The companions ride to Cirencester, an ancient Roman city, in which lies the luxurious home of Duke Galegantis of Clarence.  The knights are able to enter the old-style castle without a problem.  There they meet the officious bureaucrat Amig of Cricklade, the Duke's Castellan.

Amig explains that the Duke has many appointments with important people, and may not be able to see the knights for some time.  Sir Sejanus asks a few questions about the Duke and finds that the Duke has a custom of asking a favor before answering questions.  The only way to get information from the Duke is to accede to his request.  His requests are generally not onerous and never dishonorable.

Asking around a little, the party learns that the Duke is normally in his conference room during the day, meeting with emissaries, etc.  Around dusk he walks in his garden, and in the evening eats in the banquet hall.  It is normal for a Duke to keep knights waiting, perhaps for days, given their difference in rank.  Amig suggests that the knights try again tomorrow and perhaps the Duke will see them then.

Sir Sejanus gets a check in Courtesy and another in Intrigue.

Perin waits as Sejanus thanks Amig and the trio retreat to ensure some small measure of privacy.  "It seems to me that simply waiting around for days isn't the most ideal of options.  Perhaps we should avail ourselves of the Duke's lovely garden this evening and see whom we just happen to bump in to..." Perin suggests.  It's not like they can barge into the Duke's other meetings or his meal, so the gardens represent their best chance to speak to the man ahead of schedule as it were.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:29, Sat 18 Nov 2017.

"I agree. I also think I perhaps should address Amig next. A Knight Banneret is as a candle to the hearth fire but it does give me a pinch of standing that may make the difference. My father law is also the Earl of Cardiff." Sir Dalan says, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

 When the three had gotten to a place of relative privacy, Sejanus listened to his companions thoughts. He then interjected his own thought to them to them. “Amig of Cricklade, Duke’s Castellan, considers himself an important man, and in truth, he is. As such, he wishes for others to acknowledge his importance, and this is done in the way of a “gift”. Such are the way things are done, with we Romans. While such a gift might not get us immediate access to the Duke, it should cast us in a favorable light, which will quicken the oft time, madding slowness of a Roman court."

 The young Knight then spoke to Sir Dalan.” Aye, you are correct, your higher rank might help, and your connect to the Earl of Cardiff should impress the Castellan. But we still need a gift for Amig, of some sort, or our wait might be forever."

“Sir Perin, the garden the Duke walks might be within the walls of the Castle, and even if not, our approaching the Duke directly will cast us in a most unfavorable light. He is a Roman, and this is a Roman court, not the court of Earl Robert. There are rules we must observe.”

Perin shrugs and says simply "Your quest, your decision."  In truth Perin had a fairly mixed opinion about the Romans.  Sure, you had men like Gracian, but he was by in large shunned by his fellows (at least until his most recent marriage).  Then on the other hand you had men like the Praetor and this Galegantis, both playing games instead of coming right out and handling the situation like real men.  It didn't sit well with Perin, and so he was more than happy to leave the politics to someone else.  "Then if we're going to be here a while, I'm going to go avail myself of the town and see what might be found to while away the hours."

The following morning, the trio arrive at the castle and check in with the Castellan, who informs them that the Duke is still busy with others but perhaps will have time for them that afternoon.

Returning in the afternoon, Amig motions them to a conference room, where the Duke sits pouring over a dispatch.  He looks up, "welcome, good knights.  I understand that you wish an audience with me?" he inquires.

 Sejanus was surprised that they were ushered into the presence of the Duke. Sejanus came to attention, and with closed fist raised his right arm to touch his heart, the extended the arm to an open hand, the ancient salute of Rome.” Salvete Dominus. I am Sir Sejanus, and my companions are Sir Perin and Sir Dalan of Salisbury."

He then went into the meat of the matter,after the introductions had been made." We seek audience because we are on a Quest to locate the son of the Praetor Jonathel, one named Peter. He had two companions with him, a Sir Ferdinand and Sir Guidon. We were told he was coming to your fair city.” Sejanus said this in his best level of courtesy, which he could muster.

