Chapter 4: Justice

[Ardath]

@Andrew

[color=red]Archmage Justice Quasitor filia Ti follower of Tremere would be most upset if she had to be distracted from her duties to come speak with junior mages like yourselves. It is spring so she may be amused rather than angered but I would not defy her , she can be dangerous to anger. I have delivered her message and my duty is done

[color=red]
And?
The Quaesitores aren't lords to other mages, nor are senior mages given any specific powers under the code.

You may have forgotten what it is to be a magus, to call her your mistress, but we don't. She may ask us to meet her, but she just can't order us around like if we were a bunch of servitors, nor can you.
[color=blue]
(Just to add my 2 cents to this

@fury

Yannick will not go to Varberg, at least not immediatly:
[color=red]If you want to go and meet Justice, do so. But I'll be heading for the village first. A child needs it's mother, and this child here seems to be hungry. I'll leave the child with its mother, and then I'll catch up. I you insist on taking the child with us, we need to take the woman, too.
Meet you in Varberg?

[color=red]Utterly agreed, this should be our priority, especially over meeting a maga that showed so much disdain for us.

Maybe we could have the mother and her child join a covenant, on the grounds that she'll serve there and that her child will be apprenticed?
She could even serve in Ad Fons.

[Ardath]

@Andrew

[color=red]I am Quasitor Justice , Archmage of Tremere. You are the apprentices who have become involved in this matter. My associate tells me that you have killed the one priest I missed. I don't suppose you brought his head with you did you ? He may have had some useful information . Would you care to explain your inteference with mundane affairs and intrusion into my buisness ?
Her look is harsh and uncompromising

[color=red]Okaaay lady...

Do we look like apprentices to you? Or do you have eyesight problems? Unless you're used to treating every magus around as an inferior?

Then, excuse us for defending ourselves against infernalists and demons. I didn't know these were mundanes, and bow to your superior wisdom. Next time, write something on them like "Don't touch, these mundanes belong to Justice".

[Andrew]

@fury

@4thWrldEuropan

Heinrich replies [color=red] Who do you think, amongst our less green sodales, would be interested in taking on an apprentice? Mariella?

[color=red]Me, Yannick replies.
Just to make sure: we are talking of a child less than a year old, right? That's around 36 seasons left for study. Erm, no, 18, rest is adventuring

Roughly that sort of age , could be just over a year but certianly less than 2

[Andrew]

@Ardath

@Andrew

[color=red]Archmage Justice Quasitor filia Ti follower of Tremere would be most upset if she had to be distracted from her duties to come speak with junior mages like yourselves. It is spring so she may be amused rather than angered but I would not defy her , she can be dangerous to anger. I have delivered her message and my duty is done

[color=red]
And?
The Quaesitores aren't lords to other mages, nor are senior mages given any specific powers under the code.

You may have forgotten what it is to be a magus, to call her your mistress, but we don't. She may ask us to meet her, but she just can't order us around like if we were a bunch of servitors, nor can you.
[color=blue]
(Just to add my 2 cents to this
[[color=red]"I am Tremere, Justice is my Exarch I obey her orders.

[Andrew]

@Mad Max

Justus takes a step forward and looks the archmaga in the eyes. [color=red]I am Justus Felix a child of Pralix and I am a magus of the Order and so are my soldaes. Justus makes a short pause for breath. [color=red]Me and my fellow soldaes went on a quest to stop a dreadful vision from coming to fruition and in doing so we saved a gifted child from the clutches of an infernalist cult. In the process we may have slain a few men and wounded more. Justus pause again and yet again looks the maga in her eyes steeling him self against what he is about to say. [color=red]Until either myself or one of my soldaes are convicted by a tribunal for some crime I demand that you treat us as your equal and bring any accusation up at the next tribunal.

And

@Ardeth

Okaaay lady...

Do we look like apprentices to you? Or do you have eyesight problems? Unless you're used to treating every magus around as an inferior?

Then, excuse us for defending ourselves against infernalists and demons. I didn't know these were mundanes, and bow to your superior wisdom. Next time, write something on them like "Don't touch, these mundanes belong to Justice".

[color=red]Never suggest that I protect Diabolists. You see around you what I offer to diabolists.
That you have killed diabolists is in your favor.
The inteference with mundane's I refer to is your association with the Knights of the Sword, such could be misinterpreted.
Your invovlement with my business is your problem because you have made yoursel dangerous enemies and possibly caused my actions here to fail. The situation is complex and my war will continue I advise you to stay out of it.
Do not mention to mundanes that you where in Varberg before it's destruction by the landslide probably caused by the awakening of the Dragon.

