#baronyofthesilverwolf

He looks through the brush for a while, and even backtracks a bit, before offering a small sprig out to Thistle. "Is this what you're looking for?" It IS - um, looks like he stepped on it before noticing it, but it's a piece of a madder stem, which means there is likely more around.

"I'm not incredibly familiar with the plants of this region, but tracking is one of my specialties."

"Generally my prey is a bit more active, though."

"Hey, yeah - that's it!"

"And yeah, plants usually don't run away from you. Though I suspect there's maybe less guarantee of that with chimerical ones." Muppet sits up on his haunches to sniff at the plant.

A hand is offered to the dog - the man smells of steel and leather, horse and sweat, and a faint coppery undertone, that of dried blood.

Muppet sniffs curiously indeed, a well behaved dog though he doesn't jump on the guy or anything

"Hey muppet" Dee says, then says "Muppets a ... Glennie I think? rare breed"

"Of course he is. Aiden would have no other gracing his lands." A roll of his eyes.

"Pardon, Lord Aiden."

"Glennie, yeah. Even if he does look like a mop."

"Do either of you hunt, or know of those who partake in hunting? I've the lord's leave to trap on his land, but I do not want to run afoul of any other's chosen range. I seek small prey animals - grouse, perhaps, if they nest here, or woodhens, rabbit..."

"We have a rabbit pooka, m'lord, so have a care. Briar hunts, though. And Blossom hawks."

"Dame Gladiola has taken the dogs for a hunt, but it's not their main purpose. Yeah, I forgot about Blossom"

"Is that so?" He looks intribued. "I will indeed take care. Thank you for the forewarning. I will endeavor to meet with him, or her, before taking any action." A nod. "Redcaps hunt, but more often two-legged prey, in my experience. Having been one, I can say it is not recommended. Blossom, I have heard of. She's the one who had the centerfold advert in Cavalier's Quarterly to showcase matching armor for rider and steed on the same form, was she not? It was quite excellent leatherwork."

"That was Willy's."

"Are you also studying tack and gear?"

"Or perhaps weapon forging?"

She squint-frowns and shakes her head.

"Thistle's a wizard with kiln and clay... to the point where one day you might be drinking out of a custom order wine bottle or mug made by her to celebrate a victory"

"Wouldn't go that far, Dee."

"Clay, is it? Actually... do you think you could devise a thin shell of clay that can be corked, and lined to hold noxious liquids within - tough enough to withstand jostling or accidental crushing, within reason, say a dropped bag, but fragile enough to shatter on impact if thrown as a projectile?"

"Glass is not suitable, as the contents may not be exposed to light."

"Unless it too could be somehow blown opaque."

A look to the fledge , supportive but inquiring

She is squinting again, working it out in her head.

"Tricky - it's probably better if there's a way to prime it against accidental discharge. Like.. like the equivalent of pulling a pin on a grenade, you know?"

"I mean, there's also the idea of a protective carrier or sheath, but that doesn't sound like what you would want."

"Actually that would be a good idea for double-protection as well." He nods, thoughtfully. "It must contain chimerical liquid. Well, it's liquid, but it turns into a gas when thrown... rather volatile, which is why we must avoid inadvertant exposure. Something a friend of Daireann is working on for me."

"So a good stopper. You want something real consistent - probably a porcelain, not stoneware."

"With a protective sheath, that becomes much simpler a task - short of a really direct blow, at least. Now, cork is possible bight may be reactive to the chemical. That'd require testing."

"What about waxed cork?"

A slow nod. "Maybe."

"Are you currently available for commission, given your fledge status?" He glances to Dee as well.

"I... think so?"

"I can double check with the Baron, though. My studio is here, so all the stuff is his, really."

"The nature of many apprenticeships is that while you are being taught and trained, your work belongs to your master, and they retain rights over your time and projects. If there is a master other than Aiden that I should confer with, please let me know."

"The Baroness possibly, but they tend to encouage a lot of experimentation by Thistle. "

"Well, Willy and Wudlig are showing me the ropes of being a nocker, but neither of them are potters."

"I will consult with the baron, baroness, and your mentors, then. For now, if you would be so kind, Dame D'Lavender, I think I should stable Silverdance before he eats his fill of grass. He needs a proper amount of oats to keep up his strength, and he will binge on junk food if allowed."

Bidding Thistle farewell, the sidhe and Lavender return to the stables, and Thistle finds that, if it seems a littler dimmer, a little less majestic, at least she can breathe again.

Dame Lavender bids him farewell, but still wonders... what happened with Briar?