Dramatis Personae (so far): Auriane, Mikelle, Stefanos, Lucias, Sir Richard, Jan, Edward, Helena, Merlon and Kale.

The day after the party returns from the fairie vineyard Helena will invite every maga / magus as well as Sir Richard (turb captain), Edward (as Violas voice) and Jan (as a representativ of the former bandits) to attend an inofficial meeting in order to discuss general guildlines and possibilities for createing and running the mundane aspects of this place.
Helena made sure there is a mug of wine for everyone attending (and besides that Kale -the cook- is there to serve some more if necessary). Once everyone has arrived Helena stands up to welcome everyone:
"Myladies, mylords" she nods to everyone smileing charmingly. (OOC: please assume that Helena has far more knowlegde of ettiquette then I have ;-) ) She speaks almost fluent latin though you can hear she's not used to speaking it. She'll also translate to Greek for Jan if he does not speak Latin. (I don't think he does.)
"We have some points to discuss concerning the future of this place. First of all I'd like to inform you of the results of Lady Mikelles negotiations with Lord Ulrik I had the pleasure to observe:" Her voice however turns to a kind of "no nonsense"-tone. "I'm not going to bother you with all boreing details, but this is the core of it: The Covenant of Haunted Springs will get a status similar to that of a city. This includes mainly two points:

Helena's tone gets a bit less formal when she adds: "There are some more details to it but that does not have to bother us now."
Helena pauses for a few seconds to allow questions to that.
As the report on the negotiations with the local lord is said, Auriane gives one satisfactory nod, as if the outcome were obvious.
Back again useing the "no nonsense"-tone Helena proceedes: "Since we now have the legal status to decide further steps there are three points we should discuss our opinions and expectations on:

We will come back to the later point. So first there is question of provideing space for work, study, sleeping quarters, storeage and other need."
Helena walks around the table now, gestureing sometimes.
"Right now we have private rooms for all of our six Magi, one lab, a libary, a kitchen, this common room and some rather cramped sleeping quarters for everyone else. Besides that I've seen a few sublevel rooms that might do nicely for storage, though I must admit I have not been down there."
She now stands next to Jan adressing him directly "Jan, have any of your people been down there?"
Jan shrugs, "Just a wine cellar, mostly, and some room for storage. And a lot of spoiled wine."
Helena smiles: "Fine, then I think we should get the mess out of there."
Adressing Mikelle Helena proceeds:
"From what I've heard the magi have need for more space for projects of their own?"
After waiting for a nod or something she proceeds walking back to her place: "Anyway I think we agree we have the need for some more room. And this should be achieved before winter."
Back at her place she leans forward (to the center of the table) supporting herself with both hands on the table: "What I plan to do is: I will clear some space close to this building. We will have to cut down a few trees to give space as well as wood. With this wood we will be able to build sleeping quarters for any servants as well as guards. Sir Richard..." she casts a smile at the knight "...would you assist me with this matter?"
Sir Richard, who has been his usual silent self so far, speaks as he is addressed by Helena: "Of course, lady. The turb will be at your disposal for any work you wish to do around the covenant"
Edward: "Milady, I'm fairly confident that Lady Viola will protest this: she tells me that in a magical aura like this one, most of the trees are "awake", and I don't think she could bear having them cut. At the very least, milady might want to ask Lady Viola before cutting any of the trees."
Lucias seems to wake up for the first time during this meeting: "Certainly, apparently she has some stringent objections to woodcutters. Viola? Or perhaps you could answer, and explain quite what is meant?"
Helena casts an irritated look at Lucias before she turns back to Edward). "Sure, I'm sorry, I did not expect anyone might object to cutting _few_ trees. But that's why I ask first. So I think, I'll have to ask for Lady Violas assistence on that matter."
Edward says: "As I understand it just about every tree in a powerful aura like this one will be awake. In the lower aura levels in the forest the portion might be a little less, but I think it's still the bulk of them. To tell the truth, I'm not really sure what Lady Viola would have you do about this--other than just not cut any trees at all, of course."
(Helena): "Hm... Well, we'll see. Further buildings will give us more space in the main building for the needs of our Magi as well as myself." this again is directed to everyone. "To make sure I can provide any space you need..." she gives every magus present a questioning look "... I trust you will explain your needs to me."
After giveing it a second thought she adds: "...but maybe later in private."
Now finally she sits down and asks: "Well, any suggestions or good ideas so far?"
Auriane speaks up:
"Indeed we need to have sufficient buildings to house the souls which will reside here. While buildings of wood will suffice for now, assuming we can even cut them," she notes wryly, "we will eventually need more sturdy housing. It is my intention that, in the fullness of time, we will have our covenant constructed of stone, as the ruins were once made of. There is an abandoned quarry nearby, strong backs and magi dedicated to the task of rebuilding. Know, Helena, that in our prior council of magi, that we discussed the reconstruction of these buildings by stone, with magic assisting. But that will take some time to work out. I will, perhaps, need to speak with you afterwards, Helena."
Helena listens with great interest, gives Auriane a serious, pleased nod and answers: "So you've already made some plans for that? That's good news. And, yes, I think we should discuss this matter afterwards in more detail, Lady Auriane."
Now again adressing everyone present Helena procedes: "Well, then I think we can come to our second question, the question of financial affairs and income. As I see it right now we have little money and will have to buy most of our food since we can't use our land for farming. We will have to make sure we have sources of income sufficient to buy whatever food we need and besides that for quite a lot of other supplies." She casts a questioning look at Mikelle. "Well, I've compiled a list of possible sources of income that I'd like to have your comments on and I hope you have some more ideas to add to that:

