Vibria smiles back. [color=red]"Well, someone's got to sort these things out," she says with a shrug.
[color=red]"Sigmundo ex Miscellanea will be along shortly. I assume you know about the coming dragon wars?"
[color=green][b]Sigmund? Please tell me you don't mean that dragon...
I was once a Master at Andorra, spent a few years there after the Shadow Wars. The reckless leadership of Archmagus Antonio got to be too much for me, so I left over ten years ago. I heard that he has fallen into Twilight and that smart mouthed tart of a daughter of his is now in charge.
Just letting you know I am familiar with your covenant, and I know all about the dragon posing as a magus. I have full reports on all of you as recent as a year ago. So there is no point in hiding anything.
Now about this supposed "Dragon War", know the history behind it and what threats the conflict poses to the Order. But we do not know the details of the current situation.
In brief, Transylvania and Novgorod have much higher concentration of dragons than most other lands. There are plenty in other lands, especially the Pyrenees. Still, I would estimate that nearly a third of all known dragons have their lair somewhere in Novgorod or Transylvania.
Dragons are competative and fiercely terrirorial. So one might correctly conclude tensions have always been high.
The peace between dragons, Pax Draconis, has ever been fragile. The legend is that a Roman dragon, also fond of posing as human, forced the truce upon them with his sheer might and force of personality. This "emporer dragon", Fetillusclaviceps, has not been seen by a magus in generations. Some whisper rumors that he is long gone and/or was impersonated by a magus. Some say perhaps Tremere himself.
There are two primary types of dragons we are concerned with. An Azdaja is an Infernal dragon as far as we are able to discern. Not demons. Corrupt beasts. A Magic aligned dragon is called a Zmaj. There is little difference between them. Both are savage and viscious, rapacious pluderers. But the magical smajevi are easier to cope with. They are not intentionally deceptive and destructive. They are just indifferent and self centered.
There is much more as far as details and specifics. And other major draconic players such as Veles, Abur-ciocirlie, Rabidanadas, Smok Vavelski, Slomljenakrila, Danaslepih, Upokorituma, Azevastjepan, Kzthulleu, and others.
There has been tension between many factions and war has been imminent for some time now. It was almost sparked a few years ago when one of the camps stole a book concerning all the knowledge the Order has collected over the ages. War was avoided after the book was recovered by Vocis of Tremere. But it also exposed how fragile the Pax Draconis really is.
My current presence here was to investigate that incident in my official capacity as a Quaesitor and a Cives.
But as of today, things became a lot more serious. One of the consors here, a fellow named Sebastian. There is quite the mystery about him that Simimum seems unable to explain. Supposedly he has "relatives" amongst the zmajevi magic dragons. He has informed us that the truce has broken down. Supposedly there was some negotiations that fell throgh negotiations intended to assauge outrage over some transgression. He said that there was a maga on her way that would have a better understanding. I suppose that would be you.
Peregrinus Jerbiton. You met him. He doesn't know me though. But we have an agent keeping close tabs on him and the dragon blooded Henryk. So I know about your meeting earlier today.
And as I said I have a file on you.
Flambeau maga, undistinguished lineage, dragon blooded, witnessed the attempted assasination of Pietro Flambeau, rapid rise in rank at Andorra, suspected of participating on a raid of the stronghold of a Verditius in Rhine, had an altercation with Lord Featherbotton orbus from Bjornaer with resolution unknown, indirect involvment with the intrigues of Barcelona...
Shall I go on?
If I seem advisarial, that is based on where you come from. The rogue Andorra Covenant, with it's refusal to accept a tribunal status and their loose handed interpretation of the Code, it has long annoyed me.
But this isn't the time for grudges and suspicion. Rather, let us look at this as an opportunity to build trust and cooperation. I will need to know everything you know, even if it isn't much. We need to figure out what sparked the war, and the extent of it. Is this a full on war or just a feud? What is the issue and exactly who are the ones in conflict? The major division is based on realm, but there are many factions and cross alliances. We need to prevent this war from escalating and put an end to it as swiftly as possible. Failing that, we need to keep it contained so that it does not spread through the other Tribunals.
