Chapter 1: The Child of Industry
Where the Tale of this Child, our Hero, Begins
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The Workshop was without the sounds of industry, as it had been for many days now. You were alone again. You took a deep breath as you realized that it was not something that you could remain.
Your father's apprentices, near masters in their own right, were still under contract with your workshop for another year, and then they could leave for their own smithies or workshops.
You also knew your father's notes and diagrams were safely locked in a lock. A hidden place behind the family portrait, the only one your family had, one that was painted at the request of your father, commissioned and completed by one of the many masters that seemed to litter the city, Leonardo Di Vinci.
You walked through the empty home, the sun illuminating the former office of your father's with the bright gaze of the sun. You took a deep breath, father never allowed you to enter this place without him.
You opened the door, standing on your tiptoes as you opened the hatch and pushed with all your might. And fell forward, falling onto the ground.
As you stood up, you saw the great portrait of your family.
You were only a babe when it was painted, with your mother had been well enough. You saw, in the dim sunlight falling through the windows. The slits of sunlight gave this place a great and ethereal feeling that felt more like entering a tomb, than into an office.
Your mother was looking down, a small smile on her face holding you, her brilliant emerald eyes were sparkling, the light hitting it in such a way that it seemed like it glowed like real emeralds. Your mother, despite being a Sicilian, and a Berber at that had been captured with such beauty, that you suspected that anyone who would see this portrait, would have expected a princess. And the finery that she wore.
And the way your father always talked about mother, even as she toiled away as a craftswoman, he always treated her as such.
Your father, despite the portrait's attempts to make him look clean, looked much more like the messy craftsman that he was than what the portrait tried to hide. His hands were filthy, black with soot and grease. Burns was on his hands. His face was blackened, not only from tiredness but from the soot that was still just under it. His posture was uncomfortable like he hated being out of his workmen's clothes, and in this finery that was meant for noblemen, or for men who were richer than him. But his eyes, his sapphires of eyes that were darkened by the shadows were pointed towards you.
They were like titans before you, and now they were gone, with only your memories to guide you.
You walked forward, rubbing your knees and head as you walked over to the portrait, moving the chair to gain the height to touch the frames of the painting. You lifted it up gently and set it down, your arms, despite aching at the uncomfortable grab, were set down with the gentleness it deserved.
You saw the hole, the shelves where his documents and the lockbox were in. It was well kept and maintained. You moved the box out and then set it down. The key was in your father's desk, and you pulled it out.
And opened it.
There was a letter, dated three days before he died. It was not his will, you had already gained control of the properties, and the works that were still in production. And it was in simple words. Words you could read.
Dear Luciano and my dearest Lucia,
I am sorry that you must read this, instead of me telling you this. But I'm afraid that the Almighty has taken me to His Gates and requires my services.
I wish to leave you with nothing, but my more complicated designs are incomplete, and it will be up to you to finish them.
But I have left you with a few completed diagrams and designs for you and your mother to use, to hopefully keep you comfortable.
I made sure to make them simple enough for Luciano to understand them, in case my dear, you join me in Heaven.
I love you both, more than words can possibly describe.
Your loving husband, Rodrigo.
You saw the diagrams he completed, and you knew that they were for you.
What did your father leave behind:
(Choose 2)
[]Designs for a new type of Firearm mechanism: Your father has always had a distrust for matchlocks and wheel locks. He found them far too unreliable, and cumbersome, and even expensive. He wished to create a new type of mechanism, one that was cheaper, more affordable, and less burdensome on his assistants. This one here is a simple mechanism, a flint, and steel, sparking a powder pan, and setting it off. A simple design… ingenious, but probably more useful for lighting fires than shooting.
[]A Multibarreled Pistol: Your Father was working on a prototype for a multi-barrelled pistol, using the wheellock mechanism designed by Di Vinci to not only control the mechanism in such a way that it can be fired in rapid succession, and without damaging the spring, making it useful in combat situations. The problem is, it is insanely expensive to make, and you are sure the tools needed to build it are… not even possible to make?
[]A Smaller Cannon Design: Your Father wished to use a mobile cannon design. One that could be rapidly moved, reloaded, and sighted. It was a contract by the city of Florence, but he never really found the correct measurement, or how to produce it. But he must have, without telling his patrons. Now it is yours.
