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Alea Iacta Story Hour: A Mythic Rome Campaign (Baby Announcement: 8/17)
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<blockquote data-quote="Orichalcum" data-source="post: 1152383" data-attributes="member: 3722"><p><strong>Fifth Session: All Roads Seventh Post: Cornelia Gets Tough; the Party Gets Going</strong></p><p></p><p>That night, we sleep well, and the Gaulish stone floor, while hard, is pleasantly warm in late spring to my fur. The next morning, Cornelia has a private interview with her cousin Gnaeus. He explicitly asks her to consider a marriage proposal from Septimus; she, politely but quite firmly, refuses, and reiterates her desire to see her mother and settle in Rome for the time being. He tries to persuade her, but finally accepts her denial and the rest of the day is spent in somewhat awkward avoidance. The rest of us go shopping, and Melech prepares a feast of Kaspar the Xth, to my resigned horror. </p><p> </p><p></p><p> After a much less formal dinner where conversation focuses on the weather and the pretty Massilian architecture, we retire for our last night in Gaul. A few hours before dawn, Melech and I both awaken with a rush at the noise of someone in Cornelia's room, who kicked us lightly as he went by. Looking inside the room, we see the vague shape of a small, thin man leaning over Cornelia's bed, and Melech screeches at the top of his lungs. I cry out too, more from the pain of having Melech scream right next to my ear than out of desire for help in a situation we can clearly take care of by ourselves.</p><p></p><p> Several things happen in the next few seconds. The man, startled by our cries, trips slightly and braces for balance with his hand on Cornelia's chest. Cornelia wakes up, screams herself, and punches the guy in the face, sending him reeling backwards.Cato flies into his face and scratches his cheek sharply. Metellus and Marcus come running towards the doorway. From the rooms of Heilyn, Wena, Llyr, and Verix, we can see torches being lit.</p><p></p><p> Marcus shouts, "Take your hands off the domina Cornelia, thug!" </p><p></p><p> Metellus, more calmly says, "Drop your weapons, and come out. Now. And we might not kill you."</p><p></p><p> The man drops whatever he was holding in his left hand, an odd flat rectangular object, to the floor, and Meloch grabs it before it can break, stammering, "Don't kill me!"</p><p></p><p> "Septimus???" Cornelia says, in tones of utter outrage and contempt. "I should have known." She gathers her blankets around her, managing to maintain a remarkable impression of dignity. This does not stop Marcus from casually staring at the sight of Cornelia in her nightgown; Metellus keeps his eyes fixed firmly on Septimus. Meloch and I, of course, have seen it all before. </p><p> </p><p> As the rest gather, they also see Gnaeus, standing in the doorway of the courtyard, and from the other exit to the courtyard they see several people running. Llyr looks at Metellus, "Permission to follow, Tribune?"</p><p></p><p> "Certainly. Take Heilyn and Marcus. Find out what they know and teach them a lesson. No killing." Metellus raps out, every inch the leader for once.</p><p></p><p> Heilyn smiles savagely. "That'll teach them to violate the laws of hospitality like this. I mean, assaulting your cousin! In your own house! Do you Romans have no morals whatsoever?"</p><p></p><p> "Go. Now." Metellus says. The three warriors gleefully take off in pursuit of the fleeing men, grabbing swords and hammers as they go but not particularly bothering with full armor. Marcus sleeps in leathers, anyway.</p><p> </p><p> Meanwhile, the rest of us turned to Gnaeus, while Septimus continued to cower in the corner. Wena, glancing at him, spoke finally, "Why are you fully dressed? It's three in the morning." Indeed, as we all then noticed, he was dressed in a full white toga and bronze-clasped sandals. </p><p></p><p> "Well, um...uh....I heard the commotion, and wanted to be prepared for whatever was happening; that's why I brought my old sword..." Gnaeus fumbles in response. </p><p></p><p> "You knew about this, Gnaeus. I can't believe you would allow your son to...assault Cornelia like this!" Metellus says, for once stepping firmly to Cornelia's defense.</p><p></p><p> "That wasn't the plan," Gnaeus blurts out. "We intended honorable marriage."</p><p></p><p> "Oh," Meloch interrupts. "Would that be with the help of this curse tablet?" He holds up the rectangular object which Septimus dropped in his panic. </p><p></p><p> "What???" they all shout.</p><p></p><p> "I know something about love magic, and I'm quite certain this tablet was intended to be slipped under Cornelia's pillow. It has her name and Septimus's name on it, and I believe was intended to induce at least temporary feelings of love for him." Melech declares. The rest of us wince.</p><p> </p><p> At this point, the fully dressed Cornelia steps out of her bedroom into the dark courtyard and confronts the rest of us. I have never seen her this angry, not even during the combat with Aeduana.