#baronyofthesilverwolf

The Mortal Auction has come and gone! It was a success, with quite a large sum raised for local charity. It even made the local paper - more than one, apparently. One such, a minor local paper called the Jefferson County Courant, it might not even have been seen if a copy hadn't been found slid into the mailbox.

A New Carthage Queen?

Our sleepy county got a bit of shaking up with the recent auction of the Rich and Famous.  After all, the well-to-do generally have better things-to-do than worry about the little folk along the way.  And yet, Carthage's exclusive Carlowden Country Club was hopping with folk who were gathered not just for golf clubs and canapes, but to open their checkbooks for charity, all sponsored by a new player on the chessboard.

A veritable 'Rags to Riches' story, Miss Tanya Brown has gone from being an orphan in the Bergan County foster system, to a beloved adoptee, to an orphan again, all in a few tumultuous years.

Having moved to upstate New York to resettle with her insurance funds, she found her calling in a local eclectic household that needed her special touch.  The family patriarch, a widower, has spent the years since his loss buried in his work.   It wasn't until Miss Tanya realized how much potential was being overlooked at this stately upstate manor that the magic really started to happen.

With help from the staff and locals, Miss Tanya was able to work her way into the household and help reclusive elite Alan Lowell to rekindle estranged family ties, as well as realize the untapped potential of much of their resources.  With a firm hand now at the reigns of this Millionaire (some rumor Billionaire) estate, 'Lowell' may soon be a name again to reckon with in the High Society scenes.

Despite the age gap, speculation flows that there may be wedding bells in the future!  Some wonder if this potential 'orphan-turned-heiress' tale may contain hints of prospecting, but if she is a Gold Digger, then perhaps kudos to her for finding the glimmer in the rough.  Carthage welcomes Miss Brown, and eyes are sure to be on her as she rises in the ranks and continues to make waves in high society.

Proceeds from the auction, which included such fine works as a genuine Edsel, a Karel Appel original painting, a selection of Qing dynasty figurines and more, are to be donated to local charities.

The author is listed as 'A. Diurna'

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Julius looks at the boxes of 'books' that Art has painstakingly hauled to Silverwolf. Missing pages, torn covers, some little more than bindings with scraps.

"They were going to throw them all away." He huffs as he pulls the second crate off the back of the bicycle. A woman's bicycle in bright yellow, with a big flowered basket in the front, and two crates on either side of the back rack. The novelty plate says "MORGAN".

"I figured... uff... maybe we could fix some of them. Or use them for something. It didn't seem right to just let them be composted. Especially since, uh." He trails off.

Julius raises a brow and taps his hoof. "Since?"

Art finishes, "...Since I think maybe it was our Chrysales that damaged them."

"Aha." Julius nods, and looks thoughtful.

"Baroness Nadeen mentioned that there was a request for a Library. These might be a good start. You may need to research the books in question and manually re-print or repair the pages. It will be a lot of work."

Art straightens his back. "I can do it."

"Mm. I'll have a room cleared for you, then." Julius agrees, and heads to do just that.

Now, Art has a project of his own to work on!
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Marigold might find a nocker under her sink.

AND Nevers in the kitchen, along with a small, sentient toadstool whose spots form a tiny face on its cap.

Indeed she might, at another point in time. However, for now.....
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Lunch is over, and Art and Katrina are heading back to class. Soon to meet up with Gwen - they all have History together. Quite a bit of chatter coming from the classroom as they approach, and find that despite it being only a few minutes before the bell, there is no teacher present.

"Weird..."

"Do you think that he got the 'rona?" One girl asks, a bit anxiously as she applies hand sanitizer.

Another girl says, "Maybe he's just late, it's never anything interesting."

"-I- heard that Mister Bleacher won the lottery and told the principal to..." A surprised laugh from the speaker's friend, as something anatomically impossible is described.

Art looks startled, "Can humans even- no, nevermind." He starts to ask Katrina, then has the appropriate courtesy to blush and cancel that line of thought.

