Scene 1: Divergence

We follow Lóránt home from the High Synagogue where he has attended Rosh Hashanah services with David Gans. He and Gans part ways, and, as the shadows of the steep tenements cloak his form, Lóránt appears... changed. He changes his direction, and instead of going home, he heads to the home of Hillel, his proxy in the goldsmith's guild. Almost uncertain of his own words, Lóránt says that he has some work for Hillel to do... (0 - 0)

Scene 2: Collections

Ernst arrives at Lóránt's chambers to collect him for the journey back to the academy at Benatky, where Hillel confronts him at the downstairs door. Hillel says he must check with his master and goes upstairs to consult with Lóránt. "If he is come from the castle then it must be important... show him in." When Ernst enters Lóránt's chambers, he sees a different chamber, cramped, spartan, filled with papers and not books. And Lóránt himself is different. He is dressed soberly, with a significant beard, one that could only be grown after many weeks or even months. Ernst is puzzled and asks how this change in fashion happened so quickly. Lóránt plays dumb, and Ernst says we should be making haste. Lóránt is now puzzled, as Ernst speaks nebulously of taking care of recent business at hand. "I am afraid, Freiherr, that I have business that I must attend to. Also, it is the High Holidays." Ernst parries, "You will be joining us after synagogue then?" "At the castle, or...?" "You will want to check in at some point during the day. People will want to know what our next step is." "Please, sit," Lóránt says, "so that we may discuss what... our next step is to be. What do you think we should do next?" "Well, I'm not sure. I may not be in tune with the social niceties required here, as you are. I do hope that you will work with us to get things straight before we run out of time." "Have you and your brethren considered..." and in the conversation it becomes evident Lóránt wants nothing to do with the cabal. Ernst departs, saying, "I hope to speak with you again soon, and I hope you enjoy your holidays." (0 - 14)

Scene 3: Suspicions

Ernst speaks with Hillel on his way out. "What do you mean?" "Doesn't he seem out of sorts this morning?" "Sir, I can betray no confidences, but I can say Herr Kelemen is very busy and very preoccupied." "If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know." Ernst leaves the building, knowing that Salih and Matthieu are out gathering intelligence regarding the new abbot this morning. Ernst looks up at the second floor, and goes to the adjoining alley. Ernst considers ways to eavesdrop on Lóránt in his chambers, pausing to consider climbing the walls or summoning a spirit to look into his window, or using a pigeon's eye view to get a look at what he is doing. He eventually decides to Hone the Form (1 Mana) so that he can climb more efficiently. He sticks out on the wall but manages to do so quietly. Ernst then triggers Life Sight, and sees that Lóránt is a) a Mage and b) his aura is slightly different, its unique fingerprint is different. This is not Lóránt. Ernst can also see several spells layered upon his Pattern. Lóránt again feels like he is being watched, but he sees nothing. Ernst spends some time analyzing the spells on Lóránt but he has trouble analyzing them quickly. It takes some time for him to find out: one of them is a Mind Mage Shield and the other is Hone the Mind. Ernst now wants to know the power level of the Mage who cast these: a 3 Gnosis. Ernst climbs down the gutter to the street and goes back to the Castle. (14 - 32)

Scene 4: Errands and Responsibilities

Hillel comes to Lóránt with the message that the Freiherr was asking questions. "We have some errands to run," Lóránt says dourly, gathering his papers and telling Hillel to follow him. Ernst returns to the castle, looking for Salih and Matthieu and not coming up with much. So Ernst decides to summon a lesser spirit to track Lóránt: a dog of St. Roch. The command is given to "follow, return, and report back when the summoning is about to expire." Meanwhile, in the crowds gathered around the main square of the Jewish Quarter, Hillel and Lóránt walk through and the dog of St. Roch has a lot of difficulty tracking him. The dog returns and says, "My Lord, the crowds were too great and there were too many scents: I could not find him." The spirit should've had an easy time; obviously Lóránt is using some magic to keep himself hidden in the crowd. By an hour before noon, Ernst is at his wits' end. He gathers a messenger to send a gift basket to the Jewish Quarter... and Lóránt, having used the crowd to throw off any pursuit, now goes by a circuitous route to an abandoned alley in the Jewish Quarter and takes a small spade and begins digging something up... (33 - 49)

