The steward, the person in charge of everyone who works in the castle, has just been giving instructions.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156491_b3b4dcd975_c.jpg" alt="Grumpy-looking man with hands on his hips in a castle's great hall">
He wants all the servants to either help in the kitchens, help in the stables, or help the defenders on the walls.
''What will you do?''
[[Go to the kitchens]]
[[Go to the walls]]
[[Go to the stables]]You enter the stables.(set: $GotoStables to 1)(if:$gethelp is 1)[ It all seems quiet and peaceful in here. You don't see the stable boy around anywhere. (if: $food is 1)[
[[Find a quiet corner to eat your way through the basket of bannocks]]]
[[Head back to the courtyard->You leave]]](else-if: $nohelp is 1)[
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271167_bda39fd069_w.jpg" alt="Young servants head and shoulders">
The young servant is still grooming the horses. He looks up as you walk in, scowls, and goes back to his work. Doesn't look like you're going to get anything out of him.
You decide to [[head back to the courtyard->You leave]] ](else-if:$visitstables is 1)[The servant you saw earlier is grooming one of the horses. Apart from him there's no one else around.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935471848_be4836e57f.jpg" alt="Young servant grooming a horse">
[[Go and speak to him]](if: $food is 1)[
[[Find a quiet corner to eat your way through the basket of bannocks]] ]
[[Head back to the courtyard->You leave]]
](else:)[(set: $visitstables to 1)
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935473458_07dc85e7fe.jpg" alt="Rich older lady talking to a young servant who is holding the reins of a horse">
You see the lady of the castle, the laird's wife, talking quietly and quickly to one of the stable servants.
They haven't noticed you yet. Do you want to...
(if: $food is 1)[
[[Find a quiet corner to eat your way through the basket of bannocks]]
]
[[Creep into one of the empty horse stalls and see if you can overhear what they're saying]]
[[Go up to them and say the steward told you to come and help]] ]You enter the busy kitchens. (set: $GotoKitchen to 1)(set: $kitchens to($kitchens +1))
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472818_db9403704f_c.jpg" alt="kitchen crowded with people cooking">
One of the cooks spots you. "Hoi, take these bannocks up the men on the walls!"
(click: "bannocks")[(alert:"A bannock is a kind of flatbread made from oat or barley flour.")]
[[Sure, I'll take them]]
(if: $cellars is 1)[
[[Sorry, I'm on my way down to the cellars for something]]
]
(else:)[[[Nope, I'm doing something else->Nope, I'm doing something else]]
](if: $kitchens is >2)[[[Go back outside to the courtyard->You leave]]] You head for the stairs that take you up to the battlements. Just as you reach them a guard blocks your way.(set: $GotoWalls to 1)(click: "battlements")[(alert:"The battlements are the top part of castle walls. They usually have stairs doing up to them and a wide walkway for people to stand on. The top of the wall usually comes up to about chest height.")]
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936915207_9922449019_z.jpg" alt="A grumpy-looking soldier">
"What are you doing here?" he asks.
[[I've got food for the soldiers on the walls->"I've got food for the soldiers on the walls."]]
[[I've got a really important message for the constable!->"I've got a really important message for the commander!"]]
[[The steward told me to come and help->"The steward told me to come and help.”]] <img width=60% src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271522_3ee6cf1fc4_z.jpg" alt="Soldier's head"> (if: $food is 1)[
"At last!" says the guard. He grabs a bannock and waves you on.
[[You climb the stairs to the battlements]]
]
(else:)[The guard looks annoyed.
"Liar!" says the guard, "You're not carrying anything! Get out of here before I make you sorry!"
[[You leave quickly.->You leave]]
]<img width=60% src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271187_071a3f2a03_z.jpg" alt="Soldier's head">
(if: $crywolf is 1)["WHAT?! This nonsense again!" shouts the guard angrily. "Get out of here. We'll have no more of your stories or, I mean it, the constable really WILL have you thrown off the battlements!"
[[You leave quickly.->You leave]]
] (else:)[The guard looks annoyed.
"Really?" Says the guard. "Do you actually have a REALLY important message? Cos I'm telling you, he'll no be happy if it turns out you're wasting his time."
[[Yes, I REALLY do have an important message!->"Yes, I REALLY do have an important message!"]]
[[Err, actually you know what - I'll just go...->You leave]] ]The guard nods at you.
<img width=60% src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271187_071a3f2a03_z.jpg" alt="Soldier's head">
(if: $WallsHelp is 1)["Thanks for offering but we're alright just now. Go find something else to do," he says.
[[You leave]]] (else:)["Aye, we could do with a hand," he says. "The smith and his apprentice have been sharpening our pikes. Go see if they're finished. If they are, bring them back here."(click: "smith")[(alert:"A smith (or blacksmith) is someone whose job it is to make, repair and look after things that are made from iron or steel.")](click: "apprentice")[(alert:"An apprentice is someone who is learning how to do a job by watching and helping someone who already does that job. A bit like a trainee.")](click: "pikes")[(alert:"A pike was a long weapon with a blade on the end, similar to a spear. Sometimes also called a 'pole-arm'.")]
You say yes and [[head to the blacksmith's]] ]"Fine, follow me!"
The guard stamps up the stairs and takes you to the castle constable, the person in charge of defending the castle. He glares at you.
"Well, what do you have to tell me?"
[[Errr, nothing...->"Errr, nothing..."]]
(if: $mining is 1)[
[[I think the enemy might be trying to undermine the castle!->"I think the enemy might be trying to undermine the castle!"]] ](Set: $courtyard to ($courtyard+1))(if: $mining is 1)[(set: $turns to ($turns+1))] (if:$turns is 5)[You've just entered the courtyard when suddenly...
<div style="width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:60%;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/lrypgmdPQsgRNyl138" alt="gif of a big explosion" width="480" height="372" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe></div>
[[You hear an ENORMOUS explosion!]]] (else-if:$courtyard is 8)[Suddenly you hear cannon fire and shouting coming from up on the walls.
[[The enemy is attacking!->The enemy is making an attack!]]](else:)[(if: $nextmorning is 1)[It's the next morning. Time for another day's work.(set: $nextmorning to 0) ]You wander back to the courtyard.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272642_ddc6dc4d0e_c.jpg" alt="Courtyard scene">
(if: ($poison is 1) and ($welldry is 1))[Lots of people are standing around looking worried. The laird, the lady and the steward all come striding out of the great hall. They look grim. The laird calls the castle constable down from the walls. They all all talk together for a moment and then the [[laird steps forward...]]
](else:)[''Where will you go now?''
(if: $GotoKitchen is 1)[[[Go back to the kitchens ->Go to the kitchens]] ](else:)[ [[Go to the kitchens]]]
(if: $GotoGreatHall is 1)[ [[Go back to the great hall ->Go to the great hall]] ](else:)[[[Go to the great hall]]]
(if: $GotoWalls is 1)[ [[Go back to the walls ->Go to the walls]] ](else:)[[[Go to the walls]] ]
(if: $GotoStables is 1)[ [[Go back to the stables ->Go to the stables]] ](else:)[[[Go to the stables]] ]
(if: $SpendTime is 1)[ [[Spend more time here ->Spend some time here]] ](else:)[[[Spend some time here]] ] ] ](set: $food to 0) You're almost at the top of the stairs. To your left there's a small room with some men in.
What do you want to do?
[[Go left into the small room]]
[[Carry on to the battlements]]"Thanks," says the cook.
(set: $food to 1) (if: ($bucket is 1))[You put down the bucket of water and the scrubbing brush you've been carrying. Phew, it feels good not to be lugging them around any more!] (if: ($jug is 1))[You put down the jug of water you've been carrying.] You grab the basket of bannocks, leave the kitchens, and head out to the courtyard.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272642_ddc6dc4d0e_c.jpg" alt="Courtyard scene">
You pause. These are some really tasty, fresh bannocks. Do you //really// want to give them all to the soldiers. After all, you're pretty hungry yourself...
[[Nah, do the right thing and take them to the soliders on the walls->Go to the walls]]
[[They'll never notice if one basket goes missing. Go and hide in the stables and eat them all yourself->Go to the stables]]
(set: $cellars to 1)That sounds way too much like hard work! You decide to make yourself look busy and hurry down the steps to the cellars instead.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271577_3a8e275c38_c.jpg" alt="Scene in the castle cellars">
People are busy moving sacks and barrels of supplies around. Someone shouts at you: "Give us a hand!" and someone else shoves a heavy sack into your arms.
Guess you're helping after all!
[[Carry the sack]]You enter the great hall.(set: $GotoGreatHall to 1)
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472168_62a5b4ec7b_c.jpg" alt="Great hall scene">
(if: $tellsteward is 1)[There are still lots of soldiers standing around but you can't see the steward anywhere. You think the atmosphere feels tense and nervous.] (else:)[There are lots of soldiers standing around. They seem to have taken someone prisoner. The Steward is asking him questions. Everyone looks busy and annoyed.
(if: $mining is 1)[
If you want to talk to the steward you'll have to get his attention.
[[Go and interrupt the steward->Go an interrupt the steward]] ]
(else:)[You decide this isn't a good place to be just now.
]]
[[Head for the corridor and the steps to the upper castle]]
[[Go back to the courtyard->You leave]]You follow a man who is also carrying a sack up to the kitchens. He then makes you go back down to the cellar to carry up another sack. And then another. AND ANOTHER.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272067_f7b7cf39bf_z.jpg" alt="Adult servant with a heavy sack over his shoulder">
Ooft, this is hard work! Just as you're about to pick up the last sack you notice something odd in the corner of the cellar. It's a bowl of water. You ask the man what it is.
"Oh that," he says. "That's so the guards can tell if the enemy are trying to undermine us. You know, attack by digging a tunnel under the castle, packing it with gunpowder and exploding it. If they're digging under us somewhere near here the water in the bowl will have ripples in it."
What do you want to do?
