#salmon-duchy-lands-aka-alaska

"Iron Paladin?"

"Well, they're said to be a secret society but I regret to inform you, there is rot beneath the griffin wings." He sighs, "No one is sure when the Iron Paladins first gathered but they have become a secret force within the House. Though they at first glance appear to retain the honor of the House, they violate the Escheat and the code of chivalry with their lack of mercy. They are unseelie legacy fallen, but Their enemies remain those of the whole House and each knight still considers him or herself a Gwydion first and foremost, warring against the Unseelie houses as always, but their methods have changed; becoming dark and reprehensible to the rest of the House. " A frown on his face. "They take unseelieness as a weapon to use for zealotry."

"But... but even Unseelie, most of them - the Escheat is for all of us."

"Like Dagda."

"The Code of Dagda is a wise thing, and I wissh we sidhe had it at times. But the Iron Paladins believe the ends justify the means"

"Fortunately, they are few"

"Too many, sounds like."

"In my view? Were one out of a thousand only a member, it would be too many" Snow mantle drawls "Miserable cusses."

"I know plenty of good unseelie. But then we get the ones who are like... assholes about it. OooOOoo, I'm an eeeeeeevil Unseelie, blah bleh blah."

"I see you've encountered Balor" Snowmantle chuckles at her impression "It's obnoxious when you run into an unseelie like that. They mock Seelie as too uptight or goody good, but their.. what's the term 'eddgelord?' that edgelord attitude is even more pretentious."

"Yeah. They're a lot. But, like, Ailil are more..." Hand-wave.

"Divas."

"Heh. You have good insight, yes, Ailil proudly claim to be natural leaders, but remembe what I said about not using Yes men? Ailil forget that wisdom, and that is why Gwydion are better lords. We hear the truth even when it's unpleasant"

"We have our flaws, too."

"Temper being the greatest of them, probably."

"Oh yes, though the younger generation is more moved by ... well, to an angry old falcon like me it seems some Gwydions become focused on well, getting their honor back , justice.. even if it can be a bit petty. I almost prefer we who risk rage"

"Trolls have a deep well of anger, too. Long fuses." She shrugs. "Lots of overlap, I guess."

A nod "But trolls also can be the soul of honor, which Gwydions value."

"One reason your kith has been secondonly to sidhe in our numbers"

She nods.

"Sometimes I wonder how this old soul became one of you." A wry grin.

"I was a knight first. And not a Falcon, not then."

The Gwydion's mustache looks amused "The Dreaming loves a mystery."

She huffs.

"It's hardly fair. I remember a lot from other lives."

"Check the records" He suggests

Her eyebrows furrow.

"Because... because there aren't that many trolls, not really. And if it wasn't before the shattering, it would have to be after the Resurgence?"

"I suspect so. House Gwydion keeps track, as best it can, of ALL knightings of commoner kith or all inductions into the House. We're too proud of our ranks not too. House Liam often helps us with such. SOMEwhere there is a mention of a troll knight swearing to the house for the first time who was a past life of yours."

"Huh."

"Glitterdwell might have the lore or a Gwydion who knows how to get it."

"That Freehold is on the world tour list."

"Well, yes, I know I put it on your suggestion list" A grin under the mstache

Brow.

"Like, did Vali get a consultation?"

"He asked me about it, yes. Your mountain seems a fine fellow for a Beaumayn, but I notice he enjoys voluntolding people" A chuckle

"wee bit." Fond.

"Well, I do think you should visit it at least, or I'd not have suggested but I won't push too much. Frankly your visit here puts Baroness Shacklebreaker in a good mood from what I can tell. She's positively giddy.." HE adds deadpan "By troll standards"

"Yeah. It's nice seeing her."

They carry the boar towards the hold "Treasure it. You've given her a gift you know? We graybeards and grandames feel the weight of banality a little less when we see promising young wilders who fill us with pride. That is not meant to be pressure on you, merely praise."

"I hope she's happy here, is all."

"...I miss her, but I do want her to be happy."

"She and her husband have seemed to found serenity here, at the least and i SUSPECT they are happy, but your kith can be private about such so it is hard to insist on finding out"

"You look for the beard twitch."

"Well, i've never noticed the Shacklebreaker's beard, but as you say" Gentle humor as they get the food inside the freehold

A soft chuff of laughter. "Hers is much shorter."

A sidhe chuckle, "Noted." They enter the kitchen were two boggans and a troll look up with delighta t the boar.

"Looks like meat's back on the menu boys?"

"We got meat, but boar? Rarer here" THe troll smiles "Are the tusks claimed, Baron?" "The kill and claim on tusks goes to Dame Dagmar"

"HOw do you want it cooked, young lady?" Asks one of the bogans