Having been granted authority from the Highlord and his Voices to try and improve upon the Teddy Bear's forest --err, the Bear Forest.. Riagnon will return to the area that he visited with Prince Artur and Marquessa Arcadia(RIP). The three were told that any potential cleansing would take 'immense power,' or 'decades.' Whelp, Riagnon doesn't HAVE immense power. He DOES have time. So, uh.. here's to playing the long game!

Riagnon will introduce himself to local leadership, ingratiate himself where possible, and set into motion a campaign to decrease the unnecessary loss of life -where the forest is concerned- on a long term basis.

"There are just too many large, predatory animals thriving in there," Riagnon will say, "Before we --not you!-- can go in and properly address that, precautions MUST be taken." Unless better alternatives are presented, Riagnon intends to observe the forest, and take action based on if and where large predatory animals come and go from its boundaries. Leaving a few strategic entry points open for continued human use, he'll invest in the construction of naturalistic borders laid out elsewhere along the perimeter to dissuade unassuming innocents from conveniently venturing in, and impeding certain animals from venturing out. (Fallen trees, large boulders, dense thorny-and-thicketing shrubbery, etc.) Buying up breeding stock of big and small game to release into the woods, and yummy-in-your-tummy fish to populate any bodies of water that might be easily accessible from outside the woods, he'll commission the forest be flooded with a wealth of prey as a means of satiating any ..bears.. who might otherwise travel elsewhere for.. a picnic!

Spirits willing, he wants to at least try and achieve this without a significant negative impact on anyone relying upon the forest for their livelihood ...if anyone is actually crazy enough to do that! (Have they considered an alternate career in cautionary sign making? There's a market, now!) And obviously, he'll try to hire locally to set up and sustain the elements of this project.

Sure, this approach is mundane and not magical in nature. Riagnon naively holds out hope that over the course of months or years, these efforts will succeed in undermining some of the malevolence in those woods and assist even the smallest seed of 'sanctuary' to germinate once more.

So, there is this plan to release a plethora of animals into the forest. Well, this got Maeve to thinking. If there is an increase of prey animals being released, then there will need to be a plethora of food for them as well! In order to keep the animals fed, Maeve is going to take two approaches. The first approach is to feed them a diet rich in seeds. This way when they run into the forest, their droppings will not only fertilize the forest floor, but also seed the forest as well! Then, there are other sorts of seeds that easily stick to fur! These creatures will be sprinkled with a variety of fur-clinging seeds that will eventually drop and seed throughout the forest. This is all in hopes to not only seeding the forest with nutrient-rich plants, but also to help beautify the forest as well!

Princess Rawen is going to help out however she can with aiding in organizing where all the prey should be set to go free.

Petal is going to join this project and attempt to help. She will be following Lord Riagnon's lead, will report to him any info she finds and follow any orders from him. She will focus on her skills with plants. She is going to attempt to grow thorny, thick and tall growing plants in a circle like barrier or frame around the area. She will transplate from other places to help with such. If anything starts to seem odd or questionable she will consult with Lord Ria. She also is going to take her white flowers that she grows at the lodge, the special ones and she will attempt to transplate them so they growin a ring around the area. she will watch closely for anything going a amiss and keep communicating.

Bellamy is here to provide worms. Why worms? Well, you see. Bears are predators that hunt prey animals. Most prey animals eat vegetation. Vegetation is grown in soil. And worms? Worms make for excellent fertilizers. Well, really, what they leave behind makes excellent fertilizer. So Bellamy will take a clew of her best, most beloved Red Wrigglers.

(She has named each and every one of them. It's somewhat hard to tell them apart when they're all wriggling together but they all do, in fact, have names. Sir Baywormther is the oldest and most dashing of the worms, he managed to somehow get a scar across his, erh, head? Princess Wormrain is the youngest but the fattest. She's spoilt. Then there's Duke Worment who once nosed up to a bumble bee that landed on the compost pile. Lastly there's Inquisitor Wormka who is, well, surly to the say the least.)

So she will take the clew of her red wrigglers and she will take them up to the Bear Forest. There she will, with an escort to keep her from getting eaten, place them in strategic places around the perimeter of the forces. In places where Petal will be planting flowers and thorny plants, Bellamy will provide red wrigglers and their composted, erh, byproducts to help fertilize that soil.

The clew will be split up and released into the wild (good bye Sir Baywormer!, goodbye Prince Wormson! ... So sad) to help with soil quality in the hopes that they will provide clean, purified soil for vegetation to grow out of, to feed prey animals, to feed predators.

