504-12-13 Crying Over Spilt Milk

From Crossroads Wiki

Log: Crying Over Spilt Milk
IC Date Ran:	13 December 504
OOC Date Ran:	04 March 2008
Players:	Cael, Khalani, Duchess Arianell, Ellie, Firenza, Margeaux, Zipporah, Card, Katie, Godfrey, Tiege, Ysora, Empress Mena, Mathis
Ran By:	Mathis
Location:	Plaza of the Keeper Center
Synopsis:	When a girl darts out in front of a cart, chaos erupts.

Plaza of the Keeper Center - Village

Wealth speaks volumes at the village center. Cobblestone streets extend in all directions forming a true crossroads that is marked in the center with a large fountain. The village buildings are all two story side-by-side structures with most containing shops on the bottom half with occasional breaks between blocks for delivery alleys. All of the buildings on this street proclaim the success of the merchants that have made it to the high enough status to operate shops in the prestigious Plaza of the Keeper. Many shop windows have flower boxes that add a quaint charm for all that visit or live in the area. The area closest to the center boasts a tavern and other food establishments that often carry scents of fresh bread, sweets or other impressive meals to draw patrons to their shops. Guards are a constant presence with their main duty being the safety of the wealthy that chose to spend a day in the village.

It's cloudy and cool.

It is with the escort of two knights that the Empress makes her way from the castle into the plaza. She looks quite hale after an extended illness, which finds her in quite a good mood. She smiles a bit as she glances around, making her way toward the tavern.

Sitting on the edge of the wishing well, Mathis is kicking his feet idly, watching the wagons and other traffic pass by. He looks a little bored at the moment, something that's never good for a child of nearly fifteen as he draws in a breath and lets it out in a slow blow, considering his options for his first day of freedom.

1. Sit here and be bored. 2. Sit somewhere else and be bored. 3. Go find something to do.

"Yeah, but w-what." Mathis asks his little mental self. It's when he answers himself that it will be a problem. As the Empress approaches, it's the Knights that catch his attention before he rises quickly to his feet in a bow. "You-Your Majesty!" he says, smiling cheerfully. "It's g-good to see you out and about!"

Mena's attention is easy caught by the young man, her smile spreading as she inclines her head. "Master Cardiff. It is good to see you out and about as well. I heard you were healing as well. Did you escape? Or were you released?"

Mathis blushes. "Re-released, with good behavior, I s-swear Your Majesty." the young man says as he rises back to his not so impressive height of five feet tall. Oh, and that ever important extra inch! "I'm doing much b-beter. And y-yourself?" he asks, a hint of worry for the Empress's condition in his eyes. Some habits from your former life do die hard, after all.

"I also have the proper clearance to leave my room," Mena replies with a chuckle. And she does look like herself, color in her cheeks and all. "I am feeling quite myself again, and thank Providence for it. I was starting to think I would never get better."

Mena is standing somewhat near Mathis, chatting with the ex-Squire. There are two knights that stand guard, as always.

There's a small laugh from the young man. "Well, even if o-one were to say you had to stay in your room, I doubt many c-could keep you from walking about." Mathis admits with a smile, then pauses. He's keeping her from other things, he realizes, and he bows. "I-I am always blessed to see you, Your Majesty. B-but I should not keep you from your destination." he says, glancing around to try to figure out what to do himself to keep from being bored.

As he talks with the Empress, traffic and people linger about. Coming through the Keeper square is a large wagon, carrying several hay packed boxes, however, one of the boxes is opened and the arm of a doll hangs out of the side of it dangling idly.

A young girl, walking with her mother notices the toy hanging out and her blue eyes light up in delight. "Mother, look, toys!" she says, pulling away from her mother to run out into the street to get to the inviting toy.

A man leading a cart filled with barrels of milk is pulling up the opposite side of the street that toy cart is on. The girl darts in front of this cart, and the old man leading the cart yells, "WATCH OUT, GIRL!" shouting, he pulls back hard on the reins, causing the horses to rear hard, neighing in mad disapproval. But what of the girl and the carts?

Duchess Arianell comes down from the path up to the castle, accompanied by her now-usual bevy of guards. She seems to be in a pleasant enough mood, despite the chill wind, the hood of her cloak pulled up to half-hide her features. At the shout, she stops short, eyes widening. "Oh!" she exclaims, though she freezes in the moment.

"You're not keeping me from much," Mena says with a shake of her head. "I was just wandering, re..." She trails off as the girl runs out, also freezing in that moment with an inhalation of breath.

"Elizabeth, no!" the girl's mother screams, turning white as a sheet as her child rips away from her and into the street. Her legs lock in horror as she stares wide eyed as frozen as the Duchess and Empress. The horse master continues to pull hard on the reins, trying to keep his horses from trampelling the poor girl to death. Mathis stares blankly, knowing that he has no time to make it to the girl much less be able to keep her from going underneath the horses.

Providence is smiling this day, it seems, however. Perhaps from the fact that Mena and Arianell are near. Maybe the girl just used up her life's worth of fortune. But the horses turn hard, crashing against the other cart, overturning the first cart completely, sending crates spilling into the street, breaking open. They are all filled with toys packed in hay - apparently a new delivery from Draught if the markings are any indication.

The second cart crashes and one of the wheels crumples, causing it to fall catty-corner, large containers of milk spilling out and pouring all over the place.

The girl? She stands there, in the middle of the street, clutching her ratty old doll in her arms, blue eyes wide in fear and shock, before she steps back, and whimpers once before breaking into a bevy of tears.

The Empress winces as the carts crash into one another, one hand lifting to rest upon her chest as she watches with a concerned horror. "Go make sure those men are alright," she tells Mathis without taking her eyes from the wreck.

"Oh!" Nell exclaims again, breaking out of her moment of shock to run to where the girl stands crying, her guards jogging behind her. "Oh, darling, are you all right?" She kneels by the girl as she reaches her, holding out her arms reassuringly.