Word needs to be carried swiftly to the other Oppdiae, to every Redcap and Quaesitor of the Tribunal. I will also send word to Magvellius.
We further need to mitigate any collateral damage to the assets of the Order. The mountain covenants are most at risk. Thus I hearby order the evacuation of the Scholomance. I will head from here to the Oppidia of Lycanedon. Simimum will take key assets to the Oppidium of Coeris.
I am placing you in charge of the evacuation.[/b]
Omg that was a wall of text!
Dude, you just inspire me 
Inorite? That's going to take a day or two for me to parse and decide how much (afaik) is "true" or not.
Like, I can see her flaring up just a bit about the "undistinguished lineage" jab. The attempted assassination of Pietro's not ringing a bell, or the Rhine incident. But I do have a comicy mental image of her dragging a foot in front of her, hands behind her back, looking up to one side and whistling innocently when he mentions Lord Featherbottom quondam Bjornaeris.
Most of what he said is mostly true, though his data is far from perfect.
The assassination attempt on Pietro is from the very start of your entry into the saga. You were meeting with Carmen in Valencia and she was inviting you to join her covenant. You were then meeting with her mentor Pietro at an outdoor cafe. Attackers, likely the same ones that attacked Andorra earlier that day, attacked you at the cafe. Pietro got zapped by the Twilight wand, Carmen got hit with a fireball, and Vibria kicked butt on a bunch of enemy [strike]ninjas[/strike] combatants.
The Verditius break in was a story Ryu ran, where we recovered the Talisman of Vulcanus' pater and Vibria got hit with the booby trap.
All the dragon stuff is a mix drawn directly from Against the Dark: The Transylvanian Tribunal.
The quip about "undistinguished lineage" is hurtful but not inaccurate. You cannot trace back to any of the founders. Most Flambeau cannot. Tremere is a "True Lineage", and Octavian was being a snob.
Everything he said about Andorra, from his pov, is accurate. Carmen's father, the former Pontifex Antonio, was a reckless loose cannon who made his own rules. And a womanizer. The whole tribunal status issue bothers Octavian to no end.
[color=red]"Do you know another Sigmund?" Vibria asks with the most faux-innocent smile she can muster.
She listens to Octavian's expository dialogue intently.
[color=red]"Fetillusclaviceps? I thought it was Raxacoricofallapatorius?I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry...I just didn't want to resist.
[color=red]"And which am I?"
[color=red]"To be honest, I know nothing about the situation. I only know that there is a war between the two kinds of dragons."
Vibria pales. [color=red]"Me?"
[color=green]Several. But only one is a dragon in disguise. I admit I am not keen on the idea, but I will leave the matter for Duresca.
[color=green]No, he is up in the Ukraine along with Sufaluppagus.
[color=green]That remains to be seen. I was hoping you would come to the rational conclusion that you are a human being. That dragon wishes he was human. Why would you wish for anything less?
[color=green]And how did you come to that knowledge? What happened in Krakow? Is it true that Smok Valvaski yet lives and rules? Can you confirm that rumor?
[color=green]Yes you. I want a magus in charge, not Dragor or Sebastian. Simimum is of Coeris as am I. So he needs to be the one to take our assets there. I will have my hands full. I do not trust that dragon, I am sorry. You are human and a Hermetic maga. It needs to be you.
[color=red]"Why would I not accept that I am more?"
Vibria debates how much to tell Octavian...mostly out of concern that he might (conceivably) use what she tells him against Sigmundo.
[color=red]"Yes, it's true," she finally says. [color=red]Smok is alive and well, and has reached a bargain with the mortal rulers of Poland, granting them the city but keeping his cave for himself, and only allowed into the city in human guise. As to what happened in Krakow..." She shrugs.
[color=red][strike]Sigmundo brought me there to attend[/strike] We were on our way to a conference of dragons when we stopped in Krakow to rest for the night. He met Smok, they took off, and when they returned Sigmundo told me about the war. I probably know little more than you."
