OOC Chatter 2

[Jonathan.Link]

@Arya

Oh, we'd be corrupt too, just in different ways

Étienne would probably notice, too!

[Arya]

I hadn't looked at Etienne before. He and Azura (who is kiiinda slutty by medieval standards, though no moreso than any other Mercere maga would be) might flirt incessantly Since he has contacts among exotic merchants he may already know the Redcap (who really, really needs a name).

[Peregrine_Bjornaer]

@Arya

Since he has contacts among exotic merchants he may already know the Redcap (who really, really needs a name).

Ah...that's what confused me (at least). I thought I remembered mention of another Redcap. And just naturally assumed that the Ungifted Redcap (who is, I think, traditionally accorded all the rights and privileges of a member of the Order) would also want a seat on the council, as is her right. So...she's going to be kind of a maga peregrinator (I think that's what it's called) who just lives here, then? is slightly confoozled again

[Arya]

The maga Mercere would want a say in things largely because she'd see it as a matter of respect for her House. She's unlikely to care about anything that doesn't directly involve herself or her House. Loyalty to House Mercere +3, Loyalty to the Order -1.

The Redcap would be the administrator of the Mercer House and it would be a conflict of interest to hold a seat on the covenant council as well. With a Maga Mercere to act as liaison between the two, said Redcap doesn't have to worry about having a voice on the council for any matters that concern the House.

I see the two as being united in insolidarity for the House and the House's interests, but they probably don't like each other much on a personal level (makes it easier to have them involved in different stories while still sharing certain interests in common).

[Jonathan.Link]

@Arya

I hadn't looked at Etienne before. He and Azura (who is kiiinda slutty by medieval standards, though no moreso than any other Mercere maga would be) might flirt incessantly Since he has contacts among exotic merchants he may already know the Redcap (who really, really needs a name).

If he came from Normandy, yes, more than likely.
If he's from other tribunals, less likely, but possible. Right now, in Iberia he has to work a bit harder to get contacts to recognize his connections to them... You know Mustaffa? Yeah, he's best friend's with my cousin's wife's sister who sells those strange whatchamacallits. Or something like that. To put it another way, he's going 6 degrees deep on most of his connections.
And he's got a thing for Maga on the make...

[Arya]

@Jonathan.Link

Right now, in Iberia he has to work a bit harder to get contacts to recognize his connections to them... You know Mustaffa? Yeah, he's best friend's with my cousin's wife's sister who sells those strange whatchamacallits. Or something like that. To put it another way, he's going 6 degrees deep on most of his connections.
And he's got a thing for Maga on the make...

Ohhh, Mustaffa? Yeah, he was schoolmates with my brother-in-law's best friend's little brother!

[The_Fixer]

Thanks, peregrine. Good ideas there.

@Arya

It might be more fun to establish concurrently because WE'RE the jerks

If we would be filling a vacuum though, that would work really well for the character's personality. Fiercely devoted to the House but totally obsessed with making money-- the House has always been happy to benefit from her hard work, but still doesn't reward her devotion with magic items or a longevity ritual. Since her duties to the house are largely mundane she doesn't need magic items, but she's more concerned with the lack of respect that it entails. So she invests her personal wealth into establishing a Mercer House so that she can earn the admiration and respect of the only people who matter And perhaps she's heard of Ra'am and hopes to negotiate that in exchange for the benefits of having a Mercer House at your covenant, they might make her a longevity ritual once she needs one (probably soon)?

Love the idea of you being the jerks

About the rest, I'm not sure this corresponds to a lone redcap. Serf's parma:

• A redcap convey messages and benefits from the support of his house.
• A lone redcap doesn't convey messages and thus no longer benefits from the support of his house

=> A redcap might be shunned if practicing Usury, though.

@Jonathan.Link

Your characters have difficult choices to make. Give up their sigils and get a voice on the covenant's council or be excluded from the council and work the members from outside. They'll have to resort to currying favor with council members to represent your Merecere interests.
From a player balance point of view, I'm ok with one of them joining the Phoenix council, not both.

All sorts of interesting possibilities ensue...

Very good points.

Hum... Maybe the companion just doesn't join the council of magi? After discussion with the both of them, Jaime gets to vote ONCE with Azura's sigil (this'd go better than the companion's), which join the council? The redcap doesn't join it, but is free from the covenant's decisions, his mercer house being in fact independant?
=> Arya doesn't get 2 votes at tribunal or the council, but the redcap gets a place and our support for the mercer house? And the mercer house could trade with the covenant?

