Zarkut shrugs. "I have no idea where Libya is. I was hoping someone would recognize the name." He lets out a bitter laugh. "About the correspondence... apparently I learned Arabic, I recognized the script, but whatever happened to our memories caused me to forget the language. Unfortunate, but I thought I'd share that. I do have a solution in mind, though. So shall we go back to our labs, then we meet at the evening meal and see what we've learned? I'm not sure where we should eat, though." He looks around for a large building that might correspond to a covenant's council room.
"Yes, I concur with the idea of looking arround for more information and meeting again in the evening to share more."
Aetherius turns to the Ibis "I think you and I are linked, perhaps you're my familiar, although I have no memories of binding you. What do you say of joining me in my exploration of this covenant?"
Plasmatoris nods absently. "Generally good ideas, magoi, I concur on both accounts. Even the parts that disagree. It would be good to split up and reconvene - and it would be a good idea for us to stay together." He frowns at his sketches, and then turns to do more. "Assuming, though, that we have all sworn to our Code, we should not investigate each others' private labs and quarters.
Then he turns and looks out and around. "Has anyone seen a butterfly?"
"We can each go and inspect our quarters and labs, and make a list of findings, and then in the evening reconvene at the Council chambers, and see what records we can find there, and compare notes. I think if we go into the council chambers without going through our personal records, we might miss out on things." She shrugs her shoulders "But I will understand if you guys want to go to the council chambers first."
Barshako repeats "Lares" then turns and talks to the boy a bit before walking out. The boy reports "she says she is going to look for her mother, maybe she will know what has happened."
The living quarters seem to be of relatively uniform construction, which goes make the large central building stand out rather easily. Library, council chamber or both is hard to say from the outside.
A butterfly comes flitting around the corner, magnificently out of place in this hot and blasted landscape, and Plasmatoris hears in his head "Learn anything?"
Lares watches her go. He then turns to the person who had been translating for him.
âWould you be so kind to bring me to the mundane leader of the covenant? The one who organizes the everyday comings and goings here â steward, seneschal, autocrat or somesuch?â
He pauses.
âWho are you three, by the way? I seem to have forgotten, unfortunately, but I am sure I will soon learn to know you again.â
Before leaving for the seneschal, Lares will step into the laboratory and quickly perform the Parma.
âI certainly wasnât trying to suggest we should all storm into someoneâs sanctum together. More that such investigations could wait. My concern is mainly that we might be expected to perform some duty or obligation today. It might be unwise to lock ourselves in laboratories if thatâs so. I am not sure we should let too many of the covenfolk know about these bizarre circumstances."
Silas pauses and gives a little shrug.
"Alas it seems that the majority prefer to return to their laboratories. Ultimately it doesnât really matter how we do it. But we should determine an exact meeting location to gather at later. The geyser perhaps?"
Zarkut points at the large central building. "Why not meet there? It's a good place to investigate together anyway. We could go there now, before we split up, if you'd rather."
The boys shake their head at Lares request "You are pretty much in charge of the mundane aspects of the covenant. The other magi are more focused on other things. We are just students of the scribes, so we have learned Latin."
Reposting this.
Lares eyebrows raise in slight surprise, but he smiles.
âI see. Thatâs⌠a welcome challenge. Change of plans, then. Could you give me a tour of the place? I understand that some areas might be less familiar to you, but just tell me what you know. In particular, introduce me to any personnel of importance.â
After raising his Parma and as they are (presumedly) walking, Lares interrogates the boys with all sort of questions:
âWhat language do the covenfolk speak among themselves? Is anything produced and sold by the covenant? How many magi live here? How many others? What magical creatures have you seen residing within the covenant itself? Do you know of any dangers or problems the covenant has faced in recent times? Is that geysir used for drinking water or something else? Have you ever seen the magi cast spells on it?â And so on.
Silas looks toward the building and nods to himself.
âThat will work. We will meet there later then. We donât need to go there all together if you guys have other things you want to investigate. Personally, I will start with going there and having a look around though.â
The boys start to answer Lares' questions "There are eight magi at the covenant, the covenfolk are split in terms of language, some speak Berber, some Arabic, some Provencal. You can usually tell which is which by looking at them, they keep their native cultures intact. We can start at the library, which also has a meeting space for the magi." As they take you to the largest building you see that there is already a collection of magi entering the building- they have not gotten to the rest of the questions yet.