You are what you eat, after all!

Kastelon does his part to catch live game for the sanctuary, using his Keaton huntsman wood-wiles. He coordinates with Maeve to ensure these live game are stocked with seeds in their guts and their fur before being released.

Thrond is going to help with Riagnons efforts acting as a wildnerness expert and guide, he's going to track the animals and highlight paths the animals use, territories of predetors and how best to corral the wild creatures and create a good working buffer between people wandering through and any harmful creatures who might dwell there.

Rhea, knowing in her heart of hearts that she is Riagnon's TRUE favorite sister, has promised her brother nothing less than an EXPERT ARTIST contributing PROFESSIONAL, QUALITY signs. Specifically, CAUTIONARY SIGNS. There's a market for that, you know! Very lucrative! She will personally work VERY HARD on the design with the artist. Because really, Riagnon deserves nothing less than the best. The signs will also boast ADDITIONAL SECURITY FEATURES, like sloped roofs to keep the elements from damaging them and thin wire cages to dissuade wildlife from chewing on them without obscuring the message.

A delightful bear painted with a dapper hat will advise passerbys of the estimated danger level at six different times of day, while also reminding them unauthorized campers, hunters, arsonists, etc may be subjected to fines.

Rhea herself will make sure people in the Northlands know how House Redrain appointed the Sword of Aviaron's Peak as steward of the forest and just how VITAL his work is (without mentioning monster bears). She'll tell the shamans that it could be an important site for the spirits in the future! She'll tell the priests about how House Acheron honors Petrichor's teachings! She'll tell the Peerage about future economic benefits! And why, she'll tell the commoners that MAYBE ONE DAY, they could have a teddy bear picnic without being mauled to death (but really that's a long time off, please don't go there right now).

A year of planting and working on this actually does help. The amount of suspicious disappearances has dropped at least by... an anecdotal percent since no one really knows, but most people claim it's safer! The perimeter does help, and draws some loud complaints by random hunters annoyed at the trivial inconvenience who do their level best to convince Riagnon that it would be in everyone's best interest if they are eaten, but ultimately it is for their own good and it does seem to work. Ish? It's kind of hard to tell.

Stormheart is located in a valley between mountains, carefully tucked for the protection the mountains can afford. These mountains are also quite useful for other purposes, such as increasing the goods with which House Ravenseye has to offer to the fealty they bent the knee to and the Compact as a whole.

Exploring the mountains surrounding Stormheart is Aella's focus as she and volunteers head out to discover the secrets that they might hold. She is specifically looking to increase her County's mining by finding new places where her people are able to find material such as metal to use for ship building and stones to trade for other goods.

While Aella is not an explorer in her own right, she knows her land and will be there as a guide, protecting those who have offer their aide.

Arthen Dayne wasn't surprised that Countess Aella would come to him for something like this - he's a notable explorer after all and a fair enough hand for the wilderlands when exploring goes wrong like it sometimes will - but he was honored to have her ask all the same. While he doesn't know a lot about /mines/ save for the kinds where history has been lost down 'em, he can get a group of folks across the rugged north well enough. Anyway he's convinced there's probably more valuable things hidden out across Stormheart than mines and he's got an eye for that sort of stuff so while he's making sure nobody loses a hand or an eye and probably has to stop Riagnon from putting weird berries in his mouth from time to time he'll also be on the lookout for the rare and unusual.

Volcica isn't exactly a great scout, or a great fighter. She is, however, a pretty great Shaman. She'll focus on the more spiritual side of things, treating with local spirits to help find locations of note for Aella and her House. While she'll try to look for the metal and stones Aella hopes for, Volcica knows that spirits are capricious and alien, and will accept whatever hints they offer without pressing too hard.

Very recently, House Ravenseye came to House Acheron's assistance. House Acheron endeavors to do the same! Lord Riagnon will be escorting a pair of mining surveyors from Aviaron's Peak operations, where iron and steel flow as easily as gold and silver. Hopefully, these miners can contribute some of their expertise Aella's plan!

Riagnon is not an explorer. He IS a Northern knight, very familiar with mountainous terrain and cold climate. This will be fine, this is fine.

Arcadia is a good scout and she knows it. She comes along to aid with the expansion. She's able to look at maps and point out areas which may be of interest and helps move everyone ahead.

While she expects little danger, she does have her crossbow and will use it, if any danger befalls them.

