Remembering his manners, the young Magus stands up, and extends his hand in welcome "I am Elric of Bonisagus, an Intellego Vim specialist, an investigator of enchantments, and like my House, a Lab Rat by nature." He adds a shy smile at that.
Aghast at Janus' excessive reaction, Thadeus takes a deep breath, before adressing the magi who are still in the council chamber. "I apologize for the words of my sodalis. I'm not sure what is the matter with him, but I will attempt to find out. I just want you to know that I disagree with most of what he just said."
"Let us reconvene a bit later, maybe after lunch?" With a nod, he rises. He does not look forward to the discussion that must follow.
He will then seek out Janus.
Cath'rinne nods. "Thank you, Thadeus. I agree. Let's take a breath and reconvene."
To Elric - when he asks if it's always like that. "Most of us get along on most things. We started out as a group of equals intent on founding a covenant together in these lands, although each of us have their own expertise and interests. We've been traveling the lands here to visit different places, see where we would settle down. Ungulus was more or less abandoned, and we took it over. I didn't disagree on the takeover, there were a lot of reasons in favor, but Janus at that point in time decided unilaterally that settling down wouldn't be a collective decision, that this was war, that Ungulus had an army, and that if we didn't follow, he would leave us behind and take the place over by himself. I've felt that if he felt entitled to decide on his own, I could too, and there were a number of us in favor of a different location. Hence me, Sionag and Thom scouted out the location we plan to found a chapter at / or a covenant. Part of the covenant consideration is that it may be necessary for a quorate tribunal, even if we informally kept working together. Janus drafted out an entire charter almost by himself, with the intent of setting himself as a supreme dictator who couldn't be removed without unanimous consent - something we never talked about. We never talked about the covenant's existential reason being to serve as the staging ground for a war either. That his first reaction to Sionag is thinking he has the right to deprive her of power in the name of the covenant sadly is in line with his behavior the past few seasons. I for one desire a community of equals working together as partners, and friends to live to live alongside with, whom I respect and who respect me. I'm not sure where he lost his mind and decided barking at all of us and treating as underlings with no rights was going to work out."
Thom has a very forlorn and rather sad look on face at the events, the flare up of tension perhaps triggering some of the deeply seeded fear that war and the devastation of Castruum Antiquum have rooted deep in his soul. Anyone looking closely at Thom would likely notice the tears that have formed in his eyes when he sees Janus walk out of the discussion.
The young magus knuckles the water from his eyes as he listens to the others, particularly to Cath'rinne.
But he adds nothing else. Simply sitting looking down, thoughtful.
Elric notices Thom's tears, and sits next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. There was a silent moment between them, as they both shared the pain of the fall of Castruum Antiquum. He lifts Thom's head and tells him "We will make sure this place is better."
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Thadeus guesses that Janus will have restreated to his outdoor lab, so he goes there first looking for the angry Flambeau.
Assuming he finds him there, he asks, "Can we talk?"
“If you wish magus. What can I do for you” replies Janus, obviously calmer.
Relieved that Janus appears calmer, Thadeus begins, "I'm worried, sodalis. When we discussed the revival of Ungulus and became its new members, last year, it seemed like we would strive to include as many magi who were willing to contribute to the covenant. Yes, to keep watch and hunt down any remnants of the Diedne, but also to rebuild the covenant, the Tribunal and the Order here in England. That meant accepting magi with less ability or inclination to fight."
He continues carefully, his tone calm, "So I am worried about your outburst in Council earlier. Your words antagonized several of our guests, and some of your affirmations were outside of what our Charter states. Is this really how you want to lead Ungulus?"
“I have no further interest in leading or even being part of this covenant. It is filled with liars and cowards and I find I have no tolerance for either. I will be leaving today to find and destroy the enemy, what I should have done a year ago. If I stay here then violence will happen and I was trained to defend the Order not act as a killer of its members.” Pointing the two summa and eight pawns of vis “Please return those to the covenant as I have no use for them where I am going. Thank you for taking the time to seek me out and I wish you well for the future” He turns back to packing up his few personal items to his travelling pack. “I nearly forgot, I formally resign my membership of the Covenant of Ungulus, so feel free to use anything you may consider mine once I am gone”
"Your words sadden my, my friend. Do you also consider me a coward and a liar? I can understand your desire to destroy what remains of the Diedne. I really do. But to go out alone, unsupported?" Thadeus shakes his head, "Do not let your hatred consume you, please."
“No I do not think bad of you at all, otherwise I would not be talking now. My hatred does consume me and after ten years of fighting I understand little else. This place and talk of resuming normality ring hollow to my ears. Few seem to understand what will happen if and when the Diedne attack, they make no preparations to fight or run.” Shaking his head “If I can stop even one enemy attack then maybe help from the martial houses will arrive and save what is left of the tribunal magi. I am too tired to play these Covenant games any longer. Goodbye sodalis and I hope you survive and prosper”
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"Before you leave, sodalis," Thadeus puts his hand gently on Janus' shoulder, "we should meet, all three of us official members of the covenant, so that you can announce your decision to Thom. That way, we can part in good terms and leave Ungulus in a position to strengthen itself, instead of in turmoil like we found it."
“Fine but let us do that here, not the council chamber. I have no wish to see the others. Let us say half an hour. That will give me time to get food and money for my journey. Is Nauvi not an original council member?” replies Janus before moving back to the main Covenant site. He will seek out the autocrat and instruct him to fetch £10 in coin and the go to the kitchens and fill his pack with dried and salted food along with a couple of skins of water. Collecting the money he then moves back to his partially assembled lab.
Thadeus nods, and sends servants to summon all of the current full members to join them in Jauns' lab.
Thom is at first hesitant at the summons but then nods and makes his way to Janus's lab.
“Greeting magus Thom. Magus Thadeus asked me to include you, as a council member, in my formal resignation from the covenant of Ungulus. I am taking £10 in cash and as much preserved food as I can carry. I am moving north to find and confront the enemy. Anyway, that is the formalities over. Goodbye” And with that Janus shoulders his pack, put his heavy cloak over and makes his way north along the lake bank.
Thom waits there for a moment, a bit struck by the moment, and then he runs as fast as he can after Janus.
When he catches up to him, Thom calls out his name and then as he comes up to Janus, he throws his arms around Janus and hugs him tight as ever.
"I will miss you, Master Janus, and I won't forget you. Ever. Come back when you can. Please."
That done, Thom backs away slowly, watching the magus head north.
Janus is visibly shocked and stands rigid for a couple of seconds before he loosens and firmly hugs Thom back, smiling broadly “Good luck Magus Thom, I doubt I will be back. Look after yourself and stay safe”
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A few days later a big red headed man approaches the covenant, questioning the first person he sees. “Is this a place of the Diedne?” He asks nervously
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Thom returns to the Council Chambers, looking sad but resolved. He sits back down.
"Master Janus is gone north. He won't be back." The handsome Merinita simply shakes his head.
"I move that we change the term of the Praetor to 'three years' and strike the current statement: 'until they stand down or are voted out by a majority vote of the Council.' Instead, we should include a statement that allows for removal of a Praetor by majority vote of the Council."
"I also move that we name a Praepositus Chapteri of the Oak Circle. Appointed by majority vote of the Council for a three year term."
"If we accept these alterations or similar ones to our Charter, I move that we appoint Thadeus as Praetor of Ungulus and Cath'rinne as Praepositus Chapteri of the Oak Circle."
Thom looks about the council chamber.
"Do I hear a second?"