Wasn't it said earlier that old habits die hard? As Mena sends an order, Mathis nods once, quickly. "O-on it, Your Majesty!" he says quickly, snapped out of the moment of horror by the command of His Empress. As he breaks into a run, he barely manages a nod to Arianell as he starts to climb into the wreckage of the two carts, feet slipping in large pools of milk. "Hello!" he yells into the crushed wreckage. "Anyone can hear me, p-please answer!" he says, worry in his voice as he shouts.

From underneath some milk barrels and wooden planks, a loud moan meets Mathis's cry. "Uuuuhn.. my leg, boy.. it's broke." he grouses, as Mathis approaches his position.

The horses, broken away from their ties, linger about, spooked by the accident just as much as everyone else. They shy away from anyone getting close, rearing back somewhat and making unhappy noises.

The girl glances over as the Duchess leans towards her. "I.. just wanted a toy.." he says, before throwing herself against the Duchess in a sob as her mother approaches. "Elizabeth Nicole Azrela, what have you done?!" her mother says in shock and horror. "We.. we'll never be able to pay for all this!" she says, realizing that any chance she had at a good life is gone.

With the crates broken open, some of the toys start to move. Yes, move. They seem to be small automations - a Cavalier on a Horseback moves around in circles, while a dragon clambors around a few steps, before raising back as if to attack. And a Princess doll on her side does a bow, while still on her side. Other toys lay around in various states of disrepair, some soaked in milk, as the milk flows down the streets, giving everything a parlor of white.

Outside the tavern, what appears to have once been two carts - one with crates marked from Draught, the other carrying milk seems be smashed together quite nicel, with a girl and her mother in the middle of the road with Arianell, and Mena near the Wishing Well with her guards, having just dispatched Mathis.

Though, Mena does point herself in the direction of the spooked horses, holding her hands up to them as she approaches without fear. It seems she intends to try to calm them. Her knights stay nearby, but do not stop her on this front.

Cael blinks as he steps outside, looking outside. "What in the," he says, tossing his cane at Khalani and moving at a fairly okay run towards the crash along with Mathis, throwing his cloak back as he does. "Don't shift anything," he shouts to Mathis, "We'll have to move it carefully. We'll need some wood or something, maybe."

"Shhhh, it's all right," Nell murmurs to the girl, soothing. "Shhh, everything will be fine." She holds the girl close, starting to lift her as she looks to the mother. "It's all right, miss," she assures. "Your daughter is fine." And if there's something a little bit pointed there, perhaps the duchess has found something worth being pointed about. "No use crying over spilled milk, isn't that the saying? We can take care of spilled milk, but no one can bring children back to life."

Making her way into the area, Ellie abruptly realises that something isn't quite right. Though it wouldn't take a genius to figure /that/ out. She slowly comes to a halt and gapes at the scene of destruction before her, blinking a few times.

Khalani emerges as part of the quartet from the tavern, her guard giving a look around before following after Cael and Mathis to provide another set of strong hands. Khalani catches Cael's cane as she takes a moment to get a grip on the scene of absolute chaos going on. She catches the sleeve of one of the other onlooking gawkers. "Go into the infirmary and call out the healers. Let them know to bring at least one stretcher. Go." The youth gapes a moment at Khalani, but having firm instructions on what to do, soon scuttles off, racing towards the castle infirmary.

As the Empress approaches the horses, two of them, still tied together, rear back and make angry noises, one of them showing obvious signs of injury to his right flank where a piece of cart had impaled it. Mena gets their attention however, and the horses start to calm somewhat in her presence, but the wounded one is being especially fickled, tries to pull away from it's match, neighing angrily.

At Cael's voice, Mathis pauses for a moment. "Yes, sir!" he yells out from where he was travelling his small frame through the damaged carts, being the short and compact sort. "Where's the o-other driver?" he responds, before calling out again. "Driver! C-can you hear me!" The boy steps to the side, trying to dig deeper into the crushed carts.

The young boy blinks up at the Baroness, before he nods once, rubbing a sleeve over his nose before Khalani's piercing gaze forces him to move, scuttles off, as she said. Other children and.. adults.. are being more adventurous. While the nobles are busy, they are busy, picking up some of the finely crafted toys made of silver and gems, and shoving them in pockets or running off with them before the City Guard arrives. Two especially adevntourous lads grab Ellie's arms. "Come on, help us with some of these milk barrels, we'll have milk for weeks! And curds and cheese and butter!"

The girls mother blinks at the Duchess, shamed that the young woman is being a better mother than her and she moves forward to gather her daughter. "Of course, Your Grace." she says, swallowing hard before curtseying. "But you don't know about mothering, after all, you have no children yourself. Nothing but trouble, especially when the father abandons you for some hussy."

Ysora doesn't react quite as quikly as Cael does when she steps outside. It's rather a surreal image, after all, and she stares at the toys playing and swimming in the milk. "Those look like Lord Samuel's drawings ..." She frowns and then steps forward, the ends of her skirt dragging through the milk on her way to try and pick up the mobile little toys in hopes of getting them out of the way before they trip someone up - or end up stolen.

Cael tries to determine how badly wrecked the carts are - yelling for people as well. He frowns at the folks stealing things - trying to yell at them but his attention is mostly focused on the wreck. Mena finds it rather important to get the horses calmed, so no one else get injured this day. As she draws close enough to do so, she reaches out for the dangling reins, despite the obvious disturbance of the injured horse. She continues to talk to the pair of beasts, not backing down from the angry noise from the one. Calm horsies. Calm Calm.

"Children are a blessing, miss, and one I pray for nightly," Nell says quietly. "If you find you need assistance with yours, please feel free to stop by the Guardian tower at any time. No child should lack or suffer." With the girl handed over, Nell turns to look at the resulting chaos, a little lost for a moment by the magnitude of it.

