The wagon train makes its way slowly across southern Europe coming to a large estate toward the end of two weeks as the sun sets. The place is a massive fortress and gates open to allow entrance. As you enter you find many other carriages and wagons have also arrived to what looks like a large gathering. You are all brought to out buildings where you find new clothing and hot baths awaiting.
Your rooms are all ajoining and after you are brought in you are left to your own devices for a time.
Joel sends Roderigo out to learn more about the master of this keep, these Giovanni.
Joel then attempts to gather those not "in their own time" together.
"Now that we are here I assume that the work will begin in the next day or so. I'll try to utilize you all as best I can on this project I have received from the Lord of this estate.
If you would rather just wander about, do that, maybe this is where we were meant to arrive and this place somehow holds the key to our return to where we come from. Or. We'd all just damn well get used to living out of time".
Honestly it had been too long since Vincent had last had a bath. He sighed and relaxed in the tub of warm water. It wasn't anything compared to what he was used to but he'd take it.
Once bathed, he took the new clothes and slipped them on before folding up his old ones and putting them on whatever flat surface he had other than his bed.
He looked in the mirror and checked his face. The beard that had started wasn't too bad on him and he didn't feel like he felt comfortable enough with old school blades for shaving. He looked at how the clothes fit him and shrugged. He slipped the gun in the waistline before heading out. He'd check on his group of future friends later.
For now, he might as well go visit the one group he'd connected with and see if they were all parting ways here.
Act III:
"Dining out is a vice, a dissipation of spirit punished by remorse."
Cyril Connolly, The Unquiet Grave.
a servant arrives at your rooms after several hours announcing that there will be a small gathering at the Red Lamb Inn at the edge of the Giovanni Manse this evening to introduce all the guests and begin to arrange various business engagements for the estate. All guests and luminaries are expected to attend.
Joel sighs, "Well, hobnob is part of the job"
He gets ready dressed in formal wear provided to him and heads over to the Inn with the rest of the time displaced group.
Justin shakes his head.
Nope, still not waking up from this nightmare... he thinks to himself while preparing for the evenings festivities.
Jessica dresses as best she can, given the circumstances, and makes her way to the party. Was she dreaming? This was all so unusual...
As you enter you see you are brought through the side entrance which is more for servants and not guests which one must suppose you are workers and support for construction. You find a most strange sight as you pass through the kitchens. A naked chained woman is being brought through the service hallway with a somewhat far away stare being led by two servants.
"What the hell kind of party is this anyway?"
Joel approaches the two servants interposing himelf, "What's wrong with her and why is she naked?"
The servants grovel magnificently as you scare that old time religion right out of them. oh mighty Master, we are so sorry to bother you. She is an indentured servant like ourselves. Her family has sent her here for debt. Please kind Master, she belongs to the Giovanni's. We are just bringing her to where we are told to prepare for after the feast.. These sevants are blubbering and truly terrified at what both you and their Lord's might do.
"Naked? Prepare her for what? At least clothe and feed her servant or no, give her dignity man!"
Jessica placed a hand on Joel’s shoulder. I think the lack of dignity is sort of the point. I don’t know where or when we are but rich creeps are rich creeps anywhere you go. We should get out of here, I don’t want to see what they do to this poor girl...or find out if we’re next.
None of this sits right with Justin at all.
"Where's the damned key for the chains?" Justin growls, the woman's entrapment encroaching to close to his own fears of containment.
Joel frowns at Jessica and steps away as Justin stalks over he whispers to her, "You're right, we've modern sensibilities but this I can't just let slide. We've no choice but to meet with these people but at least now we know they're savages I mean slavery was not around in Europe then, I mean now, right? This is more than just casual mistreatment of a subordinate".
Oh, I know this isn’t normal. This is heading in a snuff direction and I don’t want to be next. Besides, I don’t want to like...change time or anything. What if we save her and Hitker wins or something?
Joel cocks his head at Jess, "Huh, ok. But what if we were supposed to save her? I mean I've seen the Terminator movies, that time travel s$~# makes no sense to me, remember Reese comes back and he ends up teaching Linda Hamilton how to fight which is how John Connor learned how to fight. I mean that's a... a ... paradox right? I say we gotta stick to our guns but not get out of control with trying to change stuff".
The servants hand over the chains and key bowing and groveling and begging you not to hurt them.
