Play@YSDC

Duc's Palace, Armory - Vyones, Auvergne, France
5:30 PM - Monday, April 20, 1517

Gui, Jean Luc, Story, and Brook slipped through the door, which Story quietly closed behind them. The room they found themselves in had no windows and was fairly dark, but an orange glow came from the door at the far end. So did the rhythmic sound of metal striking against metal. Though the light was dim here, they could see that there were weapon racks containing weapons of fine quality: swords, polearms of various varieties, bows, crossbows, and even a few pistols and muskets. There were no suits of armor in this room, though.

Gui stepped over to the racks and quickly withdrew a rapier, giving it an experimental swish. ”No automaton here,” he said. “Let’s push on and explore.”

"He is merely borrowing it, mesdemoiselles," said Jean Luc before the ladies said anything. "In case we end up in a fight. After all, the Chevalier is not around to protect us."

”Merci,” said Gui through gritted teeth. “We wouldn’t anyone to forget the Chevalier’s baseless accusations that I am a thief…”

OOC:   "The locked armory door looked like it led to a room that shared a wall with the alcove." So...

"Let's see if there's one of those viewing ports or a secret catch in here that might connect to that alcove. For that matter..."

*Story looks down at the floor and hopes to spot some tracks*

Spot Hidden :

Passing: 38%, Roll: d%

Story could see that the floor was scuffed, which showed people had come and gone, but there was no sign of any secret passage in this room.

Gui moved over to the door on the far side off the room, listening intently. The noise and the orange glow suggested it was a smithy but he wanted to be sure.

Gui will listen at the door. I don’t suppose there’s one of those little inspection windows, is there?

Listen (35%) 1d100

There was no inspection window. If Gui wanted to see what was on the other side of the door, he would have to open it.

Gui could hear grunting as metal struck metal, and the sound had to be that of a blacksmith hammering something out on an anvil.

”It sounds like the forgeron,” said Gui quietly, indicating the door. “Do we take a look? We might give ourselves away. Mind you, if the automaton had come through here, would everything be carrying on as normal?”

"Well it would if the smith was in on it. Maybe crafting some modifications or something? And if not, we just say we're on specific business for Master DaVinci. Let's try it. But be prepared in case of trouble. "

”Comme tu veux, Mademoiselle,” replied Gui. “But be ready to leave in a hurry if it does not go well…”

Very carefully, he turned the door handle until the locking mechanism disengaged and he was able to open it, just a crack.

Gui cracked open the door. On the other side was indeed a forge, with a round stone structure containing a fire in the center of the room, beneath a chimney that passed through the ceiling. A bellows rested there. The blacksmith stood before the anvil, stripped to waist to reveal a muscular back, hammering out a sword. His back was to them, and he did not appear to have noticed them yet. The room had two more exits: closed doors in the left and right walls.

”I do not see how the automaton could come through here without the blacksmith noticing, Mademoiselle,” whispered Gui. “It cannot travel without someone working the controls and that surely would have attracted his attention. My instincts tell me that we should retrace our steps.”

Philulhu wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 6:54 am ”I do not see how the automaton could come through here without the blacksmith noticing, Mademoiselle,” whispered Gui. “It cannot travel without someone working the controls and that surely would have attracted his attention. My instincts tell me that we should retrace our steps.”

Passes eyes around briefly and does some mental spatial analysis...

Then Story points towards the left door and says in quiet whisper:
"But through that door should be the other side of the alcove we were investigating earlier. It might never have made it in here, but may be right through there...we need to convince this nice smith that we should be allowed to proceed unhindered. Any ideas?"

”Perhaps one of us might try flirting with the blacksmith, to try to attract his attention?” suggested Gui.

Philulhu wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 2:10 pm ”Perhaps one of us might try flirting with the blacksmith, to try to attract his attention?” suggested Gui.

"If flirting with the smith is your suggestion, then be my guest, however, we could simply ask, or perhaps a little lie might work better?" Brook spoke softly, although her displeasure with the suggestion was clear.

Gui shrugged. ”As you wish. We could attempt to pass off our presence in the locked armoury as a sign of favour with the Duc,” he suggested.

Story barely manages to stifle a little giggle...

"And maybe lower that weapon..." *smirk*