While you sleep that night, the words "Obsidian Ring" echo in your mind over and over again. You are certain that there is some deeper meaning to it, more than just a trinket worn as jewelry. It means something entirely different, but you can't seem to recall.
Foul Abbadon!
I like this idea a lot, and I would question if one actually needs a Magic Theory score to accomplish this. But I don't know what other score one would use 
.
He wakes up. He is aware of where he is, exactly the same place he was over seven years ago when he had that horrible mishap with throwing all of that vis into that spontaneous spell. [color=orange]It always seems to work for Antonio, why do I suffer the ultra severe Twilight?
He began walking, hoping that they didn't think he was dead after all this time. It is cold, perhaps a bit of warmth, a spontaneous Ignem spell should do...
[color=red]Crap! My Magic! No Spontaneous spells...., rrrrrr.....
He keeps walking. He figured it is maybe twelve miles to Andorra la Vella, and from there he can get a horse and ride the rest of the way to Arans. [color=orange]Should have kept those magic shoes. Should have learned to teleport or fly. Ah well...
Nope no census yet. I need a few guidelines from you and I will begin constructing the Mercere quarter. Build points, yearly income in silver and in vis. I have just mention the staff by name and there is not more information yet… 
Decimus has a plan but first he needs a good Latin teacher. There are a few wives and children that could need some work for their free stay…
The crone, taking Viola's welcome as an opening, steps to the table, clears her throat, and, in as powerful a voice as she can manages, begins to speak.
[color=red]"I am Geralla, the crone of the mountain. I come to warn you of what will be--of what is even now. Darkness lowers on the far side of the mountain; the sun sets there." She turns to address Viola directly" [color=red]It is what you fear.
Viola responds, more intrigued than fearful, "Dark? Yes? Then...what? Yes? Do you?"
The crone replies immediately to Viola, seemingly understanding the incomprehensible gibberish clearly:[color=red] "You know...you know it.
At that, she turns and leaves, creaking out into the forest on decrepit faerie legs. An air of gloom hangs over the tea party, quickly bringing it to an unsatisfying conclusion. Viola retires to her quarters to consider the situation.
After two days, Viola emerges, and, taking her shield grogs, Edward and Astrid, as well as a guide from among the covenant's turb, makes her way over the mountain to the west, towards the Caverns of Entropy--really the crone could not have been referring to anything else. A few days later, she returns, looking puzzled but oddly satisfied. She sends messages to the other magi, asking who might be interested in solving a little mystery that threatens the covenant.
Scott
[color=green]Carmen: [color=red]What disturbs you so? I am most certainly interested! Perhaps we should grab Marie, make it a girls expidition, show these tough guys what we are made of 
.
Viola shakes her head. "Not me." She shrugs, "Marie?" She shrugs again, and smiles.
(OOC: Where does Carmen come from? Where are we? doing what? Do they talk about Marie or is she there? It's probably because I am not a native speaker or maybe because I am an unimaginative humdrummer but I can't follow you)
Carmen responded to Viola's request by showing up at her lab. As yet, Marie isn't there, but for all I know she's on her way.
Scott
Quite interesting. Foul Abbadon indeed! Who does Antonio want Ludo to meet?
Carmen was raised here at Andorra, she is Antonio's daughter. Viola proposed an interesting activity, and Carmen wants to demonstrate a little girl power and team up with Marie.
Ludovico
As I had mentioned, Valnord is something of a resort village (in Mythic Andorra anyway ). One day in the future there will be ski lodges here. But right now, the village of Mythic Valnord is centered on a grand inn (simply named the Grand Inn of Valnord). I am not sure of the social structure (lazy DM that I am ), but it is similar to that of our covenant in that the wealthier residents own their lands outright as an alod, and others are freemen who rent or are employed in the trade of the town. Valnord is known for it’s scenery (and slopes!), as well as excellent food and wine.
Antonio introduces you to a few key members of the staff, those who understand the Gift and are willing o let you place your Parma over them (but they also expect that you take care of them ). He explains that he didn’t always have the Blatant Gift. He was used to the normal effects of the Gift, and had developed his social skills (and spells) to compensate. With the Blatant Gift though, he found that it took every ounce of charm just to convince people to let him cover them with Parma.