Jessica stiffens. There was a time she'd be up for damn near anything for a little blow but...not this time. This is the sort of place where people like her died. She starts looking for an exit.
Vincent steps into the hallway and notices what everyone else is held up with. He raises a brow at the way the servants are acting and his "future group". He sighed, these were the type or morality choices he didn't miss about being in the military.
He looked at the servants, looked at the naked woman, and then looked at his own people. He stepped up and leaned in "We have no connections, no income, and are having to live off the good graces of people we don't know who seem to know us. Let's say you can convince the old ways that she should be free or treated better. Could you help her yourself, losing your only current resources? Cause that's a possibility. The servants don't look abused, they are well fed, and clothed and housed. I agree she's coming in in an awful way...but it doesn't look like it's to an awful end." he said arguing slightly the current situation.
A look of concern crosses Joel's face when Jesica stiffens but Vincent's argument changes what Joel was about to say next, "That's a fair point but I mean come on, if they press I'll just try to have her included as part of the deal for building whatever the hell it is they want me to build here".
No one tries to do anything while you discuss or even really pays attention. The servants keep their eyes lowered and continue to grovel silently hoping you do not punish them. You can tell they are quaking in their boots.
"Justin, you want to free her?"
Jessica, there is an exit to the Inn right at the servants entrance where you came in and then there is a hallway leading further inside. When you look back out the door, however, you see that there are many man at arms patrolling the grounds even at this late hour of the day. It seems to be large parties of armed men in groups of six moving around the compound, and then there is a stone wall that looks about ten feet high all the way around.
"Probably should, but if she's too far gone already I'm not sure it would do much good."
Justin looks into the woman's eyes, to see if she is capable of running away if he were to free her.
- 1 success, fail.
Taking a look at the woman, Justin says, "If we let her go, I'm guessing we're gonna have to help her out of this place."
Vincent looked at the others, he understood their desire to save her, hell he wanted to as well but this was not the way. "If you want to help her, then let the servants take care of her and ask about her at the meeting with the owners of this place. It would look better at the negotiating table if we did it that way. Otherwise, they might take offense and we may no longer have a job. " he said trying to help.
Joel grimaces, "Vincent is right, let us unshackle her and give her a spare jacket. The servants can keep her here while we meet with our benefactors and attempt to pry her from them through business negotiations".
One if the servants seems to sense a decision has been made and goes quickly returning with a shift to cover the naked girl with and they promise to keep the girl with them in the kitchens until you return from negotiations.
Having secured the safety of the girl for now the group is directed into a sitting room area and afterwards through a library which is very nice for this time period and into a large ballroom with tables set around in a semi cirle.
The room is classic Venetian gold filagree ballroom with candles illuminating the area.
Along with all those from the wagon train there are a large group of people here to mingle with.
The wagon train leader, Lothar comes in and taps a staff several times calling the large hall to attention and says:
"Lord Giovanni, Ladies and gentleman allow me to present our guests."
a large, well dressed man stands at the center of the table:
"Welcome guests and dear friends I am Claudius Giovanni. Welcome to la bella casa Giovanni. While you are here, my home is your home. We would all get to know you all. Conversation is like fine wine, it enhances the appetite."
all of the guests raise a glass which is provided by servants making their way with trays for the toast.
"Here is to the finer things in life."
Joel raises a glass as well, "To the future".
For the next several hours you are all approached at one time or the other and asked these questions by each of the following.
Marchettus "The Bold":
Do you not think that rulers should be fed the entrails of their ministers and the testicles of their heirs?
Do you think it would be good to inflict some damage on the elitist swine gathered here?
Dimitria:
Do you enjoy the hunt?
What say you if I offered you to climb to the roof and howl at the moon together?
Theophana:
Everyone, everywhere is a fraud and counterfit. Are you?
What is the meaning of villiany
Violetta:
beauty is a deadly mask. Why do we hide our disease?
Tell me how it is that beauty can be so fleeting?
Wenceslas:
Do you know what makes an artist greatest? Commitment or Pain?
Show me a skill of yours. Tell me what you do that I should find of interest
Casmir: Do you follow the left-handed path
Do you seek the knowledge of the forbidden? Do you walk the black road?
Jadviga: Leaders deserve the best, do you not agree?
which is better the ineffectual leader led from behind the throne or the leader born of station leading from the throne itself?
