3/25/18

Archibald of Guernicus: Where's shauncat

Shauncat: Hi

Archibald of Guernicus: oh nvm i mistook his av for osmeone elses somehow

Endrite: Hail and well met.

johns (GM): avs off.

Rosario of Flambeau: final destination.

Archibald of Guernicus: Oh yeah, we have  merely  6 players now since BR left again

johns (GM): im crying

Rosario of Flambeau: moe might join

where is he anyway

johns (GM): hanging with larry and curly prolly.

Rosario of Flambeau: owned!!!!

Shauncat: With a rebel yell she cried moe moe moe

Archibald of Guernicus: I dunno, I was PMing him about the game before and answering questions about it

Endrite: AFK a sec.

Archibald of Guernicus: He was interested in joining, think he might be here? Dont know

johns (GM): We left off on June 12th, 1345. You are all back in Rome after the May meeting in Venice. You've just received a letter from Severin that he sent to all Roman Tribunal covenants reporting on the results of the Grand Tribunal. A few compacts were struck to allocate resources and manpower, with the Flambeau Primus leading a bloc to pursue the Order of Suleiman, a Tytalan/Jerbiton bloc to pursue the Order of Odin, and the Bonisagus Primus to conduct labwork.

Rosario of Flambeau: hes playing warframe

Shauncat: Jorn was mistaken for a viking and killed, RIP

Rosario of Flambeau: rip

Archibald of Guernicus: Tremere will bravely investigate the 2 diedne left

johns (GM): At the meeting in Venice, Vardian's Tomb was asked to look into the possibility of the Herbam rot being an attack by Damhan-Allaidh "the Spider." However you all expressed interest in visiting Sansaron for what I believe were 3 reasons: Your previous invitation, Gulielmus' trouble with the Order of Suleiman, and curiosity about the Order of Suleiman's role in the disaster

Rosario of Flambeau: Also, I'm a milite so I probably got a direct order to go there from the primus

Archibald of Guernicus: Venator had something he needed to ask them about, so I was going to ask that in his stead. Other than that, getting Guli back is a top priority.

Shauncat: We could also use some help getting to and from Ponza, if they can tell us how the portal works

johns (GM): Good stuff.

The easiest way to Sansaron for most of you is by boat, a ship would take 7 days to travel from Rome to Tunis

Shall your Steward set it up?

Endrite: Ok I'm back.

I think the easiest way to deal with the investigation into the Spider is to ignore it completely and then report we found nothing.

johns (GM): lol

Rosario of Flambeau: That would be the easiest, yes.

Shauncat: Fiorella might have time if the tribunal didn't take long for her

johns (GM): what leads do you have on the spider currently

Shauncat: We have the claw

Archibald of Guernicus: Everyone shuffles around looking at their feet

Mortis ex Verditus: Zita has some leads, as I recall.

Archibald of Guernicus: Fuck you.

Shauncat: RIP

Mortis ex Verditus: I don't have Canaanite Necromancy yet, unfortunately.

Archibald of Guernicus: well thats something for later perhaps

johns (GM): its a good goal to shoot for Mortis.

let me know if you are seriously interested in pursuing it.

Shauncat: I went through everything when Fiorella was contemplating vengeance and we have nothing AFAIK.

Archibald of Guernicus: though there werent really any leads besides the claw, we killed the only person that met with him

and even then they didnt really meet with him on their own terms, they had no way of finding him

johns (GM): So what did end up happening with the redcap's gifted son?

Rosario of Flambeau: So we make him come to us.

johns (GM): The last I recall you all murdered each other in front of him and forgot he existed

Rosario of Flambeau:  said dramatically

Mortis ex Verditus: Lodewig spirited him away, as I recall.

Rosario of Flambeau: Well, he just got eaten then. RIP.

johns (GM): I thought he spirited the Ungifted Noble Kid, not the Gifted Unnoble Kid

Shauncat: We sent him somewhere where Aurora couldn't claim him

Archibald of Guernicus: What? He's my apprentice. did you forget when we sorted this out.

Rosario of Flambeau: Ohh yeaaaahh

Shauncat: Right

johns (GM): Ok, cool.

Sorry I got mixed up cause there are a million other gifted babies floating about.

Archibald of Guernicus: Sure. Understandable. Did Fiorella actually claim the one she intended to

they must be about 6 by now if they arent

Rosario of Flambeau: i should get myself a gifted baby one day.

Shauncat: I thought i was going ot get one but never heard much about it

Rosario of Flambeau: just viciously beat him up and kick him in the forehead

Archibald of Guernicus: you can legally just claim it the moment it turns 5

no-one can stop you, besides a bonisagus being an asshole

Mortis ex Verditus: What season is it?

Shauncat: Well we have the thing where making your own apprentices/familiars is forwned up

johns (GM): Summer

Shauncat: on

Archibald of Guernicus: Flora, the apprentice in question, was statted up by Boy Reporter

it was posted in the thread before

they were born in 1338 so they're 7 now, possibly just claimed by someone else since no-one acted

Mortis ex Verditus: So that's a season after Ponza, right?

johns (GM): i know the gentle gifted kid turns 5 in 1346 so thats when their apprenticeship begins

Shauncat: Yeah a Bonisagus has them I guess

Mortis ex Verditus: I can't quite remember.

johns (GM): yeah Mortis.

ponza = spring

Mortis ex Verditus: Phew!

Archibald of Guernicus: yeah johns, 1346

Mortis ex Verditus: I can go on this adventure!

Archibald of Guernicus: got the sheet open still

johns (GM): Technically speaking, the Spring began on the Equinox, March 12.,

Shauncat: If they were intended for me and I spaced out then sorry

johns (GM): And summer begins on the Solstice, June 13th.

Who wishes to sail to Sansaron?

Rosario of Flambeau: I'm obligated to.

johns (GM): Feel free to drop them tokens

archibald is going with apprentice?

Archibald of Guernicus: Yeah

Rosario of Flambeau: fiorella has all the best tokens. unfair.

johns (GM): lol

its true though

Shauncat: If Flora isn't too old it might not bee to olate to start training them

johns (GM): we'll have to get Simon a token too some day remind me. anyway

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Sorry here we go

Archibald of Guernicus: Learning about tribunals and areas outside of your own is part of the Guernicus education

johns (GM): Back in '42 you spoke to the covenfolk Zayd at the tribunal meeting who gave you some directions. About 20 km Northeast of Tunis are the remains of old Carthage, where Sansaron calls home.

Archibald of Guernicus: Lavinia would have loved this

Mortis ex Verditus: Fortunately I cannot speak whatever passes for a language here.

johns (GM): As your ship docks and you are rowed to shore, you see the crowds of a very populated city, smell the strange spices from marketplaces, hear the jabber of foreign tongues..

Indeed. Anyone speak Arabic (Tunisian Dialect)?

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Let's hire a translator

Archibald of Guernicus: "Does anyone speak Arabic, specifically the Tunisian dialect?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Guy laid claim to our summa on the language, I thought he would be coming."

johns (GM): At the docks are several locals and obvious foreigners barking in a hundred different languages. Do you wish to hire someone who looks native or someone who speaks fluent Italian?

Mortis ex Verditus: Probably it should be someone we can attempt to talk to.

Archibald of Guernicus: Guy did come, beard is just going ot be late

so uh

oh dear, he got sick on the journey

johns (GM): He's very seasick at the moment and not able to help

Archibald of Guernicus: "Poor man's too seasick to talk right now."

"They must do dealing with italians, are there any merchants that look like they're native to Italy?"

Rosario of Flambeau: "Let's not get in too deep with these savages. Find an enterprising Italian or other gentle soul."

"Exactly."

Rabble: A man of fair complexion and with a gleam in his eye presses his way through the crowd to you.

"Francois? Espanal? Itelian? Englishmen?"

Mortis ex Verditus: "Yes, I am Italian.

"

Rosario of Flambeau: I put my arm across Archibald's chest before he reacts to being called an Englishman

Rabble: "Rabu of Genoa. I will be your guide. Look nowhere else. Let me guess.."

"Criminals fleeing branding? You'll find no safer place to disappear here."

"Heretics? No one cares! Rabu is your friend."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Close, we're looking for Carthage."

Rosario of Flambeau: "  Dio te benedica , you're in more honorable company than that, my friend."

Rabble: "Nothing there but dust and brick. Let Rabu show you whats really worth seeing. You read? Wish to buy books? Spice? Cinnamon? Lemon?"

Archibald of Guernicus: I'll stay back and let less Stink magi

handle this

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "How about live birds?"

Rabble: "Live birds, dead birds, birds in between. I know a merchant, not far from here, come, come."

Mortis ex Verditus: "We need to go to Carthage."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Books? Anything in Italian? Adventure stories, maybe a combat manual?"

I'm suddenly distracted.

Mortis ex Verditus: Got any Single Weapon Summae???

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Live birds preferably, Italy already has all the dead chickens you can eat."

Rabble: "Combat manual?" He looks confused

Rosario of Flambeau: I thought they just started to exist around now

I guess nothing widely available.

Rabble: "Poetry. Books with dirty pictures. Books of song and wine and everything that makes life worth life. All this and more. Rabu guides you for a fair price."

Archibald of Guernicus: brb 1 minute

Rosario of Flambeau: "Ah, I'm not interested in any of that sort of thing."

Mortis ex Verditus: "We'll have plenty of time for shopping after we get back from Carthage."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: http://www.world-birds.com/birds/a/tunisia

Some good ass eagles and vultures

Rosario of Flambeau: "More a fan of the whole righteously slaying beasts for God and the arm of a chaste maiden type of story."

"Thank you anyway, fine merchant. How about we just give you some money to translate for us?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Hoopes are neat

Rabble: Who wants to go shopping and who wants to deal with stodgy wizard business

tsk!

Rabu grudgingly accepts.

Mortis ex Verditus: We can always have a 20 mythic pounds party later.

Rabble: "Rabu will translate. You will need water, food, camels to make the trip yes? I can get a fair price. Leave the coin with me and I handle all the details."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: We can shop after the RP

Mortis ex Verditus: "Sounds fair to me."

Archibald of Guernicus: Back

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Some classics here such as Little Stint, Common Snipe, and Eurasian Woodcock

Rabble: heheheh.... wood

Mortis ex Verditus: "Fiorella, can you follow Rabu to make sure he isn't stealing our money?"

I say in Latin.

Fiorella of Jerbiton nods and finds somewhere to discreetly become a bird

Fiorella the Raven: I'll watch him from the air and make sure he does what he promised

Rabble: Ah

"Rabu back, 2 hour."

devil's fav demon: Sorry, I had to play the quest for glory 2 buying a camel lizard music.

Archibald of Guernicus: "I have to wonder if its normal to spend so much time as a bird." I remark to Rosario and Mortis

Mortis ex Verditus: "Does she?"

Rabble: Rabu takes the money and slips through crowded winding alleyways, watching his back. Fiorella sees him eventually duck into a whitewashed brick building bearing a Pisan banner, and he does not reemerge.

Mortis ex Verditus: "Well, that's up to her."

Rosario of Flambeau: "You'd think she were a Bjornaer."

Fiorella the Raven: If Fiorella dies I'll just make a Bjornaer who claims all her bird-reated lab equipment

Rosario of Flambeau: "No offense meant, of course."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Oh no, no. Bjornaer at the covenant before, very agreeable old bear."

"A pity." I sigh and wander off to sit and mope

Fiorella the Raven: Did I hear that comment? I can reply to it if so, I'm not particularly offended

Mortis ex Verditus: "Why would Sansarron want a meeting with you, anyway?"

Archibald of Guernicus: It was remarked after you flew off

Sitting down nearby, I look up

Rabble: A couple hours pass and Rabu has not left the building.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Venator, the previous head of the covenant."

"He was in contact with the leadership of Sansarron."

Fiorella the Raven: What building did he go in?

Mortis ex Verditus: "Seems like we're visiting a bit late, then."

Rabble: a whitewashed brick building bearing a Pisan banner.

Blue door.

Wood lattice windows. P. nice.

Archibald of Guernicus: "He had tae go into hiding, threats from an archmage and a famed magus slayer."

Fiorella the Raven: Hmm

Any windows?

Rosario of Flambeau: "This covenant... Hah. The longer I stay, the less all the gossip seems like gossip."

Rabble: Wood lattice windows, closed

A 2 story building.

Mortis ex Verditus: "Ah, well those troubles are at an end now. So buck up, chum."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Here's to a finer generation."

Fiorella the Raven: What's the aura?

Mortis ex Verditus: Heh.

Rabble: Dominion 2

Fiorella the Raven: Damn

I need to get Prying Eye formulaic

Archibald of Guernicus: "Thank you, Mortis. I will try." I stand up "Yes. Above all else, that's what I hope for."

Mortis ex Verditus: "What's taking that Rabu so long?"

Fiorella the Raven: I'll report back to my sodales

Rosario of Flambeau: "Drinking and smoking away our money, no doubt."

Fiorella of Jerbiton takes off the cloak of black feathers

Mortis ex Verditus: "Surely it can't take that long to lease a few camels," I say with the confidence of a man who has never bought a thing in his life.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Where was the building? I could use the Prying Eyes to take a look inside."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "He's been inside a building this whole time. Can't look inside, and I risk walking into numerous men with cutlasses if I barge through the front door."

I'll show Archibald

Rosario of Flambeau: "And perhaps he's gotten some women involved. Tsk." I sound judgmental but am clearly blushing.

Mortis ex Verditus: "Would they really try and kill an ordinary bird? Seems paranoid."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Ah, see? Anything at all could be going on in there."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "It's hard to open doors as a bird."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Did you hear the way he was making that sale? A sinner and criminal, no doubt. No wonder he lives here, Italy would never have him."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Well, I could always animate an army of the dead to besiege the building."

Archibald of Guernicus: I'll approach the side of it. Casting 'prying eyes', whats the aura here?

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Oh wait, at -6 I could just manage to cast Prying Eyes, but this way gets the party involved

Rabble: Dominion 2

Archibald of Guernicus: -10 to cast it silently, -6 from aura, so +5 to casting which means it casts without a roll needed

Fiorella of Jerbiton:

rolling 2*-3

2*-3

=

-6

Mortis ex Verditus: Stardust.vg Dominion 2 Tournament.

Rabble: heh!

Archibald of Guernicus: stardust dominions has been great because samuraimushroom is not part of it

Rabble: Archibald it is dark inside and takes a moment for your Prying Eyes to adjust from the bright sunny plaza outside. Inside you see Rabu and some other Italian fellows drinking and doing something weird with a gourd sort of thing where they press it to their mouths for a bit then spit out smoke. You've never encountered this before, though you guess they're having fun.

The rest of the interior of the first floor is tables chairs and shelves.

