When, as it turned out, there really WAS a monster in the harbour that liked beets, people began to complain. A small crowd has now found the pump house, and several of them are pushing, entirely ineffectually, on one of the doors. Word, apparently, gets around.

Dirk pushes towards the pump house.

Danielle walks towarf the crowd with a sigh, knowing that it does not particularly matter that she wasn't trying to bring a monster upon the city. she dhe looks around to make certain an ally with an actual weapon is nearby before getting to near the throng

The throng - about two dozen people plus the usual passers-by - is hammering with fists on the blank door. It's the obvious one, the one that Dirk broke through recently, although it's now fully repaired. Filinia peers out of the real door carefully, sees what is going on, and vanishes into the big building.

It's easy enough for Danielle to find a length of pipe, although she'll have to pull it off the wall. Alleyways here are polite, well-swept, and clean of weapons that don't require vandalism to make. That's probably someone's water supply, though.

The crowd is not too thick - Dirk can find his way through it to any point he wants to. It's not dangerous either, yet. Just... a lot of people all wanting a word at once.

Amy has been checking on the pump house every so often, and even more so now that there are beet eating monsters to contend with. The crowd brings her to a blinking stop, confusion obvious on her face. "Hey, what's going on?" she asks.

"That's the place that put blood in the water," someone tells her. "It was in all the fountains!" He's dressed like a sailor, and built like a bare-knuckle fighter.

Dirk faces the sailor. "It wasn't blood. it was vegetable juice."

The man turns to face Dirk, offering Amethyst a beautiful angle of the jaw if she wants to sucker-punch him. "What? WHY?"

\ Speaking of people built like a bare knuckle fighter, Gavin was tagging along with Amy getting some exercise after spending some time with a wounded leg. He frowns as he hears about the blood in the water. It seemed no good had came of this and he grunts.

The sailor, and several round him, are looking at Dirk with a mix of amazement and confusion.

Amy pauses and then she says, "Certainly, I'm very sure there was no blood in the water, and you know me, I work at the hospital," she says softly. She's not sucker punching, she'll leave that to Dirk and Gavin. "But how do you know this is the source?"

Danielle hms "It's not blood or a t least it wasn't when it was put in" she amends . That much she sure of "We wanted to figure out where the water was coming from and went. You can have a look if you want? Just be careful. my little test caused a big problem. not really sure what happen now. "she walks over to the actual door

"My mate sold some of the beets," calls a voice from the back. "And this whole place smells of veg." The sailor looks around in disgust. "Wait, so if it's vegetables and stuff, why are we here?" Confusion.

A couple of people try to follow Danielle to the door, but stop when nobody else comes with them. The crowd looks rather lost.

"There *has* been a rather unpleasant smell of vegetation lately," a well-dressed man opines. He has a thin-bladed sword and a thin-waisted companion, dn they look like they are out for a stroll, and they look... just like part of the onlookers. Fashionable, maybe. Her skirt is belled out. Her bodice is highly embroidered, including with pearls.

Danielle rolls with advantage 0 at difficulty 15, using influence.
The result is a success.

A few of the crowd shuffle uncomfortably, like this is rather embarrassing.

Dirk is standing quietly allowing people with better public speaking skills than him do the talking.

The sailor gives Gavin a look as if to say, 'help?'

Danielle mirrors confusion in her own expression now "Do you know where the water here would come from?" she repeats the question, her eyes searching the crowd

"You ever been to the switch back? There's an inn down there. That serves a good stew and a good mug of ale. Keeps named Martha, I say go down there and get a drink and a bowl. By the time that's done. This will all make sense." Gavin says with a nod. "Better than worrying about these city engineers and their crazy science."

The sailor shrugs to Gavin. "A few times, but the money there... well, I've not been paid in a while, you know? Looking for any ship, if I'm honest." He seems ready to go try his luck again, however.

"There are two main springs under Amber," says the woman with the embroidered bodice. "Kolvir Well and Hope Springs. That one is an awful pun, but becase it is constant year round, it has stayed. We're over Hope Springs." She looks for all the world like a young housewife showing off on a walk.

Dirk says "interesting? And you are?"

"Elise?" the young lady says. "My fiancee," says the swordsman. "I'm very proud of her."

Elise adds, "My father was a hygrologer." And simpers.

Amy's attention turns to Elise and her fiance, of course, inspecting them quietly. She grins at Gavin first though. And then she quietly steps over to that sailor, discretely handing him s couple of Gavin's coins. "There should be enough for a meal for you and your friends," she says. "At the inn. If you choose to share. It's all I've got, but hopefully it will help?"

The man looks down at the coins, and says, "Bless you," in a hoarse voice. He's won over. "But I can't take it all!"

Elisa and her fiance seem to be afluent, of Amber, dressed in the local fashions - nothing stands out about them. Maybe his sword is a little light, mayber her hair needs more oil when she washes it - but they just look like people here, a little surprised to be the centre of attention but bearing up well.

