January 13 - Palace Rezzoniani

[robertod]

The Gremanci can direct the group to Campo Rezzoniani, although directions are often little more than “Sempre dritto” (“straight ahead”). The city continues tormented by the cold winter night and immersed in a blanket of fog. Darkness and silence grip Venice.
The Palace Rezzoniani is a fine 15th-century example of Venetian architecture, facing onto the Grand Canal near the Piazza San Marco. The façade is a burnt-orange stucco with a lovely Ducal gallery, a pattern of Gothic curved and pointed arches surmounted by circles containing equilateral crosses. The palazzo has three floors and an unusual inward-facing campanile with a clock face that only the Rezzoniani family could see.
The front entrance comprises great bronze doors that face onto the Grand Canal on a marble landing. An intricate relief of a winged Venetian lion holds the enormous door knocker in its jaws.
A note on the doos says that the Palazzo is open to visitors all summer but in winter only by appointment with the caretaker. The caretaker can be found in a small apartment on the Campo Rezzoniani behind the Palazzo during daily hours.

[Mr. Handy]

"Perhaps we'd best make an appointment in the morning," says Felicity. "If the family are currently in residence, we might disturb them if we break in, and the authorities are the blackshirts. We already had one incident of brown trousers time with them tonight. I don't know if we should push our luck."

[Mephistophilis]

'Can we afford not to?'

[Mr. Handy]

"The blackshirts don't know where we are," says Felicity, "and they don't know about our hideout, or about this place, so they won't be able to find us. They only know about the hotel, and we're not going back there until we're ready to grab our things and head for the train."

[Mephistophilis]

'I suspect we are the only people at this time of year,' notes Andrew. 'Our time here is coming to an end, the Blackshirts are closing in. I believe it is now or never. I for one do not want to wait for this dreadful place to take a hold and cast me into its murky waters.'

He points at the notice, 'Perhaps our caretaker could be encouraged to allow a little visit after hours...with enough encouragement,' and he rubs his finger and thumb together to indicate money.

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, I like that idea," says Felicity. "Greasing the caretaker's palm should make up for a rude awakening. Money makes the world go round, after all."

[robertod]

The palace guardian is awakened by nocturnal visitors. He arrives at the door, shivering and holding a candle, muttering curses under his breath. He is on the verge of slamming the door in their faces, unwilling to hear their reasons. However, he hesitates the moment they mention money. Despite this, he maintains a sullen and grumpy demeanor. The visitors succeed in persuading the man to accompany them, but they are faced with the most exorbitant fee they have ever paid to a museum, nearly equivalent to the guard's monthly salary.

OOC:   Spending two points of Preparedness is required to have the necessary amount of money in your pockets. Both Andrew and Clarence have 4 points. Spending can come from any combination.

The guardian opens the heavy door of the building, and the visitors finds themselves in a humid environment with a musty odor. There are working rooms, servant quarters, kitchens, laundries and pantries, all empty and dust covered. The windows are covered in frost. There are no corridors, so room leads into room, then into a grand hall with painted ceilings that leads from the entrance to a sweeping marble staircase. Painted and gilded doors line the walls on either side. All of the carpets are rolled up, so footsteps echo. White muslin cloths cover the furniture and the many, many statues that stand in niches in the palazzo’s walls. They breath freezes in the chill, still air. It seems even colder in this great ornate tomb than it is outside. A door from this floor leads out into the Palazzo courtyard, where a clock tower stands.

[Mr. Handy]

"Let's take a look at the clock tower, chaps," says Felicity.

I also have 4 points of Preparedness, and I'd be happy to contribute one.

[Mephistophilis]

Andrew winces as he counts out the notes from his wallet to contribute to the eye watering fee. 'How awfully generous of you to allow us to visit at this unsocial hour - we can only apologise that our itinerary doesn't allow us to return in the day. You are most generous, most generous...' he continues, utterly unconvincingly based on the pained look on his face and the way Felicity has to prise the money from his hand.

OOC:   I don't think Andrew has Preparedness, it's only Felicity and Clarence - the late Alfie did

[Mr. Handy]

Felicity is more than happy enough to add her own contribution. After all, she has plenty more. "Yes, we understand that not everyone wakes up this early," she says.