Snerk! "Good one!"

Gwen gets a bad feeling

Annd kens "Hang on guys "

"Maybe there's a sub?"

"guys.." Gwen says bitin her lip "We may need to ditch class" She says low. miss goody two shoes, talking about ditching class

A teacher's aide walks in, followed by a stranger.

"Quiet, quiet please. Class, Mister Bleacher is going to be taking a leave of Absence..."

Chatter builds up again. "QUIET, Please." She insists. "For PERSONAL reasons. Mr. Casso will be taking over your History class as substitute until further notice. Please give him your attention and respect."

RELIEF...

"Thank you, yes," A lanky man in his late-twenties walks into the classroom, dressed in the understated academic style -- dark green sweater over a button-down, open at the collar; tan slacks; loafers; wire-rimmed glasses. His hair is cropped very close to his head, his cheekbones are high and defined, his features clearly multiracial of indeterminate nature.

Muttered to her friends. "He's young..."

He carries a few folders in one arm, and he takes a look around the room, giving the students a measure, but not an unkind one.

He looks to the aide again. "Thank you. I believe we'll all get along fine, now." A tone of dismissal. Gentle, but unmistakable.

The aide vanishes as soon as he gives the go ahead, glad to escape back to her mountains of paperwork.

Art gives the new teacher a curious look. He barely got to know the old one, so he wasn't particularly attached. Then again, the concept of mortal history having much impact is a bit amusing on it's own.

Gwen kens him anyway

"Maybe it was the lottery..."

Arty whispers back, "Mortals are frail, it might have been anything."

"Not that frail."

"Hm." He says, unsure about that... then again, recent news about the spread of a virus devastating communities may have colored his perceptions...

To Gwen's kenning sight, the substitute teacher's glasses vanish, and his eyes reflect the starriest skies. His clothing becomes more stylish...still the button-down, but the slacks and shoes are dark as night, the sweater has become a silken vest of shimmering greens, and he sports a deep blue sash at his waist. Below the sash on his left side there swings a sheathed scimitar.

He moves to set down his folders, and then comes around to sit on the edge of the desk in a casual post. "My name is Mr. Casso...but you can call me Gio, if you wish."

She blinks, then smiles

Elbow nudge. "You gettin' moony, Stonewall?"

Another look around the room. And an interested look at Gwen and Art and Katrina in turn. Apparently, he's been kenning, as well.

"Very interesting group," he says to the room in general.

"So...." He reaches back to pick up one of those folders. "I have some emergency lesson plans here..." He holds them up. "Ever so kindly left by your regular instructor."

"No he's one of us..." A whisper then she speaks up "Sorry, Miser Casso, we were justt worried about Mr Bleacher. Lots of rumors"

"He what?" She squints.

A look at Gwen, and a pause...then a smile. "Yes, rumors do spread quickly, don't they?"

A short, slender, yet attractive boy - he looks almost like a freshman out of place in this class. Nerd chic, and with unmistakable Sidhe-ness to Gio's view. Art's first glance didn't pick up anything... it wasn't until Gwen points him out that Art can make out the tasty Eshu nouget under the crunchy coating, and he's last to realize.

A little gesture of his hand, and the papers tumble gracefully to fall into the wastebasket.

"Oops."

Katrina's spirals have shifted pink. (Nicely balancing today's electric-blue hair)

"Wasn't that our lesson plan?" Art whispers over to Gwen.

"What is he?"

Gwen is a troll, but her native American heritage shifts the usual blues a touch indigo, and her skin is ..polished, stone like even

"So..." A look around the room. "You were sharing some rumors about your teacher's disappearance. What had you come up with so far?"

"Coronovirus is the most polite one" Gwen observes

Then she whispers to Thistle "Eshu"

"Did he tell Principal Meyer to sit and spin?"

"Ahhh, the virus, the fierce beast of our age. The great equalizer, as all are laid equally at risk before it. Or at least...that's what they would tell you."