Sir Dalan chose against aping the Roman salute and instead bowed formally to the Duke when introuced. "Your Grace."

Perin, trailing the other two men, quietly and a bit more rigidly bows.  Not that the Duke would notice of course, as Sejanus has quickly occupied the man's attention.

The Duke nods, "I remember these men," he responds.  "I will tell you what I know of these men if you will do me a favor.  I rule over a village to the northeast of here called Burton.  It is a small village and thus does not often concern me.  I have granted it as a fief to a loyal knight named Sir Brocklebuck," he explains.

"Recently, two peasants arrived from Burton to beg that Sir Brocklebuck be relieved of the fief.  They say that he is cruel to them and would work them to death.  Now I see that you are good Christians and also good knights, so I trust you to find an answer that is both honest and just.  Agree to this one task: to go to Burton and investigate the conditions there, to talk to Sir Brocklebuck, and to send back a report to me so that I may decide the disposition of the fief, and I shall in exchange reveal to you the quest that Sir Peter engaged in five years ago," he offers.

 Sejanus mulled the Duke’s request over briefly. “I shall do as you ask, but it is for my companions to speak for themselves. Do you wish Sir Brocklebuck to know we come from you, and or, as to why we are there? “

Sir Dalan nods. "I too shall do this Your Grace. You say Sir Brocklebuck is a loyal man... my lord, what manner of man was he when you granted him the fief? Perhaps he has changed?"

There was of course little that the trio could do but accept the man's offer, so Perin was forced to incline his head in a gesture of acceptance as his brothers began to ask questions of the Duke.  But all these games on top of games; Perin's opinion of the Duke continued its free fall.  It cost the man nothing to simply tell them what they wanted to know, and yet he insisted on extorting them.  So much for the famed hospitium of the Romans.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:31, Sun 19 Nov 2017.

The Duke shrugs noncommittally, "do whatever you feel is best in order to determine whether or not Sir Brocklebuck should retain the fief," he says.

  Sejanus made his farewells. “ We shall journey to this Burton, and see what there is to be learned. With your permission, My Lord, We shall withdraw, unless my companions wish to say more.”

The Duke waves you away, wishing you well on your quest.  Amig brings in the next supplicants as you leave.

Once outside Perin's voice seemingly returns "It sounds like we know where we're headed to next brothers.  Though if I may, perhaps only one of us should speak with this Sir Brocklebuck, while one speaks to the two men in question.  This would leave the last among us free to get the general lay of the land and try to get some much needed perspective of the whole situation."

 Sejanus seemed to consider this,but briefly. "Agreed. But before we depart this city,and head north,I wish to seek someone that knows Latin better then I. Perhaps there is more information on the Sword,itself."

Perin frowns slightly before asking "Why do you have some tome or dusty scroll in Latin that you can not decipher?  Or is it that you simply seek someone who knows more about the sword brother?"

OOC: Confused, is this is a language issue or a general knowledge issue?

" It is hoped, yes, to your first question,and yes,to the second. I intend to speak with those of the Church, to see if they have any information."

"As you will brother.  And if you need a hand deciphering anything that you might find, please don't hesitate to ask."  While Perin wasn't what one would immediately think of when one thought of a scholar, he was surprisingly well read.  Being romantically linked to Fiona had no doubt helped thing, as his brothers had seen the size of her library.  It didn't take much guesswork as to why Perin suddenly always seemed to have a book in his hand these days.

OOC: Shocked you didn't comment on her truly MASSIVE library earlier Sejanus!

* I wans't aware Se j had seen it.*

So, heading to a church to research or ask about Sanctglaius?

 Sejanus bid his fellows a temporary farewell, and told them he would meet them that evening in front of the Church. The Knight would seek out someone, Priest, Deacon, someone that might direct him to a source of information, or knowledgeable person, which knew something about the Sword.

Sir Dalan thoughtfully strokes his beard. "I agree research is wise think we shouldn't lose sight of Sir Brocklebuck. Perhaps I should be the one to speak to him while you speak to his peasants. As I said before I am a Banneret and that might count for much with even a foreign knight."