OOC At this point I'm just talking to Metron and waiting for my allies to show up.
"Oh by the way Metron I think you should know we've formed an alliance with the efreet whose palace you, ah, were using. I think I can stop him from killing you when he gets here, but one never knows."
OOC Esteban doesn't know that Norhyk is in a bottle right now.
[color=red]Bah. I am not worried about an efreet or any mere spirit. I have means of dealing with him should he be foolinsh enough to enter Taglyn.
Viola,
You have crossed the void (via the mirror) and have entered the land of Taglyn. A dense fog covers the land, and with your Second Sight you are able to percieve numerous spirits fliting throgh the air.
Before long, you come upon a keep, the covenant of Taglyn. It appears that there was some sort of battle out front sometime recently. The bodies of dead trolls are scattered about.
OOC: Let me know when Vares and the others have passed through the mirror. He jumped directly to the mirror chamber, where Rodrigo may have already been waiting.
Eh? I thought you guys were all in the mirror chamber or just ouside the tower to begin with. That is why I disregarded your AC comment (your connection is to Carmen, but it doesn't matter since you are already right here).
Rodrigo has already crossed through.
You have now passed through, simply by saying that is what you wish to do (in game you lower your parma and physically leap through the mirror).
So, then, you are in a land of dense fog. With your second sight, you can see countless ghosts and spirits fliting through the air. Before long you come upon a keep. Recent battle, dead trolls, you know the rest from reading what others have seen.
OOC - Estaban, Carmen, and Alexandro have already arrived. Next would be Viola, then Rodrigo, then you (Vares). Followed shortly by Octavian I hope.
Estaban;
Vilola arrives, followed shortly by Rodrigo. Rodrigo is excited that you have captured Metron, but whispers to you asking why you haven't executed him yet.
OOC: We were just outside the tower at that point. But there was a second AC, as came up several times during play.
IC: Vares expands his Sight as he contemplates the Mirror. With utmost care, he silently lowers his Parma until he begins to feel the pull of the Mirror. Whatever transpires in the moment of transition, he is watchful and alert.
The instant he manifests in the land of fog and mist with the shifting ghosts and spirits flitting through the Place, he brings his Parma back up to full strength. He then performs "Strings of the Arcane Connections", using the Arcane Connections he retains to the others to confirm their presence and general direction.
invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2626859/
"5" successful, no Fatigue loss
He then seeks to discover the Astrological time, comparing it to where they were last, attempting to gain some orientation ("Know Heaven's Time")
invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2626863/
"4" successful, no Fatigue loss
With this information, he moves forward, purposefully, joining the others and then advancing toward what is ultimately revealed as the 'stone' keep.
Esteban whispers back, "He surrendered to me and is under my protection. A cursory magical interrogation showed that be believes he is innocent. His fate must be decided by Tribunal, not by one magus or a handful of magi."
Esteban: "Well met, Viola! Carmen, Alexandro, and I are here. You see I have captured Metron: he is to stand trial. It may take some time for us all to re-assemble; this realm plays strange tricks with time. Thank you for coming after us. It may take some doing for us to find our way back to the mortal realm."
Rodrigo: He was already cast out of the Order and prnounced march. We can execute him at any time. However, the Quaesitor bounty does state "dead or alive". I am certain they would be interested in interrogating him.
Metron: I can hear every word you say. You have no idea what I have experienced. There is nothing like what I have become!
You want to know the truth? I will tell you my tale, and your blood will curdle...
Tonight at home I will write up the Story of Metron, and post it tomorrow. Big revelations shall be coming 
Arriving right behind Rodrigo, Vares witnesses Metron's 'captivity'. He sees Rodrigo lean in and whisper an exchange with Esteban.
OOC: Attempting to overhear the conversation through natural means.
invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2628244/
"4"
Per 2 + Awareness 2 (specialisation of Observant probably not applicable) + a roll of 4. Only an "8". Probable difficulty of about 9, so he might hear some of it...
IC: Catching a small part of the exchange, the Flambeau steps forward. In a low voice he reminds Esteban, "Magical interrogation cannot yet overcome the Limit of Infernal deception. We cannot rely upon it to ascertain veracity--or anything else."
