To Steal Friendship

Dirk has invited all his friends to supper at his cozy little cabin out in the woods. Located a couple hours ride from Alexandria proper, it's tucked within a ring of tall, mighty oaks. The snow shrouds the land in glittering crystal and pure cottony white. Here and there, one can spy a deer picking its way through the snow, or a white-furred fox scurrying through the bare shrubs. It's peaceful and idyllic, even despite the chilly temperatures.

But the cabin itself is anything but chilly. Though snow covers the shingles in a snowy blanket, hearty firelight can be seen through the windows. A wisp of smoke curls its way up from the stone chimney, and the scent of savory beef stew can be noticed on the wind.

And of course, it's impossible to miss Dirk's presence. The hearty old snowbeard is singing merrily as he bustles about the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on a heartily dwarven meal--the aforementioned beef stew, ladled into crusty sourdough bread bowls and topped with bubbly cheese. There's a freshly tapped keg of mead on offer, as well as a bottle of fine golden llyranesi wine. Lulu perches on a hand-carved stoop in the corner, busily preening her feathers. But as people begin to approach, she perks her little head up with a hoot.

Dirk looks over his shoulder from where he's bringing a delicious chocolate cake out of the oven. "Och, they're here!" He sets the cake atop the stove and doffs his baking mitts, trundling over to the door and opening it wide. "Come in, everyone, come in! Supper's ready!" he booms cheerfully, waving over his head to welcome his friends.

He didn't want to come, at first. After the last couple days all Telamon wanted to do was stay home, but... needs must, and Dirk is a friend -- as are many of the other guests. And this is important.

But while Tel is here by himself, he's not alone, not really. Never alone. And so as he approaches the cabin, his face relaxes into a smile, walking next to Andie and Dolan. "It'll be good to see Dirk again," he remarks to them, as the man himself appears in the doorway. "Hey there! Mind a few guests?" He's dressed in his leather and fur frostrider coat, with the broad-brimmed hat, over a stout woolen tunic and trousers tucked into his boots.

By the time Dolan finishes the hike outside Alexandria's walls, he's more than ready for a meal and a drink, and probably a little more, too. The greatsword he would normally carry for trips outside the walls is traded for a slim and practical longsword at his left hip, strapped over trousers and a breastplate and underneath a sheepskin-lined sleeveless coat. He's thrown two cloaks over all of the rest of it, and it still doesn't seem to be enough, because he is actively shivering as they approach the sure. "I sure as sunrise hope not, after that walk. Brightest of days, Dirk, it smells like you've laid enough of a spread for twice this many." The last time he was here wasn't half this friendly, and his back and shoulders tense with wariness as he approaches the door.

By the time Dolan finishes the hike outside Alexandria's walls, he's more than ready for a meal and a drink, and probably a little more, too. The greatsword he would normally carry for trips outside the walls is traded for a slim and practical longsword at his left hip, strapped over trousers and a breastplate and underneath a sheepskin-lined sleeveless coat. He's thrown two cloaks over all of the rest of it, and it still doesn't seem to be enough, because he is actively shivering as they approach the sure. "I sure as sunrise hope not, after that walk. Brightest of days, Dirk, it smells like you've laid enough of a spread for twice this many." The last time he was here wasn't half this friendly, and his back and shoulders tense with wariness as he approaches the door.

Zeke has come with Dolan, considering that he has no idea where Dirk lives. He's only met the dwarf a little bit, and had felt a little uncomfortable coming to his home. Thus he trails behind Dolan and Andelena somewhat, holding a pair of baskets in his claws. One has a lid, the other is smaller and has just a little cloth draped over it. He can not stop himself from scenting the air as they approach the house. His stomach rumbling and doing a little flip. He can not remember the last time he had beef. Deer yes, fish and chicken by the multitude, but beef?

The blue-scaled sith dips his head politely to dirk and offers the cloth-covered basket as he ducks to enter the house. "Peasssce on your nesst." He rumbles politely and looks around the unfamiliar space. "You have a lovely home." The basket is several neatly wrapped and labeled offerings of tea.

There was absolutely no way that Magpie was ever going to remember the directions to Dirk's cabin. And with the weather shooting way past inclement and landing squarely on 'anticlement,' it's likely that she would have been *physically* unable to make the journey, without someone large to break a trail for her.

Fortunately, as she once wrote in a breathless letter to her father, she has friends, now! And these friends are *great* snowcutters, and even remember directions! Though technically having to walk twice as far as the rest of them -- half the legs mean twice the work, after all -- the smells that waft from Dirk's open door are almost enough to bowl her over, and the moment she gets in out of the cold she all but hurls off the incredibly green woolen blanket of a cloak she wore out into the open air, green eyes wide with glee. "And you're gonna be glad for that, Dolan, considering how much insulation you need to pack on! Oh man this is *perfect,* Dirk, why didn't we come *here* for our vacation!?"

