#anywhere

If they had expected the hold to be near the Shore proper, well, no. This is a riot of colorful tubes going into artificial pools. ANd yet there is glamour to it. Fun being had. They're sure they're missing something

"Is this the freehold?"

"Piper, you mind taking my backpack? I got Xia, she's out."

"Oh, sure." Piper has to rearrange a bit, but she manages, hands and arms full.

"I recharged at Pine LOdge" he says "And this is the cover for the freehold. Come on, let's help Xia inside" he finds a spot to park. Normally they charge, but a troll who makes sure folks have permits gives them a nod from his booth.

Piper sticks close by so that they don't get separated in the crowd, even as she looks around.

A cornicopia of colorful plastic tubes and the like can be seen even from the parking lot, rising up up up, as kids scream as they plunge to their voluntary velocity baptisms.

But Marco leads them off from the main line for tickets, and towardss a sign that to mortal eyes says 'EMPLOYEES ONLY' , but to Changelign and ENchanted, the sign says "Friends of the Blue, Here be Haven"

Curious, she whispers over to Marco, "Does that mean Trolls, or Liams, or... is there someone here NAMED Blue, or..."

She thinks back, did Vali or anyone tell her about who the freeholder was here, or the nature of the court? In case Player has forgotten....

Ximara stirs "Oh, I can feel the tangy scent of salt air..." A sniff again "And Dixie cups"

"Yeah, we're almost there."

Marco whispers "The Ocean, she means the ocean" Informing Piper "I don't know how you folks feel about most nobles, though I assume Dame Dagmar must be okay with them, but treat the baroness here with respect. She is ...quite a woman"

Trying not to betray her nerves, she asks, "What can you tell me about her?"

"Piper, I can be whatever buffer you need? I mean, I have the spurs if you want me to talk."

A grateful glance up at Dagmar. "If she's sidhe? I still get the heebies around them, a little. Not as bad as once, but I'm not comfortable, especially with strangers."

"She is Ailil affiliated" the Eshu admits "But it is the mortals she manipulates, and , Oddly for their own good.. also, she's not a sidhe and...."

They step through the employes only door on the outside, and suddenly they are awash (no pun intended) in glamour and a new world. They walk on mother of pearl and seashell floors, through grand halls were great crystal walls seem to be holding the Atlantic behind them. Piper gazes to her side and sees eels slipping among the coral, and Dagmar looks to the other

Dagmar's view show rays, and more colorful fish

"Oooooooh." Piper brightens, "Oh, a stingray!"

Admiring everything despite her trepidation. Which actually seemed to LESSEN on hearing it was Ailil, funnily enough.

"You're looking miles off shore in the deep of the Atlantic ..." The Eshu explains "I think it changes view every hour, but this is all really happening in the ocean. It's a relatively open court, which makes her knights nervous ..."

"Open, like, to the public?"

Thinking, she asks Dagmar, "Did you bring a swimsuit? Those slides looked fun..."

"I didn't think to..." Staring wide-eyed at all the wondrous sights.

"To all Kithain, " He corrects himself. "the 'public' mortals are lured.. to the Rides. Minor magics pull at them but nothing a Liam would be upset by" Up ahead, as they walk the hallway that shows basking sharks and sly octopi, they can hear other voices.

"I mean, there might be a store?"

A woman's voice in fact "It's not enough, Sir Lyleton, I know we can't stem the tide. Even sons of adam feel a pull to the sea or my people would never have been dreamed, but while numbers are up here, the beach is even more crowded. We have to find a way to sway the public to love not just oceans, but clean ones. And I swear to Neputune if another carnival cruiseline parks it's fat ass and dumps its shit in a hundred miles of MY Hold, I will sink them. So help me"

"I understand your outrage, my liege" Another voice, a man's answers "But you know the Count thinks we go too far as it is. "

Brow raises a bit.

"I might like her already."

"The counts interested in politics and advancement, I am trying to save the oceans here... "

"Chief surely would."

"I'm sure we can find one!" And a nod to Marco, and... she goes quiet, listening.

A soft snort at the arguing fool.

And they come into the great chamber, round and beautiful, an island of court with water circling it, save for bridges of white and blue wood that allow one over it. Hovering over a smooth coral throne, is a great pearl that looks like a full moon, and inside this 10 foot diameter pearl, is the balefire, it's green blue rays and heat spreading like sunbeams on the sand

Though, she whispers to Dagmar, "I don't think we should ask about Mickey here. Just maybe introduce ourselves for politeness sake and so they can help Xia, and then we can look for the PP&P club. I don't really want to weird him out, or send him running by looking like a stalker..."

She trails off. "Sweet Trident of Poseidon..."

"It's beautiful."

There are troll thanes who turn to see her.

Dagmar clears her throat and stands up taller. She is out of her armor, but in good voile in green-and-gold.

Piper looks less impressive, rather like a pack-goat at the moment, but she also straightens to her un-impressive height. Looking even SHORTER next to Dagmar, and the tall Eshu.

And a lovely selkie turns from the Fiona Sidhe with her. "We have... guests." Curosity turns to concerrn "And one of them is hurt. Sir Lyleton, a heatherbalm, please"

"She's magnificent." Piper murmurs, perhaps not realizing it's aloud.

Marco bows "Thank you, Baroness. I knew this was the place to take a ..." Then he blinks as Piper BLURTS

Ximara tries to bow too, but only Dagmar keeps her from crumpling in her effort

PINK CHEEKS.

Hidden as she bows, then almost topples, off balance, and manages to straighten back up.

"How flattering, but please, turn your charge over to Sir Lyleton" A nod to Dagmar "You have my word no harm will come to your charge, Lady troll"