Although not evident, Vares is fully prepared to strike hard and fast at Metron. He studies the Renounced, former Magus closely. In particular, he searches for any signs of something--such as a loose hair, or bit of cloth--that he might seize to use as an Arcane Connection.
invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2628247/
"7"
Per 2 + Awareness 3 (specialisation Observant applied) + roll 7= 12 to spot any potential Arcane Connections that could be lifted off of Metron
Esteban make no attempt to hide the insult he feels at Vares' remark. He replies with a curled lip, "Do you take me for a fool? I never said I trusted the bastard. I said he'll get a fair trial."
Known History of Metron:
[color=white]……..Metron was born in 1166 in Leon. Little is known of his childhood save for that he was a war orphan adopted by Orion of Flambeau. Apprenticeship began under Orion in 1176 at age 10. However, Orion died mysteriously (was murdered) seven years latter, and Metron completed his apprenticeship under his new master, Rasus of Flambeau (the murderer). He passed his Gauntlet in 1191, and according to his own journal, he was first Initiated by Rasus into the Cult of the Flaming Shadow in 1197. During the Iberian Tribunal meeting of 1207, when Rasus was accused and exposed as an Infernalist, Metron fled the scene and abandoned his cabal. The rest of the cabal was hunted down and captured or executed. Releganta of Flambeau was held prisoner for a time at Duresca. She later escaped, but was killed by Octavian. Rasus defeated his pater Karandos, and due to the resulting Twilight, he suffered the Archmagus remains retired at the Cave of Twisting Shadows to this day. Seven years later, in 1219, Rasus was finally cornered and slain by Santiago of Flambeau and his protégé Roberto.
[color=white]……..In the meantime, Metron hid out in the city of Barcelona, right under the nose of the Order. He sought to locate the Portal to Val Negra rumored to have been hidden in the city long ago. Metron was finally found out by Trentus of Flambeau, and in the ensuing battle, they started a fire at the Casa Guyo Argento (the Silver Rooster Inn, headquarters of the magi of that city). Metron escaped through the portal hidden there, followed by Trentus. During the second battle that took place at Perdut, Metron unleashed a Shadow Spirit of Fear, which drove Trentus away back through the portal and left within him a permanent aversion to Barcelona.
[color=white]……..Afterward, Metron travelled onward to Val Negra. The exact truth of what happened there is unclear. It seems that he managed to plunder knowledge from their library, and he is the one who caused the Iron Door to be opened (releasing whatever was inside). Afterwards, he was apparently imprisoned in Taglyn by Abaddon. Therein, he supposedly met up with Ludovicio of Tytalus, and the two of them cooperated to escape. However, Ludo has no memory of this, and his memories of that exact timeframe have been magically erased. This portion of the story is merely what Abaddon claimed had happened. Of important note is the fact that the sequencing of events simply does not match up. What seems more likely is that Ludo was tricked into taking Metron’s place.
[color=white]……..According to Metron’s notes (the ones captured by Octavian); after he escaped Taglyn he traveled through the Ignem Province of the Twilight Void, exploring that portion of Ignem that dealt with Cold and Shadows. Therein he found his destiny, for he located the Shadow Realm, a high level Ignem Boundary associated with cold and darkness. There he met a powerful Daimon that claimed to be the true embodiment of the Flaming Shadow, the fire that burns with cold darkness.
Metron’s notes indicate that he indeed believes this to be true, and that he himself was the destined Scion of the Flaming Shadow. This cannot possibly be true. It is more likely that this daimon (or perhaps a demon in the Magic Realm) adapted itself to fit Metron’s delusions. Part of the twisted lies Rasus had originally taught Metron is that he had Mythic Blood and was descended from Flambeau. Metron believes that Rasus spoke in riddles, and meant that he was the descendant of the Flaming Shadow, and that the whole purpose of the cult was to glorify his coming ascension.
[color=white]……..What is true however is that Metron has become a Transformed Human and is now a Magic Being. Though he is Tainted with Evil, his power is of the Magic Realm and not the Infernal. Nevertheless, the magi of Andorra are first hand witnesses to the fact that he is guilty of dealing with devils.
