(2605) Sanctuary

[Mateus]

The Hierarch's comment about adherence to the Lex was expected. Councilor Aurora 's was a bit... perplexing. Following the Lex was not obligatory but "recommended" ? Not doing so is simply "frowned upon" instead punished? Most probably a language issue or the councilor was stating things politely.
Or, she was by intent deceptively mild in the statement - perhaps testing him? Trying to see if he would bite and stumble? Who knows. But he filed away the councilor's choice of words. He hoped he was wrong that the councilor was already testing him -or worse trying to trap him - the moment he was confirmed to be apostate. But such is the way with newcomer apostate solitaires...

Trying to push out the thoughts that he was being toyed or even led to a trap by a councilor just because he was an apostate -there's high chance he simply got it wrong - he focused on what Thirteen said.
He didn't immediately disagree with the red haired mage, but he didn't completely agree either.
"I can see benefits in both approaches, mrs Thirteen." he said. "Joining a cabal, which is something much more personal, should in my opinion mean you disclose such information although that is for individual cabals to decide. In a small consilium like this one, I can also see the wisdom in sharing. But some of us may simply not be ready to share this with everyone on the first meeting or two. " Nobody told him their Order for starters. " I am not sure how things work here of course, and I would follow the custom. When in Rome, do as the Romans and all."

[Chambers]

Well that itself might be the limiting factor for the arrow. "If you want a nice suit there a plenty off the rack that will do fine, if your looking for the top end well it is does inevitable come with a bit of a price tag." Although he is a little surprised that the mage does not already destroy or remove things that could connect him to anything sleeper related. "When our foes have the same breath and depth of powers as are available to us, even something small and innocuous like a brand or store label can be used to dig into our lives." And He trusted that did not need expounding on. "The more the world moves towards subtle surveillance with things like loyalty sign ups, memberships and required identification. The harder it becomes to live secretly." Any and all of these were potential forms of exposure.

And as for matter of order or apostate as Mateus goes on to confirm. "Apostates are still welcome in the consilium. Order membership is not a requirement. Of course you will not have access to any of the order only areas. And you like all are expected to keep the lex or face the consequences of not doing so." The Tetragrammaton was there for its own reasons after all. "The mage conducting your acknowledgement may ask about your order, in which case it is advised to answer truthfully. But it is not not need be public knowledge, providing the order itself is aware." Well aware some of the orders did not like to openly boost, or its members openly declare where their allegiances lay, it was a world of secrets after all.

As for the turn of phrase Mateus finished on. "And what if you arrived somewhere and the Romans in this instance turned out to be seers? What would you do then?" The saying was all well and good but could equally be a mixed message. Having no order allegiance did not allow for leniency when it came to seer activities or associations.

[Asclepius]

A Nod of confirmation to Aurora. When it came to information about experience, and guidance, she would be first on his list to call. “I will do so once I find some time between study and work.” With the conversation of the lex brought up something to discuss entered into his mind. “Not to sound foolish, and I could probably guess the answer that is to come, but I was always taught that the Lex was law. With that in mind, am I right in thinking that there is no exception to disobeying the lex. Also is it possible that someone could be forgiven for a breach of the lex? I would like to assert that I am not planning on doing so. It was something that I was reflecting on during my study.” The way the Arrow saw it, there was no excuse and he was taught and firmly followed such mentality, but that did not mean that everyone had the same mindset.

Thirteen speaking of trust going both ways was something that the Arrow could understand and get behind but he could also see that difficult position a newcomer was in when doing so. “While I agree with you Thirteen, to some people, the less information given the safer the mage. Not to mention that with information like someone's order, assumptions would be made about the behaviour the mage could exhibit based upon what they answered. For all we know, this could have been a test of the nature of our Consilium, would we pry deeper and force an answer out of Mateus? or would Mateus be left to freely answer without pressure?” Sometimes the most dangerous foe is the one you spend the longest beside. A light chuckle is given to Jinx's mispronunciation.

While he had little reason to think much of Mateus, other then the fact he was an unacknowledged and unknown mage. something sat in the back of his mind from the mans words. Does this mean he is following the customs because that is what everyone else is doing so? Does that mean he has broken the lex before? Time will tell I guess.

A smile given to chambers, at least given the surprising denial of advice on specific places to shop, he still offered some wisdom as to what he should expect from looking into suits. “I suspected that something specifically tailored to me would cost a sizeable amount. Perhaps I will heed you suggestion and focus on something off the rack. On the other comment you made, I agree with the difficulty of keeping to a life blended in when the world seems to follow this notion of constant sign ups and memberships to various things. It almost makes me wonder if it was concocted by the enemy.” The Arrows ears perked up at Chambers mention of Seers, the question was interesting and so the Arrow eagerly waiting Mateus' response.