Archibald of Guernicus: Might I have an idea about it after encountering hashish in the ponza villa? Or is this different

Rabble: I suppose it does smell a bit similar even from outside

Rosario of Flambeau sniffs

Rosario of Flambeau: "That bastard."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Now now, it might be that he's bought this from his own money, and this is just part of deals here."

"On the other hand, it's been bloody hours, so we should send someone in to find out."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I was gonna progress the adventure but then I got high

Mortis ex Verditus: "He said it would only be a few hours, how long has it been? I ask this because Hermetic magic is unable to determine the precise length of time anything happens and I refuse to accept that Hermetic magic can ascertain Astrological time."

Rosario of Flambeau: "It's gotten darker out." I say, assuming narrative control.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Let's give it another hour, this is the only entrance, aye? If he disnae come out, we can start asking him."

Rabble: You press T and select 1 Hour to pass time.

Rabu has sprawled out on one of the benches inside and is napping.

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

"Let's demand our money back."

Rosario of Flambeau: If you relate this to Rosario I'm just going inside.

And grabbing him by the ear.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "I once heard of magi using an enchanted orrery or antikythera to measure time."

Rabble: You just open the front door and walk in?

Rosario of Flambeau: Yes, unless someone stops me.

Rabble: The door is locked.

Mortis ex Verditus: I don't see the problem with it.

Gasp!

Rosario of Flambeau: I knock politely.

Archibald of Guernicus: We presumably have some grogs with us too

Mortis ex Verditus: Let's try knocking.

Archibald of Guernicus: on a trip to the dangerous world of Africa

Rabble cackles evil gmishly

Rosario of Flambeau: And if there's no response I will knock even louder.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: In 1348, Giovanni Dondi built the first known clock driven mechanism which displays the ecliptical position of Moon, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn according to the complicated ptolemeic planetary theories.

Soon, gamers

Rosario of Flambeau: ooh....

Rabble: There's a clatter of activity inside as bottles are shoved behind shelves and someone opens a back window and waves the smoke out.

One of Rabu's buddies rolls him under a table, then opens a front window to look at out you. "Sunday, no business today."

well

First he says it in Arabic, then in Italian

Rosario of Flambeau: Is he speaking a langua

ok.

Mortis ex Verditus: I will take this on faith because I have no idea what day of the week it is and rarely keep track.

Rosario of Flambeau: "This is a personal matter. My friend is inside and he owes me money."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Where are my camels?"

Rosario of Flambeau: I am very clearly armored and wearing a large sword, as always.

Rabble: "Must be mistaken, no one here but me."

"No camels here."

Rosario of Flambeau: Hmm.

I think I'm going to try to grab him through the window.

Is this a horrible plan?

Rabble: Roll brawl

Grapple check!

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Not at all

Mortis ex Verditus: Huzzah!

Rosario of Flambeau:

rolling 1d10!+3+2

(

6

)

+3+2

=

11

I really need more Brawl.

Rabble:

rolling 1d10-1

(

6

)

-1

=

5

You headlock the drunk high bureaucrat.

Mortis ex Verditus: We did it.

Rosario of Flambeau: that's enough attack advantage for a Pin or Unseat Rider, can I pull him through the window or is it too small

Mortis ex Verditus: This is the culmination of centuries of magical lore.

Rabble: Alright, you yank him out the window.

Rosario of Flambeau: "Stop playing around, son."

Rabble: The crowd of locals starts to point and laugh at the spectacle and jibber merrily in their heathen musselmen tongue.

Rosario of Flambeau: This is what a 0 Int wizard brings to the table.

Mortis ex Verditus: Sounds good.

Rabble: "Urk -- inside -- didnt know he was followed"

Fiorella of Jerbiton smiles.

Mortis ex Verditus: I'm sure they're all pleased as punch about this.

Rosario of Flambeau: I'm sure they'll respect that I didn't kill or hurt him.

This is a gentle application of force.

Rabble: "Thought you were just dumb Roman pilgrims"

Archibald of Guernicus: The bad boys of gently applying force

"Guess you thought wrong."

Rosario of Flambeau: "No harm done. Christ be with you."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Where are my camels?"

Rabble: "This isn't a stables"

Rosario of Flambeau: I'll go inside and call for Rabu.

Mortis ex Verditus: "How am I supposed to know that? You Pisans are all the same."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "I remember Kifaaya mentioned once she left a spell in our library for becoming a camel. I'll have to take a look at it some dya.

Rabble: He groggily rouses from his stupid and panics at the sight of you.

Archibald of Guernicus: I shake my head

Rabble: "It wasn't my fault!" he offers.

Rosario of Flambeau: "God forgive me for what I'm about to do."

I give him the fig.

Rabble: he gasps

Mortis ex Verditus: Got 'em.

"Where are my camels?"

Rabble: "I'll get them this time I swear"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Please get the man his camels."

Rabble: "Just topped off for a drink and... lost track of the time"

"Could happen to anyone"

Archibald of Guernicus: "We can tell if you run off with the money, so focus this time."

Rabble: He groans and meekly submits.

Mortis ex Verditus: "Alright, thank you."

devil's fav demon: be right back

Mortis ex Verditus: "I knew all along that you were an honest merchant, Rabu."

Rabble: "All Pisans are"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: When I redo my 1345 seasons I think I have the lab total for Wizard's Mount from the text we bought

Rabble: He stares daggers at his buddy who is now lying in the street on his way out, then returns in an hour or so with the promised supplies.

Archibald of course cannot ride a camel without it trying to buck him.

Mortis ex Verditus: Just walk.

I mean, how harsh can the desert REALLY be?

Archibald of Guernicus: Could Fiorella creo an animal?

Rabble: Huh, looks like Archibald Mortis and Fiorella all are walking

Rosario of Flambeau: "Ah, there we go. A good soul is in us all, just waiting to be encouraged."

Rabble: err not fiorella

Rosario

Fiorella is flying I assume

Rosario of Flambeau: I can run as fast as a horse if needed.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I have Inoffensive to Animals

I'm not walking

Rabble: right.

Rosario of Flambeau: Got to keep your stamina up. Get that exercise.

Rabble: Anyway. A few more hot, scorching hours later, you arrive at a sprawling ruined city. Unlike the crowded Tunis streets, you see only a handful of souls here -- a couple armed grogs, some servants airing out laundry, a groomsman tending the camels

Rosario of Flambeau: I won't cast that if we have to stay under the radar since a guy with reverse jointed horse legs looks crazy.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I have 2 Stamina, I'm fit enough

Rosario of Flambeau: that guy's huge!

Archibald of Guernicus: "What a place!"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I might have enough Rego Animal to calm a camel down around Archibald

Archibald of Guernicus: "I never imagined a country could be so hot."

Rosario of Flambeau: "How romantic!"

Rabble: You also see a strange, sunburnt, extremely gaunt man sitted crosslegged on the top of a pillar.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Salve!" I'll call out to him

Mortis ex Verditus: "Greetings, Sansarronite!" I shout.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Soothe the Ferocious Bear is level 10

Rosario of Flambeau: brb one more time.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'll spont a calming Rego Animal on all the camels until they'll carry the giftstinkers

Mortis ex Verditus: Seems a bit late now that we're at Carthage.

Mighri of Criamon: The man rolls his eyes and lifts his head up into the sky, and murmurs a deep throated chant. He seems in a sort of trance.

indeed.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Okay

Mighri of Criamon: Your sodales wonder why you wait until after they walked to do that.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: FOr the sake of time taken

Mortis ex Verditus: Any grogs around?

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Whatever

Zayd: A covenfolk approaches. "Visitors, welcome. Our doors are open to you."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Good, thank you. You have quite the covenant here."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Seems like everything happens while making a response

Zayd: lol

soz

Fiorella of Jerbiton: NP

I'm feeling dizzy actually

Zayd: idk when to wait when i see people or typing or when not to

Fiorella of Jerbiton: So it's probalby me

Mortis ex Verditus: "Much different from Rome, of course, but I imagine the quietude suits you."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I thought it passed earlier but maybe i just focused harder when I had to follow Rabu

Zayd: "Shh, please. I beg you not to speak the name of that city in this place. You risk upsetting the dead."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Of course."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Oh, do you have a ghost problem? Luckily, I'm an expert on that."

Rosario of Flambeau: whew.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Lavinia warned us about something from that book she's always on about."

Zayd: "Your coming was foreseen," he glances at the mystic on the column. "Let us take you to see the Old Man inside, out of this sun."

Archibald of Guernicus: "They don't like that city here."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Ah, an aspiring writer? If only she left the lab more often."

Zayd: Let's awaken Dido's vengeful ghost.

Mortis ex Verditus: I'll eagerly accept his gracious hospitality.

Archibald of Guernicus: "I dunno about writing, but she really loves that poem. You've seen the piles of it, can't walk 5 paces without tripping over one left around."

Amayyas ex Misc: Zayd takes you deeper into the ruined city. You see the covenfolk living in makeshift homes, half old Carthaginian masonry, half new stucco and simple furnishings.

Mortis ex Verditus: Any corpses just lying around? What about audio logs?

Amayyas ex Misc: The room he takes you to is perhaps more modest that you expected of exotic Tunisia but still the nicest in the place. You are met by an old turbanned man with a white beard trailing down to his stomach.

There are 0 audio logs.

Rosario of Flambeau: "Charming place."

Archibald of Guernicus: I nod when I see him "Salve."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Now then, what's this invitation all about?"

Amayyas ex Misc: "The traces of magic lead us far from the luxuries of the world, but make us richer in the end."

Mortis ex Verditus: Said while sipping on purple potions.

Amayyas ex Misc: "I am Amayyas Ex Misc. Be seated and be welcome." He gestures to cushions on the ground.

sippin dat purp

Mortis ex Verditus: I'll take a load off.

Rosario of Flambeau: "Ah, thank you very much."

I remain standing.

Archibald of Guernicus: I'll take a cushion and sit

Rosario of Flambeau: Not to loom or anything, I just feel more comfortable standing up.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'll have a seat

Amayyas ex Misc: "What's it all about indeed, indeed, my friend."

"We an old covenant and you a new one, I an old man and you young Magi, yet much in common do we have, struggling against the whims of fate and the machinations of powerful men with great ambitions... All this and more we can discuss, the past, the present, the future, hopes, fears."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Does it have anything to do you with your haunting?"

Amayyas ex Misc: "It is the way of the sahir to seek accord with spirits, and in this tomb of a civilization we are at peace."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Sahir? Do you know anything about the Order of Sulieman?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "Your lineage is part of what drew us here."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "I'm also interested to learn of the travels of Alexander of Jerbiton, if he ever came through these parts."

Amayyas ex Misc: "A man does not reach 200 years of age and not know a great deal, my friend."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Two hundred...!" I exclaim

Amayyas ex Misc: "I see you bloom with questions like the fruit trees in an orchard. Long has it been since I fostered an apprentice, and a joy it is to have occasion to impart knowledge once more."

Archibald of Guernicus: "A legendary age, even in the days of the old longevity rituals."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Then you must know how troubled our Tribunal has been lately."

Rosario of Flambeau: I sit down.

Amayyas ex Misc: "Place not such faith in the longevity ritual, a crude and unnatural process. The sahir know the method of true physic to prolong health and life."

"Troubled lately, and troubled always. This is always the way of the Tribunal and the order."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Ah, too bad Lavnia isn't here."

Rosario of Flambeau: "I've certainly underestimated your tradition. I'd like to think Ramius would be impressed."

"You look in good physical shape for your age, if you don't mind me saying."

Amayyas ex Misc: He smiles and bows slightly to accept the compliment.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Things have been quite troubled lately, moreso than usual."

Mortis ex Verditus: "For example, a covenant who has long been absent from Tribunal business has contacted us to arrange a meeting. Would you know anything about that?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "I must be frank. There are those who suspect the order of sulieman - sahirs, like yourself - of involvement in the current crisis our tribunal faces. I came here to discuss more civil matters, but I must ask, do you know if your tradition has the means to poison magical auras throughout an entire tribunal?"

Amayyas ex Misc: "I see, I see.. Which shall we discuss first? My original letter? The rot of Herbam? Something else?"

Mortis ex Verditus: "Well, I think the most pressing business first. After all, we must be taking time away from your valuable labwork."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "We should ask for advice on how to get Gulielmus back, after we discuss the vis problem."

Archibald of Guernicus: I nod "Aye, there's a few things that brought us here. This one weighs the most heavily on my heart, so it should be first. A friend is held captive by the Order of Sulieman, their demands are far beyond our means."

Amayyas ex Misc: "What is most pressing to you?"

"I see, I see."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Conflict will only breed further conflict, all we want is a way to appease them and rescue our sodales."

Amayyas ex Misc: "A very unusual turn of events. How have you spoken to them?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "Through a portal of sahir design."

Mortis ex Verditus: "How much does the Order of Sulieman know about the Order of Hermes? They asked us to make peace between our two orders, but surely anyone with a passing familiarity of the Order of Hermes would know this is a herculean task."

Amayyas ex Misc: "A question with no little answer. Consider this. The word of the Prophet -- praise be unto him-- is written and copied for any literate man to see. Of those who wish to despoil the lands of the Sultan, how familiar are they with the Prophet's works?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Many in Criamon follow him."

Mortis ex Verditus: "I'd guess fairly familiar. I'm no student of the classics."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "As well as a friend of Vardian's Tomb at Verdi."

Amayyas ex Misc: "The one you saw on the column is Mighri of Criamon, believe and ornithomancer.'

Mortis ex Verditus: "Hmm."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Ornithomancer, you say?"

Amayyas ex Misc: "He saw your coming this day in the birds."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Well, in any case, peace between our two orders cannot be negotiated by a single covenant."

Amayyas ex Misc: "He has seen this and much more, much more... But let me not disgress."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "I should like to talk to him more, after our pressing business is resolved. I am a student of bird-related magicks myself."

Amayyas ex Misc: "Among those of the Order of Suleiman, there are those who know much of the Order of Hermes, and there are those who know little, yet all have their opinions regardless."

"Some may know your history better than you and some may know nothing more than you exist."

Rosario of Flambeau: I nod at Fiorella "Yes, and there's much I'd like to add to my health regimen. A lot to learn here."

Amayyas ex Misc: "You may be assured that the Viziers are the best educated of the Order and know what they must know to make their decisions with wisdom."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Hmm, have you ever entertained the notion of agitating for peace?"

"If that question is not too personal, of course."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Being a sahir but in the order of hermes, I must ask, how are you seen in their order?"

Amayyas ex Misc: The conversation pauses as a servant brings brings in cups to pour you a beverage the smells of lemon and honey.

Mortis ex Verditus: Yum what's the restipe?

Rosario of Flambeau: "Thank you." I nod to the servant.

Amayyas ex Misc: "If peace did not exist, Sansaron could not exist where it is, no?"

Archibald of Guernicus: I'll take a drink "Wise words."