[[Take a closer look at the bowl]]
[[Go back to the kitchens->Go to the kitchens]] Hmmm, it looks to you like the water's moving very slightly.
<div style="width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56%;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/26xBHIUGbDHC9wnU4" width="100%" alt="gif of gently rippling water" height="100%" style="position:absolute" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe></div>
You tell the man you've been carrying sacks with. He comes over and looks.
"That little thing? Nah," he says. "That's just from us tramping about, it's nothing." (set: $mining to 1)
What do you think?
[[It's probably nothing ]]
[[I think I should tell someone]] You help carrying the last of the sacks up to the [[kitchens->Go to the kitchens]]
Phew! You're glad to have finished that!You suggest telling someone but the man just rolls his eyes.
<img width=40% src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50956134666_562fd9d23c_b.jpg">
"Neither the constable, nor the steward, nor the laird have got time for this, I'm certainly not bothering them with it. You're on your own."
(click: "constable")[(alert:"The castle constable was the commander of all the soldiers and guards. He was the top person in charge of defending the castle.")] (click: "steward")[(alert:"The steward was in charge of running the castle and making sure there were enough servants to do everything that needed done and enough supplies to keep the castle going.")]
''Who are you going to tell?''
[[I'll tell the constable. Better head for the walls->Go to the walls]]
[[I'll tell the steward. Better head for the great hall->Go to the great hall]]
[[I'll tell the laird. I think he's up in his rooms->Go to the great hall]]
Still plenty of people down here but no one takes much notice of you.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271577_3a8e275c38_c.jpg" alt="Scene in the castle cellars">
You notice that the bowl of water is still in the corner.
[[Take a closer look at it->Take a look at the bowl of water in the corner]]
[[Go back to the kitchens->Go to the kitchens]]
(if: $StopMines is 1) [The water in the bowl is flat. Looks like the enemy aren't working on any more mines just yet!
[[Might as well head back outside->You leave]]
]
(else:)[Hmmm, it looks to you like the water's moving very slightly.
<div style="width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56%;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/26xBHIUGbDHC9wnU4" alt="gif of water rippling gently" width="100%" height="100%" style="position:absolute" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe></div>
You see the the man you helped earlier. (set: $mining to 1)
You point out that the water //is// rippling a little bit.
"That little thing? Nah," he says. "That's just from us tramping about, it's nothing."
What do you think?
[[It's probably nothing, might as well head back outside->You leave]]
[[I think I should tell someone]]
]
It's the gatehouse room, part of the tower built over the castle's main gate. Two men are testing out the portcullis mechanism and another is standing beside one of the murder holes looking out the window. (click: "murder holes")[(alert:"A 'murder hole' was a hole above a gateway or passage that defenders could use to drop things like rocks, boiling water, or arrows on to anyone who was trying to get into the castle.")]
(click: "portcullis")[(alert:"A portcullis is a grid made from wood and metal that could be raised to let people into a castle or lowered to keep them out.")]<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472913_69e19af9b0_c.jpg" alt="A room with a portcullis in it">
At first they don't see you. They're muttering to each other. You hear snatches of what they're saying:
"...man with three faces, he says..."
"...push it?"
One of the men spots you. All 3 jump and look guilty.
"What d'you want?" he snarls. You hold up the basket of bannocks. He grunts and takes one. So do the other two men. All of them look at you suspiously. (set: $secretpassage to 1)
You decide it's best to leave and [[carry on to the battlements->Carry on to the battlements]] At the top you walk along the battlements handing out food to the hungry soldiers. Some are watching the enemy camped below, others are cleaning the cannons and making sure they're ready for use if needed.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50956200047_20b98e093f_c.jpg" alt="Top of the battlements with soldiers and cannons">
You've handed out all your bannocks. You pause a moment before heading back down stairs.
(if: ($savewells is 1) or ($didnotsavewell is 1)) [
[[Look out over the wall]]
[[Head back down to the courtyard->You leave]]
] (else:)[
[[Look out over the wall]]
[[Talk to the old soldier standing nearby]]
[[Head back down to the courtyard->You leave]]
]
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272107_c369293563_w.jpg" alt="A castle wall with steep ground stretching out below">
(if: ($savewells is 1) or ($didnotsavewell is 1)) [
Everything looks quiet. You nod to the old soldier you spoke to before.
[[Talk to him->Point them out to the old soldier near to you.]]
[[Head back down to the courtyard->You leave]]
]
(else:)[That's odd. There's a small group of enemy soldiers making their way up the steep rocky hillside below this part of the castle wall. They look like they're carrying sacks.
You wonder what they're doing there. They can't possibly attack the castle from that angle - the wall on top of the cliff is much too high. Could they really be any sort of a threat? (put: 1 into $poison)
What do you do?
[[Point them out to the old soldier near to you.]]
[[Point at them and shout a loud warning to everyone standing on the wall->Point at them and shout loudly so that everyone, including the enemy down below, hears]]
[[Ignore them, it's probably nothing. Might as well head down to the courtyard->You leave]]
]You walk over and say hello.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156731_509c62bbf3_z.jpg" alt="An old soldier">
The old man nods at you.
"Thanks for bringing the food round," he says. "It gets pretty boring standing up here day after day. You can't help worrying about how long this is going to go on for. Are our supplies still looking alright?"
You tell him that, as far as you know, there's still plenty of food in the cellars.
"That's good," says the soldier. "Some of the men are getting restless and worried. Let's hope the lady's brother and his soldiers arrive soon eh?"
You nod.
''What will you do now?''
[[Head back down to the courtyard->You leave]]
[[Look out over the wall]] The enemy soliders below hear you. They look up and see you pointing at them from over the battlements. Most of them start to scramble back down the steep rocky slope but one runs up to something that looks like a hole in the ground, thrusts the bundle he's carrying into it, and then hurries away after the others. (set: $didnotsavewell to 1)
By this time lots of the defenders including the castle constable have clustered around you on the battlements watching the events below. The constable is swearing loudly.
"That's our spare well! It's our only back up water source if the one in the courtyard runs dry! That man must have thrown some rotting meat in to poison it - it's useless now!" Still swearing he turns and walks away along the battlements.
The old soldier near you shakes his head and looks at you. "At least you spotted them and we know it's not safe to use anymore, but next time you see something like this tell someone //quietly//."
You take one more look at the poisoned well below you then [[head back down to the courtyard->You leave]] (put: 1 into $badbooks)(set: $crywolf to 1) The constable looks furious.
"You waste my time making up stories about important messages?! Get out of here now before I throw you off the battlements!" he roars.
[[You hurry away down the stairs as fast as you can->You leave]] Even with the siege, castle life is still going on. (set: $SpendTime to 1)
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156446_5c3a12c958_c.jpg" alt="A courtyard scene with people walking around">
What do you want to do?
[[Go over to the well->Speak to the servant who's at the well]]
[[Look into the blacksmith's]]
[[Look into the alehouse ->Look into the aleouse]] (click: "alehouse")[(alert:"The alehouse was a room or small building where people, usually women, brewed ale (a kind of weak beer). Everyone drank this, including children. Water often had dangerous bugs in it, but the brewing process killed these, so ale was the safest thing to drink.")]<img width=40% src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935471998_7daf4a89a7_z.jpg" alt="Soldier's head">
(if: $savewells is 1) ["Oh, it's you again," says the soldier. "That was good work you did spotting them trying to poison the well."
He pauses for a moment then continues thoughfully: "Still, it's funny though - not many folk know that's the back up water supply. I wonder how they found out..."
He looks at you. "Keep your eyes peeled eh? You never know, there might be a traitor in the castle."
[[You tell him you'll keep an watch out and head back down to the courtyard->You leave]]
] (else-if: ($didnotsavewell is 1)) ["Oh, it's you again," says the soldier. "You back to look for more well-poisoners?"
He sighs and looks worried. "I been thinking - it's strange y'know, not many folk know that's the back up water supply. I wonder how they found out..."
He looks at you. "Keep your eyes peeled eh? You never know, there might be a traitor in the castle."
[[You tell him you'll keep an watch out and head back down to the courtyard->You leave]]
] (else:)[You tell the soldier and point to the men. He narrows his eyes and squints over the battlements.
"Ehh, to be honest my eyes aren't so good these days. I can't really make out what's happening down there. Hang on," he waves to someone on the other side of the battlements. They come over. It's the constable of the castle. (set: $poison to 0) (set: $coin to ($coin+1)) (set: $savewells to 1) (set: $SaveCastle to ($SaveCastle+1))
You point out the small group of enemy soldiers. The constable swears loudly. "That's our spare well down there! If the one in the courtyard runs dry that's our back up source of water! Those men must be trying to poison it! Quick!"
The constable gives orders. Several of the defenders start shooting their muskets at the enemy down below. They turn and start to scramble quickly back down the rocky hillside. (click: "muskets")[(alert:"A musket was a kind of early gun. They were long and fired small lead balls rather than bullets.")]
"Well done for spotting them," says the constable. We'd have been in real trouble if they'd got to that well. Good work. Here." He gives you a coin.
[[You say thanks and head back down to the courtyard->You leave]]
](if: $welldry is 0) [There's a servant at the well filling a bucket. She looks a bit worried.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157471_c7626b609b_z.jpg" alt="A servant is standing drawing water from a well">
You ask if everything's ok. "No," she says. "I think this well's almost dry! We'll really be in trouble if the water supply runs out. I'd better go and tell the steward." She hurries off. (put: 1 into $welldry)
That doesn't sound good. You cross your fingers and hope there's a back up.]
(if: ($takebucket is 1) and ($takejug is 1))[Not much to see here - [[head back to the rest of the courtyard->You leave]]
]
(else-if: $takebucket is 1)[There's a jug of water sitting beside the well.
[[Take the jug of water]]
[[Why would I want to carry a jug of water around? No thanks->You leave]]
] (else-if: $takejug is 1)[There's a full bucket and a scrubbing brush sitting beside the well.
