#baronyofthesilverwolf

A low, warning rumble from the troll that still looms nearby.

She arches a brow "I'll thank you to be respectful of Silverwolf's thanes. Thane Danica is charged with our protection and she takes that charge seriously. Nockers are rightfully proud that few others can grasp their mechanisms, no? That has its downsides. Better she err on the side of caution. " Still, she's curious "Your air purifier, has it had any complications?"

"Yeah, complications - it only works for about a 3 yard radius at BEST, the filters are getting clogged in under an hour, and the backup oxygen is liable to combust, but NOOOOOO, everything is fine and dandy as childling's candy!"

Zelda rants, but Adler smoothly interposes himself in front of her - well, blocking half her height, at least. "A few of the locals talked to me about coming by to speak with you, Baroness, regarding a manner of some small concern. My partner here insisted on coming along, please pardon her colorful manner of speech. I assure you that no disrespect to your fine Thane nor finer Barony is intended."

Zelda fumes but has distracted herself with tinkering at one of the knobs, Danica having reluctantly relinquished it back to her at Nadeen's nod.

"It's the 'liable to combust' that worries me" Nadeen admits candidly "And we have some fine nockers here at the hold who I respect. I'm aware they've their own, language" In truth, Nockers were so rare at Rivervale it took sometime, but Thistle, Willie, and Wudlig have been quite the tutors in their way. "Please, if you have issues you feel need adressed, then you're right to come to me. As a ruler, it is not met that I be too closed off. Would the three of you like anything to eat or drink while we talk?"

Rosemary speaks, "I wouldn't mind catching up with Marigold..." and Adler says "A cup of something chilled would be right neighborly." Bowing again, perhaps to make up for Zelda still being distracted, now plopped on the ground and digging a wrench from her utility pack.

Those are provided, and Nadeen leads them to a bench to be comfortable, while keeping an eye on any nocker work there "Now, please, state your concerns"

Alder sips the punch appreciatively, then clears his throat, straightens his ascot and speaks.

"Well, my lady, to put it simply, the air condition in the area has become barely livable. The dreamers are bleak, children cannot go out to play, the elderly and infirm are suffering. There's no hint as to how long these wildfires might last, or if the tradewinds will relent and blow the ill air elsewhere. Your holding seems largely immune, protected, I assume, by the Balefire's power... but for the common folk, it's fair dire."

He clears his throat, and asks, "We wanted to ask if there was ought you might be able to do to try to provide relief to the town?"

Zelda pipes up, "It looks like they're filmin' an episode of Breakin' Bad with the goddamn Mexico filter turned up to 10!"

She nods "As a matter of fact, I have been working on that very thing. Dame Gladiola has some minor working in sky craft and a breeze should be possible. This is small, to be certain, but other means are being put at work. I may also be able to extend sovereign in some key points to ward off just the pollution. However I would not force this on anyone normally. On a more mundane effort? We still have nearly a hundred masks on premsis from the Covid heights. That is no cure, but it may save lives of dreamers and more. I'll see to the distribution to all Kithain, Kinain, and any dreamers I can arrange."

"What's worse, is that we fear that the very fears over the issue might be feeding into a larger issue. There were tales of a creeping fog - one that seemed almost sentient, hunting. It might be a malevolent chimera." He says, though he adds, "Though the reports I heard may just be fearmongering or gossip... I hope you may not simply discount it out of hand."

A frown at this "Now THIS I had not heard of. And no, I do not discount it. Very possible, the dreamers are likely to dwell on such fears. Do you know who might know more about such tales? I could use confirmation"

"Rosemary, for one. And she's a solid reference, not given to fancifulness like some pooka, childlings or piskey." A glance around, and Adler adds, "No offense, commentary only on their reliability as narrators, not nature."

"We hoped if that was the case, perhaps some of your Knights might venture forth to slay or drive off the beast, or else encourage it to seek other hunting grounds..."

"Rosemary? what more can you tell me?"

The Clurichaun turns back from where she was whispering with Marigold - not in secrecy, but to avoid interrupting other conversation. She bobs a curtsy.

"Well, ma'am, that is, m'lady, Baroness. I was on my way home from a showing, and at first I thought it was a thundercloud rolling in, as some rain would be appreciated. Then I noticed that the air was feeling hotter, not cooler like when a front comes by, and it moved... oddly. Almost like something swimming through the air, not like a normal cloud at all. It was getting darker, and I wasn't sticking around to check it out on my own, no ma'am!"

