John nodded "Sounds like a good idea if ever I did hear one." he said as he proceeds to do just that, pulling his boots off and trying to do the best he can to keep the mud off his hands. "Any chance I could trouble you for a towel as well sir, er, doctor?"

Ward nods.

With in a minute, the towel and blanket have arrived, and John has managed to get reasonably drier. He and Ward retire to the parlor, which has a cheery, roaring fire. John manages to spend a few minutes remembering what it feels like to be a normal person instead of a drowned rat.

"So, Mr. Smith, that I can do for you today?" Ward asks.

This message was deleted by the player at 15:45, Thu 04 Nov 2010.

John sighs as he enjoys the warmth of the fire. Given the recent bloodshed and the weather he takes a moment to enjoy feeling like a human being again. Of course he is snapped back to reality and his reason for coming here when Dr. Ward speaks inquires as to the nature of that itself. Despite his ragged appearance he sits up with his back straight in the chair, his posture a little odd, all things considered a man either unused to comfortable furniture or just plain used to keeping his back straight. "I come here, to the ass end of Nowhere, Texas to find m'self fightin' a dead yank that wont stay dead, getting caught in the streets when people come riding through shooting everythin' up and blowin' up buildins. All I came here fer was to see if anyone heard of a friend of mine. Chinese feller by the name of Zhang, Ah've been told he might've made his way through your lands in his wanderin' and you'd be the one to ask if he's been seen. There's another Chinese fella that's lookin' fer 'im as well, no one has the name right but seems to be an angrier chap." He finished, he'd rather ask one question at a time. "So I guess what I'm gettin' at is have you seen anyone like those two recently?"

"Yes, I can see how such excitement would be disconcerting. I hope that, with Nathanial Frost's death, the other hands will keep their rambunctiousness to a minimum while in town from now on." Ward considers Smith's question. "I have not personally met your friend, Zhang, I'm afraid. I heard about the other gentleman, but did not concern myself with the situation at the time. If either of them passed through my land, then they did not make enough trouble to be noticed by the hands. Of course, I own over thirty thousand acres of land, so it would be easy enough for someone to hide themselves if they had a mind to. I have a method of gleaning more information for you, if you wish."

"If that isn't too much trouble for you doctor I'd appreciate it greatly. I think the other feller seeks to do Zhang harm and I'm none too keen on that occurin'" he said as he found his gaze drifting to the fire for a moment. After the walk he had endured he had found a new appreciation for the warmth of a fire. "I suppose the other thing I come here for was to see how Charging Bull and the Angel in the bucket of bolts are doin'. Haven't heard from either of them and I been told they were here last. Charging Bear can take care of himself I think but I fear if the automo-ton is left to it's own devices it might get into a heap of trouble."

Ward nods. "In that case, I will gather my supplies. However, before we begin, I will require three things from you. First, I require payment for the service rendered. I am willing to accept whatever remuneration you think is fair for the information obtained, but all things have their price. Second, I insist that you swear an oath never to reveal what you may witness to anyone. I hate to be so melodramatic, but without a working knowledge of the underlying science my methods might seem strange, and there are those who would decry them as 'ungodly.' For your protection and mine, it is really for the best. And third, I will need a lock of your hair."

He stands, and fetches a black bag. "As for the Native Son and the <i>Angelus ex Machina, well...your instincts were right on. Charging Bear left here several hours ago along with several of my men to bury Nathanial Frost, who died trying to escape justice for last night's reprehensible and cowardly attack against Marshal Evans."</i>

He absently rubs the shoulder of his bandaged arm.

"And as for Friend Alouette...sadly, one of my men took exception to it and filled it full of holes."

John blinked. "Really? What did the tin can do to deserve being shot up?" he asked. "Is it, um, dead? At least as far as automo-tons can be?" he asked surprised at his concern. He had liked the thing/angel/machine, at least it had given the dark events of late a lighter side.

He reflected on Dr. Wards other request and frowned in thought "I see." he said simply and went silent for a time. He trusted magic and things 'unnatural' about as much as the next person, his justification for his own abilities that they came from within, not from some spirits or deities or whatnot. Still, finding Zhang was important to him and while Ward seemed to be at the center of much of the goings on his choices were limited. "Ah hell, all right then." he said as he pulled out a knife and cut a lock of hair from his head. "Here's that."

