Play@YSDC

Duc's Palace, Great Hall - Vyones, Auvergne, France
12:30 PM - Monday, April 20, 1517

Everyone filtered into the hall and found seats at the long table that stretched the length of the hall. The Duc and Duchesse sat side by side at the far end of the table. Place settings were in front of each seat.

"Welcome, honored guests!" said the Duc. "Soup will be served in a minute, and bread and wine."

Jacques:

Jacques discreetly takes a place some distance down the table from the ducal couple. He looks about, interested to meet or at least identify some of the other guests present.

Brook looks around for somewhere for Story, Elizabeth and her to sit near each other. If Nyarlathotep is indeed on the loose, she wants to be with her friends.

“Should we try to sit near Leonardo?” Elizabeth whispers to her friends.
“He has the gem on his person and I’m worried someone might try to take it again. Look, there’s Chevalier Jaques down at the far end. I hope he cooled down on his ride.”

Leonardo was seated at the Duc's right hand in the place of honor, and Story, Elizabeth, and Brook were permitted to sit near him, followed by Diego, Jean Luc, and Gui. Jacques sat down near the far end on the other side where he could keep an eye on the latter two without being seated too close to them. He recognized Bianca, Abdullah, and Father Ignacio, who were seated on his side of the table near him. He had not met the tall, handsome Spaniard who was seated near the ladies before, though he had seen him earlier at court. There were a few others toward the head of the table on his own side, but he couldn't really see them from his seat.

Servants came from the kitchens, pouring bowls of soup and glasses of wine for the guests and placing piping hot bread on plates on the table from which guests could help themselves.

Jacques:


Jacques casts a curious but discreet glance or two at Diego as he happily munches soup and bread, while politely chatting with those near him.

Jacques tries to recognise and possibly identify Diego.


1d%95%

Gui tried not to smirk as he surreptitiously glanced at Jacques, at the far end of the table. The cul de cheval couldn’t get much closer to eating with the servants if he’d tried!

Looking around, he studied the two people he hadn’t yet met, the priest and the man of Arabian descent.

Dipping her bread in her soup, Brook studies the other diners, some of whom she hasn’t met before.

If one of them is possessed by Nyarlathotep, perhaps they’re getting used to the idea of eating. Is anyone not sampling the soup?

Gui saw that the priest was Spanish, and he wore a black robe. He had piercing black eyes that seemed to look through him, and he couldn't help but shiver when the priest looked back at him. The Moor wore exquisite and expensive clothing of his homeland, and he had a much friendlier attitude.

Everyone partook of the soup and bread, and soon after that, the servants brought in platters of roast pork.

"Forgive me, your Grace," the Moor said to the Duc, "but I do not eat pork."

"Of course, Captain," replied the Duc.

"We have beef, if that is to your liking," said the Duchesse.

"That would please me greatly, Duchesse."

"I would prefer beef as well, if I may," said Diego.

"It will be no problem," said the Duchesse, sending a servant back to the kitchens with a wave.

Jacques had heard of Don Diego Vega de Almeida de la Cruz before, but had never met him. He was half-Spanish and half-Portuguese, and a noble as his title suggested, but beyond that he knew little.

Elizabeth sips some wine and eats her soup. “What do you know about this Diego?” She asks her friends quietly. “He seems suspiciously friendly.”

“We met him while we were poking around,” Brook whispers in reply.

“Don’t know much about him, except he’s Jewish and comes from Spain and Portugal.”

Gui looked away from the priest’s stare. He had no time for the clergy and their long lists of things you could and couldn’t do. The things they thought he shouldn’t do were the things he enjoyed the most life so who were they to pass judgement upon him?

Speaking of things he shouldn’t do, his eyes flicked over to the fair Bianca and he thought again of what she had asked him to do, and wondered what her motives were.

"He doesn't want the former known," whispered Story to Brook, "but that's why he won't eat pork. The Moorish captain is no doubt a Muslim, which is why he won't eat it."

Story, Brook, and Elizabeth, please roll Psychology. Gui, please roll Insight.

[5] = 5
Psychology 39 d%: [ 5 ] = 5

Senses heightened, Brook is particularly sensitive to how the other guests are acting.

Elizabeth watches everyone carefully.

Psychology 47. Roll: 27

Story could tell that Diego genuinely admired Elizabeth and was attracted to her. When he saw that Elizabeth was looking back at him, he nervously looked away. While Diego barely knew Elizabeth, it seemed that he may have fallen in love with her.

Elizabeth could tell that Diego genuinely admired her and was attracted to her. When he saw that she was looking back at him, he nervously looked away.

Brook could tell that Diego genuinely admired Elizabeth and was attracted to her. When he saw that Elizabeth was looking back at him, he nervously looked away. While Diego barely knew Elizabeth, he had clearly fallen in love with her, though he didn't seem to realize it yet.

Story's Psychology roll (93% skill):
d%

Stifling a grin, Brook catches Story’s eye and, nodding her head imperceptibly at Elizabeth, raises an eyebrow.