Theandric: Journeyman

[MummyKitty]

After the morning meeting, Titus sulks a bit, clearly disappointed that he could not bring things to a satisfactory conclusion. He sits a bit off to himself and eats quietly, but perks up a bit as he listens to Valeria's musings and interrogations of the Redcap with barely concealed amusement.

"I hesitate to say too much about my colleagues from Fengheld as the topic seems to make you uncomfortable, Lady Valeria. However, I will say that I know Instantus as a Master of one of the chapterhouses of Fengheld and a renowned student of the heavens. I believe his presence here will be a boon to our research into the purpose of these stones-- perhaps they hold some astrological significance? In any event, 'conditions of hospitality' are surely not necessary to show him as kind a welcome as we would any of our visiting fellows of the Hermetic Order." He looks at Lady Deitrich, obviously including her in this statement.

"Lady Deitrich, these details you provide make your ordeal sound even more horrible than I first imagined. But, you seem to be recovering quite nicely for which I am sure we are all grateful. I trust that you will enjoy what poor accomodations we can provide until you are completely recovered, and not leave a moment sooner. I have several letters that I would like to compose before your leaving that I hope you might carry for me to my friends...

"Our plan is to mount an expedition into the forest, to make the acquaintence of our mundane neighbors and perhaps learn more of the stag. I would certainly like you to carry our findings back to some experts I know on the old ways, as such information will surely be informative to their studies. Your health may demand it, but if your recovery is swift, I hope you will be able to stay here until our expedition returns?"

 

[Nzld]

"If this Instantus were merely to pay us a brief visit and then be on his way, then yes, we could extend the same courtesy and hospitality toward him that we would extend toward any other person of status who visits us," Valeria says, "but Stentorius's letter clearly indicates he is coming as a pereginitore. The Peripheral Code, I remind you, requires all covenants to formally publish the Conditions of Hospitality with which any wandering magus may claim our hospitality in this manner. This is no trivial matter. Nor one to be handled off the cuff."

"If we impose no limit of duration, and allow this Instantus to stay as long as he likes, then any magus may call upon us, staying as long as he likes, while burdening us with his comfort and sustenance. If we charge this Instantus no fee, then any magus could call upon us, free of charge, draining our resources - of which there are currently precious few - with no recompense to ourselves."

"Nay, Titus, Conditions of Hospitality are very much a necessity."

Valeria pauses a moment, seemingly about to eat another sliver of fruit, but seems to become disgusted with it and tosses it back onto her plate.

"Still, time enough to draft those, I suppose. Back to the matter of this expedition, which presses us more urgently. I see Volkmar over there even now is assembling men and supplies together. And look!" she exclaims, her eyes coming upon something unexpected, "I see an odd couple hath followed after me from Durenmar. Note the ragged youth yonder - do you see the one? - the boy with the wild look about him. Him they called Pavel, if I recall correctly. He must have followed that charming minstrel Malloc. The boy, I'm told, has a fondness for the troubador's soothing ballads."

"And there," she says, pointing into the treeline, where a cloaked dimunitive figure can just barely be made out. "I am thinking that to be that most peculiar little dwarf. A Faerie-thing, I am told, with hair as white as snow and skin of blue like a goblin. Puck, he is called. If Volkmar has noticed his presence - and it would surprise me if he has not - then I am certain he will be accompanying this little endeavor."

"That leaves but one question unanswered," she says, letting the unspoken question hang in the air. "Who amongst us shall lead this expedition? Were it a simple matter of scouting the region and visiting the villages nearby, I would say let the grogs handle it, for surely they are capable of doing so unsupervised, and they have that local-born gardner to assist them. But they, of course, cannot pursue this stag alone, nor expect to be able to contend with it when, and if, they succeed in finding it. For that, a magus must go."

"Shall you lead this expedition, Titus?" she asks, curiously.

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Gorgamesh

Gorgamesh listens to Titus and Valeria and to the redcap's story.
He have no intention to be caught in the middle unless he asked to.

Master Titus and master Gasparius
he says and eats a tomato.
I think one of thy shall join the expedition, If thy shall encounter the creatures of the forest
the expedition must have a wise diplomatic man.
He says to Titus.
Or maybe a man who knows the fairy folk and their manners.
He says to Gasparius.
I'm not the right magi for dealing with outsiders ... at all and at any time, as you can see, others than you or other magus find me quite repulsive... he laugh to himself, and finish the tomato.

 

[Nzld]

Volkmar & Lukas

Throughout the morning, Volkmar has been focused on organizing the upcoming expedition. After choosing the grogs and covenfolk that will embark upon the mission, he saw to the provisioning of food and supplies, and then performed a cursory examination of weapons and armor. Satisfied that everything was acceptable, though not ideal, Volkmar turns his attention to the specific goals of the expedition.