Countess Aella is a vassal and, as such, Kaldur turns out in support of her efforts to improve Stormheart. He lends the weight of Crovane's support to the effort and applies himself to treat with those they encounter to support or make way. He's also got a very fine warhorse, Dumpling, who is worth her weight in diamondplate who may not be descending into any mines, but has a history of stoving cultist skulls while standing guard.

Mika being the explorer she is, enjoys that she is called along to join in. She uses her investigative skills to search for hints of mining indications and other materials that Aella could use to bolster her economy.

Rosalind has just gotten back to the city, but the opportunity arises that she can head home again! Rosalind has always been a pretty perceptive woman, even as a child. She plans to help Aella and the others search the mountains and of course keep them safe. After all, it's her home and she's spent more time outdoors and in said mountains than anyone. Because of that, she's gotten to become pretty good at tracking , being a bit sneaky and such and can tell when there are dangers about.

She will of course have her long bow, just in case something does come up. To protect everyone of course.

Aksel has been asked to come along to help Ravenseye with scouting of locations for mining. The Nygards are a devoted family of miners and at one time Aksel would have taken up that career. So while he certainly remembers some of the things about mining, prospecting is an entirely different story. Still, he has family in Stonedeep that are prospectors who maybe willing to impart some advice to Aksel before he helps Aella on her quest for mining opportunities. Plus he's pretty handy if there are things to get bloodied up.

Baltus has been invited to help Aella in her exploration. Though he's more accustomed to maritime exploration, he's a fair hand in a fight and is willing to be a general helper however the Countess made need to direct him.

The mines in Stormheart are already good, but Aella wants to make them better. So she enlists help, as any sensible Countess would - she's not going to mine all those minerals herself, clearly. Lady Volcica is first - a shaman who speaks with the spirits, hoping to find good places to search for mining locations. Arthen Dayne is also hired on as a notable explorer. Marquessa Arcadia is also an excellent scout, and points out several areas of interest. Lady Mikani, no slouch in the exploration and scouting department herself, also joins.

Aksel Nygard, with his experience of mines and miners (he could have been a miner himself if he'd followed the family tradition, after all), work hard to find just the right spots. Baltus also pitches in, and Lady Rosalind points them at possible locations. Duke-Consort Kaldur grants the aid of Crovane as well, helping his vassal expand and explore - this is his bailiwick, for certain.

Of course, all doesn't go quite as smoothly as everyone might want. The first place they try is all wrong - when the first pick lands, the stone crumbles away softly, and Volcica gets a feeling that this place is not going to be strong enough to build large, safe tunnels for miners. They move on.

The second place they try looks better, and they're starting to build, when there's an odd rumbling. Aksel knows that sound well and shouts for everyone to evacuate. They do, as quickly as possible, but one miner stumbles. It's Lady Rosalind that grabs his hand and pulls him to his feet, urging him to run - and Countess Aella herself who's the last one out, making sure that everyone gets out safely.

But the third mine - the third mine is the right place, and the mine they establish there is strong, and large, and seems to go deeper than the mountain itself. This is going to be a good place to find exactly the thing she's looking for - a solid foundation for an expanded domain.

Success!

In anticipation of the high volume of visitors likely to be caused by Marquessa Rhea's creation of a Grand Northern Bazaar in Aviaron's Peak, Lord Riagnon (empowered by his sister) orders a preemptive increase in peacekeeping patrols in and around Aviaron's Peak.

It's Riagnon's hope to create career opportunities for House Acheron's people while still fulfilling an honor-bound obligation to ensure the safety of foreign guests in their lands. These guards will primarily act to prevent and otherwise dissuade bandits, thieves, and other abusive criminals from interfering with merchants, tourist visitors, or other innocent locals!. Of course, by 'Riagnon begins' ... we read, 'Riagnon begins bringing on PC & NPC experts to...'

Breakdown:

I. The Court of Arx was petitioned (and bribed with baked goods!) to consult on updated rules regarding the FAIR but TOUGH treatment of criminals by these new guard patrols in Acheron controlled territories. The Chief Magistrate made her recommendation based on familiarity with law as well as life in the North. (Cadern)

II. Military minds are enlisted to see to the recruitment, training protocols, other tactical procedures for locally hired guard patrols. Riagnon will also get his hands dirty, personally contributing here as this is where his own experience mostly lies. He'll even go on a few patrols, himself.

Cadern as a representative of the court will be helping in formalizing a set of rules and guidelines for the effort. He will also be enlisting the aid of a number of court & scribes to make sure that the patrollers understand the importance of proper documentation and what's allowed and not. Per discussion with Riagnon the efforts will be focused on 'effective' judgment in line with what exists in the north. Rather than pursuing executions or incarcerations.