Mortis ex Verditus: "I wouldn't presume to inquire about the nature of your defenses."

Amayyas ex Misc: "You speak as though each Order as a whole seeks to destroy the other. When Christendom saught to seize the holy lands, it was not all Christians, but the Franks -- the Romans accepted followers of the Prophet (pbuh) as their neighbors in peace despite mistrust."

it's medieval lemonade. cheers

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Amayyas ex Misc: "Those in Flambeau may hunger for war but many do not. Sansaron has made peace on its own terms, as one covenant, without needing the Order of Hermes to intervene."

Mortis ex Verditus: "It seems like we could come to an accord with the kidnappers, then."

Archibald of Guernicus: "What was given as the means to free our friend was the entire removal of the order of hermes from the Levant."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "As long as no one says anything silly, like 'join or die'. Though I don't think any of us are like that here at VT."

Archibald of Guernicus: "We wished to learn some idea from you of how best to approach, offering peace."

Amayyas ex Misc: "May I ask who made the demand?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton glances at Rosario

Rosario of Flambeau: "Well..."

Archibald of Guernicus: "I... in my younger days, I may have once..." I cough, turning away from Fiorella

Rosario of Flambeau: "I'll be out with it and just ask. You seem very respectable and you've been as hospitable as anyone."

Archibald of Guernicus: "But that is in the past. Did you know that the part 'Join Or' was added by Guernicus himself, on top of the current prevailing attitude?"

Rosario of Flambeau: "I know we all have our stereotypes of each other, and I'm sure we Flambeau are seen as savage beasts or some such thing here, but, well"

"You're not ALL demon-summoners, are you?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Oh yes, you asked a question. The demand was made by the one who once ruled Ponza. His name escapes me at the moment."

Amayyas ex Misc: "Discard your old trappings and notions, friend, and open your mind to the truth."

Mortis ex Verditus: Hakim Kemal.

Archibald of Guernicus: Hajimemashou

Mortis ex Verditus: "Does the Order of Sulieman have a presence in Tunisia? It might be worth it to us to contact them."

Amayyas ex Misc shifts in his cushion and thinks

Amayyas ex Misc: "I open my door but I have yet to open my heart. I guard true answers as I do not know yet if I can trust you with the knowledge they carry. Let me ask you this."

"If the only path to rescue your friend were in blood and fire, would you walk it?"

Rosario of Flambeau: "The last sahirs I encountered, just months ago, had books with spells to strengthen demons in their library, just out for all to peruse!"

My face relaxes a bit.

"They were pirates, of course."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Sock it to me," I say very contemporaneously.

"To be honest, I don't really know him. I don't think it would be fair for me to answer for his actual friends."

Rosario of Flambeau: "If any of my sodales were in danger, I would do anything to fight for them, of course."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Well, he's my friend. and he can cast the Leap of Homecoming so I don't believe he's being given the freedom necessary to engage his hermetic pursuits."

Archibald of Guernicus: "He might have had all possible arcane connections stripped from him."

Rosario of Flambeau strokes his bare chin

Archibald of Guernicus: "Even if he could theoretically get home that way, in practice, I doubt he can."

"And would you wish to teleport out into the open desert, so far from home?"

Mortis ex Verditus: "Doubtlessly they've chained him up."

Rosario of Flambeau: "What are you proposing, elder?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Right, I sometimes forget that teleportation is less effective than originally thought by the founders."

Amayyas ex Misc: "I can answer many questions, but I fear you may take what you learn not to resolve things in peace, but to exploit in a tactic of war."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "And that a mere chain to the ankle could stop it."

Amayyas ex Misc: "I know the man you speak of, Hakim Kemal. And I can tell you that he speaks for the Order of Suleiman no more than the Sultan's goat does. But if the Vizier thinks he can use your friend to help the Order, he will."

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Rosario of Flambeau: "I am sworn by oath to the Primus of my house and must obey his word, but, well..."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "He's asked for the entire withdrawal of the Order of Hermes from the Levant Tribunal. Were his demands more feasible, I'd consider complying."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Quite unreasonable, aye."

Mortis ex Verditus: "We might be able to handle it."

"I think that if we could visit the Grand Tribunal we could get them assent to that agreement."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "For the live of one maga?"

Mortis ex Verditus: "It would benefit everyone."

Archibald of Guernicus: "The magi of the levant wouldn't choose Gulielmus over their own homes."

Amayyas ex Misc: "I do know of a Vizier in Tunisia. For 200 years we have maintained the peace between us. He trusts me as I trust him. Were I to tell you about him and you to decide your best action would be to assault the man, I will have betrayed that trust."

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Well I think it's about 50/50 we would assault him.

Archibald of Guernicus: "I'm not looking for a fight with the man. Fiorella and Mortis, these are temperate magi with no personal quarels that could emerge. Rosario, I must ask, does your vow bind you to cause strife with him?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: It would be our best bet to trade him for Gulielmus so Amayyas is being smart.

Archibald of Guernicus: "If you feel you cannot meet with him safely, then please say."

Amayyas ex Misc: "Let us not be hasty. I cannot even be certain the man would care to meet you. You are Firenj, members of a hostile Order, all unknown to him."

Rosario of Flambeau: "To take the words of the Founder in good faith, the true measure of a magus is not how much power he wields, but the worthiness of the cause in which he wields it. A war mustn't be a frivolous action. The goal is always peace."

Amayyas ex Misc: "I know of him and from him know some of the details of his Order. It is from that that I am able to speak."

Mortis ex Verditus: "What if we were to agree to some kind of penalty if we were to attack the Vizier?"

Rosario of Flambeau: "Take my word that while my nature as a miles is to always consider war, it is, in my interpretation, never meant to be the first approach."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "We could give him time to arrange some sort of safe communication, like Hakim's brazier."

Rosario of Flambeau: "To guard and uphold the honor of my

sodales;

To despise wickedness and deceit,

Never to consent to wrongdoing."

"To these vows and others I have sworn."

Amayyas ex Misc: "I can attempt to arrange something, given a few days. Do you know what you would say to him? His power is limited but his commitment to the order strong." Amayyas gives you a quick rundown of the structure of the OoS: each local community elects Viziers, the Viziers in turn elect the Grand Vizier at a solomonic council, who has unchecked power but works by consensus and tradition. each vizier belongs to one of 5 main lineages/families called "asalat" + 1 sort of ex misc non specialized group

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Well, we could agree that we would use our influence to remove the Hermetic magicians from the Levant.

Archibald of Guernicus: It would be along the lines of asking how to arrange a polite meeting, if someone could speak with him and see if they can talk him into actual negotiations

by pointing out what he asks for is just impossible

Mortis ex Verditus: How many Hermetic wizards are even operating in the Levant?

Amayyas ex Misc:

Mortis ex Verditus: It might be as easy as just kidnapping someone.

Amayyas ex Misc: Less than 20.

There are to your knowledge 3 functioning covenants still left there.

Mortis ex Verditus: Anyone have Order of Hermes lore?

Rosario of Flambeau: I sure do.

rolling 1d10+1

(

8

)

+1

=

9

Woo!

Mortis ex Verditus: Awwwwww yeah.

Archibald of Guernicus: I do, I think

Rosario of Flambeau: 0 int is very powerful.

Archibald of Guernicus: oh oops

I somehow dont

good luck sodales

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I have one OoH Lore, since I'm someone spaced out this message might come across too late.

Amayyas ex Misc: Rosario knows that there's fewer covenants now than were before the fall of the crusader states, that Acre is the best place to go to contact those covenants, that they do pretty well on vis and are able to sell excess vis back to Italian tribunal

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Well, this sounds like it might take a while.

Does anyone want to actually commit to this diplomatic action?

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Sure

Mortis ex Verditus: I might be able to pull it off, but I'd need help.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: But first, I'll go start a correspondence iwth the Criamon birdman

Fellow non-Bjornaer bird lover

Amayyas ex Misc: Ok.

Amayyas can arrange a meet then.

Do you want to discuss anything else in the next couple days or skip to that?

Rosario of Flambeau: I'll also go with the full diplo action.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'll make sure my AC to my lab is fresh

Mortis ex Verditus: We have a lot more to discuss.

We need to talk about the vis crisis and the original reason for this meeting.

Rosario of Flambeau: I have no idea how well it'll go over with house Flambeau since I'm sure the Primus meant something else by pursue the order of suleiman.

Amayyas ex Misc: the bird man also has some things to say when you choose to deal with him

Mortis ex Verditus: We can also ask him if he's seen the Spider.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Yeah

Archibald of Guernicus: I do need to discuss the Private Matter with him that Venator asked about, we can probably resolve that in PMs or whatnot though so I'll just say that I do it in this timeframe

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Everything Mortis said

Mortis ex Verditus: "Have you seen the Spider around?"

Amayyas ex Misc: you can send steam msgs

Rosario of Flambeau: Rosario is like the nonexistent cop all the other cops hate because he really cares about the law and doesnt just use it as an excuse to kill people

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I can talk to birdman whenever

Amayyas ex Misc: "What type? A sand spider? Terrible creatures, but few around here, more to the south."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Talking about the Herbam problem with Amayyas can come before bird business

Mortis ex Verditus: "You know, that English magician. He was some kind of Ex Miscellenae bogeyman."

Amayyas ex Misc: "Ah, it has been a long time since I was an apprentice hearing my teacher recount the tales of the old days of the Order."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Faustus might know some stuff about The Spider, but I think he should be GM conrolled if he says anything

Mortis ex Verditus: "He has 'returned' to cause havoc and we've been 'investigating' his 'interference' with the Tribunal."

Amayyas ex Misc: Does Mortis make airquotes as he says that

Mortis ex Verditus: Yes.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "It could be someone claiming to be him, or of his legacy."

"Consolatta of Mercere was not exactly a paragon of honesty."

Amayyas ex Misc: "The wisest sahirs have claimed great longevity. But nothing even close to what the Spider would need to be still alive and human today. It is simply beyond the natural capacity of man since the era of the Patriarchs ended."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Magical might could sustain him."

"It's said that Quendalon became a fairy, and Simon Magus a daimon."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Well, consider yourself fortunate that he hasn't been 'sighted' in the area. It would no doubt bring a horde of Flambeau to your doorstep."

Amayyas ex Misc: "Indeed. This topic I likely know less than any of you, us seldom relishing the tales of the Founders in this corner of the Order."

"There are ways for one to ascend from man to being of might. I know of none that can occur as one is dying on the battlefield though."

Mortis ex Verditus: "What was our covenant originally contacted to discuss? Missives from Sansarron are rare enough that it is something of an honor."

Amayyas ex Misc: "Unless you would claim him a saint or an honoree of the hall of heroes... I would not let a follower of Pralix hear that though."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "I believe the norseman's apotheosis involves dying in battle."

Amayyas ex Misc: "Mighri saw great change in turmoil in our future. More than us, or any one covenant alone can handle."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Well, that has certainly proven to be the case."

Amayyas ex Misc: "We sit periously in the land of the Order of Suleiman, and near the encroaching spirit of the Red -- the hungering, devouring, destroying desert."

Mortis ex Verditus: "You're in luck, it just so happens we have an expert in the enslavement of spirits with us today."

Amayyas ex Misc: "We have lasted long by not being tied to the squabbles of your tribunal, but if Mighri's omens are true-- as they have always been -- we cannot survive without friends and allies."

Fiorella of Jerbiton sits back in reflection, as she thinks about what she heard about viking ghosts from older covenant members.

Amayyas ex Misc: "Ah, one of you is a manipulator of spirits?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "Well, I have my moments."

Amayyas ex Misc: also shaun is right if faustus really knew gourma the fetid then he should have a clue, remind me about that later

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Okay

Amayyas ex Misc smiles

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Sorry I never think to mention it in Discord or Steam

Amayyas ex Misc: "If you should ever find life in the Order does not suit you, know that anyone who can summon and handle spirits qualifies for the Order of Suleiman."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Quite an offer."

Archibald of Guernicus: "A kind offer, but I've sworn my oaths, and I treat them with the importance they should carry."

Amayyas ex Misc: gahahahahahahahaha

ahem.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "It would be hard to give up the prestige of House Guernicus, I imagine."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Well, you are in my tribunal, Amayyas, and so my sword is raised in your defense."

Mortis ex Verditus: "I will definitely your gracious offer serious consideration."

"give your offer"

Amayyas ex Misc: "As for allying -- we have reached out to many in the Roman tribunal. Today is not a day to deal in fine details like merchants haggling over a market stall but I can say that Sansaron knows the lay of the land and the many opportunities it has for skilled Magi."

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

"Do you have many corpses?"

Amayyas ex Misc: "Do I err in presuming you a necromancer?"

Mortis ex Verditus: I'm just asking questions.

"Yes, an expert necromancer."

Amayyas ex Misc: "Then you would be interested in the ruins of the Garamantians. When the civilization still lived it mastered the magic of death and to this day their undead servants still toil in mines ceaselessly in the desert, long after their masters have turned to dust."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Quite a find, certainly."

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Vardian's Tomb has a lasting reputation from its older days as a hive of necromancers, but in truth Mortis is our first in quite some time."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Using corpses to work in a mine is quite the popular idea, I'm finding."

Amayyas ex Misc: "And what of Venator? I have not heard from him in some time."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Well, I wouldn't know anything about that."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Before my time as well, I'm afraid."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "I never knew the man well."

Mortis ex Verditus: Well that's that then!

Archibald of Guernicus: "Venator, unfortunately, recieved threats from some debate with another archmage. They're a famed slayer of magi, and he found that they'd been asking others to gather connections to him."

"He is in hiding, I am sad to say."

Rosario of Flambeau: "He hasn't been Marched, has he?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "Oh no, no no."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "There was a major shakeup in recent years. I went from being the most junior member to the third most senior, 4th if Gulielmus comes back."

Rosario of Flambeau: "That's very unsporting of whoever it was to threaten and posture without making an honorable challenge."

Archibald of Guernicus: "But he fears for his safety, and the position of Consul became our real leadership. He left the covenant to ensure no danger fell upon us."

Mortis ex Verditus: "You know, it occurs to me that you could simply declare a Wizard's War of your own on Venator's foe."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Shame, shame."

Archibald of Guernicus: "They are an old and much-feared archmage, Mortis. They are not new to wizard's war, and the stories I have heard of their past exploits make it clear such an idea should not be pursued lightly."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Plus, we'd lose access to redcap services."

Mortis ex Verditus: "He's your friend, of course, so you should use your own best judgement."

"Redcaps? How much trouble could a Redcap be in a Wizard's War?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "If you like getting mail, quite a bit."

"I would merely suggest having alternative lines of communication ready."

Archibald of Guernicus: "He left in his last messages to us, warnings about several archmagi, but we should simply steer clear of them for the moment. He wished, above all else, for the safety of the covenant."