Probably there would have been vastly fewer spirit-mad cannibals.

GAME: Verna rolls 1d100: (58): 58

"Baby, it's Dirk we're talking about here," Andelena says with a grin to Dolan, a cloak worn around her form as she walks, Deliverance resting in a sword belt that sits on her hips. She looks to Dirk as she walks with Dolan, her arm curling around her Redeemer's to provide him some small amount of warmth with her presence, albeit not much for the moment. "I don't think you're /capable/ of saying no to friends for guests, right, Dirk?"

Then she sniffs the air. "Fuck me sideways, that smells good. Let's get inside real quick-like for some of that warmth, ey?"

"Is it really so good that you have to mention copulation?" expresses an older female voice with a sigh. That sounds like it's coming from the sword.

Verna is not particular fond of snow... or, rather, trudging through it. As well, she has also witnessed the dangers of flying through it, especially when unpredictable winds are involved. Thus it is that she ...appears just outside of the cabin with a *pop* of displaced air that momentarily disrupts some of the snow at her feet. She is clad in both cloak and robes, perhaps precluded from time for a lengthy trek, in addition.

A moment is taken to orient and confirm before she approaches the others in the vicinity of the entrance. "Good eve to you all..." a pause and inhale "... and that smells quite enticing."

Dirk ushers everyone in, rumbling a deep laugh at Telamon. "Aww, laddie, every one of ye's welcome here, any time ye like!" he says. "An' if yer nae feelin' up tae walkin' back to Alex, I've got a couple spare rooms yer all welcome tae kip out in. Please, come in, make yeselves at home!" The interior of the cabin is wonderfully warm after the icy walk from the city, with a cheery fire crackling in the hearth. The old dwarf bustles about, taking cloaks and coats, hanging them neatly on pegs set by the door.

He accepts Zeke's baskets with a smile. "Peace on yer nest, Zeke! This is most kind of ye! We'll add it tae the feast, yeah?" Speaking of feast, the food is ready! There's plenty of seating in the main living area, arranged around a low, sturdy table. There's lap-trays available for those who prefer them. Everyone gets a bread bowl heaped with savory stew laden with slow-simmered beef, carrots, potatoes, and seasoned to perfection. Drinks are handed out as well.

Dirk blushes a bit at Magpie, rumbling a soft laugh. "Aye, I suppose so," he says. "Probably wouldnae have lost four inches off me beard stayin' here!" He can laugh about it now, even despite the horrific memories of that accursed resort. Being surrounded by dear friends goes a long way towards soothing past troubles. Once he has everyone served and situated, he picks up his own tray and goes to plump himself down in his comfortable armchair. He picks up his mug of mead and lifts it high. "Here's fer us! Here's fer the bonds o' friendship that defy all the odds! Let all the darkest shadows howl as they may, together we will greet the mornin'! CHEERS!" The toast given, he tilts back his mug and empties it in four mighty swallows. He leans forward, banging the mug down on the table. "BRAAAAALPH! LET'S EAT!"

Telamon can't help but feel a wave of camaraderie from Dirk and the others, and his expression warms considerably. "Lana sends her love, of course," he tells the others. "She said she was going to spend a little time with Aura, pick up some baking tricks." His eyes twinkle. "I look forward to what she'll learn, of course."

His eyes go to the mead bottle, and he picks it up to look at it. "Good gods, Dirk. This is a Selestrius! It's damned good mead," he explains for the others' benefit. "Second only to teymdara. I'm impressed." Taking a lap-tray, he sits down, and matches Dirk's toast. "Hail to that! Victory to us and our friends, and confusion and defeat to our foes!" Smoothly, he downs his own mead in a single, improbable pull.

The warmth washes over Dolan like a benison, and he turns his head to peck Andie on the cheek as cloaks are taken. "Be fair, Andie. A sword has no idea how good you are." He winks, cheered by Dirk's ebullience and the general cheer despite himself. Boots are also left where they will not soil the house, and he makes a beeline for the blazing fire, setting his swordbelt down before settling himself. Food and drink in the person of mead is willingly accepted. "Tel, you honestly think a khazad won't know his booze?" _Yeah, right_ is the clear, unspoken meaning behind the grinning comment. "I'll drink to both of those!" He slams his as well, chugging the first mug as he has been known to do.

Zeke carefully keeps his second basket. It has something else in it obviously, but what is a mystery. At least until everyone is ushered inside and to seats. Zeke urges Dolan to sit down nearest the fire, thought he doesn't argue the point given that the room itself is quite warm. He does keep a lingering healer's eye on the man though. He sits down in a spot that will accommodate his tail, and opens his basket. It seems he brought his own dinner with him? "Thisss one hasss ssspecial dietary consssernsss." He explains in an embarrassed tone to any who look at him in askance for his meal. He does give the bread-bowls of stew a very lingering and desiring look however. His own meal is fish and vegetables. Nothing special. He waits for the tea to brew and takes some of that when the time comes.

