This is as good a place as any to resolve something I forgot about when figuring out whether Jonathan's character would be replacing one of my NPCs:
A couple years ago, Sophia registered a claim for Gallus Florensis' Intellego vis source, in Libellus' name. She did it to beat Nigrasaxa to it, reasoning that after Justinius returned, she could convince Libellus to relinquish their claim (where Nigrasaxa would keep it)-- and pocket the vis in the meantime as payment for saving Justinius' favourite source for him Her old covenant mates are a bit sore about her leaving, though (non-Tremere just don't understand house ties) and the source IS in their name. Will she do anything about this? It is the ONLY known Intellego source in the Tribunal.
I imagine that there's some sort of legal basis that Sophronia is basing this on? As in she registered it to herself, and some sort of loophole in the Libellus charter allowed her to do that, or something?
Nope. Stonehenge law declares that all vis sources within Tribunal boundaries belong to the Tribunal; harvesting rights can only be assigned to covenants, not individual magi. This is due to the large number of errant loners, making an accurate population census impossible. Proxy votes of Stonehenge's loner magi have been the root of some notorious rulings in the distant past, and the vis laws were shaped with the intention of "encouraging" loners to congregate and be counted.
Long story short, we haven't quite achieved Rhine levels of corruption, and the laws have been built around trying to make sure we never do.
So by necessity, you had registered a claim in Libellus' name.
So, just so I'm understanding this, thinking as Sophronia would: I register a vis source for them, then leave and they're mad at me? The way I see it they have a vis source without a troublesome, House First Tremere...
Or was I able to return the vis source to Gallus Florensis, and then I renounced Libellus and joined Gallus Florensis?
They are upset that you abruptly left them. Completely unrelated to your registration of the vis source on their behalf.
Point being, since they're upset at you for leaving them without any notice, or any better explanation than "my House requires it of me," you can expect them to contest GF's claim vociferously next summer.
He stiffens as soon as he notices Sophronia, and clears his throat. "I've only just replaced the bed, so I'd prefer you spare me a second night of paying Parsifal for a guest room."
"You really don't understand. I meant what I said. I'm calling a truce, if you'll take it. Your leering at me deserved a response. Your presumption about my tastes when I was in your room deserved a response. If you aren't responsible for these rumors, do you know who might be?"
"You assume that every rumour has purpose to its existing. Un raison d'etre, or however they say it. People talk, and talk spreads and grows and changes. You shouldn't need me to tell you that... Or are you going to destroy more furniture because I'm making assumptions about Tremere wenches? Anyway it was a reasonable to assume you like to hurt a man before you love him, consistent with the character of your personality."
"Your initial look and talk about me was one of presumption, sir. You leered at me, and then you interrupted me. You, as a redcap, should know that any woman who walks into this establishment has the very real possibility of being a maga. I would've preferred a "may I be of assistance" along with your winning smile."
Sophronia lets her compliment sink in, "Then the next time I arrived in your quarters you made a presumption, without even speaking to me about it, about my sexual appetites. Really. I mean really. Some women you know might like that, but they don't understand love and romance. That behavior goes down a path that ultimately leads to nothing but pain, as one attempts to top the previous high feeling with more bizarre behavior." Sophronia lets that sink in.
"And then finally, you called me a lady, do you really think a lady is someone who would engage in that kind of behavior? I would say any female might, but I am not any female. I am a maga of House Tremere, as much as you are a magus of House Redcap. I have great respect for the power at your command. I do not have respect for the way you have treated me. My responses were given in that light. I will concede that they were, perhaps, a bit over the top. Perhaps you won't be so quick to judge a woman, maga or not, or a maga who is a woman, next time you meet her."
"And to go back to your first poing, of course rumors have a purpose, all communication has a purpose. But my question, and let me be clear here, as not about the purpose, but was if you knew who might be responsible for the rumors. Your answer was an evasion. I suspect you know something, and I would appreciate an answer to my question." Sophronia looks at him closely trying to sense any evasion. Intrigue total of : Intrigue 1 + Per 2 + 2* Die roll of 6=15
"Most who patronize the Mercer House are not magi. And besides that I had it on good authority you were a lady's maid of middling birth, from Chester." He frowns.
"So you are angry at me about making assumptions, but you would have preferred me to presume to court you?!" he interjects, incredulous. "Magae have needs and desires just like everyone else. Love and romance aren't one of them."
"Actually, yes, I do think so. I speak with some authority on the subject. You speak from speculatory assumption. Which you should know better for."
He looks outraged at the "House Redcap" comment, but doesn't take the bait. "You fake outrage at the assumptions I made of you, and yet you keep mentioning all the reasons I had to think such things.
