[quote]Traveling with him is like traveling with a growing bear: very useful until-[/quote]
Ah! Ah! All I needed to hear! The pins out on this grenade - I'm happy to try to keep my hand on it long enough to throw it at someone. 

The rest of the party probably needs a sales pitch, and the Professor needs a motivation... 

First thing's first. 

Lucien feels a deep spiritual connection to donkeys. They keep ending up in places they shouldn't be. They're smarter than horses and don't startle nearly as easily, but nobody would ever think about putting them in a cavalry regiment. They refuse any order they think is stupid, and they're only as loyal as they feel their master deserves. 

The fact that [i]this[/i] donkey was being led by an overeducated clown gone mad in the pursuit of power - well, most people would see themselves reflected in that one, and Lucien was no exception. 

"Of course you can. I'm sure it'll beat Ailee on stubbourness and smell." It's at this point, of course, that Ailee stops trying to kill their one ally and actually does something clever and useful against the Wreck instead. Credit where it's due. "Well. Smell then. Flood water, in our defense. Me and Jackdaw would love to host you. The other two..." 

[Talk Sense using Wisdom: Appeal to Desires - 3, 4, +2 = 9]
[They do what I ask, but I owe a favour] 

Lucien points to the blasted-out way down. "If you can stop that thing long enough for us to make it out, or kill it, I'll make sure Aille forgives you for your crime of being an authority figure at some point in her life. She likes useful people, and right now," - Lucien wiggles his bleeding, pie-scorched fingers and points to his still-stinging and watery eyes - "You don't have much competition." Pause. "Actually, scratch that. You're going up against the train team for brownie points. Harder ask. Clowns I understand*. But trains? Train crews?" Lucien shakes his head. "Now, [i]those[/i] are terrifying. The things they know... I try not to think about it, you understand. Makes them very slow to trust; paranoiacs the lot, and Coleman's no exception... Might be a [i]lot[/i] harder for me to put in a good word with him, unless you really impress him right now."

Lucien crouches low with his back to the statue, preparing to move silent and barefoot. "I've got your back, but the spotlight's on you. I'll stay out of sight, ready to tag in for anything. Just give the word, loud as you like."

[i]*This is what we in the business call 'a lie'.[/i]

Whatever happens next Lucien's gunning for that way down, quick and quiet. He plans to be true to his word on backing the clown - sorry, [i]Grail Questant[/i] - up if the call comes.