#earthrunes

Delores, of course, found out about this. And, being a boggan, reports to her liege, "Baroness? Coradel?" Trying to catch her between tasks

She catches up with Coradel as she's en route to the stables. The baroness turns and smiles. "Yes?"

Good place to go, "Have you heard about the trolls?" She inquires

"The trolls? Our trolls?"

"For now" Wryly, "They had a meeting it seems. Now, I'm not one to eavesdrop..." Boggans have very forgiving definitions "But, one of my staff, couldn't help but notice that they were gathering in the Blue Parlor, you know the one with the high ceiling? And she happened to overhear them talking about the shake up going on in Rivervale. "

A blink at for now, and she stops to give this her complete attention. "What of it? Why are they concerned about Rivervale? Merely than kith-curiosity?"

"Apparently, SOMEHOW it has gotten out that trolls of good quality might have a chance to serve at Rivervale as they will be going a transition of leadership. Our trolls, or so was overheard, seem to be mostly resolved to pass and stay here, but a few ARE tempted. Now, this is interesting partly because trolls do NOT get ahead of Boggans in gossip or rumor. It just doesn't happen, not by chance. Which hints that SOMEONE might be poaching from us" A stunned look "Which does not sound like what i hear of Chieftain Brekke at all."

"Do you think Knight Captain Siv might have inquired with them? She's a good lass, but devious for her kith"

A frown. "Nooooo..." she muses, tapping her riding crop against her calf. "That doesn't sound like the Chieftain. But yes, the Lady Captain might have said something. Though she certainly has her own matters to preoccupy her at the moment. Oh! I might have gotten ahead of you in the rumor mill as well, unless you've already heard her news?"

"You're ahead of me too? At this rate, I'll be defrocked from bogganhood" She only partly jokes "No, please, what news?"

"The Lady Captain and her lovers are now parents. The twins were born early. A boy and a girl."

"OH!" For all her fretting about troll poaching, Steward Delores breaks into a cry of delight "How wonderful for them! I'll arrange a care package right away. I am sure Dame Kerri , their hearth, is already ahead of organizing it all but it is the principle of the thing. Mmmm , You know, we do have that little stuffed animal lion that looks like a a silver furred Vincent in his beast form. Should I send it?"

"If nobody here has laid claim to it, yes! And I've heard it's something of a tradition that new parents get overwhelmed with well-meaning contributions of all sorts, yes? So let's have them overwhelmed!"

A pause. "Should I get them a pony?" she murmurs thoughtfully.

"Or two. They'll each want their own, of course."

A clap of delight "Oh yes. They'll be free to pass it on anyway, we won't be too proud" A beat at the idea of the pony "mmm.. if RIvervale really IS sending out feelers for our trolls, ponies might be a fitting gift/revenge"

"I suppose I should wait until they get out of the hospital, at least."

"Regarding those feelers, though...do they seem to be getting any nibbles from our lot?"

"You did say a few are...tempted." A little hint of a frown. "Any idea who?"

"Well, some of our trolls are more tempted than they admit yes, but most of our regulars are holding fast. Oswald, bless him, says he won't go because they don't celebrate May the 4th but I suspect he also would hate to part from a certain healer pooka friend AND he is loyal to you. Dordi was and IS firm in staying with you and the Baron. She's devoted to both of you and considers herself your driver when you need one. And, well, Kodge, that old timer, thinks change is just awful and trolls are supposed to fade away or die heroicly rather than 'retire'... but there are a few who look tempted"

The tap-tap-tap of the riding crop again, and her lips pout a bit as she considers this. "Delores, are they simply curious about that Lodge? Or do they feel somehow mistreated here?"

At that, she gentles, "oh Cory..." A friend's tone rather than a servant "Don't you dare think you mistreat anyone. You work HARDER than you party, and you party hard, and your people love you for it. But to trolls, Rivervale is a source of Kithain pride. Some will be tempted not because of anything you did, or didn't do, but because Rivervale is as close to a camelot or what not as they get. I mean, not everyone wants to live on that farm. A few hope to make a name for themselves in a way that is special to their heritage I suppose. But no, it is not about you"

"Or at the least, it's nothing AGAINST you" She adds

"Well, I didn't mean to imply that I was at all to blame if they did feel mistreated!" she says, fingers fanned out against her throat in a gesture of affront. She is not immune to a certain sense of infallibility. "But if anyone had made their lives here unpleasant, I would want to know about it."

At that, Delores considers a bit more, "mmph" She says finally "Trolls can be hard to read, even for us, at times. If they DO have someone making it hard on them, they tend to 'endure' if they have to. But I've not heard of it. Few want to abuse trolls. Even Shallimar, who pokes at everyone now and then, wouldn't torment one regularly. "

"If you like, sometime in the next week or so, I could have the kitchen staff prepare a Scandinavian theme to the meals?"

A faint look of distaste. "I've heard some tales of Scandinavian foods."

"Oh, it's not all Lutefisk ... how about plain ole Swedish Meatballs? Mmm"

"Hmmm...well, if it will please, certainly."

An inhale and a smile. "Well. I'll address all that later. Thank you for telling me, Delores. I look forward to seeing how it develops."

"Yes, and we'll poke around a bit more to see who if anyone is trying to recruit." She nods "Thank you SO much for the news on the babies. Pardon, I need to call Anne Marie, she lives there and, well, off I go." She curtseys "By your leave?"

"Of course! There's more about the babes, but I think you'll have a greater experience if you get it from one who knows how to gossip properly." A wink, and she turns and continues on her way to the stables...but with some new notions to consider.

(Fade to considerations and boggan gossip swap!)