Play@YSDC

"I shall, and thank you for aid, Chevalier," said Leonardo.

Yes, that's fine. Everyone has heard of those families.

Jacques:

"I am happy to assist. Well, Master Da Vinci, have a good morning. I might seize this moment to keep stretching my legs, please excuse me." With a polite nod, Jacques continues his inspection of the palace defences, and slightly less obvious inspection of guests.

The palace was well defended, with several guards on duty in the hall. Only a handful of other guests were present so far, including a Spanish priest, an elegantly-dressed Italian lady, and a Moorish man in extravagant clothes that displayed his obvious wealth.

Jacques:

Jacques stands unobtrusively against a wall somewhere and gazes admiringly about the beautiful hall. At the same time he has a bit of a look at each of the three individuals.

Jacques recognized the Italian lady from descriptions he had heard of her. She was Bianca Luciano, a wealthy widow from Venice. What he had heard of her beauty was not the slightest bit exaggerated. Her late husband had been related to the Doge of Venice. He had been a military officer who had been slain in battle in the recently ended war. She had inherited his not inconsiderable holdings upon his death and added them to her own. She noticed Jacques paying attention to her, and she gave him a smile.

Unfortunately, the 48 just fails. Your Know score is 95%, so half of that is actually 47.5%. Any roll under 47.5 (i.e., 47 or less) succeeds, and a roll of 48 or higher fails. However, since you only barely failed, I'll give you that you know that the Moor is a wealthy merchant and captain of a ship, though you don't know his name.

Jacques:

Jacques nods in response and strolls gracefully over to the lady.

He gives her a polite, brief bow. "Madame, I could not leave you standing here alone. Please allow me to introduce myself, I am the Chevalier Jacques du Baudin, fellow guest of the Duc. I believe I have the honour of addressing Mme Luciano?"

"The honor is mine," she said with a curtsy. She was beautiful, with long dark hair and an expensive white dress. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Chevalier."

Jacques, please roll Status.

Jacques:

1d%60%

"I have heard of your exploits in battle," Bianca continued, fluttering her fan. "You are truly a courageous and honorable man. How is it that no woman has claimed your heart yet? Or has one?"

Jacques:

Jacques looks suitable embarrassed, smiles and holds a hand up in polite denial. "Mme Luciano, you give me too much credit. I am just a humble soldier doing my duty. To answer your question though, I have been away on campaigns for quite a few years, and most recently based on the island of Rhodes. There has been so little time for romance I fear."

"But I also have heard of you, Madame, as your beauty is famous even in distant Rhodes. And justly so."

"You flatter me," said Bianca. "I do not have the face of Helen of Troy, which launched a thousand ships. My own face is good for fifty, perhaps. My late husband was a fighting man too. I have always been fond of a man in armor."

Jacques:

"My condolences on your loss. I believe your late husband fell on the field of battle? A true warrior's death, although that is little consolation I'm sure."

"Thank you for your sympathy," said Bianca. "He died heroically at the Battle of Marignano, the last one of the war. He served directly under Bartolomeo d'Alviano, who led the Venetian forces. Captain Luciano always led from the front, and his men were eager to follow him. He was in the vanguard of the charge against the Swiss forces when his Venetian reinforcements arrived to aid the French and routed the enemy, but not before he took a wound from a Swiss pike that proved to be mortal."

Jacques:

Jacques:

1d%95%

Jacques knew that the Battle of Marignano was the last major engagement of the recently ended War of the League of Cambrai, which had just ended with victory the previous year. The battle was fought southeast of Milan on September 13-14, 1515, pitting the French under the newly crowned King Francis I along with his allies the German landsknechts and the Venetians against the much vaunted Swiss mercenaries. The Venetian forces, under the command of condottiero Bartolomeo d'Alviano, arrived on the morning of the second day and helped secure the victory, which led to Milan becoming part of the Kingdom of France once more in the Perpetual Peace made the following year. Few of the Venetians had actually engaged in the battle; probably Captain Luciano's men had been the only ones. Jacques had also heard of Bartolomeo d'Alviano, who was a well-known military leader. He had survived the Battle of Marignano, but he had died later in 1515 at the siege of Brescia.

Please see here for more information. You know anything that would have been known in 1517, including the presence of Leonardo da Vinci at the meeting between King Francis I and Pope Leo X in Bologna, and that that was when the king convinced Leonardo to move to France. You would also know the information about Bartolomeo d'Alviano here.

Jacques:

"Mme Luciano, your husband truly died a brave warrior's death."

"I must say you describe the events of that day with most commendable attention to detail. You paint the picture of events with your words, however painful they must be."

"I for one believe all the educated ladies of Christendom should have the opportunity to better understand something of military, business, and political affairs. We are all just as affected, it would be unjust to be kept ignorant."