Charles spots the (shopping) group going into a shop and steers Mr. Smith in that direction and enters the shop.

Of course Hashim's shop can grab your attention but my friends have always sworn by Faud's ability to find interesting items.

In reply to GM StarMaster (msg # 9):

Bellgrove moved with the party warily staying near to the Professor. He was not the sort to wander without thought for pickpockets or muggers (he is, after all, a New Yorker) and given that he has never before been to Arabia and escorting a man who was recently bombed by the Vril he is particularly wary.

Marian listens to Grimsby with interest.Well that's cheating! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised but pish just the same. Marian looks disappointed. I suppose the person who must really be commended is whoever had to take their fangs out. I can't imagine the dangers would be worth it just to scam a few tourists.

While Mercy, Marion and Connor peruse the wares in Faud's little shop of mechanical horrors, Grimsby, Bellgrove and Dash continue to escort Professor Strawbridge and Spirit to the palace, which, given the size of the city, is probably the government building, too.


Bellgrove's eagle eyes seem to deter any potential pickpockets, and he doesn't spot any other possible threats. However, like in most places of this nature, particularly in the less-than-civilized regions of the world, there are always people that seek to prey on others. Bellgrove does spot two or three of those sorts... lurkers in the shadows that eye the group speculatively.

Bellgrove stares them in the eye, not so much threateningly as just letting them know he's seen them.

Grimsby's presence is more subdued, and experienced muggers have enough sense to stay clear.

In reply to Marian Holroy (msg # 13):

Grimsby responds to Marion, "I believe the method involves tricking the snake into striking something that will immobilize the fangs, but I may be wrong -- I've not seen it done, le alone tried it. I suppose like any skill it depends on practice, but I should not care to be a novice in the art."

In reply to Grimsby Baskerville (msg # 15):

Dash had spent all his time since returning from the War with Spain working aboard Hawksebury family clipper ships, and was now quite familiar with the way a sailor at a new port needed to behave; he walked with a roll that would let a professional thug know that he was carrying a weapon.

However, like Marian, he had never been closer to the Orient than the port of Honolulu in the Territory of Hawaii, so he, too, was fascinated by the sights of both Araby and India that surrounded him.  And, while the sounds of the mechanical arts being practiced also drew his attention, Dash knew that his priority must be to find the telegraph office.

Really? Well that makes sense I suppose though I can't help but feel bad for the poor creature. Having one's teeth ripped out and then being drugged into performing for the rest of one's life must be awful. Not to say I adore the creatures of course but one can still sympathize she shakes her head.

Once they are in the strange shop Marian feels somehow even more out of her element. It is all fascinating and strangely lovely to look at but she has little idea of what anything does. She is happy for Mercy though, surely the woman must be enjoying herself.

Charles stands apart once they have entered Fuad's shop. Trying to stay out of the way while watching the people in the shop.

The intent when they started out from the Elephant In the Cellar was to go to the shop Charles had recommended. Once out of the pub, however, the presence of the airship had altered those plans, and they were heading for the edge of town to view the craft... along with half of the local population, it seemed.

Only about halfway there, it seemed as if plans were changing again... going back to the original--a visit to Faud's shop. That was because the occupants of the airship (a reasonable assumption based on their appearance) were heading there! How extraordinairy a coincidence! Pehaps, though, Charles claim was more valid that he'd believed.

Truth be told, four gentleman did not go to Faud's but seemed headed for the palace. Also not unreasonable. On the other hand, two attractive women were going to Faud's! Most extraordinaire, indeed!

He could hardly imagine what interest they'd have... until one of them began rummaging through the boxes of gears and apparati... just as he would have done.

"I don't believe you will find any American parts here, ma'am," he said to the fiery redheaded woman. "German, French, English... perhaps some Italian or Dutch. Not much of an American presence in this part of the world."

Meanwhile Grimsby was continuing on with the professor toward the palace.

Connor seemed to be enjoying himself as he perused the selection of parts, gizmos, and other mechanical bits and bobs inside Faud's shop along with Mercy, deciding to get some uds and suds for the upcoming retro-fit of the airship they had come on, specifically to the boilers and the engines, as well as few little things for himself to tinker with when he had gotten done with that.

The felinoid noted with a level of quiet pride that his own firm, Holmes Machine Works Ltd., was represented in a few intricately machined pieces here and there, not very many but still it was nice to see that his "little works that could" in Ireland was selling to such far-flung places such as this.

Getting back to his idea of retro-fitting the airship, the first modification he wanted to implement was a condenser to cut down on water and fuel consumption, which would go to increasing efficiency overall, as well as implementing superheater elements of his own design in the boilers, improvements to the lubrication systems and power transmission to the screws to further squeeze every bit of usable energy out of every nugget of coal burned. This in turn would yield superior range, improved performance at both cruising and flank speeds, and lower the cost of operation and the need to stop for fuel and/or maintenance. As such, Connor had a huge armload of merchandise when his turn came at the register, apparently quite used to mechanical treasure troves like this shop, and he intended on getting larger supplies like pipes, tanks, and other larger hardware here as well if he could before heading off for a pint.

"Little piece of heaven, this place," he remarked to Mercy, "Even if you never bought anything, you'd come away with loads of ideas from looking at all the bits and bobs."

"And what makes you think I'd be looking for American parts?" Mercy replies to Paul. "The country of origin is of less concern than the quality of manufacture. I can always convert a quality part to whatever need I have."

"It wasn't so long ago, Connor, that this would have all been sold for scrap. Now, even the smallest of iron gears has more value in its form than in its content."