Amayyas ex Misc: "We must all do what we must for the sake of peace."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Also an aegis doesn't do much against a Redcap sneaking in and stabbing you in your sleep, I'm afraid."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Several archmagi? How mischievous was this Venator, anyway?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "Venator was quite a dangerous character in his youth I have heard, but he became a man very deeply concerned with peace in his later years."

Mortis ex Verditus: "In any case, we have another important matter to discuss today: the total withering of Herbam vis throughout the covenant."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Aye."

Mortis ex Verditus: Oh, look who came out of his cave.

Guy of Bonisagus: appear

Rosario of Flambeau: "Feeling better, Guy?"

Guy of Bonisagus: "Aye, thank you."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Ah, Guy, you're finally recovered from your seasickness!"

Guy of Bonisagus: nice wall carpet

Archibald of Guernicus: "Please, take a seat with us."

we're all sitting on cushions hanging out with a 200-year-old sahir

devil's fav demon: would it be uncouth to ask for a break while someone catches up beardbeard

i kind of want to make tea

Amayyas ex Misc: i dont mind

Archibald of Guernicus: i need to brb a few minutes anyway, so fine

good luck johns and endrite

Guy of Bonisagus: please, catch me up

Rosario of Flambeau: i put a guy in a headlock and dragged him out of a window.

brb.

Mortis ex Verditus: We're visiting Sansarron.

Guy of Bonisagus: wow!

Amayyas ex Misc: ok you're caught up

i got a couple spells working in minecraft yesterday. im very hype

Mortis ex Verditus: This guy is a sahir with ties to the Order of Suleiman and he's going to arrange a meeting with the local Vizier.

Viziers are like Covenant bosses but more Arabian.

Guy of Bonisagus: nice

did we explain to him the situation then

Mortis ex Verditus: Uh what else...

Amayyas ex Misc: they're community representatives who elect the grand vizier when the last one dies

Mortis ex Verditus: There's a ornithologist Criamon who can see the future.

Amayyas ex Misc: and the grand vizier is basically king of the order of sulieman, excpet he is also loyal to the real king (sultan)

also the Order of Suleiman is a millino times more civilized, tolerant, and peaceful than the barbarian Frankish Order of HErmes

Mortis ex Verditus: He hasn't heard anything about the Spider, which makes sense because I'm pretty sure the Spider is dead.

Guy of Bonisagus: i mean the gulielmus situation

or are we just saying wed like to meet the vizier

Mortis ex Verditus: Yeah we'd meet with him to arrange Gulielmus' liberation from his bondage.

Oh yeah and he suggested that I visit a skeleton mine.

Amayyas ex Misc: actualloy -- you'll dig this -- they're not even skeletons

Fiorella of Jerbiton: What if tehre's a powerful faerie king claiming to be The Spider?

Amayyas ex Misc: the incredibly arid climate of Garamantia has left them as dessicated, charcoal black corpses

Archibald of Guernicus: badass

Mortis ex Verditus: Noice.

* Turns chair around and sits in it backwards.

Guy of Bonisagus: extremely cool

Mortis ex Verditus: "Let's rap."

Amayyas ex Misc: regarding herbam, Amayyas says he noticed the planetary conjunction, his sodales Al-Qasim has said its a divine test of the OoH's mettle, Ghassan hasn't been around the past couple seasons, and Mighri is meditating on it atop a pillar.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'm going to hang out with a fellow bird wizard

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Who are Al-Qasim and Ghassan?

Hello.

Amayyas ex Misc: He summons and introduces Al-Qasim.

The man trails sand in his wake and smiles a mouth full of yellow sharp teeth.

Ghassan is on Safari.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Twilight scars?" I ask politely

Mortis ex Verditus: Sounds fun.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "How long does Mighri stay in meditation usually?"

Mortis ex Verditus: He's just really messy.

Like Pigpen.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "I don't want to disturb him, but I don't get to often speak to fellow hermetic bird enthusiasts."

Al-Qasim ex Misc: "They are small prices to pay for the power I wield."

Mighri of Criamon: "Salaam Aleeikum, and ave."

he says to Fiorella.

from atop the pillar.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Ave."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Hello, I'm Mortis ex Verditus. I understand you think the current crisis is a trial from God."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Mortis should go first since he's taking some initiative here

Mighri of Criamon: Multitrack NPCing.

im just researching something about Al-Qasim before he answers.

Mortis ex Verditus: Fair enough.

Al-Qasim ex Misc: "And none too soon. The order has grown fat and spoiled. Hardship will remind them what it means for power to be earned, not granted."

Rosario of Flambeau: "This guy looks strong!" internal goku voice

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "I hear the birds bring you many tidings. I myself have been initiated into exotic bird magic, and would like to make your friendship."

johns (GM): Mighri looks at Fiorella. "I spot the birds above and the bird below. I sense a soul in search of answers."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Then why has the rot only afflicted the Roman Tribunal and without any favor for any covenant?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "There are some recent events I've struggled to find meaning in, though I'm not sure if the birds can help me." Or the Engima, I think OOCly

johns (GM): Al-Qasim: "It affects all, and only the best will survive the test."

Mighri says some incomprehensible Sufi stuff about struggling all your life for meaning etc.

Mortis ex Verditus: "Seems fair. Do you think the crisis will grow worse before it ends? I, personally, have not had much trouble."

Guy of Bonisagus: these guys are cool

Mortis ex Verditus: Let's all move to Sansarron.

johns (GM): Al-Qasim grins wickedly. "I pray it does and humbles every proud fool."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Yeah

They are cool, and we should move here

johns (GM): Also. i think there is a little confusion here.

the herbam rot has not only affected the roman tribunal.

Mortis ex Verditus: Ah.

johns (GM): it has affected everywhere.

Mortis ex Verditus: Ok.

"Not much call for plant magic in the desert, eh?"

johns (GM): Amayyas, for instance, can confirm that there used to be a field nearby the grew powerful Heady Lotus Blooms of Virtue, that is now barren.

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Rosario of Flambeau: I wonder if there's a reason Strabo is suddenly attacking us again.

Mortis ex Verditus: "Would the Order of Suleiman have the ability to cause this crisis? It does seem too widespread to be their doing, though."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Must one undergo the initiations of Criamon to understand the birds as you do?"

johns (GM): Amayyas answers that it is beyond anything he has ever conceived of. "The Red -- a primordial power of destruction -- has ravaged lands in Africa since time immemorial. But there has always been the Black and its allies to keep it at bay. To tip the scales so dramatically and so suddenly... then again, the nature of magic is so vast that we are but mere ants contemplating the depth of the ocean in comparison."

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Rosario of Flambeau: "It sounds like they need Jesus."

johns (GM): Mighli tells Fiorella, "I've always had the gift to see signs.. It was the Enigma, and the study of the Prophet that taught me to really understand what I could see."

Mortis ex Verditus: It does seem a bit much for Richard Strabo to do.

We could ask the Vizier about this.

I'm sure they must be having the same trouble.

Rosario of Flambeau: He's probably reacting poorly to all magical herbam vis rotting.

johns (GM): there's some special islamic honorific they use for jesus, not the Praise Be Unto Him

and now i wish i remembered it

Rosario of Flambeau: Considering his plan involved using us to locate an entire garden regio of herbam vis.

Guy of Bonisagus: oh yeah

rip that regio

Archibald of Guernicus: oh

rip

RIP

Mortis ex Verditus: Well.

Who knows.

It might be fine.

Archibald of Guernicus: It's outside Rome, so probably fin

unless this is order-wide

Rosario of Flambeau: ...

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "I see. While I haven't been chosen to be guided into the mysteries of The Enigma, perhaps the wisdom of holy texts other than The Bible could help me make some sense of recent times. Please tell me more about this Prophet."

Rosario of Flambeau: It is.

Archibald of Guernicus: oh

i thought this was just our tribunal

Mighri of Criamon: "The tree has borne rotting fruit."

Rosario of Flambeau: johns (GM): Also. i think there is a little confusion here.

the herbam rot has not only affected the roman tribunal.

johns (GM): it has affected everywhere.

Mortis ex Verditus: Fiorella comes back in an hour wearing a full burka.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Maybe.

Guy of Bonisagus: fiorella has autism and is easily influenced

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Burqa + stigmata

Mighri of Criamon: Lets All Become Muslim

Fiorella of Jerbiton: If you insist

Mortis ex Verditus: AFK a sec.

johns (GM): Mighri repeats, "The tree has borne rotting fruit," then lapses back into a trance.

Archibald of Guernicus: good thing no magi in this game needed herbam vis

johns (GM): this is why we had to kill bonfilia just fyi.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'll leave him alone for now

johns (GM): anything more to discuss before the Meeting with the Vizier?

Archibald of Guernicus: oh my go

it was bonfilia

Fiorella of Jerbiton: If he wants to correspond with an Animal specialist he knows I'm at VT

Rosario of Flambeau: Archibald of Guernicus: oh my go

it was bonfilia

johns (GM): its bonfilia austin. it was bonfilia all along.

Rosario of Flambeau: I want some health tips.

Guy of Bonisagus: was it really bonfilia johns

johns (GM): well, this is a bit of a bummer, because Sahir cannot brew their insane Physic health potions for anyone but themselves

Fiorella of Jerbiton: 100 pushups, 100 situps

Guy of Bonisagus: i swear to god

johns (GM): unlike longevity rituals

Rosario of Flambeau: Gah!

johns (GM): no it was not

i'll explicitly state that right now

Rosario of Flambeau: Unfortunately now that I've learned this fact, kill every filthy sahir

johns (GM): But. If you became a Sahir and got initiated in Sahir Physic

you could learn the secret of living two centuries

Guy of Bonisagus: saqueer

Rosario of Flambeau: I would love to do that but then I would probably be Marched by every other Flambeau and pursued aggressively

Archibald of Guernicus: A flambeau becoming a sahir seems like a good recipe for getting wizard warred by 200 guys at once

johns (GM): Let's All betray our houses

Rosario of Flambeau: rosario eventually becomes jaded about the code of hermes and everyone being hypocrites and leaves all his acclaim behind to smoke hash

johns (GM): archibald did it by giving up his Oath of Fealty. lavinia did it by joining the OoH. guy did it by being a Bonisagus at vardian's tomb who didn't die immediately

Archibald of Guernicus: I've not betrayed the house, just removed a flaw you constantly complained about

johns (GM): i know.

it was the setup to a joke.

Rosario of Flambeau: Rosario becomes a Sahir then puts 20xp a year into Great Weapon for 100 years

johns (GM): i had to put in 2 examples before the bit about guy, because of the rule of 3.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'm going to go to the Cave of Twisting Shadows and become a Criamon

Archibald of Guernicus: Sounds like the decaying attributes would affect your rolls to hit people more than the diminishing returns on xp

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Post-gauntlet you just have to spend ayear there to convert

johns (GM): i think sahirs can remove decriptude

Archibald of Guernicus: :pepe:

Mortis ex Verditus: Ok I'm back.

Guy of Bonisagus: we should definitely become sahirs

johns (GM): Al-Iksir Points: 1

Beneficial Effects: Remove an Aging Point;

Reduce Age and Apparent Age by 2;

Reduce Apparent Age by 10

Al-Iksir Points: Points equal to the absolute

value of the Characteristic.

johns (GM): Beneficial Effects: Improve a decreased

Characteristic by 1, though not above

the character’s starting score.

but you take weird warping and check for twilight when you use the elixer

Rosario of Flambeau: also i have affinity with great weapon so it would actually be 32 xp a year.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: You could be initiated into the Ex Misc version

johns (GM): also you get funny personality traits

Guy of Bonisagus: alright everyone, you just have to give up your love of god

johns (GM): a good tradeoff I think

Guy of Bonisagus: then you can be sahirs

johns (GM): Anyway

Two days pass in the very modest hospitality of Sansaron. This place makes your underground catacomb seem fancy by comparison, but they are trying

Mortis ex Verditus: I'll ask if he's talked with the Vizier about the herbam problem.

Rosario of Flambeau: 150 year old man who can burn fatigue to make attack rolls at +50 or more ftw

johns (GM): He has not yet. He admits he has occasional correspondence by letter but rarely meets the man face to face, each being paranoid about the other

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'll talk about The Enigma and Sufism with Mighri

johns (GM): And yet on this 3rd day, he lets you know that you WILL be seeing the Vizier -- a man by the name of Al'Mazurah -- face to face

Fiorella of Jerbiton: During those two days

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

johns (GM): You learn a lot about mysticism, more than I can ever hope to pretend to know in order to RP here

Mortis ex Verditus: Let's talk to Al'Mazurah about it.

Well you hear about it, anyway.

Who knows how much you learn?

Amayyas ex Misc: "The vizier will be coming here, under protection of many guards. If you broach our pact you are not only breaking my trust but also the sacred laws of hospitality. I shall extend my Parma over him as well."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: 2 days isn't really enough to learn anything in Ars

Amayyas ex Misc: Advanced course in Bird Watching

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: If you gained a single XP in 2 days that'd be 45 over the course of a season

Mortis ex Verditus: Let's trade the Parma Magica for Gulielmus.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Okay

Amayyas ex Misc: whats to say they don't already have it. gahaha

Mortis ex Verditus: Bwahaha.

Amayyas ex Misc: Genius brain: We need decimal fraction XP gains

Fiorella of Jerbiton: If they have Parma let's admit defeant and oing the OoS

* join the Order of Sulielmon

Amayyas ex Misc: That afternoon, the rumble of footsteps heralds the approach of a small army. Soldiers on foot, halberdiers, cavalry on horseback, archers on camel back..

Archibald of Guernicus: PBUH

Amayyas ex Misc: A plump, sumptuously dressed man rides the largest and most majestic Arabian steed you have seen.

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Guy of Bonisagus: "That's the most majestic Arabian steed I've ever seen."

Mortis ex Verditus: Why don't we have halberdiers?

Rosario of Flambeau: "That's the second most majestic steed I've ever seen."

Amayyas ex Misc: when i was tooling the grog stats i noticed most of our grogs do actually favor great weapons

Rosario of Flambeau: "In general."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Poleaxes are really good

Mortis ex Verditus: Speaking of, what's the latest development in armor?

Archibald of Guernicus: Wearing it

Mortis ex Verditus: I know half-plate is popular but there's no stats for it.

Amayyas ex Misc: The company comes to a halt at one of the gaps in the ruins, the closest thing that you could call a gate to the covenant. A pair of slaves roll out a persian carpet and set up a shade umbrella and the Vizier takes a seat for your meeting.

Guy of Bonisagus: looking forward to when johns stats up gonnes

Fiorella of Jerbiton: There's a spell in Flambeau for making weightless armor

Amayyas ex Misc: rope kid would murder me but i think basic full plate should be available for a select few nobles by this stage

beyond the resources for magi to get ofc XD

Guy of Bonisagus: dont type like that

Amayyas ex Misc: gaha.

