#rivervale_lodge

Gerd raises a brow

Zane says "oookay?"

"Okay, you know the Farm is a good place, but you know that some folks on it are a little...um...troll-centric?" She offers the term almost apologetically.

"LIL Bit" Zane nods "And I like em but yeah"

"Yeah.."

"Right, so...cultural immersion via cookies. Maybe being something other than a troll for a day will get them to see things differently."

Dirk says "wouldnt it be cool if they ALL became redcaps? There would be blood in the wheat, brains in the corn. it would be..awesome"

Lucia says "oh wow. " A pondering "Maybe I should get two for my parents. Theyr'e so 'oh no boggans always' ... or is that petty?"

"I don't think so."

"Well, I don't know how many will be available, and the priority is for the Farm. That's the mission. If Chieftain Clem can spare some from what we get, that's up to her."

"Right. I'll. ah..resist the gossip urge" Lucia says miming a cross of her heart

"So...okay, where we're going is the Astonisharium. It's a Lughnasad market in the Dreaming, and it's up for all of August, but it's hard to find. We have to find a side path off the Silver. Dad told me how, and I'll show you. Once we find it, we'll have to move fast because the path disappears as you walk it, but it'll bring us right to the market."

"I'm not positive we'll find the cookies there, but I think it's a good bet."

"Astonawhat now?" Dirk says

"Um...one last thing." She looks hesitant. "Dirk, I couldn't get Mom to loan us the cauldron. It's too valuable to the Barony to risk it getting lost in the Dreaming. Maybe if we were going to war that would be different, but...I couldn't really tell her what we're doing, so...." A sigh. "She packed some extra rations, but we might end up having trouble."

"Relax.. if I get too hungry I'll hunt a rabbit or something" Dirk grins

Floppsy says "Not funny, not funny"

"Okay....then...any last questions before we get going?"

Zane says "Uhm.. when we hit the Astonishaarium, are we staying as a group, or scattering out to find what we're looking for?"

"Maybe we have buddies?"

"Good plan. So, buddy up. That'll help on the Silver, too. When we get to the market, buddies fan out and spend an hour shopping and trying to get a lead on the cookies, and then meet back up at the first shop we saw when we arrived. Make sense?"

"Do not cut any deals about cookies until we have a chance to meet up again and discuss."

"Works for me" ZAne says

"Sensible" Gerd says

"Sure." A glance at Symon, eyebrow of inquiry.

He nods back, and a thumbs up.

"Okay, so...pair up. There's seven of us, but I can pair with Floppsy, or one group can be three people."

"Or I can choose," she offers.

Lucia says "Hey, I'm hoping to be with you, Sylvi. "

Grunt, nod. "Me and Symon."

A grin to Lucia. "Sounds good."

"And that leaves Gerd and Zane and Dirk as a group. Okay?"

"Sounds good. If Dirk gets hungry, he can eat one of them and still have a partner." He whispers, only loud enough for Dagmar.

"Works."

Gerd shrugs "Fine by me"

"Okay. So we're going to start on the bridge that leads to the Farm. Before we go, any last workings or plans?" She looks around the group again.

"Yeah.." Dirk says, then looks to Symon "This fae market could get weird. No selling your soul for power." A pause "no selling MY soul for power" He adds. "And you know what? If you think about selling a soul you gotta get approval from the group or atl east Sylvi. Got it?"

Symon curses softly - for amusement, of course.

"And I lugged these souls all this way."

"Good plan. Everybody got that? We come back with our souls."

She looks amused.

Symon notes that they didn't say anything about BUYING souls, and smirks.

"Okay, then...let's go." And she and Lucia lead the group to the bridge trod.

...and into the Dreaming.

And off they go!

(to the Dreaming room when it resumes)