She turned back to the stranger, though as far as she was concerned, anyone who was interested in all things mechanical was hardly a stranger.

"You sound eminently like an American of the United States," she said to Paul. "I am English, my name is Mercy Kincaid. Pray tell, what brings you to the ends of the Earth here in Lugassh?"

Paul smiled at the newly meet engineer and wondered how their coil be so many with the same profession as his.
"Well, I can see that you have quite the observational skills miss. My name is Paul Smith, and indeed I am from the US. I'm here to look for British and Indian manufactured pieces, since I've heard that they are quite the engineering, let's say, delicacy. I was only referring to American pieces because American steel is quite rebound back in Europe, so I was wondering if you had come in med of anything in the origin of the country across the ocean."
Paul walked up to the woman and put his hand in a position to shake hers.

In reply to Paul Smith (msg # 23):

Dash accompanies Grimsby and the Professor, as Dash is operating on the thought that Grimsby will know where the telegraph office is.

Grimsby, Bellgrove, Dash and the professor continue on to the palace. Considering the size and nature of the country and the city, Grimsby thinks it's probable that the telegraph office is probably in a hotel. As you near the palace, you spot telegraph lines strung over the buildings, and you can follow them to the Golden Tulip Hotel, which faces the palace across the royal boulevard.

Approaching the hotel, you can hear the sounds of a steam engine coming from a nearby building. Then you spot a penny farthing coming down the boulevard. The man on it is wearing a leather cap, goggles and some sort of mechanical vest. He waves at just about everyone as he cycles past.

Grimsby continues to escort the professor toward the palace, noting the Golden Tulip for future reference after the professor has been safely delivered. Seeing the cyclist, he observes him carefully --outwardly he appears friendly, but why the vest?

"Please to make your acquaintance, Mr. Smith," Mercy replies, shaking Paul's hand in a 'manly' gesture.

"You just missed Mr. Denholm Hawkesbury--a fellow American. He's been traveling with us... though I suppose you could also say we've been traveling with him. May I introduce Marion Holroy? And Mr. Connor Holmes?"

"We've just delivered Professor Strawbridge to Lugaash. I'd never of this country before that. I certainly had no idea I'd find such an intriguing shop here."

"Connor wants to improve our airships engines; he's bound to find something useful here. Me, I've been thinking of trying to add some medical skills to my mechanical bartender, Hugo."

She starts pulling a few odds and ends out of the bins... mostly small gears, but a few metal rods, too.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:09, Wed 24 June 2015.

Grimsby is still contemplating the mechanical vest when a loud noise draws his attention back down the boulevard. Around the corner clangs a three-pennyfarthing--a three-wheeled cycle with two large wheels in the back, though not as large as the pennyfarthing's main wheel. Sitting between the two wheels is a woman.

It's clear that the threepenny is steam powered, both by the noise it makes and the steam escaping from the back.

A glance at the pennyfarthing just as it rounds the other corner gives Grimsby a clue as to the purpose of the vest. Although the bicycle isn't going all that fast, it takes the corner rather sharply and the vehicle leans inward.

And I'm just along for the company. I've no head for this sort of thing I'm afraid. Marian adds with a laugh, feeling a bit out of place with all these mechanically inclined people. Very pleased to meet you she smiles.

The direct way of the Americans cuts though some of the etiquette that is expected of a gentleman. Best make use of it rather than wait for an introduction that may never come.

Charles steps forward to the group.

Ladies. He tips his top hat.

I shall leave you to your devices Mr. Smith.  I am going to walk through the Bazaar before the heat gets to great.  I generally dine and have tea at the Elephant if you are so inclined.

Marian turns to the other stranger in surprise. She had to admit that shopping, tea and food sounded far more intriguing than this place full of wonders she didn't understand but she could hardly go off with a total stranger. Still, looking at her face it is clear the temptation to join is great and she is wrestling with herself.

In reply to GM StarMaster (msg # 28):

Bellgrove takes in the friendly fellow on the penny farthing when he hears the sound of the second penny farthing his hand moves towards the pistol holstered beneath his jacket.

"Rather heavy, erm, traffic on these streets. Quite a, erm, scene.", he says as he moves into a position between the Professor and the cyclists.

"No need to worry," one of the street people comment to Bellgrove. "That was the Shah and his second wife. He's been out on that infernal contraption every day since he got it a month ago. Only his second wife was brave enough to venture out with him. She was terrified the first time she rode the device, but I do believe she has started enjoying the ride."

"I hear the Shah has ordered another dozen. I can't imagine who else would ride one, though! Not I, that's for sure!"

"Indeed? The Shah? Well, what do you know?", replies Bellgrove.

Turning to the man, "I can tell you, my friend, that despite their appearance it is good sport to ride a penny farthing. I've not ridden a mechanical version, but the old fashioned version is a pleasure."

He suddenly realizes that he is chatting rather than bodyguarding and excuses himself turning back to Grimbsby and Dash and the Professor, "I say, fellows, it seems as if the man the Professor needs to meet is right here. That's the Shah!"

In reply to Bellgrove G. B. Wander (msg # 34):

Dash had noticed the telegraph line emanating from the hotel, and was just about to announce his intent to search out the operator, when the distraction of the pennyfarthings occurred -- and then Belgrove identified one of the riders as the local Shah.

"The Shah, huh.  Well." Dash said, frowning in thought, "Uh, Grimsby, old mucker, you're the Colonial chappie -- would it be considered inappropriate to just step out into the street and try to flag down an eastern potentate?  I'm not afraid to say that I am out of my league, here."