"What? No!" Ellie blinks, trying to pull away from the boys who grab her arms. "That's just not right!" She may not be able to help very much, but she's going to try her best not to get in the way either. And she's certainly not going to help anyone do anything like /stealing/, even if the merchandise has been 'freed' by the destruction.

Seeing the rather chaotic nature of the beast, Margeaux moves towards the gathering clad in her ermine cloak and other finery. "Ah, there is no need for the looting, oui?" Margeaux chides a pair of the looters as they pass and she moves to the mother. "Ah, oui. You 'av dropped this, Mademoiselle." She holds out a couple of platinum coins for the woman. "I am sure that is enough to get 'er a toy, oui?"

Card approaches the woman Margeaux has addressed and offered a huge amount to. "Your generosity is admirable." Then he bends down and picks up a few of the baubles from the wreckage. And he's /totally/ keeping an eye on where the mother goes off to. Tiege arrives from the castle courtyard.

"Ah, thank vous." Margeaux says before she takes a step towards her to accidentally kick the baubles away from Card's hands as she stands in front of him. Her eyes are locked on his, giving him another smile. "Oh, I am sorry, oui!" She offers, "They went there!" She points, her delicate finger directly in front of Card's face.

Khalani picks her way through the mess, not fussing so much about mess and looting and all the rest of it, but rather on getting into the mess to try and find out who and how badly the injured are. "The healers won't be long. Try not to move anyone too much if you can, especially if bones got broken." She comes up along near to where Mathis and Cael and Hammel are working with the wreck, not concerned about her skirt gaining a milk hemline.

The Empress has always had a fondness for horses, and that has come to be a good thing this day. As Mena continues to reassure the beasts in her own special way, the wounded one finally starts to calm, taking a few limping steps as the Empress takes the reins of the burden carrying creatures, coming under her gentle care.

The two carts are piled up on each other, rather smashed. The wounded driver is pinned under the side of his cart, a wheel that has broken holding him in place as he groans and grabs his leg as Mathis manuveurs past gently. "So-sorry." the young man manages as he heads into the other cart, pushing aside a few broken boxes and toys as he reaches around to feel for the other driver. As he does so, his hand lands in something wet and sticky. Milk. Eww.

But, then he finds cloth beneath it, and the fact that the poor man's head got stuck in one of the large decanters of milk and drowned in the freak incident. Sighing, Mathis shakes his head. "One survivor, one soul l-lost!" he yells back to where Cael and Khalani can hear him. Formalities can wait for the moment.

The boys look at Ellie, and one of them leers. "You can go on a date with me instead." he says, waggling his brow at her in a lewd wink that suggests what a 'date' would be. He should be glad that Mathis is nowhere near around to hear that, or his kneecap would be blugeoned!

The mother looks at the coins being offered to her as she clutches her child. "Toys?! Who wants toys?!" she screams at Margeaux and Arianell, finally as the realization that she nearly lost her daughter sinks in and she starts to go into hysterics, trembling and hugging Elizabeth even tighter to her now as she starts to run away.

One of the boys, seeing Ysora reaching for a toy at the same time as him, tries to yank it away from the woman and run. "Give it here, gimpy!" he snarls, trying to pull it away and run from the Lady and get away with the expensive baubble.

As the milk finally starts to peter out, more of the toys start to 'awaken' and wander about, one set of men trying to carry off a whole box of the 'Princess' ones - which oddly have a face that Ysora would find familiar in Ravelle.

"I'm coming back out." Mathis says, starting to back up in the wreckage, which creaks over him and he shoots it a dirty look. "I just g-got out of the infirmary, don't you /dare/ fall on me."

"Okay, okay, we need some lumber - some wood or something to help prop this up, and some guys to help us lift this up enough for you to slide him out," Cael tells Mathis and Khalani, helping Mathis wiggle his way out. "We need to be careful that it doesn't fall on him anymore."

Card looks up at Margeaux, staring for a moment to determine if the accident was an 'accident' or not. He stands up then, still looking at her. "Pity it seems. I don't chase things of little value...only things that have an obvious, glowing, accented worth." He puts the smoke in his mouth and takes a pull.

Mena keeps her gaze on the horses before her, smiling as they calm. She gives each of them a light touch upon the long nose, then glances toward the nearest observer. "Fetch the stablemaster from the castle's stables, please. We are in need of him."

"Oh, what a mess," Nell says quietly under her breath, looking at the chaos. She presses her lips together, uncertain, then tugs on the sleeve of one of her guards. "Please go get the Sheriff and the City Guard," she requests. "Really, there are hardly enough of us here to keep things from going badly."

Ysora looks down at the boy, tone firm but gentle. "There are others about. And I know the person who designed them. If you help me get the ones that are moving, I imagine that he would be willing to design a special toy just for you. They are very important to him," she points out. "And I imagine they're worth more to him than you'd get paid by anyone else. I can help you find him." The news about a soul last closes her eyes, just for a moment and a quick murmur of a prayer to Providence.

"Oui?" Margeaux says before she gives a small shrug to her shoulders before she moves over towards Nell and Mena's general area. "Such a shame, oui?" Margeaux offers as she moves over towards the gathering.

"No! You go away and leave me alone." Ellie exclaims in response to the boy 'asking' her on a date. Telling her would be more like it. But no matter, she turns to flee towards someone she knows, anyone. In this case, that 'someone' would happen to be Nell, and anyone who happens to be near her.

Card exhales out the smoke as the subtle compliment is either lost or disregarded. He's used to it from these fancy ladies. Left to his own devices, though, he slides over to where the baubles went to kick them further off into some trash where he can collect them at his leisure.

Tiege has a book tucked under an arm as he stumbles upon what looks like madness! He takes in the whole scene with widened eyes and gives a shout of, "What in the blessed name of Providence is going on here?" His eyes find Ysora in the crowd with the child and he starts toward her, only to hear the distress from Ellie. He changes direction toward the boy hassling her. "I think that the miss prefers to be left alone," he admonishes severely.