"As for the swearin' I can do that, I won't lie but I won't tell." he said and paused for a moment as a thought came to him. "Now ah'm not sure ifn' it's possible but if I can stand in another room while you do what you need to do for getting the information then I don't witness much at all." he said. He was thinking practically, rather than out of nervousness about what Ward might have to do to acquire the information, he could keep secrets but he figured the less he knew about how the doctor acquired the information the better. "As fer payment, well, I only have $36 to my name, I doubt that's much to a man like yerself but you're welcome to $30 of it. Otherwise I don't know what else I could give you." he'd sleep outside with his horse if necessary.

He fished the money out of his pocket and was about to hand it over when he paused and removed his watch as well. "It's not much, not terribly expensive, but it was a gift from Zhang." he sais

"Deserve?" Ward says, raising an eyebrow and grimacing. "Nothing, as far as I can tell. I suspect he may have merely been irritated with it, but as I was not present when it was shot, I cannot say for sure." he sighs, then shrugs. "But all is not lost. Mr. Spotswood, who is another guest of mine here, believe he can repair the damage, and is currently attempting to do so in the carriage house at the back. We can visit them after our business here is concluded."

Ward takes the lock of hair. "Thank you. And yes, I agree. If you do not wish to be a witness, then wait in the foyer and I will fetch you once I am finished. It will not be a long wait."

Ward takes the wad of money, counts out ten dollars, and returns the rest to him. "Sir, this will be sufficient. I would not wish to deprive you of all you have. However," he says, picking up the watch, "this will be useful to me. Having such a powerful sympathetic connection such as this between your friend and yourself will greatly aid my method. I will return it to you when I am finished."

He leads Smith out to the foyer, then returns to the parlor, closing the parlor, closing the door behind him. Smith hears something which could be Latin, then silence.

After about two minutes, Ward returns. he hands the watch back to John and gives him a small, tight smile. "Well. I believe I have both good news and bad news for you. Which would you prefer to hear first?"

John listened as Dr. Ward spoke and nodded when appropriate, He accepted the returned money and waits in the foyer as discussed. He blinked and listened to the latin and tried to shrug it off as a chill went down his spine at how much of the world he didn't understand, he always knew he lacked book smarts, probably wasn't much better before he wound up in Zhangs care, but sometimes the sheer amount of the world that he didn't understand could feel overwhelming.

When Dr. Ward returned he nodded his thanks as he returned the watch to its place and then looked at that tight smile and winced. "Well, Ah've always preferred hearing the bad news first."

Ward nods. "Very well. I've found him, but it seems the rogue Comanches have found him first. I do not know how he may have upset them, but currently my information indicates he has been buried up to his neck out on the edge of my territory in the gulch, slowly watching the storm raise the creek towards him." He shivers. "What horrible barbarians they are. However, I beleive that an effective rescue may be mounted, provided we hitch up the carriage and leave immediately."

John blinks briefly and nods before heading to where his boots and duster lay. If he had any hesitation about going back out into that storm it sure as hell didn't show. "Sounds like you got the right idea Doctor." he said and paused as he realized something. "You plannin' on helpin'?" he asked a little surprised. That certainly wasn't expected.

Ward nods as he grabs an overcoat for himself. "Sir, I cannot, in good conscience, leave a man to such an awful fate. What sort of gentleman would I be if I did? Besides, you may need assistance digging him out in time, and two can work faster than one. All my hands are currently either in town or elsewhere on the ranch, so that leaves only us in this house to assist you, and I have some skill in first aid should he require it." He grabs his black bag from the parlor. "This way, Mr. Smith." He says as he heads through the kitchen.

he leads john to the carriage house at the back, where a thin, clean-shaven man in a rumpled pinstriped suit is working over the partially disassembled body of Alouette, the mechanical angel.

"Mr. Spotswood." Ward says to the man. "There is a situation that has developed. What is Friend Alouette's condition?"

John nodded and simply followed the doctor. That seemed reason enough, if there were other factors involved in Dr. Ward lending his assistance, well, there was little he could do at the moment. Beggars and choosers and all that.

Upon seeing the partially disassembled form of Alouette John blinked, that was another thing that was beyond him, the complex mish mash of gears and whatnot that made up the automaton were about as foreign to him as the french language. He found himself hoping that whoever the thin man was he'd be able to fix it.

The man in the rumpled suit was in the midst of muttering something to himself.  It sounded like an argument.  His head going back and forth as he plays both sides against himself.  When Dr. Ward speaks up, Augustus jumps and drops the bit he'd been working on, "Good Lord!"  Quickly gathering his wits, he scoops up the dropped bit and checks over it, "Condition?  The damage was very severe, sir.  Very severe." Turning back to his "patient" he begins working again, "And this machine is a wonder.  A true wonder, I say.  The man who created this was a genius beyond compare."  Fitting another piece back again, he continues, "I /believe/ I have repaired the worst of it.  There's so much left to do...."  He trails off, his vocie dropping quieter, "Stop nagging, I am perfectly capable...  Your naysaying isn't helping either..."