[color=white]……..After his transformation, Metron returned to Perdut to set up his Shadow Sanctum, in order to learn more about his new power and improve it. The resulting notes are the ones that Octavian had captured. When Octavian and Inigo (with Vares and Ludo) participated in the expedition to find Val Negra, they came face to face with the horrors Metron was capable of unleashing. For several years, since the battle when Metron drove Trentus away, Perdut had been haunted by an evil spirit; the Shadow of Fear Metron had unleashed. This shadow was in fact a demon and a vessel of iniquity, and had driven the populace mad with fear and despair. Octavian saved a child from being slain by its mother, who had become irrationally convinced it was a monster. Many of the children of the community, immune to the effect, had segregated into their own community and banded together to defend themselves against the insane “grups”.
[color=white]……..Metron detected the arrival of the magi, and mounted a surprise attack against Inigo which failed. He tried escaping via stealth, but was spotted and blocked by Octavian (this is when those notes were captured). Inigo attempted to attack Metron, but he managed to slip away in the resulting confusion.
[color=white]……..[color=blue]Now comes the part why Octavian (played by Octavian) has been mad at Vares (played by Arawn) is always so mad at Vares. This grudge has gone on for two years now, no matter how much I beg the guys to just let it go. “You are irresponsible”/”Your not the boss of me”/”I am not a Tremere!”/”You are not fit for Tremere”/and on and on. It would be almost kind of interesting if they could keep it to just roleplaying and not take it all so personal.
[color=white]……..Vares and Ludo were left to guard the portal by Octavian, as he went out to help Inigo. Ludo, the Tytalus that he is, does not take orders very well, and stubbornly proceeded to investigate matters for himself. Vares was caught between a rock and a hard place. He knew he couldn’t let Ludo wander out by himself, and he knew that there was a battle going outside and that his sodale Inigo was in grave danger. He posed Roger as guard and led the rest of the custos out into town.
[color=white]……..Metron was nowhere to be found. Then the Fear Shadow manifests, in true form as a Vessel of Iniquity. It took the efforts of all four magi combined to take the thing down. The all fired off a DeO as best the could, and even at that it was only the fact that Inigo had the spell Mastered that they managed to defeat it before it had a chance to strike them.
[color=white]……..Then behind them, the cottage and the portal explode in flames. Roger comes running out, rescuing the child Octavian saved once again, but dies himself from fire and smoke. Metron had escaped into Barcelona through the portal and destroyed it behind him.
The magi press on and manage to get to Val Negra. There, they learn Abaddon’s tale and Vancastium's story, and after a season, they return home.
[color=white]……..That was three years ago.
[color=white]……..In the mean time, Khyron did indeed manage to infiltrate Andorra under the guise of Noryhk. He was putting together a grand conspiracy, hoping to get all of Andorra’s magical enemies to strike at once. He recruited the Hag, telling her to have her kin strike after he drew away the strongest of Andorra’s magi (Khyron wrongly concluded Antonio would lead the charge). The Hag told her ogre family and giant kin. Alberto caught wind of the plot, but was steadfastly uninterested in participating. However, he did mention it casually to his cousin the storm giant
[color=white]……..Khyron also put together a conspiracy of magic item spirits resentful of Dimir Taar. However, this plot failed because most of these spirits like being items. It is their nature.
[color=white]……..Khyron’s third coconspirator was Metron. As Noryhk, he has been serving as Metron’s spy in Andorra, and learned of the talk about this “Lumina” prophecy. This talk concerned Kesara, Inigo’s daughter. However, it was Antonio that opened Kesara’s Arts before turning her back over to her father, which means that she was his apprentice for that short time. Khyron twisted the tale and told Metron that the Lumina was Antonio’s apprentice. What his part in the plan was is not yet fully known. Suffice to say that he abducted Carmen in an effort to lead the magi of Andorra to the Palace of Burning Bronze. The plan was trick the magi into doing battle with his cousin, thus toppling him so he could regain his throne. Metron messed all of that up when he brought the Flaming Shadow Daimon with him.
The rest is known from what was just experienced. Marie of Tytalus led the charge to attack Metron at the tower. Moe was seriously wounded, but healed by Ameline. Alexandro was drawn into the Mirror of Infinity. Carmen, free from the Prison of Glass Passion (because of her compassion for her brother), went into the mirror after him. Estaban followed. Metron returns after having disappeared, and laughs. He hands over the Palace of Burning Bronze to Ameline, as he plans to now depart with the Flaming Shadow and travel (elsewhere). Ameline invokes Saint James, then suddenly Metron looses Magic Resistance and is drawn into the mirror.
