Play@YSDC

Duc's Palace, Great Hall - Vyones, Auvergne, France
9:00 AM - Monday, April 20, 1517

Story, Elizabeth, Brook, and Jacques soon caught up to Leonardo da Vinci as he departed the hall, as he moved slowly due to his advanced age. "It is good to see all of you again," he said. "I would be happy to show you my works in greater detail if you like. If you wish to see the dead man by daylight, I imagine they'll have moved him to the ice house. Bodies tend to decay quickly otherwise. I would actually like to perform an autopsy on the corpse."

When you return, please let me know what the Psychology roll was for, and I'll let you know what you've learned.

Brook gulps, suddenly deciding that checking out the corpse might not be such a good idea after all.

However, this is not something she wants to admit.

“Okay, let’s get on with it, while the guy is still fresh… ish…”

"Yes, an excellent suggestion," said Leonardo. "The sooner I begin my examination, the less chance the cadaver will have to decay. I always like to conduct an autopsy on a fresh corpse, if possible. Is that acceptable to the rest of you?"

Jacques:

Jacques looks basically appalled at the idea of the ladies sitting in while Da Vinci conducts his "examination".

"Ah, Master, if you could spare a few more minutes before you find the dead thief, we were hoping to talk to you privately first. Perhaps in your rooms?"

"If you wish, Monsieur," said Leonardo, "and if the ladies do not mind waiting?"

Jacques:

"Ladies, shall we adjourn to Master Da Vinci's rooms for a brief spell?" Jacques looks politely hopeful.

Elizabeth looks archly at Jaques, wondering what he has up his sleeve. She looks at her companions and then nods her head.
“Lead on, Monsieur, it might be sensible to talk first.”

“Yep; lead on,” concurs Brook.

"Very well, then," said Leonardo, leading the group back to his rooms. Once they arrived and entered, he closed the door. "Now, what is it you wish to discuss?"

Jacques:

Jacques sighs. "I think we need to consider the possibility that the author of that letter to the thief may be the Duchesse. The first time we heard his full name was after she whispered it to the Duc."

"I can tell you what I know of her:"

"The duchesse is part of the highborn Beaufort family in Paris, the daughter of a Comte. She was remarkably well-educated, and her marriage to the Duc was a political and economic one to form an alliance between their families, the Duchesse being nearly twenty years younger than her husband. She is the smart one in that marriage. He hunts and arranged parties, she manages their affairs."

"Of course it may be that she only knows the thief's name as he was a guest. But if she is the author of the letter, there is little chance of further justice being found here. The Duc will take her side and that will be that. Except perhaps for her accusers."

"Now may not be a good time to show too much interest in this matter, at least not publicly."

Leonardo stroked his beard. "That is a possibility," he said. "While the letter was written in Italian, that may be merely because Giuseppe was Italian himself, and the Duchesse would know multiple languages - though I doubt she knows as many as I do. Though, if it were her, why would she not simply have a trusted servant do the deed when I was out of the room? Still, it something to consider. We must indeed be circumspect. We will need solid evidence before we make any accusations."

Jacques:

Jacques looks to the ladies. "Ladies, I do beg of you that you consider letting Master Da Vinci conduct his study of the dead thief without you."

"I can tell you, I have seen the insides of more men than I care to count and would spare you the experience if I could."

"Remember my offer of a horse ride?"

“I’ve never ridden a horse in my life,” Brook replies. “But if it’s that or see a day-old corpse get up, then get me in the saddle!”

Jacques:

"The Duc's stables will have ponies trained for just such occasions. And I will be there to make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Just don't give Buttons the impression you're withholding treats from him. But I'm sure by now he's taken out the majority of his morning ill humour in the stable boys, never fear."

“Well… okay then, so long as they’re docile…” Brook replies.

Elizabeth has been thinking.
“If I were the Duchess I wouldn’t use a servant who could be traced back to me but rather a professional individual.
“There is something else too.
This play that is on tonight, ‘Le Roi en Jaune’ I have heard of the King in Yellow before.”

Elizabeth stops, wondering how much to say.
“The King in Yellow is a herald, of a, ur, demon known as Hastur, which causes corruption and decay.. The King wears a mask and ragged yellow robes and causes people to descend into madness.

There has been a play before, in England, by the name of the King in Yellow and the performance culminated in chaos and riot; it ended in disaster for all concerned- and yet no one could remember what actually happened.”

"An excellent point," said Leonardo in response to Elizabeth. "At this point, we can rule out nothing. I shall keep the crystal in the puzzle box, and the puzzle box upon my person, at all times. If there is another attempt, we shall be ready. As for this play, I have not heard of it before. The play will not actually be performed until tomorrow night, the Duc said. Tonight there is a banquet, at which we will have the opportunity to meet the players."

Jacques:

"Master, will you still conduct your examination of the dead thief even without us? I assume you do not normally have much of an audience?"

"You assume correctly," replied Leonardo. "I work better without distractions in any case. Feel free to do what you wish in he meantime."

Jacques:

"The other question I still wonder about is why your strange suit of armour decided to kill the thief? Has is shown any further interest in moving by itself?"