#odyssey

Symon is not a chess player, that much is clear. The gambits and know strategies are absent from his library of game lore. But, he is pretty smart, and catches on quickly. While he is unlikely to win a single game, by the time Mitra tires of his company, he may have given her a few clever offsets!

And he welcomes the distraction.

Mitra says "You're a quick learner" A compliment, even as she destroys him

"You gotta think on your feet when you're a dungeonmaster." A blink. "Not literally, I don't have a dungeon." yet... "But I run games for friends and some dreamers. Sometimes they decide to completely upend your plans. A random encounter with a goblin that you thought they'd slay? Instead they take up his cause to free his homeland from kobolds which is why the Goblin tribes have been encroaching on human lands." A shrug. "Improv is key."

"One can never anticipate how PCs will jump, not fully yes" She nods "Back up plans help, but of course, trust is key as well. That doesn't come easy to either your kith our my House. That's why you impress me"

He is surprised! "You play? I thought it was just for... you know... basement nerds who can't socialize properly outside of a dungeon screen. and you're..." He just gives a vague gesture. Complimentary, but without the words.

"Still a wilder, I was in it before it became popular again...thank you ."

"It takes a certain sort of class for someone who is... societally acceptable.. to delve into the games we play on the outskirts. Without judgement." He seems impressed.

"You're assuming House Eiluned is socially acceptable?" Amused "oh we are I suppose, sidhe houses re the very definitions of exclusive clubs in a lot of ways. But Eiluned isn't trusted by nature. We're considered secretive without sharing secrets in return, and ... well, we have views on Truth and honor that are more varied than some others.. most others in fact"

"Sluaghs can fit that bill too. Worse, we aren't just secretive, we're lurking in the shadows stealing your secrets."

"Oh yes... and you suffer for your efficiency. " She agrees "That's why I said you impressed me. You've earned the trust of a Gwydion, more than one if what I hear is right. Pillar of the Mountain may seem like a needless title that draws attention... but it also shows you have an entire troll lodges trust. Some of them of VERY Seelile houses. You are, whether you intended it or not, an influencer"

"I can't figure it out. The harder I try to stay out of trouble, the more people keep lookin' for me." He honestly seems baffled.

"Could blame Da'an" She says "or maybe someone fair or foul fortuned you, depending on how you view it" She looks him over with kenning

He tries not to fidget under the scrutiny. Feeling a bit like a bug under a microscope.

Then she says "I don't ken any such thing on you mind" She says "Maybe you've just gained a reputaiton for efficiency. I dont' reccomend screwing up on purpose just to shake it"

He nods. "The only bunk I had done on me that I know of was a fair fortune before I went in and almost bungled things at Dry... at Bright Winds."

He smiles. "I'd love to hear more about the interesting... nunnehi, or would they be gallain? You have here. If you're at all interested in a first-hand account of what went down in Texas recently..."

"You're trading in common comidity" She looks amused "Siv Waveborne, Lady Captain was involved, yes?"

"Ah, true." A sigh. "Did she beat me here? My quest travels have nothing on hers."

"She's the younger sister to my liege. " She remidns "And she , unlike Countess Jessica, is a talker"

"Of course, now i know what sluagh aided her... but that's obviously a freebie slip so.." She sets the board again

"Shame. I started learning about different kithain I never knew existed when I visited Charm's Koreatown. I wanted to add some more intel to that list, especially about those..." Vague description of flayed men.

"But, Charm is an Eilunid holding, so I'm sure you have all that information."

"I would access to it," But she does not sound sure

"It's intersting. I've wondered if the visual simularities between Feathered Serpents... Coatl, was it? And Asian draconids was just coincidence, or possibly shared a similar dream-root."

"Dragons and serpents are very primal dreams yes, with many varations. Sadly I don't know as much about the flayed men as I'd like they are very secretitive.. but I have taken notes. What could you tell me of Charm's Korea town that would be worth a peek at those notes?"

"Telling you what I could tell you would be telling." He points out with a smile. "They're secretive and asked that we don't spread their information widely... but from one secret collector to another, I figured you're probably safe enough."

"Flattering, and i see you're making me gamble on this... " She ponders then walks over to a desk, opens up the secret hatch..cleawrly not that big a secret, but a stylistic touch, and pulls out a thin booklet. She hands it over "Page 5-7.. read it. Then .." She slides some blank paper over to him "I want at least two pages worth of what you've learned. Bargain?"

He grins. "This is a gamble too, you could be handing me a leaflet the mormons left on your doorstep." Amused, he accepts with a nod, and starts by studying over the Booklet.