Feeling the hand on him, Mathis reaches back and grips Cael's wrist to be guided out. "G-got it." the young man says to the Lord as he gets pulled back, and looks towards the two. "Hi." he offers quickly. "Not h-hurt, swear." he says with a smirk as he looks around. "We have pl-plenty of lumber?" he asks in confusion.

Tugged on the sleeve, the guard nods quickly to the Duchess and takes off to get the Guard, which was already on the way to the scene, if the shouts to make way from the Keeper West are any indication. As he runs off, he runs by where Mena just got the attention of a street waif with a mouthful of milk from the street and a doll clutched in her hands. She spits out the milk in fear, as if that makes it okay, then bows her head quickly, hoping against hope that Mena doesn't turn her over to the Keeper to be ripped apart by the tides.

She nods quickly before darting as fast as her feet will let her to seek out the stablemster for the Empress as the two horses mill around, nuzzling Mena's hand and cheek affectionately, seeking out sugar or apples.

As Tiege calls out Ellie's 'date', he snorts. "And what are you gonna do about it, bookworm?" he asks mildly, the overweight lad in his mid-teens says, trying to bow up and look tough at him.

The boy shakes his youthful head at Ysora. "Nuh-uh, you're fibbing, you just want to take my toy!" he says, scowling unhappily! And with that, he tries to kick the woman's shin to get her to drop the toy and run off with it. Really, ungrateful brat!

"Miss Ellie," Nell greets the girl with a strained smile. "Are you all right? Nothing injured?" she asks, reaching to check more closely. She sighs to Margeuax's comment, just nodding before she looks around again. "I do wish the guard would get here."

Hammel steps closer to where Cael is directing people to get the wrecks apart. Khalani steps in a puddle of milk and makes a face at the splash, as well as Mathis' news about a soul lost. "Can't you just use some of the boards that fell off?" She asks Cael, reaching for one of the smashed boards off the side of the cart. "To prop things up with?"

Mena has neither sugar or apples, which is a shame, really. As the horses remain calm in her care, one of her knights steps forward to murmur near her ear. She then glances toward the wreckage, a saddened frown upon her features. She answers the knight in soft tones, though stays with the trusty steeds until the stablemaster arrives.

"I can venture to get thim, oui?" Margeaux says, giving Nell a warm smile. "We can 'ave them 'ere quite soon." She turns from her goof friend back towards the castle. Where better to find guards?

"Good idea," Cael notes with a smile at Khalani, tilting his head and crouching with a wince. He helps Khalani tug at some boards - making a pile and trying to get them into positions to be able to help prop up the cart - as much as he can. "Very good idea," he calls.

With the sass from the other teen, Tiege reaches to his back and draws out a broadsword as tall as he is, growing in height and tossing the blade around with the skill of a master swordsman, deft and sure. Wait. No. That's only one of those fantasies that goes on in his head, where he wields some weapon other than a quill. All the same, he does draw himself up to a precise posture and gives a mild smile to the other teen. "It's not worth the trouble, is it? There's bound to be city guard here any time, and legal matters are really unpleasant. Why don't you let me buy you a drink instead, or some food?"

"Fine, Your Grace." Ellie says as she skids to a stop, nearly colliding with the duchess due to the slippery milk. Fortunately, that disaster is averted and she can gesture back towards where Tiege and the boys are, "Boys trying to make me help them steal!"

Ysora's cane shoots out, though she checks the speed at the last instant - child. Not soldier. Just tries to divert his leg before it can make contact. Seems she does try to keep up on her training, even what little bit she can. "Those princess dolls have my cousin's face, you little twit! Now I'm going to go help - do what you want over those moving toys, you find me after this and you'll do better than you would otherwise!" *limp limp towards the cart*.

Mathis moves to assist with the construction of the lift with Khalani and Cael, which means I don't have to pose him much. The large bully looks towards Tiege. "And what do you know, beanpole?" he says, snarling. "I've seen that girl on the streets - you think you're protecting some noble girl? Ha!" he says, "She scrounges, just like the lot of us!"

And just as the boy looks like he's about to prove this point, there's a call out of "Guard!" It echoes through the Center of the Keeper, and the opprotunists thieves scatter like roaches exposed to sunlight, heading here and there and yonder, breaking ranks before disappearing back into the shadows of the city.

The young lad facing Ysora gets smacked smartly on the leg and yelps, stepping back and shoots Ysora an unhappy look before sticking out his tongue and running off, not wanting to go to jail, either.

It's about this time that the influx of guards enter the area, looking around at the destruction and the assorted civilians and nobles at work to assist with the damages, and start to spread out to assist.

"I just sent someone," Nell says distractedly to Margeaux, grimacing as she looks to the boys indicated by Ellie. She sighs with relief when they arrive, starting to step back from the mess. "There, now," she murmurs to Ellie. "That should see things taken care of shortly."

Tiege looks after the figure that threatened him and calls, "Crime doesn't pay! Providence has other paths for you!"

"And it seems the 'av arrived, oui?" Margeaux says, looking over towards the gathering before she gives a small sigh. "Such poverty that they are those that would steal from neighbors?" Margeaux asks of Nell, sounding surprised. "Are there no jobs, mm?" She wonders, "We 'ave so much sometimes."

Card glances towards Tiege when he calls out to someone besides himself. He grins a little, amused, and looks the proper fellow over. He decides to lean against the wall nearby where he kicked his own loot.

"There are jobs in the Empire, if one wishes to find them," Mena mentions to Margeaux as she stays with the calmed horses. "To be a thief is a choice that a person makes."

Khalani crouches down, giving Cael a nudge to get back up. "Your leg is going to scream at you in the morning. I can't reach the high spots anyhow." She yanks on boards to pass up to him. Or tries at least. Really Hammel is doing the vast majority of the lifting, as silent as he always is.

