[Institute for Innovation] Dream Big, Build Bigger.

[Faith Augustin]

12th Ashan, 722

The Institute of Innovation.

There was something about the Institute which was of extreme significance to Faith. Of course, at least partly that was because she had founded it and had been the first Chancellor here. But it was more than that, it was what the Institute stood for, what it represented. No more strict lines of difference between academic and vocational, no more working in small and individual clusters but instead, working together for the same shared goal. It was exactly how learning should be, to her mind, and Faith was more proud of this place than she could easily express.

When she'd made the appointment here, Faith had done so knowing that she needed to bring information with her. So, she had done just that. In her hands were two folders, one for her and one for the Chancellor, Griffith Clark. When she was called in, she stood and went through into his office, which had once been her office. Faith didn't mind that, she had no sense of regret about the choices she had made and she was glad that the Institute continued without her - that was right and as it should be.

"Good trial, Chancellor Clark, thank you for seeing me. I'm.." she got no further than that, he stood and offered a hand.

"Faith Augustin! I know who you are, and I'm delighted to see you!" He was, Faith considered, at least a very enthusiastic person. "Please, come in and sit down. Now, can I get you a drink?"

"Thank you, no," Faith shook her head and looked at him with a slight smile. He seemed, she thought, a little starstruck.

"I'm delighted to meet you. I've heard about you, of course, but I feel like I know you a little! Your record keeping is excellent," he gestured around the room and Faith smiled. Organisation, that she could do.

"I'm grateful to you for seeing me," she said softly. "I was wondering if I might take some of your time? I have an idea, a new project which I'm going to undertake. I have a meeting with Ilaren in a few trials and, when I go, I want to be clear that I've spoken to you about it."

He looked at her and gave her a charming - and quite disarming - grin. "I'd be delighted to hear it," he said cheerily. "Tell me what's on your mind."

Faith handed him the folder with his information and then she breathed in. Looking down at the folder she held in her hands, she regarded those hands for just a moment. No longer what they once had been, these hands could do so much more than simply hold emotions. Now, they could affect change and so, she lifted her gaze from her hands and she began to speak.

[Faith Augustin]

12th Ashan, 722

He sat back and listened to her, this small and unassuming woman and Griffith Clark understood just who it was that he had inherited this role from. He had heard of her, of course, it was hard to find someone who hadn't, but he had never met Faith Augustin. Having met her, things that he had heard about her and what she'd done made sense. So, he listened to the proposal and he considered it. Faith was well versed enough in the art of communication to know that he was more or less sold already, but there was something that he wanted, she thought. Something that was outside of the remit of what she wanted. Still, Faith waited and kept an open mind.

"I believe there's a lot to be learned about Volta and the surrounding areas," he said, "and I feel that we could really open up our mapping of the caves underneath your settlement, for example." Faith raised an eyebrow. She knew that he was right, but she was also rather surprised that he was so well informed. Still, it was good that he'd done his homework, she supposed. "What is it you're suggesting?" Faith asked.

"The stormwastes, the stormlands, Volta, the Spire, there's so much that's unexplored around us. We have maps, yes, but not good ones. That bit us during the attack of Rhaum and the siege. I don't want us to be bitten again." Faith nodded, what he said made sense, absolutely it did.

"But I have an issue, you see, and it's one that I think you can solve," he said. Faith raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"I'm not Faith Augustin," he said. Faith couldn't help but smile just slightly. He had her there, she supposed. "It's true," Griffith said. "I put forward ideas and they listen to me up to a point. But if I had your backing, your support, then I'd be able to do so much more."

Faith did not doubt that this man had good intentions. She had a very good understanding of people and how they worked, but she also understood that sometimes, things weren't entirely so black and white . Yet, equally, she knew that having the Institute's support here would be critical.

And, of course, she knew that she needed to consider all the other people involved here. "I'm very much in agreement in principle," she said quietly. "But there are practicalities which will need a serious discussion." He didn't like the last bit, but he accepted it. "What sort of discussion are you thinking?"

Faith realised, looking at him, that was a man who wanted to explore, who wanted to find hitherto unfound places and map them. He was not in any way a politician or a logistician, and so she rather felt sorry for him as she explained just what she meant. "Well, off the top of my head - if we find that these tunnels could be used to provide a form of transport between Rharne and here, who would pay for it? Who do they belong to? Are the lightning knights responsible for their upkeep and patrolling them? Where do we stop mapping? Do we want to block off borders, things like that. All of these are important questions, but they mean that more than just you and I need to have the discussion."

