Story and her companions, with help from Leonardo da Vinci and other party guests, manage to track down the automaton, which reveals that it is intelligent and can speak, though it says it has no memory of its identity or past. Will it prove to be friend or foe?
This is 6th edition, so there's no spending Luck, but since you got so close I'll give you partial information.
Gui had heard of golems, which were said to be artificial men in Jewish folklore. What Elizabeth and Diego were saying sounded vaguely familiar to him. He knew there was supposed to be a way to disable a golem, but he didn't know what it was.
Gui studied the metal creature intently. Something in the old tales that his grand-tante Marie used to tell him when he was a child, was struggling to come to mind. Something about stopping such golems…
”We need a wise woman! She’d know what to do!” he said, conveniently forgetting that the same nomenclature had once been applied to grand-tante Marie, and she’d spent most of her later life having conversations with trees…
"Thou shalt not murder. Thank you, Don Diego, most helpful. If the creature thought he had to defend Master Da Vinci, his action was without malice and the result not murder."
Jacques addresses the automaton. "Master suit of armour, do not fret over the death of the thief. You thought you were doing right. And to be honest, no one is overly upset about it, that thief will not be missed."
Looking back at L'Argot, he becomes more thoughtful. "I had never eaten a whale omelette but fish lay eggs and they are a fish, so it is possible I suppose."
"Not many people know this," came Leonardo's voice from the open door to the forge room, "but whales are not actually fish. They have more in common with us than you might think." Leonardo entered with the servant who had gone to fetch him, a smile on his face. "I see you've found it. I cannot thank you enough! But how did it get here?"
Story's Occult roll (20% skill) about golems: d% Brook's Occult roll (33% skill) about golems: d% Jean Luc's Occult roll (5% base skill) about golems: d% Diego's Occult roll about golems: d%
Brook knew all about golems, everything that Elizabeth and Diego had said and more. They were often said to be used as instruments of vengeance. She also knew that in creating a golem, the Hebrew word aleph-mem-tav, emet, which meant truth, was carved into its forehead. By destroying the first letter, the aleph, it was possible to render a golem inert. The remaining word was mem-tav, pronounced met, which meant dead. The automaton had nothing written on its forehead, however.
Gui smirked as Jacques’ lack of piscine knowledge was revealed (not that he’d known it either, but that was hardly the point). He rolled his eyes at the Chevalier then said, ”The servant said he found it in the corridor and brought it in here to be polished. It is not clear how it came to be in the corridor.”
He looked at da Vinci. ”Maitre da Vinci, how is it that your creation can talk?”
Jacques is now nonchalantly balancing his sword on its point on the floor and holding it in place with one forefinger.
"Which is what I have been saying all along. To be fair, the enchanted suit of armour seems quite pleasant." He looks at Da Vinci, "My bigger concern, Master, is the inquisitor we all know is in this chateaux. Who would be all too willing to see anyone he considers responsible for this burnt at the stake."
"To my regret, I have witnessed people meeting that fate and it is a bad death."
Last edited by Snapper on Fri Nov 25, 2022 5:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
“If the automaton could lie still, like armour, and then servants could carry it back for us. We can say it’s just been cleaned.” Elizabeth suggests.
“Does the automaton have a name?” She asks Leonardo.
"A good idea," said Leonardo. "I'm sure the servants are up to the task. I did not name the automaton, no, but it - or should I say he? - could use one. I'm open to suggestions." He looked at the automaton. "For your own protection, you should not speak or move on your own where anyone not currently in this room can see or hear you. You will wait for me in my chambers."
"Yes, Father," said the automaton. "I understand."
Jacques sheaths his sword with practised panache and a "slink" noise. "Hefting armour is a skill I am well practised in. Come on gentlemen, lend a hand and we shall soon carry the enchanted suit back to Master Da Vinci's rooms."
"Master suit of armour, for your own sake if no other, we are going to have to carry you back. Forgive the indignity." Jacques moves towards the armour.
”Mademoiselle, if you would not mind returning this to the armoury for me?” said Gui to Elizabeth as he carefully passed her the rapier he had appropriated earlier.
He moved toward’s the automaton’s feet. ”I am ready,” he announced.
Story looks about to take account of all who are apparently sworn to secrecy about the live automaton.
It occurs to her that at least one servant and possibly the smith have also been privy to this secret and maybe are not so keen to keep silent.
The one servant has already spoken about keeping quiet. Were there any more? What of the smith? Did he witness all of this?
Jacques and Gui managed to lift and carry the automaton, though Jacques was doing most of the work. They carried it back into the forge room, where the smith was still working with his back to them, and the others followed, though the servant remained behind. Story didn't think the smith could have seen the automaton moving on its own, and it was unlikely (though not impossible) that he had overheard the conversation over the noise of the forge. The only servant present was the one who had promised to say nothing. Other than them, the only ones that had been present to see the automaton in action were herself, Elizabeth, Brook, Jean Luc, Don Diego and Leonardo da Vinci.