"Alright," Cael grumbles, shaking his head. A smile as he stands up - rubbing his leg with a frown - and he reaches for the boards she finds, trying to help shore up the cart - enough to be able to make some space. "Mathis," he says, "Once this is more stable, get under there and yank him out - and don't be slow about it."

Ysora splashes over to Khalani, Hammel, Mathis and Cael. It all goes rather well until an unexpectedly deep milk puddle sends the cane skidding and lands her on her tail bone with a pained yelp. A bit of muttered cursing later and then she awkwardly makes her way back up and retrieves the cane. Then on her way again to at least pick up some of the smaller debris if nothing else. "So, Ravelle - which is more dangerous? A barrel of milk, or some little princess dolls," she mutters to herself.

Ellie doesn't 'scrounge', not like the boys are implying. After all, she does have some money and all. She nods to Nell, "Oh, yes, oh... It's such a mess isn't it, Your Grace? But they still shouldn't be trying to take anything. But the guards should stop that, yes." Shaking her head at Margeaux, she adds, "They shouldn't be! They're just mean to want to steal like that."

The stablemaster arrives, late to the scene because well, he's not as fast as the guard. Cone on, he tends to horses, not protecting the city. Bowing to the Empress, he blows some labored breaths, "Your Majesty?" he asks, before glancing at the horses, and he frowns, moving to study them. "...this one will have to be put down, Majesty - the wound is too deep and will become rotted with infection." he says with a shake of his head.

Mathis nods to Cael as he prepares to go crawling down to grab the injured man as he groans in pain as the young man takes his wrists to pull him back. And it is as Mathis looks down that he realizes something is missing. The silver chain around his neck. The one that was holding one of the most precious objects of all to him.

Mathis Cardiff is missing his Unity Coin.

He blows out a breath, tugging faster on the injured man, which gets him scolded at, the young man frowning. "H-hurry up, you're heavy!" he says, knowing he will have to go back into the wreckage to find his missing coin.

Tiege watches as the youth he was confronting disappears. He frowns and looks about the area again. "Ouch, cousin, watch it," he murmurs and heads toward Ysora. "Cousin, are you alright?"

Margeaux nods her head to Mena. "True, oui." The young woman says, giving a small smile as she looks around the area slowly as she watches the calamity.

Mena gives a slow sigh at the news that the injured horse will be lost as well. "It is a shame, though pales to the loss of the driver. Thank you for your assistance," she says to the stablemaster, taking a moment to murmur something to the doomed horse before releasing the custody to the man.

With things starting to be brought under control, Arianell's guards return to the duchess' side, and one leans down to murmur something to her. She looks a bit worried by it, but nods, taking a step back from the chaos. "Miss Ellie, my guards have reminded me that Eadric would be terribly worried if he knew I was here right now, so I think I'm going to have to step away. Would you like to come with me?" she offers.

Khalani reaches to try and keep Mathis from crawling under the wreckage. "Mathis! You're going to hurt yourself again." She pauses as he does and then informs him. "I'll go crawling in and look, I'm smaller anyhow, I'll fit better to find it." She knows exactly what he's noticed, she's noticed too, the lack of silver chain and coin.

"A baronness crawling under an open crash like that? No way. Your sister and your guard would kill me," Cael says, certain that Khalani's guard is about to protest as well. "Let one of us do it - that way if something happens it's.. well, quite frankly, it's less of a loss," Cael tells Khalani.

"No offense, Khalani," Mathis says, using the friend's venecular for a moment as he drops the man off, and he takes Khalani's shoulder, offering her a weak smile. "But you're a B-Baroness, Excellency. I'm just me. And i-it's my coin, I have to get it back." he says, worried mirrored in his eyes as he starts to move towards the wreckage himself. His Coin. He will not let Khalani risk herself like that. At all.

Tiege glances toward the people at the wreckage and considers them each. "If you're in need of assistance, and non-baronial, I'm happy to help," he offers toward them.

"I'm covered in milk," Ysora says to Tiege as she leans over to pick up the spoke of a wheel and the poor little doll imapled on it, moving it out of the way. "My tailbone is going to be the color of my hair on the morrow," she adds, looking for the next item. "And .. I am distressingly sober to be doing this!" She frowns upon hearing Khalani's words. "You should help her," she tells him. "Don't let her go digging under the cart." Pause. "Like that!"

Firenza sashays into the plaza center, clutching a whiskey bottle. She pauses upon seeing such a large gathering, announcing, "No no no. No worries. I'm fine."

"Mat!" Ellie calls out, noticing her friend for the first time in this chaotic scene. She shakes her head slightly at Nell, "Oh, no thank you, Your Grace. I'll stay here and wait for Mat."

Mathis shoots a look at Cael. "Sorry, milord. You're too big." he teases him before he starts to wriggle his way into the wreckage, his hand splashing the milk and ruins, trying to find the Unity Coin. It's not that it's just a coin.. he knows what it means, and his losing it will disappoint certain people terribly.

For newcomers, the Guard has locked down the area, which has two large carts that are wrecked. Crates are broken, hay and milk strewn in the streets, with half-broken toys which are all over the place, the area just having been looted as the stablemaster leads two horses away from Empress Mena.

Tiege flashes a sympathetic smile to his cousin. "They say milk is good for the skin, at least? A few moments, and I'll help you wherever you wish to go." He walks toward Khalani, Mathis, and Cael since he's offered to help them.

Finally, medical arrives. Stretcher bearers head towards Khalani and Cael. "We have two more coming, Excellency." he says as he bows to the Baroness and lord.

Godfrey walks in from the east, his practiced gait allowing him to happen on the scene with an inquisitive expression on his features. When he sees that other guards have gathered and there is wreckage, his expression becomes fixed and he cleaves through the crowd with long strides. Not a soul is pushed out of the way; he /navigates/ expertly in order to join the other guards.