@Jonathan.Link

It may be your understanding in your saga, but there's nothing written hard and fast that prevents it in other sagas. I think your characters present some interesting stories, given the framework of what's already been written. It's a shame you're willing to throw them away.

Oooh yes.

@Jonathan.Link

But here's how it can play out, accept guest status until Jamie's gone. Then after he's gone apply for probationary status or full status from the current council. After he's gone, it's up to those who've given up their sigil to determine how to accept new members, as he's gone and the new council is set, and majroity vote rules. Just don't expect everyone to approve a full memberhsip without you giving up SOMETHING of value. It may not be your sigil that we'd expect. A Mercere portal could come in very handy, no? Can you give it? That's something to work out between you and the SG. It's a quid-pro-quo thing.

That's a solution, and the equivalent exchange is a good point too.

But, well, it seems we're going for something akin to my solution above, so... fine!

[Jonathan.Link]

@The Fixer

But, well, it seems we're going for something akin to my solution above, so... fine!

But I want a Mercere Portal!

[Arya]

@Jonathan.Link

But I want a Mercere Portal!

And I want to create items that emanate magic auras. We all dream the impossible dreams

[Jonathan.Link]

@ByMyLastBreath

Hi. New to the game. Settling in.

Scooter

So, has anyone heard from him. He has exactly one post in the entire forum, the one I'm quoting.
I was interested in seeing what he'd bring as a Jerbiton...

[The_Fixer]

Yes, I remember vaguely, he seemed to have a nice idea, but... Nothing.

And does anyone have any news of Chico? It seems we're quite down at the present.

On an unrelated note, struggling on maria, which is my fault, as I tried to give her an even more non-standard pose...

[amul]

Secondly, what's the status of House Mercere in Iberia?

The same as everybody else: decimated. The only remaining Merceres are Reconquista, and most were Reconquista before that. As with all the houses, there is a giant power vacuum and many eager magi running into town to fill it.

Is there a Mercer House already? If so, where?

Not as such, but many covenants have established quarters for them. Mercere Lore would tell you why there have been NO Gifted Mercere living in Iberia for the last 40 years. There are a string of inns and whatnot that were funded by Mercere to be used as waystations, meeting places, and boltholes throughout Iberia.

Note: Though I initially designed this Iberia without referencing the 3rd Ed book, it is very difficult to do, so any info from there on Mercere will get redacted into this setting....if somebody gives me a page number to reference.

How has Phoenix been about its hospitality to Redcaps in the past? And most importantly, is there any cake?

This should be roleplayed out as a prelude. It will take a disturbing amount of work to find any reference to Phoenix in Mercere records.

[amul]

@Arya

Ah, that's problematic. No self-respecting Mercere could ever allow their sigil to be used at Tribunal-- not by themselves and certainly not by anyone else.

Perhaps Ser Kingslayer will allow Azura on the council as a liaison between the Mercer interests and the covenant proper, and allow both to retain their sigils (which will continue never being used, ever). Mercere understand that votes are inconsequential; real power exists in controlling the flow of information. A Lannister would certainly recognize that

Off topic-- if anyone has finished ADWD and wants to swap crazy theories, PM me

Damn straight, he'd understand the value of it. Jaime Lannister has the reputation of being one of the shrewdest politicians in the order. AND your Mercere characters would discover he's been without reliable Mercere services for DECADES.

[amul]

It looks like I got to this discussion a bit late. What's the current status? Is Arya still playing two Mercere?

[Arya]

A Gifted Mercere for magus, and a Redcap will be administering a potential Mercer House. Seems unlikely the Redcap will get out much, so it's a good thing the Gifted Mercere is sociable and whatnot

[amul]

Your companion character doesn't get out much? ~shakes head~ You people do such lovely strange things to this game.

[Arya]

She has a business to run! Verrah important bizniss!

I was actually hoping we could eventually have a thread for the comings and goings of the Mercer House, and my companion could basically just play host there

If you'd prefer having an NPC Redcap handling Mercer House administration, I'd be happy to make a more adventurey Companion. If Azura wants to have a Mercer House, she's pretty much gotta show up with a Redcap-- but if that can happen without taking up my companion slot I'd actually prefer to make an outdoorsy type for a Companion.

[amul]

If it is your preference, then call the Mercer House redcap one of your grogs, and make the companion you'd like. But you'll have to pare down his VFs.

[Arya]

It's specified somewhere that Redcaps can only be Companions.

[amul]

@Arya

It's specified somewhere that Redcaps can only be Companions.

Quote me a page number?