"I think you underestimate the capabilities of agent networks. But you raise a good point. I'd rather hold off a siege of intrusive magi than bicker with my sodales. If you want to bring in new covenfolk, so be it."
He looks around the table. "I will write a tractatus which can generate around 10 vis, and invent an Aegis of the 8th magnitude. If someone can invent a spell to create gold, of the fifth or sixth magnitude, all that remains is to hunt for vis sources, so we won't need a second book to provide vis for the Aegis."
A smile and a slight bow to Kriegeist. "And I'll take your worries to heart, so we don't come to regret this. I'll take two seasons to develop a teleport spell to bring them in from as far away from the covenant as possible with no travel requirements on their parts, after vetting them magically onsite. Our emissaries can do the actual recruitment... and I'll spend a season or two scouring the countryside, trying to figure out from where Mingus was extracting vis from, besides the portal... I will let you research the Aegis as it seems you are a true master in those arts."
The method of notification varies from tribunal to tribunal- Guida would know it generally involves filing paperwork with the tribunal, which Mingus did at least start during the fall, and then the tribunal representatives can either fast track the membership, have an interview, or leave it up to a general membership vote. Given Mingus' writing ability it is likely they are still reading his applications on your behalf.
On a day off, Guida the redcap will let the magi know about what she found out regarding the declarations of Mingus as to the vis revenue of the covenant, and the magi's registration to the tribunal. She will also let the magi know that Mingus handled his communications through a drop box at the Mercere-held Copper Rooster Inn in Basel, which is roughly 50 miles away from the covenant. The Inn is a known waypoint between the Alps, Normandy and Rhine Tribunal, and so sees a fair bit of redcap traffic. She would like to check with the magi to see if they would like her to handle all letters to and from the covenant, and whether they would like to maintain a dropbox.
Kriegeist sighs, and relaxes. "I'll have Tobin, my apprentice, catalog the library. It occurs to me... we went from strangers treading an Aegis boundary, to strangers discussing a crisis. Just names - Kriegeist ex Tytalus, in my case - which doesn't tell us much about each other. I am a researcher, and a teacher. I quite enjoy shaming Bonisagus who think their house is the only one with any understanding of magical theory and esoterica. I mentioned Tobin - you will see him around, the young blond man with milky eyes, always accompanied by his raven familiar. He is my apprentice, and despite his blindness he will have a great destiny in the order, thanks to the start I have given him as a teacher."
"Yes, this is not exactly the first council I imagined." Anastasia seems in a relatively good mood nonetheless. "I am Anastasia, of House ex Miscellanea, from the lineage of Pralix. I came here to see if there was anything to Mingus's claims about new worlds accessible through the Magic Realm. I hope to learn more on the way there. I suppose that makes two of us interested in exotic magics. I've been accompanied here by Guida the Redcap - whom I assume you met already - and Lena, a skilled alchemist and lab assistant. If you ever need to talk to me, please, whatever you do, don't bug me before noon unless I'm up and about in the common areas."
Elia smiles at Anastacia "I don't think any of us imagined this, but first, let me present myself formally, my name is Elia, from the Pharmacopoeian tradition of House Ex Miscellanea, am a specialist in Herbam and Corpus magic, mainly to do with healing. The idea of other worlds to explore has been of interest to me, learning their plants, and herbs, and maybe utilizing them, and this particular's Aura's effect on the mundanes living here. I have been accompanied by Simon and Margerie, both are healers, in case am unavailable."
Schwartz speaks up, "Sorry I am late. Exploring the area. Well met! It has been a fortnight since I wore a human body, so forgive my state." He has disheveled black hair and beard, wearing black robes, but with green eyes which almost glow.
"If we are being formal about it, I am Schwartz of Merinita. I am a traveler, with interests both in the Regios of the Fey, and of course the Magic Realm. After the hasty Aegis, and the even hastier departure of Mingus, I have been exploring the area, looking for these vis sources described by Guida. I am somewhat proficient at finding things."
"To avoid confusion I will usually appear as a black hound. My scribe George typically passes messages for me. If I am unavailable, he is the best way to contact me. George wears the robes of a scholar, and I will have him introduce himself to all and sundry when our meeting is concluded. Kriegeist, If it would be helpful, George can aid Tobin in cataloging the library. I believe he has begun familiarizing himself with it already."
"Well met, Schwatz. We were talking about the difficulties we will face as a covenant in the year ahead and what we were going to do about it." she gets him up to speed on the situation facing the covenant in regards to vis income, mundane wealth, the disappearance of Mingus, and what each magi declared they would do in the coming seasons to help setup the covenant. "I was thinking of spending some time exploring for vis, but that will come later next year once I've invented the transportation spell. Perhaps you would like to keep looking for vis in the meantime, and then I can take over? I figure if we explore over four seasons, we're likely to spot most magic phenomenons we need to keep an eye on to get the sources Mingus was exploiting... or anything he missed we can exploit. Or do you have other ideas as to how you'd like to help the covenant at this point in time?"
Schwartz speaks, “I can help with both of those issues. With a little luck I can bring people from far away here, but I have to be very familiar with “here.” And I’m pretty good with finding things. So I can spend my time looking about, getting familiar with “here” and looking for Vis. Would that help?”
So actual activities for the winter: Kriegest is writing a tractatus, Schwartz is exploring the area, searching for vis, Elia is working on the massive touch of Midas, Tobin is categorizing the library, Guida is on her work season, and Anastasia is in the lab developing the teleport spell.
What direction does Schwartz explore? Covenant grounds, mountainside, surrounding area, magic realm?
Schwartz is going to explore the covenant, circling out to the mountainside, and finally making sure he can locate the covenant, and where it is in the Alps. The idea is local area lore, with one point spent on Alps lore which will bring his Alps Area Lore up to 2.
The method is first a survey (sight range) of the covenant, grounds, then mountainside. All the while using his vis finding at sight range. If there is anything interesting, explore it closer as a hound. The relevant statistics are: Perception +4, +3 for sight based, Awareness +4, and the spell operates at sight range, which is really far.
Okay, that will give you 4 study points to put in area lore for the covenant, the mountain, the local region, or the greater alps. There is not within that area any vis that can be seen with a visual range, which could mean simply that it is concealed under some form of cover, not available in the winter, or... well there are really a lot of possibilities but those are the obvious ones.
At the beginning of spring (1229) the covenant gets an invitation to the tribunal of the greater alps tribunal meeting in the summer of 1229. It indicates that anyone who wants to be considered for membership in the tribunal should be there.
One of the covenfolk harvests the 2 mentem vis from the magic regio, and presumably someone takes an hour to go into the mine and extract the one pawn of terram vis that arises there in the winter (possibly Shwatrz to make sure his spell is working given the way things are going!)
The library has been adjusted to incorporate Tobin's findings. (Note the findings are accurate to Tobin's ability to discern materials, not SG guaranteed)
Well, since Schwartz spent his season not finding anything of value, and not actually being able to explore either, in the spring he is going into the Magic Realm. He is going to spend the season just exploring, not looking for anything in particular. Is that what is required to get the 5-7 source points mentioned in the book for exploring?
There is a companion who can be a mountain guide (Jaeger). He can't spot vis on his own but not sure if his assistance will make it easier for others to look.