Ward nods at Augustus' assessment. "I see. Do you believe you'll be able to reactivate Friend Alouette? There is a...situation, which I beleive it might be suited for. And if not, do you believe you might spare some time to help us?"

John blinked again, the man seemed odd but he was finding himself curious about how one might go about reactivating the angel in the machine that was Alouette. Still, these were more things beyond his knowledge so he did what he was good at and remained silent.

Augustus blinks a little at Ward's question, as though it was a strange and unconsidered idea.  Turning around again, he regards Ward curiously, "I...suppose...  I could attempt to reactivate Alouette now.  But, there's so much damage...  Such complexity."  He looks again to his "patient" and runs a hand through his hair, "If I have understood the mechanisms correctly, the current repairs should suffice for a safe reactivation.  On the other hand, if I have not understood the complexities of the wondrous machine it could explode in a dramatic ball of condensed lightning, high pressure steam, and brass shrapnel."  The scientist pauses a moment after this doomladen declaration, then adds, "So I suppose, in answer to your questions.  Yes and yes.  Though the former's consequences could prevent my having any time left on this earth with which to assist you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:30, Thu 11 Nov 2010.

Ward nods. "I understand, but I trust your abilities. We have a soul to rescue from hell. What better agent for such a task than an angel? Please, proceed."

There's a certain, almost frightening, gleam in the scientist's eye as he is given the go ahead to attempt restart.  He even smiles, "Happy to do so.  Truth to tell, I'm very hopeful that it will succeed.  Just give me a few moments!"  Joyously, he turns back to the machine and begins getting things back to some semblance of order.  His voice lowers again quietly, "I am /so/ hopeful...  No...not like that time... That was an accident...  Of course...I was hopeful then too...  But no, I'm right this time!  Or am I..." Having forgotten to mention that perhaps the others should leave, just in case, Augustus will "flip the switch" as soon as most things are back to rights in Alouette's systems.  As he re-engages the angelic automaton's systems, he steps back and rubs his hands together.  That gleam again in his eye as he quietly, hopefully murmurs, "Please work.... please work.... please work..."

John glances to Dr. Ward and shifts his feet. The mans muttering to himself as well as his claim that there was a possibility things would go BOOM didn't make him feel all that at ease. Still, he figured if there was something to worry about the good Doctor would be seeking cover or at least stepping outside, so he remained with his host and the strange man.

There's a brief whine as the boiler's relit, then light flares in the automaton's lenses and from the cracks and whichever bits of bullet-damage aren't patched yet. It's quiet a moment, then, as it gets up pressure, the thing's dented 'beak' raises and there's an eerily lifelike frail chirp: "How...dy...AUG-US-TUS... AUG...is...Gangatsu...safe?"

Astonishingly efficient systems engaged, it's almost back to normal movement/volume when it sees who else is in the room. Which is rather startling, since it hasn't seen the man for a while after what it told the priest, and so has felt in lack of him...which leads it to select the response for recieving a wanted thing.

It squeals like an eight-year-old girl, lurches up and across the room, and tacklehugs John with a cry of "Howdy, John John Smith!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:29, Thu 11 Nov 2010.

Dr. Ward chuckles at the sight of the automaton glomping John. "Well. It seems my faith in you was well placed, Mr. Spotswood." He says absently.

John, in his masculinity, lets out a yelp of surprise as the automaton lunges for him only to hug him, needless to say while he isn't surprised Alouette might have learned a greeting like that he certainly wasn't expecting it. "Um... Howdy Alouette." he said as he pats the construct upon the back before attempting to pry loose after what seems an appropriate amount of time. "Feeling better?" he asks still a little thrown off by the greeting.

Augustus completely misses Alouette's greeting and question in his shock and amazement.  Amazed that the machine, that wonderful machine, again walks, talks, and thinks.  Amazed that there was no earth shattering ka-boom.  "HAHA!" He laughs happily as he is easily pushed aside so that the stranger can be embraced.  With no small amount of pride, he looks to the Doctor, "Thank you, sir!" The scientist then remembers that the machine is still damaged and is now rather worried the thing will tear itself apart with its energetic awakening, "Alouette!  Alouette!  Be careful now.  You have still sustained quite a bit of damage.  Do not cause more damage by being foolish."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Thu 11 Nov 2010.