"Look, woman. You publicly humiliated me, and then came to my quarters, without escort, alone, at night, by yourself. You come back to lecture me and "put me in my place." You might not think you get off on shaming, degradating and humiliating others, but everything about your behaving says you do. Just because you haven't tried it yet doesn't mean you don't want to. But that ship is sailed, you have to find someone else to abuse. I only accept scoldings from women who give me what I want in return. So go get stuffed. Only by someone what's not I."
"I suspect you know something, and I would appreciate an answer to my question." Sophronia looks at him closely trying to sense any evasion. Intrigue total of : Intrigue 1 + Per 2 + 2* Die roll of 6=15
[/QUOTE]
(That would be Folk Ken, not Intrigue. You're trying to read someone, not subvert or doubletalk him.)
"Suspect all you want. People talk, especially here. You gave them more than enough to talk about. I only made sure to clear MY name of any association with you. I tolerate being degraded and humiliated by powerful women, behind closed doors. But not publicly, and certainly not from some old maid who's like to die a virgin."
(Seems to Sophronia that he's being truthful, and she also picks up that he's actually working pretty hard to keep his temper in check.)
((I don't suppose you could retract the House Redcap thing, I was thinking Mercere and wrote Redcap, I really was. I am not trying to insult him, I really am not. I'm trying to make amends.))
Sophronia greets his comments about her origin with a look of incredulity, "I would've preferred that you not have leered at me in the first place, that you treat me as an equal. That you had considered the source who told you I was from Chester. Do I look like a woman from Chester? I'm from Gracia. Can't be the first time you've heard something false from them, can it now? And why on earth do you think love and romance aren't desires of magae? I know that The Gift makes it seem that way, but in my case, my Gift has a gentle touch, but it is firm, as I demonstrated on the bed. It is much like what I prefer in my men."
"They may be ladies in title, but nothing more. Speak with all the authority on the subject you wish. I love a bawdy time. I love a meeting of the minds. I love the touch of a strong man. I do not desire to tie that man up or be tied up myself. I don't need those...distractions. For those who do, they typically go down a road they can rarely travel back on. And as to my virginal status, who's speculating now? Because I don't spread my legs for your pretty face? Your face opens doors, but what happens when you grow older? And of growing older I know something of that.." Sophronia looks concerned as she mentions aging.
"Truth be told, my destruction of your bed was to give each of us an opportunity. I thought it would give you an opportunity to boast. And I thought it would give others a rumor to chew on. As it is, they have their rumor, and I can't complain overmuch about that, except that it involves another maga, who may be less appreciative than I am. In any event, I misjudged your character based on our initial meeting. I presumed one who couldn't mask his desires wouldn't be able to hold his tongue about conquests. For that, I do apologize for my presumption, and the subsequent destruction of your bed."
"I accept your apology. But it's not going to get you anywhere. Try Little William... He's pushing sixty himself, so maybe his standards have slipped enough that he'd consider you." He jerks open the door as though to gesture Sophia out, only a maid, an eight-year-old girl and an eleven-year-old boy all into the room, ear-first.
Edgar startles for a moment, then scowls. "Get out of here, you scamps!" He picks the kids up, cuffs the boy on the ear, and shoos them down the hallway. He softens briefly, and ruffles the boy's hair as the kid scampers off. "You too, maga," the Redcap declares coldly.
Unless she's going to trample the children and the maid who topple into the room as soon as the door is yanked open, she doesn't quite get the dramatic exit she's looking for.
Though at least now Sophia has a pretty good idea who is responsible for rumours around the Mercer House
Sophronia signs the charter a few days later and becomes a full member of Gallus Florensis.
Should she choose to take over Justinius' laboratory, she will not need to spend any time acclimating to it, as she slaved away in this lab for fifteen years and is intimately familiar with it The lab is Size +2, has Flawless Equipment (magically maintained), Major Illusion, an astrolabe as a Greater Feature (Intellego specialization), and Superior Tools. It is fitted with a glassblower's forge and a Teaching gallery. She also knows where he keeps his enchanted quill, that adds a +1 Quality bonus to any text scribed with it; when she checks that drawer in Justinius' desk, she finds the quill nestled safely in its box. She will need to learn Second Sight to get in and out reliably, however, because the jar of eye-goop is running rather low. Or invent an appropriate InIm spell (though that would inflict warping over time if used so frequently).
She receives 3 experience as a bonus, which does not detract from her studies.
Her old covenant mates are a bit sore about her leaving, though (non-Tremere just don't understand house ties) and the source IS in their name. Will she do anything about this? It is the ONLY known Intellego source in the Tribunal.