[Wash is letting the others answer this. Partly because he doesn't know if they are  supposed to be discussing it with these two, but also because he already worded Bririck up about the armour.]

Balassar just remains silent looking around wondering if this was a test of sorts.

Alton takes a moment to think before saying, "Well we didn't get to see how it functioned. The creator wasn't able to reach it in time and none of us really knows how it works. Nima is pretty smart, I bet she could get it to work."

Well, we'll see what the Watchmaster has to say, Sleeze says firmly to his disappointed employee.  No secret missions or clandestine dungeon crawling, not even if you ask nicely.  

He turns back to Alton.  And I am absolutely not offering you two hundred gold for the plans plus a five percent share in any future profits. 

Alton smiles, "Make it ten percent and and it is a deal."

Persuasion:9

(Forgot to put in the thing for Halfling Luck: 9)

Balassar watches as the negotiation continues a smirk crossing his face at the business knowledge of the halfling.

Wash looks on, impressed by Alton's negotiating skills (from that 9 to 26, nice!)

Done! say Sleeze and Nima in unison.  And you make the exchange.  You are now 200 gold richer.

Is there anything else you want to do here, or are you heading off to your next stop?

Alton take the pouch of gold from Sleeze and shakes the hands of Sleeze and Nima. "Pleasure doing business with you both. I hope this investment does work out for all of us and is a benefit to the community. Do we need to write up a contract or anything?"

(Other than probably finalizing the deal, I don't have anything else here.)

Next stop is what is essentially a small shack rather than a shop, with a sign bearing its name: Tinkertop Inventions.  As you approach the door, you see a figure at a window peering out, and hear a voice calling:  Come on in.

You enter a noisy room, the whirring and clicking of clockwork never ceasing, and an elderly gnome with a trim white beard greets you.  Good day, good day, I am Cleff Tinkertop, Master Inventor.  Welcome to Tinkertop's Inventions.   Now what can I do for you this day?

Wash introduces himself and says "I bought a very cool little gizmo from you for a friend a while back and suggested to my friends we check your shop out while in town."

He squints through his extremely elaborate spectacles.   Nope, don't remember  you.  What did you get?  That might help.  Not that I have that many customers, you really think I'd remember you.  He stares long at hard at your face.  Nope.  What did you say your name was?

Wash responds "Dr Sal Washburne. I have... had a clinic near...  almost on the Goldcannon estate and volunteer...ed at the Dawnfather's Promise. I bought a charming little music box here for a friend about a year or two back."

Oh, indeed?  A year or two.  Well, that doesn't help, but I hope it brings them some joy.  And what can I do for you this time?  Anything you are looking for?

Wash, you notice that while there is a lot of junk and incomplete parts littered around the 'shop', there are fewer items on display than the last time you visited.  Tinkertop Inventions seems to be going through a difficult patch.

Alton looks around the shop and just pokes around looking at the different inventions.

Balassar just walks around the shop looking at items “You got any scimitars?”

You see small clockwork devices, many broken or unfinished, yet all displaying an apparent skill and perhaps a touch of creativity and genius that reminds you of what you saw in Stahlmast's workshop.  However, relatively few seem to have any combat value; most seem to be music boxes, toys that walk under their own power, devices for knowing the exact time - a great many of those in fact, covering much of the walls.

Scimitars?  You would be looking for the a smithy, I think.  I can't imagine what I could do with a scimitar... unless you need one disguised as something else, an umbrella or a hat stand for example.  The gnome looks at you curiously, and his eyes linger on your weapon as possibilities seem to be passing across his eyes.

Wash’s eyes light up and he asks "these devices, am I correct in the understanding that they tell the time?" Assuming he confirms that, Wash asks "how much are these time-machines... no, that is not a good name for them, what do you call them?"

Timekeepers or timeclockworks or timeclockers.  People have different names for them.  But the name's not the thing.  It's what's inside, look!  He opens one of the devices and you see the intricate machinery and metal inside, whirring and rocking back and forth.  It's fascinating, similar to a music box but so much smaller and more intricate.

The larger ones like this, they're fifty gold, and we do have a few of these smaller ones.  Rather fashionable these days, well, not these days, perhaps a year or two ago, it's hard to keep track.  He looks a little sad for a moment, and then recovers his spirits.  Well, the smaller ones are a hundred gold each, more if you want gold or silver or other decoration.