Clockwork, Steam & Sorcery

[loxmyth]

Our intrepid trio easily outpaces their pursuers, who seem to tire quickly of chasing them anyhow. Soon, Forge, Froud and Yara are far from Grundle's, having winded their way through maze-like streets and over a minor bridge that leads into the peaceful parks and meticulously manicured terrain of Swanbridge district. Here, the mighty River Westering rushes on its snaking path west to the Unbroken Sea, small fishing boats and yachts tied up along its length.

Yara has caught her breath and smiles at Froud with a look of satisfaction. "That was quite the little run," she answers brightly. Then she frowns slightly, looking over her shoulder in the direction of the Dwarven bar. "But we didn't get our hands on the loot. I'm sorry fellows. I was sure we'd be able to nick it."

Behind them, Forge heard a splash, and turned to see the dark shape of a large man on the other side of the river and further down it. The shape was wrong for a dwarf, but it was wreathed in shadows and obscured in the distance. Something floated in the water though, buoyed along by the Westering's current. The half-submerged thing looked vaguely humanoid, but Forge couldn't be sure at this distance.

Neither Froud nor Yara seemed to have noticed this yet, however.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Hey! What was that? The young mage said. *Gears. Go fly over that shape in the water, see if it's still alive.* He thinks to his familiar.

Forge is off running again this time toward the river and the shape.

 

[loxmyth]

Yes, yes, the owl thinks at his master impatiently, and then jumps into the air, wings silently beating as the currents pull the familiar higher. Soon it is circling the shape that bobs along in the current, swooping momentarily to get a closer look.

Smells like blood, Forge hears in his mind, as the creature climbs into the night sky for the third time. And it does not move.

OoC: Forge is heading for the shape in the water, not the one in the shadows, correct?

 

[Argent Silvermage]

OoC: Forge is heading for the shape in the water, not the one in the shadows, correct?

OOC: Correct. I'll send gears after the shadows.

 

[loxmyth]

The shape floats down the river lazily, slowly spinning in the gentle currents as it bobs along. Forge quickly runs to the riverside and spies it as it floats past a small flotilla of row boats. It is obviously a humanoid shape, probably halfling from the size and shape. It is out of arms reach, and Forge will either have to swim into the stream or abandon the body to its fate.

Meanwhile, Gears darts across the way, his thoughts telepathically whispered into his master's mind. A big creature, swathed in heavy clothes. He is withdrawing to the streets.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Guard! Some one call the Guard! There's a man in the river! Forge yells and sprints as fast as his legs will take him. He will try to get into a boat as close as he can get to the body and fish it out with an oar.
Froud! Get help. Yara, Help me get this person out of the river.

 

[Uriel]

Froud will run off towards the most habited and lively looking street yelling 'Murder!Murder!! Watch! Ho the Watch!!!' and such.

 

[loxmyth]

~ Forge
With a paddle in tow, the Dwarven Enchanter makes his way precariously along a bobbing boat the body is sure to pass. He was unused to the rocking motion, but managed to keep fairly dry nevertheless. Swinging the paddle into the water, Forge sighed in relief as the body caught and with a little awkwardness, he was able to pull it onto the boat with Yara's help. It is indeed a halfling body, pale of complexion and looking quite dead.

"Poor fool," she whispers somberly her eyes wide with fear, and then looks across at Forge. "The killer could still be at all, mark me. We should beat a hasty retreat, 'fore we're next!"

~ Froud
Froud runs down the streets, which seem oddly empty and dark, even for the middle of the night. A feeling of foreboding wells up in him as he scurries down flawlessly manicured, soulless streets, but passes as he breaks into an oasis of light. The Gnome finds himself in a lantern-lit cobbled clearing that faces a tall stone building with marble columns; the Hall of Justice. Two men in the bronze breastplate and plumed helemt of the City Guard are running toward him swords bared, hearing his shouts.

"Calm down, good man!" the first says, sheathing his sword and grabbing the gnome by his shoulders. "What's seems to be the matter? Murder, you say?"

~ Miriah
Miriah lay in her bed on the campus dorm, unable to sleep. Was it because she'd need to present some progress to her academic advisor the next day? It could have been because of the rash of murders; every one seemed jumpy and the nights were unbearable with tension. Perhaps it was the weather; these days it seemed to shift between unbearably hot and stiffingly hot, and even cooler nights were muggy. Of course, it could be nothing.

 

[Seonaid]

Miriah glances around her room. Nothing seems amiss, but she admits to herself that it would be difficult to tell what with all of her things scattered everywhere. The lack of a roommate only allows her to spread across the entire room. She looks around for Mouse and is reassured by the familiar presence next to her bed. Mouse looks at her alertly for a moment and then settles down, asking Miriah to do the same. After quite some time of listening to the night sounds outside the open window, she finally falls asleep.

 

[Uriel]

Froud attempt to say three things at once 'A body in the river...my friend Forge saw the whole thing... Murder I say, a Murder!! Come on, he's getting away!'
The Gnome then turns, running back towards the Bridge (hopefully with the Guards in tow).