He seems less celebratory than the others, lifting his tea cup in toast to their accomplishments, but only sipping the hot liquid. Zeke is in truth feeling a bit out of sorts amid all these people who are clearly friends and some of whom he only casually knows. He keeps his green eyes low and though he offers a rumble of approval to his toast, he doesn't comment upon it.

"Yeah, and the sword never will," Andelena responds with a grin to Dolan as she goes to put her sword down next to his, two longswords in pair with each other. "Because, uh, /oww/, and also, fuckin' weird."

She gets her meal and her drink, and she cheers like the rest of them too. And... while she's sworn not to be competitive anymore with Dolan, she certainly chugs hers too, although she ends hers with a slammed mug and a high-five for Dolan that's, considering all things, well-deserved.

The Sunguard, however, offers a little wave to Zeke, as she notices he's kind of a little... 'out of the nest', so to speak. "Hey there, Zeke!" she calls. "Glad to see ya."

At the toast, Magpie hoises her mead high... then looses a curse, hurriedly setting food and drink down to clean up the resulting alcohol spatter that finds itself on the floor. After a few moments of frantic scrubbing, she clambers back up to her place, with a nervous laugh. "Aheh... sorry... But seriously thanks, Dirk, this is *amazing.*"

When drink is empty, and stew mostly simply gravy in a bread bowl, she hops off her seat again, tottering to plonk herself next to Zeke, giving the Sith an encouraging smile. The special food, carefully not mentioned. Instead, it seems, the gnome leans to one side to whisper a secret;

"I only know a couple people here well too. How're you doing?"

Dirk beams happily as his friends give as good as he does. Few things warm the dwarven heart more than a heartfelt toast among friends. Picking up his spoon, he digs into his stew, shoveling a savory morsel into his bearded maw. The stew is thick and hearty, warming and filling. Lucht may be known for their cooking, but khazad cuisine can certainly give them a run for their money! He doesn't even bat an eye at Zeke's special dietary needs, simply nodding his head with a smile. "Of course, my friend. Anything ye need, I want me friends tae be comfortable in my home!"

He chortles a bit at Magpie, waving his hand. "Aww, dinnae fret, lassie. A good bout o' housecleanin' is par fer the course after a proper feast!" He turns his attention over to Dolan with a smile. "How're ye healin' up, laddie? Ye seem tae be better off than last I saw ye."

Telamon is perfectly content to dig into his stew as well, evidently having no qualms about a bread bowl. "Mmmph. Alright Dirk, I'm going to need the recipe for this. This is -good-." Steadily working his way into the meal, he looks at Zeke quietly, sympathy in his eyes, but he says nothing, instead letting his gaze move to Magpie. "Hm. Don't know if we've met, miss. Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon, at your service."

Tel chuckles at Andelena. "Weird? Weird is a day ending in 'Y' for us. We just keep muddling through."

Verna accepts the offered food politely, claiming a tray with bowl and mug. All for ease of transportation and use upon lap as she claims a seat. Once settled, she does lift the mug with "To friends, and success" in agreement with the toast. She then takes a sip or two of the drink. There is no upending. Given recent events, she is fairly certain that doing so would only have herself upended promptly following it.

Afterwards, Verna looks first to Zeke, observing him briefly. There is no apparent judgment of his diet, but rather a watchfulness not wholly unlike the Sunguard's awareness of his patient. With Dirk as host, she turns her focus to him, dining in moderated bites as she listens.

For a minute, Dolan is too busy eating to talk, or be especially social, beyond the high-five that he returns. He has notably turned his back to the fire and accepted a lap-tray for food - and a refill on the drink, drinking more slowly this time. "Coming along," he finally manages after chewing and swallowing a hunk of meat and carrot. Zeke gets a glance, and a blink, but after a moment, he just turns his attention back to his own food, his smile fading. "It won't all heal, but it'll get close enough."

From time to time, he looks up and around, but then goes back to his meal, and he does seem to have something on his mind. "Tel, that's Magpie. I asked her because she's got one of the totems. I've talked to her in dreams a couple of times." Suddenly, unaccountably, he starts grinning, his cheeks flushing.

Zeke notices the glances and shifts uncomfortably, but says nothing. He eats his own meal quickly. It might possibly be a little bit too little food for a sith his size, but he doesn't seem to mind aside from his longing glances toward the bread bowls. He ducks his head to Magpie and offers a little flick of his tail. While he made sure the area behind him is clear, he's cautious about the idea of knocking something of Dirk's over and making a mess - or worse breaking something. "Ssssaaa. Thisss one isss well enough, but thisss one hasss alwaysss found large groupsss to be... difficult." He admits to her very quietly. Still he doesn't seem totally uncomfortable. "Thisss one isss here to be helpful how-ever."

