"A covenant here along the Rhine?" Carolinus' dark eyes gleam at the prospect. "I have wandered these lowlands for several months, and have learned to hold them in high esteem!" He settles himself onto a handy stump, and stretches out his good left leg. The right remains twisted beneath his dark blue cloak. "The beauty of this area calls to me, and I was looking for a place to settle here. Trier had held some interest for me, as it holds a place in some family stories, but that avenue is obviously closed for the time being." Carolinus wrinkles his nose briefly, wondering why such an obviously gifted group would have bothered to explore that particular city.
"But a new covenant ..." He smiles at the possibility. Aware that these magi must have some powerful sponsors to be granted such a boon, he adds "Perhaps I might travel with you? My knowledge of the area has grown in the last few months, and I am accustomed to speaking with the local folk." Carolinus grins, then adds, "It may unfold that our journeys could have a common end."
"My hearty welcome you have!" Hildegard says, hoping that the others will see the benefit of an additional magus. "Durenmar itself holds a protecting hand over us - we shall see if you can be a founding member. If not, we can always officially take you aboard the day after we become a covenant." she adds shrewdly.
"Another pair of eyes that can sense danger and locate hidden secrets. And a charmingly helpful voice. We could certainly complement each other nicely. I too would be happy to have you travel with us. We are going to set up a new covenant but plan to examine all the sites of former covenants which failed in this region first. We are looking if any of those places are again habitable or, in case of this city of Trier, if we can learn anything about the errors made that lead to their downfall and how to avoid them.
Of course if during your journeys you found a suitable place with a magic aura we would be most willing to hear your advice.
Else we were going to Westerwald next. Your coming along?"
Later, on the way to their next station, Rabanus will chat with Carolinus and try to get to know him some better
"...Personally I am having high hopes for the former location of Oakdell. It sounds isolated enough to host a covenant of our order. Even before the outright hostility i cannot end to wonder why magi of our order should choose to found a covenant in a town like Trier..."
"...So you come from the Tribunal of the Alps? I visited our Domus magnus, the Cave of the twisting shadows, in the last 2 years. I dont suppose it holds much value for a Jerbiton but the wisdom to be found there is marvelous..."
"I believe there are several Jerbiton covenants in urban locations, although I imagine they tend to be occupied by those who are gently gifted. I was curious to explore such a possibility myself, but of course the climate in Trier in not very hospitable." Carolinus grins wryly at Rabanus, obviously enjoying the company of a magus from a different house.
"I confess that my knowledge of that tribunal outside my parentes' covenant is pretty limited. I actually have more experience in this tribunal, thanks to my wandering ways."