1. The most obvious source are the oranges growing here. The income for selling them will hopefully be enough to get us through this winter.
2. Grapes and wine from this vineyard and maybe even fairie wine, if I did not misunderstand Edward. Edward, could you please give us a short summary of what Lady Violas party did achieve in negotiations with the fairies?
   Lucias: They gained the right to hold a huge party for the faeries every spring, and then we could talk with them.
   Edward: Well, they say that we can harves the grapes in the old vineyard, which have vis; in exchange we've agreed to vist them once a year for a feast, and they'll visit us as well once a year. And at the feast, we're to trade things they want for thing they have, especialy I think the wine they make from their faerie vineyard. I'm not sure what we'll be trading them, but Lady Viola seems to have some things in mind: I think she wants to make some paintings for them, and she also mentioned songs or something of that sort--but I really don't know where she expects to find a bard.
   Helena shoots an irritated look at Lucias before she turns to Edward: "Did they say anything about when we were supposed to visit them and when then would visit us? Oh, and how many of them would come? And... Paintings you say? Interesting..."
   Edward: Milady, we must visit them in October, and they will visit us each spring. Actually, the grapes from the old vineyard are to be part of the exchange, so if we wish to obtain both those _and_ the faerie wine, we'll have to have goods to exchange for both. As for paintings, yes, Lady Viola paints pictures sometimes.
   "October?" Helena asks with a worried expression "That gives us only four weeks to prepare. Do we have anyone else who can paint pictures the faeries would like? Or something else they might want to trade? Edward, could you ask Lady Viola? With all respect, but you seem to understand her much better then I do."
   Edward: As I said, milady, Lady Viola mentioned songs. However, I would think that any sort of well-craft creation would be of interest to the faeries.
   Helena nods. Turning to Jan she asks: "Jan, would you try to find out if any of your men have any skills of that kind?"
   Jan: Hm...if any of us were musicians, I think we'd be making an honest living. :) But Astrid, didn't you say there was a boy in one of the villages nearby who everyone's been talking about?
   Helena: Ok, Jan, Astrid, what exactly is that about this boy?
   Jan: Well, I don't really know much, except that he has a really pretty voice, and tells wonderful stories. I haven't heard him myself--they don't really appreciate my coming round to the villages :).
   Helena nods: Allright, let's see if we can invite this guy to join a feast. Who would like to come with me and see if this guy can be of any help?
   Jan: I'm not sure that you'd want to take me--as I said, the villagers don't appreciate my presence. Perhaps you can take Edward, since he's learned some of the local language.
   Helena nods: 'right... Edward? Someone else?
   
   
3. Whatever this woods provide: Nuts, maybe olives, mushrooms, possibly game? If fear with Lady Violas concern we can forget the idea of tradeing wood. Jan, any comments?
   Jan: Well, I can't really think of anything you haven't mentioned--there's just the normal things you'll find in the woods, like nuts, mushrooms, and so on--not a whole lot of any one thing, but a little bit of many things.
   "Hmm." Helena nods in thought. "Any chance we find enough olive trees or may be able to plant enough of them to produce an amount of oli worth the trouble?"
   Jan: Well, I don't remember there being any olives in the woods. I know some people around here grow them, but you'd have to plant them.
   Helena nods: "Well, something to keep in mind. Maybe Lady Viola can help us there. Kale, you know more about plants then I do. Would you ask her about it?"
   Kale (the cook - she's here to serve drinks) turns pale, but answers a weak "Yes, milady." and drops a curtsey.
   Lucias: Ghosts...
   Helena looks at Lucias. She obviously is not sure if she should take this serious - but then she knows close to nothing about magic: "Do you think there is a need for ghosts somewhere in your order?"
   Lucias: Actually, I was merely being sarcastic about the quantities of useable materials, and lack of comforts in this place. But since you suggest it, I am sure there are people within the order who have an interest in such. Fortunately I am not one of them, but perhaps some individuals might be willing to trade for access to, how could we phrase it, "A fine collection of haunting spirits, but you'd probably best risk your lives to talk to faeries merely in order to bargain for what we should be able to have anyway"
   Lucias is clealy annoyed by something.
   