Mortis ex Verditus: This is pretty good.

Guy of Bonisagus: a neet for a couple weeks and johns reverts to his true form

Mortis ex Verditus: Well who should we have meet with Al'Mazurah?

Archibald of Guernicus: Hmm

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Guy is Gentle Gifted

Archibald of Guernicus: We should send someone out to find out how he reacts to the Gift, with Guy

if he doesnt react to it negatively, well

then I can join you

Mortis ex Verditus: He's protected by the Parma Magica.

Al'Mazurah: yea

Archibald of Guernicus: I dont want to destroy good relations iwth my stink

Mortis ex Verditus: Specifically, by Amayyas'.

Archibald of Guernicus: ohh

Mortis ex Verditus: Let's kill Amayyas now that his Parma is weak.

Rosario of Flambeau: Smart.

Al'Mazurah: it IS smart

Archibald of Guernicus: I'll head out, then, with whoever else goes

Mortis ex Verditus: Alright, let's all go, as a show of how united we are.

Al'Mazurah sits and fans himself expecantly

Al'Mazurah: expectantly.

Guy of Bonisagus: im a good talker

Mortis ex Verditus: Let's hope so.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'll stand in the giftstinker corner

Al'Mazurah: in your case, girlstink is more a problem than giftstink

Fiorella of Jerbiton: True

Guy of Bonisagus: did our sansaron friends tell us the appropriate titles to address this man with

Rosario of Flambeau: I just have the regular gift but he should be impressed that I'm not attacking people like a barbarian.

Al'Mazurah: Vizier.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'll wear a burqa i guess

Guy of Bonisagus: is that all

Al'Mazurah: That'll do, Guy.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: So as to not offend our guest

Guy of Bonisagus: he needs at least a paragraph of titles or i cant take him seriously

Archibald of Guernicus: "Salve, Vizier."

Guy of Bonisagus: "Hail, great Vizier."

Mortis ex Verditus: I don't think it's polite to talk about his weight.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: He looks fit to me

Al'Mazurah: "Peace and mercy and the blessing of God and his Prophet Mohammeh (priase be unto him) to you."

"I, Vizier Al'Mazurah, esteemed of the wise men of Tunis, extend welcome to you as guests of the most civilized country on God's great earth."

Guy of Bonisagus: does he already know the meeting is about gulielmus or was a general meeting just requested

Al'Mazurah: i forgot to ask so we can assume the former to skip ahead

Rosario of Flambeau: "And may the blessings of Christ be with you."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Where is Gulielmus?"

Guy of Bonisagus: "We are honored to be in your most hospitable presence."

Al'Mazurah: "Peace be upon him," the vizier says to the mention of Christ.

is Mortis asking with curiosity or in a rude jerk sort of way

Mortis ex Verditus: I'm asking bluntly.

Fiorella of Jerbiton messed around with her burqa, seeing if it lets her gesture secretly.

Al'Mazurah: "The captive is in the custody of the Majlis al-Sulayman and the Grand Vizier Zumurrud al-Wazir al-Dall, blessing upon him."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Wow, these things are handy after all

Mortis ex Verditus: "Good, I think that today we can come to an agreement that will see him at liberty."

Guy of Bonisagus: "Our thanks for the great hospitality they have shown him while we sort out this confusion."

Al'Mazurah: "I would have been glad that you'd liberate your friend when he was in the hands of that dog, that mangy cur, the scum Hakim Kemal, he who is damned and deserved nothing but the sole of my shoe."

Mortis ex Verditus: I mean let's face facts: he had a great racket.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I think a Muslim female magi can be seen by her sodales, as they are foster brothers.

Al'Mazurah: "But Hakim has delivered your friend to the Grand Vizier, the sage, wise, just, and honorable, thinking it will reclaim him honor and his place in the Order. And now your Wizard's fate can only be decided by the Grand Vizier."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Which explains how Kifaaya went about

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Well this is troubling.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Perhaps he can be advocated for

Guy of Bonisagus: I nod. "And we are certain the honorable Grand Vizier's most sagacious judgement will see our friend free, once he knows the situation."

Archibald of Guernicus: "We realise that there are those in our order who have sought war with your own, throughout both our histories. But Gulielmus is a peaceful, noble soul. He is a man who has only sought to do good in the world."

"All we ask is the means for this man to go free, to rejoin his friends and live peacefully."

Guy of Bonisagus: "Yes, a poor man assaulted by a foe he couldn't see, relying on the good will of the nearest man to help him to safety."

Al'Mazurah: "The grand vizier will ask his viziers for council, and I will advise him, and Allah guide me that my wisdom be true, it is in the best interest of all that the man not be freed."

Mortis ex Verditus: Makes you think.

"How long will such a consultation take?"

Al'Mazurah: "Months at the least."

Mortis ex Verditus: Go for it, Guy.

Guy of Bonisagus: hmm

"What has lead you to think this, good vizier?"

Al'Mazurah: "By the will of Allah a Frankish wizard is in the grasp of the Order of Suleiman, and so long as he is there, there shall be peace, for none would attack and in doing so condemn t heir brother to death. And so long as the Grand Vizier holds the Frank, he shall see that the peace it brings is worth more than any ransom he could trade for."

Rosario of Flambeau: "I don't think you understand House Flambeau very well."

Al'Mazurah: "Flambeau!" He fans himself agitatedly.

Rosario of Flambeau: "While I would not attack, being that Gulielmus is my Sodalis and friend, the rest of my house will consider him an acceptable loss and his kidnapping a summons for war."

"I hope to resolve this before such a thing happens."

Guy of Bonisagus: "Good vizier, this peace you speak of is a hollow one, one that holds only because of the respect for our brother. Should we not work towards a peace based on respect of each other?"

Mortis ex Verditus: Fat guys fanning themselves is always epic.

AFK a sec.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Rosario is correct. There are many who do not know Gulielmus, or might deem that he's already lost for good, and thus it is fine to attack. It will not guarantee peace."

Al'Mazurah: hmm

"I thought your Order purported to be civilized? What you say now is barbarism."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Maybe if you kidnapped a Zeno instead, you could get a bunch of knights out of your lands

It's worse than barbarism, it's a democracy

Al'Mazurah shudders

Al'Mazurah: democracy where women have the right to vote

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Yes

Archibald of Guernicus: "There is fear growing in the order about your own, more than anything, for peace, we need to talk."

"Old grudges that have lasted too long. Far too long."

Guy of Bonisagus: "Archibald is correct. Dark times are brewing."

Rosario of Flambeau: "It is simply another code of conduct. Keeping prisoners and threatening their death is barbarism, to me. Kill your opponent or live in mutual respect, don't play games and torture and treat him like less than a man."

Mortis ex Verditus: Keeping prisoners is the height of chivalry.

Guy of Bonisagus: endrites right

Al'Mazurah: yeah

Rosario of Flambeau: I would need confirmation that Gulielmus is being treated with mercy and dignity.

Al'Mazurah: its one of the foundations of society that keeps things from devolving into anarchic warlordism

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Um, nobles take prisoners as leverage all the time," I say quietly behind my veil

Al'Mazurah: "I am sure your man is being treated with care and luxury. His health and every want tended to that he may never fall sick or wish to leave."

Rosario of Flambeau: You're talking to a representative of the military arm of house flambeau.

You take prisoners but you have to show off how nicely they're being treated and how it's actually so much better to live in captivity with us than it is to live in freedom at home.

And all that.

Mortis ex Verditus: Well he's saying that's what's happening.

Guy of Bonisagus: "I am certain he is in perfect health, but he also certainly wishes to leave. Would you be kept away from your brothers in a distant land, uncertain whether you would see them again?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "If he doesn't wish to return to Vardian's Tomb, have him communicate such, so that hermetic property can be reclaimed."

Rosario of Flambeau: He seems to be threatening to kill Guli if we don't do what he wants, and I don't see any proof that he's being treated well.

Fiorella of Jerbiton thinks about all those juicy potions he has stored

Al'Mazurah: "The ways of the world seldom give us what we want, Guy. We must do what we must do to guarantee ourselves in a world of violence and force."

Mortis ex Verditus: Expanding genius brain: We should assassinate Gulilemus to allow further attacks on the Order of Sulieman.

Guy of Bonisagus: I shake my head. "We are all God's children, looking for knowledge to illuminate the great world He has given us. We should work together with love, not plot with fear and hatred."

Al'Mazurah: "I have trusted Amayyas for many decades, but I have still shown up with my retinue. He takes no offense to this, because he knows it is simply knows his order has always saught to destroy mine."

Rosario of Flambeau: I mean the Primus is ready to roll in and attack these guys on an assumption they're responsible for the Herbam plague.

Mortis ex Verditus: "How do we know this won't lead to further kidnappings of Hermetic wizards?"

Al'Mazurah: that is a pickle.

Archibald of Guernicus: "In this case, his use for you all is his power as a force of peace, aye? If you were presented with something equal to his use to you all, can you give your word that you would release him for such an offer."

Rosario of Flambeau: And I could report hey, not only are they not responsible for the plague, they even found our lovely sodalis safe and sound and returned him to us.

Al'Mazurah: "It was not our order reaching into your lands to seize one of you. A fallen man of ours -- Hakim, ousted for his treachery and deceitfulness long ago -- and even he only took the captive after he was attacked by him."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: We should consider letting cumthinker make a new magi at this point

Rosario of Flambeau: Or I could say well, unfortunately they've kidnapped my friend, the dogs.

Guy of Bonisagus: "Hakim was not attacked, this I am certain of."

Al'Mazurah: we should consider killing cumthinker.

"What do you propose, Archibald?"

"You speak like you have something in mind."

Mortis ex Verditus: I think he was attacked, since I attacked him with an army of corpses.

Guy of Bonisagus: yes but not by gulielmus

Al'Mazurah: rosario reports that the order of solomon is innocent and then is immediately wizwarred by flambeau to remove a suspected sleeper agent

Rosario of Flambeau: lol

they can be innocent of this specific crime and still be the dastardly order of solomon

Archibald of Guernicus: "Your order uses vis as well, does it not?"

"Perhaps you call it by another name, I know precious little of your order."

Al'Mazurah: "Yes -- we call it  Taqa ."

Sahirs use a great deal of vis, and they

tend to describe it in unique terms, such as

“the claw from the black beast Ashmael” or

“magic incense made by Istvaan al-Makki.”

Mortis ex Verditus: Florid.

Archibald of Guernicus: "You may have noticed that some of this  Taqa  has been strange as of late. Rot, and such." I look at him and measure his reaction

Al'Mazurah: Folk Ken + Per

Archibald of Guernicus: Does a folk ken spec in magi still apply if they're non-hermetic?

Al'Mazurah: Works 4 me.

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+5

(

3

)

+5

=

8

Guy of Bonisagus: this guy isnt a magus at all though

Archibald of Guernicus: Conf

Guy of Bonisagus: oh wait no he is

thats right

solomons dont have parma

Archibald of Guernicus: Yeah he's a sahir

Al'Mazurah: lol. i just tricked archibald into acknowledging an ungifted hedgie as a magus.

Archibald of Guernicus screams

Al'Mazurah cackles and disappears in a puff of smoke

Mortis ex Verditus: Time to pack it in.

Turn in your badge.

(To Archibald of Guernicus): His expression is surprise at you mentioning it -- not at the phenomenon of vis rot itself, which he is definitely aware of.

Al'Mazurah: "The nature of  Taqa  is mysterious."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Don't pretend to be ignorant of the situation."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Very much so. There are many who would jump to blame your own order for it, lay the blame at your feet. Gulielmus or not, crisis pushes rational minds aside in favour of warmongerers and bloodthirst."

Mortis ex Verditus: "We all know it's afflicted the entire world."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I should look up the status of Jerbiton in the Levant someday

I just know the famous explorer, Alexander, ventured around those parts

Archibald of Guernicus: "This is a dangerous situation, but this is also a time where, perhaps, a rift could be mended between our two orders. Perhaps not friends, but neighbours who do not seek the death of one another would be a great leap."

Al'Mazurah: "The world.."

za warudo

"This is... a trick, I think. You have struck the first blow against the Order of Suleiman already by hexing its  taqa . It is the simplest explanation."

Archibald of Guernicus: "When House Flambeau comes investigating, they will - Rosario, I mean no offence on your house - come with fire in their hands and hearts."

Guy of Bonisagus: "That, I can assure you, was not our doing."

"We have been just as affected."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Conflict, brutal and pointless."

Mortis ex Verditus: "So you admit that you have suffered the same losses as the Order of Hermes."

Guy of Bonisagus: "I have a proposal, great vizier."

"Our orders could work together to solve this mystery."

Rosario of Flambeau: "I take no offense, many in my house do not follow my code of chivalry. Many of them are no better than the barbarians the Vizier suggests they are."

Guy of Bonisagus: "What better way to promote peace and brotherhood than solving a great crisis plaguing both our people?"

Rosario of Flambeau: "One hopes the Primus has a sense of honor and nobility, to aim the fires of their hearts with precision."

Al'Mazurah: "What if there is no solution?"

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Gulielmus is a Herbam specialist. who doesn't need vis. He could be very useful for our common problem if not held without liberty."

Archibald of Guernicus: "There must be a solution. And if not, if there is no solution at all, if all that awaits us is this rot, then at least we can face it together."

Rosario of Flambeau: "But, well... Though I'm sworn to his word, he is like the Founder in the good and the bad, and seems to have a mind for revenge and snap judgements."

Archibald of Guernicus: Actually, Flambeau wanted to heal the rift between the order and the sahirs, in his later years

but he died soon after

and people started inventing stories about One Last Epic Battle

when he most likely died peacefully in a church

Guy of Bonisagus: "I feel we could even do this in a way that still gives you the security you expect with your prisoner."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Epic Rap Battles of History

Mortis ex Verditus: I don't see how.

Al'Mazurah: "I am certain there are many in the Order of Suleiman who would welcome a chance to fight openly in a glorious cause, just as you say your own house has so many barbaric people."

"How so, Guy?"

Rosario of Flambeau: its pretty up in the air archibald

Archibald of Guernicus: His filius who knew him best always insisted he chose peace in his final days

so thats what i personally believe

Rosario of Flambeau: He left val-negra by himself and didnt tell anyone where he was going and it's all a bunch of rumors whether he sought peace with the sahirs or died in battle with them or just sat in a church

Al'Mazurah: what if

Mortis ex Verditus: We could trade Gulielmus for another magus.

Guy of Bonisagus: "Magi of our order can travel to your labs, and your sahirs can come to work with us. An exchange of scholars, ensuring not only better research, but also deterring either side from attacking the other for worry of their brothers."

Al'Mazurah: erm no i wont make a suggestion

Mortis ex Verditus: Wait, even better: we could kidnap a magus and then trade them.

