Scene One: Tycho's Invitation
During one of his visits to Benatky, David Gans is summoned to the laboratory for a chat with Tycho. Lóránt is there, and thus is present when Tycho says the following.
"Now that my family is back, and Kepler has arrived, I thought it would be a good idea to have a banquet. Herr Gans, I was wondering if you could find some interesting people for my table, back in Prague, at court."
Lóránt spends a moment to pause, and then says, "By interesting you mean... rich?" knowing the astronomer's trouble with loosening the Imperial pursestrings.
"No, Lóránt, by interesting I mean interesting. Intelligent, thoughtful, expressive... the sorts of people who'd make my table shine. Herr Gans, do you happen to know people like this?"
"My Lord," Gans says, I feel I could very easily find some guests for your banquet at court, and I know exactly who you mean."
Tycho says, "Very well. The banquet is on the evening of the 21st, and I'll expect both of you and your guests then!"
Scene Two: Kites
On the banks of the Vitava, in the shadow of the Emperor's Castle, a few dozen courtiers, some of them with wives and children in tow, bundle themselves before the Feburary cold. They have been told to be here for a great demonstration of the court's wisdom, brought from the exotic and mysterious East.
One of the groups of courtiers is the clique known as "the Peregrini": Don Santiago, Doctor Demont, and Salih Çavus. They speak to each other in a mishmash of Latin and German as they watch the members of the Emperor's workshops bring large bundles wrapped in canvas to the riverside. Matthieu had seen these carpenters hard at work during the week, with light exotic woods and silk, but with little idea as to what the parts portended as a whole.
Lóránt Kelemen stands in a different group, with David Gans and a few other Jewish courtiers, who'd been welcome at the Emperor's court since Rudolf's historic first meeting with the Maharal, Rabbi Loew, a few years back. Every now and again Gans looks to the group of Peregrini with interest as they all watch the colorful lozenges stretched over wooden frames that the children and the craftsmen are now discussing.
Near the wall of the Castle stands Freiherr Ernst von Zdar Lhota, the Emperor's chief appointment-maker, who is watching the craftsmen teach the chldren how to fly these kites. All the while Ernst pays special attention to those Peregrini and the Jews who are making for the group to converse with them.
"Good morning, Don Santiago. Matthieu. Salih," Gans bows to the group. May I introduce my friend, Lóránt Kelemen?" Lóránt bows, and Salih immediately goes to greet him and shake his hand with a broad, expressive smile. "Salih Çavus, my friend, at your service," he says, and Lóránt, interested by the Turkish provenance of his name, bows back to him.
"An impressive sight, no?" Lóránt says of the kites as he takes a large gulp of wine.
"They originate in distant Cathay," says Santiago, spinning a yarn of his travels for the others, "where the Emperors used them to intimidate their superstitious enemies... or to plant gunpowder behind enemies' lines."
"Oh?" says Lóránt, interested. "And I thought they were just pretty prodigies with no real use."
"Some would say this is a more pleasing use of the science, Herr Kelemen," says Gans.
"Pleasing? Well, perhaps that is what the Emperor's craftsmen have done here, but I would assume there is always a more... practical use to anything patronized by His Imperial Majesty," and Lóránt nods to the tower window where he says he saw a figure watching the kite demonstration.
On this note, Ernst approaches the group of five men. Few introductions are needed for this man, lately cashiered from the Imperial Army and brought to Prague to serve as a loyal, (and very notably Catholic), war hero.
"Freiherr," Gans says, "welcome! I'm glad you came over, I have an invitation to extend to all of you... or, rather, Herr Kelemen does."
Lóránt finishes his cup of wine and looks to the group. "Yes," he says. "My Master, Lord Tycho Brahe, seeks gentlemen of learning and scholarship and interest for his table in two nights' time. I would like to extend all of you an invitation in his stead."
Everyone but Salih knows of Tycho Brahe, possibly the finest astronomer in all of Christendom. "We're indeed honored," Don Santiago says, "to be considered such men of interest by one of the finest minds in all of Europe. My days upon the seas would have been much more dangerous without the benefits of Lord Brahe's work."
"Excellent," Gans says, "We will meet at noon here at the Castle, and we can all take my carriage to Tycho's manor!" Gans looks at the rest of the assembled courtiers. "If you gentlemen will excuse me, then?" Gans makes to walk away but also signals to Lóránt that he's free to spend some time among these men.
"So," Lóránt says to Salih again, "you are new to this city, I would imagine?"
"Somewhat, yes. I admit I have not gotten the chance to explore its streets," Salih says.
"I believe that once our... polite appearance has been put in, I have a place in mind where you," he gestures to all three Peregrini, "can see the real Prague."
Don Santiago and Salih immediately express their interest, as Frieherr von Zdar Lhota says, "Very well then, gentlemen, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to," as he backs away from the group. "I will see you in two days here at the Castle at Herr Gans's carriage."