[]A Prosthetic Design?: Your father was working on a design for a nobleman, some German knight who lost his hand in battle, or an accident. He looked at a few notes from the man who made it, and just, made it better. Now he is pretty sure he made a damn fine hand. One that can be reproduced easily if you had the time.
[]A Looking Glass?: Your father made an extendable Looking Glass? That has a protective cover to keep it dry and functional? Well, when in Rome, so they would say?
[]An Unknown Design: What the hell is this thing? Does it look like a gun on a wrist? What the hell is that thing, how is it reloaded, how does it even work… the design alone insanity! But it might work, you just need to build it.
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You were lucky your mother finished a project before she died, leaving you with enough money to carry on and care for the house and workshop for a while.
What is it?:
[]A Ceremonial Sword for The Borgia Family: Mother was always the artist of the family, making a detailed and custom sword for Ceaser Borgia for the new year. It was a nice piece of steel and etched into a beautiful blade. However, she made it on the cheap and was rather poorly paid for it, but the city used it as part of a ransom, to keep the Papal Armies out of Florence. And the fathers of Florence remember such a gift. (Gain 1000 Florins, Begin with a Huge favor from The City of Florence, and they owe you greatly. The Borgia Family know of you, and are watching you with great interest.)
[]A Wheel Lock for The King of France: Your Mother was not the greatest gunsmith, that honor belonged to your father, but she was an artist who made weapons into works of art! The Inlay used gold, there was ebony from Africa, the trigger guard was made of painted steel. It was a work of art, that the Representative of the King of France enjoyed greatly. (Gain 10,000 Florins. The Family Reputation will be very secure. The City of Florence is not very happy with the Family putting their interests before the city.)
[]A Shipments of Matchlocks: Try as your mother might show her displeasure for these pieces of crap, she made about 500 guns in a month for a German Mercenary Band that is operating out of the city. They owed her a lot of money. And now they have paid up with the loot from Milan, as they sacked the city (Gain 7,500 Florins. The Mercenaries of Italy are very happy with you, and your family's work, and are willing to do business. The City of Florence owes you a favor. The other Italian City-States really hate you and your family's work and may seek to harm you)
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You are now an orphan, and there are many who would seek to improve their standing, both with you, and the city, by raising you well.
Who will be your teacher?:
[]Leonardo Di Vinci: The True Master. The Greatest learned man alive, some would say. He has mastered it all, Painting, artistry, architecture, weaponry, and warfare. He is Florence's favorite son, and a friend of your father's… well acquaintance. He is an enigma, and a man whom not anyone could ever really know or understand. But he was without a doubt, one of the greatest men who could teach you. Unfortunately, he is also not… the best and courtly intrigues. (Will go down a more civil, craftsmen path, like your parents before you, and can pick up traits and actions that will allow you to gain more bonuses in civil paths. Be warned that those wishing to kill you may have a far easier time in it.)
[]Niccolo Machiavelli: The Fox of Florence, a political operator bar none. He has been many things, a writer, political operator, leader of the city, soldier, and even playwright and poet. He knows how the game work. And he has a great deal of respect for you. Well, your possible growth as someone loyal to the republic. He may not be a craftsman, but he is willing to do everything in his power, to keep you alive. And teach you how to stay alive. (Will go down a more political career, with traits that help you survive the Italian City-States machinations against you. Will make you a target to the Medici's Agents.)
[]Michalangelo: The Divine one himself wishes to make you his apprentice. You will be working with one of the greatest masters of Art in the world. You will travel all over Italy with him, and when you become a master yourself, you will see what greatness can be achieved. (Will follow Michelangelo and travel Italy as his apprentice. You will be bulletproof for a sense, but you may lose your workshop, your home, and your father's notes)
[]Vicente: A Bankers' assistant, whose masters were murdered as well. He wishes to care for you and to provide a more stable relationship with his young ward. He's quite skilled at the whole keeping his wards alive and is skilled in a variety of skills. The problem is, his ward is a piece of shit, and he's rather hard to reach. (Have an education that is far more your choice, but will have to deal with your… adoptive brother. There is also the fact that your new master is not as who he seems.)
AN: Enjoy and vote in plan format.
There is a moratorium for the next 4 hours for plotting and planning