Scene 5: Apples and Honey

Upon their return to his chambers, Lóránt and Hillel find a basket full of apples and jars of honey, "For a Blessed New Year, Herr David Gans." Lóránt defers eating the gift and Hillel takes it upstairs. The food, laden with a Life and Spirit tracer in the form of the bees of St. Ambrose, was truly sent by Ernst. As Hillel pours the coins from the sack into one of Lóránt's coffers, he stares widely at the face and inscription on his pieces of eight. Lóránt does not notice this. Lóránt says, "We must make haste to leave the city entirely. I have several more... caches I need to unearth, and once I have those funds, I will be able to move from this city." Hillel is a little shocked at this, but goes along with Lóránt's odd behavior. "Do you happen to have the ability to gather the goldsmiths together?" Hillel is trepidatious about having the gold withdrawn which would take away his own power in the guild. Lóránt tries to solidify his trust, as he and Hillel negotiate a way to get this done without Hillel losing his power; Lóránt will need to pay a premium. Hillel says, "If I can get this done by the end of the day, I will be a miracle worker and you'll have no more need of me!" Hillel says it'll take a day or two to get them all together. "Take as much time as you need... just leave my name out of it." (49 - 61)

Scene 6: Cabal

Around noon, Matthieu and Salih return, coming to Ernst's office in the Castle. Matthieu and Salih's early morning investigations reveal that the aura left on the lost invitations do not match any of the Mages in the Consilium. Ernst has been pursuing them all over the Castle. They immediately alight for the Jewish Quarter. Ernst receives word from the bees of St. Ambrose, that they are attached to Hillel, not Lóránt. Ernst fills Matthieu and Salih in on what has happened to Lóránt. "What did he say?" "He didn't say much, he seemed shocked we were all to leave for Benatky together. He wanted to stay out of politics and out of anything we or the Consilium had planned." Matthieu asks what kind of Mage, and Ernst tells them about his Mind effects and power level. Salih says Mind effects can do strange things to perceptions. Salih wants to get into his room to use Postcognition to find out what happened overnight. The cabal talks about how to approach the building, openly or otherwise. Ernst approaches the front door openly while Matthieu and Salih hang back. Ernst finds the door locked, Matthieu comes forth and pops the lock mundanely. Salih puts up Fate Sight, Matthieu puts up Prime Sight, Ernst puts up Life Sight. The lock on the door of Lóránt chamber is different from the lock he had on here last time the cabal visited. This time, Matthieu uses Matter to unlock the lock. Matthieu and Salih examine the spare room, papers not books, and many empty inkwells. Matthieu checks his wardrobe and sees the plain black dour clothing. Salih commences his Destined Postcognition, senses the fact that it is Virtually Unknown to him. In that regard, he pronounces a Word of Power to help his effect, the walls shake, and sees something horrifying and incomprehensible, and he begins to scream as he begins to bleed from the nostrils and ears... (61 - 92)

Scene 7: Vibrations

Salih returns from his vision into the past and has a tinge of claustrophobia inside Lóránt's Sanctum. He is able to keep his cool as he interprets what he saw in the briefest glimpse beyond the darkness which he now recognizes as Abyssal energy. He saw this room, co-existing in the same time, place, and metaphysical location as Lóránt's old room and then this room vibrating into place in his world. The cabal wonders if this has to do with Samuel, the Pandemonium demon who has encouraged Lóránt to Awaken, but it seems he would not be assumed to be Abyssal. Salih uses Fate to find how this room belongs and interacts with this world. Ernst tells the cabal Lóránt and Hillel are approaching the building. The cabal tries to figure out what to do. Salih comes down the stairs and stands about halfway down the stairway as Ernst crouches in the shadows. Hillel sees the lock on the front door has been opened. "Herr Cavus. Hello. How did you get in? Hillel says. Salih asks where Lóránt is, and Hillel says he is not with him. Matthieu, who has remained in Lóránt's room, sees Lóránt appear out of nowhere. Simultaneously, Lóránt appears behind Hillel at the bottom of the stairs. Matthieu and Salih are both able to determine this is a projection. Matthieu acts to dispel the colocation with high-level Death magic. Salih: "I apologize, but I knew with the holiday it would be hard to see him." "Perhaps you should come downstairs, so my master can see you." Lóránt appears, puts his hand on Hillel's shoulder, tells him to leave, Ernst shuts the door behind Lóránt. "Is this how the Peregrini comport themselves?" Lóránt is angry. "Your arrogance concerns me," Salih says. "Your rudeness concerns me," Lóránt says. Salih uses an effect to try to pry his history and secrets from him, Time and Fate. Salih cannot get past that wall. It's a block from the main square where the High Synagogue. It occurred last night a little after 11. Matthieu opens the sanctum door to reveal himself, infuriating Lóránt further. "I thought Mages of the Consilium respected the Tradition of Sanctum." Matthieu: "Who are you?" "My Shadow Name is Neshek." "What brings you here?" Ernst and Salih are able to determine he knows the Pentacle Orders, but Matthieu is able to tell that he cares nothing for these traditions. "I am here getting my business affairs in order. Stay out of my way." "But you are a member of our Cabal?" Salih says. "Salih," Matthieu stops him. "Where is Lóránt?" A pause. "So you are going to return to the Abyss?" "You are even more of a fool than I remember. You and your occult obsessions." Matthieu cites the room and the changes there. "I was in Prague. Not this Prague." Salih: "Do you wish to return there?" Lóránt: "This might be a better place for me. I find myself unencumbered." Matthieu: "The Pentacle Orders will not stand for you." Lóránt: "I have never had any need for them." Matthieu: "But you are an intruder and do not belong here." Lóránt: "Leave my sight." Ernst clicks the lock shut from the inside. Lóránt disappears. (92 - 124)