[Aurora]

A glance to Thirteen, “Should be? Yes. But it is not a requirement. Many Awakened have been members of this Consilium without sharing their Order associations for personal reasons and it’s never been an issue. Some Orders, and Awakened, keep that knowledge secret, choosing to share that with a select few when they feel those people have earned enough trust. It’s no secret that certain Orders are not trusted and have a long and difficult history with each other, so keeping that association private is understandable.” Maybe it was just her, but she doesn’t make that demand on someone. “What you ask someone is your business, but don’t be surprised if not everyone is forth coming with their Order. There is more pressing information to gather about them if you ask me.” But that could be just her years in the city talking.

A look to Mateus, “Some of us may feel those not Acknowledged have not earned the right to know what Order we belong to. How can you know how things work here? You haven’t met with your Councilor yet, choosing instead to jump the gun so to speak and coming here ahead of that meeting. I’d be a bit lost too in how things are done.” Shrugging.

Looking to the Arrow, “The Lex is the Law, and all Awakened are subject to the laws and no Council may change them. Unless by Harmony and should there be no evidence of the Artifact. Discussion of the Lex is a vast and very in-depth matter, which I am always more than happy to have, but I’m not sure we have the time today.” A small smile, “If you want to get together later, we can and I can try and answer more in-depth if you want.” She offers.

[Thirteen]

"Just Thirteen. I'm nobody's Mrs.," she replied to Mateus matter-of-factly, "And I'm probably not the trustin' sort. Anyway, Apostates are fine by me. Better to go it on your own than join a cause you don't fit. As long as you're not lyin' about your associations, I don't care much who you're with." Except maybe Silver Ladder. She liked that Order only somewhat better than the Seers of the Throne, whom she downright hated.

She shrugged at Asclepius, "Keepin' your identity to yourself is all well and good when you run into someone on the street. I say it's a wee bit different when you're lookin' to join a group of any sort. The group, be it Consilium or Assembly or Cabal, has a right to know who's applin'."

The Libertine raised her eyebrows at Aurora, "Our interview process is a tad lax, then, isn't it? What's to stop a feckin' Seer from waltzin' in here and keep his 'Order' to himself?" She shook her head, "Feels like a big hole in our security."

Jinx was watching the new Warlock when Thirteen wasn't. The pair kept eyes on him at every moment.

[Mateus]

Once Hierarch Chambers asks him what he would do in the case the Romans turned to be Seers, he quickly answered "I would die, I guess. The Seers target everyone that disagrees with their masters including Apostates." then after a bit more thought, he added "To my understanding, the saying about the Romans refers to customs, not to personal morals. I expect the person who said it, by many accounts St Ambrose, didn't mean that if you find the 'Romans' eating human flesh, you should follow their example. The differences I have with the Seers are much deeper than whether it is considered good policy or not to state your Order when you join a concilium or cabal. "


The man looking for a costume made some ... comments about whether the group should force him to say his affiliation or not. He doesn't answer or take part in that discussion about him without including him as if he is not standing next to the guy, but is glad he has a personal interview with Salem instead of... whatever this is here.


And that brings him to Councilor Aurora 's question. "I am indeed a bit lost of how things are done. But I plan to stick around and learn." He is more than a little lost. In fact, he is downright confused - there are just 4 mages and him and there are several different approaches on whether Order reveal is required or not. Apparently, he set off some discussion about the procedure itself from what Thirteen said!
Not to mention the question of whether the Lex can be ...sidestepped or breaches of the lex forgiven. The answer the councilor gave was again non-commital. He has never heard of a "pardon" for breaking the Lex, but the councilor didn't immediately say so and instead pointed to how complex discussions about the Lex are.
Sooo... she may not be trying to trap me, specifically, but perhaps testing everyone, he thought


He didn't comment on the apparent discussion about the Circle's security and the interview process.
That is, by his count, the third mage-topic that by his understanding they all agreed to not discuss in front of him. The acknowledgement process, the Lex Pardons and now the Circle's security.
And Thirteen said they were not the trusting sort... No, he was not a bit lost, he was confused. Do as the Romans is all nice and good, except if you can't figure out how the Romans act. Silence may be his best friend here. They may all be testing him.

The above are Mateus opinions, not the player's opinions.