into Concerning Auras. Magical beasts is taken up by Marie, who seeing that Antonio wrote the commentary on that book, expects him to contribute.
As to Inigo's question about what to ask the dragon, she suggests: "Which weaknesses does our adversary have? Which are his enemies? How can we get his enemies to help us in the limited timeframe available? Three questions - a good number to ask any magical beast. Be careful with your phrasing, Inigo. Avoid yes/no questions or questions that have a trivial answer."
ooc - brainstorm: how can we trap a jinn inside an object? Lure him in? Seduce him (that would be sth for Lejla)!? Are jinni truly powerless in bottles? Maybe we can charm him into assuming a form that is easier to cut into pieces?!
Reading the entry on the Efreet and Khyrom very carefully, Vares is nearly awestruck by the mention of the ancient fight against Suleiman--if it is, indeed, Solomon of ancient Israel, and not some later, Muslim Sahir of the same name (there are enoug of them). Coming across the entry concerning his attitude toward those of Faith, he scrutinises it closely, to see if it refers only to Muslims, or if to others of the Faiths of Abraham. Should it be, he indicates it to Ameline.
Powerful Magic; either Muto Vim or Rego Vim (Ignem should work also), the use of Sihir, or Goetic Sorcery.
That can be used to bait a trap, but you still need that trap in place, and it would need to be powerful magic that can penetrate the efreet's magic might score.
No. It isn't the bottle per se, it is the magic that binds the jinn into said bottle that makes it powerless.
That won't work either, because he can simply dissolve and reform.
I misunderstood your meaning at first, so I deleted my original response and wrote a new one
Yes, it does indeed refer to Suleiman, son of Da’ud (Soloman, son of David). The text doesn’t refer to Moslems per se, just by implication. Soloman was Jewish, coming from a time before either Islam or Christianity, so any of the three could apply.
Dimir Taar has been worried the whole time. This is bad, and we can't fight an entire army of jinns
I don't think we need to provoke an eruption, too. This might occurr either when one reached the regio, or when kyron wills it.
But this Zhakkar... How deep is his rivalry to kyron? Could he help us? Maybe we could struck and alliance with him, placing him on kyron's throne.
Whatever we do, we need to remove this menace definitively. However, I don't think we can beat him through brute force: If he could penetrate our aegis, he's probably immune to any magic we could muster.
After completing his examination on the entry concerning Khyrom, Vares imparts to the others, "He alone of the Efreet Lords escaped imprisonment or Binding by Solomon the Great. This suggests great cunning. He bears a care and perhaps fear of those who are True in their Faith. Ameline, you are one I do not think he would assail lightly. He may be vulnerable to the Power of the 'Divine'."
The Flambeau Magus sighs. "It is one of the few weaknesses he seems to have, other than his motives. Weapons of rude matter do not seem to harm him. He can turn objects of stone or metal to dust or rust," a wave of his hand, "as can we, but if he can resist Magic as well then enchanted blades cannot touch him unless they are supremely puissant. If there was a wood that did not burn, it might be made to strike him. Claws from a Dragon could do it, or a spear using sharpened Dragon scales or the horn of an Ettin or other such artifact. A rope made from the hair of a Unicorn could perhaps strangle him--if he did not simply discorporate or leave. He does not drown, but if his link to Fire is strong enough than it could be that he can be suffocated by trapping him within a Circle in which all Air had been consumed and would not be replaced, extinguishing him. Again, only if he did not slip away, to attack. Spells that work on the mind might befuddle or confuse him. One strong enough, could do more.
Rodrigo smirks. Summoning the ghost of Soloman won't owrk. He's a Biblical Patriarch, equivilent to a Saint. However, I was thinking of your idea concerning a bottle. Trapping Khyron will certainly greater power than we have available. However, we can possibly bind and ward his underlings. Marie, you are a Rego expert I seem to recall? Could you manage a spell to trap spirits of the third to seventh magnitude into bottles? We have a Casting Tablet for Watching Ward. You could cat your spell into the Ward onto the bottle, and use it to trap genies in.
The actual mechanics of this can be accomplished several ways, using Vim or Ignem. Muto is actually the Art that will allow you to bind a genie to objects or people. But Rego can also be used to trap it (sort of like a reverse ward, which must penetrate as normal), and Rego can be used to force a genie into a waiting trap.
Ameline smiles and speaks softly. "I appreciate your desire to wait up for me but I will be able to keep up as long as you are flying direct and not using some sort of transportation effect. " The magic softly intones words and suddenly she is floating in the air. Since she has a new token to the aegis, she speaks the words of a spell and she is suddenly on the other side of the room. "Seven leagues at a time and with me flying as I am now for the rest of the day. Still, if you wish to give an arcane connections, I will not object. Flying also means that we will see any drakes along the way before they can be close enough to be threat. It is a poor way to visit socially by molesting family of one we wish to see. Shall we go?"
OOC spont a day duration rise of the feathery body: base sta 2 + rego 10 + corpus 17 + 5 aura -5 no gestures= 29: Rise of feathery body is level 10 for touch/concentration, change it to personal/sun and it is still level 10, just need to avoid a botch using fatigue (14+ 1/2 roll). Roll is 9 for level 19. successful. Ameline will not fall to groud so once in air she can seven league stride to keep up (mastered subtle so no botch dice and can't fail casting roll with 30+aura casting, even on a 0), just need 2 minutes to get back the fatigue level.