Mena lets out another sigh and brushes her hands together as she takes stock of what's going on still. As she sees everything well in hand, she just stays out of the way (at the urgings of her knights). It is then when she spots her mother and the bottle the woman carries. Oh. Wonderful.

Khalani gives a roll of her eyes, but between Cael and Mathis and the pointed glare from Hammel, the tiny baroness backs down from the idea of crawling anywhere vaguely dangerous. She watches Mathis wedge his way into the wreckage to go hunting, and she crouches down to try and watch for only a moment before standing as the healers arrive. "Ahh, excellent. There's one injured gentleman who was in the wreck here. The other driver is.. not in immediate need of attention."

Katie comes out from the castle and just doesn't get much further as, wow that is a mess.

Card reaches down to fiddle with some rubble and then with a flick of his smoke into an alley, littering further, he starts to head out of the immediate area.

Zipporah pauses to look at the scene at hand and her lips turn into a smile, "Someone has dropped a Unity Coin? Now this is interesting."

Duchess Arianell nods to Ellie, then steps back with her guards away from the chaos. With things apparently in hand, the Guardian duchess moves away to clear the area of at least a few unnecessary people.

Since it looks as if the matter is handled, Tiege returns to Ysora's side. He offers her his elbow. "I missed what happened, but it looks rather drastic."

"There we go,' Cael notes, crouching alongside Khalani, checking on Mathis and trying to help him out - guiding him through the wreckage as best he can, which isn't much at all.

Firenza sees her daughter and slurred smile draws across her features. She slowly starts over toward Mena, bumping into a few people along the way and reminding them to look where she's going. She pauses at a distance from the Empress and oooooozes into a curtsy. "Empress, dahling. So good to see you again... it has been too long."

A small smile comes to her face. "Well, I think I must go, oui" Margeaux says as she walks towards the castle.

Happening to see Zipporah in the crowd, Ellie edges away from that woman's direction. Is it too late to go with the Duchess? She doesn't ask, though, torn between putting distance between her and Zipporah and waiting for Mathis to be done.

"Mother," Mena murmurs with an incline of her head. "And what a surprise to see you here. I was just going to wander back home to clean up a bit. Perhaps you will accompany me?"

Isn't it always the people that you try to avoid that notice you first? With Mathis digging around for the coin, then it's clear that the little girl must be around. Zipporah starts to look for her and then spotting her, she waves, "Little girl, there you are." She pauses, "What have you decided?"

"Excellent," Firenza says, moving closer to Mena. "Lead the way, luv. We have so much to catch up on."

"No, I suppose there is no use crying over it," grunts Godfrey with a tight smile to one of the other guards as he helps lift one of the overturned wagons. The guardsman hasn't bothered asking any of the other men on duty what /caused/ this. He is more concerned with making sure the wreckage is cleared and the injuries are minimized at best.

Ysora stops trying to clear for a moment, milk dribbling down her right arm and dripping from her fingertips. "Don't know exactly," she tells Tiege. "I was inside trying to, um, bring light to some of the locals." Just a little hemming and hawing. "Looks like a cart crash," she says, perhaps less than helpfully.

"Indeed we do," Mena replies as she starts carefully stepping over wet ground, lifting the edges of her skirts as she does so. One last glance is given to the wreckage and those taking care of it before she leads her drunken mother out of public.

Khalani keeps half her attention upon the ministrations of the healers upon the injured cart driver and half her attention upon Mathis searching for his coin and a further half upon the wreck of the cart. "Oh! Hold up moving it too much, it's not very stable, and there's someone under it!" She calls towards Godfrey and the other guards as they start righting things.

Tiege sighs patiently. "Oh Cousin. Trying to bring light to some of the locals? I'm not that young." He looks her over and apologizes, "I don't have a handkerchief with me. Do you wish escort back to your rooms to change? Or are you intending to remain here and offer what assistance you can?"

Firenza blows the scene a kiss and tickles the air in a wave at Godfrey. "Ohhhh, I do remember you..." She glides closer to her daughter, pointing quite obviously at Godfrey. "Have you met him yet? I do believe I slept with his father, or uncle... or cousin. I can't remember. You should really get to know him, Mena-- what with Rourke being so busy."

"Almost, almost,' Cael says, helping the injured man get moved slashed tugged out - his feet, his injured leg(s) .... his chest, and his arms, working to try to get him slid all the way out until he's finally free - and leaving Mathis under the cart.

Upon hearing Khalani's words, Godfrey's shoulders tense and his legs freeze in place. The cart scarcely moves as the man bears it against his body. He calls aloud, "Orley! Stockton! Find out who's under there and get them out!" He grits his teeth as his gloved hands grip the cart. With his mind set and feet dug into the street, the cart will not budge.

Mena refrains herself from grabbing at her mother's arm to hurry her along, though her steps are quick as she goes back into the courtyard with her mother in tow. She doesn't reply to Firenza's words at all. At least not here.

Ysora turns her head and fixes Tiege with one of those looks that rarely exists outside of families, one that follows discussions that repeat almost ad infinitum. She sighs and then gestures towards the knot of people. "You have two hands that work - put them to something useful why don't you? I'm going to help until things are cleared. I've certainly been through worse than this.... though, well, maybe you could try to find out something about the person who died? Find their family?"

"I will be happy to serve," Tiege says, and offers to Ysora the book he had under one arm. "Will you hold this for me?"

Khalani ducks in and around to check on Mathis' progress, watching the extrication of people who got caught by the wreck and seeing them directed off to the healers who are well busy. Along with those on the cart, there's been a few who've slipped on the milk and hurt themselves. "Mathis is still under there." She explains up to Godfrey, Hammel her guard is also holding up the cart, helping to keep it steady.

