less than a year- given when this conversation started and the fact it does not interfere with other activities we can have the order go out spring 1138 and be completed by winter 1138.
Being at the end of 1138 I added all the spells. Now we have a proper library!
treasury for 1138
starting: 66 tonnes (weight) of silver
income: 6 2/3 tonnes (weight) of silver
expenses: 1/6 tonne (weight) silver
final account: 72 4/7 tonnes (weight) silver
News of 1138
Anacletus has died, with Victor IV appointed as his successor. After 2 months Viktor submitted to Innocent II, recognizing him as the true Pope and was given a position as head of teh church of the Apostles. Innocent II declared the dissolution of a small order within the church, known within Hermetic circles as the Covenant of Rome, which managed to escape the covenant structure before being arrested by the pontiff's people.
Following these developments Roger II submitted to the religious authority of the Pope and has sought official recognition of his accumulated lands from the Pontiff. Negotiations are ongoing (the war is winding down, but will continue through 1139).
It looks like the general consensus of the voting council is that Mercurio should continue to act as Gloriana's assistant, is that correct? Everyone seems to either be all for it, or not voting at all. As far as gameplay goes, that probably means Gloriana needs to specify what seasons he is required in the lab, and if he's not explicitly required he's probably doing organization, cleaning, gathering materials and components, etc during his work seasons. Unless there's some way to handle this better I'm not thinking of.
For now I'll be leaving two seasons open when assigning him, but Gloriana can demand particular seasons if needed.
For the Magi that I control that vote, Andros was for Mercurio getting the merchant adventurer job, Gloriana was against, Danaë did not vote but encouraged Mercurio subtly to go for adventures.
Let's see, Aurthor did not vote, nor Arduino, and Oliverius did not care either. Perhaps Anna can decide?
Andros in 1139 Fall will travel somewhere to be measured for his armor and sword. He also fancies an Excellent helmet as well. How long does this take, silveroak? He can always return instantly with Leap of the Homecoming. If it takes the whole season, then he will not be able to Enrich an Item of Virtue. (Although, to be fair, he can Leap between his Lab and the armorer's/weaponsmiths headquarters every day.)
In 1139 Gloriana announces to the Council rather proudly, that she has gleaned a Fertility breakthrough from Evandrus's notes. It is not fully integrated to Hermetic Magic, this was part of her parens long term goals; she will undertake this as well, at some point in the future.
Gloriana also mentions that she will attempt to cast again a great Ritual, The Rogue's Tongue, (+1 to communication up to 5), once, in Winter. All Magi are invited, she will not charge for this, but of course, hints that gifts are welcome, perhaps the Covenant can underwrite the casting, instead? She will say to Andros that perhaps this time, with some more preparation, she can bestow this on the mighty Simian Rex (previously she had no Penetration ability, now she can add several Sympathetic connections to some high Arcane connection and perhaps reach 56! still not a sure thing) Gloriana will invite the Companions as well, and the Weavers.
•Danaë declines, she is already at 5
•Andros wishes to participate, with Simian Rex
•Lady A wishes to participate as well
•Sandor greedily wishes to participate
•Sybilla is expected by Mother to participate, the spell is actually mastered to not warp her.
Is this ritual open to grogs?
Gloriana of course welcomes grogs...a small number of them! This will be in her Lab, after all. Even though labs at the Praesidium are fairly large, this is too risky. She is not willing to reduce dozens and dozens of people in size this time. Let's see, some of the Magi already are at 5 Com, so potentially 6 Magi/Apprentices participate, 2 or 3 Familiars, 7 Companions, maybe. Let's say 20 Grogs then, I believe you had ruled 23 people in a circle at some point? Gloriana will shrink those grogs that participate, she will have to Spont a Room version to do so.
Anna will ask if her family can join. Specifically, Honor, Fortitude and Charity. Fang and Aegis would like to join.
Oliverius has interest. Neleos is an apprentice, and his future determined by Andros (If asked, he will accept the gift of communication, but he's always surprised when Andros asks for his opinion.) Mercurio cannot benefit.
Oliverius would happily vote towards under-writing the ritual with covenant resources if enough magi (and apprentices, an extension of the magi) participate. He admits this number is already met by those volunteering; He's just stating that is his requirement because he wants it stated for precedence.
•Pazzino accepts the invitation and participates
•Arduino wishes to partecipate
NEW RESOLUTION -> PASSED
Aurthor would like to proceed with the clarification of "The Ultimate Power of Command" rego summa , for this purpose he asks to use 12 pawns of vim vis from the covenant's stocks (the highest single component would be the resonant material, a semi-precious stone).
(It seems strange to me not having made the clarification of such an important book with all the vis at our disposal)
YES: Aurthor, Arduino, Gloriana, Andros, Anna.
NO:
ABSTAIN: Danaë, Oliverius(?).
All Magi and Companions, their Familiars, and assorted family members are welcome to the Ritual!
Andros will indeed want Neleos to participate, but will ask for his consent, as this involves Warping, and Neleos's higher Com does not aid his parens much.
I had thought the Rego summa already had been clarified? How long will it be out of circulation? Have to modify some already declared activities.
Gloriana and Andros vote for clarification. Danaë is weary of hearing of this wondrous book she can't use, she will abstain.
Nope, Aurthor has already tried a similar resolution but has received no response. So no vis expenditure has been authorized at that time.
Benjamin the Illuminator has suffered a critical illness over the winter and requires a CrCo45 ritual spell to survive.
Poor Benjamin!
But a CrCo 45? 
Gloriana has Swindling the Reaper [CrCo 40], which handles up to terminal.
What do worse-than-terminal diseases entail? 
Gloriana can risk this (not mastered, so a 1 die botch is at least a possibility), which costs 5 Co pawns, if the Council approves).
Gloriana will try and leverage her evident usefulness and commitment to the Praesidium to float to the rest of the Magi to agree without much grumbling to exchanging Vim vis to her on a 1-to-1 for Co, she will require plenty of Co in her research in the following years. And to be willing to lend her-without grumbling- Co or Creo should she succeed in stabilizing some marvelous discovery and be short on such pawns. Nothing unreasonable!
Expenditure approved by Aurthor and Arduino.
Aurthor is all for it, an hermetic discovery is the second most exciting thing for him (nice ladies come first obviously).
Arduino is more esitant, he gives his approval but grumbles a little, recommending to safeguard the corpus vis stocks of the covenant.
Anna actually has two pawns of corpus she wants to trade for vim. She'd also like to trade 4 Perdo and 4 Muto for 8 vim as well. She has a project planned.
Anna votes approve on the trades and the clarification of a book. Edit: And any spending for a ritual to save a grog.
I had thought our Vim stores low, but it seems Mercurian magic has greatly increased them, yay! Gloriana, Andros, Danaë approve of Anna's requests for trades.
BTW, unless silveroak rules a CrCo 45 is actually needed to save Benjamin, Gloriana's CrCo40 should be enough, and costs 4, rather than the 5 pawns I had described (8/2=4).