Andelena finishes more of her food. "Fair enough, married man," she replies to Telamon. Then, on Zeke's note of 'here to be helpful', she says, "Speaking of which. The food's fucking great, and Dirk's an excellent fucking host. But we've all got reasons to be here. Information to share and shit. Who wants to start first?"

"Wonderful way to start a meeting, Andelena," says Deliverance somewhat sarcastically, over where the sword has been put.

Andelena rolls her eyes. "Look, eloquence isn't exactly my thing. I can barely say the fucking word without tripping over it. Someone's gotta say it, though."

• Noticed* by one of the new people, Magpie pauses in gulping down the broth -- a precursor to devouring the bread bowl like a starving, feral thing, because that's how you *appreciate* a bread bowl -- Magpie attempts a shy wave, then promptly gets gravy up her nose.

The next minute or so of pulmonary gymnastics is almost literally breathtaking, but the gnome rallies and manages to clear her airway in the end.

Dignity *utterly* cast into the Void, Magpie simply sighs at herself, then leans back to Zeke, wiping her nose. "Believe me, I get it," she murmurs, then tosses a wide smile at Telamon. "Hi! I'm Magpie! I more or less tripped over a totem... um. ... ...A while ago. And Dolan *please* do not forget that it takes a *lot* to keep my mouth shut so if you keep reminding me I *will* talk about that dream, and you and I *both* know this isn't the place for it."

Dirk finishes off his stew and picks up the bowl, tearing a hunk off and crunching it with a happy rumble. "Aye, it's me mum's recipe," he says to Telamon with a warm smile. "I'll make sure ye leave with it. I'm sure Lana would enjoy it. I -know- Pothy would, but is there anything he doesn't? Hah!" He munches another hunk of the tangy sourdough bread, made even heartier by the gravy soaked into it. "Mmh... aye, that's proper eatin' right there." Once he's finished off the last of his bread, he hops to his feet and ambles into the kitchen. The cake has cooled by now, and he takes a moment to spread rich buttercream frosting over the top. Once that's done, he starts cutting out proper dwarf-sized slabs, setting them onto plates.

Magpie's antics bring a rumble of laughter to the old snowbeard as he arranges the cake slices onto a tray. "Well now, there's a sign that food was properly enjoyed! Although I think it's better eaten in the mouth rather than the nose!" he says with a grin. He bustles back into the living area, setting the tray down. "Dessert! Help yeselves!" He takes up one of the cake-slabs for himself and plumps back down into his armchair. He looks over to Dolan as he cuts a bite and tucks it into his mouth. "Mmmh... more business wi' the totems, then?" he asks once he finishes chewing and swallowing. "What news do we have, then?" Andalena's praise of his hospitality has him pink-cheeking, and he ducks his head shyly. "D'aww. I just want me friends tae enjoy their time is all."

"I am most grateful for your hospitality, Dirk," Verna notes as she sets down her utensil, "and you are well to prompt, Andelena. We are here to share, discuss, and plan on matters that remain urgent concerning the totems and The Nightmare. We must determine what action to take next, and how best to do so."

Telamon's eyes twinkle warmly. "I'll hold you to that, Dirk." He watches with interest once dinner is done and cake is served. Cake? Gods, Dirk really is pulling out all the special ingredients for this. Then again... it's a meeting, an occasion, and an affirmation.

"Dolan, I think you and Andie should lay out the latest events. It was through your insights and will that we succeeded." Tel seems happy to defer the briefing to Dolan, instead turning his head to Magpie. "Magpie, Magpie... you sound familiar. Ah, I remember. The University District, that mess with Colin Phileaston. My father mentioned you were involved." He offers Magpie a smile. "You did good work there. Thank you."

Dolan's laughter mingles with the crackle of the fire and the sounds of crunching, and although his cheeks are scarlet, he doesn't laugh any the less. "Don't breathe your food, Magpie," he chortles, sopping up the last of the gravy with the pieces of bread bowl. He is slower to eat than the others, but has consumed largely in silence and with every evidence of eager enjoyment.

He eyes the cake eagerly, and glances almost automatically at Zeke and Andelena, although why isn't wholly clear. "Dirk, you've outdone yourself. Damn shame about the honey cakes, but this is even better." He seems to be relaxing as he finishes food and warms up, flexing his left shoulder carefully from time to time, but the cake will happen in a minute, and he also looks mournfully at a mug that could use a refill.

"Oh. Yeah. Uh." Another glance at Zeke, this one concerned. "Dirk, we sent Kol to the Harpist. He's a pile of ash on the floor. Long story, I'll tell you later, but - we need to figure out what our next move is, now that he's gone. How many totems have we got between us? I've got two."

