End of Spring 1253.
Vincent takes Orlaith Pumilius and the Apprentices by boat to Inverness, and then to Insula Canaria in the Great Glen, to hand over (and sign) the contract for the Freehold of Vindolanda. Orlaith and the apprentices try to talk to the lake, while Pumlius (and Gunther who has popped in) discuss with vincent the contract they are signing. Outraged at the no takes-backs clause they demand recompense over and above the agreed price, and get four magi-season's worth of access to the outer Library of Insula Canaria.
Then the main point of the trip: They proceed on to Riga for the Novgorodian tribunal. There is a bit of a commotion when they get there; it appears that Simon (the redcap apprentice that they resuced in Session 36) has run away. The fuss is soon resolved and they meet Susan of Wicklow (Simon's Parens, and the head redcap of the Novgorod tribunal). It is suggested that Iceland needs its own dedicated redcap, and as SImon will gauntlet in about a decade, maybe he could.... Susan agreed to think about it.
Susan was very freindly (Simon quite reserved), and also made equiries about comissioning Pumilius to make some rings of summoning stone huts, as it would be useful for the non-gifted redcaps. Vincent was happy to oblige.
Qiliaq went round pestering the magi until she could fine a bjorner magus. She found Boris Davidovitch a massive bear-shaped man. He was enraged that she could think that she was a Bjornear Apprentice, as the Gathering of the Twelve years had *just* happened. Pumilius intervened and tried to smooth things over. Boris left in a huff, leaving Iluiaq quite shaken on behalf of her headstrong sister.
Gunter tries to hob-nob with any local Bonisagi, but it appears there aren't any..
It is noticed that they have increased the boundary size for their Aegis ritual.
Pumilius introduces Iluliaq to Nestor of Verditius, a crafter of wooden items who treats Pumilius withh all the courtesy that he thinks he deserves.
Orlaith chats with Roberta of 1001 Caves a Criamon on the Path of strife, but bonds better with Yakim of Flambeau who she covers in molten lava. He thinks this is way cool.
Vincent spies Iminatos Mendax, and makes sure that he is never alone with him. Vincent Iminats and Gunther chat about the coming tribunal . Iminatos gripes about a terrible *bore* called Bruno Arkady a Jerbiton from the Covenant of Leczyca (In Poland near the border of the Rhine Tribunal), who is a Polish noble and too involved with mundane fighting.
Arnor Arngeirsson the Viktir they ... persuaded ... to join has been there for a while. He is also grumpy with Bruno Arkady as he feels that he is interfering too much with the agenda of the King of Norway.
There don;t seem to be that many magi attending the tribunal. Business is very light. The three candidates for the deputization to the Grand Tribunal (1260) that have announced themselves were
Yakim ibn Rasseur ex Flambeau From 1001 Caves
Boris Davidovitch (bjornear) from 3 lakes. Looks Almost bearlike due to twilight scar.Clan Mahrus.
Bruno Arkady from Leczyca Covenant. Polish Nobility.Jerbiton, full of Martial Glory.
Gunther magnanimously allows his name to go forward, and tops the Ballot jointly with Yakim. Bruno Alas is on fourth place. The Preaco, Julius ex Flambeau and The Presiding Quaesitor, Lavinia ex Guinicus don;t seem to be ruffled at all.
Speaking of ruffled feathers, Qiliaq di manage to find a more hospitable maga from House Bjornear, Olga from Priapet Major, an Otter Heartbeasted member of Clan Silkis. She is invited to Aiode, and the concept of joint fosterage is brought up...
On the way back Orlaith resolves to start investigating the mercurian scrolls, and intends to chat about this at the next Rhine tribunal.