Laetitia's previous annoyance evaporates as she laughs delightedly. "You insist that Carmen will be protecting us, and that you must "look after her" in the same breath! You are quite the delightful contradiction, senor caballero. While her education and demeanor are sorely lacking, I expect one thing she and I share in common is an appreciation for the inappropriate humour of an urbane man of culture, offering his chivalrous protection to a Flambeau who multicasts Incantation of Lightning. A walk would be fine, though I confess I am feeling rather peckish."
((OOC I'm okay with medieval characters expressing medieval concepts of chivalry, though, thank you for the concern I don't think the covenant's neighbouring Mercer House constitutes "strange town" though.))
"Let's eat first, then, and speak of our business later." Esteban tries to make small talk throughout the dinner, talking about art and poetry and the scenery of Catalonia and doing his best to steer the conversation away from Carmen and whether or not he's boinking her.
invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2691618/ =2 + 3 Ettiquette + 1 Com = 6. About as poorly as he could do. I guess he's a bit flustered because Laetitia appeals so strongly to his genteel, intellectual side.
L has no interest in hearing anything about Carmen (out of sight, out of mind) so that's easy enough She listens intently, and where appropriate, shares some of the similarities and differences with Venetian culture.
invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2691951/ = 5 + 2 Folk Ken +1 specialty in magi + 2 Per = 9. She's trying to get a feel for what kind of approach works best with Esteban-- be flirtatious, be clever, or be herself.
invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2691955/
If flirtatious, then 3 + 2 Charm + 4 Pre = 9
If clever, then 3 + 2 Com + 4 Intrigue = 9
If being herself, then... she'd probably share that she's a bit apprehensive about venturing out-of-doors since she's never exactly "adventured" as such. It's all work and study, and there's never really time for living in the moment. L's life is a series of brief spurts of activity, and the long spans of study/planning in between them. She's never travelled anywhere in her life that she didn't use a Leap of Homecoming to get to, and every place she's been, she's only seen the interiors of covenants. She's been all over the Rhine and Stonehenge and the Alps and Normandy and Provencal, yet she's never seen the Black Forest, nor the Pyrenees, nor the eponymous Alps or Stonehenge. She has lots of acquaintances and only one real friend; she has the respect of her colleagues but she'd prefer that they liked her. She's fairly open about her personal life, which is mainly a vague sense of wishing her lifestyle were different, without the slightest clue how to make it such.
Can we just handwave through the planning phase, since as a player, I don't really know what the plan is, only that our characters have one and will work it out between themselves so that Mark can run the adventure?
Sure, but Esteban does inquire about where we're going and roughly what we're supposed to do when we get there. Also, it is correct to assume that Laetitia doesn't ride horses? Most magi don't.
Laetitia tells you what areas interest her but doesn't say much more than that it's "exploration." She also takes great pains to ask what kinds of things Esteban wants to do (she studiously avoids mentioning Carmen :p) and tries to make sure that nothing is terribly far out of his way.
She doesn't ride horses, but says that if we could arrange a saddle big enough for Rhadamanthus, he might let her ride on his back. She looks for the little mink to ask him, but he seems to have wandered off to scavenge some food.
She also wants to know what she can do for him as repayment for his aid and assistance. She doesn't like to talk too much about her work-- she'll mention what she does and maybe a case or two she thinks he might have heard of, but she's surprisingly humble regarding work. (Not that she thinks Esteban would be getting himself in trouble, but if he wants to have a standing favour owed, that's the first that comes to mind.) She also suggests that she's fairly decent in the laboratory, though her arts do focus primarily on Terram. She can make a decent longevity ritual, if Esteban will be looking for one any time soon: -9 to aging, maybe -10 or 11 if Eric decides to give Rhadamanthus any Magic Theory.
Esteban raises an eyebrow when Laetitia suggests riding her mink, but doesn't say anything.
As to the topic of payment, Esteban laughs his Erroll Flynn laugh again. "Payment? Hahahaha! To be of service to a lady such as yourself is all the reward a caballero should hope for! Few indeed are so fortunate."
"Are you certain there is nothing I could do? A Guernicus always pays his debts. There are any number of services I could perform for you-- do you not have needs that could benefit from a lady's touch?" (invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2692365/ Possible botch, Intrigue 3, Per 2... Gonna go out on a limb and say she doesn't even realise how suggestive that statement was. Which Esteban may interpret as either trampy brashness or utter cluelessness.) "For a start, I can't imagine a caballero who would not be well-served by fine steel."
