#rivervale_lodge

"An awkward position in what?" Brekke asks as she comes in the front door from patrol and catches the tail end of that comment.

"If need be, I..." Sir Carowyn rises to bow to the Chieftain

Then a nod. "Lady Sparrow. Sir Carowyn."

Frank stands and nods, his beard shifting. "War counsel. Join us?"

"Mm." The intonation of you started without me? She goes to fill a mug as a matter of course, and then settles in her seat by the fire. "Please tell me what you have so far."

((Assuming they do....))

(And they does!)

(Third time's the charm!)

(AT least reassurance it is NOT BillBill...)

"Pearl River...." she muses, then nods. "We have Lake Tappan. Can approach from there if we think they may be watching the roads. Do we think they know they have been detected?"

"I don't think so..."

"It's a textiles factory - the regular workers were furloughed."

"But it is still producing."

"Mm." A nod. "I suspect...there is likely ample sewer and storm drain access for some to get from lake to inside without being detected."

"Some who are not so large, that is."

"My gut says a surprise raid, get them all out at once... then work on getting them to safety. Avoid the slavers, avoid the mortal cops..."

"Do we know if the slavers are mortal or fae?"

"Baroness," Sir Carowyn says, then specifies, "Baroness Truthbranch, would it help to cut the power?"

"Or a mix?"

"A mix. The leaders are fae - down in Tijuana."

"Cutting the power might cause a lot of chaos..."

A grim look at the mention of Tijuana, but she merely nods.

"If the power goes out, they may expect a raid. Gather and hide their slaves...or worse." A narrow look. "Or perhaps...hm...."

"If we cut the power and do nothing else, we might be able to identify their actions for such a situation...so we would know what they would do with the workers. Then cut the power a different day when we know where the workers will be kept."

"Mmph. If the slavers here are mortal, do we not want the mortal authorities to take them?"

"Yes, but not until the slaves are gone."

"A chance that one of the kithian leftenants might also be visiting from what you've shared. But not likely. So we'll be risking guns... how are we for bullet proof vests?" The knight of the bannerhouse asks

"Do we have a sense of how many workers there are?"

A brow at the notion of bullet proof vests, and she looks to Frank.

Frank shakes his head. "Bullet proof vests, and tactical gear.... not something I have connections for."

"I can use sovereign on groups of mortals... not ideal, but it can help keep things from total chaos."

A pause, then he gives Brekke a married look.

A brow at that look, a slight nod. Then to Sparrow, "That...I can see the usefulness." Some discomfort at that admission.

An agreeing grunt.

"I know. Not ideal."

"But if protocol keeps guns in holsters..."

"Yes. Useful."

"Protocal might mean they shoot intruders on sight" Sir Carowyn says "Begging your pardon. ...but their rules might have a say"

A furrowed brow. "That is a point. Could you command them to stand down?"

"THat would work, Dictum is powerful and the Baroness is skilled " look of respect to Sparrow "pardon, I speak out of turn."

"I can dictum them, yes."

"And I can also bar the entryways..."

"Ward them?" Eyebrow.

She nods.

"The only thing I can't do is a geas... "

"Hm...should we enchant the slaves? Gerd might be able to help transport them quickly."

"Hard to enchant that many - more effective to invoke the wyrd."

"Gerd's barely past childinghoood isnt' she?" A concerned look from Carowyn

Frank frowns.

"If we must engage with the Right of Ignorance at all....."