[[Take the bucket of water]]
[[Why would I want to carry a bucket of water around? No thanks!->You leave]]
] (else:)[There's a jug of water and a full bucket with a scrubbing brush sitting beside the well.
[[Take the jug of water]]
[[Take the bucket of water]]
[[I don't want to carry either of those around!->You leave]]
]The laird announces that the castle has no safe sources of water left. He doesn't know when reinforcements will arrive. He has decided to surrender the castle. He'll give himself up to the Earl of Rannoch and go with him to Edinburgh to answer to the Queen.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935473353_79db267f57_z.jpg" alt ="two richly dressed noblemen looking worried">
''The setting and characters in this story are imaginary, but some of the action was inspired by [[real historical events]].'' The constable sends a message to the laird and the steward. You follow them as they all go down to look at the bowl of water in the cellars. The steward dismisses it but the constable thinks you're on to something.
He orders everyone to leave the cellars so that it's quiet, then he tells guards to lean their ears against the ground and listen. A sharp-eared guard hears something. [[The enemy is trying to dig a tunnel!]](if: $passageOpen is 1) [You're walking past the ornate wooden panels that decorate the corridor.
[[Take the secret passage up to the laird's chambers->Go through]]
[[Carry on to the stairs]] ] (else:) [You're walking along the corridor past the ornate wooden panels that decorate this part of the castle.
[[Stop to look at them]]
[[Carry on to the stairs]] ]You go up to where the steward is sitting at one of the long tables and hover near him. Eventually he sees you. "Yes?" he says. "What is it?"
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271107_a9d4e07068_w.jpg" alt="steward's head">
(if: $mining is 1)[
[[Tell him that you think the enemy is trying to undermine the castle]]
]They're very beautiful.
''[1.]'' The 1st one shows some grape vines.
<div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
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</div><div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
''2.'' The 2nd is of a fruit tree.
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</div><div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
''3.'' The 3rd looks like plants with heads coming out of them.
<div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
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</div><div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
''4.'' And the 4th shows a head with three faces.
<div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
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</div><div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
(if: $secretpassage is 1) [
You have an idea. What was it those men in the gatehouse were talking about? A man with three faces? Maybe if you [[push one of the panels (take a good look at them all first)->push one of the panels (take a good look first)]]
[[Carry on to the stairs]]
](else:)[You have an idea. You don't really know why but you just have a feeling that you should [[try pushing gently on one of the panels->push one of the panels (take a good look first)]]
[[Carry on to the stairs]] ]
(if: $maid is 1)[You approach the bottom of the stairs - on no!
<Img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156771_2e0a2c6a0c_z.jpg" alt="A well-dressed older lady with a stern expression"> [[The lady's maid is still there...->She looks at you distainfully]]](else:)[You get to the stairs. Just as you reach them a lady's maid, an important servant, reaches the bottom.
<Img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156771_2e0a2c6a0c_z.jpg" alt="A well-dressed older lady with a stern expression">
[[She looks at you disdainfully->She looks at you distainfully]]. ](if: $lairdmessage is 1)["This again!" She looks //really// angry now!
"Stop this nonsense and get back to work or I'll report you to the steward!"
[[You head off down the corridor fast->You leave]] ](else:)["Really?" she raises an eyebrow. "YOU have a message for the laird? What is it?"
(if: $mining is 1)[
[["I think the enemy is trying to undermine the castle!"]]
]
[[I can't tell you, only the laird]] ](if: $jug is 1)["You?" she says. "I think you'll find you are NOT. That's my job - the laird and lady's chambers are not a place for servants like YOU to be seen. I'll take that!"
She swipes the jug of water out your hands. (set: $jug to 0)
"Go on, be on your way" she glares at you until [[you leave->You leave]].
] (else:)[She glares at you, leans towards you, and hisses: "Really? Then why aren't you carrying anything?"
[[You leave quickly.->You leave]] ](if: $bucket is 1)["Oh," she says. "You must be the new gong-farmer. Well thank goodness, the garderobe is stinking and needs a proper clean. Hurry up and get to it!" (click: "gong-farmer")[(alert:"A gong-farmer was someone whose job it was to clean the castle toilets. There are several names for a toilet in a castle - it might be called either a latrine, a garderobe, or a privy.")]
[[You slowly climb the stairs carrying the heavy bucket of water.]]
] (else:)[She glares at you. "Really? And what exactly do you think you're going to clean them with? Get out of here!"
[[You leave quickly.->You leave]] ](set: $panel to (prompt: "Which panel will you push? 1, 2, 3, or 4?", ""))(if: $panel is "4")[You gently push the panel showing the man with 3 faces. It swings inwards - it's a secret passage! (Set: $passageopen to 1)
You look both ways, no one seems to be coming. What do you do?
[[Step into the passge]]
[[Carry on to the stairs]]
] (else:)[(if: $maid is 1)[Nothing happens. You feel a bit disappointed. You think about trying another one but just then you see the lady's maid you spoke to before coming along the corridor towards you.
<Img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156771_2e0a2c6a0c_z.jpg" alt="A well-dressed older lady with a stern expression"> [[She still looks disdainful...->She looks at you distainfully]]](else:)[Nothing happens. You feel a bit disappointed. You think about trying another one but just then an important servant - a lady's maid - comes towards you from along the corridor.
<Img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156771_2e0a2c6a0c_z.jpg" alt="A well-dressed older lady with a stern expression">
[[She looks at you disdainfully->She looks at you distainfully]]. ] ]
The panel swings shut behind you. You find yourself in a narrow passage. You follow it quietly to see where it goes.
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157061_9d4c7c5c6f_z.jpg" alt="A castle corridor">
Suddenly you hear voices! You look all round - are there people in here with you?
You see a small hole in the wall with bars across it. The voices seem to be coming from there.
[[Stop and listen]]
[[Keep going along the corridor]](if: $maid is 1)["You again?" she snaps. "What do you want this time?" <img width=40% src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156526_718aa25cd5_c.jpg" alt="Older lady'd head with a stern expression">
[[I've a message for the laird]]
[[I'm taking water up to the laird's rooms]]
[[I'm here to clean the toilets]]](else:)[(set:$maid to 1)"What are you doing here?" the lady's maid demands.
<img width=40% src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156526_718aa25cd5_c.jpg" alt="Older lady'd head with a stern expression">
[[I've a message for the laird]]
[[I'm taking water up to the laird's rooms]]
[[I'm here to clean the toilets]]]No luck, they're too far away. It probably wouldn't have been interesting anyway.
You're about to try and creep out again when you see something glinting on the ground. It's a key...
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What do you want to do?
[[Take the key]]
[[Leave it there. Whoever dropped it will come back for it]]The lady looks at you(if: $caught is 1)[ suspiciously]. "Well, then help," she says. She looks at the young groom holding the horse. "What needs to be done?"
(if: $food is 1)[(set: $food to 0)The boy is looking at your basket of bannocks and doesn't seem to be listening to her. "Great," he says. "I'm starving!" He grabs the basket off you and waves it at some of the other stable servants who hurry over. The lady is tapping her foot waiting for an answer.
The boy gulps.]"Ehhmm.... well, usually now I'd be topping up the hay for all the horses," he says.
You go over to the hay rack in the corner and start putting armfuls into each horse's empty manger. The horses get stuck in. They're hungry.
"Oi, not that much!" the boy shouts over to you. "We need to make the hay last - we can't get more. Give them half that!"
The hungry horses glare at you. [[You keep working until all of them have had some food.]]You sneak behind a big hay rack in the corner and get to work on the bannocks.
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(set: $food to 0)Oooh, they were delicious! Now you feel full and sleepy. You settle down for a snooze in one of the empty horse stalls.
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You wake up several hours later. What a great rest! You carefully peer out of your stall, nobody seems to be about.
Might as well make a quick exit and [[head to the courtyard->You leave]] ''The year is 1563. You're a servant living and working in a castle in Scotland. The castle is under siege.''
Enemy troops have been camped outside your castle's walls for 3 weeks. They're led by the Earl of Rannoch. He's been telling the queen that the laird you work for has been plotting against her. The queen sent Rannoch along with royal troops to capture your laird's castle and bring him and his family to appear before her in Edinburgh and explain his treason.
When the soldiers first arrived the lady of the castle sent messages to her brother asking for help. So far there has been nothing, and no one knows if the messengers made it through safely. Now no one can get in or out, and nobody knows if help is coming.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472203_afe319e156_b.jpg" alt="Scene of besiegers attacking a castle">
[[Your adventure starts with you standing in the castle's great hall ->The year is 1556.]]
This is serious, they can't be far away if you're able to hear them!
Everyone hurries back to the walls. You go with them - you want to find out what they're going to do! (set: $StopMines to 1)
Based on where the enemy are camped the constable thinks he can guess the route of the tunnel. He wants to fire the castle cannons down on to the ground to try and collapse it. However, cannons are really bad at firing downwards (they're designed to fire out over long distances).
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472778_f36a7b4421_b.jpg" alt="cannon's firing out from castle battlements">
The master gunner has an idea - he cuts the straps which support the cannons on their wooden carriages then wedges things under them until they're pointing down.
It works! After several cannons have fired down at where you think the tunnel is you see a section of ground sink and then cave in. Several men come scrambling out of the hole.
"We'll throw a barrel of gunpowder in there as well to burn it out and finish collapsing it. Good job for tipping us off!" says the constable looking at you. [["Hopefully we can now hold out until help arrives."]]
(if: ($savewells is 1) or ($didnotsavewell is 1) or ($welldry is 1)) [
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157131_35bc8be653.jpg" alt="A castle well"> The wells running dry and being poisoned are based on real events that happened during the Lang Siege of Edinburgh Castle which lasted from 1571 to 1573.
The water supply in the castle's wells ran out and the occupants had to rely on water from outside. In particular they used a well just below the Castle Rock called 'St Margaret’s Well'. To access it, people had to be lowered from above using ropes. However, when the besiegers realised what the castle occupants were doing they poisoned it. This resulted in the death and illness of several people in the castle and probably contributed to Sir William Kirkaldy of Grange surrendering the castle two months later.
