Acacius thinks to himself. [color=red]Can we get along whith this there are some of us who wish to become magi here…
Iudicium looks pleased at Siobhan's cooperation and vigilance, he sits back and examines the papers.
"Now now..." Barbara holds up a hand for peace between Siobhan and the ugly man. "This is rather minor compared to some of the antics we've seen at this Tribunal, or the others I go to. It's not like I've never met a Tytalus before. Iudicium, are the credentials in order?"
Iudicium reads on unhurried, comparing signatures, dates, sentence structure and the proper phrasing. He looks up again to study the haggard face that is now revealed. "Sic est." he finally says, pursing his lips and handing the papers to Siobhan.
"Very well." says Barbara regarding the large troublemaker. "Please step forward and raise your Parma. And I suggest afterwards that you mind your behavior. The law is applied well in Stonehenge, but there are plenty of Magi who accord themselves of the other provisions of the Code specifically Certamen and Wizard's War. After you who is next, I would like to hurry this as well."
Siobhan carefully reviews the papers handed to her and then hands them back to the one now revealed. She knows very much about magical disguises and scrying because she has trained to do it herself with invisibility. She then steps back to watch the next person. Catching the subtle lies and tricks here are very important since a failure at ribunal would badly affect the prestige and authority of the Guernicus to uphold the law.
Glad that the little interruption is now over and they can procede with business, Björn removes his paperwork and sigil from his pack and steps up to the front. Bowing to Barbara and Iudicium, he hands over his papers to Siobhan, bowing slightly to her as well. "I am Björn Skjöldurson ex Verditius. My parens, Degenhard ex Verditius, and I hail from the Rhine, where he taught me the ritual of Parma Magica and I took my Oath. Which I would be more than happy to demonstrate."
Björn motions over to the side out of the way where Rhodri was given his instruction, and moves over there to cast the ritual. He focuses himself and starts chanting, moving his arms in precise gestures. It doesn't take long before the spell is done, and his Parma surrounds him once more. Björn looks up at Barbara with a smug smile on his face, waiting for her to confirm his ability.
Siobhan immediately hands the papers to Iudicium as he has to review them and her review will only come if the senior quaesitor approved its. He is the one presiding at least for this years and the next seven. She smiles softly as she considers the selection of presiding queasitor and how it will have to go once tribunal is over.
Acacius hands over his papers as well. [color=red]I am Acacius Ex Micellanea, Pharmacopoeians and humble member of the mystic fraternity of Samos. It is an honour to become a part of the Order and leave my apprenticeship behind me. Acacius walks with proud steps and one can clearly see that this is an important day for him.
Elysia, apparently unperturbed, presents her voting sigil to the two elder magi. She touches her hair for a moment, seemingly considering. Then she holds out a hand and makes a soft squeak. As she does, a baby mouse jumps out of her tousled hair, runs down her body, and off into a corner.
“There we are. I am Elysia, of House Criamon. My parens, Gerfallon, is in the next room.â€
Iudicium studies the offered paperwork of each magus in turn. "Sic est" is intoned after each. Barbara then observes the Parma being raised from each applicant and nods her approval. Finally she turns to Elysia and smiles with warmth.
"Master Iudicium has confirmed your application, and I know well your master, I had occasion to travel with him perhaps thirty years ago. His company and wisdom are fond memories. I know he knows well the laws, he made it a point of pride to be well versed in his travels." She places a hand gently Elysia's on shoulder and strokes her cheek with her other hand. "And he raised such a darling apprentice. That is why I would only want to go to him and say how you will make a fine Maga, worthy of Criamon, and a boon to this Tribunal and the Order." her eyes lose their happiness and became serious and sad. "I don't want to tell him that his last fifteen years of loving labor has turned to...ash. Give me a lock of that pretty hair, you shall learn the Parma, and later will join the Order and the lock will be destroyed. Your Master endured this, you can too." She drops her hands and holds up the golden shears.
Kylios, with a theatrical wink at Siobhan, raises his Parma, bows, and steps back. He raises another illusion, but this time it is very subtle - just enough to hide the worst of his blotches and give him a hint of slate-gray hair.
Now that the crowd has thinned, Jaen will walk up. He'll hand over his folded up paperwork and stare straight ahead. He'll say as quietly as he can,
[size=75]"I am Jaen Incanesco ex Verditius."[/size]
He'll perform the required ritual and then try to retrieve his papers so he can move on.
Acacius will comply on anything he is expected to do either offering up his hair for a bit of a cut or take the scissors and do the deed himself.
Barbara sees that Elysia is still thinking about the offer, so she gently moves her aside so that she might help the next one, Acacius.
"Please step up here Acacius." she says as she hands him the scissors. Once the lock is given she ties it with a different color cord and puts it into her belt and escorts you to the back of the room as the lights dim preventing others from seeing you, but everything on your side is lit as well as a candle.
Barbara leans over into your ear.
"Acacius Ex Miscellenea, it is my honor and privilege to teach you the Parma. It is..." and she whispers into your ear the secret of the Parma! It's so simple! How could you have missed it!
"Now please raise your Parma." she says with a slight smile of pride on her face as she sees the wonder on yours.
After a brief silence, Elysia speaks. "Do threats make the threatener stronger, or weaker?" She speaks without fire or accusation, simple questioning in her tone.
"Is fear of death a good reason to do something? Perhaps not, but, that doesn't mean it shouldn't be done." She grins, and then cocks her head quizzically at the Tremere for a moment. Then, quickly and without another word, she falls to one knee, proffering a lock of her silvery hair.
