Antonius listen to everyone arguments, before making sharing his impressions about which site to establish the covenant.
"Sodales, if I may share my opinion about the different possible places where we could establish our covenant. We journeyed to Skorba and its inhibitants offered us a
warm welcome, despite our respective gifts; I have the feeling that if we were to improve their conditions, they would be very loyal to us in return. I think the man
known as the Muslim would rather see the people of the village live healthier and longer life than having a bruised ego, and if not, I think he would be very much
happy to be compensated for not lifting a single straw. Furthermore the baron of Mggar doesn't care about his land, and we would have free reins to do absolutely
everything we want for as long as we provide the baron forty pounds of silver per year, which we are more than capable of generating given the land around Mgarr and
some ... more creative means. As for the reputation of the place, it might have a sinister reputation among the locals, but when we inspected the site, we found
nothing particularly threatening; no ghosts, no demons, no fey; only a few goats. The bad reputation result probably of the warping in causes, and my guess is that if
the other too temples had villages nearby, they would have the same reputation as Skorba. I think that if we trully wish to establish an hospital, it should be near
Mgarr, where we can trully help people."
He look at the audiance and continues his speech:
"In my opinion, Hagar Quim is the most promising choice. Sure, we could not probably grow enough food except maybe for the covenant, and sure there are is a cave
system that might make a quarry dangerous; however I ask you to consider this: the ruins have been standing there for centuries, maybe millenia, and the ground has not
collapsed underneath them, as it would not underneath the structure that we would build. Don't forget, we would have access to the sea, a safe harbour, and we could
conduct our business without being dependant on local shipowners and raising questions. Despite the apparent lack of source of income, it is quite the contrary; having
a ship or even ships, means that we can trade. I think everyone of you is aware the price black pepper, saffran and other luxury commodities can fetch in the large
mainland cities. We could even conjure... I mean import different commodities each year as not to saturate the market."
He looks towards the redcap and says:
"David, you have have a certain knowledge of merchants and the transport of good I gather. I am sure you can attest that it would be indeed feasible."
And adress the rest of the assembly:
"But there is more. I think it is the most logical choice in term of benefits it grants to our Art. As we explore around the island, we might find underwater sources
of vis, and having a ship would provide us with the means to collect it discretly. Like I said, the aura is aspected towards intellego. Granted, it is the
specialization of none of us, but it is even more valuable: if we wish so, and I am sure we will at some point in the next decades, we will be able to invent such
spells without spending months pouring over intellego tomes, and thus spent more time researching arts which interest us more.
Also think in terms of the future expansion for the covenant. The cave systems would be perfect for that, in that it is out of sight, and much less conspicuous than
overland buildings. It would be also an ideal site for a forge, it's aura is high enough as to facilitate the enchanting process and low enough to avoid warping of
mundane folks. While our lab proper could be in the powerful aura of the temple. There is also a probable source of vis there, and maybe many more in the caves, so it
would make sense to acquire the land in which it is, as a mean to avoid future attemps to claim any of them by other magus.
Now there is the topic if piratery. I do not wish for us to conduct active piratery, even though it is not prohibited by the order, but chasing the current pirates out of the blue grotto, I would not mind at all. Maybe we could make a counter offer to the count; help him policing the sea around the islands, and give him a share of our merchant business, with which he could probably find someone else to do his more shadier business. I think that if this solution would be agreable to everyone."
And then there is Tarxien, a site that is worthy too. But I think that you underestimate what this town charter might cost us. We will be giving a lot of silver to muslim nobles in the Thebean tribunal and that might come to haunt us. Also, the politics of the mundanes folk might drag us in unecessary conflicts which will distract us; what if a war is declared between the muslim noble and the count of Malta ? Will our covenant be a legetimate target for frankish nobles then ? And to which extant are you prepared to go to guarantee equal right of the muslim inhibitants ? To me, mundane politics is best to be avoided. And then there are those mysterious primitives too... which might pose a threat to our covenfolk.To me it is the less desirable choice.
In light of the recents developpement with the count and the baron, I urge you to reconsider. My preference are, in order Hagar Quim, Skorba and then Tarxien."
(OOC: I dont like stories that involve mundane interactions to much, and it is a major story hook of Tarxien. I would much rather have adventure at sea, or in the caves or even in distant ports, or even involving pirates and merchants)