](if: $StopMines is 1)[<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472988_8ecb8295c3_c.jpg" alt="A tunnel being dug beneath a castle" > Trying to undermine a castle by digging a tunnel was a popular strategy in siege warfare and it has been used to attack lots of castles in Scotland and across Europe throughout the centuries. The picture above is an illustration of the mine and countermine (a tunnel dug by the defenders to try and stop an enemy mine) at St Andrews Castle.
The tactic used in this story, firing a canon straight down at the tunnel and collapsing it, was used in 1650 by master gunner Thomas Binning to put a stop to a mine that was being used to attack Edinburgh Castle during a siege by Oliver Cromwell.
] (if: $SaveGarderobe is 1)[<img height="400" src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157291_dc77c74b95_z.jpg" alt="A castle toilet"> Castles really have been taken by people climbing up the garderobe chute. In 1204 Château Gaillard in France was eventually captured after several soldiers climbed up the garderobe and then let in the other soldiers who were waiting outside.
] (if:$gethelp is 1)[ <img height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936042258_16c5764be2_z.jpg" alt="Lady in the courtyard a night on a horse" > It was difficult to get out of a castle under siege but people sometimes managed it. One daring escape occurred in 1093 when Margaret, Queen of Scotland, was sneaked out of Edinburgh Castle while her brother-in-law Duncan Ban was laying siege to it. It should be noted however that she was already dead - she had died in the castle during the siege. While Duncan’s army blocked the main exit the queen’s supporters smuggled her body out of an unwatched postern gate and away for burial in Dunfermline.
When we think about medieval warfare and castle sieges we often imagine men fighting. However, women were also involved in the defence of castles. Usually a small army of servants, female and male, would be keeping the castle running. If a castle was attacked while the laird was away sometimes his wife would lead the defence.
A famous example of this in Scottish history is Agnes, Countess of Dunbar. From January to June 1338 she defended her home, Dunbar Castle, against a force of 20 000 English soldiers led by the Earl of Salisbury, William Montagu. Legend has it that after Salisbury's first attack on the castle she and her ladies-in-waiting appeared on the castle walls and dusted them with their handkerchiefs to show how little damage the enemy had done. This scene is shown in the picture below, published in 1906 in the children's history book 'Scotland's Story' by H. E. Marshall.
<img height="400" src = "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Black_Agnes%2C_from_a_children%27s_history_book.jpg/800px-Black_Agnes%2C_from_a_children%27s_history_book.jpg" alt="several women standing on the battlements of a castle">(css: "font-size: 50%;")+(align: "=><=")[Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons](click:"Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons")[(alert:"Image in the public domain, available under Creative Commons lisence from Wikimedia Commons via: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Agnes,_from_a_children%27s_history_book.jpg")]
] (if: $trecheroussteward is 1) [ <img width=50% src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271107_a9d4e07068_w.jpg" alt="Steward's head" > In this story there were suggestions that the castle's steward was working for himself rather than for his laird. One method for breaking a siege was to try and get bribes to important people inside the castle so that they would either surrender or sabotage the defences from within.
Threave Castle was taken by King James II in 1455 after he paid money and gave land to the several people including Sir John Fraser, the Castle Custodian.
]
Want to find out where other choices might have led? Play again (click:"Play again")[(reload:)]
(Psst, if you'd like to know the other historic events which inspired this story but don't have time to play again now you can skip ahead and [[read them all here]])
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[- - - - -]
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<iframe title="A 3D model of a castle" width="100%" height="480" src="https://sketchfab.com/models/4a21aeea4daf4317aeb13a2fff7dad7f/embed?autostart=0&ui_controls=0&ui_infos=0&ui_inspector=0&ui_stop=0&ui_watermark=1&ui_watermark_link=1" alt="sketchfab model of a castle" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; vr" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>
The 3D models in the game are real objects and places that Historic Environment Scotland looks after. If you'd like to see more of our models you can look at all of them on the Sketchfab website. (click:"look at all of them on the Sketchfab website.")[(goto-url: "https://sketchfab.com/HistoricEnvironmentScotland/models")]
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[- - - - -]
''This is the first time we've made something like this and we'd love to hear what you think.
If you have a moment please answer our 5 feedback questions.''(click:"answer our 5 feedback questions.")[(goto-url: "https://consultations.historicenvironment.scot/commercial-tourism/3460155d")]
Take me back to the Historic Environment Scotland website (click:"Take me back to the Historic Environment Scotland website")[(goto-url: "https://www.historicenvironment.scot/learn/learn-create-play/")]Three days later the lady's brother arrives with 300 soliders. They attack the Earl of Rannoch's troops from behind. The laird opens the gates and leads the castle troops out to attack Rannoch's men from the other side. The siege is broken. Rannoch is taken hostage and the everyone in the castle celebrates with a feast.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472713_f889d7be8c_z.jpg" alt="A feast in the great hall">
''The setting and characters in this story are imaginary, but some of the action was inspired by [[real historical events]].'' You realise that you're on the other side of the 'laird's lug', a hole in the wall of the great hall with a metal grating across it. It's there to let the laird (or whoever happens to be standing where you are) evesdrop on conversations happening in the hall below.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935473428_34ce21e3a4_z.jpg" alt="Photo from inside the 'Laird's lug' lookig out into the great hall">
It's the steward's voice you can hear. He's standing nearby talking to his secretary, a personal servant who looks after his papers and writes his letters. (set: $trecheroussteward to 1)
"...less than three days away. They need to attack NOW! We'll send this one back with terms and he can take our own message back too."
[[Well, that sounds strange and suspicious->Keep going along the corridor]]You carry on and eventually come to some stairs going up. You follow them.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272617_eb647b3e7c_c.jpg" alt="Corridor with steps">
There's a small wooden door at the top.
[[Go through]](if: $passageOpen is 0) [The door opens behind a tapestry. You wriggle out from behind it and find yourself on one of the upper floors. (Set: $passageOpen to 1) (click: "tapestry")[(alert:"A tapestry was a large fabric wall-hanging used to decorate castles and other wealthy homes. They often showed beautiful pictures. they also helped keep the place warm.")]
]
The secret passage has brought you out near the laird's chambers. Low-ranking servants like you don't usually spend much time in this part of the castle.
You can hear voices coming from the laird's room on the right. The door on the left goes to the lady of the castle's bedchamber and the door at the end goes to the garderobe. (click: "garderobe")[(alert:"A garderobe (also sometimes called a privy or a latrine) was a castle toilet. It was a small room built over a long stone chute (like a chimney) with a wooden seat over it. The toilet waste dropped down the chute which usually opened either outside the walls, into the moat, or into a small room at the bottom which someone had to empty using a shovel and a bucket.")]
''Where will you go?''
[[Go through the open door into the laird's chamber]]
[[Try the closed door to the lady's chamber]]
(if: $ToiletSurprise is 0)[
[[Go to the garderobe]]
](if: $ToiletSurprise is 1)[
[[Go to the garderobe->you go back into the (now empty) garderobe]]
] (if: $food is 1) [You can't carry the bannocks and the jug of water. You put down the basket of bannocks. Somebody'll find them and enjoy them!
] (if: $bucket is 1) [You can't carry the bucket and the jug full of water. You put down the bucket. (set: $bucket to 0)(set: $takebucket to 0)
]
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935473283_de11370cd9.jpg" alt="A jug">
(set: $jug to 1) (set: $takejug to 1)
You [[head back to the courtyard->You leave]] carrying the jug of water. (if: $food is 1) [You can't carry the bannocks and the bucket of water. You put down the basket of bannocks. Somebody'll find them and enjoy them!
] (if: $jug is 1) [You can't carry the jug and the bucket of water. You put down the jug. (set: $jug to 0)(set: $takejug to 0)
] <img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935473148_2747751b91_n.jpg" alt="A bucket">
(set: $bucket to 1) (set: $takebucket to 1)
Phew, this bucket is heavy! You [[head back to the courtyard->You leave]].
The stairs bring you out in a corridor near the laird's chambers. Low-ranking servants like you don't usually spend much time in this part of the castle.
You can hear voices coming from the laird's room on the right. The door on the left goes to the lady of the castle's bedchamber and the door at the end goes to the garderobe. (click: "garderobe")[(alert:"A garderobe (also sometimes called a privy or a latrine) was a castle toilet. It was a small room built over a long stone chute (like a chimney) with a wooden seat over it. The toilet waste dropped down the chute which usually opened outside the walls, or in the moat, or sometimes, into a small room at the bottom which someone had to empty using a shovel and a bucket.")]
''Where will you go?''
[[Go through the open door into the laird's chamber]]
[[Try the closed door to the lady's chamber]]
[[Go to the garderobe]]
(if: $ladyminemessage is 1)[The lady narrows her eyes at you.
"Hmmm, this again? You've told me this story already and //I// told you I'd see to matters. Go and get on with you work. //Now//."
You're certain she doesn't believe you and hasn't told anyone but clearly you're not going to get past her just now. You turn and [[head back to the courtyard->You leave]]](else:)[(set: $ladyminemessage to 1)You tell her about the bowl of water in the castle cellars. She looks at you hard.
"Alright, I'll make sure the right people are told" she says. "But the laird and lady's chambers is no place for someone like you. Go and get on with your work now."
You're not sure she's taken you seriously - or is really going to do anything about what you've told her. It's clear she isn't going to let you past. Maybe you should tell someone else.
She's still tapping her foot and looking at you so you give up and [[head back to the courtyard->You leave]] ](set: $lairdmessage to 1)The woman looks furious.
"How dare you suggest I cannot be trusted! Get out of here you impudent skivvy!" she hisses.
[[You head off down the corridor fast->You leave]] From the doorway you can see the laird is sitting in a corner of his personal chamber writing something.