However, the Parma tactic originally developed as a tactical measure in combat, the “Wizard’s Lanceâ€. He distains the term “Shield Grogâ€, preferring the word Custos. Instead of fighting in front of you as human targets so you can cast spells, Antonio trains in Martial Abilities alongside his men, and fights along with them as a trained comat unit. Covering your men in Parma not only offers them Magic Resistance, but it allows you to lead (or mix into) a larger trained group (eliminating the penalties of the Gift to Leadership).
[color=red]So you see, the customs of war become the traditions of peace. An old-old magus once told me that the simple common handshake began as a way to demonstrate you were unarmed.
What was the point of all that blabber? To distract you. Antonio keeps telling you to hold on, he want to introduce you to someone special, but he keeps putting it off because he wants to finish his vacation. And I hope that all the other players have been reading these bits of interaction with you. I have been dropping clues and hints and foreshadowing what is to com 
But then the time comes. He took Golda home when you weren’t looking. He has Mastered Leap of Homecoming in such a way that he can Flex the Range to Touch as well as Multicast it. He takes you to meet Tariq and the Banu Mazal!
Should I know who that is? Or am I in a comfortable ignorance?
comfortible ignorance.
Does your character speak Arabic?
No. Not in this iteration.
Perhaps I should note however that with a jinn manservant I do have a translator and the option of channeling the jinn to use his score. But Ludo himself still doesn't 'know' arabic.
Antonio takes you to a covenant in the foothills of the Pyrenees. It is small and secluded, run by a small esoteric sect of Flambeau magi known as the Banu Mazal (the Latinized form of Banu'l-Mash'al, meaning “Sons of the Torchâ€). It is also from here that, Terrace, formerly a member of Barcelona, holds Tribunal meetings as Praeco of Iberia.
It is here that he introduces you to another magus visiting the Banu Mazal. The mysterious ancient magus known simply as Fuego. He is here with his protege, Zare of Flambeau (to be played by Arwan). Antonio takes you to meet privately with Fuego and Terrace. They ask you everything you could possibly know about Val-Negra, the status of everything, how you got there, how you escaped, confirmation that it even still exists. They even ask you if you are willing to submit to Mentem magics. They are disturbed by what little you know, and even more disturbed by what you don't know.
It is also right at the end of winter. I will knit you into the main thread soon.
Ludovico is polite yet distant, answering all questions with perfect candor yet a slight wariness in his manner. Eventually he seems to relax however. When the subject of mentem examination comes up however, he refuses, stating flatly that if he has his way Abaddon will have been the only man with the privilege, and that he intends to seek his vengeance in some way. Items stressed by Ludo in the discussion are the door and how it should remain closed, Tagelyn and how one must avoid being ensnared at all costs, and mysteries of the Obsidian Ring... and how he still can't remember much about it.
Quietly he will meet with each of the three seperately, as if seeking a confidante, and ask their advice on what he should do now, and to see how willing they might be to help him when out of earshot of the others.
By their questions, how much can Ludo tell about what their interests in Val-Negra and their feelings towards Abaddon are? Right now he is operating under the assumption that since Abaddon doesn't like visitors or disruptions... that the more information about Val-Negra he can spread around the more he is giving his new enemy a headache. If they seem too 'pro-Abaddon' however, that might change.
He again is perfectly up-front and candid about his magical lineage/tradition ( Titanoi / Tasgillia ). He even offers to compensate his host ( Terrace? ) by laying to rest any ghosts or malignant spirits on or near the covenant during his stay.
Terrace declines your offer. The Banu Mazal have it all under control.
These magi have no feelings towards Abbadon one way or another. He is a semi mythical figure. Fuego remembers him from fifty years ago or more (Fuego is the filius of Vanacastium). He is amazed that he is even alive! But the others wonder how accurate your memories are.
Terrace instructs that you should be taken to Octavius at Andorra, his own protege. Fuego will take you there. Antonio is headed off to Greece to meet with Jason of Flambeau in Sparta. Who knows when he will be back
To what end do they wish me to see this other Magus?