"Mathis, hurry up," Cael encourages the young man, echoeing Khalani's words, "I have one of my people under there, don't let it fall," he calls, trying to lean down to peer under the wreck. "Mathis! By Providence, hurry up young man, now's not the time to dawdle, move like you're removing a skirt for the first time!"

"Um... Um... I don't know..." Ellie replies to Zipporah, casting a glance over towards where she last saw Mathis and desperately wishing he would finish what he's doing.

A couple of the guards occasionally look over at the stubborn Godfrey as the man holds the cart at an angle, their expressions ranging anywhere from admiration to skepticism depending on their age. But he holds it steady, along with the contributing Hammel. Godfrey looks over to Khalani, and despite her noble rank, he says forcibly through gritted teeth, "Why ... isn't... he... moved?"

"See? You need a guardian to help you make up your mind in life. You will be an excellent little being for me to help guide." Zipporah replies with a smile, "I will go speak to the Duchess and tell her that your current guardian may resign."

Ysora sighs at Tiege and then takes off her hat, thrusts it out for him to put the book in. "Fine. You help. I'll be sitting out of the way. Watching your book," she says. More quietly, she mumbles, "Doing nothing. Not any help to anyone."

"But... but..." Ellie just can't win, can she? "I mean... it hasn't been that long at all. So I haven't decided yet..."

"Milady," Tiege says quietly and consolingly to Ysora as he hands over his book, "You help merely by your stalwart presence, wisdom, and experience. I can only aspire to such things. I'm just a back and a pair of hands, in this." The subtle smile he gives her before he heads over to the crowd is one of apology.

Khalani shoots Cael a look at the comparison and then explains to Godfrey, or tries to. "He needs to find something very important. I don't think he'll be long. I hope. No, he wont' be too much longer." She tugs at her milk sodden skirt hem as it catches on something she's trodding in, a bit of broken toy.

Ysora upends the hat, book and all, and yanks it down on her head. Tiege's words are met with a scowl before she and the cane start their way back towards the ... She freezes part way towards the tavern, bedraggled and dripping in milk and unlikely to be welcomed to sit in the tavern.

"Damn weresharks!" She finishes her limp and then calls into the tavern for someone to bring her out an ale. Gosh darn it. Grrr.

Zipporah inclines her head to Ellie, "I know, but you are too young to make such decisions anyway. I will go and..persuade Her Grace." And then she starts towards the castle with a grin on her lips.

With Khalani's explanation, Godfrey simply closes his eyes and turns his face in the opposite direction so he can concentrate on keeping the cart steady. He sucks in a deep breath to oxygenate blood cells that rapidly course through his muscles as he growls, "Whatever he finds... it better be important!"

Tiege steps toward the mess of toys and milk and boards. He looks for places he can lend a hand and quietly does so. Picking up glass, helping to lift a board, or gathering broken toys, he's doing it if it's helping.

"I'm thirteen!" Ellie exclaims to Zipporah. She's not quite thirteen, but it's only a couple months. Definitely closer to thirteen than twelve. "I am not too young!"

Zipporah just grins back to Ellie as she keeps walking, "We shall see, little girl." Dum de dum dum.

Ellie's shoulders slump slightly. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Darn grownups, treating her as if she were three.

Tiege eventually moves over to where Godfrey is holding up the cart, after helping out a few other places. He gazes at the man with something akin to wonder.

There is a snarl elicited from Godfrey before he rights the cart, timed conveniently for when the other guards have managed to remove all that have been trapped underneath. Once the cart is righted with an unceremonious thud, the guard rises to his full height and breathes out of his nostrils with an expression that suggests severe consternation. Blood has gathered to his face, giving it a red glow that only adds to his fearsome features.

There is still more work to be done.

Tiege glances after the tossed cart and back to the man that has done so with such ease, relatively speaking. "You are one of the strongest men I've ever seen," he says, half under his breath so that he won't disturb too much in case such powerful strength goes with powerful temprament. He goes back to just taking care of business and clean-up.

Ysora harumphs and looks up just in time to see Ellie doing about the same thing, albeit for different reasons. "I know exactly how you feel," she says before her ale is delivered from inside and a little coin exchanged.

Godfrey's attention snaps in the direction of the young man that had mumbled. It doesn't matter /what/ he said, but rather that noise was made within earshot. Nostrils flare again before he takes a step or two over to where Tiege is and he respectfully rumbles, "It would be best if you stood aside. The city guard will be handling this mess now." Though his tone is measured, his eyes are directly focused on the young man. He waits for compliance.

"No you don't." Ellie says with a slight shake of her head to Ysora, "At least, I don't think so." Tiege blinks in surprise at Godfrey, but doesn't argue beyond a simple, "If there's anything that can be done to assist, sir, there are many faithful citizens who would be happy to do so, myself included." He steps back.

Ysora looks up, a crooked smile on her lips. "Fair enough - not exactly, probably. But you look frustrated and annoyed. I know that feeling pretty well."

"Maybe. But. Oh. People keep telling me I need a guardian. And it ends up being someone... um..." Ellie trails off and shrugs slightly.

Godfrey's eyes don't stray from Tiege's. Guards are notorious for their stare. "I understand completely, and appreciate the offer. But for your own safety and security, you will have to move." Not 'should' or 'might', but 'will'.

Tiege gives a firm nod with Godfrey's words. "Providence keep you and your fellow guardsmen safe then, sir." He heads over to where Ysora and Ellie are and considers Ellie. "Are you alright? I'm sorry that man was harassing you. He must need some redirection in his life. Maybe I can track him down and talk to him sometime. Milady, did you want an escort back to the castle? You okay?"

Ysora turns to look at Ellie more seriously. She inclines her head slightly and asks, "Have you met anyone you would trust as your guardian, and feel comfortable with - safe?" Nevermind that the woman looks a wreck at the moment. Most people on the street do. She peeks up at her cousin and sighs. "Take the book out from under the hat. It feels most uncomfortable. And in a few moments." After she has another sip of the ale.

