Wirth
Intellego, mentem and vim. These are useful arts indeed. You could really use your talents. But I wonder: Why did you come here instead of others, better covenants?
[color=red]What are your long term plans? We have granted hospitality to several magi who were prospective new members, but they each left soon afterwards. I don't mind granting you hospitality at all, I just don't want another magus coming in, using us for what they can, then leaving without giving anything back in return.
"Hummm." Bernhard taps his joined hands to his lips, making a steeple of his fingers. "Barring unforeseen events, I have no intention of this being a one sided relationship. I wish to live with Magi that expect the same things from me that I expect from them. At Durenmar the give and take was very one sided and the pressure to conform to various political entities' wishes was intense. I want to live and work amongst friends and grow in power and knowledge together." Looking more at Wirth, "Why this Covenant? I ask, why not? I think there is much to be studied here. I doubt any of you know the totality of what went before at this place. Weren't there elder Magi here, previous to your coming here? Perhaps, they have knowledge that can be gleaned that may not have been imparted prior to final twilight. I am not saying thats the only reason for my coming here, but I will say that such thing have occurred to me. Perhaps I just wanted to go some place that my Pater wouldn't have expected... " He smiles at this. "Oh and I must admit that coming back here, where my language of birth is spoken, provides me with no language barrier to overcome when dealing with people who do not speak Latin. I do hate barriers of this sort. Its one of the reasons I study Mentem."
Looking at Aelianus and gulping a little at Diodorus, as if weighing the possibility of the beast attacking.
"We most definately should discuss your proposal, perhaps some time in the next few days. I am at your convenience."
To the assembled Magi, "Is there anything you would wish of me now? I would be most willing to help with any problems you may be having or, perhaps, undertake a season of work that might benefit us all."
Wirth
We need to discuss this. We can't decide on a whim. For now, as far as I'm concerned, you're our host.
Aelianus: We shall discuss then. Bernhard Ex Bonisagus the servants will show you the guesthouse and take care of you. I will come speak to you later.
Once Berhard has left the council room…
Aelianus: I think that we should let Bernhard stay here as our guest. In a year we can review if he is suitable for membership as a junior magus. Shall we take some fee or some other requirement of our guest if we provide him with a home, hospitality, a lab and access to scribes and other writing staff?
Bernhard follows the servant leading him to the guesthouse. "Something to eat and drink would be nice, and thank you for your trouble." Smiling Bernhard looks around the Guesthouse and begins to settle in. He looks out the window or door, as the case maybe, and paces a little.
After his snack is brought to him he thanks the servant in a friendly manner, eats, hoping that he wont have to wait long to speak to the Verditius that said he would call later.
With the meeting of the magi over with they head back to their sanctum, and Bernhard in the guest quarters. Before Aelinius is able to visit Bernhard in the guest quarters another servant finds him and informs him that there are two more visitors at the covenant gate one of them has identified herslef as a Magus Freya of Tremere and requested to speak with the leader of the covenant.
I meet with our visitors in the council chamber, Aelianus replies to the servant. Summon my soldaes again if you can. Aelianus dismiss the servant with a gesture and the calls out to him. Make sure that we can provide our guests with something to eat and drink. Aelianus looks at Diodorus. Please follow me my friend I can even guess what these visitors would want from us at this hour. Diodorus follows Aelianus and keeps his mind occupied with a new game that he would like to test with the guards…
The magi including Bernhard gather in the council chamber again.
The new visitor is shown into the coucil chamber , Freya is a tall white haired women dressed in hunting leathers , and bearing a sword belt although she has left any weapons outside the council chamber. Accompanying her is a white haired man similarly attired, both have the forever young look of a magus taking a longevity potion . Diodorus hisses at the arrivals clearly taking an instant dislike to them. The man meets Diodorus's glare and growls back.
The woman speaks Greetings magi of Novus Mane , I am Freya of Tremere and this is Fenrir my companion. I have travelled to this area in the service of my house and have been searching for out missing magus, it was not until yesterday that I realised I was searching near to a covenant of the order so I apologise for failing to introduce myself earlier. You may have had some reports of my presence in the area as Fenrir and myself often hunt as wolves. We have not located the missing mage but I found his trail in a wood near here about 2 days from here as the wolf runs he had been camped there , and clearly left his camp quickly as he had left some writing material behind only partially burned it was that material which alerted me to the presence of a covenant nearby and then I put that together with the beacon flame I saw and came here
Bernhard comments to one of his new Sodales, "Is it always so busy? You'ld think we were at Durenmar." He seems to find this very amusing.
He sits folding his hands in front of his chin and taps his lips in what must be a nervous habit. He stops tapping when he hears of the missing Magi and becomes very intent as Freya mentions hunting as wolves. Otherwise, he seems to try to remain inobtrusive.
Wirth
Yes. Too many magi used our hospitality and left us without giving anything in return. Requiring him to do something, would ensure that, should he leave, we'd have gained something from him. At least unless we're sure he's here to stay.
Wirth
We have our moments
Wirth
So. Have you found any clue?
Freya continues
I am uncertain of his current location, but I believe I have some insight into what he is doing. It would seem from his notes that he was trying to obtain a magical artefact he believed to be located at this covenant. He had also been in contact with at least one other magus although I was unable to determine her identity from the correspondance as a pseudonym was being used.
Diodorus and the man accompaning Freya continue to glare at each other
Roberto reflexivly raises an eyebrow at the woman wearing a sword belt, well, because women shouldn't have to engage in combat. It just isn't proper. But he catches himself being impolite and smiles. After all, there is indeed a female companion here who is more than his equal at sword play. Who am I to judge?
[color=red]We are better than Durenmar. You will come to realize that in time...
"Oh, that is a quality of Durenmar I don't miss, the Library I miss, the throngs of visiting peoples...not so much."
Aelianus: The only magical artefacts that we know of are those in my studio. If you wish we can provide some shelter for you and your companions. If you so wish then our servants will help you get settled in and then we can meet again for food and drink.
Of course I will accept your hospitality and we can discuss things further later
Freya stands and leaves the room accompanied by her companion
Aelianus instructs the servants to make the guest house ready for the new guests and move Bernhard’s baggage to some other room. Perhaps some unused sanctum chamber that is beneath the grey tower. The servants also get orders to prepare dinner and bring out the best wine from the cellar.
Once the guest have left Aelianus turns to his soldaes. Now what do we make of this? I have a hunch on who the maga is that they are looking for and I also have a hunch on where this item that they are looking for is located.
Bernhard will linger long enough to speak to Aelianus, as he is very interested in this talk of artifacts and missing Magi. "I wish to offer my assistance, if this matter requires it. I should go and settle in otherwise. My intelligo capabilities may be of some use." If no one stops him from leaving, Bernhard will go supervise the moving of his belongings to the new area.