#earthrunes

"Oh yes, I've never seen Sir Sergei open up to anyone, and Catir is adorable."

"Colton is pretty personable. And willing to work."

"Oh yes. He's a hard worker. I suppose trolls tend to be. " They drive around a bit "Alas, many of the places that Jefferson City is most famous about don't necessarily make the best Changeling spots. It had a rather infamous jail here, you'll find bar names and the like referencing it, but prisons are rarely glamorous.. Though the sluagh here claim that the ghost tours they give of the old penitentiary are genuinely tied to that."

A shiver. "No ghost tours for me."

"And he is great. He's going to make a good knight. If I ever find that Leanhaun...."

"You know, I've met a Leanhaun, they all seem so likable, then you catch what they've been up to and suddenly they're not so charming. I guess you can never tell"

"Don't trust any of them. They'll destroy any Dreamer they get their hands on, and not give a fig." Narrows her eyes and air-quotes "There's always more."

"Not like they're people to them."

"Don't worry, Sparrow, I've seen enough to be on my guard. " They drive on "Oh here we go. Ot

It's so easy to miss this alleyway. Let's park here. You know how it is with holds, sometimes they hide so well from mortal eyes they suceed in confusing fae."

"In St. Louis, we had to enter through a giant head!"

"So - what kith is Dalton?"

"OH yes. I've heard" She leads her down the way "I should visit sometime. Though I know theyre cleaning house too thanks to your help. Dalton? Dalton is a Nocker." They move into what appears to be a very odd shop in an space between streets where any shop should die of lack of business exposure, and yet, there it is. A store that...did it used to be a chapel or church or something? It's not any more. Now it says ' Be the Key Hobbyists Club'.

"...A nocker?" Wings rumple.

To her fae gaze, it looks like a much grander Cathedral, if Cathedrals came with a kind of 'Pulley punk' aesthetic.

And yet, it's... surprisingly quiet. There are no bells and whistles here. No hammering... and when they enter, it's a light 'ding' sound

Her wings mantle, feathers still fluffed out - more in "puffy cat" than "contented" mode.

The smell of coffee fills her noses, but also of some oil, and the glamour of the hold feels like , that same thrill you get when you peek in a room you're not supposed to. The same jazz you get when someones tells you NO....and you do it when tye're not looking just to spite them. Tables that are used both as place to have a cup and to do some tinkering are out and about.

"Hello?"

She sees commoners, about four, each. two are working with lock picks on puzzleboxes. Another female pooka is trying to slip free from cuffs without hurting herself as she works it. And...a male satyr checks her out, "You here to collect dross, highborn?"

"Not so much, no. Delores?"

"We hoped to talk to Dalton. This is Sparrow, she's representing the new Baroness." Delores says

The room quiets, then the Satyr says "Wait, you mean the old one really is dead?"

It would appear they had heard, they just did not believe.

Sparrow nods. "He passed, both in soul and host."

"I'll get Dalton," the satyr finally says as the remaining commoners mumble and mutter to themselves. She can pick up pieces.

"Heard rumors about a thallian SIEGE but I thought it had to be bullshit"

" I never liked him, but I never DISliked him you know?"

She listens, feathery wings flicking back to settle around her shoulders.

"I heard he did some dark shit in the Accordance war"

"What noble didn't?"

"Say what you want but my cousin works there, and it's said he was as loyal to those who supported him as he was MEAN to those that opposed him, so that's ...that's something"

Delores touches Sparrow's hand and whispers "Perhaps best you came here and not Coradel right after the loss"

She nods. "She can be emotional. Fiona."

Dalton strides out, at least she assumes its Dalton. The nocker is dressed snazzy, most nockers are. But the design is like a Stage magician. Top hat, tails, very old school in some regards, but she can see woven into the vest of chain work leading to unlocked cuffs. Sometimes they seem to move. he's..not bad looking as Nocker's go, the white an red spirals so common arranged in a pattern that looks more sreet artist with make up that clownish. 'Name's Dalton," He slaps his hand into hers for a shake " How the furk are ya? Welcome to our hold. Most just call it the keyclub for short. Used to be a church where escaped prisoners would slip to for sanctuary, and it took in runaway slaves in its time."

"Really?" She brightens. "How cool! I'm Sparrow, nice to meet you." A firm handshake.

"You seem furking suprrised, am I not cussing you out enough or something?" Needle teeth grin

"I didn't know this place had such a history - I'm still learning the Barony, myself. I'm from Topeka, originally. And now... these days... magicians here? Escape artists?"

"Escapology is the name of the game, that's my craft of choice. I give lessons and so on. How to slip cuffs, work locks, and yes, even escape from a human sized milk jug while bound hand and foot in chains but that's an advanced class. Walk with me further back? He gestures to furtheri n the hold

Delores mutters "There are also rumors you've worked against nobles of various types."

"Surely." She follows. "Delores, I did spend the last six months at Firnost...."

"Yes, Sparrow, sorry, but the the skills they teach here sometimes get abused" She says still low as they head further back. A statue of some saint she doesn't recognize stands near balefire as presenting like a meal for the starving. The rest of this main chambeer isn't so angelic, murals, art works and designs depicting some of the great escapes in history. Why, there's even the Amistad!

(is lurking)

"I'm not saying we're angels, and yes, some folks take these skills and use them to steal for a living, but you know what it's like...for every few noble rulers that is kind or even just leaves folks the furk alone there's always one who abuses and enslaves. Aesin Thralls, Balor slave labor... if I can help even one of those innocent get free I count it as a win. "

"Sounds about right. Reminds me of a nocker lady I met at Firnost. Adri...Adrian-road? Rhod?"

"Adrianrhod's dead." he says "And if she's alive, she's still dead because she's furking the safer that way"

"Well. Firnost takes all kinds. I'm glad to see there's a sanctuary, here, too. Nobody should be enslaved."

"Great. So, I hear the Baron's dead. And you're here on behalf of some baroness? What's she want with us?"

A bit blunter perhaps, but not hostile

"Baroness Coradel ap Fiona. His heir, and now the holder of Earth Runes' flame. Since this mews falls under her lands, she wanted to extend an invitation to meet and talk. Maybe have some coffee."