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Well known throughout the county, and generally well-liked, Elmer Brickie is the boggan proprietor of the hospitable tavern freehold known as Pine Lodge. Elmer is local to the area, chrysalizing as a young wilder shortly after the Resurgence, and before Count Malcolm Mac Dougal established the county. A long-time supporter of sidhe rule, Brickie nonetheless expects the nobility to respect the rights and interests of commoners. Brickie only reluctantly accepted the Barony of Fair Oaks when his name was chosen in the lottery held to chose a new lord, after the Viscount Tybalt abdicated in order to pursue adventure in the Dreaming. To distinguish himself from a feudal baron whose authority rests on military might, Elmer Brickie has chosen the style of lord mayor, frequently used by common leaders during the Interregnum. His arms are therefore displayed surmounted by a lord mayor's fur cap, rather than a typical baronial coronet. Generally speaking, Brickie does not stand on ceremony. He still tends bar and acts as host at his tavern, and greets all fae warmly, regardless of kith, Court or station. When called upon to settle disputes and dispense justice, he holds an open court in the main room of the lodge, where any interested parties are free to attend. Knowing his fellow fae as well as he does, Elmer is generally a shrewd and evenhanded judge. Although a few kithain have appealed his decisions to the Countess Rosamund, she has never failed to uphold his rulings. The household of Pine Lodge is quite small, comprising only Elmer, his seldom-seen boggan wife, Edna, and occasionally one or two younger fae whom he allows to assist with the management of the tavern. He and his wife do very well all on their own, however, and the hospitality of Pine Lodge is well known throughout the region. If his establishment has any shortcomings, it is the utter absence of hard liquor, which Brickie refuses to serve. The tavern does, however, stock premium wines and beers including a few notable house brews. Elmer's interests include brewing, playing darts, and most notably gardening. His hydrangeas are especially magnificent, having won several blue ribbons at horticultural fairs. He also takes a close interest in other kithain, and has frequently assisted needy changelings in various ways. Typical of Brickie's philosophy is that he will never refuse a meal or a room to any changeling too destitute to pay. Some wonder how he is able to operate at a profit with this policy, and his cheerful reply to those who ask is that he doesn't. While he tends to keep it quiet about it, Brickie is actually quite wealthy by any standards, and sees philanthropy as a fulfilling way to spend his money. Although holding baronial rank, Brickie has declined to join a noble house on the theory that when the Dreaming chose him to rule Fair Oaks, it chose a common fae of no house and presumeably had reasons for so doing. The green and gold of his clasped-hands blazon was selected to honor House Gwydion, by whom both the Barony of Fair Oaks and the freehold of Pine Lodge were originally founded. |
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