Vibria fights down the urge to panic as she takes a few deep breaths to steady her nerves. [color=red]I am Vibria Nascor Draconem. The blood of dragons runs through my veins. Dragons do not panic, nor do we show weakness. I am dragon-born, and I do not fail.
She looks at Octavian, steel and fire in her eyes. [color=red]"Very well. Where are we evacuating to, how much time do we have, and what must be taken?"
Did Vibria just develop a full name just now? Or was it already there unnoticed and unused?
[color=green]I would say that being a Hermetic maga counts as something more. I had forgotten how incorrigable the disciples of Flambeau can be sometimes.
Octavian listens to your story intently. Now recall, the conference is up in Norway. Krakow was a stop over and gramps appeared to have no idea Smok was alive or that any of this was going on.
But Octavian knows no different. He accepts your story and has no idea what to make of it. He scribbles something in his notebook and moves on.
Vibria inquires about her task. Octavian looks at her, then looks at his ring. A huge nob set with over a dozen tiny gems. He appears to be using it to magically communicate with someone, for he mouths some words then nods and then says [color=green]"Understood..." out loud. Then he looks at Vibria with a stoic serious expression.
[color=green]I need you to lead the students and scholars to safety. The regio here will stay open and the tower stationary as long as the storm rages. Head south through the Bran Pass into Bulgaria. Follow along the Olt River for about thirty-three miles. You will be met by magi of Kezdo Valasz. The will have a redugee village conjured up for you and will cover it over with the Shrouded Glen once you settle in.
My plans have been changed. My orders now are to bring Sigmund to Coeris to consult Prima Poena. Simimum here will secure assets as he sees fit and will probably set fire to the library so that it does not fall into the wrong hands. Sebastian will stand guard against storm riders.
Storm Riders are Storm Wizards that ride Storm Dragons.
Long story. They shouldn't bother you. They want this castle and have made attempts before. They may take advatage of the situation to try again.
You will have Dragor to help you, and your companion Jaksic. You will have four armed guards and three staff members. Seven grogs in all. There are five teachers and ten students. Seven are scholars, two are training as Redcaps, and the tenth is an apprentice.
My apprentice. Tiberius.
Octavian softens his voice, though it is still creepy, and speaks in Catalan.
[color=green][size=70]I am putting great faith and trust in you Vibria. You can do it. You must not fail.[/size]
Simimum, whi has been sitting there the whole time, takes a deep breath and sighs. [color=brown]I must see that the Cask of Infinite Shadows is secured.
He then turns into a huge raven and flutters away.
I used her full Hermetic name earlier in the thread, but a quick search says that was the first time I've gone beyond "Vibria filia Fulminara". I used the "Naming of Magi" page to come up with it. Not sure if it ever made it to Project: Redcap, but a couple blokes managed to find an archived copy for me a while back. Ima add it to her wiki page while I'm thinking about it.
Vibria merely half-smiles and shrugs.
I had forgotten that the conference was in Norway. May I edit to say that she was on her way to a conference of dragons when they stopped in Krakow?
Vibria nods. It seems simple enough to her, although she fully expects...stuff to happen. She does wish she'd brought her armour with her, though. She does some quick figuring and realizes she doesn't have the knowledge to create armour (even simple, shoddy chain) or turn her robes to metal.
Vibria is shocked. [color=red]"You...you would destroy all those books? All those wonderful, valuable...expensive books? Isn't there any way we can take them?"
[color=red]"I won't, Octavian," she replies in the same tongue.
Vibria watches Simimum change and leave, her expression suddenly thoughtful. [color=red]I wonder if they would let my heartbeast be a dragon if I joined Bjornaer?
You can edit if you want. Either way it puts a question mark in Octavian's mind that he puts off until later.
As for the books, he replies "[color=green]The few that are truely valuable will be taken care of. But these are all copies anyway. The originals are all secure elsewhere. Simimum has departed, I will head out when Sigmund finally shows up. How long did you say he would be? That will leave you in charge of organizing the evacuation and exodus.
