<OOC Andros proposes for Davos just the following:
The martial item is more a proposal for the other members of the Covenant, and certainly Andros can have his proposal changed, voted down, or simply not even listened to by the other members, who have yet to weigh in on this latter proposal 
OOC>
Oliverius does a pretty good job in hiding his annoyance and upset at the ordering of the magi listed in the greeting (it's MOSTLY alphabetical, but not quite; Oliverius is listed after his apprentice!). Still, a Bonisagus is valuable in the covenant. "I do not see a reason to turn away our sodales Osias ex Bonisagus; however, I also do not see a reason to blindly accept new members. I am aware that I was accepted quite readily, but that was at a time when we had... many less magi in residence. We are out of room, though we have the capability to add more. For our esteemed Osias, I would offer to the covenant that take her in until the next Tribunal, after which we could have a finalized vote should this studious Bonisagus maga show her worth."
Has Davos explicitly (in character) stated the duration of stay? I believe it was just for the training of apprentice. Still, Oliverius would approve of Andros's tractati/lab-text requirements, and suggest that any submitted tractati must be approved by Leaf as being significant benefit to the library.
Regarding Andros's concern with covenant defense, he is not one who is martially minded. He is more than happy to create an item for that purpose should the council request one in specificity, but he cannot see any weaknesses in the current state of things. He wouldn't vote in support of that vague statement, but is more than happy to personally craft something should Andros point out a weakness in our defenses.
We still haven't clarified the definition of companion (ICly) and covenant business. Oliverius will gladly vote in support of any healing, but curmudgeonly refuse to support a blanket approval for the future without better definitions.
And one more point on the docket, local labs. We clearly are short on labs, with the apprentices currently in training; A need of a guest lab coming; Osias joining the ranks; a vis extraction lab as Andros suggested. how many labs can the Praesidium Orae build and support? How quickly can they be built? Do we want Oliverius to conjure any mystic towers, or design a smaller-scale spell for a singular lab?
Davos will have been quite open about his intent to train his apprentice here and then have him join the covenant as part of his "repayment" of their accepting of him training at their covenant. Davos himself intends to return to the Theban tribunal and is clear in that intent to the council.
Five tractatus and a bunch of lab texts seems like a bit much to ask from a guest we haven't even met yet. In fact, someone who agreed to such payment upfront would seem... over eager. Quite frankly, we have a lot of moveable wealth. Silver, Vis, Vis Sources, and the books. Perhaps we ask that he contribute a quality book or two to the library before we lend any books out for his use. I wouldn't let him in the library proper, but have him go through one of us. Does anyone have mentum spells for an interview? Ask him if he plans to steal and such. We probably want to ask any guest, so no one gets offended.
Anna likes the idea of a specialized lab and guest labs. In fact, I propose we have Fortitude set up two guest labs over the next two years.
Anna thinks that having everyone produce a martial device is a bit excessive, and probably not a great use of resources besides. Having a random collection of half-baked combat items doesn't strike her as a big win. "If we want to improve our covenants martial capabilities we need to do more than just throwing some items at it. First we need to identify what we want to do better at. Do we want to repel mundane armies, fight dragons, win Wizard's Wars, or be secure against the hordes of Hell? Then we should figure out how to go about it. Second, each of us have different talents and skills and creating a lesser item might not actually be the most effective way to increase our covenant's combat ability. For example, when it comes to repelling mundane armies, we would likely be better served if I created a more powerful version of my Lesser Cutting Gust then a wand that throws stones."
Anna DOES have some ideas rattling around in her skull though for useful items to the covenant. First she thinks a couple of charged items, focused on high penetration, for attacking demons and dragons. A tenth magnitude item could have Sight range, remove two magnitudes of might and have 70 penetration, and be made in batches of 10+ with a lab text. That would be enough to slay nearly any dragon. Second she has an idea for an invested item that would allow an individual highly skilled in finesse to rapidly copy an entire book! If it pans out we could make three copies of each book, and place the original in storage. One copy posted to the Great Library, one copy for the magi to check out and one copy to be stuck in a reading library.
P.S. Anna is engaging in low grade nepotism here.
Dear Anna! 15 years of abiding in the Praesidium, partaking of its fantastical resources, which we have adventured for and defended, to raise an Apprentice! I do not find the conditions I have listed as cumbersome at all.
I do not see the merit of a Mentem probe, that is an unendurable requisite that will do more to discourage any Magus than anything I have proposed, and will have the Quaesitores harassing us even more than usual. We either take him in or we don't, and an interview is fine, but overt scrying on a Magus? I do disagree, sodales. (Andros tries to convey grave disappointment)
As for my other proposition, I welcome refinement of the notion, and of course, it should behoove each Magus to leverage their talents and imagination for this task.
