#debukefarmhold

Connor arrives across the footbridge, huffing and puffing. Jack, fleet as his faun legs are, may need to scramble to keep up. "I'm running out of time, and I don't know how to set my watch back." He explains. "Can you help me find the wizard man?"

Jack says "This way! " As he catches up and guides him through

And they behold the farm on Yule...it's..snowing, rich, and crisp, and even. The Stars seem to have nestled here and yon

He starts to flop to make a snow-dog, but then straightens back up. DUTY! He hefts his bag, and on his way!

And he finds the Mountain looking at the sky

A whisper of thanks to Jack, and he takes a step forward. "Excuse me, are you Mister Everest?"

"Connor, I've been to the school. "Amusement "Mountain Emmit... All that. Merry Yule, son."

He bows. Apparently he is being EXTRA formal. "I am Squire Connor, once Dogmar the Just, but now just Connor again. I have come to seek a Mighty Boon. I don't know if it can even be done, but I was told you are the Tallest Mountain around, and if you can't do it, it can't probably be done outside of a quest, and I didn't have time for a quest, because I had a gift but it exploded and I had to find a new idea." Pause for breath!

Jack Flap says "He might have more.. he's pausing for a breath"

the mountain looks amused "Okay. "

He holds out a backpack that clinks and clanks. "I need to make a magic thing. It doesn't have to be a Treasure, a real treasure. But if it can just work once, that would be enough?"

He takes the backpack, and looks into it

It's a mishmash tumble of what looks like junk. "I can explain..."

"I know here in squashtown, you don't much have knights and stuff. But I have a knight, and she helps me every day. She's strong and brave, and I think that if I can just be the least smidge like her, like even just one blue toe, I would be good enough." He nods in earnest. "But she has to go away and do Knight things. And sometimes I can't go with. And sometimes I worry that she might not come home. My sister is special too, but she's already a Grand Witch and can tap her red slippers to go home whenever she needs. I wanted... I thought if I could make something. A one-way ticket, even just a single time use. Go directly to home, do not pass go, olly-olly-oxen-free...."

He does his best to make sense.

He kens.

It's... a pile of stuff. But each piece has a little bit of glamour rubbed, hugged, pressed, kissed, or shoved into it. The boy must have worked hard to gather so much, and turn what one might see as trash or detritus into dross.

He reaches in, and starts pulling things out, setting each on the ground in front of Mountain Emmit with care as if they are delicate crystal. "I thought about the way fares work, for the bus ticket."

"Hops, and Scotch." A beer can from Dagmar's father, and a Scotch bottle from the Mountain of Rivervale.

"You want her to have a one shot flicker flash that will take her to your side" The mountain says

He swallows, and just shrugs, afraid to try to answer yes.

"Quick Silver..." An old thermometer with the mercury bulb still intact... mercury, once called quicksilver by alchemists, and a silver spoon from the Hearth of Rivervale. Oh, he had to borrow it.... and hope that Kerri understands.

"A way to pass through a portal...." A skeleton key gifted from the Witch of Earth Runes, and a bit of colored chalk all his own, from the art chest at his lodge.

"And a way to run on the wind." A plastic sandwich baggie... he shakes it out delicately into his hand, and then spreads the bag to set the contents upon it. A lock of silvery-gray horsehair, from a fae-horse's mane... and several poofy downy feathers, chimerical in nature, shed from a foal who is just starting to fledge his wings.

The last he holds out to the Mountain directly. A stub of a candle, cut off a larger one. Lit and blown out. A fine gwydion green, he picked the color out himself. "And from my own sister witch, a flicker and a wish."

He exhales. "I don't much care if it works or not." He lies, eyes filled with hope. "But I tried awful, awful hard. And I only know as far as fastrunning myself, I can't even make a door, I run into the wall... but I thought. Maybe. Because she's worth it."

"How long do I have to work with this?" he asks

He ducks his head in shame. He tried, but it took so long to find everything. "Until the Yule star fades from the sky.... or however long it takes. But I thought that maybe it would help if it was tis the season, because it's a present."

"And I don't have any money. I spent it all on..." A side glance at Jack. "Candy and soda pops. But I can find a way to pay you back, if you can make it work."

Jack Flap says "He used that candy to save the day!"

"Did he now?" The mountain nods "You two go inside, have some cocoa. I'll see what I can do"

He hesitates, and offers, "I don't know magic like witches and wizards do. And maybe it just doesn't work that way. And I know my Knight will hate anything I give her.... so if it's all humbug, I understand, and I won't call you a grinch." A sincere nod, before following Jack.

Jack Flap says "You think he can he do it?"

Connor looks up at the twinkle in the sky. Even during the day, he can catch a glimpse of it if he squints just right. "He's a Mountain. If he can't do it, then no one can." Apparently being raised by Trolls leaves high regard for their power.

the Yule star glows bright

golden even

He smiles as he sees it's light. And waves at it. "Please."

A glittering figure appears out of the gold, and looks about "Oh my, so much has..changed" the troll woman looks about, then sees Connor "Don't wish so hard, kid" She holds up a Christmas ornament .. one one side has a puppy up on hindlegs. The other has a knight on a horse.. they're heading towards each other. "One shot only, then it's a trinket to hang okay?"

The female wilder troll smiles "Hurry, take it. I don't want to be seen yet"

He tilts his head to one side, trying to figure if he recognizes her. Both hands out to cup the ornament with care. His nose twitches and ears prick up.

It gleams with power "Hey.. you use it, you go to her. She uses it, she goes to you. Probably want to give it to her so she doesn' end up protecting you. "

"I'll be sure to tell her the truth, that it only works one way." He nods, crossing his heart.

"Are you a Yule angel?"

Jack Flap is gaping at her then he crosses his arms "Are you a certified Mountain or have mountain training?"

"Maybe... and kind of" The woman says

"Shhhh!" He says, eyes wide. "You can't back talk an ANGEL! They might get SMITEY!"

"But you do look awfully nice."

"Probably won't smite anyone who isn't all wickedly."

"What can I say," The girl says "Have to limit it somewhat or I'll never get a day off. Go on young Prince, Go on Green heart. The Mountain will come to apologize. Tell him it's okay. I have to go"

"Should I tell him you said hi?" Head tilted.

"Probably not" And she steps out and moves to thee golden light and vanishes

He blinks and blinks and looks around. Peering at Jack. "Did you see her too?"