Rosario of Flambeau: Rosario likes to think it was the latter but I'm assuming based on the Primus' actions in response to the vis crisis that the prevailing opinion is that he went to fight them again.

Al'Mazurah: "It is a one sided arrangement as long as one side has the Parma Magica and need not exist in constant fear of their mind or body being destroyed or dominated."

Mortis ex Verditus: Wow, trading away the Parma Magica for one guy?

Sounds good!

Guy of Bonisagus: were not trading the damn parma

Rosario of Flambeau: "There are ways around the Parma. It's not infallible.

"

We don't have to trade the parma./

Guy of Bonisagus: "We can also choose to lower it, should we like."

Archibald of Guernicus: "The parma is never negotiable as being offered outside our order, I am sorry."

Rosario of Flambeau: They could always join the Order of Hermes.

In fact, I strongly recommend it.

Al'Mazurah: the Order is a bunch of savage barbarians who can't keep their shit in order and also wouldn't serve the Sultan

Guy of Bonisagus: "While in your lands, we can have our magi do this. You could use some sort of harmless magic on us to check that it's being done."

"I am certain I can find some willing to abide by this."

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

I think a trade might be the best way to do this.

Not that I know who we could trade.

Al'Mazurah: He seems skeptical of Guy's claim that wizard would drop their parma in OoS territory.

Rosario of Flambeau: I'm enough of a retard to do it for peace.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Uh oh

Archibald of Guernicus: "Could the sahirs of house ex misc not be a good middleman in this?"

Guy of Bonisagus: "I will gladly be one of the magi to help with research in your lands, in the first exchange."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Time for a Zeno to get traded in

Archibald of Guernicus: "They are sworn members of the order, but they are quite the opposite of Flambeau's warlike attitude."

Al'Mazurah: wow

Archibald of Guernicus: "Surely you can trust your fellow sahirs?"

Al'Mazurah: 2 of you wililng to do it?

out of the 4 he's dealing with

Rosario of Flambeau: "To serve the Order with constancy and

faithfulness, even unto my own death;"

Al'Mazurah: those are good numbers

Mortis ex Verditus: I think we should present a stronger front than trading away two of our own for one Gulielmus.

Al'Mazurah: i think he was suggesting trading them 1 at a time?

Guy of Bonisagus: well the idea is an exchange

Al'Mazurah: just constantly cycling hostages / """ guest """

Guy of Bonisagus: yeah

a scholar exchange

some sahirs come to order covenants

some magi go to sahir uhhh whatever they call their homes

Al'Mazurah: "A very interesting proposal... fraught with much danger but then again no gain comes without it..."

Mortis ex Verditus: Well I think that if a sahir visits I might scry them.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "The greatest leverage you have is that hermetic theory is not without limit. No theory of magic is perfect."

Guy of Bonisagus: "We could learn much from each other. And once you have studied with a man and worked together to overcome a great threat to both of yourselves, it is not easy to call each other enemies."

Mortis ex Verditus: ;)

Al'Mazurah: "However as I see it, currently we have 1 hostage to keep the peace. To send one of our own people into your lands, and then only keeping 1 person of our own -- regardless of how often we switch who that 1 person is -- is us giving up an advantage we already rightly hold. Would it not make more sense for the Order to exchange one of theirs for one of ours until we are satisfied with enough trust to release our original 1, gulielmus?"

also any wizard who goes to arabia has to survive court intrigue

i worded that whole paragraph a bit confusingly

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Lets give them Severin

Al'Mazurah: i hope you get what he's saying

Guy of Bonisagus: "You still hold distrust in your heart, good Vizier. As long as you do, no number of exchanges will bring our people peace."

Al'Mazurah: that a hostage exchange is good but if it's 1:1 from the very outset that's a leap of faith on the OoS part and not on the OoH

"I know the Franks too well to trust them."

Guy of Bonisagus: "We must abandon our suspicions if we wish to overcome the plague upon our resources and bring our people closer."

Archibald of Guernicus: "If you worry, I suggest again the middleman of hermetic sahirs."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Allowing liberties for your captives will induce more hermetic magi to accept the trade, I think."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Let's give them Anson."

Archibald of Guernicus: "You worry about our order, but in attempts at peace, they must be one of the first considerations."

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Archibald of Guernicus: "That magi are free to act as they please goes both ways. No-one can compel them to act against you if they do not want to."

Mortis ex Verditus: Here's an interesting side effect of this deal: we could keep sanctums in the Order of Sulieman without meddling from the Order of Hermes.

Al'Mazurah: "I propose this, in addition to the 1:1 exchange. Sansaron shall exist as an enclave within the Order of Suleiman's territory. Any breach of our treaty and the covenant and its people will be destroyed."

Mortis ex Verditus: Except when they scourge Vardian's Tomb for our collaboration, I mean.

Al'Mazurah: cradle & crescent says that is perfectly legal within the OoS

dual citizenship so to speak

Mortis ex Verditus: Are any Sansaron covenanters present?

Al'Mazurah: all 3 of them

Guy of Bonisagus: "I would request the opinions of our brothers in Sansaron on this." I look to them.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Of course. They have the right to decide here."

Mortis ex Verditus: I think essentially trading away an entire covenant is going to cause some problems for us back in the Tribunal.

Amayyas ex Misc: "Let us talk in private briefly, sodales"

Mortis ex Verditus: Though, to be fair, it will be a while before anyone realizes it.

Amayyas ex Misc: "I have faith in you and your efforts. But all it takes is for another fool crusade from Flambeau and the peace Sansaron has kept for centuries is gone, through no fault of their own. It seems ill advised."

Fiorella of Jerbiton takes off her veil once we're in private.

Guy of Bonisagus: "I agree."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "These things sure are hot in the summer.

Mortis ex Verditus: "It doesn't seem likely that this ruse could last for long."

Amayyas ex Misc: "We would be tying our fates to the Order at large, rather than our own actions."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Oh no."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "At least I can pin it to my hat."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Additionally, more concessions will just encourage the Order of Sulieman to take more prisoners.

Rosario of Flambeau: I say with a deadpan voice.

Amayyas ex Misc: if you as PCs can't come to a consensus, I will give you an "out" option that you can always say you need to forward this up to someone higher in the Order and let them negotiate from here

Mortis ex Verditus: "I would propose that we facilitate some other kind of trade."

Amayyas ex Misc: no promises what happens once its out of your hands though

Guy of Bonisagus: "I don't think any compromise is possible on this matter either, we will have to reject his proposal and figure something else out."

Mortis ex Verditus: "Maybe we could give back Ponza, though that would cause more trouble with the Order of Hermes."

Guy of Bonisagus: "I doubt he wants Ponza back. He didn't seem happy with Hakim's actions."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Aye, Hakim was a disliked outsider already."

Mortis ex Verditus: "It's valuable territory."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Ponza was something that they had no stake in, only Hakim."

Amayyas ex Misc: "He was a member of their order once, but cast out for his double dealing and selling his sword to every buyer across the Mediterranean."

Fiorella of Jerbiton: "If he wanted Ponza he could have traded it for Gulielmus to begin with."

Archibald of Guernicus: "It was what I first suspected would happen when he was taken prisoner."

Guy of Bonisagus: "Anyway, I think we should simply be more forceful with our suggestion. We've conceded much."

Mortis ex Verditus: "I'm afraid that we may have to simply rescue Gulielmus ourselves. A diplomatic solution seems unlikely.

"

Guy of Bonisagus: "I disagree Mortis. I think this man is open to what we're saying."

"But there is much suspicion between our orders. It will take a show of good faith from both sides."

Rosario of Flambeau: "It will be very difficult.

"

Archibald of Guernicus: "The threat comes from those willing to start a fight anew. Such an action, however, violates the code of hermes - it brings destruction on fellow members of the order."

Guy of Bonisagus: "I will try convincing him to drop his proposal and simply go with the exchange."

Mortis ex Verditus: "At present, the Order of Sulieman has all the leverage. The Order of Hermes is in a precarious position and without another crusade, it's doubtful that we could score many victories against the Order of Sulieman.

"

Archibald of Guernicus: "Yes, but the problem is that there are those who would start a fight even in this situation."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Without a deal made, another crusade is inevitable."

Rosario of Flambeau lets out a tired sigh

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmmm.

Archibald of Guernicus: "I could pass the matter along to Magvillus, make it clear that we should enforce the Code here - attacking the order of sulieman is bringing danger upon members of the order."

"But this could lead to politics, and all the horror that results from that."

Mortis ex Verditus: "If House Flambeau were to orchestrate attacks against the Order of Sulieman, we could leverage that threat against keeping Gulielmus as a hostage."

Guy of Bonisagus: "Are you confident in the ability of your house to take charge and quash any politicking, Archibald?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "More likely they would kill him as a show of what happens."

"I don't know, there is factional bickering, and the traditionalists still hold power."

"Stubborn as they are, they've kept their own group in control for too long."

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Guy of Bonisagus: "We could house the sahir they send us in Ponza and give him our personal protection."

Archibald of Guernicus: Archibald is a fairly radical transitionalist in his approach, hes all about the order changing to suit the world

Mortis ex Verditus: What if we gave them one more hostage but of vastly greater value?

Rosario of Flambeau: "Hold on."

Mortis ex Verditus: Our very own Vizier, for example.

Rosario of Flambeau: "I just thought of something."

Guy of Bonisagus: aristocritus has been dead for years, mortis

Rosario of Flambeau: "They might not care about Ponza itself, but what of the jinn?"

Guy of Bonisagus: "I doubt they care about the jinn."

"It was probably just some personal servant to Hakim."

Rosario of Flambeau: "They do nothing but summon and control jinns."

"It might be a good one."

Guy of Bonisagus: "Sure. They're tools."

Archibald of Guernicus: "He was freed after the spell expired, and returned wherever he cared to."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Drat."

Guy of Bonisagus: "Oh."

Archibald of Guernicus: "It was a moon-length enchantment, that's all."

Mortis ex Verditus: "You should have kept a closer eye on it."

Guy of Bonisagus: "I doubt jinn are likely to plot or seek any vengeance."

Mortis ex Verditus: "In any case, what if we were to trade the secret of Parma Magica away?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "The staff's lifetime is limited, I'd rather let it go long before the enchantment fades away."

Rosario of Flambeau: "Do you have another wand or something? They might be impressed to know that you can control them as well. Perhaps you can wrest one away."

Guy of Bonisagus: "That's not happening Mortis."

Archibald of Guernicus: "If it seeks any retribution, then we can deal with it safely."

Mortis ex Verditus: "With a hermetic wizard in their power, they might be able to extract the secrets on their own."

Amayyas ex Misc: lets give them the tiber river

Archibald of Guernicus: "The Parma is utterly non-negotiable. The parma is the sole reason the order exists!"

Rosario of Flambeau: "Get the Vizier to summon a jinn, then take it hostage."

Archibald of Guernicus: Hmmm

I'm not sure if we're getting anywhere right now, maybe a matter for the thread? We've asked all we need from him

Amayyas ex Misc: sure

Guy of Bonisagus: "We should go finish discussions."

Amayyas ex Misc: soz this didnt seem to resolve

Mortis ex Verditus: That will let Cumthinker (PBUH) to chime in.

Amayyas ex Misc: i blame cumthinker not being here to advocate for his own release

Mortis ex Verditus: Well, it's a complicated question.

Amayyas ex Misc: also a few more important things happen this year we should toucvh on before end of session

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I think we need to talk to someone more important than us to help broker a cooperative project between the OoH and OoS to deal with the Herbam problem

Guy of Bonisagus: i was just going to suggest that if the more militant sahirs declare fatwah on a christian magus or something then we have no equivalent power over any sahir land, so the sansaron suggestion is outrageous

Fiorella of Jerbiton: The tree bears rotting fruit seems to indicate that it's a problem with Yggdrassil, IE the world itself

Rosario of Flambeau: if I were to be "taken hostage" as a Flambeau with house acclaim would the house be more or less likely to crusade on them?

Guy of Bonisagus: more

Mortis ex Verditus: Uhhh, obviously they would try to rescue you.

How is this even a question?

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Yeah

Rosario of Flambeau: I don't know. Maybe they'd respect the terms if I was treated well.

Guy of Bonisagus: we should not in any way make people think the scholar exchange is a prisoner exchange

or hostage

or anything

Rosario of Flambeau: I'm just kind of lost here as to what to do.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I just want cumthinker to be able to play again

Guy of Bonisagus: i think we should have this be a personal undertaking to start off with

Mortis ex Verditus: We absolutely should since hostage taking is the foundation of the modern feudal system.

Rosario of Flambeau: I've done my best to not just attack them and rationalize it with my character's beliefs, I guess it's the best I can do.

Guy of Bonisagus: they can send us a sahir that we work with at ponza and we can send them guy

Mortis ex Verditus: Why do you think nobles foster and squire their kids with their peers?

Guy of Bonisagus: while archibald goes to magvillus and tries to do something

Rosario of Flambeau: I strongly recommend we kidnap him or his jinn though.

Mortis ex Verditus: In any case, a fair exchange is unlikely to be agreed to when the Order of Sulieman has all the cards.

Rosario of Flambeau: Honestly we could steal him. It'd probably be simple enough.

johns (GM):

rolling 1d10!+1 unrelated

(

4

)

+1

=

5

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Guy is volunteering to maintain their leverage

Guy of Bonisagus: i think if we impress him diplomatically with a genuine interest in ending the feud then hes likely to agree

assuming that he has not been Lying and is not Evil

Rosario of Flambeau: I think we should avoid negotiating on his terms and if he wants to brag about being the man to recommend the Grand Vizier keep Guli hostage, we should take him hostage and prevent him from doing that.

Archibald of Guernicus: Folk Ken seemed to suggest he was suspicious of us

Guy of Bonisagus: well thats fair

i would be suspicious if he wasnt suspicious of us

Mortis ex Verditus: Yeah why would an honest man of good character want to ensure the dominance of the True Faith and his own brethren?

Guy of Bonisagus: he was also definitely worried about the vis rot

Rosario of Flambeau: Who knows what the ruling will be without Al'Mazurah's influence?

