#baronyofthesilverwolf

Riding along, delivering messages and invites, Dame Lavender D'Lorean can't go on horse everywhere. Alas.

But where she can, she does.

The list of local fae to reach out to for Carnival invites is not extensive, but then again, Carthage is not an especially large town. Most of them are on the outskirts or neighboring villages, but close enough to fall under the Baron's purview - or at least, not really close to any other known Freeholds.

In the town proper, one Elias Aberdeen, town clerk and historian.

A boggan and nocker partnership, Adler Steinschlag and Zelda Kuchenfritz, who run A to Z Home Services.

Rosemary Morris - oh, there's a checkmark by her name, this Clurichaun was already reached out to by Julius.

Further out, down near a suburb off somewhere east of the border between Dark Gate and Silverwolf - a request to check in with 'Grandpa' Billy Farmer at Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo. With a note, "Closed due to Covid?"

Presumably there are others, but these locals could at least get the word out to other locals. As Marigold had mentioned, they don't necessarily expect all, or even most to attend, but the important thing here is to make sure that they overture is extended.

"Wait, there's a Zoo?" She looks over the list "how the.." Clearly her patrols are getting too routine. She looks at her horse, "Let's go, Moondance, sounds like an area we can ride. " And she moves that way.

It is a pleasant ride! While the roads are less than ideal due to melting snow making a mélange of slush and mud that would be unpleasant to walk or drive through, Moondance picks up her hooves in a spritely canter and easily makes good time. The sun shining is warm on her shoulders and actually makes it seem like Spring may come someday.

Alas, once they reach the county road that leads towards the zoo, a sign is tacked over the exit that states, "Temporary Cancellation of Visitation due to Pandemic. Official and Volunteer traffic only."

A smile at the sunshine, "Good day isn't it?" She misses Snow Thorn, but Moondance is proving to be a fine mare and Snowthorn will be fine when he returns later tonight

Then she sees the sign, "Well, we're official" She rides on in

A pleased nicker from the mare, and her head picks up as they approach. Nostrils flare as she takes in the scents - they are not lost on Lavender either - not a STINK, but definitely an animal aroma as oft surrounds farms and the like.

By the entryway, there is a pair of boots - BIG boots, visible in the ticket kiosk next to the closed gates. Presumably attached to some legs, and with a rumbling snore resounding out.

To fae eyes, the black and silver armor, her horns coming out of the helmet, Dee might look imposing indeed. She's no powerhouse like her friend Dagmar, but she's athletic. The tabard of the Silver wolf sells it further. This is not the sort of knight you want to tilt against unless you are sure of your skill. She sniffs the air, nods "Easy girl." She eyes the boots...and makes sure it's attached to a kithain, or at least an enchanted mortal

Indeed, as she peers in, she sees the hallmarks of an Unseelie-leaning troll - greenish grey skin and ridged horns - on the slumbering 'security' guard.

His nametag says "Archie".

An amused look crosses Lavender's face, mostly as she ponders how the Thanes back home would react to 'Archie's' level of attentiveness.

"Greetings and Salutations, Archie. I am Dame Lavender D'Lorean, Knight of Silver Wolf . Wake up so I can make this all official mmm?"

"Nnnnngh?" He grunts attentively, cracking open eyes under his craggy brows. "Zoo's closed."

He starts to settle back down, when what she said - and who she IS - filters through and he sits up.

"Silverwolf? Eh, what do THEY want with us?" Suspicion warring with curiousity.

Moon Dance isn't the professional warhorse Snowthorn is, but she looks splendid and is well trained. Surely she's too polite to make a sniff that sounds snooty about the troll before them. Maybe it's his cologne? No, ;probably the animals beyond.

"I've come here to speak to Grandpa Billy. Diplomatic courtesy"

"Gramps. Fine, fine." He swings his boots down with a thud that shakes the kiosk, and gropes to find his walkie talkie.

