Mwuahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!
For my own clarification, what information are we sharing with Sigmundo? My understanding is that we copy one of his books and he repairs/improves one of our books. We're not giving him anything. Even if we promise to write a book for access to his best books, we're not obligated to give him a copy. Are we concerned that Sigmundo or his scribes will copy the book we take in for repair?
Do you believe for a second that he won't? Tiana, for one, is convinced he will. "I have been suspicious of him from the moment we met him. How did Sigmundo know the state of Andorra's library in the first place? He made the offer of 'helping' us with our library without having been asked, that in itself is suspicious. And lest any of us forget..." Tiana licks her lips, and when she speaks again, it is Sigmundo's own voice that emerges from her mouth:: "I have a copy of almost every book your covenant's library has ever posessed, going back nearly 120 years. I would need to come visit and inspect what works needs to be done first, and I would make some copies of certain things for myself of course."
:mrgreen:
If that claim is true, one could argue the cat has long since escaped this particular bag.
"Regardless of that, it is not our place to perpetuate the issue. We can claim ignorance for any past information he may have; if we provide him more information, we will be culpable."
Vocis: Very well, I concede the point. We currently have five damaged Art summae, though Liberi de Creatione appears to be repairing itself. We will eventually need to find some other way to repair them. I'm particularly worried about Liberi de Perditu.
Tiana agrees with Solomon. "We must also consider the possibility that he may have been lying about already owning copies of our library's books, in order to lull us into a sense of safety in sharing Hermetic knowledge with him. I think it unlikely that he would be willing to limit distribution of any texts he acquires from us. I think we should limit his access to our non-Hermetic texts, and should anyone choose to bring Sigmundo a Hermetic text it must be strictly as an individual, without the endorsement of the Andorran council."
Arachné has listened carefully her councilmates
I concurr with Tiana. At best, the Dragon is liable to share that information with any practitionner of magic, which is a problem. At worst? don't be fooled by his human appearance. He's a dragon, for god's sake. He lives longer than us, thinks differently than us. We can't be sure he doesn't plan to screw the order one way or another.
[color=red]"Wow," Vibria says, obviously impressed. [color=red]"Can you do others?"
[color=red]"Are we, either individually or as a group, responsible for what someone does with our gifts, or with what we sell him? If, say, a blacksmith were to forge a sword for a knight, who then uses it to murder his king, is that blood on the blacksmith's hands? Has anyone tried talking to Sigmundo to see if anyone else has access to his library, or if he plans on giving anyone access?"
[color=red]"Really," Vibria says coldly. She looks rather offended.
Tiana nods with a giggle.
She puts her hands on her hips imperiously and Carmen's voice comes out of her mouth: Are you cold?
Tiana huddles up and begins to shiver, and replies to herself using Vibria's voice: [color=red]"This is not my favorite season," perfect right down to the way her teeth chatter.
[color=red]"The bond between a maga and her familiar is not something to be entered into lightly," Vibria says as she settles down by Maurice. [color=red]"Once forged, the bond joins them for the rest of their lives. And they will be as close as two people can be. Friends, companions for life. Much like marriage, in a way." Vibria trails off for a moment as her mind wanders.
[color=red]"So, it's not something you can enter into willy-nilly. I'd imagine the maga and familiar should both be sure they're willing to spend the rest of their lives together, are compatible. And if they are, it's three months of grueling work in the laboratory to weave the enchantments that would bind us together. And from what I understand, when one of us dies, the other one is not much longer for the world. On the other hand, you would be able to learn more about how magic works, and would be able to help me work magic in the laboratory."
She looks at Maurice trying to gauge his reaction. ((Per 0 + Folk Ken 0 + die roll of 4 = 4.))
FĂ©dora and Vibria both get a chuckle out of that.
Maurice looks at you curiously and cocks his head.
Are you asking me to marry you?
Solomon nods, "Yes, we are responsible if we know there is the potential for our gifts falling into the wrong hands and we choose to ignore it. And if that blacksmith had a hunch that said knight might in fact murder the king, then yes he should be held responsible at some level. As for talking to Sigmundo, Vibria, that was in fact my very first recommendation."