Scene 8: Chase

Ernst grabs Hillel from outside. "Get upstairs," Ernst says. Salih tries to scry for where Neshek has teleported; he is near a freshly-dug hole in the ground. "Where is Herr Kelemen?" "He's near the hole in the ground." "I don't know what you're talking about." "Where is he?" Salih says. "I am sworn to his confidence." Matthieu coldly says, "He's not here right now. But we are." "I looked at him and it wasn't Lóránt, but I started remembering things I didn't... I remember working for him for many many years. He needed my services. He needed to finish business here and then he'd be leaving forever. He asked for maps of the Jewish Quarter. He worked all night, marking up the maps, to find these caches that were very important to him. Before we could find the first one, the Freiherr came. We went out to find the first cache. A king's ransom of silver. He put his spade in and out came this sack." The cabal and Hillel go to the office, and he shows the first two caches on the map. The maps are annotated, trying to make sense of how his Prague matches our Prague. Salih scries him going toward the High Synagogue.  Matthieu is curious about the caches and uses Matter to pop open the chest. Inside the chest is a fortune in silver coins. They are all square. Like Spanish pieces of eight, they are perforated into eight wedges, but they are covered in Arabic writing. "THE KINGDOM OF AL-ANDALUS. 997 AH." In his world, there is still an Islamic kingdom in Spain. Salih uses Acceleration to run and intercept him. Ernst Hones his Form. Salih sees Neshek and skids to a stop in front of him, getting the jump on him. Salih casts Spatial Ward and Neshek attempts to teleport out past the Ward and succeeds. Salih reconcentrates to get a scry on Neshek and fails. Ernst and Matthieu are making their way to the square. "I don't think he'll ever go back to his Sanctum." Instead of wild goose chasing all over Prague, the two of them examine the spot where the crossover took place. (124 - 146)

Scene 9: Pinhole

Salih is able to identify the Resonance on Neshek, his Sanctum, his coins, and it all originates in this spot in the square. Ernst, using Time sight, sees a wrongness, a splitness in the Resonance. It comes from elsewhen. He didn't travel forward or backward in time; he traveled sideways. Back at the Sanctum, Matthieu has destroyed all the ???. "Is he a danger?" "Possibly?" Hillel wanders off, his hands on his swords. Ernst wants to know whether he was switched or abducted. Ernst switches to Spirit to look for signs of our Lóránt's aura here. Hillel is headed toward the goldsmiths' guild. "I'm going to alert the rest of my brethren that they cannot trust him." Matthieu to the square. Ernst sees an infinitesimal pinhole in reality in the square. Even this tiny of a hole to the Abyss is incredibly dangerous. Ernst wants create a bubble around it and then widen it so he can investigate the incursion. Salih of course disagrees but does think it would be good to contain a being inside the ward (3 successes). Salih has located three more caches in the Jewish Quarter. Ernst goes to the closest one, Salih and Matthieu go to the other two. (146 - 162)

Scene 10: Theft

Ernst finds a moth-eaten sack full of alternate coinage and then goes to the second cache. Salih is at the second cache, they find yet another sack with silver. And then at the third, same thing, Matthieu finds the cache untouched. The cabal agrees to go back to the square of the High Synagogue. In their effort to find Neshek, Ernst wants to use a sympathetic connection using the coins to make tracking him easier. As Ernst approaches the square, and the services have let out, the crowd appears riled up. The rabbi shouts something in Hebrew and the crowd surges towards them. (162 - 177)