Zeke does not move to accept a piece of cake. Probably yet another instance of his 'dietary concerns'. Either way he keeps to his spot and sips his tea. Telamon urges Dolan to explain the details and his eyes go dark. Green gaze sliding around to the joyous people near-celebrating he feels even more out of place now that he had upon arrival. There's a little apple in the bottom of his basket that he knows he didn't pack and it makes him shift his tail. A little thing to cheer him up, and it does. He pulls the little green bit of fruit out and breaks it in half with his claws. One piece goes in his maw whole and he crunches into it with pleasure.

Dolan's words make him look down at his last half. He can not bear to ruin their joy with his mourning. Instead Zeke clears his throat and offers quiet affirmation that he has one of the totems also. "Thisss one hasss one."

"I've got one," Andelena answers Dolan's question. She spots that empty mug that Dolan's eyeing, and she snaps it up along with her own, going to refill it with what had occupied them both before. The look from her senior Sunguard has her add only, "We did it with the power of the totems. Which means knowing who's got one is important, and how many."

"Yeah yeah yeah," Magpie mumbles, ears and cheeks aflame. The gnome fishes a handkerchief out of a pocket, blowing her nose. Coughing once, she leans over to Zeke, looking up at the grieving Sith with clear worry.

However, the gnome clearly understands not wanting to alter a moment, and so she simply says, with the crushing sincerity of someone who knows a mask when she sees it; "...I'm gonna get some cake, can I get you some water or something?"

Whatever the answer, Magpie bounces to her feet, toddling toward the table to fetch her dessert, and a fork to pick at it with. "So before I start, um, Dirk? I gotta say, it's cake like this that just *proves* the gods made gnomes deal with bigger people because they love us and want us to be happy." And, indeed, she has to carry the plate over her head to keep anything like decent balance, as she makes her way back to Zeke.

"Anyway, uh... yeah I've got the one. Does the god on it matter any, by the way? Cos I got Althea, and I'm not sure if that's supposed to mean anything."

"I possess two," Verna adds, and rather flatly considering the other announcement. "Which means that we hold a majority even if The Red Maw's servants hold the remainder." She looks to Magpie at her inquiry, including Zeke as well. "They appear strongest, or more readily utilized, by servants of the deity which created them, but they still function for those not. I have made use of mine, and the Caracorothians assuredly seek to make use of theirs."

Dirk pauses with a bite of cake halfway to his mouth when Dolan lets it drop that Kol Demontry is, in fact, no more. His eyes get wide. Slowly, he sets the fork back down on his plate. He sets the half-eaten cake aside and hops to his feet. He lumbers over to Dolan, reaching out to (carefully) rest a hand on his shoulder. "It's done, then. The nightmare is over. Och, that's some o' the best news I've heard in a long damn while." He offers Dolan a warm smile, nodding his head. "Well done, laddie. Yer a better man than I could ever be. I hope he's found a better place."

He goes to resume his seat, munching another bite of his cake. "Aye, I've got a totem too. It's in Gilead's image, which is good fer me, seein' as I follow the Green Word." He looks up and around at his friends. "Have we found Dana's totem? I can take that one on, if needs must." He munches another bite of his cake, looking over at Magpie with a soft chuckle. It really -is- good cake. There's a hint of cinnamon in the chocolate, and the buttercream is smooth as silk. "Well, ye can have the recipe fer it, if ye'd like, lass. I dinnae mind sharin'."

Telamon has piled through his cake, and it's hard to tell if he's -breathing-. "Mmmph. Alright, so... in the interest of keeping everyone informed: at one time I had one, which I believed to be the totem of Illotha." He sighs. "That one was stolen from the Temple of Daeus. More recently, the totem crafted by Eluna was given to me, and that one I still have."

Tel continues, "Which gives us nine totems. Even if the minions have every other totem -- and I am unsure if they do -- we hold the majority, as Verna says. Of course, now we need to know what to -do- with them. I admit my efforts have been about as fruitful as a dog trying to operate an artifice-driven coffeemaker."

At Magpie's query, Telamon nods. "If you are a devotee of the god that crafted the totem, you... seem to have an easier time bonding to it and getting it to work -- for values of such."

Dolan eagerly accepts the filled mug from Andelena, and looks up at Dirk, without moving from where he sits with his back to the fore. He turns himself, just a little, now that he is thoroughly warmed. "Couldn't have done it without their help." He nods at Zeke, Telamon, and Verna, and adds a grin for Andelena. "Thanks, baby." A sip from the mug, but his attention goes to Zeke again, and his discomfort. His own eyes drop, and he looks away. Silence hangs for a moment before he adds. "Dana didn't make a totem. Only the gods of Light and Darkness did. There's thirteen of 'em, since the Nightmare didn't get to make one of his own," he stops, swallows, freezes, looks at Zeke again, and shakes his head, taking another long pull of his mug. "It being your deity's makes the pull stronger. It shows you stuff that maybe you wouldn't see otherwise. I think I know what we need to do with it. They might not have 'em all yet, but the totems can't find each other. They're hidden. Can't scry, can't dream." He stares into his mug. "There's probably at least a couple still in the camp, but it's probably too late to get in there."