A yawn that cracks his jaw open and closed again, and he mutters into the device asking for the man that the Dame seeks. It squawks back into his ear. "10-4 you got a bogey at the front lines? Reinforcements on the way. OVER."

"Convooooy" Dee sings under her breath.

Whatever Dee may be expecting, it perhaps was not who arrives. An older man with a pointy grey beard, and to her fae eyes, a pair of horns that curl to rival any Satyr. His goat-like slit pupil eyes and a pair of long ears quickly inform onlookers of his pooka nature. That, perhaps, and the face that he is leading what looks to be a giant guinea pig, several ducks, and malevolent-eyed goose in his wake.

"Well I'll be hornswaggled if it isn't my good old friend from Silverwolf." He calls over pleasantly. "Must be, oh, 10, 20 years since I've seen you." Tipping his cap.

"My grandpa, what grand horns you have" And she does a bow from horse back. this guy has no title, but he appears to be the boss here and darn it, those are impressive horns "I'm Dame Lavender D'Lorean, of Silverwolf Barony, here on behalf of that Barony to extend an invitation"

"Dame Lavender, as I live and breathe. I haven't seen you since you were knee high to a spider monkey! Come in, come in. Don't mind Hera there, she thinks she's queen of the pond." He remarks as the goose switches her tail and gives a hiss.

"None of that, mind you!" A handful of breadcrumbs quickly distracts both goose and ducks.

Archie grunts. "Oh, you know her. Good." And settles back into his chair, which creaks alarmingly under his bulk.

You work that chair, Archie She thinks amused, oh yes. Going to have to ask about him to the thanes just to see if they know and how they get riled. She dismounts and walks along her horse, following the goat pooka . Though yes, she's cautious about that goose. I wonder if it knows what i ate last yule?

She comes in "Lovely."

Grandpa Billy trails back a bit, looking over the horse from nose to withers. Moondance snorts a bit at this examination.

"Fine looking bit of horseflesh you have there. You're not dropping her off, are you? We don't turn any away, but the strings are a bit tighter these days until we can reopen." He asks, curiously. "I suppose we could turn her into mareburgers for the staff."

Offering the horse a carrot.

"Not on your life" She says before realizing that's not diplomatic at all. But still, Moondance isn't her baby, but the satyr likes horses and thinks the idea of eating horse flesh is..well horrible. Cows? Cows should be killed. Stupid ugly animals, doing them a favor turning their males into meat, but horses? Never. She coughs "pardon, kind of you to offer the carrot. No. I'm here to inform you Carnival is being held at Silverwolf and extend and invitation to you and yours"

A wink from one of those odd-pupiled eyes. "Just as well, I had three ponies for breakfast already." And a surprised look. "Carnival, in the wolves den? I would have thought... ah, well, what does an old goat know?"

A blunt head bumps into Dee's legs... Apparently the carrot was noticed. "Careful with that one, he's a man-eater."

She looks down "But no man am I, said Eowyn as she removed her helm..." A wink and she hands a carrot to the little guy/gal

Crunch, crunch, crunch. Perhaps it is a giant rodent, but it is friendly and sweet mannered.

"I suppose we might come by.... after all, it is an order, eh?" He peers at the Dame curiously.

"And Invitation and a request is how it was worded to me" She assures "I confess, I'm not the most honey tongued satyr out there, but I am a knight and i'm not in the habit of stomping into someone's place and tell them 'the beatings will continue until Morale improves'. If you want to send just one person to represent you and yours that's fine, if you all want to swarm over, that's fine too ,and if you can't make it, well, frankly, that's actually your loss as well as ours. Marigold's food is top tier and the music should be good and fun and so on. It's really up to you, Grandpa. " She looks about "This place is adorable by the way"

A childling's wooly-haired head ducks back behind a door as she peers in one direction!

"Oh, adorable is nice. It pays the bills. And you can see by how many waterfowl we have, bills are a plenty."

The ducks waddle in a loose line, following the capybara as they walk. "Times were, we'd be filled to the brim with children coming to gawk and squawk. Much calmer now, quieter, it's definitely a change for the better."

