#earthrunes

Coradel falls silent, listening... ((while her player switches over the last load of laundry and gets ready for bed, but will be back))

A deep breath, "I remember some of the prizes... even now, though I could not tell you all about them. I remember a silver horn that instilled courage in whole armies.... I remember a glimmering ruby eye.... I remember a cloak of deepest green that seemed to toucch all the forests in the world... and I remember the Varich prize... imagine sunlight mixed with a hungry fog? One that brought blazing light into every crevice, every nook and cranny? And knew the very scent of sluagh? It was like... mustard gas and hate and gold all mixed."

August frowns, and would almost go to comfort Zara if Earl weren't there.

Earl looks at Zara, "I couldn't risk them winning"

A soft hiss.

(Clarification - only the varich prize was against sluagh, correct?)

OOC: Ah, yes.

BIC: He goes on "So...I played spoiler, I..helped one, then another, the ones that seemed most tolerable. There were death traps and monsters, it was like a crazed Dungeon Master abducted us. I..think I made a friend or two. But in the end... I helped someone else win and the Varich knew I screwed him...or was it her? "

"And the mark?"

"three of the knights, I think I saved one's life, and helped another and.. it's complicated. they insisted I be given a prize. So the voice said yes, and inscribed this on me. A mark meant to thwart Varich attack." A deep breath "Zara, I think I'm immune to their Sovereign."

"Which will only anger them more..." She reaches for her hand - at least she's no longer glaring?

"Well, I'm not going to go around bragging about it. Besides, this could be temporary for all I know. For all I know, one Geasa is blocked and then it fades."

He rumbles in interest, leaning forward to peer at the mark. "Ah, if something like that could be replicated, hmmmmmm."

He shows it again, it is not the Varich sun, not exactly, but it does seem to resemble a gate, as if the sun could be opened or closed...depending on how you look at it

She pets his hand, protectively.

"Earl." Quietly, he repeats "Who gave you that commission?"

A sigh, "August, as the Dreaming is my witness? It was an anonymous one. It's an Elven star, 7 points, not that unusual a symbol. when I came back, the painting was done. No sign of magic ever touching it. Hell, it's not even my best work"

"An -anonymous- commission?"

She narrows her eyes. "Very strange, indeed."

"Seven Hundred dollars up front. Cash, with an agreement to pay me another same after for a pick up. NO One has picked it up. Nada."

"A cantrip to block sovereign. Mrrrrr. I bet there are many who would give much to know the inner workings of that... and many others, as apt to stifle it. I would take care, Knight Curacao, who hears this tale." A pause, and his own tail swishes. "I, of course, was not listening."

August frowns, thinking.

Coradel has been silent, looking at the surface of her drink and listening, but now she says, "Three that you helped...and three that returned the favor."

Bachdion nods in agreement with the pooka "It sounds like someone somehow used you as their agent. Be cautious, young man. "

Zara leans close, squinting at the mark.

He rustles around behind the bar, and comes up with one of his notepads - teading off a page, he offers it to Earl, with a pen. "Perhaps you would share the design of your commission? I'm sure the scholars here might be able to find a clue, Blue."

Then he pauses, glancing to Coradel. "Unless you think another portal may open, here. I JUST got all of these bottles arranged..."

"I'd be happy to try and find out what I can, Earl." He offers.

She doesn't respond to Vince, but looks to Earl. "When Sir Almandine called me aside, it was because he'd had a vision of the red trod. Three stepped off of it, though he couldn't tell me who they were."

August immediately turns his attention to Coradel at this.

A look to the Baroness "Red trod?" A swallow

He may not be an expert on the dreaeming, but he knows the lack of silver is a bad thing.

"Three.... fomorians?"

"He said that he had the sense that one was loyal, one had great need, and one had promise." Then she thinks, "No...he put it a different way...he said one stank of loyalty, and one stank of need...and then the third...something else. Glowing with promise, I think."

"No...not Thallain."

And a deep breath, "August ,thank you for your help, but I will run it by Zara first. she has..." A look to the sluagh "She has dibs on me and all things connected to me."

"He was quite clear about that...not Thallain."

"Three. And this. Oh, this will take searching..."

"Of course."

Coradel nods to Zara. "You should speak to Sir Almandine."

August looks at Coradel, wide-eyed. "Oh."

"Two out of five. Dubh, and Caitir. Three left."

"Three what?"

She blinks at August. "You think they may be Deryn's?"

"They -could- be?"

earl looks as confused

He turns to Zara. "Derynwydd's Steadfast Five, those who stayed in the Dreaming to protect what was hers against her return.... we know of two that have returned.

That would leave three."

"If these are the others...we must tell Deryn...."

"-If-." He reminds "I'd hate to get her hopes up...."