The majority of the building is a large room which is used as a library, probably as large as a room could get without having to add magnitudes to a spell for size with a room target, and bookshelves fill the place, even being built over the reading tables. A basket sits in the room, one that several magi now recall having seen one of the same design in their own labs.
The Ibis sighs mentally "Very well, but only because I don't know which way will lead to a river or somewhere else, and exploring with you might lead to such information."
Who all is headed to the library, who is going back to their labs?
The selection of books for each art is small, likely to save space, a quick inventory has a single summae for Creo at level 15, quality15, Intellego is level 18 and quality 12, Muto L:14 Q:16, Perdo: Level 20 Quality:11, Rego: Level 18 Q:13, 6 tractatus Q:13, 11,11,11, 10,10, Animal: L:19 Q:11, Aq: L:13 Q:10, Au: L:10 Q:12, Co: L:16 Q:14, He: L:10 Q:12, Ig: L:10 Q:12, Imaginem: L:12 Q:13 Tractatus Q:13, Mentem: L:13 Q:12 Tractatus Q:12, Ter: Level 19, Q:12, 5 tractatus Q:13, 11, 11, 10, 8, Vim: Level 20, Q:11 L:16 Q:15, 6 tractatus Q:14, 12, 11,11,11, 10
Parma Magica level:5 Q:20, Magic theory: Level 8 Q:11, a second summa at Level 6:Q:16, 3 q:11 tractatus, and lab texts for Room for preserving documents (lesser enchantment) CrAn:14, Aegis of the Hearth:level 50, Wizardâs Vigil: level 25, Avariciousness of the Ptolemies(ReAn:4), The viperâs register (MuAn:35), Attachment of the viperâs register (ReAn:2). You alos notice that every book has a silk ribbon running through it to be used as a placeholder that is sewn into the spine.
Argentius returns to finish his study of the map, working to puzzle out connections to place, particular in its relationship to the places he knows in the Theban tribunal.
Once he completes his notes, the young Verditius rises to leave this--his?--lab and explore further into this place.
"If Nicole was affected, there are probably others in the same danger."
He pushes the door of the lab open and begins to explore, likely heading for any building that would appear to be a central gathering place or library of the Covenant de Liberte.
Lares stepts into the library and spends a while taking it in, trying to get an overall picture of what is there â and what is not - with the help of his scribe guides.
âA problem I see,â he exclaims to the other magi present, âis that the Aegis here is at quite a high level.â
He sits down in a reading chair and takes a closer look at the Aegis. Does it say who invented it? Lares is trying to find out is whether there was another Vim expert in the covenant, or whether it's of his own making.
Silas looks through the library with much interest, seems to be a valuable collection. Such treasures must have powerful protections as well â hopefully one that donât need annual renewals.
After a brief introduction to Lares, Silas listens to his concerns.
âHigh level you say? Thatâs a bit forebodingâŚâ
As Lares sits down to read the labtext more carefully Silas tries to find the chief librarian â if such a person does exist. He is curious how many people are allowed to come and go in the library and the bigger building as a whole. And what else is in the building besides the large room.
To the Ibis: "I don't suppose you have any memory of me or this covenant, do you?"
Aetherius is trying to locate his sanctum, since he hasn't seen any lab coming out of his bedroom.
Tastheus declined the tour and instead is back in 'his' sanctum. He will spend the rest of the day (if needed) to check for records and earliest dates of correspondence.
Zarkut heads back to his laboratory. He will ask Al Zahut if he can read Arabic, and if so will ask for his help in arranging the correspondence by date, and then reading to him the two or three earliest and latest letters.
"I have learned very little," the Jerbiton says with a sigh, aloud. "And so much." He turns his attention to the butterfly, and smiles brightly. "You are... beautiful. And out of place in this dead land." Then, he continues on within his own head, thoughts directed towards the butterfly. "Tell me, how aware are you of our current predicament?"
Plasmatoris will finish up his sketches for later memories, and then move them into the studio for safekeeping while he discusses the situation with the butterfly - how much the butterfly knows, how much the butterfly has looked around... The buttefly's name, and his memory of time, years, and of the paintings. Only then will he go look into his lab while other people investigate the Library.