Chapter 3: Travel to the covenant in the Novgorod tribunal

Krispin nods. [color=red] I'd accept Manius Niger's lab, though I've heard little enough about the man - you can have Friederick's, Heinrich. I'd enjoy spurcing my lab up a bit, decorating it to my taste.

chuckles [color=red]If you plan to “fraternize” with Weiland, well, I’ve heard tell he can drink a fish under the table. Not that I'd know, of course :wink:. Just make sure you’re not feeling too “delicate” tomorrow morning.

Weiland and Krispin will notice the slight problem when they venture on their hunt for Bacchusian pleasures that there are no ale houses, the guard’s house, the servant’s house and several hunts and houses in the village. But no point where everyone meet.

[color=blue]ooc - :wink: Welllll, if Krispin wanted to come with Heinrich and Weiland he's welcome to come along too! Was this supposed to be Weiland and Heinrich trying to booze it up? And who threw in tonight? :laughing: I thought Ardath suggested in the morning? Could be a little early for spirits if Henry want to be presentable! lol!

But if Heinrich is in on this and we are/will be out carousing tonight then I commit to being temperate and am wondering about that wonderfully crafted stone temple/church edifice by the harbor. : )

OOC: Will there be any sneaky activities during the evening or shall I proceed to the morning?

[color=blue]Not by me! :laughing:

Proceed, proceed.
As we're supposed to visit the covenant tomorrow, I won't do anticipate on that: that might be perceived as impolite, and we're not here to antagonize people. Moreso, after all this travel, a good night's sleep in a warm bed will be a great pleasure :smiley:

Heinrich bids Ardath good night. And prepares for bed. He puts on a nightcap and says audibly for Krispin's benefit, [color=red] "I wonder how things are back at the covenant? A home hearth, although brand new and unfamliar, is still my home hearth. I can't believe I feel like I should've stayed in the Pomeranian. Oh, if my old Oculus sodales could see me now, they'd laugh and say I've gone Pagan. Guten nacht, Krispin.

i.e. blows out his candle

[color=red]Good night, everyone.

[color=blue]((It wasn’t my intention to have Krispin go carousing, just to warn Heinrich of the full implications of trying to out-drink grogs :wink:))

The night is peaceful and quiet, darkness descend over our magi as they sleep in unfamiliar beds. Some uneasy other with good a good nights sleep and perhaps someone is dreaming of things to come or about persons they have meet. If anyone ever summons a servant they are soon answered by a fully awake servant who does their bidding.

At the morning the magi of Ad Fons are invited to the dinner hall for an splendid breakfast, there seems to be enough of everything but there are many variations of different fruits of the sea. The lady Constantia is dressed in a elegant pale green dress and is seemingly awake and more alert than her fellow magi who still rubs the sleep out of their eyes. The lady’s appearance is still as breathtaking as it where the night before.

Once the breakfast is eaten the lady speaks with her soft but still authoritarian voice. [color=red]Honourable guests from Ad Fons today I will escort you through the grounds of our covenant. First I will show the laboratories of our covenant. We have a bit unusual practice but you need not fear. The laboratories are not considered sanctums but I guard their peace. At the yearly council we divide time in our laboratories, season by season and have worked in a communal way to ensure that each of the laboratories are at their best. After the tour of the laboratories I will show you our library and there I might ad we have a little surprise that you will find most interesting. Any questions now? If not feel free to ask later if there is something you wonder about.

Once Constantia has answered the questions given the tour throughout the covenant begins. Once at the courtyard the lady tells you that each of the buildings adjacent to the square holds one laboratory. There are two in the tower beneath the library as well.

In the first laboratory that is shown is the first on the right side from the covenants entrance. In there can be seen a forge and other tools of the art when it comes to crafting magical items. The second is the second on the right side. The laboratory has a summon circle and are built for spell experimentation and spell invention. Both laboratories contain some equipment for other activities but they are not of any extravagance. The third laboratory shown is the furthest away from the entrance of the covenant and on the left side. This laboratory is focused upon no single task but contain equipment for longevity potions, familiari enchanting and other not so common tasks of a practicing magus. The last laboratory in the yard is quite breathtaking, it contains numerous devices for vis extraction and the chamber is dominated by a large cauldron. Most devices seen are experimental and beyond anything that you have ever seen. Back in the tower there are two small laboratories, each of them are centres upon a large desk and one of them includes an extra bench for an apprentice.

Last the library is shown and it contains numerous titles of different subjects, for those with a nose for libraries it is apparent that there are few newer books. Most tomes where written for at least twenty years ago. Constantia summons a servant who serves a glass of wine to each of the magi. Then she asks, [color=red]I hope that the tour of the covenant where an interesting one, now is there anything that you wonder about?

[color=blue]Do any of the other magi tour with us? Or just constantia?
Something's strange here, I'm not sure I like this. Well, better put on the happy face^^
[color=blue]I'll try to use my second sight on the laboratories and covenant, see if things are really as they seem to be.

