#rivervale_lodge

(Practice Ring) Olgar moves to hsi daughter "Our immediate family, and a few others, are going to be on homefront duty." He looks around to make sure no one is snooping, "The Chieftain and Mountain have received a call for a quest .. dangerous one. They're answering. We're holding the fort."

(Inside) Jaymes says "I promised you I'd shoot straight with you so here it is. I need you to be a thane in pretty much all but name while I'm out helping Frank and Brekke and some others. We're going to be half strength and you're needed here to make sure nothing harms the childlings and others"

Sylvi frowns. "We're...they're leaving us here? I can't go?? I don't understand...did I screw up somehow?"

"Helping... do what? What's happening? Where are you going?"

(Practice Ring) "Not the least." Olgar says . He hadn't expected her to take it that way "You've been great. ARE great. I love ya. It's that last is one reason you're staying, and I suppose I owe you an apology for that. Truth is we DO need you here, a diplomat, a go between, and yes, another set of muscle at times... as I can tell by those high kicks. You may end up being a diplomat to the others of this fief, let them know all is okay if need be. You have a gift with people and your mom will need to use that perhaps."

"Big fight" Jaymes says "in the Dreaming."

Jaymes continues "We're going to be low a lot of our warriors. We need you and flyswatter as a thane and guardian here at the lodge. This will help us if things go south for the rest of us"

Her brow furrows. "And I can't go because I'm not Sained."

"You're coming back, right?"

"You not being sained is part of it," Jaymes says "But I'm not lying to you when I admit I want you here. I want Tove protected. She will care for you, and you look out for her. While I'm gone."

"Who all is going?"

"I actually don't have the list, some DeBukes...theyr'e the ones who invited " Jaymes says "You and Sylvi are supposed to stay here I think. Nadeen can't go, same reason as you."

Sylvi listens. "I guess...the way you said it made it sound like something....I dunno, bad, I guess."

"....But you're gonna ocme back?"

"Do you know where they're going? And who else besides the Chieftain and Uncle Frank? Is Siv going?"

(the Ring) "It's bad because folks could die. " Olgar says "Or be made into slaves. I'd go myself if it weren't the chief asking me and your mom to stay behind. You're not the only one at home guard. Lots of DeBukes will be going..and yes I KNOW yo're a DeBuke as well as Davidson honorary speaking, but darn it, Davidsons get dibs"

(Inside) "I'm sure as hell going to try and leave a bloody trail if anyone tries to keep me from it" Jaymes says firmly to his daughter

"...Promise?"

"Of course that part's bad, Dad. I meant, bad, like you were ticked off at me about something. And...yeah, I'm not thrilled to be left out, but I get it. Need bodies here."

Jaymes suddenly wishes another parent were here, one like Frank who always seems to know what he's doing, then he says "People soemtimes die in battle, but ...I am the Ironhawk. One time in the Dreaming, that name meant something. It's to free slaves, Dagmar. To do the right thing. I guess, as crazy as it is to say, I have to say 'what would thor do? If this is Ragnorok, I still have to do what's right, and going to help these people is right. ANd you staying here, guarding the rainbow bridge so to speak? that's right too. We take risks. But I think I'm going to be ok. I have a daughter to live for you know?"

(Ring) Olgar grins a bit "SOrry... it's the face. ALso a part of me isn't happy about being benched either... i'm skirting some dangerous terriitory here. Just staying here. But they also serve those who stand and wait. "

She bites on her lower lip, amber eyes cloudy. "Please promise?"

"Frank says promises give us strength, right?"

"Dangerous territory? Staying here? I don't get it. This is home. What's dangerous about staying home?"

A deep breath, "Yes, but honey I can't promise not to die Ever. That's what youre asking, isn't it?"

(Practice Ring) "Passion before duty. Do you think my passions tell me to stay here and do the chief's way without complaint?" He aches a brow "This is dangerously seelie for me. And... then there's the ROver thing"

Her jaw juts out, hands clenching into fists.

He notices then "There is an oath I can take, and yes, it should make me stronger."

Sylvi gives her dad a knowing grin, then nods. "Okay, I can see that. But what do you mean about the Rover thing?"

(The RIng) Olgar says "Rovers swear to protect the lost and or weak on the roads they take. They dedciate themselves, bet it out of duty or pride, to this sacred task. WHat I Do.. is very much a large part of what I am. The Chief doesn't know it, but in some ways, she just asked me to lop off a foot. Now, I was already slowly moving away from that some.... but this ..abrupt. " A thoughtful look, "I don't think I qualify as Oathbroken.. yet. But it's at the edge."

"Strong enough to come home?"

Sylvi blinks at that. "Dad...wow. Did you...You've gotta tell her that. You've gotta."

Jaymes looks at his daughter "I am the Ironhawk, I am the Challenge that would not stay buried. I am he who witness Thyle's withering and its renewel. I am Basilisk Bane and Star Hunter. I think I'm already strong enough... but I'm humble enough to know fate doesn't like being mocked. It will make me stronger. Maybe increase my odds"

(Ring) "Rugmonster, Iv'e been dancing on the edge since you were a twinkle in my eye and a wiggle in your mom's hips..god she's got great hips... no I am not going to tell her this and neither are you. I'm not so in danger of falling Seelie that I can't work the angles of oaths. I got other ROvers assigned to tasks on my behalf...should work."

Her hands clench and unclench as she tries not to let the fear show. "You have to come back. TwoBit would miss you."

"Should? Dad, should isn't good enough. Can you...maybe...like, spend some time on the trods while everybody else is gone? That would be closer to the oath, right? Like, trods, but close to home?"

"And I would miss twobit, and tove, and most especially you." Jaymes says and takes her hand " Here. I can give you this much." And he intones, "As the last ray of the twilight defies the shadow, as the last echo of a battle cry carries in the hills, so shall I endure. With my shield or on it, in this life or another, I shall return to you to mend what I have rended, I shall make right what I have wronged. And I shall see that you are not alone. By Thunder's Honor, by Lightning's Glory, I so swear it. May I hear no music, be denied the sound of my name, should I shirk this endeavor"

Dagmar hears thunder rumble, and the balefire FLARES as if bearing witness

She bites on her lip again, and then, impulsively, latches on in a tight hug.

And Jaymes hugs his daughter fiercely "I love you too."

"I'll protect Tove. I promise."

(Ring) Olgar gives his daughter a look torn between defensive pride for himself, and a little in her "There's my schemer. Cunning and Guile are virtues in legend too. But your mother needs me. If they don't come back, she's got a lot to face. Oath of truehearts is kind of fussy about dude bailing then."

"But...wait...Dad, what exactly is your oath? The Rover one, I mean? Is it...forever?"

(Ring) "No no.. there's an oath you can take to retire. Otherwise it would be silly. We have a lot of Unseelie in our membership. That means we have a lot of common sense"

"So...so you either have to be on the Silver most of the time, or retire? Or you get oathbroken?"

"I know you will" Jaymes says "And I know you'll fight hard if you have to for the lodge and this fief. You are amazing, my daughter. And if I don't talk enough about it, it's just because your actions speak louder than my words. Dig?"

She swallows and nods. "Okay."

Jaymes says "Good, now what's this about you hogging the faster controller on the pirate game when Lupita is over?"

"Did not. Lupe is just too slow..."