[color=white]……..Now Metron is at the covenant of Taglyn, confronted by the Andorra magi. He has made a pact with Estaban to defeat Abaddon and escape Taglyn. Rodrigo whispers to Estaban, and Metron angrily proceeds to tell them the story from his point of view.
[color=white]……..Everyone is gathered around as he speaks. Octavian arrives somewhere while the tale is being told. He can arrive just after the tale is done, or hide in the shadows and step forward after he his finished. In either case, I am invoking the Peter Parker Rule that allows me to squeeze in the entire soliloquy without interference.
[color=red]You do not know who I am, for I am nothing of what I was before and there is nothing like what I have become! I have traversed the Twilight Void and journeyed into the Shadow Lands, I starred deep into the Mirror of Infinity and returned with new vision. I am the Flaming Shadow! I am the darkness that burns and the fire that chills the bones!”
Metron stands in the courtyard of Taglyn, encircled by the magi of Andorra. Cloaked in red and black robes that flare about him, his shadow seems to flicker in the fog as if cast by firelight. Yet the shadows are always darkest in the line of light and from the point of view of whomever is looking at him. His pointed hood is over-large and shadows obscure his face, and all that can be seen are two burning slits that are his eyes.
He stands before this Wizard’s Inquisition to answer the questions of his history and tell his side of the tale. A convoluted and complicated story to say the least.
[color=red]Orion could not handle what I was to become, and it drove him to suicide. Rasus thought he understood, but he was deluded and deceived. All the falsehoods were burned away when I became the Flaming Shadow.
Rasus began acting strange shortly after he took that whore Releganta as an apprentice, and I suspect that she is the one that is the source of his corruption. She introduced him to the secrets of Chthonic magic, and soon afterwards, he began calling upon strange and mysterious spirits. But I paid little mind to him. I had passed my Gauntlet the year before and was now concerned with my own ambitions. Though Rasus was wrong about the origin of my Mythic heritage, he was correct as to the source.
Then sixteen years ago, when the accusations against Rasus and Releganta were being laid out at that Tribunal, I was devastated but not entirely surprised. Loyalty had made me turn a blind eye too long, and I stepped forward to voice the suspicions I had been harboring. But they silenced me, and began including me in their case as guilty by association.
Then Terrace and Baruch cast a scrying spell and summoned up the image of a demon, claiming the scene comes directly from Jafariya’s council chamber. It was obviously an illusion they had conjured, for it made no sense. Why would anyone keep an angry demon imprisoned in the council chamber? Wouldn’t a special laboratory facility make much more sense? They were so eager to prove their case against Rassus that they were willing to falsely accuse and convict our whole covenant. I am sure Releganta was an Infernalist and believe she may have corrupted Rasus. I think a few others may have conspired in cabal with them. Certainly Tordus and probably Flagrare. Maybe even Dalum. But Lapho was certainly innocent, and Detur had been a respected Milites! Our former members; Octavian, he was a member of Jafariya at one time, and though I hate him I know he is no Diabolist. Neither was Karandos or Orion!
When it all happened, it was so fast that I cannot tell you what each of them did. I had separated myself from them before the false phantasmal evidence was presented, and when chaos and confusion broke loose, I made my escape. I saw Rasus and Tordus Multicast destructive spells and fire and smoke. I saw Joel of Flambeau kill Detur as he offered no resistance and claimed he was innocent. I didn’t see what happened to the others, but I had heard that Tordus was killed in the battle and that Flagrare was captured within a week and executed soon afterwards. Trentus killed Dalum, and Octavian captured Releganta. The Quaesitores held on to her, half-believing her cries of false repentance, and hoped she could help lead them to the others. Lapho, I never found out what happened to her and she has never been located. I know she is incorruptible and stalwart, and I hope she is prospering somewhere.
Me, well, you have seen me once or twice before.
I knew it was my duty to learn the truth and clear my name and those of the innocent members of my former covenant. I went to the Tagus for my contemplation, as any true Flambeau would. There I concluded that I needed to go to Val Negra. According to the lore of the Cult of the Flaming Shadow, our mysteries were first revealed there to a member magus named Arioch of Flambeau after a profound Twilight episode.. I knew that it was there that I could discover the truth, learn the original mysteries untainted by the delusions or corruption of Rasus. Then I could defeat him and bring him to justice, clearing my name and that of the others.