[color=red]Thank you for your kindness and politeness, lady.
I must say I was thoroughly impressed by what I saw. You build yourself a very fine covenant here, and your sodales are lucky to have you running things so well. It especially seems that you managed to create a rare spirit of cooperation amidst your covenant, from which it visibly profits a lot.
However, I'm at a loss here. I thought that you were a new covenant, while your impressive achievements points otherwise. You must have been heavily sponsored by some very wealthy covenants indeed, to have such fine laboratories.

flips through a few books. Anything I recognize? Do they seem like fine books? And I don't drink the wine yet.

[color=red]I see you have some interesting books here, maybe our covenants will both be able to profit from it.
But you spoke of a little surprise before?

To Ardath and Krispin at a time for a quiet word - sotto voce - [color=red]Perhaps there are items for trade? [color=blue] Max, all - is there anything we have pigs, vis, that we have a steady or excess supply that we might offer for trade? Or, perhaps, better, listen and observe what they have to trade and make a future offer.

But wouldn't it be interesting to find stolen books in their library, Heinrich idly muses. The word 'surprise' actually puts him a little bit on guard.

[color=blue]Well, we can surely trade pigs or wood for other mundane goods. As per hermetic ones, we should harvest some vis next season.
But I'd say listen and learn, we shall decide later.

Krispin’s eyebrows are raised throughout the tour. [color=red]”Communal sharing of labs. An intriguing idea, but are your sodales not jealous of their secrets? I know I would be – having always to hide my grimoire, to make sure I cleaned up all trace of my work. Being friends and sodales is one thing, sharing a lab… well, I’d not do it.

And yes, what was this surprise you spoke of before?”

(([color=blue] I agree, let's feel them out a bit more before coming to a decision on trade ))

[color=blue]As far a second sight can see the covenant and everything there is real.

Constantia smiles as she answers; [color=red]The covenant isn’t newly founded in the sense that I started this covenant. I merely took over took over leadership from the covenants previous leader. Now enough of such unpleasant matters. You wondered about the communal spirit of our covenant. We keep our secrets by keeping our private chambers as sanctums, by dividing the laboratories in advance and keeping away intruders. Constantia notices that her voice has risen a bit in volumes and has become more authorial so she and suddenly changes back to her soft voice, [color=red]There really haven’t been any problems yet, Constantia smiles innocently. [color=red]I had a surprise I told you and you shall see it now, follow me to the top chamber of the tower. Constantia hints that you shall follow her.

Once upstairs at the top of the covenant’s tower. In the well lit chamber, apparently illuminated by the magical light of the ceiling, there are numerous devices that are meant to fool or somehow affect the senses. Constantia stops at this elegant collections of items, [color=red]Theses items are perhaps not to use for others than those who studies the art of Imaginem but to them theses artefacts can give insights that no book can offer. Look around for a moment but there is much to discuss for later. We are interested in what Ad Fons has to offer in terms of trade.

Heinrich is sure to study equipment as close as is reasonable looking for inspiration for sanctum and lab back home.

[color=blue]Ooh, it's like an ImaginemFest in a foreign country.

Krispin looks around, but unless something catches his eye related to his magical interests (i.e. healing, Corpus, Creo, Intellego, Herbam), he gives the items a perfunctory glance and passes on.

He doesn’t weigh in on trade just yet, although he’ll be listening carefully.

Once everyone has looked at the covenants resources they are served a dinner. As the evening before the dinner is grandiose. When dinner is eaten Constantia takes the magi to a smaller chamber where wine is served. Constantia smiles and ask; [color=red]Now please tell me of Ad Fons, I am most interested to hear. There is perhaps trading that can be conducted or perhaps I can visit your covenant sometime.

[color=red]Well, given how everyone here seems to respect your authority and the wisdom of your rules, this doesn't surprise me at all. Why make a fuss if everything works for the betterment of all?

(later)
I closely inspects the equipment, this is intriguing, to say the least. I also ask constantia about every item and its uses.

[color=red]Well, trade would surely be a good thing for our respective covenants, and I look forward to it, be it with mundane or hermetic ressources.
And if you wanted to honor us by visiting our covenant, you would surely be most welcome indeed. However, as you may know, we are a rather young covenant, and our accomodations aren't well suited to a maga of your stature, so you may want to send one of your sodales instead, at least until we've grown enough to accomodate you properly.

[color=red]A visit would be most welcome indeed in whatever capacity. Yes, the covenant's and ours - and my - general youth preclude us from readily figuring out what we have to offer. Do you have particular needs for vis sources? Or perhaps you have a particular excess?

And, do tell us, how are relations with and conditions of the mundanes in the area? Any interesting news from your larger cities? And for that matter - notwithstanding our convivial atmosphere now - how are border relations between the Rhine and Novgorod Tribunals?