Reynard shakes his head.  "No, not at all.  That cat thought to use me to do its bidding, and when I refused he must have gotten angry and decided to destroy my reputation...  I'm not quite sure I remember who Emrys is, to be perfectly honest, but I believe I'll be leaving here with the visiting wizards when they decide to go.  Apparently they need armed protectors, though I don't really understand why, when they have magic."  He shrugs.  "It's a living, though.  Better than traveling alone.  Are you all part of their group, too?"

Affare purses his lips and nods approvingly.  Emrys’s offer no doubt would help calm the woman.

He was beginning to think things might work out in their favor.

Wulfgang offered Evzen a level glare.

"Only for knowing you." He said, then smiled. "No, I don't feel any different at all." He added after a moment's pause. "Of course, that's just what someone who is cursed might say..."

OOC: Edited to fix tags.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Wed 05 July 2023.

In reply to Emrys (msg # 253):

Audrey blinks rapidly, this time in surprise and shock.  She glances about, as if to make sure no one hears her, and then leans closer.  "Then...I will take you up on that deal Master.  I'm not in a position to refuse any help you can provide.

"I will tell you one more thing.  The cats.  There is some kind of controversy among the cats.  It has to do with Amis and Velum.  What it is I do not know.  But Velum has lost quite a bit of support among the other nobility.  And he has enemies among them too."

There's only one text that is missing Emrys and Affare.  Suprisingly, it's not the erotic poem.  It's the one called Treatise on the Northern Lands.  It's one of the ones you looked over before.

---

Three of the men blink at you Reynard.  They then all make an Oooohhh face.

"Well that kinda makes things clearer Ser.  Yeah yeah.  We're grogs for Master Emrys.  He's the fellow of the two wizards.  The fellow with the nose and kinda dangerous look.  I don't know that lady wizard too well.  Glasses somethin'.

"But yeah.  I guess we'll be travelin' with you.  I'm Felix.  That one over there is Evžen. The big dumb one here is Leonard.  And this guy's Wulfgang,"  Felix points at you Wulfgang.  "He's cursed.  Maybe.

"So are you gonna be our new captain or somethin'?"  He frowns and looks back at you Wulfgang.  "We ever have a captain before now?"

Wulfgang, you can answer that you don't know or make up your former captain as you see fit.  Reynard, I will let you ask any follow up questions you wish.

Emrys nods at he information as he tells the librarian, "I'll see what I can do about getting that book back."

Checking with Affare, "I'm going to check with Velum about the matter at hand.  But afterwards I think our following action will be take a portal to Fengheld and then make it to a port to find passage to Riga.  Sound feasible to you or anything to add?  Maybe check to see if Valnastium has a map or travelogue?"

Glasera retreats to her room and begins her casting. It is tiring work but with Flinga's help she powers through it and establishes the connection. She watches him for a time and when he seems alone, not speaking with anyone, etc. She will speak into his mind.

"Hello, don't be afraid. You are being contacted by a Magus of the Order of Hermes. If you would be so kind as to retreat to somewhere you will not be overhead I have a few questions for you. Speak your name aloud when you are prepared to converse with me."

In reply to Emrys (msg # 258):

Velum purrs when he sees you Emrys.  And listens patiently as you explain.

<goldenrod>"If I may suggest...I know how to get into his sanctum door.  It's how I got in with your man Wulfgang before.  It would be the safter route.

"Can you disguise yourself?  If you can look like the maid Hossa, you could just walk right past the guard and get in that way.  If not, I suppose we can try the ledge again."</goldendrod>

---

"What deviltry is this..."</roylared>

This Gustav looks some like Alfred, but he has the scar mentioned Glasera.  He looks a little older than you might have thought he would be.  Gray peppers his hair.

He seems to be in some kind of forest.  The connection isn't as vibrant as you might like.  The edges of your vision are a bit cloudy.  The sound is sort of distant.  Like someone speaking into a pillow.

Gustav blinks and looks around.  <royalred>"What deviltry is this?"

Emrys nods, "I'll disguise myself as Hossa before approaching the door using an illusion.  Is there's anything else we might need?"

When Velum is ready, Emrys finds a spot out of sight near Amis' sanctum and puts an illusion over himself to appear as Hossa.

Affare concurs with Emrys’s plan, and has little to add, for the moment.  Riga… that word causes a sort of anticipation to vibrate in his bones.  He hadn’t realized until now just how badly he wanted to get away from here, at least for a time.

Glasera let's out an exasperated sigh "Why do people keep thinking that? Magic, rather simple magic, no devil needed. I'm trying to be as polite about this as possible because I understand how it could be off putting. But could you please verify your name for me?

"I'm not cursed." Wulfgang said, affecting a weary tone as he looked over at Felix. "And no, I don't think we've ever had a captain before." He added. "Might not be a bad idea to have someone who might hit you with a stick every once in a while, though..."

Evžen barks a laugh at your comeback Wulfgang..  Even Leonard manages a chuckle.

Felix frowns and glances at you Reynard.  "You're not the type to smack a subordinate, are you Ser?"

---

Amis' sanctum is one of two at the end of a hallway Emrys.  The guard standing before the other one smiles at you as Hossa.