When done, true to his word... he writes an interesting few pages on Doekkabi. He starts with the one he encountered in chimera form (not sharing the mischievous bugger's name), speaks of the draconic meins of the Asian kithain he had seen, the one that may or may not have been a boggan-kin, and how both the chimeric nature of the Asian true dragons there was also echoed in the variations of those that claimed the doekkabi title. A suspicion that it may not be a single kith at all, but maybe more akin to the nunnehi people? Further research required.

"I'll confess," She says glancing over "I think you got the better end of the deal but this is certainly enough for me to learn more with investigation of my own."

"If we come back to battle for one of those other treasures, maybe we could talk about the prodigals we've met... and fought."

"You're a versed young man" She says "Perhaps. But your friend will be seeking you out soon I think"

Dagmar, brawny arms braced beneath her weapon, brow soaked with sweat...

Chess. CHESS! He moves a rook, endangering one of the bishops. "I don't suppose you'd hint as to one of those other treasures might be - you know, to know if it's worth another fight?"

Well, by now her armor got a cleaning and she had tiem to shower

But.. her in a shower...

She raises a brow "You want another? I'm relcutant. Sluagh do not pretend that information is not just their chief desire, it's their stock in trade. I'm trying to discourage thieves, not that you would ever, but others having bought the information might"

"I'm just curious as to whether they might be prizes of worth to me or mine. I won't pass the information on to..." his expression wrinkles a bit. "Treasure seekers."

"I figure, if I do tell anyone, it would be someone to come and challenge. More blood for your pit... you win."

"I don't steal from friends or those worthy of respect. And your Abuela definitely falls into the latter."

"Yes, well," She says "Some of the treasures are rather, incomplete, such as the map piece. That makes them worth less, though not worthless, to those who don't plan to seek out the whole thing. There's a helmet broken into three pieces . We have one. A master smith with skill and heatherbalm could fashion it whole. It allows strategic insight in a fight, or in a war. I've thought about going after that one myself, but Sayda says it'll make a great quest for when she's a wilder." A smile "Yes, Abuela does. A mortal woman turned Chimerical. It's been known to happen but it's so rare"

"Could you tell me about this little guy? I suppose I should leave him with you. Or at least, in Renaissance. He may not like the Bergen climate." A stroke down the ghostly scales.

"I've seen them around, ghost serpents some call them. They hunt, and they kill weaker Chimera...and the generate a kind of.. revulsion in most folks ... just like mortall snakes do for most people.. and, just like their mortal counterparts, there are always those folks who do not feel revulsion or fear, but fascination. This one has a bit of Autumn and spring both in it... but that fits in with one of the more common glamour motiffs of the area. Sacrifice is required for things to keep going. The venom is the most amazing things. From what I hear, properly distilled, it's quite a peyote like trip, bring forth visions of insight, the future, and dangers you could not normally see. Just raw..well, you freak out and die... this thing kills other chimera, but it often inspires a burst of glamour from it's victims that anyone can pick up by doing so. It arguably creates just a bit more glamoru than it takes. Seems to be intelligent for a serpent chimera. I swore it talked to Abuela"

DAGMAR might have a bit of a crush, or at least admiration. Amazon is easy going and warm, carefree, and yes, good looking if you're into strong (literally) women. And ye she claims she's not the toughest female satyr around "That would be Delphine, she's a bad ass. Works as a bouncer, bodyguard, and just all around asskicker. She and I have had some clashes... but truth. I love the crowds more than she so I'm more of a mainstay. whiel she works with the Countess"

"Yeah? For all she's my cousin, I don't see her much. This place seems kinda unseelie for Jessica..." Dag is up to her chin in bubbles.

"The Countess is your cousin? Huh! Wow. "Amazon blinks "I didn't realize. Gee, you could have come in here throwing that around and you didn't. " A grin "You're all right. And yeah it leads unseelie, but then, duels of honor are pretty bloody, as are ones of repayment...and Mitra would never admit to being a sentimentalist, but she sees Beauty in fine sword play so.. .. either can fit in. It's the ones who don't know or understand the thrill of battle who often get freaked by it. The Pitt is the Fenix's angry sister... but they're also a weird love between them i'm gold. Only the holders themselves could verify. The Countess has fought here before, to parley with the Nunnhi. The think this is a sacred place. I mean, all holds are, but this one especially. Fine with us, we'd rather them stab us in the ring than raid at midnight right?"

"Adopted. I'm adopted."

"And yeah, a friendly battle is good. I had fun."

"Doesn't mean you couldn't have come in here all 'I am the Cousin to your Countess, treat me like a queen you plebes' but you didn't" She nods "Some jerks would have"

"Yeah, well..." She shrugs.