[Story] Dinner and a Council Meeting

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Loch Caillte (Lost Lake)
81

As Daggin trudges across the central grounds of the Covenant, his mind on the prisoner and the recent revelations, his attention is caught by a low rusty flash, a fox in full flight, running headlong for the gates.

Beyond the range of any shout, his list of applicable Sight-ranged spells is short, at least ones that would not blow the unidentified creature into the next world, so he chooses one that has little chance of penetration, should the creature be magical, but is perfect for the situation, should it work.

A bold gesture and a forceful voice, later, Ring in the Bull's Nose works its magics upon the creature, as best it can, suggesting that the best means of escape would be found back within the Main Halls, back the way it came, back where Dierdre last was seen.

He then follows this up with a Sprint in a Blink, teleporting him 50 paces toward the path of the creature, regardless of which way it ends up running.

82

Daggin knows the spell is resisted just after he casts, and his blink takes him another 50 paces closer to the fox. Something else has taken note of the ruckus, and causes the fox to turn back into the covenant - the bulk of Miach blocking the gate. As the fox runs, a fog begins to form along it's trail... It does not take long, with the surrying about the fox is doing, before a good portion of the covenant is fogged in.

83

Azaelle
(While being engulfed by fog)
"Oh, for the love of God and all that's holy, what NOW?!"

She turns to Asa and gives him a quick explanation of what sort of things make an arcane connection and if he should happen to find any such thing, he should hold onto it, but for now, he should go in and keep the door locked. He does as instructed and Azaelle puts a ward against faeries of the wood across the door, nearly botching it because she can't see a thing.

(to Albertus)
"What's a namebreaker?"

(ReHe "ward against faeries of the wood" lvl 13)

84

"What in the name of Caesar is that thing? Should I kill it, or just trap it?" shouts Daggin at the large wolf, and anyone else withing shouting distance.

If it's within shouting distance, he casts a more likely spell - if not, he again jumps toward where it last was seen, or in front of where it seemed to be headed.

"Shut the gates! Shut the gates and bar the way!"

85

"I know not what it is, only that it's something I've never smelled before," bellows Miach back at Daggin. There is the sound of the gates closing, and the bar dropped in place by the porter. "I would trap it if possible."

Daggin's spell goes off, and he thinks he's headed in the right direction.

The commotion has attracted other's attention. Words are shouted in Latin, and a steady breeze begins to blow, blowing the fog away from the cots and towards the west end of the covenant. Rhiannon stands at the entrance, dressed in naught but a shift.

As the fog clears, Daggin finds himself nearly face to face with the fox, who tries to back up, only to find the way blocked by Juliette, small but fierce...

86

Mathius

Mathius bellows out of his workshop door "Are you apprentices to cause such a commotion when better magi are trying to work?"

Mathius then blockades the door to his workshop so that nothing will be able to enter and disturb him further. He briefly regrets that he knows no spells to stop noise from penetrating, and decides that if this is to be a regular occurance he would have to find one. He then gets back to the important work that the council meeting interrupted.

87

Albertus to Azaelle:

I have no idea what this unexpected guest meant by namebreaker. I was however my impression that Mab was what she called namebreaker, perhaps someone should dare to ask her what she meant?

OOC: Did Albertus find a suitable item to take as an arcane connection? Perhaps filling a jar with air from the room?

88

Azaelle
"I'll ask her that later. It's at the end of a long list of questions I have about this covenant. I also want to know why it is that every wretched beast in creation can saunter right in the front gate. Hopefully this can all be settled without anyone getting fox ears permanently attached to their heads."

She walks off toward the front gate where Daggin. Miach and Rhiannon have the faerie fox cornered.

89

At the Cot:

The door opens a crack, and Asa hands out... the flute? "Here," he says to Albertus, "I think this will work." He closes the door and re-bars it from the inside, still looking for those things Azaelle asked him to find.

At the gate:

The fox (who can be seen to have at least 5 tails) is sitting there, Miach hulking behind her, Juliette the Ermine in front, Daggin and Rhiannon nearby, and the stout sides of the gathouse to either side.

"Speak," growls Miach,"and state your name and business in my demense." One forgets that Wolves are the lords of their domain, and Miach, it is said, can command those creatures therein. Indeed, he looks very much like a lord of the forest, noble and proud.

"Yes, lord," the fox says, looking crestfallen. "My name is Dawn. My business within your demense is simply to get my flute back." She rests a paw on the wood stick which now lies on the ground. "This isn't it. I suspect the young man who picked it up after I dropped it, fleeing from him, still has it. I commend him for his quick wit."

"What are you doing in these isles?" The question comes from Rhiannon, who fully expects the question to be answered.

"You will answer her question," Miach states, "as if they were my own, as you will any who ask."

"Yes, lord." she answers sullenly. "We were summoned by our masters to scout ahead for magical obstacles and information, looking for targets of interest, like covenants, sources of magic, and wizards who may oppose them. We have ranged far and wide, and many of us simply wander free, since our summoners have been slain."

"May I have my flute back?" the question is pleading.