To my eyes the difference between you and apprentices is negligible, you have no great power, no great deeds . You are not my equals when you have devoted a century to the service of the Order and its defense than you may be close. When you have thought battles against demons , traitors and diabolists at the risk of your soul you may understand what I have done.

Did you learn anything of these diabolists in your fumblings or of the Dragon? There are events here which are not clear to me and perhaps you have a clue I missed.

[Falls]

[color=red]What, pray tell, should we have learned?

[color=blue] Now the question is… should we tell her about the child?

[Andrew]

[color=red]If I knew everything you could have learnt I wouldn't need to ask would I. When dealing with the plots of demon's it is difficult to tell what is useful and what is not, it is also very difficult to interogate diabolists and get the truth from them. Even is you rip their mind to pieces the infernal disguises the truth

[Mad_Max]

[color=red]We have our reasons to fight against the dragon. Tell us what you know about this dragon so that we can make our plans. If you don’t know anything then point us in the right direction so that we may continue our task.

[Andrew]

[color=red]You are bold, I hesitate to take on dragons without proper information. I know nothing of this dragon it was not an anticipted move If my enemies planned this move then you cannot defeat it as they think it will cause me problems. If it is an incidental Dragon I know nothing of it and it does not concern me my responsibilities do not include Dragon in Scandanvaia unless they become a threat to the order .

So you know nothing more of these diabolists that could be of use to me?

[Ardath]

@Justice

The inteference with mundane's I refer to is your association with the Knights of the Sword, such could be misinterpreted.
Your invovlement with my business is your problem because you have made yoursel dangerous enemies and possibly caused my actions here to fail.

[color=red]... (pensive, there)
[color=red]...
Yes.
Yes, I fear that you're right about this. Some people are just paranoid enough to think that, by traveling peacefully with them, we've endangered the entire order of hermes.
Thanks you for warning us of this danger we seren't aware of. I bow to your superior wisdom.
However, since sharing a boat with them is such a bad idea, what should we do next time? Use rego mentem magics to acquire it? Steal it mundanely maybe? I would gladly hear your suggestions on this, especially as it is the first time I had to do something like that.

And then... Know that we didn't meant to disrupt your affair with these men, and hope that such is not the case and that you'll be able to keep up.

@Justice

To my eyes the difference between you and apprentices is negligible, you have no great power, no great deeds . You are not my equals when you have devoted a century to the service of the Order and its defense than you may be close.

[color=red]While I recognize your obvious power, reputation and seniority, I wasn't aware the Code made no distinction between apprentices and young maguses, but made one between young maguses and archmages, and find all this to be really puzzling. Could you please enlighten me on this? I fear I have yet much to learn in legal matters

@Andrew

Did you learn anything of these diabolists in your fumblings or of the Dragon? There are events here which are not clear to me and perhaps you have a clue I missed.

[color=red]Well, we would have, save that, being, as you said, weaklings, we stayed away from the dragon.

As per the diabolists, well, we don't consort with the infernal, nor, if we dared, did we have time to chat with them. However, if you're willing to talk to them, you could probably find some wounded men to interrogate. Healthy men, too. It seemed they were quite a lot out there.

[Andrew]

[color=red]There where only seven people from this town I have not already killed. A priest , a pair of demonbound and four gaurds. Freya told me that the priest and the demonbound are dead, the guards are of no real consequence.
Your attempts at humor are noted however as you may be aware I don't have one. The implication that I would associate with diabolists is noted however once I will put that down to misplaced humor. Understand this I offer no quarter to demons ,diabolists or their allies.

As to the mundanes , you travelled with th Knights of the Sword, you acted to protect them agaisnt magic. This same group is actively opposed by Magi from Crintera and the Novograd Tribunal so by aiding the knights you anger them and risk charges. By being seen as accompaning the Knights you risk making the Order of Hermes appear as their allied and so endangering our Sodalli's in the Pagan Baltic lands. So yes I think it possible that you could be brought before a Tribunal for such activities . However my Duties for the Order do not include dealing with such breaches within the Rhine Tribunal I doubt that any charges will be brought based on my report. If you wished to aid them you should do so without being detected.

