#kc_necropolis

The man who stands is not, in fact, a giant anthropomorphic rooster - because that is not how Pooka work. But he does have a glorious plume of red hair that resembles a rooster comb, and a feathery cloak - or tail feathers? Perhaps both! There is a definite avian cast to his features.

The bog-whatsit scowls, and mutters, backing away. Something about, "Ain't no score worth tangling with that'un..."

The Dougal realizes that if the bogwhatzit is acting like THAT, maybe this pooka did him a favor. And if this is a joke? Well, Sidhe Birthrights help, and if not he can take a lump. "Hello, good pooka. My name is Hume. " A lower voice "Thanks for the warning?"

"Warning? Well I never. Hardly ever! Alan A- Dale, wandering minstrel , at your service." A flourishing bow.

"But after all, you know that. You're here to meet me, I hear." A glitter of amusement in his eyes.

Sheepishly, the Dougal says "I guess I must have, Alan. Otherwise I'm not being a very good Dougal. We're supposed to be honest. " A beat "Can I buy you a drink for your trouble?"

"Oh, trouble is it? I hear they have that down in River City." But he does slide onto a stool next to the sidhe lad.

"Trouble in Earthrunes actually, it's this nice area in Jefferson City, Mo. We've got a problem that is bird related and folks thought maybe a pooka of Avian persuasion could help us. I 'm a computer guy, so tracking crows is not my forte, but there's this sick one... and it's been cursed or bespelled to spread a horse illness"

"Well whooaaa there, youngster. Snitches get stitches, and birds of a feather flock together. Then again, a wound might not rightly heal without a stitch or two, and a stitch in time saves nine. Pooka are rightly associated with horse-sense, by the by, and it would do me well perhaps to aid in a murder investigation, though I am no Sherlock, that one being a Fox, mind you, though I did know a fox once, finest fellow around, even if tending to a touch of thievery now and again. Fox and cocks, cockerel, that is, and though I might be given to doggerel, every dog has its day.""

"Well, I'd be grateful if you, or any other avian pookas that could help us track a sick crow did so. It's cursed and going to hurt cows as well as horses I suspect. It's infected the Baroness Coradel's favorite fae steed, Samson. It's not just a pet to her. She cares for that horse. A LOT. Miss Zara has us wearing red and silver for protection against the magic side of the plague. She's a sluagh by the way, a genius even if she's into hard copy. Me? I think my programs can help find the outter limits of 'as a crow flies' but this isn't my normal strong point so I'm not wanting to mess this up. Not with Samson's big equine life on the line. "

"Miss Zara, you say? Why, I know her name well. Well enough to know that its one that not to go into any of my verses. I don't know rightly that I can help, but I am glad to do what I may, to find this feathered Delilah which has shorn the poor steed."

"Well, I feel like an idiot" Hume admits "I should have remembered Roosters are birds too. Look, If you help us, I can help you in Tech support, set up ways to record your music if you want , or just get you state of the art smart phone or whatever. The Baroness and I had a lot of trouble getting each other figured out and first, but after a while... well, she's apparently COUNTING on me and I hate to let her down."

He puffs up a bit, looking offended. "Well twist my arm, that I'd twist yours for payment. Foul play, is not fowl play. Let me help, if I may, and perhaps a song shall be penned about mine OWN self, for once."

"Any help is welcome, Alan, and thanks" he offers his hand "I hope your song is a banger worth crowing about." he tries for a pun and hopes it works

He gets a wide and genuine grin. "Let's shake a leghorn, then. To the scene of the crime? Let's see if there are any wing tracks to be followed."

"You are formerly my guest at Earth Runes then, Alan. I'll see to it you get a cozy room while you work. We have two troubadours but I'm sure they won't mistake this as replacing them"

"oh ho? And what if I am?" A mischievous grin.

"Well, I... would probably make an enemy of a Boggan and a satyress then for bringing you over" he admits "But it's the baroness' call"

"If there's one thing I've heard hanging around these parts, it's never to run afoul of a boggan and a satyress working in tandem." He responds, gravely.

"Oh I'd try to protect you" he says assuringly "I'm just saying Troubadour may vnot be open if you're truly interested"

"Well, well, we'll just see." A jovial pat on the shoulder for Hume. "Shall we?"

"Certainly" he says and rises "I'll show you the way"

And the Dougal admits "So glad I met you. Alan. I was really nervous about this place. Bad Rep."

"You should be, who knows what sort of folk you might run into?"

"Guess every place has its good and bad. Oh, you will probably love the gardens... " And to the trods they go

He glances sideways at a boggan who has just risen from a booth as 'Sympathy for the Devil' plays on the jukebox, grinning as they head into the trods and away!

(End Scene)