#bergen_county

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Symon gets a TXT from.. Tove ! Txt: Symon, you're needed

A prompt response.
Txt: Sam ok?

TXT: She's fine, Symon. Thanks for asking. The Chieftain needs your and Zane's help and asked me to give you a call. Ever been to Hackensack?

Txt: don’t think so. Should I come by now?

TXT: Please head to the lodge as soon as you can. You two are being requested to join the Chief in a trip there

TXT: She'll give you more details, but it appears to be related to someone undermining the Barony's good name and she could use exra eyes and brains

Txt: gotcha

TXT: Thank you, Symon.

It's not that long before Symon arrives. Long enough to make it clear that he didn't rush and came on his own time... but quick enough to show a bit of respect for the request.

Zane is there, as is Tove to greet them

Zane looks over "hey, Symon. Want some tea? Tove made it for us"

"Sure. Hey, Tove." He greets her as he slides into a chair. Checking - do Zane and Tove already have cups poured?

They do, and she hands one for Symon "Thanks for showing up, boys. The Chief is trying to track down her husband for a conversation."

He takes a sip. "Can you give me the rundown of what's going on? I don't know sh- stuff about Hackensack."

"Well, from what I understand, it's ruled by Baron Angus, a nautical sort of Dougal" She says "He's always been on the traditional side of things but amiable enough. The problem is, recently there's been trouble from there, seemingly directed at Rivervale. WHich is odd. Teaneck has a friendly rivalry, but this flack from Hackensack is .. well odd. "

"Odd how?" Zane asks

"Is this anything to do with Lucia's new role?"

"It does in part" Tove nods to Symon and answers Zane's question by elaborating "It was a representive from Angus who suggested that the Rovers report to the nobles of the areas they were in and get their marching orders from said nobles. Lucia helped shoot it down, but it came out of the blue and she had to improvise fast with this sudden push. "

A slight frown at that, a finger tapping against his teacup thoughtfully.

"If he's a nautical sort, maybe Siv would be a good one to check in with him. She can probably concoct some seaworthy excuse and then see if anything seems suspicious. Unless she's given up the spy life.."

"We're worried Siv might lose her temper.. you see.. the other side of things is.. a song. There's a ballad, got it's start in Hackensack, basically comparing the Chief and Rivervale to dogs..and not in a flattering way"

"A song?" He looks surprised. That would be Tove or Piper then, right? And he narrows his eyes a bit and sets down the teacup. "Chief can't take offense directly? Is there some sort of treaty or arrangement with his Baron that prevents her from just calling them out?"

Zane raises a brow

"More like I think the two things add up.. and there is someone or something working against our barony" She says "And the Chief thinks you two might be able to snoop more openly and have fresh ideas...and maybe you two will be underestimated. "

"Because satyrs aren't taken seriously sometimes, and sluagh are, well.." a glance to Symon from Zane "You guys are NOT Understood and when folks think they understand it's mostly just an excuse for them to be bigots to you?"

Symon doesn't seem bothered. "Won't it seem obvious that she's looking to snoop by taking me, then?"

"I'm not sure on her full plan" Tove admits "But you're forgetting the other factor, Symon and Zane. She trusts you both. Not just as i she knows you care for the lodge and barony, but you both show good judgment"

Zane actually snorts then blinks "You're serious about the good judgement part?"

A slight fidget at the praise. "I'll do what I can."

"Of course I'm serious" Tove looks at them both "And yes, I know you will, Symon"

"Do you have any clues on where this may be coming from?"

"Not a thing beyond Hackensack seems to be a source of some anti RV ideas annd we're clueless as why"

"Where is Hackensack, anyways?"

"Southern bart of the Counts domain... "

"Used to be big in ship production and design" Zane adds "And of course the old Dougal has latched onto that"

"I've never really been on a ship, not for a long voyage. I wonder if I'd like it. Maybe down in the bilges. There could be rats. Probably less so on a properly maintained one like Siv's, but a cargo ship might be interesting." He muses.

"Not many nautical sluagh that I knnow of" Zane admits "But then I wouldnn't know"

"As a sterotype, Sluagh avoid being in areas they can't slip out of, so the open ocean is not their friend" Tove says "That said, they love being on wharfs and docs.. I know one who says that you can just hang near a dockyard and the world brings it secrets to you"

"Well, if it was your own ship, or an ally's. It's really no different from being in a building, just a mobile one. It might be interesting. You might even see it as being more free, as you can escape away - no walls on the ocean."

Tove inclines her head "I suppose that makes sense. Maybe there are sluagh in hackensack you can get in touch with, Symon?"

"That's a good idea. Even if they're not amicable to helping us out, I could at least find out if they're on the side of whoever is behind this. Any intel is more than we have now."

"Exactly" She says

"Still not sure how I am goinng to be a help?" Zane admits

"You could draw attention away from me... or maybe there are some of your own cousins there who may chatter?"

He gives Zane an appraising look. "What about something..." He wiggles a finger a bit. "Hexy? Can you find something to tattletale to spy later?"

"Or is that outside your wheelhouse?"

"Well, yeah I could do those" Zane says with a blush "I'm best with mortals though. Still" He ponders "Yes I think I could get a lock on something there if it wasn't too complex"

"Play to your strengths. Or play to their expectations of you. Both are solid strategies."

Zane ponders "Well, if I felt like boasting, I figured I could seduce someone... get info that way, but i really feel off my ggame around here"