Time for a Break [Open Post]

[hellstoymaker]

Fredrick was finding retirement both interesting and boring at the same time. Interesting because he has plenty of time for his projects and tinkering rather than building machines until heavy fire and swinging swords. But it is also boring because of said explosions and constant stress. How does one find a new normal when most of your life was anything but normal.

So when his shop gets to be too much, or things get too quiet he leaves the shop in Sal's capable hands and can be found wandering the market looking for bits of junk or bits that merchants might just throw away but that the tinkerer can always reuse. He is moving slowly because the warmer weather makes his weaker leg cramp but he's always up for a chat should anyone see him.

__

Gorn's Clockwork's and Curios is a smaller then other shops in the city, but it's owner knows how to draw a crowd. A diorama of clockwork heroes is currently being built in the window. Once the heroes are set the toymaker plans to add a clockwork five headed version of the Dragon Queen that will breathe simulate fire if he can get it working.

Currently he is trying to get the figure of the fighter on a broom to hang right as he works in the window. He hears a sound and turns around to call out. "I'll be with you in a second," he says.

__

Out of all the places in his shop, Fredrick prefers his workshop. It's small and quiet and allows him to focus on whatever gadget has captured his attention that week. He is bent over one of his music boxes. He is known for these delicate creations that make a child or adults idea reality. His current commission is giving him a bit of trouble. The client wanted the dog to sit up and bark the song instead of just playing music and he can't get the sound to come out right.

Suddenly a sound catches his attention from in the shop proper. Grabbing his cane, he speaks it's command word changing it into his longsword and sneaks up to the front growling. "Who are you and what do you want?"

Comments

[hellstoymaker]

Fredrick sighs and shakes his head flipping his long sword around to swing the hilt at the wrist of the thief with the dagger.

He casts a Fire Bolt into the weapon hoping the heat will cause the idiot to drop his weapon and then Fredrick can knock him out with the hilt and dump these morons on Val's doorstep. He might even toss that feather symbol that the Zhent seem to be afraid of at the moment.

His hit connects and the boy drops the dagger with a scream. "Last chance go back to Thorne under your own power or we will send your bodies there instead," he growls.

[hellrider]

Zhentarim are thieves and smugglers first and foremost. Some have special skills, there are even wizards and paladins among them, but this trio began the evening with being in over their heads. One of them makes a break for it, and Zevlor lets him, because he'll take the information back to whoever sent him. The other two remain, one still prone on the floor, and he knocks him unconscious with a kick.

The dagger man seems inclined to surrender, but he's also woozy from that hit, and he takes a confused step toward Zevlor, as if he's not sure whether he's fleeing or planning on attacking him bare-handed. In either case, he fails, stumbling and collapsing over the body of his downed accomplice.

Zevlor waits a moment before sheathing his sword and looking at the other tiefling. "I wish I had known you were here, old friend. I'd have come to you without the excuse of foiling a burglary."

[hellstoymaker]

Fredrick sighs and looks at the bodies on the floor before returning his cane back to it's normal form and limping to a shelf. "Knowing you Zev you would have brought trouble no matter what."

He removes a small toy solider and sets it on the ground sending a burst of magic into it. In moments it grows almost tall enough to brush the ceiling and looks at Freddie as he points at the bodies. "You know where to take them. Then return here and set in the window and watch for trouble."

The solider nods with a grind of gears as Fredrick opens the door and watches as his Steel Defender drags the thieves out.

"It is good to see you. I was hearing worrying things recently," he adds shutting the door and coming over to hug Zevlor. "I was considering hunting you down but I was convinced by others my skills would be better used here."

[hellrider]

"Oh come now! I've mellowed some in the last ten years," he says with a little snort. "I was Commander for the last nine of those. Until the Exile."

Don't think that doesn't weigh heavily on him, still. It aches and it burns, but for the moment, he can bear the sting in silence. He moves back half a step at the sight of the soldier, as if remembering the Steel Watchers. But it's clearly under Freddy's control, and a mere automaton, not a mix of necromancy and artifice, so after his first knee-jerk reaction, he calms and makes a curious noise. "That's a new one. You've expanded your skill set, haven't you?"

He hesitates at the mention of worrying things, but the hug seems to soothe him. He leans into it for a moment, squeezing tight as if he needs it. "I've had better years," he admits. "But I am on my feet and my Oath still holds. Renewed for a better purpose."