"Welcome to Cairo, Mafeo. You are a man of many passionate interests. I can appreciate that."
Aban nods contentedly.
"I am happy to hear that you would support me despite my lacking graces, magus Aetherius. We can return to this question at the covenant, when the other magi are present."
"Alas, that one is beyond my purview. Do you have business there? I could take you, if it would help."
"Well, the Roman and Levant tribunals..."
(Aban shares some news, but as a player I don't know what he would know, so no details )
The Tribunal of France, formerly the tribunals of Normandy and Provence, is heavily influenced by Tytalus mages who, predictably, are engaged in deep conflicts amongst themselves. One of the key conflicts is regarding the church, where one faction, supported by most Jerbiton, believes in allying with the church in exchange for immunity from the Inquisition, while a rival organization, supported by most Bjorners and Merinita, believes in weakening the secular influence of the church and trying to put an end to the inquisition. A third faction supports the idea of taking over the inquisition through politics and infiltration, which is supported by a significant number of Flambeau and Tremere- though Tremere is largely occupied in Hungary at the moment so their usual influence has waned. The conflict between the "negotiators" and the "opposers" factions is also being carried out in the war for Sicily, where the opposers are supporting Aragon's rule of the Kingdom of Sicily, while the negotiators are supporting France's rule over the kingdom. There is also some conflict as to whether the Aragon covenant will be part of the tribunal of Iberia or France, though French Tytalus only support it joining Iberia as a side issue in other plots. Aragon has also campaigned to be a separate tribunal but this seems unlikely, primarily in that they still need two more covenants to join them in such a bid.
In mundane terms the Levant is still fighting, which i a bit like saying the sun still rises. the Crusader states are shrinking, the states of Antioch and Tripoli have fallen in recent years to Muslim forces, but the order has been largely unaffected by these events since the incorporation of the House of Seuleman, and while the region has continued to be torn by war the order is thriving, grabbing territories left ungoverned by the secular conflicts, though continued religious strife which is part and parcel of these conflicts does leave a significant infernal presence, which is compounded by the fact that many members of the house of Seuleman are still willing to engage in infernal pacts, seeing infernal agents as just another supernatural entity to bargain with.
The Roman tribunal has continued to import much of its vis from its share of what had been the tribunal of Thebes, and the magi of Thebes are expected to make a bid to re-establish the tribunal at the Grand tribunal of 1294.
The African Tribunal continues to barely hang on to its charter, with only three covenants still having been established, and the fact that Al Kufra went dark last year left a possibility that, if it did not re-emerge and make contact by 1294 the African tribunal might have to be disbanded and divided between existing tribunals, most likely Levant and Iberia.
Additionally independent inquisitions led by either local nobles or bands of monks continue to terrorize, or secure depending on your point of view, both Italy and France, persecuting whatever that particular group sees as heresy, all of course in service to the church of Rome.
"To make a long story short, we're leaving Cairo once we conclude our business here, but not for Al Kufra. More likely for short stop in southern Italy and then probably Provence where I anticipate the bulk of the trip to be at. And we don't quite know how long the trip will take - it could be two weeks, it could be two seasons. So, as far as I see it, we have two options:
You get busy and you await my return in Cairo after this trip is concluded, at which point I'll be more than happy to help you travel to Al Kufra; or
Conditional to my sodales agreeing on having you as companions for the journey, join us on our trip and return with us to Al Kufra to meet those who aren't part of this journey to discuss your admission into the covenant, hopefully with those of us in the journey having positive comments to say about you."
"Have with us someone who know the actual situation could be a good thing, I guess. I'm agree with this option. Plasmatorius, are you agree to let this young magi travel with us ?"
"Hmmm?" Plasmatoris looks away from what he was studying at the moment, blinking for a few long seconds as he replays the conversation in his mind. Then the Jerbiton gives a lazy shrug and a rather unimpressive smile. "I think it would be useful to have more of the knowledgeable and skilled travelers among us." He peers briefly at the Flambeaux, squinting a little as he eyes him. "I apologize for my distraction. Plasmatoris of Jerbiton - feel free to call me Mafeo during informal settings - I unfortunately missed your name."
Once his sodales have concured, Aetherius chimes in "Sounds like we're in business. Aban, we're waiting until some research about a former covenfolk of Al Kufra concludes here. Why don't you join me so we can see if that has moved at all?" Aetherius will go to the counter and inquire as to whether they are still searching, or if they found information.
"The primary defining points of culture and civilization is social interactions, art, and linguistic exploration. I would not state I have a strong 'hermetic interest', but I seek to find ways for my magic to make life better, more beautiful, and more pleasant."
"Also, using magic as an aid to creation and art instead of a replacement."
After several hours searching (or perhaps claiming o search) the answer is brought to the group- the perfecti in question sailed to Sicilly, where he had intended to catch a ship to Nice.
"I would not say fugitive, as much as someone that was valued by our covenfolk and which we have lost track of. We don't know if he's alive.
Take the name of the ship he traveled on to Sicily and any other details we may have. Do we know whether the Order is involved in shipping business from Sicily? Anyone we could contact there?"
"Nice, Nice..." Plasmatoris idly tugs at a stray curled lock of hair. "Does you happen to have any information about what is going on in that region?" he asks. "I spent my youth - ah... elsewhere. Cloistered and studying. I never paid attention to such frivolities as the world outside my studios."
The young magus frowns in thought, his eyes briefly running over the designs patterned on the wall, before he speaks again. "Active information on that region would be... helpful." Even as he talks, Plasmatoris is slowly inching his way towards the wall, and after he's done, he leans over to examine the edges of the pattern, curiously.
House Mercere maintains a trading route between Cairo and Sicily in order to keep the African Tribunal connected with the rest of the order. There has been talk about a Mercere gate from Cairo to Harco but the house does not feel the Cairo facility is secure enough or they are not willing to give up the profits from the trade route.
Members of house Mercere who have not been regressed will be aware of this.
)