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472213_93a5148753_c.jpg" alt="The laird's bedchamber">
Just as you step into the room [[a hand grabs you by the shoulder and spins you round ->a hand grabs you by the shoulder a spins you round]] You look both ways. The corridor's empty so you try the door.
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272672_c8038e73aa.jpg" alt="A shut castle door">
It's locked.(if: $key is 1)[
[[See if the key you found in the stables fits the lock]]
[[Go through the open door into the laird's chamber]]
(if: $ToiletSurprise is 0)[
[[Go to the garderobe]]
](if: $ToiletSurprise is 1)[
[[Go to the garderobe->you go back into the (now empty) garderobe]]
]
[[Go back to the great hall->Go to the great hall]] ] (else:)[What will you do instead?
[[Go through the open door into the laird's chamber]]
(if: $ToiletSurprise is 0)[
[[Go to the garderobe]]
](if: $ToiletSurprise is 1)[
[[Go to the garderobe->you go back into the (now empty) garderobe]]
]
[[Head back down the stairs to the great hall->Go to the great hall]] ]
You push open the door to the garderobe... (set: $ToiletSurprise to 1)
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156891_763e62902d_z.jpg" alt="A well-dressed young nolewoman is sitting on the toilet. She looks shocked and annoyed">
[[Oh no!]]It's the laird's eldest daughter!
You back out the door apologising. A few moments later she comes after you and tells you off for not knocking. She then storms down the corridor and into the lady's rooms.
Well, since it's now empty [[you go back into the garderobe->you go back into the (now empty) garderobe]].<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157291_dc77c74b95_z.jpg" alt="A castle toilet - a very small room with a wooden bench with hole in it">
(if: $SaveGarderobe is 1) [You remember the face of the solider you saw hiding down the chute and shudder. You'll never be using this garderobe again!
[[You head back to the corridor ->Why am I spending time in a toilet? Go back to the corridor]] ] (else:)[
Now what will you do?
(if: $bucket is 1)[
[[Get to work and start cleaning with your bucket and scrubbing brush]]
]
[[Well, since I'm here I actually do need to use the facilities...]]
[[Why am I spending time in a toilet? Go back to the corridor]]
]''Where will you go now?''
[[Go through the open door into the laird's chamber]]
[[Try the closed door to the lady's chamber]]
(if: $ToiletSurprise is 0)[
[[Go to the garderobe]]
](if: $ToiletSurprise is 1)[
[[Go to the garderobe->you go back into the (now empty) garderobe]]
]
[[Go back to the great hall->Go to the great hall]] You're about to sit down and make yourself comfortable when you think you hear a noise. It's a sort of scraping noise.
You listen hard. It's all quiet. Then you hear a cough. It's ''definitely'' a cough! You check, but there's no one in the corridor.
Then you have a horrible idea. [[You take a deep breath and peer down into the toilet hole]]
You're busy scrubbing away when you think you hear a noise. It's a sort of scraping noise.
You stop and listen hard. It's all quiet. You start scrubbing again. Then you hear a cough. It's ''definitely'' a cough. Where did it come from? You check, but there's no one in the corridor.
You have an idea. [[You take a deep breath and peer down into the toilet hole]]
The garderobe is like a long stone chimney with a wooden seat across the top. The waste from the toilet drops down it and it opens out outside the walls. But now you're looking down it and you see, several metres below, a face looking up at you! ''Someone's climbing up the garderobe!''
[[Scream as loudly as you can!]]
(if: $bucket is 1)[
[[Dump the bucket of water down the garderobe and scream as loudly as you can!->Scream as loudly as you can!]]
]People hear you. Guards come running from the laird's room. They push you aside. They reach down and pull the person in the garderobe out. (set: $SaveGarderobe to 1)
It's one of the enemy soldiers. The steward, the constable and the laird all come and question him. He surrenders immediately. He says he was supposed to sneak into the castle, hide, and then creep out at night and open the gates. The constable is suspicious and thinks he isn't telling the whole truth. The solider is carrying several large bags of coins. He won't say what they're for. The constable thinks he was going to try and bribe some of the castle servants and soldiers into helping him.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935473328_3120be9402_c.jpg" alt="A medieval purse of coins">
The constable orders for the man (still covered in waste from the garderobe!) to be thrown into the pit prison. He wants to question him again later. (click: "pit prison")[(alert:"The pit prison was a kind of dungeon. It was a large hole in the floor of the castle's lowest level. Prisoners were thrown (or lowered by rope) into it.")]
The laird says well done to you for raising the alarm and the steward tells you to clean up the mess in the corridor. Everyone disappears off leaving you [[alone in the corridor->Why am I spending time in a toilet? Go back to the corridor]].The air is full of dust. It's hard to see anything. You smell smoke. People are shouting and running everywhere.
You look around. Part of the kitchens tower and the wall around it has collapsed. The enemy ''were'' digging a mine under the cellars and now they've exploded it!
Guards run past you through the courtyard to try and block the hole blown in the walls. It looks like part of the kitchens is on fire. People make a bucket chain to try and put it out. You go to help them.
You hear shouting from up on the walls. [[It sounds like the enemy outside the walls are attacking too.]]As you're finishing you hear the last few instructions the lady gives to the servant. "...be sure they're ready, and not a word to //anyone//!"
<img width=60% src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156621_d74f1fe791_z.jpg" alt="Stable-lad and lady talking together">
Ooh, that sounds interesting. You look at the boy who is staring after the lady as she leaves. You think about asking him what's going on but you decide that now isn't the moment.
Instead you decide to [[head back to the courtyard->You leave]] <img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156766_341bb3c2eb_c.jpg" alt="Soldiers firing cannons at a castle">
The cannonfire is ''loud''. The enemy are firing at the battlements to the north and the east. They seem to be trying to put the castle cannons out of action.
Down in the courtyard you can smell dust and gunpowder. Sharp chips of stone are whistling through the air. This is getting dangerous. You take cover in the entrance to the stables.
Soon the noise gets even louder as the castle cannons start to fire back at the enemy camp.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472778_f36a7b4421_b.jpg" alt="Soldiers in a castle firing cannons at people outside">
You wonder what the is enemy doing. They might do some damage but there's no way they'll be able to break down the walls using only cannons.
Just as you're think this [[you hear people shouting from the southern battlements.]]
(set: $key to 1)You take a good look then put it in your pocket. It might come in handy later.
You're just wondering what to do next when [[you hear a shout behind you.->you hear a loud shout behind you.]]
You're just wondering what to do next when [[you hear a shout behind you.->you hear a loud shout behind you.]] It's the lady! She's spotted you hiding! (set: $caught to 1)
<img width=40% src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272882_9c756825bf_n.jpg" alt="rich lady's head">
"WHAT are you doing there?" she demands.
[[Tell her the steward told you to come and help->Go up to them and say the steward told you to come and help]] You go over to the boy. You can hear his stomach rumbling, he sounds hungry.
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271167_bda39fd069_w.jpg" alt="Young servants head and shoulders">
"Oh, it's you," he says. "What do you want?"
(if: $food is 1)[
[[Offer him one of the bannocks]]
]
[[Ask him what he was talking to the lady about earlier]]
[[Ask him if there's anything you can help with]] "Oooooh, ta," he says. He plonks himself down on a bucket and starts to eat the bannocks. He seems really hungry. (set: $food to 0)
"How's things going out there? Any sign of them gonna attack us yet?" he asks, spraying crumbs everywhere.
(if: $SaveGarderobe is 1)[You tell him that it doesn't look like the enemy are getting ready to attack, but that you caught one of the enemy trying to sneak by climbing up the garderobe!
The boy's eyes go wide, "What! You're kidding!" he starts laughing. "I'm glad you caught him but I can't believe they tried that." He looks around and leans closer: "You want to know a secret?" he asks.
You nod.
"Well," he whispers. "See when the lady was in here earlier, she was telling me to have 4 horses saddled and ready for her tonight. They've to be well fed and ready to ride for a long journey. I'm feeding up 4 of them now. I dunno how she thinks she's going to make it out the castle though - we're surrounded!"
You shake your head and whistle. Sneaking 4 people out of a besieged castle is going to be a tough job. You think for a moment then say:
[[I bet you they'll manage it]]
[[I bet you they can't do it]]] (else-if: $mining is 1)[You tell him that from the walls it doesn't look like the enemy is doing much, but that you think they might be trying to undermine the castle by digging under the cellars.
The boy's eyes go wide, "Oooh, that's bad that is! You better tell someone quick - I heard they can blow up castles when they undermine them. They pack the tunnel with gun powder and explode it." he shudders then looks around. "You want to know a secret?" he asks.
You nod.
The boy leans closer. "Well," he whispers. "See when the lady was in here earlier, she was telling me to have 4 horses saddled and ready for her tonight. They've to be well fed and ready to ride for a long journey. I'm feeding up 4 of them now. I dunno how she thinks she's going to make it out the castle though - we're surrounded!"
You shake your head and whistle. Sneaking 4 people out of a besieged castle is going to be a tough job. You think for a moment then say:
[[I bet you they'll manage it]]
[[I bet you they can't do it]]] (else-if: $StopMines is 1)[You tell him that from the walls it doesn't look like the enemy is doing much but, that you spotted they were trying to undermine the castle and got the constable to put a stop to it.
The boy's eyes go wide, "That was you? Good work! I heard they can blow castles when they undermine them. They pack the tunnel with gun powder and explode it," he shudders then looks around. "You want to know a secret?" he asks.
You nod.
The boy leans closer. "Well," he whispers. "See when the lady was in here earlier, she was telling me to have 4 horses saddled and ready for her tonight. They've to be well fed and ready to ride for a long journey. I'm feeding up 4 of them now. I dunno how she thinks she's going to make it out the castle though - we're surrounded!"
You shake your head and whistle. Sneaking 4 people out of a besieged castle is going to be a tough job. You think for a moment then say:
[[I bet you they'll manage it]]
[[I bet you they can't do it]]] (else-if: $savewells is 1)[You tell him that it doesn't look like the enemy are getting ready to attack, but that you spotted them trying to poison the back-up well.