After his comment about the totem Zeke falls silent. He has nothing to add to this part of the conversation, though he offers Dolan a comforting look and Magpie one as well. He doesn't want to detract from the evening, so he looks at his bit of apple and pops it in his mouth. Quiet crunching noises exit his maw.

"It is possible that another lies in The Vast, empowering the portal to The Nightmare's realm," Verna is mindful of much focus upon Zeke and shifts hers firmly to the others. "Some artifact of great power does so. Though we did not have the opportunity to identify it precisely, it is a reasonable presumption. As well, the portal should be closed, if possible." She frowns. "How readily that might be done, I do not know, but more of Its servants arrive by the hour or day."

"Mine is Angoron's," Andelena says. "Seems we get along together just fine, but maybe that's just my respect for the Brawler coming through."

She looks thoughtful. "If we do this in the next day or two--we /might/ be able to get a leg on it and infiltrate that camp. They probably have no clue that he's gone yet. And, as Verna pointed out--we need to work quickly, because that portal in the Vast is out there and they're getting more reinforcements."

Magpie's lips thin at Zeke's look, then the gnome simply leans over and wraps her arms around Zeke's bicep, hugging briefly. Solidarity and empathy, expressed, no fuss. Rocking back to parity, she finishes her meticulous landscaping of the cake -- buttercream eaten, first, leaving as much of the actual cake's browned surface intact as possible -- listening carefully as the others discuss their knowledge and experiences.

At one point, the gnome digs a notebook out of her satchel, scribbling notes in a cramped, nearly-indecipherable shorthand, punctuated with odd doodlings and questions to herself. "...So okay," she says after another pause for thought. "We have nine, they *might* have four. Dolan, what *are* we supposed to do with them? And that's why the field trip to the Vast, okay. I mean if you need a distraction, I'm your girl, but I gotta say, I'm pretty delicious too, so... maybe not *too* much of a distraction."

Dirk finishes off his cake, patting his hefty middle with a happy sigh as he sets the plate aside. "Aye, that was tasty," he says with a chuckle. He goes to refill his mug of mead, offering to freshen any other drinks that might need it while he's up. Settling himself back down, he digs into his shirt pocket for his pipe. He listens to the others as he fills the bowl from his tobacco pouch. Verna's question, in particular, has the old snowbeard head tilting curiously. "Would it be one o' the totems doin' that?" he asks. "I mean... they're meant tae keep Caracoroth locked up. Dinnae make much sense fer a totem tae be holdin' the door -open-, does it?"

"A magical item can be put to a use not intended, Dirk." Telamon's expression is wry. "Just like a spell. They may have found some way to tap into the totem's resonance with the Maw to power the rift. Of course, that sort of thing tends to be... finicky. And fragile. And if the totem was crafted by a god whose portfolio covers something like secrets or theft -- Illotha or Deimos, for example -- it might work even better."

"But, that's an academic argument. The portal has to be closed. Whatever's holding it in place needs to be disrupted." He pauses, thinking, before continuing. "There's also the aspect of how much one can move through the dream-realm and into reality -- or vice-versa. Before you ask, yes, I've done it. I accidentally teleported myself and Lana from our house to the city gates. Through the ward, I might add. Yes, that is NOT how it works and I have no idea how we did it."

"It can do whatever you will it to do," Dolan chimes in, his whole face turned towards Zeke for a moment longer before turning away. He takes another slug of the mead, and finally looks over at the slab of cake he hadn't grabbed yet. "Pass me one of those and a fork?" he asks, grinning self-deprecatingly. "Those look wonderful." He finally sets the mug aside, but appears to be relaxing at last. "They're chains, Magpie. Controlled by your blood and your will. I'm not going to do it here because we'll draw a shitload of attention to this cabin that Dirk don't deserve if I do. They were crafted to chain the Nightmare in the Dream Realm, and stuff they create in dreams can transfer into this world."

His grin fades. "Having a totem made by your deity makes that stronger, but you can use it without it. I've got Daeus' and I think Thul's, but I never use Thul's." An open shudder takes him. "I always use the Knight's, because I've got a better connection to it. Anyway, so we found out that if multiple followers of the same faith use that totem, it gets even easier to control the Dream."

