Clockwork, Steam & Sorcery

[loxmyth]

~ The streets of Crowngate

"We have plenty of flour and grain," the plump halfling speaks up quickly. "A key ingredient that can be used in any baking good and it will taste extraordinary. Though I must say your threatening me is quite rude." The rotund fellow wipes the sweat from his brow, and his eyes move from the wolf to the druid.

~ Behind Philander's Clockwork, Rooksbridge

The leader nods. "Yeh I gots witnesses," he sneers at Larina, indicating the rest of his gang. "We were all there when he did it. Does this mean we'll get back what's rightfully ours?"

"It's mine," the boy intones again, weakly. Lip a-quiver, tears welling in his big blue eyes, he looks as close to abject misery as one could be. However, both Larina and James suspect that the boy is lying, but the gang seem to be teling the truth.

 

[Jemal]

"Well, If the money is yours you should know exactly how much is in the pouch, should you not? So, how much money would I find if I were to open that pouch?" James turns his gaze to the leader. "If it is proven the money is yours, I'll get it back to you, but why not let the lad keep the bread? I doubt someone would steal from such tough looking young men as yourselves if he were not desperate." James feels pity for the boy, and contempt for the gang of what seems to be thugs, but if it IS their money, he would feel obliged to return it.. Unless he can find some way to prove that THEY came by it through unsavory/illegal means.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Forge looks at Linda and slash and realises that she is as wild and dangerous as the wolf. Linda please. These things happen. I'm only a bit hurt and I'm sure a healer at the academy will be able to heal me. Lets go. Forge gets off the cart and starts walking to the academy. He will stop only if the halflings try to stop him.

 

[Krug]

"Quite rude? And what do you think I make of you charging your wagon at me?" Linda growls. "You're lucky we're in the city. If not you'd be lunch AND dinner for Slash. If I see you again be careful, else I'll turn you into a snail and I'll be a little more than just rude to you," she says. She follows after Forge, miffed and still seething with anger.

 

[loxmyth]

~ The streets of Crowngate

"Young lady, it was not our intent to run anyone over with our cart," the plump halfling states hotly, "and if you could look beyond your own anger - which I must say is quite unbecoming of you - you would agree that -"

"Let's just go," interrupts his companion, shoving his companion in the direction of the broken cart. "Thank the Mother of Bounties and let's get on with it, huh?"

Neither of the halflings attempts to stop Forge from leaving with Linda, as they are much more interested on assessing the condition of their odd vehicle.

~ Behind Philander's Clockwork, Rooksbridge

The leader of the ruffians falters for a moment and exchanges glances with the rest of his gang. "Alright, we'll give the little rutter the bread. Was old n' crusty anyhows. But the money's ours. It's a few silver coins, no more n' ten or so. Obviously nothing fer rich types like yerself. But it's all we got."

The young man steps forward again, breathing deeply. Now he was just ten or so feet away from James. "Just give us what we got comin' and we'll ferget about the pecker." He holds out his hand tentatively, clearly suspicious of the man with the greathammer on his back.

All of the street urchins look at James with bated breath, awaiting his decision.

 

[Sixchan]

Larina looks to the boy. "Well, kid? How much is in there?"

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Forge slows and is gritting his teeth in pain. (He took almost 1/2 his hit points in damage) Linda I'm sure the little people didn't mean to harm anyone. Clockworks can be difficult to control when broken. He is holding his arm and looks in pain. I am very glad you and Slash were not harmed. I just think there was a better way of dealing with the Halflings. Remember this is a society not the wilds

 

[Jemal]

"Fine." James takes a gold piece out of his pocket and hands it to the ruffian. "Just leave the boy alone, and I'll make sure he leaves you alone as well from now on." He finishes, his voice carrying an air of dissmissal as he then turns to look at the boy, casting a glance at his companion.

 

[Sixchan]

Larina catches the glance, and jumps on the defensive. "What? I don't trust any of them! All of them working together have probably been trying to swindle us out of far more than a gold piece! He's as likely to be a thief as any of the others!" She looks to James, and then to the boy, and sighs. She reaches into her pocket and takes out a gold piece. "Here kid." She flips the coin into the air in the boy's direction.

 

[loxmyth]

~ Behind Philander's Clockwork, Rooksbridge

The leader of the ruffians looks down at the gold coin in his palm with amazement, hefting it in his hand as if he can't believe it's real. "Good man," he says approvingly, satisfied by the money. "All we want's what's ars." With that, he backs off. Once he reaches his friends, the four of them round a corner and are gone from view.

The young boy's eyes nearly pop out of his head as Larina throws him a coin and he catches it. He too, weighs the coin in his hands carefully, then cautiously bites the corner before breaking out into a relieved smile. "Th-thank you, ma'am," he manages to mumble. "Ya gotta believe me, I ain't no swindler, ma'am. I be a child of the street and no more or less. It's a hard place, and I thank ya for makin' it a little less hard. Isame bless ya."

That said, the boy cautiously starts to move down the alley in the direction James and Larina just came from, away from the last sight of the ruffians.

~ En route to the University, in Crowngate

Linda and Forge make their way back to the University grounds, the wizard hobbling a bit from his injuries. They pass a wide variety of people dressed in elaborate dresses and longcoats that are the hallmark of the aristocracy. The streets here also seem less crowded, giving the two ample time to talk as they walk.

OOC: Linda and Forge, if you wish to do anything before returning to the University, you have this chance before I update your situation.