#earthrunes

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And so, not long after a conversation in the Library, August goes in search of his soul's son, Magnus. If needed, he will deploy his squires and even others, but hopefully he can locate the man on his own.

He finds Magnus borrowing Bachdion's study loverlooking notes.

((I -adore- "Loverlooking" btw.....))

Or he is trying to, but for the pooka sprawled across a chaise, waving a treatise in the air. "And furthermore, if they WANTED us to read this, they would write it with more... GUSTO! Who cares about who succeeded whom? Who SLEPT with whom! That's the heart of the matter..."

"Oh, my dear Liam. How DO you do. Shall I let you and your dear son speak in peace?" Sitting up and he looks about to toss said treatise aside, but a glance askance at August and he pointedly straightens the pages and sets it delicately on a shelf.

Magnus looks up, "It's a tragedy surely" Blink blink

"Ah. I, ah, did have some business with him." Beat while he thinks. "Perhaps privately would be better, for now." but he says it with real regret.

He rises up and stretches languidly. "Wouldn't you know it, I happen to have an appointment with the librarian. She owes me a kiss, you see." And a bow, a grin, and he sweeps out.

Magnus raises a brow "Indeed? Happy hunting, vince"

August blinks, then shakes his head.

"Father before you ask I know what this is about, mom wants to start up a crusade to stop this trafficking ring"

"Yeeeessss......" August takes a seat. "Magnus, could you share with me what you know about it?"

"I really was hoping not to, not against you personally dad, but until I have concrete certainty ..." A sigh "What do you want to know?"

"Everything." Kindly, as he takes out a pad and pen.

"Fine.." he pull lays out his map "Here... Tijuana and surrounding area is being used as the start of the Concordian pipeline... from there, bhy what I assume are cargo transit... through rails, numerous humans are trafficked.. not just from Mexico but stolen from Port meaning other humans ready to be trafficked. Factory slavery, Sex work, you name it"

Adam makes a quick sketch-copy of the map, and notes.

He nods. "No apparent issues getting them past border patrol?"

"That's where bribery comes in... " He says "Working on that end, I can only assume one of these three agents is in on the take"

"At least one of the three agents is on the take." August amends.

"Who rules that area? If anyone?" the baron frowns, searching his memory.

He sighs "yes, at least" "Dad. I do this for a living?"

"The Baja area is Duke Tierone's area, but he's new to it.. and his Countess.. newly raised, has held ont oher own power with tenacity rather than let him take direct charge. One Jessica King. To be fair, the city might tear assunder if she left"

"Why does King sound familiar? As a name?"

"As in Eldest Daughter of Frank King, wild dog of the Liam sled team"

"Ahhh... Rivervale?" He nods. "Is she.... I don't think she is Liam."

"No, she's a Gwydiam... or a Liadym... actually she's Houseless but she wears the trappings of both houses to placate both. "

"Research says she's spread incredibly thin.. seeking to offer peace to Nunnehi, trying to placate modernests, soothe traditionalists... yet with a cold war against Balor and other Unseelie Houses... frankly? I don't think she has the man power to juggle it all "

August sits back, calculating.... he shakes his head. "Impressive." Honestly. "Is she troll, like the others of Rivervale?"

"She is... but she has, it seems, obtained a Beaumayn sidhe heir. Interesting really. I only found out about it... from a very handy source."

He nods soberly. "I won't pry." August assures him.

He looks at hte copy of his notes his father just made, then looks up at his father "oh no, not you" Amusement

"I've asked honest questions. If you don't want to name your source, I will respect that." A little hurt.

Magnus moves on "Now, of course, that's only a major follow point... "

He trails his finger along the map.. "This line seems to be where the pipe is focused, but I see that it alternates by about 300 miles every few weeks.. a slight shift to throw authorities off. "

"It arcs from the top half of the upper northwest Feathered Serpent... into Pacific and Burning Sun and then through grass..zipping mostly over willows and comes up to the Duchy of Gardens"

August nods, notes and drawings.

"Does it come close to EarthRunes?"

"How do you think I got shot?" He says "Alas, it's not IN Earthruns Barony but it is in the same Duchy"

August presses his lips together and nods.

"The problem is... someone is going against mortal authorities but using fae magic to do it, while at the same time doing their best to avoid changeling attention. Only at the source point, Tijuana, is this risk for them inevitable."

"So the ..... breaking point for this situation, is in Tijuana?" He makes that note.

"Definite Breaking Point" he says

He nods. "What support do they need? That is, I assume the Countess there is aware of this situation."

"She seems aware of at least the start of it... but I'm reluctant to give her full details in case she ccase a shift and undoes the chance to take it down in one big movement." A frustrated look' None of you seem to remmeber, or respect, that I was working with mortal authorites. There's a reason for that.. they have the manpower we don't to shut this down at every level ONCE I found the key parts and timing.. but now mom wants to charge and act like if she just cuts this or that part it will all collapse. It won't. this thing has redundancies"

"Have you told her that?"

"Haven't had the chance to really point it out" he says "Don't get me wrong.. we might yet get the leader here"

"Would you like me to point it out to her, if I get the chance?"

"Well, Temerity offered to, but then I think her plan was to charge the train on horseback."

August chuckles. "Temerity is a terror. No, I mean, would you like me to point out to Coradel that you are working with the mortal authorities to bring -all- those involved in for justice?"

"I seem to recall trying to tell everyone just that.. and for my trouble I had an angry wife, a furious mother, and a possum that had me pinned"