Eleanor, not Lord Commander Eleanor, but just regular ol' Eleanor Allenatore, acting in a PURELY PERSONAL CAPACITY and with absolutely no representation of the Crown or the Hundred, she wants to be very clear on that, is helping her protege with this project. She's not a military commander per se, but she does have a great deal of experience with leading a knightly order for the purposes of protecting people, so she can certainly read a guard patrol. She looks over Riagnon's plans, and gives him a few tips and pointers on how best to instruct and deploy the patrols.

In a personal capacity, Princess Agatha will lend her aid in a couple of ways. First, she will ride a few patrols personally to better understand the terrain and assess potential risks as well as opportunities. Second, she will consult with Riagnon and the hired guard patrols on the most strategic deployment of the guard force. And third, Agatha will assist with training the guard force as needed.

What would be a massive operation like the Grand Nothern Bazaar if not for investments and work being put towards protecting said operation? Lord Riagnon Acheron, the Sword of Aviaron's Peak, seems to lead the efforts to make the whole place extremely safe for all involved, dispensing justice wherever it is needed to keep things ordained as his ruler steers Aviaron's Peak towards a new era.

Working closely with Lord Magistrate Cadern Ravenseye, Lord Riagnon makes sure the Courts of Arx review and design the best code of conduct for those fighting criminals in Acheron lands, and the people of the region stand in awe at the fair treatment of bandits. Unsurprisingly, it is not always kind, but the people seem to have no pity for criminals in the Northlands. Lord Commander Eleanor Allenatore, who makes sure to expound on how she is there representing herself, and not her order, is seen by the masses assisting her protege by helping with strategy and deployment of patrols. Riding with such patrols is Princess Agatha Redrain, and watching her makes the crowds cheer for this newly-born Red Guard. Suffices to say, people feel safe and inspired!

A group is gathered. Some he knows far better than others, they are not all his closest of allies, not all his closest of friends. But they are, in Jeffeth's eyes: Good people. Good in their different ways. All good in different ways and on their different paths. On the thirteenth hour, on the thirteenth day, this motley group joins the large man in the Lower Boroughs. In the Tragedy. Where Jeffeth grew up. Where Martin died. Thirteen candles are lit as Jeffeth welcomes each person with a warm smile and a tight hug. When the thirteenth hour begins, Jeffeth starts the ritual.

"Compassion." Jeffeth rumbles lowly. The first tabard Jeffeth ever owned, the one given to him by Brother Martin, the only father he ever knew is burned. The man tells a short story about Brother Martin. A story about how Martin once lied to a guard, a guard who caught a child who stole from Martin. A hungry child. But Martin had compassion on the boy and spared him from punishment. That child would later become Jeffeth's brother, Andry.

"Love." A stuffed corgi is put to the flame. Jeffeth's eyes welling up. "Our greatest strength and greatest weakness." He offers no story, yet watches the corgi burn.

"Passion." A mask of a fawn is placed in the flame. "It can drive us to go beyond who we are and what we are. With it we can achieve much." He tells a story of how he danced with a woman in a fawn mask. How their passion transported them to another place entirely, how their passion would empower them and enable them in their stories to come.

"Generosity." A toy knight is placed over the fire and burned. Jeffeth tells a story of how Brother Martin learned to carve, just to give some of the children at the orphanage toys like other children had.

"Humility."

And on and on it goes. Thirteen ideals, thirteen sacrificed items. The ritual all told is one where something dark becomes light. Where something tarnished becomes clean. The big man tells a quiet story after each ideal. And slowly, so very slowly, a grander story is told. Historic wrongs being made right. If scars can't be healed, at least a salve is put on them. Something soothing and warm.

It's a story of turning from the past and looking to the new. While being aware of the past, things must be set new. Hearts must be turned, kindness must be offered.

Shard is here to watch and listen, and watching and listening is pretty much all she intends to do, unless something should somehow go catastrophically wrong. She'll stand silent witness to the ritual from start to end.

Umbroise is honored by Sir Jeffeth's request to support and witness his cleansing ritual. While she has no real use for magic herself, she understands the importance of what he is trying to accomplish. She will be there to witness, and to lend her support, and to learn.

Carmen Harol joins Sir Jeffeth's whatever-this-is, polite but skeptical, listening attentively, one member of this motley crew of good people. She says little, grins where appropriate for the stories, and seems to be taking her social cues from the Whisper on what to do during a whatever-this-is.

