The bonisagus glances at your tractatus "I don't have time to go through this here, would you care to summarize?"
Ionas is startled and jumps back when the leper speaks behind him. «Are you Death?» he asks. «Were you summoned?» He looks around the room as if he is searching for someone.
"In short, dig. Go deep enough that church bells can't be heard, and there is no divine aura."
"So it is more about making a shortcut to where the divine aura isn't. And being Jerbiton they probably objected to the lack of artisanal quality to your tunnel." He laughs " clever, but not exactly what I would call original research. Still." He considers for a moment "I will speak to the other members of the covenant a they arrive."
The leper magus laugh "No, I am not death, you are safe young one" and he seems to think for a second, shrugs and hands you a token before moving on. (For the record this was Xenias The Leper Of House Tytalus)
Ionas fiddles the new token between his fingers, and stutters, «but, but, I already have five.»
The leper magus has already walked away, and the magus who is providing parma explains that you have offers from two potential parens, you will need to chose one and the tokens from the other one will be returned.
Constantine shrugs. "I know. But I didn't have a laboratory to do real research. I appreciate you asking." He pauses for a moment. "Pardon me, but... I've heard of the Seekers, and that you are one... how does one join?"
«Oh, I see sir,» answers Ionas, and runs away. He goes around the room and studies all the magi who seem to be bidding for apprentices, and try to make out who are likeable. He has heard or overheard some of the rumours and reputations, but the houses and traditions mean nothing to him, so he does better studying their demeanours for himself.
Apollon
Apollon moves to help clean the plinths frequently looking at the magus for how it must be done.
Xene
"Thank you Reverend Mother. I hope that when next we speak I will be a maga and have completed my first pilgrimage." Xene takes her leave and goes to look for grogs who might be able to tell her more about this christian ceremony and any who are of a like mind to her. Perhaps a companion for the pilgrimage could be found among them she thinks offhandedly.
"The seekers are very informal, they are nominally under the control of bonisagus, but even those of us who are bonisagus are reluctant to submit incomplete research for publication. Joining is really more a matter of living the lifestyle of a seeker than formally petitioning for recognition. I do have a number of projects I have invested time into, I plan to hand them down to my apprentice to finish, but realistically I am more concerned with making sure someone carries on the work than that my apprentice carry all my burdens, especially since looking back at my life I am certain I have taken on too many projects for one man. We can speak more of this when, I suppose I should say if, you join the fleet."
"I look forward to you being a member of our covenant." She nods at Xene before Xene goes to locate grogs participating in their own Christian rite (roll com+folk ken, target number 9, simple die)
Ionas notes the following;
Leukothea Of House Merinita- very exotic, blue hair, purple eyes, and is that webbing between her fngers?
Ionnia Of House Jerbiton: well dressed older woman, she seems a bit... entitled
Xenias The Leper Of House Tytalus- leper, very confrontational, seems to enjoy keeping people on edge
Castos of Bonisagus - old, really old, seems lost in thought half the time and ready to talk someone's ear off the other half
Olympia ex miscellania- like there was an explosion of brightly colored cloth given human form and an unstoppable need to present itself draped casually over a very shapely female form, if she weren't old enough to be your grandmother.
Deborah ex miscelania- she seems sad, except hen she looks in your direction, when her mood seems to lighten
Oriana of Jerbiton- looks roughly middle aged, very conservatively dressed, and really doesn't seem to fit in with the magi in the room, she seems to normal by comparison.
Ulf ex miscelania- a wolf in human's clothing. His features are human, but his mindset seems almost feral yet exceptionally intelligent, or perhaps perceptive
Damhnait ex miscelania (night poet)- she rarely speaks, apparently embarrassed by her cracked voice. Her clothes have seen better days, but were once fine
Ulysses of guernicus- he has secrets. You suspect his secrets have secrets
Solaris of jerbiton- he doesn't just seem entitled, he exudes entitlement. Looks like every thief and merchant in a marketplace would mark him as a target, though not necessarily an easy one.
[Got a 10 on Xene's Folk Ken + Com searching for Christian Frogs.]
Xene follows rumors to find grogs whispering about such a meeting. Seeing a young maga and realizing they have been discovered they become immediately defensive "Look, I know this land is specie to you magi, but one prayer gathering, we don't even have a priest for a proper mass, while you... do your thing can't be a problem!"
Xene smiles kindly. "You misunderstand me. I am also a Christian. While I might be required to take part in the ceremony of propitiation I would prefer to join a group of the devout. The covenant I have been apprenticed at does not have a church though there is one on a nearby Island I have sometimes been able to attend for mass but was hoping to find a group to pray with if not a priest."
Ionas decides to tail Ulysses around, listening to his conversations with the other candidates, to see if he can learn his secrets.
Constantine nods. "Of course. Have you found a suitable apprentice at this tribunal? I... I suppose it's too late for you to take me on under the Rule of Bonisagus? I don't relish the thought of another seven years of apprenticeship, but I also regret that I didn't have the chance to learn from one such as you."
He laughs "If you cannot pass this gauntlet I would be hard pressed to call it an unfair test, unless it is that it is too easy. Pass your gauntlet, and if you wish instruction then you can always pay for it in tokens, although that won't work if we are of the same covenant. Or at least neutralization won't, you can still transfer tokens, or I can just share some of my lab notes, since I am required to do so if you ask. I might even be nice and translate them."
Constantine nods. "That makes sense. I hope you find an apprentice, but if you don't, I would love to hear about your partially-done projects. Thank you." Constantine will leave, and try to find out who is attending, or expected, from Ignasia.
Stouritus Of House Verditius and Euxodia Of House Verditius are expected to be arriving this evening or the next morning, and Daedalus is expected to be gauntleting an apprentice at his tribunal.
Constantine will wait around until the middle of the next morning, then go to seek out the Ignasian delegation.
[rolled an 8 on OoH Lore to see what he knows about the attending members.]
apprentices being 'auctioned' - unless you are approaching someone else, please go ahead and post your selection from those who have offered you tokens. (which isn't admittedly a lot of choices...)
The next day the three Verditious arrive together with the remainder of the Favonius fleet.