#baronyofthesilverwolf

"Dougal crafts... yup. It's their thing" the boggan says "And.. no. Sorry. It's kind of a sacred obligation"

Lavender says to PIPER "No bard, no troubadour. I break out the harp sometimes but it's not my passion. Gladiola plays a mean flute"

She turns to see the sidhe standing off to one side. "Oh! Baron Aiden, hello." A respectful half-bow.

"Maybe Thistle can sign up for next year, when she's not a fledge any more." Art suggests to the Firebrand. "She'd be great at protecting the brand. She kicked a Spriggan right in his personal dross when it went after her brother." Brightly!

He bows in return. "Freeholder Sylvi. A pleasure to see you again. If I'm not taking you from your socializing, may we have a word?"

Her spirals burn a bright pink. "Yeah, well."

"Oh you should.. wait, you kicked a SPRIGGAN?" Eraniya gasps "that's awesome"

"Oh, sure! 'Scuse me," she says to the Firebrands, then turns to accompany him, looking concerned. "Is there a problem, Baron?"

"Not in the slightest." He reassures her, offering a chance for her to refresh her drink or refreshments. While nothing there is necessarily better than what Kerri can provide, there are certainly things that are different and new, and delicious. Even Rivervale's Hearth might be hard pressed to whip up a 5' croquembouche tower overnight.

Sylvi can't resist another cup of punch and a nibble of a treat, but not so much as to seem gauche while talking to a noble.

"I wished to ask you about the DeBuke Farmhold. I understand you are an honorary member of their Lodge? Or, family? Pardon if I do not quite understand the nuances."

A somewhat cautious grin. "Umm, yeah. I mean...yes, I'm an honorary DeBuke. I guess you could say it's sort of like having a voice and a vote, though I don't pretend to know more about how they should run the Farm than they do."

The firebrand is being filled in on spriggan antics... and The SNIFFER.

"Understanding that you may have a commoner's bias," He says, though his tone clearly doesn't intend this as an insult, "Do you feel that their Freehold would be better managed by a Titled personage?" He holds up a hand before she can respond, clarifying, "Rhetorically, of course. Even had I the mind to expand, and the gaucheness to be a poacher, I am already as rural as desired, and Farmlife does not appeal."

Eraniya is interesed, and other firebrands listen to to this tale of the sniffer

Nadeen looks over at this

Aiden has maneuvered THIS conversation to where it cannot be easily overheard!

AND plans of modifying the Sniffer for non-Spriggan Thallain, or possibly multiple phyles...

Oh dear, it has gotten technical. Nockers.

He might not intend disrespect, but her eyes flash with defensive anger immediately. Still, her tone is polite enough: "Baron, the only benefit that a title might bring would be protection from nobles who wish to lay claim to the Farm, and the DeBukes have been fighting them off well enough for a long time now. I can't think of a single thing that a noble could bring to the mix that would benefit the DeBukes otherwise. And frankly, title wouldn't be welcome. It would be looked at as a...a corruption of commoner ideals, I think. Mind you, I don't speak for all of them, but that's the impression I get."

Nadeen moves to her love at this "the DeBukes are dogged modernists, dear"

Sylvi gives Nadeen a slightly-tense grin.

"I do not speak merely of Sidhe Nobles, but also of entitled commoners, such as Rivervale's own Baroness." He adds. "It is my understanding, perhaps flawed, that the DeBukes eschew all noble title?"

At least one other firrebrand is a nocker, and she gets into it with ideas to add

Thistle takes notes!

Sylvi seems to weigh her response before speaking. "They don't much appreciate ennobled commoners, either, Baron. I was a little young to remember it well myself, but my understanding is that they didn't quite trust Chieftain Brekke at first, either."

"Baron, sorry, but...can I ask what this is all about?"

"and that's why you want to get centerfaegal forces with juuust the right spin..." the nocker can be heard

A smile over to his Lady, and then back to Sylvi. "I wish to understand better the DeBukes. After all, they have a claim to one of my own pups. I would not wish to send one into the unknown."