The boy's eyes go wide, "That was you? Good work! The well in the courtyard's almost dry, I was trying to use it earlier today. We're gonna need that back-up well soon. Imagine if they'd managed to poison it..." he shudders then looks around. "You want to know a secret?" he asks.
You nod.
The boy leans closer. "Well," he whispers. "See when the lady was in here earlier, she was telling me to have 4 horses saddled and ready for her tonight. They've to be well fed and ready to ride for a long journey. I'm feeding up 4 of them now. I dunno how she thinks she's going to make it out the castle though - we're surrounded!"
You shake your head and whistle. Sneaking 4 people out of a besieged castle is going to be a tough job. You think for a moment then say:
[[I bet you they'll manage it]]
[[I bet you they can't do it]]] (else-if:$didnotsavewell is 1)[You tell him that it doesn't look like the enemy are getting ready to attack, but that you saw them poison the back-up well.
The boy's eyes go wide, "What! Oh no, we're in trouble. The well in the courtyard's almost dry, I was trying to use it earlier today. We're not gonna last long if they've poisoned our back-up. The laird will have to surrender..." he shudders then looks around. "You want to know a secret?" he asks.
You nod.
The boy leans closer. "Well," he whispers. "See when the lady was in here earlier, she was telling me to have 4 horses saddled and ready for her tonight. They've to be well fed and ready to ride for a long journey. I'm feeding up 4 of them now. I dunno how she thinks she's going to make it out the castle though - we're surrounded!"
You shake your head and whistle. Sneaking 4 people out of a besieged castle is going to be a tough job. You think for a moment then say:
[[I bet you they'll manage it]]
[[I bet you they can't do it]]] (else:)[You tell him that it doesn't look like the enemy are doing much, but that everyone in the castle is getting pretty nervous.
The boy nods. He looks worried too. "Aye, it's not looking great is it?" he says. "I heard folk saying we're getting low on water and they're gonna cut our rations again." He looks around and leans closer: "You want to know a secret?" he asks. (click: "rations")[(alert:"Rationing is when the supply of something (like food, water, or fuel) is limited, so each person is only allowed a set amount to try and slow down how quickly that thing is used up.")]
You nod.
"Well," he whispers. "See when the lady was in here earlier, she was telling me to have 4 horses saddled and ready for her tonight. They've to be well fed and ready to ride for a long journey. I'm feeding up 4 of them now. I dunno how she thinks she's going to make it out the castle though - we're surrounded!"
You shake your head and whistle. Sneaking 4 people out of a besieged castle is going to be a tough job. You think for a moment then say:
[[I bet you they'll manage it]]
[[I bet you they can't do it]]]
He scowls at you. "What's that got to do with you? Mind you own buiness and leave me alone! I'm busy." (set: $nohelp to 1)
He turns back to the horse and ignores you.
Hmm, doesn't seem like you'll get much more out of him. Might as well [[head back to the courtyard->You leave]] The boy looks at you. "Yeah? What do you bet?" he asks.
You have a think.
[[I bet you another basket of bannocks]](if: $coin is 1)[
[[I bet you a coin]] ](if: $key is 1)[
[[I bet you this key I found]] ]
[[I bet you nothing]] The boy looks at you. "Yeah? What do you bet?" he asks. (set: $CantDoIt to 1)
You have a think.
[[I bet you another basket of bannocks]](if: $coin is 1)[
[[I bet you a coin]] ](if: $key is 1)[
[[I bet you this key I found]] ]
[[I bet you nothing]] "Alright, you're on!" says the boy. "And if you win I'll give you my lucky horse shoe." (set: $BetBannocks to 1)
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You shrug, you think a basket of bannocks is way better than a horseshoe but sure - why not.
"Right, come back here after it gets dark tonight and we'll see who wins."
[[You tell him you'll be here]]"Alright," says the boy. "I don't have any coins but if you win I'll give you my lucky horse shoe." (set: $BetCoin to 1)
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You shrug, sure - why not.
"Right, come back here after it gets dark tonight and we'll see who wins."
[[You tell him you'll be here]]
"Hmmm, alright," says the boy. "And if you win I'll give you my lucky horse shoe." (set: $BetKey to 1)
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You shrug, sure - why not.
"Right, come back here after it gets dark tonight and we'll see who wins."
[[You tell him you'll be here]]"What? No deal!" the boy says frowning.
He stands up and hands you back the empty basket. "Anyway, I better get back to work..."
He picks up his brush again.
[[No, wait - I bet you another basket of bannocks->I bet you another basket of bannocks]](if: $coin is 1)[
[[I bet you a coin]] ](if: $key is 1)[
[[I bet you this key I found]] ]
[[You don't really care about this, you'd rather head back to the courtyard->You leave]]
''*Skip forward in time to evening.*''(set: $nextmorning to 1)
Just as it's getting dark you creep down to the stables. The boy is standing near the entrance with 4 saddled horses.
He points to a couple of water barrels in the courtyard. "Quick," he hisses "Get behind them. They'll be here soon."
You've just hidden yourself when you see a group of people coming out from the great hall. You peek out from behind the barrels and see the lady, the laird, the steward, the constable and several guards. They seem to be arguing. As they come nearer you hear the lady say: "... ''make'' my brother lend us his troops! Even if I have to lead them back here myself!"
The group reach the stable boy and take the reins of the horses. A servant holds the lady's while she gets on. One of the laird's knights and 2 guards mount the other horses. (set:$gethelp to 1)
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936042258_16c5764be2_z.jpg" alt="Night-time courtyard scene with lady and several guards mounted on horses">
[[The lady nods at the constable]] "Eh, not really," he says. "It's all pretty quiet in here just now. If you can find me something to eat though that would be great. I'm starving!"
You nod and...
(if: $food is 1)[
[[Offer him one of the bannocks]]
]
[[head back to the courtyard.->You leave]] <img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157131_35bc8be653.jpg" alt="A castle well"> The wells running dry and being poisoned are based on real events that happened during the Lang Siege of Edinburgh Castle which lasted from 1571 to 1573.
The water supply in the castle's wells ran out and the occupants had to rely on water from outside. In particular they used a well just below the Castle Rock called 'St Margaret’s Well'. To access it, people had to be lowered from above using ropes. However, when the besiegers realised what the castle occupants were doing they poisoned it. This resulted in the death and illness of several people in the castle and probably contributed to Sir William Kirkaldy of Grange surrendering the castle two months later.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472988_8ecb8295c3_c.jpg" alt="A tunnel being dug beneath a castle" > Trying to undermine a castle by digging a tunnel was a popular strategy in siege warfare and it has been used to attack lots of castles in Scotland and across Europe throughout the centuries. The picture above is an illustration of the mine and countermine (a tunnel dug by the defenders to try and stop an enemy mine) at St Andrews Castle.
The tactic used in this story, firing a canon straight down at the tunnel and collapsing it, was used in 1650 by master gunner Thomas Binning to put a stop to a mine that was being used to attack Edinburgh Castle during a siege by Oliver Cromwell.
<img height="400" src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157291_dc77c74b95_z.jpg" alt="A castle toilet"> Castles really have been taken by people climbing up the garderobe chute. In 1204 Château Gaillard in France was eventually captured after several soldiers climbed up the garderobe and then let in the other soldiers who were waiting outside.
<img height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936042258_16c5764be2_z.jpg" alt="Lady in the courtyard a night on a horse" > It was difficult to get out of a castle under siege but people sometimes managed it. One daring escape occurred in 1093 when Margaret, Queen of Scotland, was sneaked out of Edinburgh Castle while her brother-in-law Duncan Ban was laying siege to it. It should be noted however that she was already dead - she had died in the castle during the siege. While Duncan’s army blocked the main exit the queen’s supporters smuggled her body out of an unwatched postern gate and away for burial in Dunfermline.
When we think about medieval warfare and castle sieges we often imagine men fighting. However, women were also involved in the defence of castles. Usually a small army of servants, female and male, would be keeping the castle running. If a castle was attacked while the laird was away sometimes his wife would lead the defence.
A famous example of this in Scottish history is Agnes, Countess of Dunbar. From January to June 1338 she defended her home, Dunbar Castle, against a force of 20 000 English soldiers led by the Earl of Salisbury, William Montagu. Legend has it that after Salisbury's first attack on the castle she and her ladies-in-waiting appeared on the castle walls and dusted them with their handkerchiefs to show how little damage the enemy had done. This scene is shown in the picture below, published in 1906 in the children's history book 'Scotland's Story' by H. E. Marshall.
<img height="400" src = "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Black_Agnes%2C_from_a_children%27s_history_book.jpg/800px-Black_Agnes%2C_from_a_children%27s_history_book.jpg" alt="several women standing on the battlements of a castle" >[(css: "font-size: 50%;")+(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons]](click:"Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons")[(alert:"Image in the public domain, available under Creative Commons lisence from Wikimedia Commons via: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Agnes,_from_a_children%27s_history_book.jpg")]
<img width=50% src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271107_a9d4e07068_w.jpg" alt="steward's head"> In this story there were suggestions that the castle's steward was working for himself rather than for his laird. One method for breaking a siege was to try and get bribes to important people inside the castle so that they would either surrender or sabotage the defences from within.
Threave Castle was taken by King James II in 1455 after he paid money and gave land to the several people including Sir John Fraser, the Castle Custodian.
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The 3D models in the game are real objects and places that Historic Environment Scotland looks after. If you'd like to see more of our models you can look at all of them on the Sketchfab website. (click:"look at all of them on the Sketchfab website.")[(goto-url: "https://sketchfab.com/HistoricEnvironmentScotland/models")]
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''This is the first time we've made something like this and we'd love to hear what you think.
