"If chosen for this position, I will work fairly for the benefit of the order, that the law and the centuries of the great work continue to prosper as they have under the formation of the code. Each other member nominated is a respected magi and I certain they will vie for all our benefit. Thank you." with that she sat back down and waited for replies or accusations, either would come in time.
"Bonisagus was a Christian Magus. Guernicus was christian, and in fact considered the laws of the order an expression of his faith. We have, as an organization, been very generous in opening our doors to those of other faiths. However in the order of Sueleman we find an enemy, for right now we are enemies, who is as grounded in the muslim faith as we are in the Christian faith. It sems to me then that if we are to discuss with them peace, or rather let us call it wht it will be, less damaging rules for furthering our conflict, that we should be certain that those who represent us do, in fact, represent us. In Nix though she is an accomplished Hoplite, there is a division, or rather let me say a perception, a potential division, in loyalties, between her oath to the order and her faith which sits next to, if not with, the order of Seuleman, in her dedication to Islam. If we were exchanging student or scholars she would be an excellent choice, but do we want that uncertainty in a representative for these negotiations?"
"Was Tremere a Christian mage? Was Bjornaer a Christian mage? Are most Verditius, Merinita, Criamon? Ex Miscellania holds dozens of different traditions do they not? The order was built on many different approaches and faiths."she took a breath to hold out a moment
"Where in my record have I been unfaithful to the Order, please do give me an example of my disloyalty. Is my oath to the Order somehow less valuable or binding than yours?" *each of her words were measured, * "my loyalty is to the Order, I will hold myself to the ruling of my peers." she settled back into her seat
"Oh yes, Tremere, that worked out well, no scandal there. Or perhaps we should discuss Diedne, and he religious roots? Like I said we have a history of a certain generous tolerance for these other faiths, but when has it worked out for our greater security to put our trust in that? Even ex Miscellania had several traditions turn on us once the threat they united against was dealt with. We are dealing with a conflict of faith here, and the respresenting magus should be of the majority faith!"
Timaeus wanted to say something, but was unsure whether he should, so he wracked his brain trying to remember if he could, or should.
Timaeus can say something, in fact technically even redcaps can actually vote, though by tradition they do not do so, and mercere mages do not cast votes to affirm their solidarity with the house. Either may speak, whether they tend to do so varies depending on the tribunal they are in.
"You say you have a certain generous tolerance for people of other faiths, and yet you keep on hammering her about her faith, with no tolerance for it, or her. You claim that putting faith in those of other faiths hasn't worked for the order's greater security, and yet, some of the achievements the Order has, have been thanks to those same faiths. We have Certamen from the Tremere, and Familiars from Merinita, and other discoveries that have been integrated into the Hermetic Theory precisely because we've accepted and embraced those of various faiths. And let's not forget that, by your own admission, the reason you and some of your sodales will not go on this mission, is because you're wanted by the Order of Suleiman. I am getting tired of this bickering. We've agreed that once the delegation has reached an agreement, a council of representatives from all Houses will review it, and yet you once again yammer about those who volunteered to join the delegation." And he shakes his head before continuing "If anything, having someone of the same faith is a boon for us, for she not only knows their language, but she knows their faith and of their culture, and can probably pick up on things that an outsider might miss."
" I said a certain tolerance, not blind foolish tolerance, and yes the research from other faiths has proved useful, and even now I would love to get the books of the order of Seuleman into the hands of our bonisagus brothers. Security however, is another matter, but on one point I do agree with you, soldales redcap, enough of the yammering, let us put it to the vote."
" All approving"
There is a united front in favor, not only of Tremere magi, but of Merinita, Bjorner, and in a very rare event, ex miscellanea.
"all opposed" The vote is not overwhelming, but it is clear that Nili has been approved.
"Very well, Gregory of flambeau, would you care to address the assembly?"
"I am Gregory of Flabeau and I have sworn two oaths, to the order and to the church. These two organizations have common cause in this, to claim the holy land for Christendom, and by extension the order. I am clear in who our enemies are, but at this time, with the crusaders arriving in underwhelming strength and the local rulers committed to peace it is clearly in our best interests to negotiate for peace. I can promise to do so with a clear head, and with honor."