Mortis ex Verditus: We shouldn't take them hostage because we promised Amayya that we wouldn't.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Yeah

Rosario of Flambeau: Good point.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I don't want to make things bad for our Sansarron buddies

Mortis ex Verditus: *Amayyas

Guy of Bonisagus: well considering that we havent talked to any other viziers i think the ruling would be either keeping gulielmus prisoner or killing him

Rosario of Flambeau: Well what's a good way to prove that the vis rot is affecting everyone else and not just his dumb ass who doesnt go anywhere

Guy of Bonisagus: if we can convince this guy he can convince the others

i dont think we need to prove it, he didnt seem like he didnt believe us

Rosario of Flambeau: Didn't he say he thought we were trying to trick him

johns (GM):

rolling 1d10!+7+1

(

1

)

+7+1

=

9

not related to this

Archibald of Guernicus: I think the vis rot is the best bet for establishing good relations here

Guy of Bonisagus: its just common sense to say that, in the hopes that your diplomatic opponent slips up and actually was

Archibald of Guernicus: They are the victims of something foul, and suspect us. We are the victims too, and a lot of people suspect them

People willing to take the risk to cross over, meet with the other side and prove that neither are involved so that we can try to co-operate for a solution is a big deal

Guy of Bonisagus: i dont think we should Escalate this, i think we should finish negotiations ourselves

johns (GM):

rolling 2d10 botch

(

5

+

3

)

=

8

Guy of Bonisagus: and then just do whatever we can to get the rest of the order to agree, or at least enough that flambeau will reconsider a crusade

Rosario of Flambeau: At the very least I'll report back that their herbam vis is also fucked up.

So they're PROBABLY not responsible.

johns (GM):

rolling 1d10!+7+1-1

(

7

)

+7+1-1

=

14

Guy of Bonisagus: wow, these sahirs that are attacking gulielmus arei getting some good rolls

johns (GM): Alright

shall we say this discussion is done for now and get to the next crisis

Archibald of Guernicus: Pretty low accuracy on their attacks though

Mortis ex Verditus: I think we should probably try to come up with some leverage.

Guy of Bonisagus: i think we should finish the discussion here

stuff going to thread never actually does anything

Rosario of Flambeau: No one ever discusses anything in the thread, true.

Archibald of Guernicus: We have quite a lot of crisises already, whats the next one

johns (GM): true but there's a fundamental problem -- and i hope im not being a dick in saying this

Archibald of Guernicus: I discuss things in the thread!!!

johns (GM): which is you're asking the OoS to make a leap of faith without taking one yourself

Mortis ex Verditus: Yeah.

johns (GM): since you're asking the situation to move from OoS has leverage to ->>> neither side has leverage

Guy of Bonisagus: were agreeing to send them an order of hermes magus who agrees to lower his parma

Rosario of Flambeau: thats reasonable

Mortis ex Verditus: But we're also asking for one in return.

Archibald of Guernicus: We HAVE leverage. We have the parma magica. We have always had this leverage and it will never go away.

Guy of Bonisagus: considering what they could do and how little we know about them thats quite the faith were putting in them

Mortis ex Verditus: So why even make the trade?

johns (GM): in hsi view maybe the situation can turn to where things are equal and neither side has leverage over the other -- but only after years of peace and trust and not having to fear that the moment they let their guard down a bunch of flambeau will invade

Mortis ex Verditus: The Order of Sulieman has defeated the Order of Hermes in the past.

Guy of Bonisagus: the trade is for research into the problem

Mortis ex Verditus: Parma Magica isn't a perfect weapon.

Archibald of Guernicus: Neither is a single hostage

Rosario of Flambeau: You know what is? A sword.

Guy of Bonisagus: we just have to convince him that if enough magi are on agreeable terms with the oos then flambeau wouldnt dare invade

Archibald of Guernicus: It's still a Pretty Good Reason to not attack us... just like gulielmus is a pretty good reason to not attack them

Guy of Bonisagus: and explain that the code actually prevents them from doing so

Mortis ex Verditus: I'm not sure I get your point.

Archibald of Guernicus: my point is that we do have leverage in the same way that they do

that this situation doesnt turn it from their complete advantage into neutral ground

Mortis ex Verditus: I don't really follow. It's a different kind of leverage.

Archibald of Guernicus: ... and?

Mortis ex Verditus: We're obviously matched in terms of magic already.

johns (GM): yeah you're making the argument that the ooh has more power already

Guy of Bonisagus:, and they do

johns (GM): which if that's the case, why should he treat with you at all unless you're asking him to capitulate

which he will never do

Mortis ex Verditus: So having a hostage tips things in their favor, absent any other concerns.

Archibald of Guernicus: What?

Guy of Bonisagus: thats why were going with the vis rot angle as a main thing

Archibald of Guernicus: We're not asking them to capitulate at all

johns (GM): ok

then im confused

Guy of Bonisagus: to convince him to be the first to take steps towards peace

so we can fix the vis rot

Archibald of Guernicus: we're saying "we are experiencing something awful, so are you, instead of killing each other over it, we should co-operate"

and then propose an equal trade, 1 person for 1 person

johns (GM): true but he has no way to be sure that this isn't an OoH trick

Archibald of Guernicus: they do not lose their big Guli hook

johns (GM): or that the OoH won't still use the opportunity to figure out OoS weaknesses and attack right after the crisis is solved

Fiorella of Jerbiton: If they want an end to the fighting in the Levant, the orders working together to fix the vis rot does a lot more than one hostage who isn't an important person to anyone with political strength

Archibald of Guernicus: If they think a younger bonisagus living with some sahirs for a while will give away all their secret weaknesses the nuh

johns (GM): presently there isn't really fighting in the levant though

Archibald of Guernicus: maybe they dont have long to live anyway

johns (GM): it's the threat of future impending fighting they are concerned of

Archibald of Guernicus: this is meant to be a way to prevent that fighting

as-is, that fighting is going to happen

johns (GM): ok true

Guy of Bonisagus: then we just have to convince them of our genuinely good intentions

Archibald of Guernicus: we're coming to them, I spoke openly about a problem facing our order. I took a risk in saying that.

that must count for something

he was shocked that I said it

johns (GM): but then you're asking this guy to go to his boss, the boss of all bosses and say, "Let's give up this great opportunity we've secured with Gulielmus to take another opportunity that  might  bring peace"

Archibald of Guernicus: I think there's a basis for discussion here

Fiorella of Jerbiton: He's not that great of an opportunity though

Guy of Bonisagus: appeal to his sense of pride

Archibald of Guernicus: The argument is: House Flambeau does not give a flying fuck about Gulielmus in their plans

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Gulielmus is only an opportunity to make Vardian's Tomb play nice

And that's what he got

Guy of Bonisagus: by saying hell be known as the one first among his order to bring about the end of the feud

johns (GM): if they don't care about Gulielmus why would they care about any other hostage they take form the OoH

Guy of Bonisagus: the entire point is to frame it as not a hostage thing

johns (GM): gah!

Guy of Bonisagus: but a scholarly exchange

johns (GM): but it absolutely is

Guy of Bonisagus: so convince him its not

Fiorella of Jerbiton: How baout this

Guy of Bonisagus: i mean as far as im concerned its already not

Rosario of Flambeau: Does house Flambeau currently even know Guli is kidnapped? Outside of me?

johns (GM): No

Guy of Bonisagus: no one does except us and sansaron

Rosario of Flambeau: They're coming to attack because they assume the OoS is responsible for the vis rot.

johns (GM): you haven't told anyone except the people at Sansarron and maybe Milo of Guernicus i think?

Rosario of Flambeau: Not the kidnapping.

Mortis ex Verditus: When did we tell Milo?

Guy of Bonisagus: we could try telling them that actually

that uh

Fiorella of Jerbiton: How about we just admit that the Order of Hermes is barbaric in considering one magus to be insignificant?

Guy of Bonisagus: no one actually knows gulielmus is missing

so right now they already have nothing

we didnt tell milo

johns (GM): they can spread the word though

Mortis ex Verditus: Then they'd just kill Gulielmus.

Rosario of Flambeau: If I don't tell Flambeau about Guli, and do tell them (with some kind of proof) that the Sahirs are also losing all their Herbam vis, that might

let the heat off

johns (GM): and then people will ask questions and notice, guilelmus is gone and these people say they have him.

Guy of Bonisagus: i dont think sansaron is likely to spread word

johns (GM): the OoS would.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: If they kill Gulielmus then cumthinker can make a new character, Gulielmus the 2nd

johns (GM): its an idea dfd

Guy of Bonisagus: thats another way to do it

Mortis ex Verditus: In any case, I think we've really done a lot of good investigating today.

johns (GM): lol

Guy of Bonisagus: tell them that right now flambeau and the order as a whole has no reason to be angry with them

other than the vis rot

Archibald of Guernicus: How about this: we explain that this situation, something that affects both of us, is prompting forces within House Flambeau to a crusading warpath. They will deem the threat to be greater than a single hostage. More than anything, to stop this, we need to show the order of hermes that the order of sulieman is threatened by this too, is probably not responsible for it, and is helping us find a solution. If we can do this, bigger forces than us can step up and tell the flambeau primus to calm his shit and not start a war while we have another enemy to deal with.

Guy of Bonisagus: which they suspect the oos of

because no one gives a shit about guli

Fiorella of Jerbiton: All we can really do is try to calm Flambeau down I guess

Archibald of Guernicus: You know what this fucking sounds like we need here

johns (GM): Al'Mazurah asks if you can set up a way for the Grand Vizier to send ambassadors to your Leader, Durenmar.

Archibald of Guernicus: Disputatio

Guy of Bonisagus: lets do it

johns

johns let me disputatio the vizier

johns (GM): if so then they can go ahead with your plan to circumvent Flambeau.

Mortis ex Verditus: If the Grand Vizier doesn't think that a hostage will help them, they still aren't afraid of a fight.

johns (GM): if we do disputatio then 1345 becomes a 3 session story instead of 2 session

the choiec is yours

Archibald of Guernicus: No, but they dont  want  one!!!

Mortis ex Verditus: Which, may I remind you, they believe they could win.

Archibald of Guernicus: they wouldnt fuckin bother with this guli stuff if they were itching for a fight

Guy of Bonisagus: i think we should be careful about letting the negotiations go to anyone above us

Mortis ex Verditus: Well, Gulielmus did kind of fall into their lap.

johns (GM): if you had a rival magician under your thumb would you let them go

and give up your chance to learn all their shit

Archibald of Guernicus: ehhhh. i mean we're trying to basically cockblock the primus of flambeau. this is going above us.

Guy of Bonisagus: yes

because hermetic theory is better

johns (GM): Let's do it.

Let's piss off Flambeau Primus.

Mortis ex Verditus: Yeah I think the important thing is that they could be learning the Parma Magica right now.

Guy of Bonisagus: lets

johns (GM): This is the best way to resolve this

Archibald of Guernicus: I mean we dont have the means to just cockblock him on our own

Mortis ex Verditus: By just reading his mind.

Can they do that?

Maybe!

Guy of Bonisagus: presumably they dont have full on mind reading

Archibald of Guernicus: This shit is waaaay over our heads, definitely not a situation where I'd feel bad about bringing it to someone above us.

Guy of Bonisagus: they can just get you high and make you talk more freely

Mortis ex Verditus: In any case, no one would be unaware of that possibility, so a war with Order of Sulieman would be likely.

Guy of Bonisagus: but i think even gulielmus wont tell them the parma secret

Mortis ex Verditus: Can jinn read minds?

johns (GM): .I'm not telling

Mortis ex Verditus: How should I know???

But they might be able to!

johns (GM): okay here are hte ideas I've heard

Mortis ex Verditus: So we should assume they can.

johns (GM): 1. give oos TWO hostages in exchange for guli

2. give them ponza

Guy of Bonisagus: ok lets do the durenmar thing or whatever BUT also try to get the scholar exchange going now

johns (GM): 3. let them talk to the head of the order of hermes directly

4. kill them

Rosario of Flambeau: 4. kidnap al'mazurah

Archibald of Guernicus accidentally hits 4

Mortis ex Verditus: I won't kill them.

johns (GM): 5. let them threaten to nuke sansarron if the OoH breaks the truce of the prisoner, I mean, scholar exchange

Mortis ex Verditus: We promised we wouldn't.

Guy of Bonisagus: lets do 3 but also do the scholar exchange

johns (GM): Vote registered.

Mortis ex Verditus: Also a scholarly exchange seems like a great way to lose control of the Parma Magica.

Guy of Bonisagus: itll just be with our covenant so if they have any problems they take it up with us directly

for the time being

Mortis ex Verditus: I think, at this point, we should just try to kidnap Gulielmus back.

johns (GM): lol

Rosario of Flambeau: That's actually the best idea.

Guy of Bonisagus: what if we made a perdo mentem spell to make you lose the memory of parma for a year before going on scholar exchange to levant

johns (GM): we've made 0 progress

Mortis ex Verditus: Also we should bring Cumthinker in on this.

Rosario of Flambeau: I agree.

johns (GM): i really just need to put this to a poll in the thread i think

Guy of Bonisagus: that way you can absolutely not give them the parma

Rosario of Flambeau: Let's Go Get Are Boy

johns (GM): i mean you will all vote in a poll even if you won't debate in the thread

Mortis ex Verditus: On the other hand, maybe giving away the Parma Magica would solve a lot of our problems with the Order of Sulieman.

Except for the problem where they would get to continue existing.

Rosario of Flambeau: I wish we had a powerful Mentem specialist to just mind control this asshole.

Mortis ex Verditus: What would that accomplish?

He isn't the Grand Vizier.

Rosario of Flambeau: He would agree to recommend to the Grand Vizier that they free Guli.

Guy of Bonisagus: but he couldnt provide any argument for it

well

not a good enough one as if we just convinced him

johns (GM): he is one of many viziers mind you

Guy of Bonisagus: yeah

johns (GM): the only one to speak directly to mebers of the OoH which gives him some clout

heres what im putting in thread before editing poll

Option #1: Give them 2 hostages.

Option #2: Offer them the island of Ponza

Option #3: Give them a way to communicate with Durenmar / the Bonisagus Primus directly, allowing them to overrule House Flambeau and their shenanigans

Option #4: Let the OoS keep Sansaron as a sort of hostage, where if the treaty is ever breached, Sansaron is right on the front line to be destroyed at the outset.

johns (GM): Option #5: Screw diplomacy! Rescue Gulielmus ourselves!

sound fair?

Mortis ex Verditus: It do.

Guy of Bonisagus: i just want to do a scholarly exchange for my own personal knowledge gain

johns (GM): I know.

Guy of Bonisagus: peace would be nice

johns (GM): It's OK.

Guy of Bonisagus: but its all about knowledge baby

johns (GM): If there's no objections, I consider this matter tabled then I would like to rush through the rest of the really important shit in the next 40 minutes.

Rosario of Flambeau: Sweet.

Guy of Bonisagus: i guess if we get peace i could always go on a trip to the levant myself

for study

Mortis ex Verditus: Ok.

Guy of Bonisagus: now whats the other crisis johns

johns (GM): sheesh

this is going to be so stupidly paced now

Mortis ex Verditus: Thusands of tigers upund your head.

johns (GM): You return to Rome in August 1345.

Rosario of Flambeau: lol

Mortis ex Verditus: RIP to all these characters.

Bofana.

johns (GM): Lavinia reports something strange happened right after you left.