If you have a moment please answer our 5 feedback questions.''(click:"answer our 5 feedback questions.")[(goto-url: "https://consultations.historicenvironment.scot/commercial-tourism/3460155d")]
Take me back to the Historic Environment Scotland website (click:"Take me back to the Historic Environment Scotland website")[(goto-url: "https://www.historicenvironment.scot/learn/learn-create-play/")]It's one of the guards. He's standing just inside the entrance to the laird's room.
"What are you doing here?" he demands.
[[Errrm, I don't know. I'll just be off back to the kitchens->Go to the kitchens]]
(if: $mining is 1)[
[[I've an important message for the laird!]]
]
The laird hears this and looks up. "Well? What is it?" he asks.
[[I think the enemy is trying to undermine the castle]]
The laird frowns at you. You can tell he isn't sure what to make of this. Quickly you tell him about the bowl down in the cellars. He pauses for a moment then nods and sends a message to the constable and the steward. You follow them as they all go down to look at the bowl of water in the cellars. The steward dismisses it but the constable thinks you're on to something.
He orders everyone to leave the cellars so that it's quiet, then he tells guards to lean their ears against the ground and listen. A sharp-eared guard hears something. [[The enemy is trying to dig a tunnel!]]His eyes go wide. "What? Why do you think that?" he asks. (set: $tellsteward to 1) (set: $trecheroussteward to 1)
You explain about the bowl of water in the cellars. He looks at you carefully. He asks why nobody else has mentioned this. You admit that it was only shaking //very slightly//.
The steward looks serious. "Well done for telling me," he says. "You did the right thing. I'll look into it later. In the meantime keep this to youself, understand? The last thing the castle needs is people panicking."
He looks at you. You nod but you feel uneasy - you think he should be looking into this //now// not later!
"Good," he says when he sees you nod. He hands you a coin. (set: $coin to ($coin +1)) You say thanks and [[go back to the courtyard. ->You leave]] <img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472513_db5766f761_z.jpg" alt="A blacksmith's shop with 2 people working in it">
The blacksmith and his apprentice look busy, [[you decide to leave them to it.->Spend some time here]] (click: "blacksmith")[(alert:"A blacksmith (or sometimes just a 'smith') is someone whose job it is to make, repair and look after things that are made from iron or steel.")](click: "apprentice")[(alert:"An apprentice is someone who is learning how to do a job by watching and helping someone who already does that job. A bit like a trainee.")](if: $alehouse is 1)[The alewife is still working at her vat. She glances up, smiles and waves you away. "Not just now, this is a tricky bit - I can't have you distracting me!" (click: "alewife")[(alert:"An alewife was a woman who brewed ale (weak beer) for people to drink.")]
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472148_b4670f6728_z.jpg" alt="An older woman stirring a large vat over a fire">
You [[head back outside ->You leave]] ]
(else:)[<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472148_b4670f6728_z.jpg" alt="An older woman stirring a large vat over a fire">
You see one of the alewives working away at a big vat over a fire. She looks up and smiles cheerfully. (set: $alehouse to 1) (click: "alewives")[(alert:"An alewife was a woman who brewed ale - weak beer - for people to drink.")]
"Hello," she says. "You come to give me a hand?"
[[Tell her you're happy to help]]
(if: $food is 1)[
[[Offer her a bannock]]] ](if: $battle is 1)[(if: $nope is 2)[ Where will you hide?
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156341_dcf3cc84cb_c.jpg" alt="A battle scene">
[[I can't find anywhere to hide]] ] (else-if: $hide is 1)[ Where will you hide? (set: $nope to ($nope +1))
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156341_dcf3cc84cb_c.jpg" alt="A battle scene">
(if: $stablecant is 0)[ [[Hide in the stables]]
]
(if: $kitchencant is 0)[ [[Hide in the kitchens]]
]
(if: $alecant is 0)[ [[Hide in the alehouse]]
] ] (else:)[You don't have a weapon. You're not wearing any armour. You need to try and find a place to hide. (set: $hide to 1)
[[Hide in the stables]]
[[Hide in the kitchens]]
[[Hide in the alehouse]]] ](else:)[You hear more shouting coming from the blown up section of wall. Suddenly the courtyard is full of enemy soldiers. The castle soldiers start fighting them, trying to push them back through the hole in the wall. (set: $battle to 1)
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156341_dcf3cc84cb_c.jpg" alt="A battle scene">
[[You're caught in the middle of a battle.->It sounds like the enemy outside the walls are attacking too.]] ](set: $stablecant to 1) You try to get to the stables.
<img width=80% src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156681_91f9371cd2_z.jpg" alt="Soldiers ointing spears at you">
[[There are too many soldiers ->It sounds like the enemy outside the walls are attacking too.]] The kitchens are on fire. (set: $kitchencant to 1)
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271512_6f2fdabb08.jpg" alt="a building on fire and people fighting in the courtyard">
[[You can't hide there ->It sounds like the enemy outside the walls are attacking too.]] (set: $alecant to 1) You start heading for the alehouse.
<img width=80% src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271922_96b18ca31f_z.jpg" alt="Soldiers ointing spears at you" >
[[Soldiers block the way ->It sounds like the enemy outside the walls are attacking too.]] Someone crashes into you. You trip and fall on the ground.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156786_6ca6419c0c_c.jpg" alt="Two people on horses attacking">
Looking up you see 2 knights riding towards you. They're almost on top of you when you realise the shouting and screaming has changed. Everyone freezes. The laird is standing on the steps to the great hall.
One by one the castle soldiers who're still alive start to throw down their weapons. [[The laird has surrendered the castle]].The laird is taken prisoner by the Earl of Rannoch's soldiers. The Earl takes your laird and all his family off to Edinburgh to face the Queen.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271372_1da687bc7a_c.jpg" alt="A wealthy man in chains surrounded by guards">
The castle has been badly damaged by the attack and lots of the soldiers, servants and other people who live in it have been killed or injured. You and the other servants do the best you can to look after the wounded and keep them alive.
The castle belongs to the Earl now. He leaves behind several knights and some soldiers to make sure the castle remains his. He has the constable thrown in the pit prison but he lets the steward keep his job.
People in the castle suspect the steward. They whisper that he was secretly helping the enemy all through the siege. The steward makes it clear that if he catches anyone spreading these rumours then they'll also end up in the pit prison. (set: $trecheroussteward to 1)
''The setting and characters in this story are imaginary, but some of the action was inspired by [[real historical events]].''"Thank goodness for that, I could do with a rest," she says. "Here," she thrusts the big wooden paddle at you. You (if: $food is 1)[(set: $downbannocks to 1)put down the bannocks and ]take over stirring while she stretches and sits down on a sack of barley.
"How's everyone doing out there?" she asks. "People starting to panic yet?"
[[You think everyone seems to be ok]]
[[You think folk are starting to get a bit nervous]]She nods. "Good, it can go really bad in a castle under siege when people start panicking. You need folk to stay calm and use their heads. Like in Salzburg. You know the story of the bull of Salzburg?" she asks.
[[No, tell me]]
[[Actually, I better be getting on]]She nods and looks grim. "Aye, it can go really bad in a castle under siege when people start panicking. You need folk to stay calm and use their heads. Like in Salzburg. You know the story of the bull of Salzburg?" she asks.
[[No, tell me]]
[[Actually, I better be getting on]]"Ha! she laughs. "You young folk never have time to sit and share stories. Well, be on with you then."
She stands up, takes back the paddle and starts stirring again.
You [[head back outside ->You leave]] “You heard of Salzburg?” she asks. You shake your head.
“It’s a city,” she explains. “Away over the sea. In Bavaria or somewhere like that. Anyway, the city was under siege and the people were hungry. Soon they’d slaughtered and eaten all the pigs, all the sheep and all the cattle. All but one, there was one bull left.
It was a magnificent animal – a big, strong, fine-looking beast. But the people were hungry and so they were getting ready to slaughter it, when the commander had a clever idea.
They got the bull up the steps to the battlements - don't ask me how - and paraded him up and down to show the enemy what big, fine animals they had inside. That night, they painted him black and paraded him up and down again. Then the third day they painted him white and had him strut up and down //again.//
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935471878_da1901ae59.jpg" alt="A bull being painted by 2 people">
They made it seem like they had such an endless supply of magnificent animals inside the city that the besiegers could never hope to starve them out. Seeing this, the enemy soldiers gave up and went home.”
She laughs: “I told the constable we should try doing it here but he didn't think Rannoch would fall for it.”
You grin, you don't think he'd fall for it either but it would be fun to try.
"Well," the alewife says a sigh and stands up, "You'd better be getting on before I get into trouble for distracting folk from their work."
She takes the paddle back off you. You say thanks for the story(if: $downbannocks is 1)[, pick up your basket of bannocks again,(set:$downbannocks to 0)] and [[head back outside ->You leave]]
The cannon attack is a diversion!
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272507_54630013d5_b.jpg" alt="Soldiers climbing over castle walls using long ladders">
While the castle defenders were busy firing back, the enemy has used scaling ladders to climb the walls on the castle's south side. Some of the enemy soldiers have made it inside.(click: "scaling ladders")[(alert:"A scaling ladder was a long ladder used for climbing up and over the walls of a building under siege.")]
[[This is bad]]The air is full of dust and smoke. People are shouting and running everywhere. It's hard to see anything.
As the smoke starts to clear you can see - part of the kitchens tower and the wall around it has collapsed. The enemy ''were'' digging a mine under the cellars and now they've exploded it!
Enemy soldiers start climbing over the rubble of the wall. [[All around you castle soldier and enemy soldiers are fighting ->It sounds like the enemy outside the walls are attacking too.]]It's the lady's brother! She succeeded in getting him to bring help. His soldiers attack the Earl of Rannoch's troops from behind. The enemy are totally unprepared for this and quickly surrender. The siege is broken, the castle is safe.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472693_b7a613d515_c.jpg" alt="Soldiers celebrating after a battle">
However, the castle has been damaged in the attack and many of the soldiers were wounded. You and the rest of the castle inhabitants do you best to care for them and rebuild.
Afterall, you need to be ready for more sieges in the future...
