#rivervale_lodge

The letter from Gerd is open to the Chief , Mountain, or Hearth, first come first read. It just flicker flahsed and dropped in

Kerri finds it first, grins, and opens it carefully.

Victory for the Hearth!

...and reads!

To the Elders of Rivervale, time here at Brightwinds has been a lot of no motion then zoom. It took a bit to see the Baroness at first, she's a busy woman. Then ...well, the backlash of the willows trods hit this area as well... the depictions of some of the fights look enough that Vali might be retroactively worried.... But Sparrow fights from the front, and well. After it had settled, we had a letter arrive from the Local Count who has ignored the Baroness mostly, but now DeMANDED half her tropes and knights. She..declined and sent volunters. i joined them. I think if this Fiona lord is the fop he appears, there maybe trolls here who would like to consider a carreer change

Kerri nods at the news of Sparrow as a strong leader...and then scowls at the Count's demands. Yes, she thinks Gerd's on the right side of this particular venture.

She nods and mutters to herself, "Rivervale, the troll finishing school." A shrug. "Why not?"

"Hmm..." Kerri considers for a minute, then takes a few minutes to sit and write her own letter in reply.

Footsteps while she writes

To Emissary Gerd Hornshield:
Hello, Gerd! I'm the only one who has seen your message so far. I'll make sure Storm and Mountain see it as soon as they come in.
I think you're absolutely right about the local Count. Be careful. Baroness Sparrow is playing the right cards, it seems, but the game is a complicated one. Keep your eyes open for any treachery against her. And by all means, share what it means to be a troll with those who have not had the opportunity to know it.
I think we would happily welcome young Ashblythe for a visit. As you imply, it might help her to meet Olgar, but it certainly wouldn't be a visit for that purpose only. Make the invitation on my behalf if you would, please.
Please do continue to send reports on your adventure. It sounds like you are doing exactly the work we need you to do. You are doing Rivervale proud!
Best wishes, Kerri, Hearth of Rivervale

She hears the footsteps as she's putting the final touches on her letter, and turns to see who it is.

Vali enters in' How goes, Hearth?"

"Vali! Excellent timing...we have a letter from Gerd." She passes it over to him, and then goes to the writing desk to use wax to seal her reply.

"We do? Hot damn" he reads it "She was so honored by the Emmisary job." he reads "oh boy. yeah, we kind of threw her into the muck there, but that seems to be for the best"

A slight frown as he reads about the Count

"Yes," she agrees, retaking her seat. "I think she's savvy enough to handle that terrain, and maybe even to advise the baroness well. I'm glad to hear that Lady Sparrow continues to be a friend to commoners."

"I like House Fiona fine, but sometimes they need more steel in their Silver"

and a nod seeing her write a letter "Ah, hearth? mind if I ask a question?"

"Mm? Of course, Mountain. What is it?"

"You appear to be writing a letter back to her. With Olgar not here to deliver it through the Rovers, and Gerd being the only who can flicker flash it, how are you going to deliver it to her?"

"That is the next challenge, yes. But I wanted to get the letter down while my thoughts were fresh from reading hers."

A nod "Good idea that. I think I'll write more than an Uncle than a mountain and leave the official angle more to you"

"Maybe I can catch Siv between adventures and see if she can use her ship to bring it. Of course, I don't know how much BrightWinds has in the way of open water."

"Yeah I'm not sure it has anything that close in great droves, at least not the summer" He ponders 'And Siv is out anyway. Off the patrol list so i guess on one of those adventures. Seems a lot of the wilders are out and about right now. Gerd, Dagmar, Siv, and some of the non trolls too. I do believe they mean to make the most of summer vakay"

"Well, big changes for some of them coming up. College."

A mix of emotions there

"And the nice thing about letters is that they capture a particular moment, but if they can't be delivered right away, they won't go bad; they'll keep. If it were something truly urgent, I'd text her."

Then a grin. "Sorry. My mind's a bit here and there, conversationally." She notes his expression. "Something wrong, Mountain?"

"I had a wilder take me to task a bit for being too pro college. I'm both amused and... at the same time i wonder if perhaps I do let my biases show. I DO let folks know they are my biases. i really do think a higher education is best for most. It opens the mind in a lot of ways"

"Well, that's what I hear, yes. If it's done right, it's supposed to open up possibilities."

"Apparently I should be given equal time to trade schools , no that's not fair, more just a reminder to make sure the path fits the person, which is totally good advice which I thought i was following anyway." a chuckle "Oh well. I can't help but be proud of Dagmar and Symon and Sylvi for giving it a shot."

"Which one was berating you about trade schools, if I might ask? Dirk?"

"Don't tell anyone I told you, I can't afford to break trusts lightly. However it does fall into Hearth territory so, out of respect... Piper. She wasn't mean about, but I did at the time think she was going into 'Karen' territory. But by the end of it, it was well. Odd. I couldn't get her back on the Academic side, but I'm actually proud for her too. PIper has come from wearing old wounds and deep scars to being aglow in her own ability. Credit I'd giv emore to Jonas and Siv than myself. But she does seem to feel she's speaking for the blue collar Fae"

A grin. "Piper is confident about her choices and the life she's living, and I like that about her. Her way won't work for everybody, but it's working for her, and more power to her."

"Agreed" He nods "I hope her quest goes well"

"Are she and Siv on the same quest? It's hard to keep track of the wilders these days."

"No, PIper has gotten Dagmar with her , Siv is.. harder to read for me but she took her ship"

"Dirk actually visited Silverwolf"

He is writing his own letter

"Silverwolf? Dirk? I have been out of the loop. What on earth did he want up there?"

"I don't know, but that's where he went," he says "I hope it was by invitation, becuase he is NOT who I would send as a diplomat"

"Not my first choice for that task, no. But...I haven't heard any outraged threats on behalf of Baron Aiden, so Dirk must be doing things right so far. Or keeping them hidden."

"You know when the Chief gave him a chance as the peacemaker bit, i was really nervous it was going to go south"

"Mm." She shrugs a bit. "It could have. But people will often do amazing things when you give them clear expectations and treat them as if they have value."

"Dirk definitely started thriving when he started getting treated like a person. I'm absolutely grateful he's with us."

"Credit to your daughter there. I think it was Sylvi who saw first he could be more than a bully," A nod

"Speaking of your daughter" Amused, "I have, thanks to Anne Marie, some gossip about her latest goings on, and her permission to tell you about it."