Lóránt and the others give their farewells as Dr. Demont begs off the trip into the city. Lóránt proceeds to take Salih and Santiago to Ludmily, a giant beer-hall already considered venerable by most citizens of Prague. Ludmila, the eponymous owner, a widow who inherited the bar, biergarten and brewery from her husband, personally greets Lóránt.
"Herr Kelemen, welcome, and who are these two well-formed and... exotic-looking gentlemen?"
Lóránt introduces the two men to Ludmila and she produces three tankards of dark, rich brew from the tap behind her. "So Ludmila," Lóránt says, "what's been happening that you can tell me about?"
"The town's dead since the plague forced most of the court out in the summer," Ludmila says, "But then I suppose you know that already. It's bad enough for business that we're in the middle of the winter and the population's already low, but with the nobles and the burghers gone there goes most of my banqueting customers."
Lóránt commiserates with Ludmila, and the two exchange news and other gossip.
Scene Three: Carriage Ride
In Gans's carriage, the three Peregrini, Gans, Ernst, and Lóránt converse about Tycho's manor. They tell the Peregrini how Tycho came to Benatky a few months ago and how he has tried to turn the manor into something approaching a functioning observatory. Gans celebrates Tycho's home as a center of learning and wisdom. Lóránt speaks about his time there, and of Tycho's eccentricities, his desire for good conversation, his love of the perfect banquet table.
"You must know," Lóránt says, "that his Lordship possesses... a false nose." Lóránt explains the duel at university many decades ago which led to Tycho using a succession of false noses, usually copper, but on special occasions, Tycho breaks out the gold nose.
Matthiew is honestly puzzled. "I don't understand... aren't these prostheses horribly obvious not to mention unwieldy? Given a few days, I could make something for him that approximates life!"
Lóránt smiles, and says to the young doctor, "Monsieur, for men like Tycho it is these unique quirks that make them special, talked about, legendary and famous. He would no more want a nose made of the most lifelike materials than he would want to lose his astronomical genius. It is his trademark."
Scene Four: First Courses
In the arrival hall of Benatky, the guests shake off the snow and give their bags and cloaks to the valets. Even in this first-floor hall, the guests can see the signs of construction; workmen leaving the manor for the day, sawdust covering all untouched surfaces, the sounds of hammering, sawing, and chiseling going on behind half-dozen doors.
Tycho's valets lead the guests upstairs to the banquet room, where a large pi-shaped table is laid out with 22 place settings. Gans's carriage spreads out to their places on the table's three sides and with great fanfare Tycho and his wife enter the chamber. Tycho is indeed wearing his golden nose, and his wife, plainly attired in Northern garb, sits next to him as Tycho's two sons and four daughters take their places, scattered among the guests. Tycho's assistants also are seated, as well as other travelers from Prague.
Tycho begins the evening with offering the guests a fresh bowl of hot water to refresh themselves and to wash up for the meal. After this is offered, Tycho gestures from the servants to bring forth the first course.
"I want to thank all of you for coming this evening to my home!" Tycho bellows. "Many of you traveled from far away to be here, and some made the journey," Tycho says as he gestures to a man to his left, "despite dangers and frailty. Thaddeus," says Tycho, referring to Hagecius, Imperial physician and sometime astronomer. "Thaddeus who provided for me, who wrote to me, who thought of me when times were dark. Let us, of course, drink our first cup to the Emperor, who has provided all this!"
"To the Emperor!" the table shouts.
"But our second cup should be to Master Hagecius, who brought me here into the orbit of the beneficent Emperor! To Hagecius!"
And like that, two cups of wine are drained, before the first food is even touched. At the mention of the "beneficent Emperor," Matthieu notices the young girl a few seats down, grip the stem of her goblet so tightly that her knuckles appear white as snow.
As food makes its way around the table, conversations begin breaking out at several points. Tycho, however, is determined to keep a hand on the tiller of the evening's symposium. He looks to the assemblage, and says, "Yes, I daresay there are a number of you who've traveled far to be here tonight," taking specific notice of the complexions of both Santiago and Salih. "You!" he says to Santiago. "You are Don Santiago, who have come of late to Prague from the Emperor's cousin's court in Madrid, yes?"
Santiago stands, knowing his courtly etiquette as he has been singled out. "Yes, my Lord. Thank you for your invitation here, this evening."
Tycho says, "You are an explorer for the Crown, yes?" Santiago, not missing a beat, says, "I have traveled quite far and wide for the glory of his Majesty King Philip, yes."
Scene Five: Main Courses
A dispute over Copernicus leads into Lady Weston's strange poetry recital.
Scene Six: Adjournment
Tycho leads the PCs to the southern balcony, where Salih senses the formation of a Hallow.
Scene Seven: Gathering
Gans reveals that Ernst and Lóránt are bound to the Peregrini and also reveals what he knows of Ernst. Ernst flees this conversation and Lóránt fears what he will do.
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