4. I plan to buy some chicken, goose and maybe a handfull of goats. I fear that's about all we can affort to raise here. A flock of sheep would have been nice, but I have no idea where to graze them.
   Lucias: Pigs?
   Helena nods: Yes, that's an option.
   
5. We could try to settle some craftsmen here. With all those refugees from Constantinople it might be possible to find people who are willing to live in an environment like this. After all we can offer considerably lower taxes than anyone arround.
   Lucias: I'm not too sure about this entire thing - but don't you have to pay people to work for you - and that would kind of negate the benefits of getting taxes from them?
   Helena sighs: "Yes, that's true. Though it is a matter of a good bargain. These refugees from Constantinople have close to nothing when they come here. We could give them a place to live and some support for the start. Further they would not have to worry about food - that's Kale's job. As for taxes: as long as they work for us they won't have to pay taxes at all. So their work should cost us less then it would cost us to hire someone from outside the valley. Sure, this will only work out if we choose craftsmen we have a more or less frequent use for. I fear we won't be lucky enough to find a glassblower (she's obviously not very serious here) but I think a smith might be a useful choice, hm?
   Oh, and in addition any elder daughters or even wifes might be useful as maids for us while boys might want to join the grogs if they don't follow their fathers trade."
   Something else? (Kale -the cook- raises a hand.) Oh, yes.
6. Kale has some knowledge of herbs and spices and thinks she can grow some spices here that might be worth tradeing. Anyway this might take a few years until we really get money out of that.
   Lucias: Nonetheless, a good idea.
   

Well, that's all there is so far. It should be easily enough to provide a decent standard of living for everyone, but it is not enough to pay for greater projects. I hope you have some more ideas to add."
Again Helena pauses and hopes for lots of good ideas.
Lucias: Well - we should be able to ask for a reaosnable amount of support from the other covenants, I don't know which are nearby, but there must be some. Eventually, I am sure that we shall become self sufficient.
Helena: Ah, that's good news indeed. Anyway it is something I can hardly go for myself. So I'll have to leave this to you Magi... (She appears to be a bit uneasy) Well, I guess, someone will volonteer?
Edward: Milady, I have some experience in procuring laboratory equipment, if you should desire my assistance.


Helena: Allright, there's a last point: I plan to travel down to the harbour and see if I can get some of the refugees from Constantinople to work for us. I'll have to find some servants and maids and I'll try to find out if I can find some Craftsmen too. Any suggestions to what kind of Craftsmen we might have use for frequently? I don't expect to find a glassblower or parchmentmaker, but maybe a smith or someone who can produce wine from the grapes we might be able to harvest...?
Lucias: Surely not a money making suggestion. But I should think it would be useful. What is needed here? I appreciate the rarity of these skills - but those who make vellum are prized - as are glassblowers, smiths - especially anyone skilled in making more complex forms than a village horeshoer would be extremely useful in our work. Scribes, of course. Beyond that, to the mundane - we need feeding, the wines need preparing, the animals need tending. I shouldn't think ther'd be any shortage of such skills. However, there might be a large shortage of the required payment.
Helena takes notes and nods from time to time. To this last point she adds: Yes, indeed. But we've got two facts in our favour: First, the war in Constantinople will make lots of people flee. They've got no home and close to nothing to start a new life with. We can give them a new start in their life and have the profites of rather cheap work. Second, everyone working for us will have to pay NO TAXES AT ALL for the products he produces - only if they are sold to the outside. That's an advantage that will count a lot if we've got frequent use for this kind of craftsmen.
Stefanos looks up: I doubt that we would need to offer more than a place to live and regular meals to entice these people to work for us. At this point they are refugees and have little more than the clothes on their backs. Payment is not going to be a major priority... In the future, perhaps, but not immediately