My knowledge of the Code is I assure you excellent I am fully aware that you are no apprentices if you where I would speak with your masters . However while we are all equal before the code in this matter I have expertise , power and authority far beyond yours and your abilities are no better than those of many apprentices I see no need to greatly distnguish between such .

[Falls]

@Justice

[color=red]As to the mundanes , you travelled with th Knights of the Sword, you acted to protect them agaisnt magic.

Krispin looks on, his face an impassive mask. [color=red]We acted to protect ourselves from being swamped and falling prey to the ocean. Should we have drowned instead?

He grits his teeth a little then, his lips pressed in a thin line as he looks back at the carnage. Something akin to anguish bordering on rage shows through the mask for a moment. [color=red]Tell me, were all of these mundanes diabolists, or are you simply very… thorough?

[Andrew]

[color=red]If you had not travelled on a ship with the knights of the sword at their request there would be no issue with saving yourselves. However you where onboard the boat at their request when they came under magical assault so you could be seen at intefering with mundane affairs by aiding the knights. The act of saving yourselves is not the issue it is that you where onboard a vessel of the Knights in the first place that could be seen as a breach of the code.
The leaders of this town, the pirates and most of the citizens where cultists I expect a few where not and I doubt that their prisoners where. However when dealing with situations like this it is more expedient to kill everyone it sorts out problems with witnesses and prevents undue inteference when I am engaged with those protected with magic resistance and demons. I am very thorough and I have no doubt that those few innocents who died here will be received by God into his arms . In any war there are casualties among the bystanders .

[4thWrldEuropan]

Heinrich retorts - [color=red]I understood the implications of dealing with the Sword, but it was imperative that we find transport. I ensured the knights we did not do their bidding and that we were merely passengers seeking transport. We surely needed to investigate eldritch phenomena that was related to events happening in Kolberg - near our covenant. I think the events - if not the ramifications - are minor and coincidental... certainly not against the letter and the spirit of the code.

[fury]

Yannick (pale with disgust) steps round a corner and interrupts:
[color=red]I think this matter is pretty simple.
Someone attacked a boat that I travelled upon using magic.
If I find out who it was, I will kill him or her.
Should it have been a magus of the order, this would be inconvenient, as I will have to declare wizards war to him or her sooner or very probably later.
Which should eliminate the need for further discussion of the code.

Now, we have a dragon waking up somewhere round here. I suggest we start running. Unless we are REALLY needed here, which I doubt, as there are only dead people here.

to "justice":
[color=red]The seven people you spoke of are all dead. You will find their dismembered corpses along with their unworldly possesions in a regio in this direction. (points).
[color=red]Maybe the ghosts that live ... reside there can tell you about those diabolists and the dragon. It seems King Beowulf died long time ago, as he did drive back the dragon.
Is there anything you need our immediate help with?

[Andrew]

@fury

Yannick (pale with disgust) steps round a corner and interrupts:
[color=red]I think this matter is pretty simple.
Someone attacked a boat that I travelled upon using magic.
If I find out who it was, I will kill him or her.
Should it have been a magus of the order, this would be inconvenient, as I will have to declare wizards war to him or her sooner or very probably later.
Which should eliminate the need for further discussion of the code.

Now, we have a dragon waking up somewhere round here. I suggest we start running. Unless we are REALLY needed here, which I doubt, as there are only dead people here.

to "justice":
[color=red]The seven people you spoke of are all dead. You will find their dismembered corpses along with their unworldly possesions in a regio in this direction. (points).
[color=red]Maybe the ghosts that live ... reside there can tell you about those diabolists and the dragon. It seems King Beowulf died long time ago, as he did drive back the dragon.
Is there anything you need our immediate help with?

[color=red]You agreed to help the knights and travel with them which makes the consequences a result of your decision. I am aware of your discussions before making the journey. The matter is not my concern however so unless others bring this to tribunal it is of no import.
It seems that you have no further information for me, so you are free to go. I will arrange for a ship to collect you if you have no other means of transport it should take about a week for one to get here. I will level the town once you are clear to dispose of the evidence.
Should you be concerned about the dragon If necessary I can stay to provide some protection or I can transport you with a ritual spell however in that case I would request that you provide the vis for the ritual or replace my vis afterwards it will take eleven pawns of vis and I can return you to Roznov or Rengheld covenants unless you ahve an arcane connection to your home

[Falls]

[color=red]If you were aware of those dealings you would know that we never agreed to help them, only to travel with them. We used magic only to defend ourselves.

