#rivervale_lodge

Then Gerd chuckles and ruffle's connor's hair

"In my eyes, you do," Kerri assures Gerd. Then she looks out to the crowd. "A cheer for the Embers of the Hearth!"

Vali applauds loud "GERD! WOOOT!"

Others break into cheers. Clapping for the young boys.

Brekke gives a cheer, and Sylvi puts her fingers to her mouth to give a piercing whistle.

Cheering!

Nadeen agrees between cheers, "Connor has been worth his weight in welcome mats for a long time now"

Jack Flap hops on his hooves!

Kerri gestures for them to return to the crowd.

Adam cheers the kids on.

Symon has crept back up now that the bragging is over, though he still looks a little disconcerted by the cheers and lingers back away from the brunt of the noise.

...With an eye on easy escape dare anyone call his name.

As the applause dies down, Brekke turns to Frank. "Mountain," indicating that he is next.

Lily has moved near Symon ..hiding behind the larger sluagh. She doesn't have to say it. It's LOUD up there.

Frank steps forward. "As Mountain, tonight I ask Symon and Zane to come forward and be recognized."

A rumble, but it carries.

Dag shoots her friend a thumbs-up.

Zane looks.. stumped, then comes up.

"Be right back," Sylvi murmurs to Colton, and she slips over to Nadeen to whisper something.

The other wayburtons quiet.

Symon scowls, hesitating. ...but he creeps up to the stage. He would glare at Frank, but... Frank is Big. So he glares at the crowd instead.

Kerri smiles at Zane as he approaches, then looks around for Symon.

And at the floor.

...and smiles reassuringly as he arrives.

And maybe even at Frank's feet.

Nadeen nods at something said

And Lily motions with a whisper to Symon 'go on. they'll be quieter if you get close and that will help me" Ah, he's taught her enlightened self interest.

Sylvi returns to Colton's side, grinning as she squeezes his hand.

Frank speaks quietly. "Both of you has shown promise in the use of our Arts. More than that, you have used your Arts to help others of Rivervale and beyond. You have helped to make this land stronger, our connection to the Dreaming stronger. And you have done this without being asked. Thank you for your help. Tonight, I call you Pillars of the Mountain." He offers them each a single bracer, with an engraved mountain on the face. Inside the mountain, a pillar holds up the peak. A blue stone rests at the base of each pillar.

He accepts the item, looking it over appraisingly. "Maybe I can be a pillar that dwells deep in the mountain where the dwarves should dare not to delve..." A whisper only caught by Zane, perhaps the mountain if his ears are keen enough.

Brekke applauds, as does Kerri. Clapping but not shouting, out of deference to Symon's hearing.

Zane takes it, the normally easy going goat guy (When he's not in a satyr tiff) seems unsure what to make of it. He takes the bracer and.. puts it on, then smiles at Symon and elbows him very lightly but with a smile, then says "Thank you, Sir. I'll wear it with pride"

The wayburtons TRY not to yell, though Lydia kind of forgets to keep it down.

"AWRIGHT ZANE AND SYMON!!!" Adam celebrates.

Much applause throughout the crowd.

Anne Marie BEAMS with pride, "That's my boy... though you can bet none of us know half of the things he does"

An oof as he's prodded, and he slides a hand through the bracer... then up onto his upper arm, scrawny enough that it easily goes that far. And thus wears it, though out of sight. A wince at the cheers, but he gives a polite nod to Frank and the crowd.

Dagmar doesn't cheer, but she IS grinning up a fool.

Frank nods gravely to both young men, and offers a massive hand shake.

Nadeen sighs "oh very well, he's useful. I said it. Put in the records." And she drinks as if to clear the admission out.

A glance shot to Dagmar - uh oh, she knows that look. She might be safe now, but she'd better hope that the dice are in her favor next time they play. Heavens protect against a DM with a grudge. Then, a small smile - just a hint.

As the boys return to the crowd....

Zane does return, fist bumping Adam "Dude.. I .. Pillar of the Mountain? this is.. this is boss"

"Better hope that the mountain has good structural engineering around it, because I'm not exactly load -bearing." A snicker to Zane, before returning to hang with Lily in the quieter zone.

"We already knew you were awesome, Dude."

Brekke steps forward. "I speak now as Storm, and tonight I would call forward three: Dagmar...Dirk...and Adam.

Connor has also joined her there, showing off his necklace with muted squeaks of excitement, but Symon does his best to ignore the intrusion.

Piper gapes in surprise, and pushes Adam up. "Go, gooo!"

Brow-furrow and she rises.

Adam staggers from the push and his utter surprise. Slowly, he approaches the Chief.