The day after this informal meeting Helena will approach Viola (she'll try to have Edward around as well):
Mylady? Edward informed me it might be possible that some of the trees around here might be... a kind of aware and that you might be willing to help me there. Well, we'll need quite some wood to repair and build houses for the people living here. The obvious choice in a more mundane place then this one would be to cut down some of the trees growing here to gain some more space as well as get enough wood to build houses. Anyway this is no completely mundane place and... Well, Edward pointed out you might object to cutting down certain trees...
Helena gets a bit unsure how to say what she'd like to say.
Viola: Hm...trees? Well...yes...they are. So no...cutting them isn't good.
Helena nods. Right... Hm, does that mean ALL of the trees or are there some that are not aware? Some we might be able to use for wood.
Viola: Hmm...well...yes I think. But not perhaps. I suppose I can see.
Helena smiles: Fine, yes. That would be of great help, thank you.
Viola investigates and after awhile decides that there are a few unaware trees towards the edges of the woods, where the aura is weakest.
Helena asks Maurus to mark a handful of trees that Viola indicates so they can be found later. Maurus will have to cut them soon since wood should be given time to rest before it is used for building (whatever).
Maurus will take the opportunity to get another interesting - looking pice of wood that he'll carve into a pig. He claims it 'wants' to be a pig so he will help it to become a pig.
Giving it a second thought Helena adds: Oh, and we concidered planting olive trees - maybe instead of those trees we cut down. Soo... Well, you seem to know a lot more about plants then I do. Do you think they would -hm- like to grow here?
Viola: Plants? Yes...well...but...here? No, not...here I don't. *shrug* 'Like'? Well plants don't...well I guess the can...I mean 'like', but it's just not. Um...well how do....Well, see? They do. But they're planted. And they can grow...well they can someplace. But it's not 'like'.
Helena needs a few moments to sort the words and get the meaning. Then she asks: Ah... What I wanted to ask was: Do you think they would grow well here - or is there a special place in this valley that would be best for olive trees?
Viola: Hmmm. *shrug*
Helena leaves it with that...


After that long discussion at the informal meeting Helena approaches Auriane. Mylady? she drops a curtsey You mentioned having plans for rebuilding and extending the covenant buildings? Would you share those with me?
For a brief moment, Auriane seems amused by the curtsy but quickly falls to business. Yes, I did Helena. You and I both know that if we are to survive here long, we will need good stone for our buildings. If the Merinita is right about trees being alive, no doubt we will have faeries and ghosts objecting to us cutting them down. She makes a face about that.
I have examined the abandoned quarry not too far from here, and I'm certain that the mountains to the north would have something suitable for building. However, I am no engineer, or quarrysmith. Do you think it is possible to ask around town for surveyers?
Helena nods slowly. I don't expect to find one in one of the villages around but there should be someone down in Cherson. If we are lucky we might even find one among the refugees from Constantinople. I will visit Cherson as soon as possible anyway to find some maids and someone to look after the animals.
Auriane's mind seems to drift as she considers something she is not vocalizing. Nodding to herself a moment later, she returns her attention. Hm? Oh, yes, Cherson. Yes, do ask around. If it comes down to it, even plain workers will be useful. There are a number of things they can do to help. Potters would be especially useful, so keep an ear for them if you would.
Helena looks a bit surprised but she's way to polite to interupt your speech.
Lowering her voice slightly, Auriane says in a confiding manner, I will use magic to turn stone to clay for as long as the sun is in the air. While it is in this state, it can be moulded easily. The idea is to have people mould this clay into useful shapes, and at nightfall, return to stone giving us something permanent. You see my plan? It might help you understand what I am needing.
Helena opens her mouth as if to say something but closes it again. She's obviously amazed by the possibilities of magic. She only utters a weak I see... Followed by a more self confident Yes, indeed, mylady, that would make things a lot easier.
She seems to take a mental note there. Then she adds: Oh, and I have asked Lady Viola about these trees. She claims they are all aware of some kind. Except for a few to the edge of the valley. She does not object to cutting those. So we will have enough wood to build the roofs though it will not be enough to build houses entirely from wood.
Auriane pauses a moment as you explain the situation with the wood. She merely grunts, but nods. That's something, anyways. I was half-afeared that we would need to buy wood. Pah! Send some of those former bandits to begin cutting, then. Make them earn their keep! Was there anything more, Helena?
Yes, Maurus is allready about to do his work. Helena replies quickly. Giving it a second thought she adds: That's the husband of our cook and a woodcutter by profession. Well, I'll have to prepare for the visit to Cherson. If there's anything you need from there, just tell me. By your leave... She drops another curtsey and waits for a nod or something like that before she heads for the door.
Auriane gives Helena a nod of dismissal, but is already lost in her own thoughts again before Helena has completely left the room.

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Letztes Update: 11.Feb.99 by Varius