"What a turn of events. I agree with the Flambeaux regarding the library, and disagree regarding martial planning. Our library is quite fine. Our library is... fantastic. It is not able to compete with Durenmar, but the only library in our tribunal that could compete would be Harco." He bows his head towards Danae as he says this. "Five books is a high price, but much less than that requested of Durenmar; Durenmar is a single skilled submission for study in the library. Five tractati for fifteen seasons and access to a laboratory is steep but not unreasonable considering our library and the potential funding we can put into guest labs."
"As for our military defense: Magus Andros, if you would put your martial talents to finding weaknesses, I shall put my metalcrafting talents to fixing them."
And an OOC question for silveroak: If Davos is trained in Classical Greek, can he write magical texts in Latin? or will they need to be translated from Classical Greek?
Second OOC: I glimpsed at Davos and noticed that he didn't actually have the requisite 5 in a Language to write books in anything other than Romaic Greek. We have books that can fix that for him, but I feel I should point it out before it becomes troublesome.
I was under the impression that a skill of 4 with a specialism of "Hermetic" would allow reading and writing Hermetic texts. If I am wrong then I will need to reconfigure or age Davos to get 5 in both Classic Greek and Latin (he currently has 4 in both). With his +5 in Com and good teacher he is designed to teach and write.
You might be right - I will freely admit that I had not actually noticed your specializations, since you use a different formatting than I do, and I only glanced at it briefly while I was supposed to be doing work.
I reiterate, Magus Oliverius, and other esteemed members of this Council, such requisites should not be seen as a burden, but as a point of pride. Life at this covenant is healthy, wealthy, and long, bar any mishaps. Our aura is potent, such that our coven folk and livestock are changed by it, but Magi and those touched by the Realm thrive. Our soldiers are champions, our captains would be generals anywhere else! Our teachers are erudite and exacting, unparalleled in imparting wisdom and knowledge. As you rightly mention, the library is of the highest quality, any Hermetic Apprentice can come and find a subject in which he can become a Master. We host a Mercer House and are at the center of Hermetic life in this Tribunal. All of this would be accessible to Magus Davos and Maga Ossias. To help this endeavor stay triumphant, it is meet we leverage these great advantages to best effect. Magus Davos is a teacher, asking him to contribute with his wisdom can hardly be called cumbersome, but an amazing opportunity to be a valued contributor and an ally to Praesidium Orae. Who knows, he might later reconsider and petition to stay at the Covenant? I make no such demands of Maga Ossias, as her esteemed lineage values the dissemination of knowledge as paramount, and I have the utmost confidence that, as a Bonisagus scion, she will publish and share tractati and Lab Texts and produce devices that will bring further glory and fame to this esteemed Council.
Thank you for your offer, Magus Oliverius, I will meditate on your words, and esteemed Anna's, and propose specific areas to bolster.
ARDUINO and AURTHOR vote YES for both.
Regarding Osias, ARDUINO and AURTHOR vote YES for accepting him as a new full member of the covenant (and Arduino is amused to be mentioned before his former master in the letter 8) ).
Regarding Davos, ARDUINO and AURTHOR support the requirements proposed by Andros for itinerant magi (5 tractatii etc...), and vote YES for accepting him as a guest.
AURTHOR: "I have such spells at my disposal, but I'm not keen to use them on a sodales. Technically if the magus knows beforehand of the mind probing, there is not scrying. But, as Andros pointed out, it would be a deterrent for most of the magi willing to join our covenant". (NO)
ARDUINO has no opinions on the matter. (ABSTAIN)
ARDUINO has some projects in mind already and a couple of them will improve the security of the covenant (although not strictly martial in nature). He approves the proposal put forward by Andros. (YES)
AURTHOR likes the idea to use some of the huge amount of vis accumulated in our vault and would like to enchant a device to deal with the dragon that too often creates problems to the covenant. He votes YES.
I suppose to clarify:
Oliverius votes YES to refund Anna the vis for the healing ritual ritual.
He will vote NO to establish healing stores for 'companions on covenant business' because he doesn't like the lack of definition.
He will vote YES in support of Osias being allowed in, but he would prefer a provisional entry requirement in case Osias does not work out well.
He will vote in support of Andros's suggestion for the fee for Davos's extended stay.