You quickly tap out the sequence Velum told you and open the door.  Nothing goes boom, so it must have gone well.  You hope.



Let me know if there's anything you want to do other than search for that book please Emrys.

Thanks

---

Gustav frowns at your question Glasera.  He mutters, "Doesn't the Devil always know your name?

"Gustav.  What's your Lady Spirit?"

"Well, I'd think they expect me to take a little time cleaning," Emrys tells Velum.

Emrys follows the cat's instructions to avoid any other booby traps as he scans the place again.

'Hossa' goes to retrieve the Treatise on the Northern Lands and double checks that Amis didn't leave any scraps of notes behind regarding the text.

In reply to Emrys (msg # 266):

Things look as you recall leaving them Emrys.  Maybe a tad dustier.  You could always do some sweeping, being disguised as Hossa and all.

Most of Amis' writings are in his own personal cypher.  No surprise there.  You find a sheaf of notes that contain some bad drawings on them, which coud be the coast of the southern lands.  At least what you've seen of that area on a map.

There's also a drawing of what looks like some kind of island.

You would need to study the notes to try to break the cypher.

Since two sets of eyes are often better then one, Affare approaches and asks to have a look at the notes.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:08, Sun 09 July 2023.

Emrys collects the notes and sketches as well in case they contain some clue about Amis and his whereabouts.  After a appropriate bit of time for a maid doing her rounds he leaves. 

Leaving the Sanctum, 'Hossa' continues on her duties and once out of sight of any observers, Emrys ends his illusion.

spont fatigue dispel- probably didn't need it fatiguing since it was only a level 5 illusion but...
01:38, Today: Emrys rolled 2 with the Ars Magica stress die.  end maid illusion.

Returning to the Library the magus returns the book to the troubled librarian and shows his sodalis the ciphered notes and drawings.

He comments to Affare, "I think we should return to Fengheld and then make arrangements to travel by river to a port and then travel by ship by Riga.  I'd rather not delay so we can get there and on Amis' trail before the start of winter.  I suspect he's somewhere South of here, possible the Roman tribunal but it seems more likely further south than that...across the Middle Sea."

Emrys shrugs, "Fredrich told me Leonard was a bargemen out of Magdeburg.  I'd bet he's been to Hamburg or at least familiar enough for what we need to know to get there by river."

After the pair return to speak to a gathering of the others, he informs them of much the same  so they can leave for Fengheld and start on their journey to Riga.

Reynard grins, curling his arm in front of himself and making a fist bigger than most mens' heads.  "I've never needed to strike a subordinate, but there's a first time for everything, I suppose.  Usually men fight each other when it's been too long since the last battle, but you seem more peaceable than the crusaders I'm used to.  As long as everyone does their job, I'll have nothing to complain about."

He relaxes, and looks around.  "So do any of you know what the plans are?  Are we departing today?  Does everyone have everything they need?"

"Oh good. Just had to be sure. I am Glasera ex Merinita and I assure you that I am not in league with a devil of any kind. I have it on good authority that you worked closely with one of my sodales. A Magus by the name of Amis? I have business with him and he has gone missing. Is there anything that you can tell me about your travels with him? Perhaps a favored stopping off point?"

This might be coming daringly close to violating the prohibition against scrying, she thought to herself. But no one likes Amis and if there were an inquiry this is not practically different than conducting an interview, she reasoned.

Affare nods agreeably, then departs at once to make travel arrangements for the party.

In reply to Glasera ex Merinta (msg # 271):

Gustav scowls even more deeply Glasera.  "Now I know you're a devil.  Unless it was hell, I don't care where that lunatic went off to.  If Master Amis wants his damn key back he better-"

You hear a kind of thudding sound.  Then Gustav goes black.

---

Audrey nods happily and thanks you both profusely Affare and Emrys

Glas, if you want to keep scrying, go ahead.

I am going to move us to the Travelouge thread unless there are questions on this one

Glasera casts a quick spell to determine what happened to Gustav. "Gustav? Gustav, what happened? Good sir are you OK!?"

09:46, Today: Glasera ex Merinta rolled 23 using 1d20+10.  InCo is this bloke injured base 4, touch,ind,mom.

Wulfgang shrugged at Reynard. "I go where I am told, but I have been told nothing, save to come here. Velum was insistent. And then the riddle, and now this." He said plainly.

In reply to Glasera ex Merinta (msg # 274):

Gustav has been knocked out Glasera.  But still seems to be alive.  And the connection to him is becomimg muddied.  There's some kind of interference.

You may cast as you wish Glas.  Let me know what you want to try next.

Thinking fast Glasera shouts an incantation and swings her arms dramatically. The floor frosts over and a flurry of snow is left in her wake as she disappears.

23:35, Today: Glasera ex Merinta rolled 6 with the Ars Magica stress die.  Teleport, loud exaggerated. –

That's plus a 17, not sure how that got dropped when I rolled. I'm exhausted but uninjured when I arrive by my math.

In reply to Glasera ex Merinta (msg # 277):

How did you come to the +17?

You'll also have a penalty of -2 due to certain circumstances.

---

Sorry.  Edit.  Had the penalty listed at -3.  It is actually -2.

Let me know about how you calculated the +17 and we will head to what happens next.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:36, Fri 14 July 2023.