Laetitia scans the area to make sure no one is looking, then takes a deep breath and sponts a Creo Terram, fatiguing herself. invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2692366/
7 + 1 Sta + 16 Cr + 27 Te = 51, divided by 2 = level 25 Cr Te effect to create a sword, which would be base 5 for base metal, +1 for touch, +1 for Diameter, and the total gives me +2 magnitudes' worth to put into spell complexity, which she will use to make the blade shine like freshly polished silver, and the hilt exquisitely crafted with tasteful understatement (it's quite beautiful without being gaudy at all). Finesse to make it really fantastic: invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2692377/ 5 + 2 Per + 3 Finesse = 10.
She doesn't have any Craft skills or martial abilities so the balance and weight will be totally wrong, but aesthetically, it looks like a damn fine piece of masterwork.
She holds out the impromptu sword for Esteban to inspect. "I am not in any particular hurry to leave; if we could find a lab text of the Wizard's Mount I could take a season to learn it and thus not have to worry about slowing us down, should you wish."
"A beautiful piece of workmanship, to be sure." He reflects for a moment and adds, "I can see you'll be a useful ally on this journey in your own right."
"With regard to horses, I prefer not to stay here an entire season if it can be helped. We can walk easily enough."
Laetitia quirks an eyebrow. "Here as in the Mercer House, or here as in the neighbouring covenant? I don't mean to be nosy, but if you have some trouble with House Mercere, perhaps I could sort it out for you. If you won't accept payment, as such, perhaps you would accept a favour from a well-meaning friend?" she inquires with a warm smile.
Wind fluttering through her hair, the open sky has a calming and relaxing effect upon Carmen. The Italian maga was annoying, but the frustrating part was trying to maintain composure and decorum rather than just clawing her eyes out. The duties of discipline...
She spots Estaban walking outside under the moonlight, with that Italian hussy. Humphfff...
She flies down and leands nearby them...
OOC -- So did she spont Esteban, or the moonlight, or the fact that he was walking with the hussy? What impressive magic Carmen has!!!!
(I'm sure "spont" is so programmed into your typing muscles now, that your fingers just type the whole word as soon as you type "s-p.")
and BTW, Arya, I presume you were indicating that the saddlebag was intended for the MINK to ride in, yes? If we're walking, Rhadamanthus would prefer to ride in the hood of your cloak, and occasionally lumber off into the woods on his own business.
Esteban is a bit uncomfortable because he was just thinking impure thoughts about Laetitia based on her "needs a lady could satisfy" remark. "Ah, well met, Carmen," he manages to say.
OOC, where should our characters be going and what are they doing? I don't know what Esteban and Carmen's plans were before L pulled Esteban's name out of a (red) hat.
We were planing to explore Spain. You are on the trail of something (secret), and you have many diverse leads.
It just so happens though that amonst those many leads, you had heard that Carles of Jerbiton has a vast collection of old texts, and he may have a clue as to what you are seeking.
Laetitia nods at Carmen. "That sounds ideal. When can the two of you be ready to leave? Siana has packed a burro and we can leave at any time.". She turns to the Flambeau maga. "I believe we have gotten to a bad start. I had no place to correct nor criticise your understanding of Latin, as your society is not a Latinate tradition. My comment about your Founder was truly made in ignorance, not from spite. I know not what dangers face us on the road, but know that I will protect you as I would my own sisters, and Esteban speaks so highly of you that I do not doubt you would do the same for any member of the Order, regardless of any personal feelings. Can we agree to a mutually beneficial professional relationship?"
I can't roll any dice right now, but L will try to be as persuasive as she can, while channelling "I am not after your man" vibes.
Carmen can spot a smooze job, but respects your token of sumbission. She raises an eybrow when you refer to Flambeau as a non-Latin tradition, but she lets it slide.
[color=red]Barcelona it is. I shall assemble a contingent of a few Andorran Guards to escort us, and sent one as a herald ahead of us.
Esteban says, "Very well. I can be ready to leave at first light. I'd best get to bed, if we want to get an early start," and he scoots off toward the inn and away from Carmen's glare.
I don't think the covenant's neighbouring Mercer House constitutes "strange town" though.))
About as poorly as he could do. I guess he's a bit flustered because Laetitia appeals so strongly to his genteel, intellectual side.
She listens intently, and where appropriate, shares some of the similarities and differences with Venetian culture.