Finally, Zeke speaks up. "Thisss one believesss that thisss one hasss the totem that belongsss to Maugrim." He says the name with just a touch of venom. Then shakes his head. "Thisss one would like to sssuggessst that thossse that are going to the camp go there firssst. They have not dissscovered Kol'sss death yet, and it will take time to move that many sssoft-ssskinsss, but they will onsce they realize that he isss gone. It isss posssible that they have what controlsss the portal there."

~Scribble scribble scribble~

One assumes that when Magpie gets around to translating the notes into proper writing, they'll take up a small book of their own. Whether the information will be *reliable* is best trusted to hope.

After a bit, though, she puts down her stylus, and gives Zeke a worried look, before sweeping her eyes over the assembled party. "So uh... I'm new to this whole thing, relatively speaking, but uh... If I asked 'Who's Kol,' would that be a question to get into later? Cos I'd understand, it seems like a pretty heavy topic. So... Is it *important* that I know?"

"Pretty much exactly what I was thinking, Zeke," Andelena says, a small smile (aided by a sympathetic look in her eyes) in the direction of the senior Sunguard. "We've got a big, open hole, and it's time we move in, now that we've knocked out the dog guarding the gate. And what Bry says is true--he and I did some good /work/ because he holds the Knight's totem. That means getting the rest of the totems is really damn important. Maybe the biggest thing we can do now."

She looks at the others, lifting her mug of mead. "So, I ask all of you: who feels up for taking some shit from some fuzzy fuckheads that's better off not left in their hands? Because I sure as shit am."

Dirk strikes a match to light up his pipe, puffing contentedly as he settles back in his seat, snapping out the flame. "Well... now that Kol's dust, that just leaves Zalgiman." He looks over to Andalena with a grin. "You -know- I've got a hankerin' tae put my boot up that sheepfucker's arse. You tell me when an' where, lassie. I'll be there wi' bells on. An' plenty o' silver shot too."

Telamon gives Magpie a slight smile. "A very powerful vampire. Who is thankfully now past-tense. Again." He shakes his head, refocusing on the conversation. "Lana and I saw Zalgiman in the Fernwood, drinking heavily. I don't know where he's slinking around, but he looked like he'd had a turn in fortune. Whether it's financial, or totem related, I don't know."

When Andelena announces a call to stomp some werewolves, Telamon actually looks hesitant for a moment. "Andie, I--" and then he stops. He starts to speak and then stops -again-. He tilts his head, and sighs, holding up a finger for 'one moment' before putting his hand to his brow as if in thought. After a few moments, he exhales, and then looks at Andie again. "Alright. I'm in. Let's -finish- this bullshit."

Verna considers their options and others' discoveries and opinions for a time before nodding. "I agree that the camp take priority over the portal. Once Kol's absence is noted, they may move the camp. The portal may not be so easily relocated; the location is significant, from what the visions indicated. As well, as the Sunguard states, they may control the portal from the camp. There are clergy of Caracoroth at the encampment, and possibly other leaders. Identifying, or even removing them, would hinder them more than the loss of a fiendish hound from an infinite pack."

She looks to Andelena, at the other woman's zeal. "I am prepared to cause chaos for the forces of chaos." A mild nod to Dirk. "If anything, lycanthropes are far more manageable threat than wolves the size of mountains. We know how they are vulnerable and how they can be weakened." Verna considers Magpie and her question. "Kol was a threat who is no longer, but is still fresh in many thoughts. Any of us could share of his sadism, but that is best for another time."

Dolan remains silent on the matter of Kol, but is still looking at the cake slabs. He turns his face away from them, and the others, and takes another long pull of his mug. "We need to deal with Seraquoix and Zinskas, too. They're both problems, whether they're still funding Zalgiman, or not. Didn't know he was on the outs, though. There's also a demon involved. At least one. Jal'goroth. Looks like he's the minion of someone called V. Old and powerful, but couldn't find much more. Why a demon's tied up in this, I don't know. There's a lot I don't know, dammit."

There are so many things that Zeke could say. So many words that he wants to, but he allows himself to be distracted by small details and feels guilt welling up in his stomach. Telamon has a private conversation with... well Zeke would guess that it's with Cor'lana. He recognizes the signs of internal conflict and conversation from Seldan's communions with his own cihuaa. Zeke rises to his feet and makes his way to the cake. He doesn't eat it though, he offers it to Dolan. "Here." Once the man takes it and the fork, he returns to his seat quietly. He picks up his basket rather than sitting down, and carries it to Telamon. Offering it to the other man. "Give thisss to Cor'lana. Sssshe wantsss to help you fight thesse thingsss and thisss one... iss..."

He trails off and his jaw closes, his eyes dark and he shakes his head.

There's a sympathetic look of sadness on Andelena's face. Almost immediately, the rowdy woman is replaced with the font of compassion. "You are doing your best, Zeke. You are grieving. And nobody here would speak poorly of you giving the totem to someone else."