Sylvi can't keep all of her skepticism out of her expression, but she tries. "I'm not sure I understand what a puppy has to do with asking about installing somebody with a title at the Farm. Baron."

He shakes his head, looking to Nadeen, and then back to Sylvi. "That was disingenuous of me, though I admit that I do tend to personally scope out holds that my dogs will go to. I wonder if such a request would be roundly refused, or politely rejected?"

Nadeen takes Aiden's hand

"For you to go to the Farm?" She bites her lip out of habit as she considers, then she shakes her head. "I can't think it would be a welcomed visit, Baron, and at best it would probably be a very uncomfortable experience for you." And somebody would end up insulting somebody, and everything would go wrong from there, she thinks but doesn't say aloud. "But if an endorsement would help, I can honestly and proudly say that there are few better at keeping animals than the DeBukes, though they do so for the health and strength of the animal more than for show. They are proud people, Baron, and that pride extends to their reputation with both crop and creatures." She pauses. "Of course, Baroness Nadeen has been there before. She might be able to serve as an ambassador, if you really must have somebody go."

"Allow me to speak plainly. We have been asked if we would lend our political support behind the DeBukes' as an autonomous freehold. While I have tentatively agreed that I have no direct objection in doing so, I ask questions that I may better understand their dynamic. If they are weak, improperly led, or falter in their duties, such will reflect poorly against any noble who sided by them. I must protect our own, even as I wish to forge ties to others."

He nods. "Your endorsement speaks well, and I agree that Baroness Nadeen may be the best face to present this. I appreciate your candor, Freeholder, as well as your discretion."

A bit of a grin there. "Weak? Oh, Baron...no. No, they are not weak. Not by a long shot. And I completely get why you need to make sure...but I think that even more than my endorsement, the fact that Chieftain Brekke is a firm ally and supporter of the Farm should say a lot about them, too."

"You will understand that, favorable personal opinions aside, I cannot be seen taking Gwydion advice on where to lend political support." A small smile.

"Well, maybe not, but I'm not Gwydion myself. I'm just saying that you know if she says they're good people, she believes it, and she hasn't been proven wrong about them yet. That's not about taking Gwydion advice...more like cleverly observing Gwydion behavior." A grin.

He tips his head in acknowledgement. Looking to Nadeen, "What do you say, my lady?"

Nadeen smiles "the care annd feeding of falcons is tricky but Sylvi knows the trade, annd I speak not of hawking. I have seen the animal care and... well, they have a Namer. they are not weak."

A sharp look at Nadeen, then back to Aiden. She clears her throat and takes a casual sip of her drink.

"Cat is out of he bag, Sylvi. Remember the assassinnation attempt on him?" Nadeen reminds

"Which failed," she emphasizes for Aiden's benefit.

"Of course, they would have to. Fledges must be sained, now as well as before the Resurgence." He does not sound surprised. "The fact that they do not have magic running wild and disastrous tales of woe speaks that whoever they have doing that service is skilled and careful in their art." A flicker of a glance over towards the Earthrunes contingent - few have not heard of the Naming failure there of only a year past.

"Exactly," Sylvi agrees. "Um...was there anything else, Baron?"

"Honey, we gotta head home" Olgar calls out

Piper calls over. "Sylvi? Not to take you from your chat, but we should get back if you want to beat the Firebrand to Goldfinch. I didn't think you wanted Prissy presiding over THAT!"

Aiden shakes his head, but then notices someone waving towards him, "Ah, Marigold has a basket." A soft chuckle. "Even now, she must be... well, our Marigold." Fondly.

"Oh, Dad's calling me. AND Piper. Baron, Baroness, thank you so much for your hospitality, for all of us. And Happy Imbolc!" She makes a quick get-away, giving Nadeen a quick informal wink.

Olgar grabs the basket "Shots fired. Got it. Happy Imboc. Good dogs"

A little splotch-chinned puppy trots after Olgar! Bluebell swoops in to scoop it up. "Nay, little one, no trods for you, fluffy fledges."

The pup gives an Awwooooooooooo, but to no avail. "Back to the puppy den with you." Carried off!