Would you like to beat this foolish servant with me?
Leopold: is it better to be feared or abhored?
What do you know of Aristotle?
Is light the absence of dark?
Mieczyslav: Tell me how you believe your enemy should be treated
I have a spy of my enemy in my possession now in the wine cellars. Show me how you would deal with him
Bajazet: Have you made peace with death?
Will you play a game of death with me?
Amisa:
The hour is grown late and I hate trivial conversation. Don't you agree?
What prize is the greatest? Love or survival?
Lothar:
What do you feel is our most sacred possession?
Tell me, do any of us own anything?
Claudius:
at the end you are all summoned to the lord's table. He asks:
When you bite the flesh of your food, is it worth the blood you shed?
a fresh lamb is then brought into the hall and he takes a dagger and holds it out to you all:
who among you shall have the honor of the kill? Remember always that the link between killer and killed is sacred and death is holy.
Marchusetts the Bold Joel grins at Marchusetts, ”I’d agree most of the time that’s true. Once in a while you get a good one but they are mainly self-serving bastards. The problem is how do you tell which is which as they are all practiced liars”.
Dimitria He cocks his head, ”I like to hunt but I try and make sure I use the whole kill, Lady, if you mean “howl at the moon euphemistically” then sure, that’s what I came out to do when uh… I got sidetracked”. -
Theophana ”I try to be honest in my dealings but sometimes in war you need to do what you need to do as in business. So I don’t think I’m a fraud but have you ever met a completely honest man?” He pauses at her second question, ”Villainy? That’s a pretty open question sweetheart, one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist”.
Violetta ”Everyone hides their true self whether for fear of what we will see in the mirror or fear that others will reject us. Beauty is fleeting because most people are shallow and don’t look past the surface. It’s a busy place this world and most of us are just trying to survive so assessments have to be made quickly”.
Wencslas ”No, I don’t know a damn thing about art. But I suppose there is an Art to War and building. I’ve always been more a destroyer than a builder, ruining what others built is how I’ve always made my living, ‘fraid without dynamite, I can’t show you my skills besides it’d be dangerous here at a party to do so”.
Casmir Left Handed Path
Black Road -
Joel's eyes go wide, "It's you, you are the one we are here to see". He speaks in hushed tones, "This is gonna sound crazy but I'm from the future and unless this is some kind of crazy dream, I'm trapped here in the past. Can you help me? Us? Get back to where we belong? I never really believed in magic or miracles but this experience has shown me that I was very wrong, I'd do anything to learn to get us back to where we need to be. You are the only damn person here who I think can help me and is speaking about a damn thing I care about".
Jadviga ”Only if they’ve shown that they are quality men or I suppose women. Leading from the front is what I always respected, so I’ve got not much respect to go around as I’ve seen real little of it in my time at war. What the hell did this person do to deserve a beating? I don’t hand out beatings without good cause”.
Leopold ”That’s a hell of a question. Feared, being abhorred means that others will flee you, fear creates a willing minion, abhorrence creates one that’ll turn on you and flee when the chips are down and you really need them. Not much, I was never one for Philosophy, I liked Socrates better, that man died a real man. No, without the light how would you know what the dark was? One can’t exist without the other”.
Mieczyslav ”With respect if captured, if they die well they die, death is part of life and in war it’s kill or be killed. A spy? For who? I’ve ways to get information out of people, had a cousin in the FB… er spy services that showed me how to interrogate without getting false confessions, tell me more though else I can’t help you”.
Bajazet ”Many times. I’ve played that game more times than I can count, tell me the rules and I’ll let you know whether I’m interested”.
Amisa ”Agreed, I’ve been asked some weird s+$! tonight. Oh I see, another one. Survival, you can’t find love if ya’ can’t make it out alive”.
Lothar ”Ours? Life I suppose. Hmmm, I suppose possession is 9/10ths of the law, we own what we can keep our hands on. All we really have is our experiences and our skill sets that we take with us, all else can be lost or taken if we don’t have the power to hold onto it”.
Joel asks each in turn who they believe they are deep down and where they hail from.
Joel tries to get a hold of Giovanni to negotiate for the servant but can’t quite seem to get time with him with all these other damn guests and their innane questions, it’s why he always hated these shin-digs. When they sit down he’s not real happy as nothing has been answered.
”Give me the knife, I’ve done this before”.
