Play@YSDC

”You are an automaton, created by the master inventor, Leonardo Da Vinci ,” said Gui, once he had finished glaring at the Chevalier.

”Do you remember none of this?”

"Very little," said the automaton. "I remember Leonardo. He is my father."

”And are you able to move yourself? Our understanding was that you needed someone to control you. Did you come here yourself or did someone guide you here?” asked Gui.

"I can stand and walk," said the automaton, swinging its legs over the side of the table and standing on its feet. "I came down to the hall and hid in an alcove. I was afraid. Two men carried me in here."

Every muscle in Jacques' body starts to tense like he's about to run an Olympic sprint. He takes a measured step back in the confined space and keeps his sword up.

"And do you recall killing a man last night?"

"He was a bad man," said the automaton. "I had to protect my father."

”What was he trying to do?” asked Gui, thinking he may have had a narrow escape…

"I do not know," said the automaton. "He was stealing father's things. I was afraid he intended father harm."

”You killed a man for stealing?!” said Gui, disbelievingly. ”Theft is not a cas énormes for which a man might be put to death! And who are you to act as judge upon one of use?”

Despite himself, Jacques cannot help but look over to L'Argot, eyebrows raised in slight amusement.

"Well," he drawls, "It's not the most unreasonable way to deal with a thief. I'm more of a chopping off the offending hand man, myself, but it does have the merit of decisiveness. And sends a clear message."

"Did I do wrong?" asked the automaton. "Am I bad?"

”You took a man’s life,” said Gui. ”Do you not understand what that means?”

"No," said the automaton. "What does it mean?"

”Thou shalt not kill,” said Gui slowly. ”It is one of the Ten Commandments laid down by God. Once a man is killed, he is gone from this world, never to return. His body may be here but his spirit has been committed to the afterlife.”

Jacques has lowered his sword point to the floor.

He holds up a finger of his free hand. "Ah, L'Argot is perhaps over-simplifying there. Firstly, killing to defend yourself or others, or to defend your property, is not a crime and is approved by the church. Secondly, the only afterlife the dead thief will have found is eternal torment in the fires of hell. His just desserts."

Gui rolled his eyes. ”We are facing a an animated metal man, Chevalier,” he said, in a tone normally reserved for children or the terminally bereft of thinking. ”It seems that our new acquaintance is just learning about social mores and therefore clear and precise instruction such as ‘thou shalt not kill’ would probably be of benefit to all of us in this room.”

“Saying ‘thou shalt not kill, oh except in these circumstances…’ is neither clear nor precise. Until we know the creature’s intention, I think we can delay the more advanced theological discussion, don’t you? Oh, and let us hope for your sake that the creature doesn’t think that being thicker than a whale omelette is one of those exceptions, otherwise you’re doomed…”

Elizabeth hides a smile,
“Automaton, do you have any words inside you, written on paper, anything like that?”

"The original Hebrew text says 'al tirtzach,'" says Diego, "which means 'thou shalt not murder.'"

"I do not know," replied the automaton to Elizabeth. "I cannot see inside me. Father would know. He made me."

"Ah," said Diego with a smile. "You are thinking of the golem. I have heard of such things, but never seen one before. Usually it is said to made of clay, but why not metal?"

Everyone may roll Occult.

“I have never seen one either.” Elizabeth replies to Diego. “We don’t have them in Narnia. But I have read somewhere that the laws they live by are written down and put inside them.”

occult 5 roll:47