He walks toward the forest's edge, where the Faerie stag had left its mark, and reexamines the foreboding impressions in the light of day. He then calls for the archer Lukas to attend him.

"You saw last night the beast that left these marks. Today, we shall seek out that beast. Search the area for any tracks or tell-tales that might aid us in our pursuit."

His order given, Volkmar turns his attention away from the Lukas, confident that the grog can perform his duty without further supervision.


OOC: Does Volkmar notice anything different about the stag's mark this morning? Has it changed in any way? Specifically, I am looking for indications that there is something unnatural about the mark (for instance, if it is a countdown, are there only six marks now, etc.).

Also, does Volkmar, himself, see any prints or tracks indicative of the beast's presence?

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Lukas the hunter

Lukas take a closer look at the carvings in the snow, then he takes a few step
and tries to find the Hove prints of the stag.
This will be the starting point of the expedition.

 

[MummyKitty]

Titus was not going to rise to Valeria's bait this time. He wondered what kind of covenant Durenmar was. Did it not command respect for the masters and archmagi as a matter of course? Was it ruled by pages of rules, of the sort that might be needed for children? Titus was a great admirer and student of the word of law, but he also understood the subtle language of what was unwritten. Maybe they really didn't have the kind of intrigue he had found at Fengheld in other covenants? He was done arguing for now. If the lady wanted a vote, he would go along.

"Excellent points all, Gorgamesh. It seems there are several who could be qualified for leading the expedition, and I tend to agree that one of us magus should accompany it. Myself, I am of two minds. Of course I would like to meet our mundane neighbors and establish relations with them. But, there are many items of business that I would like to see to here at Teneo, so I hesitate to volunteer. Say... shall we form a council and vote on it?"

 

[Yair]

OOC: Does Volkmar notice anything different about the stag's mark this morning? Has it changed in any way? Specifically, I am looking for indications that there is something unnatural about the mark (for instance, if it is a countdown, are there only six marks now, etc.).

Indeed, one of the lines is fading, now being only partial and spotchy. The snow covers nearly half ot it, covering it up in small potches here and there. The other lines seem strangely as clear as they were when you first saw them.

Lukas: Fortunately, it hasn't snowed since the Stag's attack. Although the tracks have faded somewhat, you can still make them out.

 

[Nzld]

Volkmar reports to the magi

After he finishes his scrutiny of the markings, Volkmar approaches the magi. In the light of day, his armaments are far easier to discern. He still wears his chain armor, mostly hidden beneath his outer robes, and the haft of his greatsword stil rises off his back, but at his waist is strapped a longsword and scabbard - hanging off his left hip - and at his right dangles a mace and chain, its haft tucked securely inside the band of the sword belt. On another man, the abundance of weaponry would look ridiculous and cumbersome, yet on the massive Volkmar it looks merely fitting.

"Forgive the intrusion, masters of Teneo," he says as he steps near the magi. "It may intrigue you that the markings left by the stag-beast exhibit a peculiar quality. One - and only one - of the seven lines scribed by the beast has begun to fade away. By evening, it will be fully vanished."

"Master Gorgamesh's assessment of the markings seems to be accurate; that they are a warning; that each line represents a day before the stag will return, or an even greater calamity befalls."

"A party for the expedition is assembled and provisioned. They are ready to depart and await your pleasure, but there is now an evident time constraint placed upon you, and it is imperative that the expedition depart immediately."



OOC: The party shall consist of the grogs Mattihus, Lukas, Puck, and Pavel. I won't speak for anyone's companion, but I anticipate that Malloc shall attend. My further anticipation is that either Hakon or Volkmar will attend, but not both. As mentioned before, this would be dependent on which magus leads the expedition.

 

[Nzld]

"Indeed, Volkmar," Valeria says, her eyes encompassing the magi around her, "we were just about to make a decision on that very matter."

She looks to Titus a moment, evaluating his statements from a moment ago. "Yes, let us decide as a council," she says, returning her attention to all the magi in general.

With her next statements, she looks to each magus, in turn, as she speaks.

"Gorgamesh has expressed a particular reservation against leading the expedition, and I find no fault with his reasoning. Gasparius has expressed little interest in the matter at all. And Titus, as he says, if of two minds on the issue. Therefore I shall nominate myself," she says.

"If it is the will of the council, I will accept the responsibility of this task."

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Gorgamesh

Then we shall not stay in your way my brave lady.
says Gorgamesh to Valeria.
I vote that you lead the expedition.
he turns to the others and to Volkmar.
I wish my worst fears would not fulfil but i see a chance they do, I suggest that the expedition will return day before the lines fades and join us here.

*********************************************
As For Malloc - he is going to be a part of the expedition.

OOC: I'll play my companion Malloc and my militent grog - Lukas the hunter.