Vincent politely imbibed. He didn't drink much, mostly sipped on the first glass he was offered. It wasn't a good idea to get sloshed at an event like this and he wasn't sure how long into the night things might go or how his "companions" might act.
He gave a slight bow of the upper body when others approached and was surprised at how pretty much everyone eventually took a turn talking to him, he recounts at the end of the night.
When Marchettus the Bold asked his questions, he scratched his chin a bit "Err...hmm, I think each person is entitled to their own life, provided they are not destroying the lives of their subjects. So I'd rather not on both of your questions."
Dimitria: "I've enjoyed the hunt many times, I used to work with dogs a lot so I know how to mimic a howl proper. Give me another drink or three and I'd easily take you up on your offer."
Theophana: This one caused him to think for a bit, this felt somewhat philosophical "It's true, people hide behind the mask they put on for each person based on what they feel that person would like...mostly. I suppose villainy is the essence of causing grief upon another with your actions that is against civilized societies laws." he offered as a decent answer, at least he felt.
Violetta: Again, a bit of philosophy "Beauty can hide the ugliness of the soul, too often man falls for a pretty face only to be stabbed when they least expect. Time eats all, it gives no preference nor takes any excuse. It simply devours." he offered
Wenceslas: "Commitment I would say...Hmm, my talents are pretty menial I think. I am pretty good with numbers but to show off the talent would take immense time. And I can train animals to do things, but again that takes time. I'm afraid I don't have anything showy to offer you." he says with a shrug and polite bow in apology.
Casmir: "Hmm, I know of magic and it's ways but I am not a practitioner." he offers, of course referring to the sleight of hand tricks modern magicians do. It's not that he's ignorant of the fairy tale type of magic, he's read many fantasy books after all.
"Hmm, I do enjoy knowledge regardless of content. Though I'm not sure of the black road you speak." he offers as his answers as best he can to the mysterious man's questions.
Jadviga: "I think that the efforts and dedication required from good leadership deserves rewarding...I prefer the leader born of the station in this instance, though I believe a leader should be leading from the front of his men. Has the man done something that deserves it? Has he touched a child in the way no man should? Has he taken from a woman who did no readily give? If so, then I would support his beating and join, if not than perhaps an alternative punishment to get the point across?" he offered
Leopold: "Feared. Yes, I've read Aristotle a bit. Hmm, I suppose it truly depends. Light subjectively could be considered the absence of dark but the same could be said of the opposite. However, Astrology tells us that Darkness is the absence of light." he said with a shrug.
Mieczyslave: "I treat my enemy the same as I would wish my enemy to treat me, with caution and care. Interrogate him, make him talk but take care of him and feed him." he offered. He then began to describe various techniques, including shoving the man in a box where he can neither stand or sit in a busy location filled with noise where he won't be released.
Bajazet: "I've sat at the table with death and another man a few times. I've made my peace. I have no cause to dance with you and death this day, I don't take such actions lightly." he said somewhat sternly.
Amisa: "Pleasantries only help so much, you either like someone or don't. So I'd agree....and survival." he said politely.
Lothar: "Our? Hmm, if you're referring to man...our humanity? Our ability to care for each other and to ensure not only your own survival but those of others you care for, and sometimes those you don't. I don't care for this kind of philosophy, yes you can own things." he offered.
He takes his seat that is offered and settles down. And then the questions begin again. He's been answering all pretty politely through the evening unsure of what is going on. "If it were not, then there would be not meat to eat." he offered as an answer.
He holds out his hand when the group is asked, but politely bows his head to one of the others when they speak up and offer to do it. He honestly didn't care enough about who killed the goat.
Justin answers the questions asked of him, but otherwise quietly observes the beginnings of the evening's "festivities".
Do you not think that rulers should be fed the entrails of their ministers and the testicles of their heirs?
Do you think it would be good to inflict some damage on the elitist swine gathered here?
"I think that those that rule should reap what they sow. Those that are just should be treated accordingly, on the other hand those who have proven to be otherwise should likewise be dealt with." Justin says to the first question.
Contemplating the second question, he says, "What I have seen so far would lead me to agree with that sentiment, but I need more information to make my final decision."
Do you enjoy the hunt?
What say you if I offered you to climb to the roof and howl at the moon together?
"Sure. Can't say that I've done much of that lately, but the trips I used to make with my father and brothers were a lot of fun."