The pathways are shoveled, and most of the pens - spacious enclosures, in fact, appear to be empty.

She kenns around, at least one childling here

"I'm sorry to hear of your challenges," She says and she is "Darn Covid hurt a lot of things. "

A soft hum of glamour surrounds the area - faint, but there! Echoes of childish laughter all the way to adult wonder, feeling a child again watching animals frolic or enjoying an old-timey treat from the confection stand - still a hint of scent of fried dough and popcorn from there, and the cotton-candy stand is empty.

"Come now, Shawn, don't be a stranger." Billy calls over, patting his thigh like he is calling to a shy animal. And perhaps not too far off the mark, and the wooly-haired boy peeps out again, wide eyed at the stranger.

"Dragons shan't eat sheep, you know." The boy calls over cautiously. "Our wool is all oily and will get caught up in your teefs."

"I only work for a dragon" She assures "I'm not a dragon myself. Also.. part goat myself . I might steal the best patch of grass but I'd never wear sheepskin. Not Goat Knightly, you know?"

A nod from Billy. "She's sure to shear you AFORE dinner."

Thus reassured, the pooka boy boy trots over, and gives a proper, if a bit unpracticed, bow to the Knight.

"My lad Shawn. He's as wooly-headed as they come, but he eats the weeds in the summer so we keep him around. Last ways I heard right, the Barony wasn't in the habit of bringing in livestock to trample it's hallways. Now, speaking from one goat to another, you're on the up and up, ey?"

"I'm a knight, I'm sworn to valor, my word speaks only truth, my heart knows only virtue, my wroth undoes the wicked..." A pause and she adds "Okay, I've stolen some of Dame Calanthe's truffles and thrown them into my mouth like popcorn while gargling it down with her snootiest white wine, and one time I told a guy that lobster got me really turned on just so he'd splurge on a date, but mostly I'm on the up and up"

"See, NOW you're talking sense." The Billy Goat Grump nods. "It's not often we get to eat tarts instead of tin cans, so maybe I'll bring the boy in case you need some lambchops to round off the feast."

Shawn the Sheep blinks and shuffles a foot. "Is it REAL fancy? Bows and ribbons and silks?"

"Cards and wonderland mostly. I think I'm allowed to share that" She says to Shawn "But folks can dress in any costume they like" A smile for the kid, then a nod to Grandpa "Well, you're both welcome. "

"Why, that's right neighborly of you. It figures seeing as how we go way back. Shawn, did I ever tell you of the she-goat who I took to prom?" A glint in the old buck's eye.

the glint intriguing Why is this old goat a dirty old man? it had been a while since she rode the silver, a term most think is about trods.

"Baa-aa-aaa." The boy bleats in amusement. "She's a blue ribbon and you're just an old gruff."

A shake of a fist at the childling, which apparently is an empty threat. "Just for that, I'll feed you to the wolves, lamby-my-boy."

They walk along the paths, and the Dame can get an idea of how nice this place COULD be, with a little work. Come spring or summer, if the crowds return... once the snow melts, tidy up some of the enclosures...

"mmm" She looks bout "Dagmar would love this place. She's a friend of mine" She explains "From a different hold"

"A youngster, is she? Does she know about the rivers?" He leans in, tugging at his beard curiously.

"She's a wilder, but she loves animals of all sorts and I don't mean on a plate. " A thought "Good with kids too, and again, not on a plate." then "She's of Rivervale" Not sure that's the Rivers he meant. probably not

Shawn tugs shyly at her arm. "He's too ooo--o--o--old. He means the streams. The ones that live on the computers. People watch them. Because it's too baa-aaa-aaad to go out right now. We could put up cameras to watch the otters play. Someone otter by interested in watching them."

The old goat straightens up and HARRUMPHS. "That's not what I mean, and you know it."

"Hey, it's streamed online? Cool. I'll get the URL and send some to Dagmar too"