Not a problem for me.
The big thing you should think about and tell me how you want it to go, out of character. We can discuss ramifications for Alexei's actions, get some troupe input, I can tell you, out of character what could possibly happen, and then you deal with the aftermath.
I've already made a few things clear. House Flambeau is fairly evenly divided. The House might fracture. Since there are 4 Flambeau in the covenant/saga, it's concerning. Alexei trying to prosecute Montverte or even Rotgiers alone will trigger a huge legal issue that will need to be resolved, and that resolution, more Quaesitores hovering around Mons Electi probably isn't going to be a great thing...
Do realize that Roberto has made painstaking effort to not take sides in the factionalism, and in fact has tried to ignore it. Roberto clearly does not approve of Ariel, but being conservative as he is he would rather support her than stand against her. If that remains a viable option. Then there is his mentor, Santiago, who is allied with Ariel. Or so it seems. That is where Roberto places his most immediate loyalty, so whatever side he takes is the side I will take. For now. As long as that remains a viable option.
The real problem in this characters mind is an issue of ethics. Roberto feels that Ariel has fallen in with a conniving and scheming lot. The opposition and those who are supposedly supposed to maintain law & order are also quite manipulative and scheming. That's the way it goes, it is what it is. That's what bad guys do. But Truth, Clarity, and Light shall always prevail. You don't fight shadows with shadows. You fight the darkness with fire.
So that is what I mean by "viable option". If Ariel becomes so conniving and corrupt that he can no longer support her, then there is nothing he can do for her. As for this opposition, Roberto knows little or nothing about them, save for that they follow the left handed path of Apromor (not in magic style, but in philosophy).
Maybe, just maybe, it is time for Roberto to become Primus and sort this mess out. It is a heavy responsibility, but it may seem that this duty is thrust upon him.
:mrgreen:
Take everything I just said with a grain of salt! Or maybe a spoonful
Hi still thinking, and I would love to hear the other Flambeau give their ideas as Roberto just did. Here is what Alexei is thinking. Alexei does not do conniving well. Perhaps it's a tool he needs to add to his toolbox. If Rotgiers is the guilty party, then he wants to take him down. If found guilty he'd report him to Ariel and maybe some of Ariel's allies would also want to take him down. My thinking is that if he's guilty Ariel might kick him from the House, we'll call that the nuclear option. If the House weren't so divided I would think it would be one of the first options.
What he would not do is try to hold it over Rotgiers head (if he gets the proof he needs). I doubt Rotgiers would care that much. based on his attitude and perhaps the support he has. One option that recently occurred to me, regardless of what happens here, could Rotgiers be disallowed from competing at the tournament?
In the current story "Where honor lies" Alexei received a letter of invitation from Ariel as the head of the House and Milites, to come to Val Negra and give a speech to rally the Milites. Alexei went to Val Negra with Isen and found out that they were fooled, Ariel didn't write the letter and the time was wasted, plus both assumed that it was a distraction and prelude to an attack. Ariel tasked Alexei with finding the culprit. Alexei believes it was Rotgiers.
That's it? That's all he did?
I understand you have beef with the guy and he is a total f-wad. And there are many layers beyond this, I am sure.
But all we have here is a prank. Nothing that justifies being cast out of the House. Maybe a small fine if you take him to Tribunal and accuse him of mail-fraud (five pawns! next case!). Multiple pranks and/or prolonged antagonistic behavior? Then this may be worthy of a Wizard War. I will even help you prepare for such a contingency! Let us cooperate in the lab and create a high-penetration charged wand of fire. Your enemies think they have the edge on you because of your short ranged magic weakness. But their ignorance dooms them, for when they least expect it, [size=110]POW![/size] You torch their sorry but with the Founders Art.
But seriously, what I really think you should do is pick your battles and choose the battlefield. This is not it. You need more intelligence (in the military sense of the word). You already know he did it. You don't need to prove he did it, except maybe to yourself. Do you have doubts? Proving he did it won't get you anywhere anyway. Not yet. What you need to do is find out why he did it. Or rather, "why was this thing done?". Que Bono? Who profits? Finding that out, and the culprit's identity will be a natural byproduct. But that will have become the least of your concerns once you find out what is really going on.
And never forget this, my Flambeau brother. The Dragon has two heads. Seriously. Reflect on the meaning of that.
Interesting things to consider. It is basically a prank, but when pulled on the Prima that changes things, plus this is such an unworthy thing to do, he is a member of the Milites I believe. For something official to be done I would like a bit more proof, but it might not be needed in the end, reputation is also proof at this day and age.
Who benefits. Now when it first went down, I assumed it was done as a prelude to an attack on either Mons Electi or Val Negra, but now I wonder. One of the things that Valerian did as Chief Hoplite and Quaesitor was patrol a bit, most likely eliminating competition from raids for his allies and stooges like Rotgiers. I'm wondering if while Alexei was occupied if some raids went on that Alexei might have been able to do something about? At most this is a season of Alexei's time. Yet if it were revealed, this is a low crime (wasting my magical power) that the Tribunal might do anything about. The real punishment (if any) could come from Ariel where she could throw him from the House. Maybe it's a dare? The first time a Primus of Flambeau gives a command and it's not heeded, that Primus is out. Maybe it's to push the issue and demand some kind of action?
Just throwing out that I'm having some personal issues with moving things forward. I don't have any good reason for it, except that I might be having problems with my undisclosed story, or having trouble connecting the dots from A to B, and certain characters (NPCs) are screaming at me.
I'm putting the game on indefinite hiatus. Resolve all the stories to your narrative satisfaction. I hate to do this to you guys. If you are still around when I'm ready to restart, great. If not, thanks for playing.
Two years and nearly 20,000 posts is a pretty good run; it is starting to take its toll.
I'm real sorry to see this end. The two years it was on had some great stories, plus it was something to keep my mind occupied during some intense drama in my life, like the death of my father.
I'd be happy to play on when and if you're ready again, but as a GM myself I know what you mean about a toll.
very sad.
But I went through the same thing and just dropped everything and walked away. So not only do I understand the burnout, I credit you with conduction yourself much more maturely that I did.
If others are willing, I am still willing to keep things bouncing along in some fashion or another. These characters are fascinating and they still have vitally interesting stories to tell. We can run stories for each other, and/or finish out existing stories with each other.
Or do something with these characters anyway. I dunno.