A few minutes later Sigmund finally shows up with Sebastian.
[color=red]I need to speak with Headmaster Simimum. I...
Where did he go? What's with the expression? What'd I miss?
[color=red]"He should be here any moment, I would think," Vibria says as she continues looking at the window that Simimum left through. She turns to Octavian. [color=red]"I do want to speak with Dragor as soon as possible, so that we can start planning the evacuation."
[color=red]"Quite a bit," Vibria smiles. [color=red]"You're on your way to Coeris to meet with Prima Poena, Simimum is to secure the assets here and destroy the library (which is filled with copies, and the originals someplace safe) so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands, and I'm to get the students and scholars here to safety before the castle falls to the Storm Riders. Oh, and dinner might be a few minutes late."
[color=green]I think dinner is the least of our concerns...
Or was that an attempt at humor?
Sigmund does chuckle though.
Octavian does the same as he did to Vibria, checking down the list of what he knows about him. Which is surprisingly not as much as you would imagine. Basically the fact that he is secretly a dragon, that he has a massive library, and that he had secret dealings with Archmagus Antonio (the previous Pontifex of Andorra).
Then he makes his case why Poena needs his advice and why it is his duty as a magus, if that is what he now truly considers himself to be. Shockingly, the great elder wyrm seems unsettled and humbled by the Tremere magus.
blahblahblah...
Sigmund agrees. But you can tell he is worried.
Before Octavian departs, he sets you up with Dragor.
[color=green]Dragor is stalwart and loyal, and is a dedicated agent trained by House Tremere. There are a few things to keep in mind concerning him. He is a lycanthrope, which is not a worry for the full moon is three weeks away and you should be secure by then. But even as a wolf he knows loyalty. Another is that he is stalwart to the point that he will die for the cause if need be. If that happens, drive a hawthorn stake through his heart and decapitate him, lest he rises as a vampire.
Dragor smirks, for as they say, "it is what it is". He even offers you a hawthorn stake just in case.
Sigmundo takes Vibria aside. [color=red]There is so much I want to say that doesn"t need to be said. Be safe. And don't hesitate to kill any dragons that threaten you. If the have intelligence and can talk, don't get sucked in by guile. It is a perfectly accepted part of draconic tradition to bully or kill other dragons as need be to defend yourself, assert dominance, or to take their treasure.
After Vibria makes her parting comments and says goodbye, Octavian and Sigmund set out for Coeris by broomstick. Sigmund plays along and remains in human guise.
Sebastian organizes the soldiers remaining behind, the refuges pack their $#!+ and get ready to go.
Dragor addresses you. [color=blue]What are your orders Mistress Vibria?
...
A scene you don't witness but you hear about after the fact. Sigmund takes Jaksic aside and chats. [color=red]If anything happens to my granddaughter, I am holding you personably responsible. Smok won't be able to protect you. Got it?
Jaksic gulps and nods affirmatively.
Is Vibria there for that? And, if so, (just out of curiosity), why does Poena need his advice and is it his duty as a magus? (Or am I overthinking, again, and it's just a matter of "You're a dragon, we need your draconic input"?)
[color=red]Tremere, hm? And just what cause are you loyal to, sodalis? she thinks.
Vibria hugs him tightly. [color=red]"Be safe, grandfather, and I will see you soon," she whispers.
[color=red]"Sebastian said four of the turb and three other staff members. What are the turb trained in? Sword, pike, bows, horseback, what? And who are the staff that will be traveling with us? What are their skills?
"How far into his training is Tiberius? What are his hermetic strengths and weaknesses, and what spells does he have?"
[hr][/hr]Basically, depending on what we have to work with, Vibria would like to have the mundanes travel inside basically a box, with the four guards forming the corners of the box. Depending on what Tiberius brings to the table, he will either be up front with Vibria and Jaksic, or with the mundanes. Or, quite possibly (if his talents are of a more [strike]Flambeau[/strike] martial bent, in the back between the rear two men-at-arms. That's my first thought, anyway.
