“Good morning,” Lucas begins. “My name is Lucas de Mercere, a magus ten years out of my gauntlet. I have been residing at Cunfin Covenant in the Normandy Tribunal during this time, where I have served as the covenant’s librarian. I have been asked to come here to the Andorra Covenant because the leaders of House Mercere believe that this is a covenant rising in power, and wanted to see the current Redcap Herald, Mistress Fedora,” he nods his head to the maga, “provided with additional magical support. Not that she isn’t receiving adequate support from her sodales at present. But I’m sure you can all appreciate that House Mercere is a bit sensitive when it comes to the issue of magical support. The House wants the world to know that it is capable of supporting its own people with its own magi.”
“Now, that tells you why was convinced to leave Cunfin Covenant and relocate here. But it doesn’t tell the whole story. When I was asked to come here, I naturally did some research on Andorra Covenant. I learned that this is a very interesting place, with a rich history and a promising future. Frankly, it looks like the kind of place I would like to become associated with. I was doing well enough at Cunfin Covenant, but it was getting a bit stifling. House Mercere may coddle its magi, but it also expects a lot from us. There are few enough of us that there is always too much for us to do. I decided that I wanted to move from a Mercere covenant to a more traditional covenant made up of magi from all different houses.”
“You’re right, Master Solomon,” he says, nodding to the magus. “House Mercere would prefer that I stay here. And I understand their reasons for wishing that. But I have to say, their best interests and my best interests do not always coincide, nor do I suspect do their best interests and your best interests. In order to come here, I would have to leave a secure position in a covenant, in which I have already risen to a leadership role. I have spent ten years building up credentials at Cunfin Covenant, years which will count for nothing if I come here. I would just as soon get my start as journeyman in this covenant seven months early, even if it comes with some hardship and some risk. Furthermore, I think my experience and my skill could prove useful in dealing with the vagaries of life in Sa Dragonera. Furthermore, with the links between Mallorca and Andorra I believe that I can support House Mercere sufficiently for the time being."
“So yes, House Mercere would be content with me simply being assigned to the Mercere Guildhall here and leave it at that. But I’m not too keen on that myself. As I said, I want to put myself in a position where I’m not quite under the thumb of House Mercere. I appreciate all that the House has done for me, but I also want to live my own life. Andorra Covenant seems like an excellent place to do that. Moreover, I think I can help you. House Mercere wants to have a magus stationed here – at least in the Redcap Quarter- and they have a right to demand that. If it isn’t me, it’ll be someone else. My being here will fulfill that obligation. But as a member of Andorra Covenant, I would be bound by your charter, and would have my primary loyalty to the covenant. Mistress Fedora and I could then work together to keep House Mercere happy, and keep their interference with this covenant to a minimum.”
“But that’s just one thing I would bring to the covenant. I’m also a skilled magus with ten years of experience, specializing in transformation magics. And while, like many of the members of my house, I’m not skilled in martial endeavors, I have made certain to learn certain nonlethal ways of dealing with trouble. I’m also skilled in the arts of boosting, harnessing, and tethering, having studied them extensively in the past eleven years. I can develop spells that I can stop it will, or whose control I can hand off to others.”
“Also, I am fortunate enough to have a Gentle Gift, which allows me to mingle with non-magi more easily. Furthermore, I’m even more fortunate in that I am able to use my Gift without the traditional need for incantations or gestures. It’s as easy for me to do my magic with a thought as any other way. This has proven particularly useful when I’m transformed into animal form.”
“Beyond that, I’m intelligent, a good lab worker, and generally quite flexible. I’m married to a Redcap named Cecilia, who will be relocating to the Redcap Quarter, and we have four children: Stephanus, Elinor, Edvard, and Maria, though only three will be coming with us - Stephanus is already in his apprenticeship. I have a familiar named Horus who provides me with invaluable help. I have my own interests, as do we all, but I also understand that for a covenant to be strong, its members must sometimes sacrifice their desires for the good of the covenant. To that end, I will be willing to devote my energies in my skills to improving the strength and position of this covenant.”
“I stand ready to support the covenant and each of you, and so that’s why I’m officially submitting my petition to become a member of this covenant, stationed in Sa Dragonera.”
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