Guy of Bonisagus: ill take credit for rushed pacing by making us argue this out for an extra hour

johns (GM): Sir Oak came down with some form of rot that incapacitated him.

Guy of Bonisagus: your welcome minnabody

wow!

johns (GM): That stuff I was rolling earlier was actually Sir Oak's Disease Rolls.

Archibald of Guernicus: Brotherhoodcucks btfo

Guy of Bonisagus: johns: ok everyone, heres the much bigger crsis..... lavinias pet golem has the flu

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Makes sense.

johns (GM): Now out of curiosity

Guy of Bonisagus: im sorry we woint beable to spend the 3 hours on this like i originally planned

johns (GM): does anyone else interact with creatures of Magic Might aligned to Herbam

Mortis ex Verditus: Ah well, time to throw all those dumb statues in the trash and replace them with corpses.

Guy of Bonisagus: giraldo is harassed by faeries a lot, as per his flaw

johns (GM): Here's the good news, Sir Oak's condition improved from "Critical" to "Major" and he is going to recover after being moved to the street level Clinic

Guy of Bonisagus: and also goes around looking into minor disturbances

so he could have noticed something

Mortis ex Verditus: Why would you treat Sir Oak in a clinic?

Guy of Bonisagus: oh wait magic might

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Unless there's some sort of mystic plant-bird, I don't think so

Guy of Bonisagus: just the magic beast thing then maybe

johns (GM): It is not something that is easily noticed in truth, because most people don't interact with Magic HErbam creatures, which tend to be Stationary Trees.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: We already determined that I don't even interact with Heronbots that are bird shaped

Guy of Bonisagus: oh

Mortis ex Verditus: Wasn't Gulielmus dating an Herbam specialist?

Archibald of Guernicus: RIP

Gulielmus (pbuh)

johns (GM): Hmm, you haven't heard anything from her in awhile

Guy of Bonisagus: forwarding gulielmus's mail to arabia

Archibald of Guernicus: oh shit

shes the culprit

a tytalan plot

johns (GM): As likely an explanation as any.

Any investigation you wish to do of Sir Oak's condition, Archibald?

Mortis ex Verditus: We should try a pogrom, just in case.

Guy of Bonisagus: a tytalan plot to make tremere angry and let flambeau off their leash

it makes sense

(From Rosario of Flambeau): strabo was interacting with the three magic plants in the garden, but im ruling that aside from the death-focused mandragora, the others have rotted away

Archibald of Guernicus: I can do what I did before, InVi to examine any active magics on him, with as much details as I can interpret

can at least see if its the same effect as the vis, or a different one

(To Rosario of Flambeau): That's fair. you can argue there is a special property of the garden separating it from the Realm of Magic which (spoilers) is what is causing trouble here.

johns (GM): well it's not the same effect but its similarly a powerful non hermetic magic aligned effect

Archibald of Guernicus: i use Archibald's Unmasking the Sigil on sir soak, if lavinia doesnt object

"But why Herbam of all forms?"

johns (GM): No sigil

Why indeed

August turns to September

Mortis ex Verditus: "It might be related to the astrological conjunction."

johns (GM): Harvest festivals coming up. Everyone prepares to unwind from a stressful year by getting drunk and eating squash

Mortis ex Verditus: OH!

Speaking of lines of communication, Canaanite Necromancy allows for instant communication over any distance.

johns (GM): On September 14th, you notice the covenant herb garden is dead. Strange, most of the vegetable gardens in the city are dead too.

Mortis ex Verditus: As long as you do it through a game of Chinese Whispers with a ghost.

Archibald of Guernicus: uh oh

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

johns (GM): Everyone with Second Sight now, with the covenant's magic aura bonus

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+3+2+3

(

9

)

+3+2+3

=

17

1 extra if regio spec applies

Mortis ex Verditus:

rolling 1d10

(

10

)

=

10

I don't actually have Second Sight I just wanted to roll something today.

Archibald of Guernicus: Mortis has second sight oh

oh i see

gl giraldo, celeste

Giraldo of Milan:

rolling 1d10+10

(

10

)

+10

=

20

Archibald of Guernicus: bolad?

bolad

Mortis ex Verditus: I've GOT to get my ROLL on.

johns (GM): the listed Ease Factor for this is 9

rolling 1d10+1 bolad

(

6

)

+1

=

7

Bolad!!! you dunce.

Giraldo of Milan: is it stressed

johns (GM): Yes, actually

Celeste:

rolling 1d10!+2+3+3

(

4

)

+2+3+3

=

12

Giraldo of Milan:

rolling 1d10

(

4

)

=

4

24

johns (GM): Very nice

Giraldo of Milan: what do i see gm

gm

gm what do i see

Archibald of Guernicus: 24 on a second sight roll is just the eye glow faceapp effect

johns (GM): You spot all the ghosts who hover around the covenant, the million of tiny etherieal demons

Also everyone (except bolad) notices an invisible miasma filling the entire covenant aura.

You may notice similar miasmae around the various lacunae (minor magic aura in the city). These miasma move about as carried by the wind.

Archibald of Guernicus: I gasp and recoil in horror

Celeste: "Oh my God!"

Giraldo of Milan: can i get the miasma in a vessel

Mortis ex Verditus: Misamises.

johns (GM): Within a day, every garden in the city is dead. Flowers are wilted. Trees blight and rot. Even the grass dies.

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Well, that's bad.

johns (GM): Panic ensues.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Oh yeah

johns (GM): The panic gets worse when people hear about harvest failures.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Are there demons hanging aorund VT Hazm can see?

Mortis ex Verditus: What about just growing stuff with magic?

Giraldo of Milan: I go up surfaceside to do my job and make sure riots dont carry into the covenant.

johns (GM): According to ROP:Infernal there are always hundreds of minor demons flitting about at all times (outside Aegises) but apart from that, no.

Giraldo of Milan: yeah theyre like minor demons of sneezing or tripping voer your own feet or some shit

Fiorella of Jerbiton: Oh sorry I got distracted by Steam

Archibald of Guernicus: Growing stuff with magic would mean using herbam vis, almost certainly

Mortis ex Verditus: It's more of a miasma.

Archibald of Guernicus: so

johns (GM): I believe you can capture part of a miasma sample in a bottle.

Fiorella of Jerbiton: I see the clal to roll Second SIght now

Mortis ex Verditus: Well what about temporary Creo Herbam spells?

Giraldo of Milan: i will capture it in a vessel then. what use this serves, well i dont know

Mortis ex Verditus: Are they working normally?

johns (GM): For the moment, yes.

Giraldo of Milan: but now weve got a vessel of miasma that we could reproduce and weaponize

well

johns (GM): Then on December 13th they don't.

Giraldo of Milan: maybe reproduce

Mortis ex Verditus: Yikes!

Father Hazm:

rolling 2+5+3+d10! Per + Second Sight (demons spec not included)

2+5+3+

(

4

)

=

14

Mortis ex Verditus: Wait if all vegetation has been rotted then what is everyone eating?

Giraldo of Milan: what day was the trouble with sir oak

johns (GM): The miasma kills living plant matter only.

June 13th.

Mortis ex Verditus: Ah ok.

Giraldo of Milan: hmmm

Mortis ex Verditus: Does Faustus have anything to say?

johns (GM): As you are lucky to live in a city, you know the city granaries have enough food stocked to last a year or so with a bad harvest.

Giraldo of Milan: was there a full moon on june 13th

and december 13th

Father Hazm: Oh right

Giraldo of Milan: and the other day

Celeste: "We're in a bad spot. This Pope is slacking."

Father Hazm: Faustus is a grog by the way, the GM can control him

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Well, I'm sure this gives me a lot of corpses to work with.

Father Hazm: If you want to talk to him, just say you do so

johns (GM): http://www.moonpage.com/index.html?go=T&auto_dst=T&tzone=ut&m=12&d=13&y=1345&hour=20&min=29&sec=7

so no not a full moon

Anyway here's what happens after December 13

Giraldo of Milan: damn i thought there might be a connection

Father Hazm: Faustus can't cast Intellego Storyguide

johns (GM): formulaic and spontaneous Herbam spells stop working. With a gasp the Order quickly finds that Herbam rituals

still work, however, and it takes only

a simple investigation to discover that

formulaic and spontaneous Herbam spells

also work if the caster uses vis when casting, one pawn per magnitude of the spell. Herbam vis, which is likely in short supply, works, as does Technique vis corresponding to the Technique used in the spell. The used vis still supplies the regular +2 bonus to the spell casting total.

Happy 1345. Welcome to the plague./

Rosario of Flambeau: Jesus.

Mortis ex Verditus: Huzzah!

Father Hazm: Bolad immediately murders everyone now that Shriek is unusable

Guy of Bonisagus: the plague but herbam instead of corpus

johns (GM): fooled ya!

Rosario of Flambeau: You can now kill Strabo by walking up to him and kicking him to death.

johns (GM): I will post some more specifics in the thread. Enchanted items still work just fine.

Guy of Bonisagus: bolad cackles and begins pulling back the bowstring, before the rotted bow suddenly snaps

johns (GM): I apologize what should have been a very cool reveal was done so sloppily.

Archibald of Guernicus: Wow I'm really glad I'm not playing a herbam-focussed magus.

Guy of Bonisagus: i cant believe johns has taken us off proper historical rails

Rosario of Flambeau: Archibald of Guernicus: Wow I'm really glad I'm not playing a herbam-focussed magus.

Father Hazm: Gulielmus has been captured for two sessions and also loses his specialty

Guy of Bonisagus: really glad im not playing a magus with an affinity for some animals that really rely on plants, especially flowers

crying and balling fists

Archibald of Guernicus: I can't imagine how fucking angry I'd be if I was playing a herbam-centric magus lol

Father Hazm: Oh yeah

Rosario of Flambeau: lol

Father Hazm: All of Guy's bees are dead now

RIP

Archibald of Guernicus: Like it's really lucky no PC is like that.

johns (GM): So, thanks to the easy Second Sight roll, you actually figured out the mechanics of the plant death

Guy of Bonisagus: was this miasma nbever present until then

Archibald of Guernicus: It's new, yeah

johns (GM): It's caused by roving miasma. Which means unlike the attacks on Vis and Magic Might that hit everyone all at once, the Miasma will roam around. Some areas are spared and some are hardest hit.

Archibald of Guernicus: Is it possible to keep miasma out, block it in any way

Father Hazm: Auram

johns (GM): Yes. Let me post some details on it. The only thing I'm not sure if I should tell you is the rule governing how and where they emerged from

Mortis ex Verditus: Hmm.

Guy of Bonisagus: auram magic, or maybe filters made with honey soaked cloth

lets just go get some honey from all of my alive bees

Mortis ex Verditus: We could try just creating dead animals and then eating them.

johns (GM): well I have to spell it out for the rules to really work

The miasma is the same size as the

Magic aura that spawned it.

Mortis ex Verditus: Creating animal corpses is only level 10.

johns (GM): also i'll give 2 conf points to the first person who figures out the significane of the dates

Father Hazm: Fiorella can finish a spell by Summer that raises chickens to maturity by sunset

Archibald of Guernicus: Friday the 13th?

Father Hazm: So we can severly reduce the amount of feed ti takes to raise chickens

Mortis ex Verditus: Raising chickens to maturity is pointless because they won't have anything to eat when all their feed dies.

Hmm.

Father Hazm: Well all the grain didn't disappear IRL

Mortis ex Verditus: There isn't going to be another harvest.

johns (GM): the miasma kills plant matter as it moves over it but does not leave the field barren

Mortis ex Verditus: Still, I think producing food with magic should be a high priority.

You can use Rego Animal to create vermin for certain animals to eat.

Giraldo of Milan: is it possible to use uhhh what was the thing

astrology or something

Rosario of Flambeau: You can subsist on magic food if it's Moon or greater duration iirc.

Giraldo of Milan: to figure out significance of dates

or was it just an ooc thing

johns (GM): oh sure

use AL

Father Hazm: I think you need ot mix in real food with moon duration food

Giraldo of Milan: i assume its int

rolling 1d10+6

(

6

)

+6

=

12

johns (GM): yes.

it was the Solstices and Equinoxes.

Giraldo of Milan: gah

Mortis ex Verditus: Magical.

Giraldo of Milan: here i was checking gregorian and julian calendars and everything

Father Hazm: Let's find someone with Arcadian Travel to take us to a regio full of plant faeries and kill them

Archibald of Guernicus: rituals still work, pity herbam vis is so scarce

need to find osmoene with that virtue that lets you create herbam vis from nothing

Father Hazm: Hermetic ALchemy can extract any kind of vis from an aura

Giraldo of Milan: the retards who specialized in doing hermetic alchemy start rubbing their hands as they finally become useful

Mortis ex Verditus: Wow if ONLY our Hermetic Alchemist wasn't in the clutches of our greatest foe.

Father Hazm: Anyway I can rethink 1345 to invent a spell to create chicken corpses

Giraldo of Milan: he is specifically a non-hermetic alchemist

johns (GM): Form Vis (Creo, Rego, etc.) is still produced as normal so remember that option

er, Technique I meant to say

Father Hazm: Better yet

I cna create ostrich corpess for Moon fo rthe same spell levle

Who ordered the crisp bird

However it wasn't really until Summer that we knew we'd need this so I can't justify putting Spring's work towards it

Giraldo of Milan: good work everyone

Mortis ex Verditus: Alright next week is a fun little adventure where a pixie plays pranks on Napolino.

johns (GM): lol

Archibald of Guernicus: thank you beardbeard

Giraldo of Milan: i dont think thats what my adventure for next week is

but i guarantee

everyone whos here will love it

Mortis ex Verditus: This is a good opportunity to hide Richard Strabo on Ponza and get him to help us solve this crisis.

Giraldo of Milan: ok everryone

now that severin is a mundane

lets kill him

Rosario of Flambeau: Mortis ex Verditus: This is a good opportunity to hide Richard Strabo on Ponza and get him to help us solve this crisis.

lmao.

Mortis ex Verditus: Fortunately he's a Rego specialist so he doesn't need living plants.

Giraldo of Milan: imagine if the die that johns rolled to determine which form got fucked up landed on vim

or ignem

Rosario of Flambeau: lol

Derfel ap Cadwaladr:

rolling 1d10!+6+2

(

6

)

+6+2

=

14

devil's fav demon (GM): aging /roll 1d10!-4

rolling 1d10!-4

(

7

)

-4

=

3

rolling 1d10!-4 aging rosario

(

4

)

-4

=

0

johns (GM):

rolling 1d10+1 bolad aging 1344

(

1

)

+1

=

2

rolling 1d10!+1 bolad aging 1345

(

9

)

+1

=

10

dys rofls at the sheer concept of aging rolls

devil's fav demon (GM): lol

dys: still 3 more years until archibald makes his first aging roll

devil's fav demon (GM): strong faerie blood ftw