After what seems like an eternity, a miserable Mat climbs out from underneath the ruins of the cart and sits down on the side of the road. It's gone, no where to be found.

"Yes, thank you." Ellie replies with a nod to Tiege. She's not quite alright, but for other reasons than what Tiege is asking. Darn Zipporah showing up. "Well..." she says slowly to Ysora, "There are lots of nice people I've met. But making them look after Gregory, too?" With a slight shake of her head, she adds, "Anyway, I don't really get a choice at all."

Without the bustling of the crowd, the guards seem to operate like clockwork. Godfrey, most noticeably, seems to perform tirelessly. If it needs lifting, he will lift it. If someone needs to speak with him, he will speak with them until they have their answer. He'll even go so far as to boost spirits with an occasional clap on the shoulder or glib observation. Though the guards tend to have a mixed reputation, it would appear that today they are the sterling example of protection and service.

Tiege chews on the inside of one cheek as he watches Ysora drink her ale, and he reaches for her hat to tug it off and take the book out. The hat is replaced carefully. "You're welcome," he says to Ellie. He looks between Ysora and Ellie, as if trying to catch up to the topic of conversation.

Pushing himself off the ground, soaked in milk on his knees and arms, Mathis makes his way over to Ellie. "Hey." he says, offering a smile to her, though it looks withdrawn and hurt.

Hearing the familiar voice causes Godfrey to whip around. Spotting Mathis, he breaks into another series of long strides that carry him closer to the young man. "Mathis," he barks out in a tone that seems to plow through the slush of noise in the plaza to reach the young man's ears.

Ysora softens her expression a bit, trying to help put Ellie at ease. "It's hard. I wish you good luck. I don't know that I'm much good with the advice thing, but I know my cousins are. Like Tiege here, and some of the others. Sometimes when you feel like you have no choice, doing what you know isn't right, but feels like the only thing to do? It goes all wrong. I hope Providence will watch over you." It should be noticed she only takes a few sips from the ale. The call of Mathis' name raises her head, though, and she looks over curiously.

"Mat! Mat? Are you all right?" Ellie asks worriedly when she sees her friend, her own troubles vanishing for the moment, "Is your back all right? Do you need to go back to the infirmary?" Of course, he just got /out/. But if he's hurt... She nods somewhat distractedly to Ysora, "Thank you..." before returning her attention to Mathis.

"I-I'm fine." Mathis lies, his hand going to his neck and the missing chain. He starts to say more when the growled out voice catches his name, and the milk-sodden man cringes for just a moment before straightening. "G-uard Godfrey?"

Tiege watches Ellie with dark eyes and a lined brow. "What is she getting into that she has no choice in?" he asks Ysora. Tiege looks over Mathis and the wan expression on his features. "It looks like there's a lot of trouble, really."

"Heard you weren't caught under the cart, but you were /looking/ for something," Godfrey says, once he has the young man's attention. His expression is not one of anger, but is still stern. This is the face he uses when he wants answers. "Did you even find it?"

Ysora slowly makes her way up to her feet with a little help from a railing. "Something about looking for a guardian. Maybe I'll find her again and try to find out more. Do keep an eye on her, will you? Maybe see if you can help her talk to the others? But for now - I am going to have my maid bring some fresh clothes to the bath house and go wash up."

"A guardian." Ellie replies to Tiege, "I don't get much of a choice as to who it'll be." She shrugs a bit and then looks back at Mathis worriedly. He certainly doesn't look fine.

Mat's voice drops to near whisper. This isn't exactly something the lad wants getting out. "I-I was on the rescue and just forgot to take it off.." he says, rubbing his neck. "..a-and it's gone." he says, closing his eyes. "..my Unity Coin.."

Tiege steps back from Ysora and, family or no, bows to her. "If there is anything you need, don't hesitate to call upon me, Cousin." He looks over at Ellie's comment. "You have none? Were your parents from here, or another isle? The law would relegate you still to the authority of whomever is your isle's liege as the authority to make that decision, but I would hope it would be something you would receive at least marginal input in." He tucks the book he retrieved from Ysora's hat under his arm.

That wasn't the answer Godfrey was expecting. Nor was it one he would accept.

The guard's eyes narrow, which Mathis thankfully does not bear witness to since the young man had closed his eyes. His nostrils flare, jaw tightening as he plays back the answer in his mind. Of all the things... wait, perhaps there is something about the Unity Coin that he doesn't understand. If there is, he cannot ponder it right now. "You just got in the way," he says simply, choosing the fifth reply in a list of five that he was going to choke out after Mathis told him why he had held up hundreds of pounds of cart for him.

"I have one now. I'm from Gateway, but Duchess Green Fields got..." Ellie begins before breaking off at Mathis' words. "Oh, Mat!" she exclaims, "Oh no!" She rushes to hug him, knowing exactly what that coin meant to her friend.

"That coin w-was a gift from the Keeper!" Mathis shoots back. "And I ha-had to go look for it!" he says, feeling the squeeze of his best friend and he clings to her, his head dropping against her shoulder with a miserable sigh. "It's.. a favor, from the Keeper, Guar-Guard. One.. time.. one wish.."

Tiege tilts his head as he hears the soft words from Mathis and sees the distress that Ellie comforts. His eyes snap to the ground and he lowers to a knee to just start peering about.

Godfrey looks at Mathis, prepared to say something else. Instead, he simply shakes his head and goes about his business. Additional words are not going to make the young man feel any better, and he isn't in the business of consolation. He keeps the peace, and more words will be counterproductive. He returns to what remains of the wreckage in silence.

"We'll find it, Mat." Ellie assures Mathis, even though she really can't promise anything of the sort, "I'll help you look for it. We'll find it."

"It's n-not under there.. I don't know where it is." Mathis says, stepping back but keeps an arm around her as he walks aimlessly, letting Ellie lead him more than anything else.