90

Daggin casts a quick spell on himself, that alters his very body to allow him to run faster, as fast as any man can, and that allows him to aid the others in cornering the fox, or fae-fox, or whatever it is.

"What do we have here?!", he questions out loud, to any nearby. Then, once it speaks, he adds "Or who, perhaps I should ask. You are where you have not been invited, fox!"

He considers his options, and tries to guess which spell might best both penetrate this creature's natural resistance to magic, and defeat it without killing it outright.

91

Albertus thanks Asa a swiftly steers his feet towards the chamber of Dierdre. If possible he will deliver the flute. If it is not possible to find Dierdre with her senses about her he will try to find any other that could use the flute to thwart the aggressive intruder.

92

The foxes shape fluxes, and the form is roughly human shaped, with fox-like features. Daggin finds himself being looked at stright in the eyes, nearly nose to nose."you will not have my name so easily; The use-name I've given you will suffice. Your words speak more truth than you know, namebreaker. There is not one place I have been in the last 30 years as you count them where I have been invited. Instead, a spirit of my stature was summoned to skulk around these barbaric lands, looking for things our 'masters' wanted us to look for. Cities, fortifications, rivers, other 'wizards', 'witches', 'summoners' - workers of magic. They are all one and the same to me... Namebreakers each and every one." It is evident in the vehemence she puts behind every word for a worker of magic that she does not like wizards, witches, workers of magic, et alia at alll...

The creature sits down, turning her head away from Daggin. "I lose the one possession I managed to bring along, and being rightfully suspicious of human magic, decided to ask the person who had it nicely for it back, and I would have simply been on my way. Instead, I find myself in the middle of a whole enclave of you! Worse, my one possession is in your possession!"

"And you!" she says, turning towards Azaelle, "You worry about having a pair of foxes ears? Hah!" she laughs, and it is not a pleasant sound. "You have more important things to worry about, not some lost fox who wants to go home..."

"So what will you do to me? Rape my spirit, drain me of what little power I have left? Kill me and use my various body parts for nefarious ends? Bind and enslave me to some other menial task? I await my fate, most generous masters..." The sarcasm is thick and heavy.

93

Azaelle tilts her head as though puzzled by the faerie's accusation to her directly. She shrugs it off as something to be pondered later.

Azaelle
"You're not a lost fox who just wants to go home. You know precisely where you are and you are a spy who ought to be treated accordingly. "

She looks to Daggin, Miach and Rhiannon with all seriousness.
"I like all her ideas except the one about binding and enslaving."

94

Daggin cannot help but ease back a bit when staring into a much larger muzzle, complete with appropriate teeth, but he maintains his position hemming the creature in.

"Aye, and even that has its attraction. Had this interloper come open handed to all of us, perhaps, even likely, we would have considered an honorable request, but now, trespassing, spells, this is a different tune...", he smiles, savouring the moment, "...now... I suggest we make it pay for what it wants... with information. To start with, at least."

95

Azaelle
"Agreed."

96

Albertus walks up to the other magi who has cornered the fox. He holds the flute in his right hand. With a firm voice he speaks, Fox I heard you mention the concept of “namebreaker” as something to describe us could you please elaborate on that matter I am most curious to hear what that is and if you are insulting us. I also wish to know who has sent you? Are you under the magical influence of this so called master of yours? There are a number of questions that need to be answered and rest assure that if you are compliant this arrangement will benefit us all.

97

"Keep a tight hold on that flute, if it is the real one, sodalis. And bring forth Asa, I would hear from him how he acquired this flute, and the circumstances and conditions as he understood them, if it was a loan or gift."

98

I´ll get Asa and I think this is the real one as I got it from Asa. I will return soon. Albertus walks away to Asa’s room. When Albertus is at the door he knocks hard on the door and tell Asa to follow him. If Asa goes along willingly then Albertus returns with Asa to the other magi.

99

Azaelle
"From what he told me, I think it was neither loan nor gift, but I will go get him."

In less than a second she has sunk into the earth and disappeared, leaving a sprig of pink azaleas growing from the spot where she once was. The flowers linger for a moment and then they vanish.

100

The fox looks at Albertus. "It is what human magic does; Every thing has a Name; this name defines everything about something, a flower, a tree, a rock, a person, or a spirit. When man learned magic, they learned an imperfect art; It breaks the name of something, and puts it back together in a way that is unnatural, and eventually fades, unless stolen power reinforces it, sustaining it's un-naturalness. It is not a pleasant name for magicians, as you have surmised."

"I am a summoned creature," she continues with some asperity, "bound by the terms of the compact I was summoned with. To wit : 'Go West, and find out information about the land, it's people, and those things which interest my masters : soldiers, fortifications, roads, bridges, and other things that may be obstacles to them. I will call when your report is needed or desired.' I have been called to report every year on what I have found, every year they move steadily westward. The last time I was called on to report, it was in the city of Tblisi, some 2 weeks journey east from Trebizond."

"Note that I do not do this willingly; Our clans are plotting a revenge so horrific in nature, their entire nation will never again rise to prominence or power, always to be a subject people. Until such time, we wait, patiently."