Lothar is fascinated to see the ritual in person, and returns Jeffeth's greeting warmly when they gather on the thirteenth day. He watches the burnt offerings and listens to Jeffeth's tales in thoughtful, studious silence.

Jennyva has no idea what's going on.. But everything's fine! She asists doing whatever she can for the ritual, watching and learning as best as she can.

Selene is one of those excellent observers. She listens and pays close attention to Jeffeth's every action. The stories bring out smiles when delightful, sorrow when called for. Not a word from her til the end, but she will watch all the same.

As a witness to the Knight Commander's ritual of cleansing, Isobella watches with polite interest, her cool visage warmed slightly when Jeffeth speaks of her protege, his younger brother Andry Bayweather. What makes a person good? What landed her on this list? And who would scoff if they heard tell of it? All irrelevant in the moment, and she's here with her support.

Everybody knows that if you give a bear a cookie, he (or she!) is gonna want a glass of milk. Just in case there ARE suddenly bears at this ritual, Riagnon isn't bringing cookies so much as... a layer cake of white chocolate curled torte with edible pearls and flourishes. As for the other thing - he's just gonna trust that there will be Oathlanders around with milk. What were we talking about?

Tescelina stands as witness to Jeffeth's cleansing, listening to his story and -- of course -- learning all that she can from the ritual.

On the thirteenth hour of the thirteenth day, Jeffeth prepares his rite of cleansing. He gathers in the Tragedy - home to him, a place of much memory, good and bad. A place where childhood memories linger. Where the death of Brother Martin still haunts the halls. Where children's laughter hangs in the air.

And he lights his candles and starts by speaking of compassion. Then love, and passion and generosity. He has a big heart, does Jeffeth, and the sound of children playing comes echoing through the corridors of the Tragedy. The more he speaks, the more it feels like some momentous time.

This is the time. This is when - and where - the next generation will be built. They are all building for the children, to leave them something better. Something stronger. Old wounds healed. Wrongs made right. A fresher, cleaner world, given to these children - the ones who have been, the ones who are, the ones who yet will be.

Yes, there's love and laughter that linger in the air as his rite concludes. Love, and laughter, and hope bright and sure, like a warm hug that brings comfort even against the darkest times. Things are getting better, aren't they just?

Marquessa Rhea Acheron has tasked Umbroise with the weighty matters pertaining to the conflict between House Bellerive and House Threerivers, and all of the things that have spilled over since. She will be personally traveling to Threerivers, with a proper escort of course, to see if she can talk some sense into Count Trevor, and convince him to withdraw his troops from the lands of House Bellerive and to cease harassing the vessels of Harthall.

On her way there, she will pay visits to the other vassals of House Acheron to talk trade, spread propaganda about how war is bad for trade, and spread a message of unity within the March. Her hope is that by doing so, she will help reassure the other vassals that House Acheron won't tolerate aggressive actions, but offers its support to its vassals in time of need.

When she arrives at Threerivers, she will seek an audience with Count Trevor of Threerivers to see if she can convince him to bring his troops home, that a siege of Bellerive risks a war with House Blackram and its vassals. She will attempt to convince him that none of this is good for trade, and she will offer him some heavy incentives to withdraw those troops such as support in laying claim to some of that disputed territory. One of those incentives will be an exclusive right to a corner of the new great marketplace that the Marquessa has planned to build in Aviaron's Peak.

She will sympathize with him, be fully supportive and understanding for the losses suffered among his soldiers, listen to his grievances and do her best to see them addressed, but she will be firm. While he may be free to do what he wishes within his own lands, besieging the lands of another fealty is not an acceptable solution. She will, however, do everything in her power to assure him that she has his best interests at heart for the sake of the March as a whole, and wishes only to help him out of this difficult situation. She'll try to convince him of the benefits of the Great Road, and how it will help to bring trade to his County, being so close to it, once these disputes can be settled.

Should he agree to return home, Umbroise will do her best to negotiate a deal to divide those disputed lands between Threerivers and Bellerive so that the lines may finally be firmly drawn to everyone's satisfaction. It is her hope that in doing so, future conflicts will not ensue. If he doesn't agree to return his troops home and end the siege of Last Bridge, well... that would be up to the Marquessa, surely, as to what will happen next. But Umbroise hopes it doesn't come to that.

It's no mistake that Riagnon is accompanying Umbroise on her mission. Symbolic of House Acheron's honor and legitimacy, the House Sword's presence is meant to speak to the gravity with which Marquessa Rhea takes these conflicts as well as her investment in discovering a happy denouement. Not a diplomat himself, Riagnon will defer to Umbroise on most matters while flexing every muscle of knightly etiquette in his possession. Hopefully Umbroise doesn't make him fight anyone to the death.