He blinked, like she'd blown sand in his eyes and he sighed. "I'm not good at that kind of thing. I can organise a dig or an expedition, no worries, but the politics of such things is really rather dull to me." Faith bit back a smile and nodded. "But, in terms of Eureka I can certainly tell you that you can rely on us for accommodation, for scientific and academic support. We've got people who can provide security and people with survival skills." He grinned again, nodding. "And, of course, we've got the observatory."

Griffith's eyebrow raised. "You have an observatory?"

Not so well informed as he thought, Faith considered, and she nodded. "We'd be very happy to offer this to the Institute to use, a reciprocal partnership, if you will." That seemed to please him and he nodded.

[Faith Augustin]

12th Ashan, 722

Faith had come into this meeting wanting to make sure that there were support for the new hospital from the Institute. She had managed to achieve much more than that although, she thought with a smile, some of this 'achievement' sounded an awful lot like a lot of work. Somehow, she thought, it always ended up being that way, but as Faith left the meeting, she considered what it was that she had worked out with Chancellor Clark.

That the Institute could use the observatory and the science equipment at Eureka was fine and had always been part of the plan. However, he also wanted to use Eureka as a base for the mapping and exploration of Volta and the mountain and the area they were in - both above ground and below. He wanted proper mapping and so Faith would facilitate that. Students would come and they would undertake their field study there, and Eureka would accommodate them. In return, of course, they got copies of the maps and - as with everyone in Eureka - people were expected to work for the community too.

That seemed fine. They'd have a meeting, once a season, where they discussed it and how it was all working. That made good sense to Faith, too, as they could plan. The new hospital would provide work experience to the Institute students wherever it was appropriate - and Faith had agreed that they would offer three sponsorships an arc for students who were high-achieving in order to make sure that they were guaranteed a job. That was all good. She had then countered that she wanted to offer studentships and sponsorship to students were were not high achieving, but were hard-working, or who had fought against adversity. Although he hadn't considered that, the Chancellor was happy with it. Faith was pleased.

All of it, though, came at a price. She was going to be involved in the Institute as a sort of patron figure, and she'd be there if he needed to ask her to attend meetings, especially in terms of curriculum and planning. Of course, Faith was happy to teach, she said, but that would involve either an intensive short period in the Institute, or her teaching at the hospital and them coming to her. He was happy with that and to arrange it as appropriate, but it did mean that they had got back to discussions of the caves and tunnels.

And so, somehow, she had agreed to work with him to put forward this plan as part of the hospital idea. He would head up mapping out all the underground of Rharne and the Stormwastes and she would be his partner. When done, they would propose that it was used as an underground transport system. Faith considered that it was a very good idea, but she knew that it was an addition. She had thought on her feet and, she'd added the idea of an underground morgue and with each hospital. They were going to have to cater for many different cultures and beliefs and, so, she knew - they'd have to facilitate that.

So, Faith left the Institute with everything she had hoped for - and a lot more besides. It was good, she knew, and she was confident that the Institute, at least, would be an ally in the coming project.

[Doran]

Faith:

Knowledge:
Tier 1 Knowledges:
Politics: Working out who you need to ally with and why

Tier 2 Knowledges:
Logistics: The reality of trying to balance the needs of two separate agendas.
Logistics: Use resources to mutual advantage.

Loot: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: 10, for a reciprocal partnership with the Institute.
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: Tier 2 points to be awarded upon completion of the plot.

- - -

Comments: I love how you wrote about the Institute at the beginning of this thread. It’s obvious that it is a special place and that it means a lot to Faith, even though she is no longer Chancellor.

I’m glad that she has no regrets!

Faith is highly skilled in Logistics, and you play her well in that regard in my opinion. She was prepared when she visited Griffith Clark. The meeting was also quite amusing though. I smirked a bit when the new Chancellor was a little starstruck upon meeting Faith!

I like that you didn’t make things too easy in spite of Faith’s high skills and that it wasn’t a done deal, but that Griffith wanted something in return. I look forward to reading more about that new partnership!

Enjoy your rewards!

P.S.: You can also find the Renown for this thread in your UCP!