She looks to Telamon. "Just make sure you keep that thing secure as you can. And good on you. Let's finish what we started. Let's close the book so we can begin to move on."

/So that others who are struggling can, too,/ goes unsaid aloud, but is said in Andelena's eyes as she looks at Zeke--warmth and compassion in her face.

Dirk draws a steady pull from his pipe, puffing a couple lazy smoke rings as he looks between his friends. He nods at Verna, pointing at her with his pipe stem. "True talk, lassie, true talk," he says. "We've all tussled wi' the lycans afore. We know how tae bring 'em down. An' Zalgiman's had this comin' fer a -long- damn time now." He grunts, picking up his mug to tip back a swallow. He looks to Dolan, boggling a bit. "A -demon-? Och, there's a -demon- mixed up in all this too? Beards o' me fathers, why don't we get us a dragon-lich an' a brain-eater while we're at it? May as well complete the set!" He harrumps, shaking his head as his beard bristles. "Well. I can -hunt- a demon. An' I carry cold iron shot too. So if this Jal'goroth is needin' a bullet in his arse, I can give 'im one, I'll warrant." He looks to Zeke with a sympathetic expression. "Zeke, lad. You freed me from Kol's thrall. An' ye tended Dolan when he was at his lowest. Ye've done more than enough in all this," he says with a kindly tone. "We can finish it from here."

Telamon looks like he wants to refuse at first. But then there's that pause, that tilted head, and he sighs. "...Alright. I'll make sure it gets into her hands. No one else's." He stands up to take the basket, but then puts it in his seat, before placing his hand on Zeke's shoulder. Softly, he whispers in the gentle syllables of the elven tongue, his voice rising and falling. "Please, lord guardian of Highest Eli. Let go of your pain. She is at peace, and so you should be as well." With that, he hugs the makari, before letting go and sitting back down, transferring the contents of the basket to his haversack.

"That reminds me," Magpie says, perking up as the talk moves to Jal'goroth. "So I'm telling all of you what I told Zeke and Andie and Dolan... ...Well okay the story's pretty long, but the end of it goes; there's a book, that Auranar and I are making a copy or two of. It's about commonly summoned demons, and apparently Jal'goroth was an interviewee for it. Tells a lot of stuff, types, relationships between them, and more, but that book's just the cover. Once we're done copying it out, there's a spell laid on the book that'll turn it into what we *need* to get closer to finding Jal'goroth. So I'm all down for tripping into the Vast, however I can help, but I gotta point out; if I'm there, I'm not here, and I *really* don't want to take that book *there* in case it's something they want.

"So... you all know way more about what's happening than I do. Let me know if you want me to get nuts on some punkers, or deal with the book. Honestly I won't be disappointed either way."

A lightning-quick glance to Zeke adds the undertone 'And people here might need friends.'

Dolan's eyes, too, are on Zeke, even as he takes the plate of cake and the fork. "I know about the book," he points out. "Take care of the book, because we need to see what it does. How are you coming with that?" He does not seem willing to leave the immediate vicinity of the fire, but does watch Zeke closely. "It's all right, Zeke. I get it. You've done plenty, and you've got your own share of shit to deal with. I can't really ask more of you."

"Yeah. A demon," he tells Dirk. "Still a lot I don't know," he admits. "But let's cut Zeke a break here. I've asked enough of him."

"There is much that none of us know," Verna admits to Dolan. She does not like this in the slightest, judging by her frown, "but we will never know enough as we would prefer, much less all; not in time to act." To Magpie she offers, "The demon will have its time, the work in transcribing is valued, though I would suggest it not be brought anywhere that leaves it vulnerable."

Last, though not least, she looks to Zeke. If anyone had mystical means to assuage bereavement, one might expect a mourner. Alas, it is not conveniently so. Instead, she offers to Zeke, "We cannot erase your grief, doubts, fears, nor more that pains you, yet I can assure you of this: you are not alone in any of them."

Zeke doesn't expect the hug. Never expects these things. He freezes under the other man's touch, and when Telamon pulls away the other man might notice that his eyes are a little wider than they had been before. He nods to Telamon, once, then twice. "Thisss one isss not worthy. Of your kindnesss, of all of you." He looks at the rest gathered. He doesn't explain what he means though, how he could be unworthy of something simple like the friendship that they've offered to him so freely. "Thisss one wisshess the Light of the Dragonfather upon you."

With that he offers a faint half-bow to Dirk, whose house this is, and then he leaves out the front door before anyone can think to stop him. They are not sith, they can not smell the terror on him, the self-loathing. He is far away and gone to Alexandria before he steps off the path and into the woods where Seldan and he have so often gone fishing or hunting. He finds a lonely stream that's frozen over and thinks of the beef stew, of the cake, and the friendship they share.

Things he would steal, if only they could belong to him as well.

-End