New to the conflict, Kenna is quite happy to be a force behind the scenes. She charms her way into various confidences, working mostly among the army to sway minds and hearts towards a more peaceful action. It's her intent to sway the public opinion against the conflict. She reminds them of the trade ties that are fraying and close to severing. Leaning on her merchant background she reminds them of how scarce food gets during conflicts, and the approaching harvest season that will go unharvested if the armies are not in residence.

Radhilde is not very knowledgeable about everything politics but one thing she knows for sure is that something large is at stake. She fully supports Umbroise, not just as her sister but in House Acheron's ultimate goal of peace, so she also joins the journey to Threerivers. Radhilde intends to use her wits at her sister's side as she lends agreement to her offers of peace and efforts to reason with Count Trevor and will use her perception to take note of anything amiss.

Jeffeth has been asked to accompany the retinue heading up to Threerivers. With him he carries the authority of the Knights of Solace. But mostly, he's bringing big smiles. The large knight is here to offer his support for any negotiations that could be made with the opposing parties. He of course will be making sure to protect the group should anything happen. But mostly he is here to provide support. If they reach any negotiations, if there is any assurances the Solace can make, he can act as an obective representative of the Faith. Peace is best here guys, come onnnn.

Lady Umbroise Acheron's actions are absolutely vital, and in the end make all the difference for ending the war between House Bellerive and House Threerivers. Countess Tresa Threerivers at first is furious and wants to avenge her father, but all of them have their ways of helping talk Threerivers down from the ledge they are at first determined to try to leap off of. Umbroise and Radhilde have an advantage in that their coming to Acheron was relatively tragic- they might be of the liege's house for Threerivers, but like Countess Tresa, they know loss. It's deeply meaningful for her to see Umbroise help oversee the return of the bodies, and then have all the members of House Acheron speak and plead with her. Kenna is meaningful, as a new member and an outsider who has a fresh set of eyes, and speaks compelling about the losses from continued war, while Riagnon as House Sword is a symbol of how seriously Acheron takes the mission. (And he doesn't have to fight anyone to the death.) Jeffeth as a presence helps as well, due to the respect commanded by the Knights of Solace. Ultimately, it's their efforts that has Threerivers willing to seek peace, and agree to the meditation of disputed territory by the Faith as being pushed by the Whisper House.

Riagnon lost his turtle, Responsibility. He's assembling a team of the most talented minds, swords, and bows in all of Arx to solve this mystery!

"Hello, my name is Responsibility. I'm a Crownlands hardshell turtle and this... is my story..."

So begins the 8 1/2 page mission briefing and summary distributed to all those involved in the rescue of Responsibility, the reckless turtle.

In addition to detailing the animal's day-to-day at the Acheron's residence in Arx (life on the Grand Shellington Estate, the turtle-sized castle where the noble turtles of House Acheron reside; relaxing by the turtle pond in Acheron's 'Glacial Grove' courtyard garden; drinking at Spirits in the Redrain Ward; the occasional appearance in the entirely mirror-lined locked closet located off of Mydas's former quarters), the documents also include a few wildly inaccurate factoids about turtles as a species. For example, it claims that one can determine the gender of a turtle via smell according to Marquessa Rhea. It also suggests that as turtles age and grow, they abandon the shells of their youth for newer, larger ones found out in nature. A very vulnerable time for any turtle! Who put these two in charge of a place? Oh, right! No one.

Dame Esoka Greenblood, Gloria's Sword, former wielder of the Twain of Riven, Disciple Leader of the Templars, and prodigal knight of acclimated esteem, will use all her questing powers to find Responsibility, the reckless turtle. She will utilize her knowledge of turtle habitat and habits gained as a girl in the riverlands. She will ignore the factual inaccuracies in Lord Riagnon's instrutions (bless his heart) and tell the people she meets in her search accurate things about turtles. She figures he found a place under the ice to wait out the winter and will check frozen-over ponds and garden arrangements in the Redrain Ward. She prays to Petrichor that nobody ate him. That'd be a tragic end to their noble quest.

"Riagnon, none of these turtle facts are true!"

