#kc_necropolis

"He's not." Defensive and loyal.

She looks at her toes a bit contritely "Sorry, Dame Dagmar. "

Symon gums a lip, then offers, "I was thinking of checking out the Greenwood Cemetery if we had time. I'll bring you a set of grave rubbings from children that died of tuberculosis in exchange?"

"oh, yes, please" Lily is revived and says "that would be a fair trade. I can tell you lots for that. The Countess is a childling, like me. She's lonely. But she's not a Beaumayn. The Beaumayn grump ..that baron? he tries to advise but he's only one voice among many. THe Duchies about the Countess both want her to swear allegence to them, so this little girl is trapped between forces. "

"What house is she? And a name might be helpful." A thin smile.

"...Edrit."

"Ah." It comes together a little slowly for Symon.

But, he gets there, sometime around the bottom of the first cup of coffee for the player.

"Yes, her name is Edrit. " She answers "And her House is..." A frown "give me a moment"

Brow furrow, listening and waiting.

"What's the one with the owl?" She asks

"Aesin. Like Doomwind."

"oh yes.. she's Aeesin. Lots of nordic blood up there I hear. "

A small frown. "I know the chief likes her jousting buddy, but aren't they a house that generally sees common gits as servants at best, trash underfoot at worst?"

"They're supposed to be like that. but rumor is she's nicer than most... she was gifted something from the dreaming, lots of Eshu talk" Almost apologetic because relying on ESHU is iffy "That when she took up the County crown, the dreaming itself offered her a boon... and she called out for something that would help make her a better ruler to all her people and then... the dreaming answered and gave her.. something. What I don't know. But she started showing more empathy for commoners than was normal"

"Normal for her house"

"scriff!" Bilbo wags "Scriff huff!"

An eyebrow. "Okay, yes Bilbo. Dogs are good for empathy. We are going to get you home to Edrit."

"If someone is gunning to take rule and this Edrit is in the way, getting rid of her boon that helps would be a smart move."

"Or seeking to push her one way or the other, if not unseat her?"

LIly says "Can I come with you, or is this a wilder only thing?"

He exchanges a glance with Dagmar. "Might help us with an 'in'. Organizing a playdate."

"But, it's Dagmar's quest so her say goes. If she says no, no sneaking after us." He warns Lily.

"If she told you no, you'd probably follow her anyway" Lily says a bit fussy

"That's different." A smug look.

"This might be too dangerous for childlings..."

Childling huff "Okay. But don't forget the grave rubbings. Oh, and do you want to know here the holds are?"

"Yes please?"

"O Wise Sage of Tender Years, please let fall the droplets of wisdom, that we may absorb thy knowledge." He says, trying not to roll his eyes. But, inwardly, proud. She's not giving anything away for free!

A prim nod at this, "The baron, if you go to his place, rules in.. a maniscript mueseum? Karples? Something like that"

"Karpeles? I saw it when I was researching Duluth. I figured it might have a fae tie-in. If only to protect the stuff there from dross hunters."

He explains to Dagmar, "TONS of original manuscripts, signatures, and the like."

"Oh... sluagh stuff. Cool."

"The Countess rules further outside the city.. kind of... the Minnesota North Shore Scenic drive area? "

"Not just. They have the first baseball card, some original music scores, and lyrics, even ancient ship models. I think anyone could find something worth looking at there... or stealing." He says, face buried in his phone for a moment as he researches.

"I bet they have good security, is what I'm getting at." He clarifies.

"Liams too" she says "Liams help protect the maniscripts" She ponders "Baron August would love that place"

"Or Frank?"

"Maybe, not sure how much he's ihnto scribing?" Lily says "I'm sorry I don't know where on the scenic thing the Countess hold is exactly. Could be a long search"

"Well, I bet Bilbo can help."

Wag wag! Home home! Wiggle

"Exactly, yes. And if you were a boon from the Dreaming, there's probably some juju magic bond."

"Scruff!" Bilbo observes

Lily shudders at the cuteness. Yes, best Bilbo be banished back home. Anything past Connor cuteness is intolerable

"On to the next step, I guess." He nods to Lily. "Thanks."

"Detroit!"

"You're most welcome, ' Lily says primly "Oh, if anyone asks, I'm at school"

Brow.

The trod awaits, you have to jiggle the left toilet handle three times , but don't flush or you'll go somewhere else. Or so says the writing on the bathroom wall

"No clouds, so..." jiggle jiggle jiggle.