''The setting and characters in this story are imaginary, but some of the action was inspired by [[real historical events]].'' You, along with the rest of the castle inhabitants, start trying to repair the damage and care for the wounded. The castle has surived the attack but the defences have been weakened.
Everyone is tense and nervous [[in case the enemy make another attempt]].
Two days later you hear cheering coming from the battlements. The soldiers on watch have just seen the lady's brother - he's finally brought his soldiers to help free the castle.
Rather than fight, the Earl of Rannoch withdraws his troops. They pack up their camp and leave. The siege is over and the castle is safe.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157016_6a1f102075_c.jpg" alt="A peaceful castle courtyard scene">
''The setting and characters in this story are imaginary, but some of the action was inspired by [[real historical events]].''(if: $gethelp is 1)[The soldiers on the battlements start to fight the enemy. You and some of the other servants run towards the stairs up to the battlements. You grab a pike from the barrel at the bottom of the steps. (click: "pike")[(alert:"A pike was a long weapon with a blade on the end, similar to a spear. Sometimes also called a 'pole-arm'.")]
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156036_ba285779ac.jpg" alt="A barrel with spears and pikes in it">
You need to try and keep the enemy up on the walls and stop them getting down into the courtyard. Castle soldiers shoulder their way past you and run up the steps. They seem to be managing to fight the enemy back and stop any more getting in. Suddenly you realise [[you can hear cheering from up on the walls]]](else-if: $mining is 1)[The castle soldiers start fighting them. You're trying to decide whether to help or to hide when...
<div style="width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:60%;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/lrypgmdPQsgRNyl138" alt="gif of a big explosion" width="480" height="372" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe></div>
[[You hear a deep, booming explosion ->You hear a deep booming explosion]] ](else:)[The soldiers on the battlements start to fight the enemy. You and some of the other servants run towards the stairs up to the battlements. You grab a pike from the barrel at the bottom of the steps. (click: "pike")[(alert:"A pike was a long weapon with a blade on the end, similar to a spear. Sometimes also called a 'pole-arm'.")]
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156036_ba285779ac.jpg" alt="A barrel with spears and pikes in it">
You need to try and keep the enemy up on the walls and stop them getting down into the courtyard. Castle soldiers shoulder their way past you and run up the steps. Gradually they manage to beat back the Earl of Rannoch soldiers who are either killed, taken prisoner, or sent back down the scaling ladders.
[[The attack is over]] ]
You pause in the dooryway to the blacksmith's shop.
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935472513_db5766f761_z.jpg" alt="A blacksmith's shop with 2 people working in it">
They look busy. You clear your throat loudly. The smith looks up, "What d'you want?" he asks.
(if: $food is 1)[
[[Offer them the bannocks]]
]
[[Ask if the pikes are ready]] "Aye, they're ready," says the smith. He points to a pile of long weapons lying on the floor. They look like spears.
<div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
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There's quite a lot of them.
[[Ask if they'll give you a hand to carry them back to the guard on the wall]]
[[These people seem busy, I'll carry them myself]] You offer them the basket of bannocks. "Ooh, thanks!" says the apprentice. They put down their tools and get stuck into the bannocks. You ask if they've finished working on the pikes. (Set: $feedsmith to 1) (set: $food to 0)
"Aye, they're ready," says the smith. He points to a pile of long weapons lying on the floor. They look like spears.
<div class="sketchfab-embed-wrapper">
<iframe title="A 3D model of a pike" width="100%" height="300" src="https://sketchfab.com/models/e336d445bcf84d70b6262e5325d153cb/embed?autostart=0&ui_controls=0&ui_infos=0&ui_inspector=0&ui_stop=0&ui_watermark=1&ui_watermark_link=1" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; vr" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>
There's quite a lot of them.
[[Ask if they'll give you a hand to carry them back to the guard on the wall]]
[[These people seem busy, I'll carry them myself]] (if: $feedsmith is 1)[The blacksmith looks grumpy but the apprentice stuffs the last bannock in his mouth and walks over to pile.
"Here, I'll help" he says "I was fair ready for that food and one good turn deserves another."
Together the two of you carry the pikes back to the solider guarding the stairs. He tells you to stack them in a barrel at the bottom of the steps. You ask who the pikes are for. He gives you a look and says they're for "just in case".
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156036_ba285779ac.jpg" alt="A barrel with spears and pikes in it">
You say thanks to the apprentice and he goes back to the blacksmith's workshop.
[[Phew, that was hard work.->You leave]] ] (else:)[The blacksmith looks grumpy. "We've got our own work to be getting on with," he says sternly, and turns back to the forge. The apprentice catches your eye and winks.
You pick up one of the pikes. It's surprisingly heavy. You carry it back to the solider guarding the stairs. He tells you to stack it in a barrel at the bottom of the steps. You ask who the pikes are for. He gives you a look and says they're for "just in case".
You go back and forth between the wall and the blacksmith's workshop until all the pikes are stacked in the barrel.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156036_ba285779ac.jpg" alt="A barrel with spears nad pikes in it">
[[Phew, that was hard work.->You leave]] ]You pick up one of the pikes. It's surprisingly heavy. You carry it back to the solider guarding the stairs. He tells you to stack it in a barrel at the bottom of the steps. You ask who the pikes are for. He gives you a look and says they're for "just in case".
You go back and forth between the wall and the blacksmith's workshop until all the pikes are stacked in the barrel.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936156036_ba285779ac.jpg" alt="A barrel with spears nad pikes in it">
[[Phew, that was hard work.->You leave]]It opens!
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272487_79a1a5116b_c.jpg" alt="A noble person's castle bedchamber">
Ooh, her room is fancy.
[[Take a look around]]
[[Go back to the corridor before you get caught!]]<img src= "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935473373_c97112e230_c.jpg" alt="A castle tapestry showing a noble woman and a unicorn">
The tapestries that decorate the walls are fancy. (click: "tapestries")[(alert:"A tapestry was a large fabric wall-hanging used to decorate castles and other wealthy homes. They often showed beautiful pictures. They also helped keep the place warm.")]
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157531_a0e7d86afa_z.jpg" alt="a castle fireplace">
The fireplace is fancy.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936157566_c3e8b503a1_z.jpg" alt="A large metal candelabra standing on the ground">
The candelabra is fancy. (click: "candelabra")[(alert:"A candelabra is a large candle-holder that can hold several candles at the same time. It might be hanging from the ceiling or something which stands upright on the floor.")]
<img src ="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936271812_6738a30248_c.jpg" alt="An expensive-looking chair">
The chair is fancy.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50935473303_a000b46689.jpg" alt="A 4-poster bed with a canopy">
The bed is ''very'' fancy.
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50936272752_e65d7e0536_z.jpg" alt="An elaborately painted and decorated castle ceiling">
Even the *ceiling* is fancy.
All in all, it's a pretty nice room.
After having a good look [[you decide it's time to leave before someone finds you here->Go back to the corridor before you get caught!]]
You slip out the door and lock it again behind you.
What will you do now?
[[Go through the open door into the laird's chamber]]
(if: $ToiletSurprise is 0)[
[[Go to the garderobe]]
](if: $ToiletSurprise is 1)[
[[Go to the garderobe->you go back into the (now empty) garderobe]]
]
[[Head back down the stairs to the great hall->Go to the great hall]]
"Thanks, but no," she says. "I'm not really a fan of bannocks. You can take over this for a bit though, I could do with a rest. Here," she thrusts the big wooden paddle at you. You put down the bannocks and take over stirring while she stretches and sits down on a sack of barley. (set: $downbannocks to 1)
"How's everyone doing out there?" she asks. "People starting to panic yet?"
[[You think everyone seems to be ok]]
[[You think folk are starting to get a bit nervous]]
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}The constable nods back.
He turns and waves at one of his men who is standing on the walls which face the enemy camp. A few minutes later the castle cannon start to fire. People in the castle come pouring out into the courtyard. You think you can hear shouting from outside the walls.
The enemy are camped too far away for the canon fire to reach, but that's not the point - this is just a distraction. Now the constable is watching a solider who is standing above the postern gate. When the soldier signals 2 servants unbar the gate and the lady, along with the mounted men, gallops out through it. (click: "postern")[(alert:"A postern gate was a smaller, secondary gate that gave people another way in and out of a castle - like a back door. They were often made to be hard-to-spot, a kind of secret entrance.")]
<img src = "https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50976692358_96dfabf262_o.jpg">
"They're trying to get through the enemy! She's away to bring us help!" says the stable boy next to you.
The castle cannons continue to fire, distacting all the enemy sentries and giving the riders time to get away. Eventually the cannons stop.
The soldier on the walls reports that, as far as he could see, the riders made it into the woods in the opposite direction from the enemy camp. They might have been seen but nobody followed them. There's cheering in the courtyard.
The stable boy turns to you. (if: $CantDoIt is 1)[He's grinning.
"I ''told'' you they'd do it!" he says triumphantly. (if: $BetBannocks is 1)["You owe me some bannocks!"
[[You promise you'll get them to him and head off to the great hall to sleep.->You leave]] Fingers crossed the lady manages to bring help.](else-if: $BetCoin is 1)["Pay up then!" (set: $coin to 0)
[[You hand over your coin and head off to the great hall to sleep.->You leave]] Fingers crossed the lady manages to bring help.](else-if: $BetKey is 1)["Where's that key you promised me then?" (set: $key to 0)
You hand over the key and ask him what he's going to use it for. "Dunno," he shrugs. "Just think it'll come in handy." [[You say goodnight and head off to the great hall to sleep.->You leave]] Fingers crossed the lady manages to bring help.]
](else:)["You were right!" he says, looking stunned. "I can't believe it - they've done it! They got out!"
You remind him about your bet. He rolls his eyes. "Fine, here you go," he says and gives you his lucky horseshoe. (set: $horseshoe to 1)
You say thanks, wish him good night [[and head off to the great hall to sleep.->You leave]] ]