Solomon raises an eyebrow at Vibria's reaction, concerned that her loyalty to the Order might come into question over this issue.
[color=red]"What? Of course not! Why...I already know... No, I'm not." Vibria seems rather flustered and embarrassed, if Maurice can pick up on such things.
[color=red]"I was just trying to explain the relationship in a way that I can understand and relate best. I don't know if dragons marry, or mate for life." ((At least, I don't think she does: Int 1 + Magic Lore (Dragons) 5 + die roll of5 = 11.))
[color=red]"Also, I don't know how long you could expect to live normally. But when a familiar's magus dies, the familiar inevitable follows him into the grave not long after." ((At least, I don't think she knows of any examples. Int 1 + Magic Theory(?) 3 + die roll of 2 = 6.))
Maurice actually looks slightly disappointed.
Sorry, I mean, it's just that I figured maybe you could craft an enchantment so that I could change into a human form. I suppose we could still do that, and just tell people I am your cousin. Which is true. But then people would expect me to get married someday, and what if I meet someone? We dragons are a very romantic species. Remember my story about Valerie Valencia?
None that you know of.
Grandfather mentioned that there was the possibility that you may fail to achieve immortality. But he said that there have been many wizards that have, and their Familiars joined them. He also said that he is unsure what happens to a Familiar during Twilight, and if it truly can ever be final. I have *no idea what that means. Does something strange happen to you guys at sunrise and sunset?
Carmen has been listening to all of this quietly and contemplatively. Then after these last statements, she has a moment of introspective insight and speaks with classic Flambeau clarity.
We have no choice but to demand that Sigmundo swear the Hermetic Oath or surrender his library.
My father was a fool. God forgive me, I love him, but I see now he was an idiot. This has all been too good to be true. A treaty to hunt drakes and access to a magical library? Wilderness Lore and Mysteries of the Pyrenees? Antonio Perez fell for it hook-line-&-sinker. He traded away Hermetic secrets his whole life in exchange for the ability to rapidly accelerate his growth and power. His cavalier attitude and reckless leadership has lead this covenant into a tradition of doing the same. And it wasn't just him. Those two idiots before him, Coranado Cortez and Fuego Conflageratius (previous members), they did the same thing and taught him to do it.
Sigmundo the Dragon has played this covenant for a fool for generations. Our unaffiliated tribunal status, I would even bet that this has been his ploy from the beginning. It keeps his activities more private. No, that's a rogue thought. Scratch that.
I will go speak with Sigmundo, with all possible grace and diplomacy, but I dare not face him alone. Who of you will come with me?
She looks to Vibria with pleading eyes hoping for support...
Just to let everyone know, this council meeting takes place after Vibria gets back and before Tiana goes, so we need to put Tiana's trip on hold for now and may need to rewind/edit/delete (not literally, just replay it if need be)
Nice, I had totally forgotten that.
Arachné realizes her mistake. She had forgotten Vibria's Lineage.
No offense intended, Vibria. But can you really tell how a nonhuman being, centuries old at best, can think? Some people have Trolls in their ancestry, and one could be hard pressed to argue that trolls think like we do. Yet, they are probably closer to humans than dragons are.
Consider that, by his own admission, he lets magi hunt his children and grandchildren, all to cull the bright and strong from the weak and dumb. Only the cruellest humans would do this. Can you picture yourself doing this to your children?
I will. I only ask that you leave me some time to prepare, as much as I can.
Your father and yourself were kind enough to accept me here after I lost so much. Should you face death, you won't do it alone. I'm not a combat maga, so, if worse comes to worst, I won't be able to do much, but I'll do what I can.
Tiana is deep in thought. "Perhaps we should get what we can from him first, without further implicating ourselves? Forgive my asperity, but should you all perish, all that knowledge should not be lost to the Order forever."
Vulc, by contrast, is all about action. Clearly, we gotta go, which means we gotta go right now. The German knight stands up and pieces of armor start flying into the room, assembling themselves on his body. "When diplomacy fails, I will be there," he booms. "I only ask that Vibria stays here. It would be cruel and unfair for us to put her in a position where she may have to choose between her sodales and her family."