#baronyofthesilverwolf

"I just don't know, Julie dear." Marigold hems, topping off the junior steward's cup as they discuss hold business over coffee and sandwiches. "I would love to see some new, more modern artwork, with all that that would entail. But you know as well as I that the... 'decor'... is Calanthe's domain."

The satyr sips. "It would be more welcoming, that's for sure. Then there is the question of rooms. Checking back on prior ledgers, it has always been the style, for the past few generations of the barony, that the nobility resides in the upstairs quarters, and the common folk and guest rooms below. Would it be seen as a slight to offer the baroness a lower room? And would that outweigh the assumed offense of the Chancellor to offer her lodging upstairs?"

Marigold stirs more cream into her own cup. "Let's not put the cart before the horse, we do not even know if she will accept the offer. Rather, how are things going with Miss Willy? That one is a firecracker!"

"She spends more time out in the shed - which I suppose is more of a workshop now, and on it's way to becoming a full-fledged forge. I might suggest that she take on full residence there, if she'd be more comfortable."

A sigh from Marigold, as she adds, "...but that may also serve to divide her further from the others, and she's not especially making sweeping overtures at friendship. Still, it may just be her way. I would no more ask a nocker to be polite sweetness and light than I would ask a sluagh to serve as a wedding singer. Go on and make the offer, but DO be clear it's an offer and not an exile, and be sure she understands that we would fix up that into a PROPER apartment and not just the little cot setup there is now."

Julius makes notes. "The Baron has noted that Calanthe's credit line is restored. No need to make a public point of THAT. She did accomplish the task of bringing the new equipment in. Though I can't say I approve of her leaving that poor truck driver floundering in the snow. He had no idea how he got here." Setting his coffee aside. "I paid him well and sent him on his way with a hint that he drove tired and missed an exit. Still, he'll be confused on how he ended up all the way up here. But if it isn't our job to clean up messes, then what is?"

Marigold tuts a bit in agreement. "I'll see if we cannot broach the artwork with the Baron. Perhaps if Callie is off with her birds."

"Better you than I." Julius says with evident relief. "Then, onto the pantry stores..."

And they continue their meeting.
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And so it is, that Nadeen Dancingsnow makes her way towards Silverwolf

Approaching, she finds a GORY scene. Dark red stains the snow in splotches, and a set of legs, resting at an unnatural angle, sticks out onto the path, the rest of the figure hidden in the brush. One of the feet twitches just a touch.

"Oh not again" she says , her dark fur voile cloak around her, she moves to the snow cautiously, pyschki by her side "Be on guard, girl alert me if someone tries anything" And she moves to the foot

The puffdog's tail wags softly, her tongue lolling. No sense of alert in the pup- until Nadeen says to be on guard. At that, the dog promptly ignores the legs and goes instead to the other side of the path. And sticks her head into the brush!

"No - no, STOP that! Hey! You RUINED IT!" Briar cries out in dismay! She rolls out of the brush, with Pyshka atop her, licking furiously. After all, Briar is covered in TREATS. An elk skull on her head, and gory ribcage worn around her midsection. A true fright! THat is, if she'd managed to pull off the scare.

Oh there are days she could lose all patience with commoners, a huff "Really, Briar?" Nadeen stands up

"I didn't know it would be YOU." She retorts. "I spent all morning setting that up." The legs are a pair of jeans, stuffed and with boots on the ends, and a bit of fishing line stretched across to make it twitch. And the blood? No scent of blood at all - as it seems to be food coloring.

"Well, it is valentine's day" She says "And I thought to visit"

"Yeah, I know! That's why I had a heart!" Holding up a gory pound of flesh. "I was gonna chuck it at some hiker."

She does consider, redcaps must cap, "Well, I didn't intend to disrupt your fun. Shall I help you reset it?"

"Oh, I got it." She says. "It's scary though, ain't it?" Her tone a demand, but her expression - seeking?

"I was convinced" She says, not going to tell the girl that after what she's seen, it less scared her and more sent a wave of despair that her winter to be ruled by death and loss. "I think the smell of the blood or lack of it is what Pyschka noticed" She pets the dog "But few have her nose. Good job. Very gorey... worth of a horror movie"

"All the carcasses are bled out before hanging to keep the meat fresh." She says with a disappointed air. "I'll work on it! If there's no dogs, it would work. See ya!" And she starts dusting fresh snow back over the prints.

"Look out though, it's gross in there." Glancing towards the hold, with an expression of distaste.

"Gross? " A curious look

"Yeah! Bluebell is being all SCHMOOPY."

A finger in her throat and a vomit sound.

HURK!

"Ah" she nods "Well, I ..have a valetine's day gift for you. I don't know if you'll like it"

The elkheart is dropped and Briar hustles over. "What is it? Can I eat it??"