I knew it was my destiny to reveal the true Mysteries of the Flaming Shadow, for I had come to realize that my Mythic Blood flowed from that source. I am the Scion of Dark Flame, Perdo and Ignem personified, and I am the Flaming Shadow reborn.
My quest led me to Barcelona, for I had learned old history records record that there was once a portal to Val Negra there, constructed back when Val Negra was still the Domus and dominated the region.
I will tell you this. Barcelona covenant has the most lackluster security and closest fraternization with mundanes of any covenant in the Order. The city is full of the spies and agents of outside magi, many of them conducting business that has nothing to do with the Barcelona wizards. And those Jerbitons are in flagrant violation of the Code! They are always setting up contracts and alliances between well connected mundane friends of theirs and outside magi, being too cowardly to take direct responsibility for their interference.
And I was able to slip in and out of their library with ease! Their members are always coming and going upon their individual business, never coordinating with their custos or informing each other of their activities. It was a simple matter to disguise myself and pose as this or that magus, stopping in quickly to check out a book. I learned where the portal was, and I eventually discovered how to activate it.
That is when Trentus caught up with me and our battle ensued. I escaped through the portal and he followed me. The battle continued, then he suddenly experienced a severe Twilight episode. He brought something back with him from the Void, something terrible and dark. I fled in terror, I admit it. While Trentus was still in a daze and before that thing that should not be fully manifested, I escaped by fleeing into the Valley of Mist and proceeding to Val Negra.
…to be continued (this is as far as I could get in one night)
Viola enters the keep, more or less cautiously.
(Sorry about the delay--I had a visit by my parents followed by a major crisis.)
Scott
Viola giggles at the pronouncements about Metron's self-aggrandizing delusions, but listens curiously to his ensuing tale.
Scott
God bless and I hope all is well.
Metron does not appreciate your giggling, and he glares at you. But he continues...
(OOC - I didn't get a chance to finish the second half of this during the weekend. I will crank it out tonight. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments you would like your character to insert, feel free.)
"And what of the signs that Rasus' Corruption began decades earlier?" Vares' presence is no longer unassuming. He does not cloak his own Power, letting it roll out from him. His voice is firm without inflections of force; he chooses to let it flow cool and unaffected. "You insist, also, that the Demon held in Jhaferiya's Council chambers was but an illusion. Did you never consider that it could have been a truth that the Demons chose to reveal? Or if it was an illusion, that it was one wrought BY the Demons?"
OOC: I'm working off of "Tribunals of Hermes: Iberia". No way of knowing what changes you may have made to the continuity, Marko. Though there is ever the question as to how an Hermetic scrying spell could reveal a Demon without its permission. The possiblity that the Demon(s) staged the discovery, whether it was real or not, is a point that cannot be dismissed.
I am also working off of ToH-Iberia. You all know I love that book
However, Metron may or may not be lying or mixing truth with lies, or he may himself be decieved. And what is recorded in the Iberia book is merely the story as it is told. Any history after the official start date of that book (1197) is totally up for grabs and mutable. Though I do follow the "probable" future as a guideline, it is not set in stone.
Basically, whatever Iberia says concerning events up to 1207 (and to a lesser extent 1214) is exactly the story as is being circulated. It may or may not be the exact truth though.
[color=red]If you are suggesting that Terrace and Barauch were in league with demons themselves, I may be inclined to consider the theory. The question remains of how could a Hermetic scrying spell reveal the presence of a demon in the first place, unless it wanted to be discovered, which implies an Infernal conspiracy on the part of Terrace.
As for signs of corruption in Rassus decades before, I ask you "what signs?. Being eccentric and delusional does not equate with Infernal corruption. Any so-called "signs" are actually after-the-fact explanations for the odd behavior that he has always exhibited. And though I am the one with the Mythic Blood, Rassus was in communion with the Flaming Shadow years earlier. Mayhaps his miscomprehension drove him slightly mad, which others may have mistaken for Infernal influence. But I was there, I saw how he changed after Releganta. He went from kooky to creepy. As I said, I payed little attention for I was blinded by my own goals and ambitions.