#rivervale_lodge

She chews on her lower lip.

"Indeed? Is it anything you are comfortable sharing?" Brekke seems comfortable with the topic, and addresses Gerd as an adult.

"Well, mostly it's I've not felt the impulse as strongly to 'cleanse' myself... was a time I felt like food was something 'bad' or I was bad... or both.. and that if I ate I had failed...there's some psychological terms but to be honest? I can't even pronounce them all. My therapist doesn't think I'll need medication...which is a relief. I'd prefer to do without if possible."

Gerd notices Dagmar chewing on her lower lip, "Uhm.. if my talk about it bothers anyone we can talk about the weather or bands or something?"

"No. It's okay."

"Mm. Medication has its place, sometimes, but better to avoid it if possible, yes." A look to Dagmar, and a nod. "Or...the dragon. You are both aware that Siv has contacted several lodges. They are on alert."

"Oh, right. Halloween. But you're going to lead us through it." Blithe, easy confidence.

A furrowed brow, and an uncomfortable silence.

"Maybe we can find a treasure?" Optimistic!

Gerd nods "I heard"

"Hm. People are searching ancient texts for clues to such tools and weapons. Perhaps they will find something."

Gerd sighs "Times like this I wish Vegard was still alive... I..." She stops "Wait. Maybe he can help"

"Well, maybe Vali?" She shrugs.

A blink. "Vegard can help? Gerd...."

"I'm ready to fight, or treasure hunt, or anything..."

"Vegard's been in my head since around the togail... I guess you can call it remembrance or a past life tie... before I got almost nothing... but remember I said 'that old man' was... whispering and such ..as if trying to protect me? "

"So maybe he knows something? Cool."

Gerd looks to Dagmar and smiles "If we find a treasure that can help I bet you get considered to fetch"

"Yes...it is louder than a whisper, now?"

A nod. "Dagmar, I expect you will likely be of help in this."

"Just a whisper, but sometimes when I talk to him.. lately, he can get louder. I think.. If I .. I'm not sure meditate is the word.. but if I ask for his help maybe I'll get it?"

She beams. "Right!"

"It is worth a try, yes. Unless...you do not feel this endangers you in anyway, correct, Gerd?"

"I don't think it would hurt me no... here... let me try."

SHe closes her eyes and says "Come on, Old man... you're half of me... be useful."

Snort/grin at Gerd.

Brekke focuses seriously on Gerd. She murmurs, "Vegard...if you have a way of helping...."

Gerd gasps... her eyes roll back into her head and faints falling towards the ground

Brekke, alert and focused, catches her before she can hit the ground.

And that's when the seemingly comatose girl speaks "Young lady? that you?" the wilder's lips move, and yes, that's Gerd's voice, but hanging in the air.. the echo is that of an old man she knew well

Dagmar STARES.

A bit of a catch in her breath, but only slightly. She seats Gerd carefully on the ground and supports her. "Elder Vegard. Yes. No longer so young, though."

"Mmmph, you and frank are cubs yet to this old soul." A chuckle, then "There's trouble, isn't there? The young girl never pushed like this before."

"There is. And I do not want to tax her, though I would gladly speak to you for a good, long time. Vegard...we have word that Skallshrike attacks again."

"I can see why you'd search every cranny you can. How long do you have before Skalstryke comes? Do you know?"

"Three new moons. The third is shortly before Samhain."

"Skallstryke can only be killed by trolls... that's why he targets them, tries to slay them... drink in their strength" Gerd's lips flutter open, the second voice slightly out of sync "He's storing up his strength in the Dreaming..the last part. He's attacking on Samhain because it's a point of high power for him...I'm afraid Frank and others will have to do most of the leg work but I can tell you this: You have to strike first...seek him out into the Dreaming where he builds for his last great leap. You can only reach him if you go to the Lodge he plans to hit next.. and enter the near Dreaming from there. Lastly, you're going to need A mountain, a Storm, and a Hearth... and each will need a weapon made for dragon slaying.... a bane weapon. Well, that's the last I know of.. there maybe more... but.. that's the extent of my lore"

"So we have to hit him before he's ready? Snart."

Brekke has listened intently, and nods. "Find out which Lodge he hopes to strike, attack him from there. A Mountain, a Storm, and a Hearth. Bane weapons. We must find these."

"Or have them made if anyone knows the way... I'm sorry young lady...but I have to go now... girl has her own life to lead.. and I am just a stubborn bundle of memory's echos... tell Frank I've seen enough through her eyes to know he's doing right."

"Is Speaker a bane-weapon?"

"Oh, Vegard. She is doing you proud, and you are missed. I will tell him."

Brekke does not answer Dagmar yet, not while Gerd is still in the throes of this...whatever it is.

"She's a good kid... they all are... you're guiding them well... Vali is ..." the girls eyes flutter open... and she looks confused as she wakes. Vegard gone again, "What happened?"

"You were possessed!"

"He was supposed to ADVISE Me.. not pull a horror movie act" The girl says offended

"Pushy."

Brekke is still supporting her, and she takes a deep breath before she speaks. "He gave us good information, Gerd. And a lot of it. We still need more, but we have a better starting place, now."

"My mouth tastes like pipe smoke. YUCK."

"We're gonna go find bane-weapons!"