"Big, too. I saw it over one of the fields outside of the high school, and it seemed to be near as long as the track."

The sidhe actually takes out a note pad, and, well, takes notes "Sounds like you were wise to check. Were there any other people there when this happened? Anyone else that saw it, or were endangered?"

"None that I saw. Most are sensible enough to stay inside... but I swear, when I saw it, it felt like IT turned and saw ME... and I hightailed it away before I could find out more."

Briar has crept nearby and is listening, wide eyed. "Bitchin!" She breathes.

"Sensible" She says then turns to see Briar "Briar, how old are you currently?"

"Uh... 15?"

a brow lift, river vale style

A faint wince and she cmplains, "For chrissakes, Lady, ain't like I got no dam with a birth certificate or papers like 'em pedigree mutts. At LEAST 13." She says, and this rings a little more accurate.

"mmm" A sigh "Perhaps I will let you have a part of this endeavor. Redcaps are the premeire monster hunters of the kithain world, as you are the most terrible monsters WE have." Said with matter of fact due "I'll have to ask the Baron about it, but would you be interested in helping others with this situation?"

"Would I?! Does the pope shit in the woods?!"

"How'mI supposed to fight a CLOUD, though? Can I punch it?" She ponders, bouncing a bit excitedly.

"I suppose he does, if it is ordained that he must do so" dryly, then a look to Rosemary and the others "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You were right to do so. Please, take your ease at the party. When you leave we'll send some masks with you. Is there anything else?"

"That's where you'd need assistance, Briar" Nadeen says "It maybe you'll have to find other ways to harm it IF it needs harming"

"Yes! Yes! MONSTER SQUAD!"

Rosemary bobs another curtsey. "Knowing that you know is ease enough for me, Baroness. I know you'll do right by us smallfolk, you always have."

A snort from Zelda, perhaps at being called a smallfolk.

"Oi! Glitterface!" Zelda yells over in Thistle's direction. "You got a 3/8ths flanged socket wrench handy?"

"Offset or t-handle?"

"OFFSET!"

A derisive snort.

"Yeah, I got those."

"Be right back, Art." She tromps off towards her studio.

Adler and Rosemary drift over towards the snacks table, and Marigold makes sure they have plenty of victuals to choose from.

Nadeen smiles and inclines her head towards Rosemary as she and Adler go to get snacks. As for Zelda and Thistle? She's proud Thistle is now seen as an equal in the nocker community, that is to say she's insulted as such and insults bacck Nockers, the one area Rivervale neglected my teaching

THe Baroness then takes what she's learned and makes sure records are kept. Departing only for a bit

Gladiola spies a flash of cloth - not easy to see, dark silk in the shadows, as Lizbet waves to her.

Gladiola says "Pardon me, Art" And makes her way towards Lizbet again

Lizbet waits patiently, then whispers up at the troll. "Did you hear? They come in terror to grovel at the feet of their liege." Her dark, sunken eyes drifting over to where the visitors linger. "I have seen what they fear."

"Wait, you mean that cloud monster thing? I only heard part of it" She admits "I don't have your keen ears."

"It is glorious." The slight sluagh breathes.

"Oh?" She says. "How so?" She knows Lizbet has... well, different tastes, so glorious can mean a lot of things

"They," She says dismissively, glancing at the trio who came to see the Baroness, "...are short-sighted. They think that the townsfolk cowering inside means a dearth of dreams, but what is fear, but a delicious nightmare? The more the smog spreads, the more people huddle inside, like cavemen crouched by a fire because they cannot face the creatures that lurk without." A delighted sigh, barely audible. "If it wasn't for the health concerns, I might wish it would never fade. Then again, everyone must perish someday..."

A thought "I wonder if it could be lead into the deeper dreaming? Like a relocation program?"

"Though, Briar is really looking forward to the hunt and possible slaughter" A shake of her head "I do hate to spoil her fun. Nightmare kiths are so varied"

"Or, if you must go to fight it, you may die in glorious battle. It's not as fine a death as properly pining away, and yet... do you think I would be welcome to weep by thy graveside?"

Lizbet seems unphased at the idea of the creature being slain, admire it though she clearly does.

"Lizbet, if I die, I would be HONORED to have you weeping by my graveside. " She inclines her head "And, if you wish, if this thing IS killed, we can put up a small memorial to it, have a ceremony, or something, and lament it's tragic loss together. Least I can do. I mean, you came to MY party so that's only fair"