He will vote no to Andros's request for military magic. He is happy to do it, but doesn't feel it should be a blanket work requirement for the council. He is generally happy to vote in favor of specific things that need to be done (For example the dragon)
For new labs, Oliverius proposes the following (assuming new the magi allowed in!)
2 guest labs, one of which can be assigned to Davos
1 vis extraction specialized lab
3 new personal labs, 1 each for Osias, Neleos, Bravery.
Oliverius is currently planning on designing a spell to just BUILD a lab with Creo, but since we don't need them immediately, we should probably spend our labor for it (Osias+Davos first, then probably Neleos, the vis lab, then the rest) How quickly could we spit out these labs without magic, Silveroak? 1-2 a year?
"Any Mentum magic would require the applicant's consent and would have to be carefully considered. Preferably something like Frosty Breath of the Spoken Lie, so he or she would know exactly what we are learning and we could only learn what the target wishes. Also it would only be fair if the potential member or guest could question the interviewer under such a spell. Still I don't want to be overly miserly, so I will vote yes on accepting the application and guest. I suppose I should probably add some more of my work to the library. Oh and for the record, I was planning to provide the required vis for my ideas on my own."
This plan seems reasonable. If we lack space, an alternative to the mystic towers of Oliverius could be going underground, this solution would allow laboratories with sizes greater than 0. Arduino (or Oliverius) could easily devise a terram spell for this purpose.
There is currently plenty of underground "storage" space, as the masons have been extracting material for decades.
Technically any grog with Magic theory 3 or higher could be assigned to set up a lab which has no refinement. Eloise huntsman could set up labs, as can Jullian the retired autocrat, and technicaly Alberto the glassblower, though in terms of the smooth running of the covenant he would be the last choice of Lucio. of course apprentices and lab assistants with Magic theory of 3 or higher can do likewise... If magi wish to set up their own personal labs this is of course traditional... simply let Lucio know what size space they desire...
Also I did neglect to mention in the news burst that 1144 is a tribunal year, held in the summer. There are some previously noted issues pending regarding the now largely defunct covenant of Rome where its members stand accused in medaling in mundane affairs for supporting now anti-pope Anacletus II over Pope Innocent.
ā¢Andros votes yes on accepting both Magi, Davos under the particular conditions he proposed.
He votes yes on Oliverius's lab proposals.
Yes on refunding Anna, and healing magic to be available to Companions ("we can judge on a case by case, no need to be so...lawyerly")
Yes on proposed Martial item from each Magus, he will amend to indicate a "useful item that falls within each Magi's area of interest, for those uncomfortable with the Martial appellation."
ā¢Gloriana votes, as always, without committing herself, "I support X Magi's proposal..." affirmative on accepting both Magi, Davos under the particular conditions Andros proposed.
"I support" on Oliverius's lab proposals.
Yes on refunding Anna, and healing magic to be available to Companions. They are so brave, I support the proposed refund and agree it is positive for this Council to reward heroic and chivalrous action!
"I support" proposed Martial item from each Magus, but will likely take a very broad stance on "useful item" How exciting! And with the participation of Verditius Magi in this, surely the results must be stellar.
ā¢DanaĆ« yes on accepting both Magi, Davos under the particular conditions Andros proposed.
yes on Oliverius's lab proposals. A spell that creates a Lab? Could this be done so that it is...mobile? Flying, even?
Yes on refunding Anna, and healing magic to be available to Companions. She waxes enthusiastically on this, speaking about helping the grogs find their inner hero, and how in the tales, the hero returns to rest and gather his strength back.
Yes on proposed Martial item from each Magus, laughing at Andros So what you are saying is you wish me to purchase from the Mercere or the Verditius or "liberate" something Not a problem, I see an adventure in my future!
Andros requests from Lucio in 1143 to obtain a large silvered mirror of exquisite make (would be larger than a shield, to nearly cover a wall, so Huge on the Material and size tables, of Excellent Quality) to install in his Lab.
I Osias gets asked about how her specific wishes for a lab, she requests a spacious location with a spacious garden, so that she can experiment with trees and large animals. She'll setup the lab herself.
how spacious (what lab size modifier?)
I'd go for a normal sized indoor part, but add roughly 1000 sft for the outdoor part for a total of 1500 sft (+5).
I might not be fully aware of the consequences, so a warning is appreciated if I enter too dangerous terrain for one reason or another. I still have to fully read the lab chapter in Covenants.
There are 2 ways to approach this-
the second option, as written, will give you +4 aesthetics, +1 upkeep, +1 he, 1 point for either Cr or He and 3 points to distribute between Te and He. If you want a lot of lab focus on He this could give you a +5 for lab totals involving He.