#dreaming

Sounds are muffled even without ear plugs down here. And they see a three headed pharoah hound chimera look up with glowing moon hued eyes.

"Bonjour, Kerebos." She extends a hand for inspection.

A rather dignified sniff from the creature, then, perhaps less dignified, a wag.

Earl follows the same procedure, and they head down.

ANd come to a delightfully stylish underworld parlor, a mix of Victorian, Gothic, and, of course, Greek decor. A surprisingly handsome sluagh fellow with a devilish goatee of dark hair, and a bowler hat rises to greet her. He is dressed in black, gray, and very dark purple

Zara drops into a bow, mouth quirking to the side. "M'lord Hades."

Lex says "This is Persephone and Dis" A grin, "Isn't that a kick?"

Earl bows too.

The sluagh gives a wheezing laugh, "Most entertaining, I would offer you repast, lady, but I worry you might think I take your name sake and my title too far. If allieves you any, Rather than calling me Hades, you may call me by name Forlorn." He says "Please please, what brings you to this most confused of trificas?"

"Exploration. A new trod passes this way, and we would see where it leads."

"A new trod leads this way?" Alarm and a look to Lex. "Do you knwo of this?"

"Oh yeah, I didn't mention that?" Lex ssays "oh guess I didn't. Right at the third gate. I brought them first here as upstairs the lady seemed to prefer it. Should I put a guard up there maybe? at the rathe?"

"As opposed," Forlorn says "to leaving it utterly undfended? Mmm Well, Zeus would probably say it in firmer tones, but yes. And tell my two peers please. We are fortunate that the guests we did get are so polite."

Forlorn turns to Zara and Earl, "Madame, Sir? You have caught me at a slight disadvantage, but I can see to food of appropriate sort for each, and drink if you like, Please, be seated. This is, most embarrasing to be seen not knowing things before others."

Lex says "not sure why... I.." When the sluagh gives the Piskie a LOOK, he says "Ill just go do those things now"

And scoots off

"It is a very new trod. Borne of battle and dragon-death."

"That would explain the surge" Hades Forlorn says with realization, "It had a trollish feel to it as well. Dragon death? Surely not the Skallstryke rumors? They are true?"

"The Shacklebreaker, aye. Skallstryke is dead."

Forlorn Hades says "It is rare that such a fine lady brings such news, I am indeed a poor host. Please, let me attend to you and Master Diss with Tea. When one brings such fortuitous news of such import, one must have tea"

"Aye. Tea would be most appreciated."

He pulls a bell rope, and a dozen ghost spiders, spider chimera that you can see through, clamber onto the table carrying cups, kettle, and more. They do not pour, no, as a host HE will pour, but they do set a nice table

A tiny, silent round of a applause.

"They are wonderful aren't they? " Forlorn says 'Do forgive my unseemly boasting," Despite his words his tone is quite calm, "But the web that produces them is my favorite treasure. They are boon companions." He pours gently, asking if any touches need be made. Etc

(1122, of course, flirts. Shameless.)

"So where is the mortal correlation to this place?"

Despite the fact these spiders are larger than 1122, it is clear that he is assuring one ghostly lady that there's just more of her to love.

And he is spider enough to do so!

"Well, as mortals know measurements, you're in Wisconsin Dells... it is the Mt. Olympus theme and water park... and yet, this is a reflection, a counter point to it?One risks the banality. the other benefits from the Dreamers..."

"Wisconsin." She tastes the word. "Imagine that."

"Oh I know, I know' the sluagh shakes his head, "I feared it would be a cultural wasteland."

"You are a transplant?"

"Originally I hailed from Philadelphia" He says, "But it never was home to me"

"Oh! Philadelphia has some fine ghosts... good cemeteries, too. And that museum..." Swoon.

"Well, yes, true... though one can only stand so many people doing a Rocky Pose before one feels the urge to homicide," Forlorn confesses

Earl snickers at that

A soft chuff. "Ah, true. But the good museum is fascinating."

"Indeed, a shame more don't know about it," He confides, "If I may ask, Miss Persephone, Mister Dis, are you explorers by charge? Trod walkers is your calling? Or is this quest related?"

"Well, we are fond of exploring. Not Rovers, not on a specific quest... but, well, it is here and new...."

"Ah, you must learn so much before others do," A touch of envy in his voice, "I fear my own repayment of what you've told me so far will seem pale in comparision. Might one ask if there is anything of particular interest to my two guests so I might at least not be so rude as to take only and not give?"

"This hold - trollish but not? Three heads, but a sluagh as an underground Mountain?" Pause. "Or hearth?"

"I would know of this place."

"Mountain woudl be the comparsion I suppose" with amusement "And the match is..less precise than our dear troll would like. Still, yes, I study matter of spiritualy, and culture. I've actually made it a point to study the legends of every kith I can so I can give good counsel." A sigh "Though pooka are...very frustrating to piece together in that department. THe water park technically is where our 'Hearth' dwells..though we don't use those titles as they're not accurate. Hence 'the Zeus, the Poisedin' and I, the Hades'" He inclines his head "The three of us founded this place you see? A motley trio, but from there it blossomed. The balefire actually has three locations it rests in, and it moves...well, depending"

"And of what kith is Poseidon?"

"She is a pooka herself, and that does mean folks are quite willing to chat to her... I must give her credit, she has overcome her kith's dishonesty enough that she is not as frustrating..."

"Tis a code, and any code may be broken."

"Just so, though they cannot help but change that code up if they suspect too many know it" Forlorn says with a sip "Some part of the pooka longs to be understood, but a greater part longs to lie"

"Much like we wish to be respected for our knowledge, but we must also keep our secrets, nu?"

"oh that's the hardest part of this job of shaman/seer ... I am expected to share my knowledge. And I do.. in small amounts, but a few things I really must keep to myself, just for a little while, you know?"

"The mystique."