Eleanor, the (RESPONSIBLE) owner of all of the other residents of the Grand Shellington Estate, is aiding in the search for the missing turtle. This largely consists of two things:
1. armed with strawberries and every turtle fact she knows, Eleanor will try and marshal the other turtle-hunters into some sort of organized turtle-hunting force. They will look in the pond, they will take a census of the Grand Shellington Estate, they will check the spoopy mirror room, they will (carefully) look underneath any old towels or discarded laundry. They will otherwise listen to Eleanor's wise and excellent turtle-hunting leadership.
2. shouting at Riagnon about his incorrect turtle facts.

As Rhea's protege, part of Calaudrin's job is giving Riagnon non-terrible advice. He'll try to manage that this time, when he's not combing the streets, looking in sewers, checking puddles, ponds and reflecting pools for the turtle. He also asks numerous tavern owners if they've been serving TURTLE STEW recently. They better not be.

Tikva is vehemently ready to go on this great turtle hunt. She blithely discards all of Riagnon's advice when it comes to searching for turtles, but spends her time examining the parks and outdoor areas of the Redrain Ward, and a little in the Crown ward, and a little just like... you know, around. It's like a scavenger hunt.

Umbroise really doesn't know what's up with this turtle business, but she'll help her cousin out and see what she can find. She'll first check her own rooms, to make sure the turtle isn't hiding there! And then she'll use her charm and manipulative skills on the Household staff to see if she can root out anyone who may have seen the little bugger... er... turtle.

All of Austen's knowledge about turtles comes from Riagnon. This is concerning.

As is the fact that he's trying to avoid Eleanor every time the subject of turtles come up. Which is difficult to do when you're working together to search for a turtle.

Mostly, to help find Riagnon's missing Responsibility, he's trying to figure out what he would do if he were a turtle. This mostly involves making maps of the Acheron residence and moving a little turtle figurine around it.

When outsiders fight over our souls, when the beast below us threatens to engulf us. When the days turn darkest. We must band together. We must show strength. We must

Find this damn turtle. Jeffeth doesn't have a lot of turtle tracking experience. Though he has found a couple on accident, and he is hoping that real world training will apply to this situation. Like most things Jeffeth really wants to apply himself to, he'll just do it doggedly. Tiredly searching probably the same place ten times over. But he doesn't have any quit in him. So he'll keep a searchin'.

Rhea, who has gotten just-- really, really great at this leadership thing, trust her, she'd give herself an A+, is going to give a rousing speech to the would-be turtle questers. She will be sure to ensure these valiant heroes that they will have all the thoughts and prayers they need to succeed in saving Riagnon's failed -- she means lost, sorry, -- Responsibility. Also? PLENTY of turtle facts (likely to be fact-checked on the spot by Eleanor, but whatever). Finally, she will offer a mysterious REWARD to the one who does, in fact, find Responsibility.

Jasher probably wishes he brought some rum, now.
Sufficiently moved by Riagnon's eight and a half pages of briefing and summary regarding Responsibility, Jasher will join the others in searching for the lost turtle. While his knowledge starts and stops at what Eleanor can tell when she's not shouting at Riagnon, he can combine what little he knows with good old logical thinking to map out where he would go if he was a normal wayward turtle. Come the Abyss or high water, he's not leaving a rock unturned.

In the Grand Shellington Estate, missing turtles are among the most serious events. The men and women who search for them comprise an elite turtle task force. This is their story.

The staff has the 8 1/2 page document in hand about turtles, though even as Riagnon is beaming about his amazing presentation, Eleanor is already marking through lines and correcting the wildly inaccurate factoids to anyone who will listen - which is mostly Rhea, who is being extremely indulgent as is her wont, and Austen, who has a look of long-suffering on his face - or perhaps he's just anticipating suffering a long time. Eleanor is gesturing with strawberries and handing them out to everyone as she continues her educational conversation.

Esoka searches the pond, her lips moving in a prayer to Petrichor that said turtle is not frozen under the ice, or stolen, or.. or eaten. Turtle soup is a delicacy in some parts. Some parts other than here of course. Nothing so awful would be cooked here - and Esoka finds no sign of Responsibility.

Calaudrin takes the show on the road, looking in streets and sewers and pubs and taverns. If Responsbility is taking the day off, he reasons, wouldn't he want to get drunk? But if the turtle isn't going to get drunk, well - this ale won't drink itself and Calaudrin does an extremely thorough job of investigation, and seems happy enough to do it.

Jeffeth is enthusiastic, to say the least. Enthusiastic, but not terribly effective. He goes through the house calling for Responsibility, and he sounds Very Serious when he does, but Responsibility does not show up.

Tikva, having watched all this for a while, is suddenly nowhere to be found.