There is a moment of silence to see if any will speak up for or against this nomination.
Timaeus will not raise any objection, or speak up.
Following the period of silence the vote is taken, and he is selected nearly unanimously. The only dissention is a lone Tytalus.
Theseus of Jerbiton and Platonis of Bonisagus each pass in turn.
"At this point we have one nominee for a review council, a topic which was not even on the agenda at the start of this tribunal. I'm going to delay a vote on this for a day and give every covenant a chance to submit a name for a member for the review board. I believe this takes car of the issues we needed to resolve today, does anyone have any new business to discuss or add to tomorrow's agenda?"
nili had no further business, to offer as she smiled to Timaeus "Thank you for your words, perhaps in time we will find a peace, at the same time...we may be no closer...but we shall not be found wanting in the attempt. At least if this goes poorly, I have no doubts to my personal safety." she chuckled a bit "Any ideas for the review board?"
Timaeus has no further business either at the moment. "You're welcome. This is a time of wars, i find it hard to see that we will find peace, but we can find moments of peace on occasion." He lowers his voice "Well, as the, probably, only Mercere Magus in the Tribunal' I'd like to apply, but we'll see. I'm not sure whether my house will appoint me, or another redcap."
The appointments are to be recommended by covenant, not house, though the measure was to ensure one of each house. A single covenant can recommend more than one magus, how exactly it will work out remains to be seen.
"All i know for certain is a matter of both reason and fidelity that I would not and should not be picked for my covenant. Though your service has been exemplary and you are well respected, I think you should be up for our covenant Timaeus...you are often the voice of reason."
"One would think all Magus are supposed to be the voice of reason" He mutters, softly, his gaze at the Flambeau Holy Wizards. "But hey, I do hope you might get to bring some books back, and if there's need for books to sent to them, you know who to contact... " His smile is big, thinking about getting his hands on original books in Arabic to read.
The conversation the next day is quite raucous, and there appear to be a lot of toes stepped on with members of different covenants being of the same house and so forth. It turns out that Timaeus is the only Mercere recommended, in part because most of the redcaps don't actually belong to a covenant. The Templars finally put forth a Jerbiton since the Hermon covenant only has Flambau members, and Hercule is their only submission. Someone suggests that Hercule should not be allowed a member since they are technically in violation of the current treaty in remaining within the Arabic ruled lands, though it is uncertain if that is a violation of tribunal law. A motion to eject mount Hermon from the tribunal is suggested and that discussion causes the discussion of representatives to be tabled...
Timaeus is honored to be nominated, but is glad he didn't table forth the removal of the Mount Hermon covenant, and will exercise his Mercere Magus right to abstain from a vote. No need to aggravate that covenant by voting against them.
Nili would stand as she spoke to the assemblage "Is it now a violation? Did we not just rely upon the votes of members of Mount Hernon to comprise the members of our delegates? Do we now lack their fair consideration in being able to ratify the choices of this tribunal? Was the actual idea not at its very core a suggestion of Mount Hernon? You cannot have it both ways in this, they came here in good faith, let their actions speak of this good faith. If they hold to a violation, let it be tabled for our next tribunal where it can be adequately investigated and judged properly." With that she sat
Timaeus regards Nili with admiration. They targeted her with slander, and yet, as a Guernicus, she still stand by what is right, and he could only admire that.
"It's not a matter of being a violation, but of procedure. Our current standing with the order of Seuleman, informal as it is, limits the boundaries of the tribunal and Mount Hermon is outside of that. We have an exception for Jeruselum, but Mounte Hermon should have been vacated in due time. What has happened instead is that Flambeau took over the covenant which had been a Bonisagus research project to use to harass the Muslim occupiers. The question is literally whether they should be recognized as being part of the tribunal when they are outside its borders."
"The covenant has been grandfathered, it was part of the tribunal when it was established, and while the occupancy has changed this is no excuse to surrendering our covenant grounds to the order of Seuleman, which is what the tribunal would be saying if they revoked our membership."