"Howl at the moon?" he asks of the second question. "Might be preferable to hanging around in here." he says with a laugh.
Everyone, everywhere is a fraud and counterfit. Are you?
What is the meaning of villiany
"I certainly try not to be." he says to the accusatory question.
"Villiany? Ask a hundred people and you'll get a hundred different answers."Beauty is a deadly mask. Why do we hide our disease?
Tell me how it is that beauty can be so fleeting?
"Kind of an odd question, but I suppose everyone wants to hide whatever they consider a weakness."
"Father time comes for everyone eventually, that's why we must be more than what we appear."
Do you know what makes an artist greatest? Commitment or Pain?
Show me a skill of yours. Tell me what you do that I should find of interest
"Can't say I know a lot about art, so I can only compare it to a field of study that require commitment."
Justin narrows his eyes at the second command/question. "I've been lots of different places looking for and finding many things thought lost, but what helps me best is my memory."
Do you follow the left-handed path?
Do you seek the knowledge of the forbidden? Do you walk the black road?
"Left-handed path? I'm afraid I don't follow." As the second question is asked, Justin responds, "Fobidden might be a bit of a stretch, but the lost and forgotten, absolutely. Black magic? Not so much."
Leaders deserve the best, do you not agree?
Which is better the ineffectual leader led from behind the throne or the leader born of station leading from the throne itself?
Would you like to beat this foolish servant with me?
"Only if those leaders are worthy of being leaders. Respect is earned not granted." Justin says. "Born of station doesn't mean much to me. Effectiveness and worthiness do."
After being asked if he would like to beat a servant, a look of disgust crosses Justin's face as he simply shakes his head and walks away.
Is it better to be feared or abhored?
What do you know of Aristotle?
Is light the absence of dark?
"If those are the only two choices, I suppose feared."
A smile crosses Justin's face, finally hearing a question to his liking."Aristotle? Greek philosopher and scientist. A student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great, he founded the Lyceum outside Athens. I could go on for while, but I suspect you would prefer I not monopolize your time in that way."
"Interesting question, but as Aristotle believed that light was some kind of disturbance in the air, one of his four "elements" that composed matter. I would have to say it is rather the opposite - darkness is the abscence of light."
Tell me how you believe your enemy should be treated.
I have a spy of my enemy in my possession now in the wine cellars. Show me how you would deal with him.
"That greatly depends on what sort of enemy you speak of. Is it truly an enemy or is this more a rival. In either case they should be treated with caution."
"A spy? Political or personal? Either way what information they learned should be learned along with how much of that information has been divulged. I'm not a fan of torture, but depending on the circumstances, I suppose it could be warranted."
Have you made peace with death?
Will you play a game of death with me?
"Made peace with death, yes, I believe so...not that I'm in any hurry to greet it."
"Like I said, not really in any hurry to see death - my own or anyone elses."
The hour is grown late and I hate trivial conversation. Don't you agree?
What prize is the greatest? Love or survival?
"Trivial conversation has its place, but given my choice..." Justin says, leaving the ending unsaid.
"Love or survival? Interesting choice. I move around too much for any lasting relationships, and God knows I've pulled a few stunts over the years to ensure survival, so I guess survival."
What do you feel is our most sacred possession?
Tell me, do any of us own anything?
"Getting all philisophical on me, eh? Life, I suppose. Do we ever really ever own anything? Hell we're all here temporarily so you could say we're all renters."
To Claudius's question, Justin smiles and says "Absolutely." speaking as much with his stomach as his mouth. Just as Justin was getting up to do the honors, Joel beats him to the punch. With a gesture toward Joel that says "be my guest", Justin sits back down.
By the end of this, Jessica is terrified. She's convinced that she's about to be murdered by a group of rich weirdos.
Jessica:
To command others you must be willing to exact everything
She snaps a finger and a servant girl approaaches with a whip carried in her mouth. Jadviga hands the whip to you and says
Which are you? The Lion or the lamb? Show me you are fit to rule.
Justin:
Can you kill and live without fear?
If you can find me in this room again in fifteen minutes You shall be spared. If not...
Following Bajazet's last statement Justin says, "So I take it I'm not able to refuse the game you suggested? If that's the case why did you even bother to ask?"
Vincent:
Make two stealth + dex rolls
Show me how you will deal with him.