Jasher, pleased with what he keeps calling a so-shell outing, joins Umbroise in the search, and the spiders - yes, even in a well-kept estate like theirs spiders do dwell - start to swarm. And they start to lead the way to a room... Casimir's room, as it happens, and there's a scratching on the door.

Responsibility! Found at last, for some reason in Casimir's room, and safe - if a little hungry. And just as Riagnon is happily reunited with Responsibility, Tikva bursts through the door waving a very surprised turtle that looks -just- like Responsibility. "I found him!"

Success!

Roughly one third (3000 men) of the Iron Guard will be deployed to defend the Lodge proper and the Watchtower. Scouts will be assigned to the Watchtower under the command of Lieutenant Calaudrin while the rest will defend the Lodge under Silas's command. Two ballistae will be placed at the Lodge, the Watchtower, the Burrows, and Unicorn Pasture and they will be operated by the Iron Guard and House Seliki's engineers (see Kaldur's action), deployed with the intent to use them on the gargantuans once the Inquisition's rituals have helped weaken them. The Iron Guard deploy four ballistae, the Crimson Blades deploy three, and House Deepwood has donated one to the effort.

Additionally, the Shield of Morien will presumably be deployed at the Lodge, though the details will likely be in the Inquisition's action. Whether they fuel it with souls or plants, Silas doesn't care!

Prior to battle, the soldiers will dig ditches and trenches that supplement natural features of the terrain. They gather tree trunks and branches (preferably from trees already fallen), sharpen the ends, and lodge them in said trenches as simple 'traps'.

Archers will be placed on the platforms Skye and her forces will build, shooting incoming threats. Cavalry will be in the front in order to make full use of their mobility, while Infantry will be further back in shieldwall formation. They will be more focused on defense than offense, letting the enemy forces come to them, since protecting the Lodge itself is absolutely paramount.

When the gargantuans reveal themselves, and if they come within 100 yards of the Lodge, they will be assaulted by the ballista regardless of the effectiveness of the rituals. They will use handmade ballista bolts with rope (300 ft long) stringed to the end, aimed at appendages and limbs with the intention of ensnaring them more than outright harming them. If successful, the bolts will be replaced with stone shot for maximum damage output.

Other present commanders include:
- Sparte (Cavalry)
- Austen (Pike)

Other present factions include:
- The Lodge forces
- Knights of Solace
- Physicians
- Various Grayson forces

((OOC: I may have sent an invitation for you to join knowing you will be elsewhere, simply to let you know what we're doing. If you're meant to be at the Watchtower or with another faction, don't worry! No need to assist here.))

As the commander on location at the Lodge, Sparte will be working to maintain the morale of those men and women assigned with him. He will hold regular interforce drills for those not on patrol, to help ensure the guard is ready to work together with those assigned with him.

Painfully aware his tactical prowess is not a strength as a commander, Sparte will be folding the military tactics that the Iron Cavalry employ into those of the Lodge's Stag Riders.

Nebulosa waits as part of the defense, ready to deploy her sword and her courage in service of the Lodge's preservation.

Ever since Austen was put in charge of the Iron Guard's pike regiment he has been training, drilling his troops, preparing for war. The Pike will hold back with the rest of the infantry, allowing enemies to come to them. The 500 pikemen will be put into 5 pike squares of a hundred men each, joined up to form a full battle line. Austen, unless otherwise commanded, will be in the centre square, leading by example.

As (just bearly!) a full-fledged member of the Iron Guard, Riagnon will be uh... doing... that. Iron Guarding, that is! He'll also make sure snacks are well stocked. No big deal but that's sort of his unofficial official duty -that he decided without permission.

Tessa's seen unicorns before and feels it's a mission given to her by Petrichor to protect these and other creatures like them! As such she (and the Moore cavalry) are here with the iron guard cavalry to defend the unicorns and any other of Petrichor's creatures from anything that will dare harm them.

Baroness Skye Blackshore, Thrax Minister of Infrastructure, is going to assist the Iron Guard with preparing for the battle by setting fortifications like archery platforms for the trees that will be minimally invasive to remove. Shudders on the windows (OOC Note: like storm shutters for hurricanes that can be easily removed after the event and slits that can be manipulated so the archers can shoot out.)

Gargantuans at the Lodge? No problem, right? Well. Actually problem, because it was a painful battle indeed. Over six hundred dead, all told - and only thanks to the Faith's trebuchets and some excellent use of information gleaned from accounts of battles in Queen Alarice's time. Many brave souls perished - but the Lodge still stands.