The Grimbriar Gazette | Issue No. V
Updated: 1 day ago
Weather
The weatherstone is wet and vibrating, therefore it is storming. Six toads have surrounded the weatherstone and shield their faces beneath their hands, thus the storm is expected to last until at least morning. Lightning has struck Grimbriar three times since sunrise. Flooding is expected in the dungeons, so any students exploring out of bounds should return to the main floor. Vibrating stones in the castle walls should be avoided at all costs.
Lost & Found
Lost: Fat guinea pig named Harold. Will come when called, especially if you have carrots. Don't let him start talking about Nietzsche, unless you want to be stuck in an existential conversation with a rodent for three hours.
Lost: Cat-print pajama dress, size small. Pink fabric with orange cats wearing ribbons around their necks. There's nothing magical about it, it's just my favorite and I'd really like to have it back. If found, please leave outside the entrance to the North Dormitories.
Found: Small dust sprite who calls itself Beemie. Exceedingly smart and curious. Nibbles at your fingers. Found in the corner of the West Stairwell.
Found: Two perfectly fried eggs on a porcelain plate in the main entry. Eggs stay hot no matter how long it has been. They smell delicious, but I know better than to eat strange, lost food. I'll leave it next to the fireplace in the entry hall.
Gossip
Fancy Felines & A Bride-to-Be
Word in the hallways is that there's a wedding to be held on Grimbriar grounds! Students have noticed that Grimbriar's famed cat tunnel system has been exceedingly busy as of late, with plenty of unfamiliar whiskers ducking in and out of the small doorways. A select few students have begun to receive small invitations under their pillows.
Orange cats with docked tails have been spotted carrying small, tufted chairs to the tower library, while tuxedo cats have been hauling large bags of squirming, live rats.
"It was like a parade of cats! Some held up silver trays dripping with cheese and honey, while a whole group of lady cats with white silk bundled in their arms hurried past, mumbling something about sewing," said Peter Croft, a senior student.
A white cat with green eyes knocked on the door of a student in the East Dorms, requesting "a bit of rouge, if you don't mind." Of course, the student obliged and sent the cat on her way with freshly pinked cheeks and a spot of glitter for good luck. The Grimbriar Gazette believes this to be the bride, Firabane Tuft!
The event promises to be luxurious, though human attendees are hoping for food that doesn't squeak and squirm. Best stop by the kitchens for a small snack beforehand, just in case! Remember: if you have not received an invite, keep your good manners and wish the bride and groom well wishes from afar! You're sure to hear all about it from your friends, anyway. It's not every day a student gets to attend a cat wedding!
Rumors
Ghastly Ghosts & Sulfurous Secrets
Ghosts have begun their annual migration to Grimbriar. While many of the spectral faces are familiar, there is one new ghost that has left many students feeling a little uneasy. It entered through the window of the East stairwell, descended to the dormitory hall, and has remained there since, facing the blue and white tile mural. Students who have approached say the ghost is a tall, faceless woman holding a wooden bowl. The bowl looks to contain water, but students who dared to take a closer look reported the ghastly smell of sulfur and a funny, tingling sensation on the back of their necks. The woman does not move, speak, or seem to interact in any way. Information on this ghost is appreciated, and Headmistress Hennenthorpe specifically asks students to refrain from approaching the ghost until further notice.
Familiar Faces
Meet Mr. Dottery, Resident Silver Polisher
Settled in a creaking, wooden chair that has broken one too many times, nestled in the coolest corner of the kitchens, Mr. Dottery sits polishing silver. If you've ever ventured to the kitchens for a late night snack, you've likely spotted him there. He comes down at night, an older fellow with deep wrinkles and twinkling eyes. Tufts of white hair sprout from above his long ears, having long receded from his balding head covered in freckles. He describes himself as quiet, elusive even, having always preferred the quiet of night.
Mr. Dottery doesn't work for Grimbriar. Don't confuse him as one of the staff, or even a professor. Mr. Dottery died here long, long ago. His ethereal, translucent form has roamed the castle ever since. At one time, he studied here. He won't reveal when or how he perished, though he thinks on it for a moment with a small smile. "It was a silly mistake, though I can't say I'm upset to stay here a while longer."
While many ghosts struggle to interact with objects, especially silver, he does not. When asked why he chooses to fill his time by polishing silver, Mr. Dottery replied:
"It feels cool in my hands. Us ghosts don't feel much day to day, so it's nice to have that sensation again. I always loved the cold."
A group of younger students have taken it upon themselves to join Mr. Dottery every Tuesday night, with the permission of the Headmistress. They call themselves Mr. Dottery's Polishing Pals, sitting crosslegged beside the ghost as they polish in the silence. If they're lucky, they'll hear a rare, exciting adventure from Mr. Dottery's time at Grimbriar.
"He reminds me of my grandpa," said Grace Cooly, in her first year at Grimbriar. "We always baked together. He was quiet, too, but I never minded."
Next time you're in the kitchens late at night, be sure to stop by and offer a wave. If you're interested in joining the Polishing Pals, please visit any Tuesday night after 9:00PM to check it out. Bring your own polishing rag.
Word Search
This Week’s Menu at Grimbriar Hall
As always, every meal can be altered to meet the dietary needs of any student upon request.
Monday
Breakfast: Cinnamon oat porridge, honeyed walnuts, warm thistle tea
Lunch: Miso mushroom soup, crusty rye bread, tart lychee spritz
Dinner: Smoked venison stew, roasted root vegetables, spiced cider
Tuesday
Breakfast: Rye griddle cakes, blackberry compote, warm honey milk
Lunch: Wild boar hand pie, pickled onions, sour cherry fizz
Dinner: Charred rabbit with rosemary, buttered barley bread, blackberry punch
Wednesday
Breakfast: Tomato and cheese omelet, toasted brown bread, raspberry tea
Lunch: Foraged greens with goat cheese and crispy ham, warm oat toasties, elderflower tonic
Dinner: Peat-smoked trout, dill roasted potatoes, clouded cider
Thursday
Breakfast: Rosemary scones, wild plum jam, spiced mandarin tea
Lunch: Roasted parsnip tart, salted rye crisps, bitterroot fizz
Dinner: Slow-roasted mutton, mashed neeps, dark cherry cordial
Friday
Breakfast: Wild mushroom hash, herb butter toast, foggy pine tea
Lunch: Leek and cheese galette, wilted greens, tart quince tonic
Dinner: Juniper-crusted boar loin, charred cabbage, warm cardamom and saffron milk
Saturday
Breakfast: Spiced barley porridge, stewed figs, warm chestnut milk
Lunch: Roasted beet and walnut salad, seeded flatbread, brambleberry cordial
Dinner: Hollow-roasted squash stuffed with grains, herb custard, sweetened oak tea
Sunday
Breakfast: Sweet honeycomb buns, clotted cream, earl grey tea
Lunch: Goat cheese and cranberry chicken salad, warm buttered croissant, wildflower lemonade
Dinner: Hearthfire roasted vegetables, herb-buttered noodles, warm spiced pear cider
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