As Barbara returns with the proud and beaming Acacius she sees the offered lock from Elysia and nods with a slight smile. She takes the lock and ties it with a white cord and puts it into her belt.
"Come little bird. Let us complete your training so that you may leave the nest." the lights dim as the two magi women step back out of sight.
"Riddles may provide wisdom, but they may also distract. Sometimes the shadow on the wall is nothing, and the creator of the shadow is all. Sometimes focusing on the symbol loses the meaning." she says in Elysia's ear "Your Master told me this once. The secret of the Parma is..."
"Now show me your colors pretty bird." she commands with a smile and a laugh.
The magas return. "We are satisfied are we not Iudicium?"
Iudicium nods, the red serpent tatoo is now coiled around his left eye, looking like it's ready to strike the orb. "Sic est. I will await in the main chamber. Barbara please inform the apprentices of their role. Siobhan, I there are three other Queasitors in Stonehenge, I expect the other two to arrive shortly. I would like you to assist them in confirming the credentials of the wizards who will attend. They are familiar with the magi of Stonehenge, I would like you to write them down and their Covenant. We need four different Covenants, with Blackthorn as one of them, for this Tribunal to be Quorate. When the Tribunal starts you will sit near me with the other Quaesitori." He hands you a note that looks like he wrote on it during this meeting. "Please read that before the Tribunal begins." he says as he walks out.
Barbara turns to the rest. "Those that have learned the Parma just now, please stay here. The rest you will be lead outside to wait until the Tribunal starts, which will be after the sun sets. Thank you for your cooperation." She turns to the 3 magi that she just taught the Parma to. "Now then, which of you is the youngest? How old are you? I don't need to know your birthday, I'm not looking for further magical sympathies."
"I am 22 Master." says Rhodri.
The rest of you are escorted without comment by a frumpy woman of perhaps middle age, maybe younger, she is quite homely, but seems to know this place well, perhaps she is from Blackthorn. Without comment she simply walks you to the cave wall and makes a gesture to it, causing a portal to open.
"Wait outside, once the sun sets you'll be admitted, given a token for the Aegis and be allowed to introduce yourself to the Tribunal in a designated order." she flatly states, as if annoyed that she has to do this at all.
Outside you see that many magi are in a queue in front of some magi at a desk. A similar, but less formal ritual seems to be taking place as a role call is made. You should be fine to do as you please until Sunset, which should be in perhaps two hours.
Jaen turns to the sun for a moment, his eyes closed, enjoying the heat on his face. He seems to be more relaxed now that he's out from under the eyes of the senior magi.
He turns to Bjorn, Kylios, and the others who were escorted from the cave, a grin on his face. "Did you know Sodales, we could be drinking right now."
Acacius heart swells with pride as he now have been taught the great mystery of the order, soon he will be able to call himself Magus Acacius Ex Miscellanea. He just have to figure out what to make of his soldaes.
He knows that a few of the magi at the tribunal already knows his name as he is the prodigy of the mystic fraternity and many magus will seek his knowledge. Let’s see if there are any worthy amongst the tribunal wizards. There are perhaps those who will try to bully their way to his knowledge. Acacius knows that he is young and weak and that there are those that will try to force him to give in. Well only time can tell and he must prepare himself to resist those who are not worthy of his secrets as soon he will be the only member of the fraternity in the tribunal. But let the worries hold until later and now just enjoy the moment.
Kylios hasn't stopped chuckling since his disguise was seen through, and at the mention of drinks his face lights up. "Jaen Incanesco, my friend, I had the same thought." He throws a long, lanky arm around Jaen's shoulders. "Lead on."
Siobhan reads the instructions she is given and frowns a little. She demonstrates the raising of her parma now that it is no longer a secret from anyone in the room. Upon completion, she steps out of the room.
Seeing the line of people at a desk, Siobhan moves to the desk to see about assisting the other queasitors as she was instucted. She is still thinking about tribunal rules depriving several magi of votes, not just the presiding queasitor as she settles in to assist. [color=blue]"I am Siobhan ex Guernicus to assist you." Getting the token at sunset will relieve her a lot.
As he steps outside, Björn takes a deep breath of fresh air, enjoying the openess of the outdoors after the confines of the cave. Blackthorn is an impressive construction, of course, but a bit oppressive for his tastes. Björn looks around at the assembled magi and their tents, his eyes focusing on a nearby Custos harking the wares of his master for sale.
"I'll catch up with you guys in a bit," he replies to Jean, turning back to him and the rest of the group, "I want to see what they are selling for magical items in this tribunal." Björn smiles with an air of superiority, as if he doubts the quality of anything he might find. "If anyone cares to join me, you are more than welcome." With that he turns, and heads off into the sea of tents, taking this opportunity to observe the magi of Stonehenge and their wares.
Wandering around the colorful tents, Björn enjoys the festive atmosphere. He passes magi of all shapes and sizes, wearing all sorts of fashions. Overhearing a couple of excited magi talking about new developments in Magic Theory, he pauses. Pretending to watch a nearby magic display as someone ties his arm in a knot, Björn evesdrops on the conversation for a bit. When they start talking about a new spell duration, he moves on, uninterested.
Björn weaves his way around, taking note of the items on display, magical and mundane, looking to see if anyone is using new or different materials than what is normal for the Order. Finally, he stops at a Custos declaring he has new scrolls on Magic Theory for purchase. "So tell me Sir, what makes these scrolls different from all the rest? Do they detail the useful benefits of a new material, perhaps?"