"Well YOU can eat anything but I hope you don't want to. HOwever, here is a choclate bunny.. just please don't eat it in front of blue bell" She hands that over first. "THe gift is..well, it made me think of valentine's day and you. You know those movies with the guy with the big knife and the hockey mask?"

"Yeah! Jason is my hero! He goes after all the stupid campers!"

"Well" She hands it over "I know you might hate it, but for irony it might work. maybe you could put some fake blood splatter marks on this to really sell it"

She LAUGHS! "That's GREAT!"

"Glad you like, I checked, it's as tough as a real hockey mask.. which means yes you could eat it, but I think you want to have fun with it first"

"I didn't get you anything... unless you want an elk heart?" She offers.

"Nah, I'm going to go into the hold and try to be gross. So.. think of your gift as forgiving that"

"Oh, here!" She shimmies a bit and then SNAPS her teeth through part of the ribcage, and offers over the bone. It's less gory than might be expected, as it's frozen, but still has good scraps of meat on the ends, and definitely tasty marrow. "For your poof dog."

She surprises herself with how casual she was about it then. GOod lord. I've been hanging around Siv too long

"Thank you" And she gives it over to her dog whose eyes have gotten HUGE and waits.. waits...

"Go ahead, Pyschka" Permission granted

And chomp goes the well trained dog

It's a mighty meaty treaty! Promising many good hours of chew time.

Briar gets to work hanging the elk skull where it can swing down on a fishing line... and is wearing the jason heart mask!

As Nadeen continues onward, she encounters Thane Linnea, standing on a trail and gazing off towards the Southeastern path. The snow dusting on her shoulders and cap show that she may have been there for some time.

"Linnea? Pardon me thane, is there trouble?" Nadeen says with a mix of concern and dignity

She looks up, and smiles to Nadeen, giving her a bow. "Baroness Dancingsnow... no, no trouble. I was just... trying to decide which pathway to patrol." The troll says, somewhat evasively. A small parcel wrapped with a ribbon is under one arm.

"mm.." She ponders "May I give a diplomat's opinion?"

"Of course, Baroness."

"Your hold has good terms with Darkgate, to show respect for this, perhaps a path that leads to that border would show honor to your lord, and dedication to that alliance."

Her cheeks purple a bit. "...Am I that obvious? I do not wish to cheapen a potential alliance by... seeming to be fawning over the neighboring Chieftain."

"You are not that obvious, but you have some keen and empathic folks about you. Also, I know Sylvi and she is VERY perceptive and spends a lot of time at Dark gate. You are not fawning, you.. admire, and there is much to admire. You do not hide interest behind duty, you do your duty, and well I might add, and happen to be interested. And the Chieftain, well, he is definitely not fooling anyone. He admires that dedication I spoke of and he does not fawn over beauty, though I am sure he's not blind, but rather anticipates and appreciates you as a warrioress of courage as well as comlieness. ANd there in oshame in this, though I SHOULD apologize. I have lived among trolls, and I shoudl remember that, as a rule, you are a private kith. Pray forgive my intrusion. and.. take this, a gift that might be useful in hunting" She offers a small gift bag

The Thane reaches out and accepts the gift, bowing deep - perhaps to hide a bit of the color on her cheeks. "Both present and gift are much appreciated... do you wish I should open this now?"

"yes I think it might be useful"

The bottle of perfume if tested, smells of flower, in this case, heather... like in heather on the hills of Scotland

She sniffs it, and smiles, unwinding her scarf to dab a touch on her neck. "It's lovely. ...thank you, Baroness. The way is clear to the manor, and... I do think I will take this patrol route after all." A grin, and she heads down the pathway towards Darkgate.

"Happy hunting" A and she goes to the door

Though the air is cold and crisp, the sun is bright and cheery, and the snowdrifts sparkle in the light. As Nadeen enters, she finds that the hold is decorated with flowers! Not the still and somber silk arrangements that normally sit out in front of the paintings and on end tables, but fresh and lovely blooms. Wild flowers, carnations, hydrangeas and lilies. Baby's breath in the windows echoes the patterns of frost. Peonies, baby rose sprays, larkspur and freesia. Even without knowing each name, they are a riot of colors and blooms!

Laughter echoes from the study - the smells of pastry from the kitchen - and there is the Baron himself, reaching out to lightly cup a pink and yellow bulb bloom in his hands, with his brow furrowed and lips downturned. He looks up as Nadeen approaches, and... the expression lightens. "Nadeen? What a pleasant surprise. Come in..."

"Oh my .. how lovely" She says stunned by the beauty of it all

"I cannot claim credit... it was all Julius. Bluebell is quite beside herself." A small smile. "A touch of spring to follow imbolc... well, perhaps more of a hammer."