"Then take enough to pay your tab. Offer to chop wood or do something around the stable. Tell her Sir Gavin sent you. That you are a man of your word and you will make good in trade from now on." He's yet to address the fancy folk.

People who know sailors might also know sentiment; Gavin and Amethyst can see he has a tear in his eye as he hands back a coin to the diminutive dragon-kitten. He calls his friends over, even. Fully half of the group is with him, and the others seem to be staying because they are interested in, apparently, hygrology.

Danielle hms "Was? Did something happen? Might you be interested in showing me the path to the spring. I'll see if i can't round up some more coin somewhere for a proper fee but i need a bit. " A pefectly normal comment but danielle is continuing to study "sets and extras

Danielle rolls with advantage 1 at difficulty 20, using occult, magic sense.
The result is a success.

Dirk smiles. "Whew."

"The spring's under pressure," Elise says, "So you can't really get down there. My father said about three atmospheres, but that he could only estimate. Kolvir Well is easier to get to - it's a little uphill of the city." She clings to her husband-to-be.

There does not seem to be more than the usual magic here - Elise has a charm on which glows and twinkles, and her fiance's sword is probably magically hardened, and Colonel Tanya has been here lately and scribbled on some bricks in red chalk, leaving behind magical calculations that writhe to be free - but there is nothing that Danielle can pin down as different or strange, magically.

Amethyst rolls with advantage 1 at difficulty 20, using occult, pattern meditation.
The result is a success.

On the other hand, Amethyst sees a different thing; everything here is falling into place. Being smoothed down. Being flowed along. There is, and can be, nothing out of place. All fits. Everything is as it should be.

So much so, that watching from the outside, it seems strange.

Amy smiles to the sailor, and looks thoughtful. "Sir Gavin is right, you should do that. I am sure that Martha could use a bit of help, and would be willing to work out a good trade." She goes quiet at this point, listening and watching. There is a bit of a far away look on her face.

The sailor nods. "You're right," he says. "I've been looking too hard at the sea. I can put my back to other things." And off he goes, trailing a band of followers, each as rough and a sentimental as he is. "Lads, we'll have a drink and a bowl. It'll make sense."

Gavin looks at Amy and then back to the sailors, "I'm a bit jealous of the lads." Then he looks at young couple and then to the others, "So the water in the fountain and the pump house isn't magic. That doesn't mean that something else here and there not." Though he frowns, "I think maybe the City became easier to shift in shadows. It's not as permanet as it once was."

Filinia looks out of the doorway as the non-mob begins to dissipate.

Danielle contineus the scene as it were. "Thank you so much for your help Elise. I'll go take a walk to kolvir spring. Your father would be proud of what you learned from him, i think. enjoy your lunch. " Her lips smile but in her eyes there's a bit of melancholy

Elise follows the sailors with her eyes only. "Horace is taking me to meet some of his friends," she says, dimpling. "Do you think it's too forward, before he's met my mother?"

Horace looks proud and noble, and a bit nervous. He is a few years older than Elise.

Round them all, the street flows, the foot traffic continues, the gentle sound of the pump-house whispers.

Dirk looks at the two and says 'Be careful of the Unicorn cult."

Horace nods to Dirk. "Understood."

Amy tilts her head and then she says, "I think it should be reasonable, so long as you keep in mind that your mother might disapprove, m'lady Elise." She is now looking around curiously. "I think everything is trying to work to bring things back to how they should be," she offers. "We're also doing that."

"Perhaps your Elise, has time to meet our friend Filinia?" He gestures to the woman observing from inside the pump house, "She is intrested in enginnering, hydrology,..." Then Gavin says in a low voice, "Math." Then he makes the sign of the unicorn to ward away that evil. Dark vile art it is. "Friends are easier met than parents. Though not being presented at court would make it an easier thing."

Danielle furrows, a brow, so much of her head trying to figure out the bigger picture but yet.. "I thought you said you were engaged?"

Filinia flinches slightly when pointed out.

"Mother is at sea," Elise says, "And with this weather..." Horace gets a longing glance from her.

"I asked the question a few days ago, so I suppose until her mother returns she cannot answer, yet..." Horace looks down at Elise and sighs, and they... look at each other. Soppily.

Filinia gives Gavin a stare, and then crab-sidles out into the open air.

Dirk asks "Who is your mother dear?"

"oh yes, that's true," Amy nods to Danielle. "I had forgotten." She flashes a grin at the couple, and then eyes Gavin. "Dani, if we ever get that bad, please smack me upside the head."

"Mistress Tiffira Wolfshead," Elise says. It's... a name. Nobody important enough to be called Lady.

Horace says, "I shall be marrying a wolf, but we shall raise the best of cubs."

Dirk says "Weir?"

Filinia has a long pry-bar with her. She holds it rather like someone who is unused to holding a weapon.

"At sea," Elise repeats, as if she did not understand the question Dirk asked.

Dirk chuckles. "so you are not Weir?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand the question," Elise says.

"A werewolf, as it were," Amy says, smiling.

