Post Sanguisuga Lore

Albus leaves the group after going over the Alps. He has some difficulties as there is quite a bulk of stuff (library, vis, etc.) being brought along. He manages to force a farmer to give him a cart and horse, and compel the farmer's son to drive the cart. This is really a matter of force as the farmer is in no way well disposed toward him. Sufficient threats and demonstration of power get him to the vicinity of Durenmar with the goods intact.

Albus leaves the cart outside Durenmar in a small village hidden as well as he can. Again, threats and demonstration of power are required. The people in this region are a bit more accustomed to magi, but only their magi. He has a reasonable belief the cart will be safe, as will the goods, and traveling into Durenmar with the goods would only raise questions he has gone to great effort not to have raised.

Albus gets an audience with Flambeau fairly swiftly. He tells the great man the story of the deaths of the magi and the Sons of Cain. Flambeau cuts to the chase on the salient points:

• Did you kill the Tremere?
• How many Sons of Cain escaped?
• Who else knows?

After garnering a better feeling for the facts, Flambeau lets Albus go get food and rest. Albus sees Guernicus and Flambeau walking together later, and assumes Flambeau is getting some advice on the issues. The day passes.

In the morning, Albus notes a flurry of activity in the form of several ravens flying in and out of Tremere's tower. This happens a few times during the morning, and the implications seem to be that communication is occuring. Albus asks around discretely and determines that Diedne often communicates with other magi this way when she is not present.

In the afternoon, Flambeau summons Albus. Flambeau lays out what the laws are regarding this, and indicates that there will be an inquest at which Albus must be present. Flambeau instructs Albus to answer in monosyllables only (yes, no) and not to in any way elaborate. Flambeau believes the issue is not a disaster yet, and can be managed if Albus keeps his head.

The inquest occurs the next day. Present are Flambeau, Guernicus, Tremere, Tytalus, Bonisagus, and Diedne. The other founders are not in residence at the moment, or cannot be bothered. There are also a few others present, both magi and clerks. Tremere asks very pointed questions and seems to know much more than he should. Questions of being trigger happy come up, and Albus can see Diedne smiling. Flambeau makes exactly the arguments you would expect (it is a war, cannot hold back on the guess that things might be ok, they should not have been consorting with the Sons of Cain, etc.) Tremere quotes the oath repeatedly, which just makes Flambeau angrier. Flambeau makes it clear that he doesn't need Tremere keeping his conscience about how his House honors the oath. Tytalus puts in a few jabs, goading both of them on. Flambeau finally tells Tremere that if a conclusion is desired, he will certainly provide one. Flambeau begins casting. Bonisagus and Guernicus step in and get things calmed down before fire flies. Tremere looks shaken. Bonisagus talks to Tremere while Guernicus talks to Flambeau. Tremere backs down, but indicates this is not over and that there needs to be a better way of solving such disputes without resorting to violence against another magus (thus leading him to begin developing Certamen and getting it adopted as the pro-forma mechanism for settling disputes in the order). Tytalus and Diedne both look disappointed. Tremere leaves, glowerin at Albus. Albus is pretty sure this is not over, too...

Flambeau sends Albus on his way the next day, with warnings to avoid Tremere and others of his House. Flambeau is also sure this is not over.