Vibria is present for Octavian's talk to Sigmund. And it is indeed a matter of needing draconic input. But what none of them realize is how mighty he really is. Vibria has a guess, for Carmen has stated how he is abble to pass through Andorra's Aegis unimpeded and Sigmudno has mentioned he is the son of SuGarr (who is practically a deity on par with the Midguard serpent).
And so you know, both Dragor and Octavian are recycled characters. Octavian was a PC in a previous era of this saga, and so his character sheet as of ten years ago is somewhere on this forum and/or the wiki. I have only a vague memory of it, but I know he was not yet ready for an apprentice then. So Tiberius is likely only five years into his training. Figure he is about fifteen or so.
Dragor was a companion character I made in the Novus Mane saga as the companion to the magus of another player, who ditched us after a month. That's how I learned that cross player companions are not as good idea as they seems at first. His stats, as of ten years ago, are in the defunct Novus Mane forum and the wiki (Fixer has links to the Andorra and Novus Mane wiki in his signature line). Again, barely remember all the details. I will brush up.
Jaksic has no stats as of yet. Just a few details that have evolved in play. He has the Judged Unfairly Flaw and Magic Blood, and Gift of Tongues.
Dragor responds in my next post...
Dragor will gladly answer all of Vibria's questions. [color=blue]
Scholomance has never required a large armed contingent. But the guards we have are elite trained by House Tremere. Taditional armaments are sword, shield, and spear. They are also equipped with minor magical items that the SG hasn't put much thought to as of yet. :mrgreen:
I once knew a Flambeau magus back in Normandy, some jackass named Robert, who erroneously claimed that the Flambeau imparted knowledge of military arts to the Tremere during the Schism War. The truth is the opposite. The Flambeau are warrior magi and champions. The Tremere are soldiers and generals, and their discipline reaches beyond just the magi of the House.
I tell you this so you know the quality of soldiers you are dealing with. They are immensely skilled and utterly obedient.
Oh, one of them, Lassitus, he is kennel master and will command three wolf hounds.
Tiberius, he is still young and does not have much to offer in terms of power. But he is capable of taking care of himseld and he has been trained in logistics.
The servants and staff are non-combatant mundanes. A scribe, a cook, and a maid. They have other skills but those are their prime duties.
Of the other students, two are training as Redcaps. They have useful skills. Two are training as Tremere specialists, one is an alchemist and the other a vampire hunter. The other four are academic students of various backgrounds.
I estimate that each individual will be able to carry provisions and supplies to last three days. Just to be safe. There regions is bountiful for forraging and hunting, and there are villages along the river we can obtain goods from as needed. We won't be able to seek shelter in them though. You and Tiberius have the Gift, and the entourage is too large.
Vibria nods as she listens to Dragor, then thinks thoughtfully for a couple of minutes. [color=red]"Two of the guards in the front, with me and Jaksic. The others bringing up the rear. The refugees will be in the middle. If we have any armour that will fit me, and a sword and shield, I can try to pass as 'just' another guard, keeping my maga-ness as a trap.
"I doubt that we'll be able to move very fast, but we'll do the best we can, and forage as much as we can to make our supplies last. I don't suppose one of our items is a manor-in-a-tent[sup]1[/sup], is it?
"And if we need to[sup]2[/sup], I can keep people warm.
"How soon can we leave?"
[sup]1[/sup] This is more-or-less her being facetious, since I would be very surprised if we do have anything like this, basically like a Harry Potter tent or one of those ones from D&D whose name escapes me.
[sup]2[/sup] I have no idea what time of year it is, but I see Vibria as being always cold anyway. And, yes, this is totally a double-entendre (unwitting, on Vibria's part), but she means by using Robes Proof Against the Cold.
The double entendre passes right over Dragor's head and he takes you at face value. The tent is a good idea. I am imagining something humble, like a bit of folded cloth that Muto's into a pavillion tent.