"Don't tempt me, my love. I may act that way just to see if Dani follows through." Gavin teases. He is a horrible knight.

Filinia looks at Gavin questioningly. "So. When y'done, I've been thinking about a few things." She keeps the pry bar to hand, standing like she is ready to run.

Danielle hms turns to filinia "What's on your mind?"

Filinia eyeballs the pair of lovebirds. "Wanna talk about mechanics," she says. From her it sounds like the study of mechanisms, not a load of people who repair things.

Amy wrinkles her nose at Gavin and then smiles sweetly. "Feel free to also smack Gavin upside the head, Dani," she adds.

Elise gives Amethyst nothing more than a puzzled look. 'werewolf' seems to mean nothing to her.

Even Horace does not blanch or blink at the word. However, as Filinia seems to want him gone, he does stir himself slightly, body language saying he's ready to head off now.

Dirk says, "Have fun storming the castle.. or tavern.""

Horace tightens his arm a little - Elise has hers wound through it. It's a signal to her as well.

Filinia flips a coin. The result is: Heads

Filinia looks very thoughtful at them going, but remembers to give them something like a smile.

"Good Luck and safe winds." Gavin says to the couple. There's a sigh from Gavin and he turns to Filinia. "I aplogizie." Though he not sure who was safe to stand next to at the moment. So with open hands he shrugs, "What's on your mind?"

Filinia replies, "I can't make the machine do anything impossible. But it definitely does things that are helpful. I don' believe in animsm. It ain' alive. But it helps. If I ..." She sighs, like she cannot believe she is saying this. "If I ask it. I need t'ask."

Amy waves to the couple as they head off. "Never mind," she says softly. "Enjoy the rest of your day. Safe winds at your back." Then she turns to Filinia. "It helps? That's very strange."

Filinia says, "An' it ain' got safety equipment. No meshes, no nothing. So I wonder if it was, I dunno, used to people?" A big shrug. "A bit like that, really. I ain't use to nobs going off when I tell them, but they went off."

Dirk says, "That went better than expected. But Amy darling? I need my hand back."

Filinia looks between the two as if expecting them to be holding each other.

Amy looks over at Dirk and nods. "Of course you do," she agrees. She's not touching Dirk at all at the moment, sorry Fil.

Dirk says, "Help?"

Filinia confused-blinks, then works it out, and her face clears.

Danielle hms "The folks here were a bit like that. They would answer what was asked but needed to be directed. Directions are ok for machines I suppose. I'm not botherd by a machine doing what it's told. It's a bit odd certainly but people . i don't know i don't think i've seen a shadow quite that pliable even if it is shadow

Filinia says sullenly, "No. Machines don't. I mean. They can't. How can they hear? But it is."

Filinia looks defeated, and gives Danielle a shrug, miserably.

"You're saying those folks ain't people. Well people like us. They may be magical contructs that bend to our will?" Gavin says, "Sorta like the pump was bendign to your will the other day?"

Dirk says "I wish the pump could give me root beer floats."

Filinia says, "No. And I'm... I was asking. It weren't bending t'nothin'. But when I need to get to a bit to oil it, it's like it's always safe." She gives Dirk a shrug. "It doesn't do things a machine can't. It pumps water. But it's like it wants to help me look after it?"

Filinia looks confused, almost angry at the world for having this thing happen.

Danielle hms "I was just musing allowed though that seems it's own danger round here doesn't ot

"It does, yes," Amy says to Danielle. She looks at Filinia, thoughtfully. "Well, like I said, it's like there's an aura about this whole area - it wants everything to be in place, so if you are working towards that, it seems like that thing is going to help."

Filinia sighs. "I can' leave a machine in bad condition," she says. "Jus' can'." And she turns and traipses back towards the doorway.

Danielle sighs "I know the royals are supposed to exercise a certain amount of voliton over what's around them but it puts me in mind to wonder if things about me are being controlled

Dirk says "ok, is everything ok?"

"I think so, Dirk. You should stop by the hospital sometime and we'll see if we can do something about your hand," Amy replies. She looks over at Dani with a disgruntled look. "Not sure I like that thought."

Dirk nods. "I found out how to bring people from the ghost world here."

Gavin frowns, "The world's all a stage and we are but the players. I don't like it. But if I'm a dream? Hopefully I'm a good one and not a nightmare." He moves to slip his arm around Amy and gives her a conforting squeeze. Knowning this may draw down abuse from Dani.

Danielle hms "I spent most of my life andering shadow, managing kingdoms, taking lovers, making allies and enemies. my life was real to me. Was it real to anyone else" She smiles at gavin. She's not to begrudge anyone real emotion righ now. soppy or not

Amy shakes her head. "I think this bears thinking on. But I should probably get back to the hospital, I think." She leans in against Gavin for a bit.


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Nobody died. Nobody was hurt. Nobody was even attacked. Nobody's entirely sure if anything DID happen up by the pump house, least of all the people there. Horace and Elise, two young members of society, assure people there were no werewolves involved.
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