[color=blue] Looking back, this is in fact true. The only one who even mentioned actually giving them magical aid was Heinrich, and only in context of defending ourselves if need be. There was some discussion of whether such a thing was legal, but we never came to a decision one way or the other on that, and in any case never agreed to protect the Knights, only to travel with them (though we let them believe otherwise). We’ve probably got a reasonable case if this ever goes to Tribunal, provided Justice doesn’t take an unhealthy interest in our failure…

[color=red] In any case, providing a ship is generous and more than sufficient. I can’t help but feel that magical transport via rituals is a prodigious and ostentatious waste of vis. I’m sure my sodales agree.

[Ardath]

@Andrew

As to the mundanes , you travelled with th Knights of the Sword, you acted to protect them agaisnt magic.

[color=red]
We didn't protect them. We protected ourselves. This storm would have killed us as surely as the knights. But maybe we should have let us drown?

Didn't it occur to you that, if they were aware we were onboard, the mages that created this storm could not only be accused to interfere in mundane affairs by attacking the knights, thus potentially occuring the wrath of their order against the order, but also of attacking us outside of a wizard's war?

Yes, by saving ourselves from this attack, we also saved some of them. If this is interference, this can only spare the Order of Hermes the wrath of a powerful church-backed force, which can only be a desirable goal, wouldn't you agree?

But then, if I understand your point, trying to kill mundanes is no interference at all, while saving some is. Hell, even travelling on the same boat as mundanes is???? (Refering to " that you where onboard a vessel of the Knights in the first place that could be seen as a breach of the code") [color=red]I really need to go read my code again

(Insert Yannick's speech here)

[color=red]Yes, you're right, we're losing too much time as it is.

@Andrew

I am aware of your discussions before making the journey

[color=blue]:shock: Now, how could she know this without having scried on us?

[color=blue]Andrew: Congratulations, I really hate her
Falls: Of course, which makes her all the more delusionnal and... nonsensical. She must have bribed her way to quaesitorial status

[color=red]And I agree with my sodales. A ship is more than sufficient.

[Andrew]

@Falls

[color=red]If you were aware of those dealings you would know that we never agreed to help them, only to travel with them. We used magic only to defend ourselves.

[color=blue] Looking back, this is in fact true. The only one who even mentioned actually giving them magical aid was Heinrich, and only in context of defending ourselves if need be. There was some discussion of whether such a thing was legal, but we never came to a decision one way or the other on that, and in any case never agreed to protect the Knights, only to travel with them (though we let them believe otherwise). We’ve probably got a reasonable case if this ever goes to Tribunal, provided Justice doesn’t take an unhealthy interest in our failure…

[color=red] In any case, providing a ship is generous and more than sufficient. I can’t help but feel that magical transport via rituals is a prodigious and ostentatious waste of vis. I’m sure my sodales agree.

In my opinion it would be a very debatable case in tribunal depending on politics , Justice has hard line views on these things and is also far to busy to waste time persecuting you lot. I reviewed the conversation and she could have got the impression she has from scrying.

[color=red]It is wasteful but it is no really possible to move a group without such a spell and it is my duty to offer aid to hermetic magi in some distress. Where do you wish to meet with the ship when it arrives

[Andrew]

@Ardath

Didn't it occur to you that, if they were aware we were onboard, the mages that created this storm could not only be accused to interfere in mundane affairs by attacking the knights, thus potentially occuring the wrath of their order against the order, but also of attacking us outside of a wizard's war?

[color=red]To the best of my knowledge the attack upon that vessel was not carried out by Hermetic magi. I was investigating the possibility that Hermetic magi where acting in cooperation with the Diabolists here in ther piracy however it seems that they where not. This is how you came to my attention I was watching the Knights for signs of Heremtic inteference

(Insert Yannick's speech here)

[color=red]Yes, you're right, we're losing too much time as it is.

@Andrew

I am aware of your discussions before making the journey

[color=blue]:shock: Now, how could she know this without having scried on us?
[color=blue]The Dove, was Freya and Justice also used scrying magics as part of an investigation into diabolic piracy

[color=blue]Andrew: Congratulations, I really hate her
Falls: Of course, which makes her all the more delusionnal and... nonsensical. She must have bribed her way to quaesitorial status

[color=red]And I agree with my sodales. A ship is more than sufficient.