</p><p> </p><p> "Cousin Gnaeus, cousin Septimus. I cannot believe that you would violate the laws of both kinship and hospitality in this fashion. You asked me, directly, if I was interested in marrying your son. I told you that I was not. Attempting to magically enchant me against my will and then, what, drag me to the altar of Juno for a clandestine marriage before I regained my senses? It''s not only tawdry and evil, it's also a remarkably stupid plan. As apparently befits your entire family. At least cousin Decimus isn't here, unless he was one of those people running in terror.</p><p> </p><p></p><p> Our ship departs a few hours after dawn, and it is no time to be running around Massilia looking for an inn. Meloch will be guarding my door for the rest of the night; I suggest strongly you not try any more...plans. We will speak again in the morning, and discuss exactly how you will make recompense to me and my friends for this indignity." Cornelia wheels, turns, and stalks into her bedroom. Meloch and Cato and I follow. Wena and Verix come close to applauding.</p><p> </p><p></p><p> Gnaeus retorts after her, "It was for your own good, silly girl. You need a man to run those fat farms of yours, and why shouldn't my son profit from them? You would have settled down soon enough..."</p><p></p><p> He subsides when the combined glares of Metellus and the rest of us start to burn into his skin. Metellus, coldly, speaks, "I suggest you return to your quarters. We'll see you in the morning, I suppose."</p><p> </p><p></p><p> Metellus waits until the other warriors return. They tell him that they tracked the group of thugs to a tavern, where they beat them up until they confessed that they had been hired by Gnaeus for "an easy escort job" taking a woman and his son safely to the temple of Juno, and fighting anyone who tried to stop the "path of true love." The thugs were left with more than a few bruises to remember their stupidity by; they say Decimus ran off into the far reaches of the city, and Marcus, Heilyn and Llyr decided not to pursue.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Orichalcum, post: 1152383, member: 3722"] [b]Fifth Session: All Roads Seventh Post: Cornelia Gets Tough; the Party Gets Going[/b] That night, we sleep well, and the Gaulish stone floor, while hard, is pleasantly warm in late spring to my fur. The next morning, Cornelia has a private interview with her cousin Gnaeus. He explicitly asks her to consider a marriage proposal from Septimus; she, politely but quite firmly, refuses, and reiterates her desire to see her mother and settle in Rome for the time being. He tries to persuade her, but finally accepts her denial and the rest of the day is spent in somewhat awkward avoidance. The rest of us go shopping, and Melech prepares a feast of Kaspar the Xth, to my resigned horror. After a much less formal dinner where conversation focuses on the weather and the pretty Massilian architecture, we retire for our last night in Gaul. A few hours before dawn, Melech and I both awaken with a rush at the noise of someone in Cornelia's room, who kicked us lightly as he went by. Looking inside the room, we see the vague shape of a small, thin man leaning over Cornelia's bed, and Melech screeches at the top of his lungs. I cry out too, more from the pain of having Melech scream right next to my ear than out of desire for help in a situation we can clearly take care of by ourselves. Several things happen in the next few seconds. The man, startled by our cries, trips slightly and braces for balance with his hand on Cornelia's chest. Cornelia wakes up, screams herself, and punches the guy in the face, sending him reeling backwards.Cato flies into his face and scratches his cheek sharply. Metellus and Marcus come running towards the doorway. From the rooms of Heilyn, Wena, Llyr, and Verix, we can see torches being lit. Marcus shouts, "Take your hands off the domina Cornelia, thug!" Metellus, more calmly says, "Drop your weapons, and come out. Now. And we might not kill you." The man drops whatever he was holding in his left hand, an odd flat rectangular object, to the floor, and Meloch grabs it before it can break, stammering, "Don't kill me!" "Septimus???" Cornelia says, in tones of utter outrage and contempt. "I should have known." She gathers her blankets around her, managing to maintain a remarkable impression of dignity. This does not stop Marcus from casually staring at the sight of Cornelia in her nightgown; Metellus keeps his eyes fixed firmly on Septimus. Meloch and I, of course, have seen it all before. As the rest gather, they also see Gnaeus, standing in the doorway of the courtyard, and from the other exit to the courtyard they see several people running. Llyr looks at Metellus, "Permission to follow, Tribune?" "Certainly. Take Heilyn and Marcus. Find out what they know and teach them a lesson. No killing." Metellus raps out, every inch the leader for once. Heilyn smiles savagely. "That'll teach them to violate the laws of hospitality like this. I mean, assaulting your cousin! In your own house! Do you Romans have no morals whatsoever?" "Go. Now." Metellus says. The three warriors gleefully take off in pursuit of the fleeing men, grabbing swords and hammers as they go but not particularly bothering with full armor. Marcus sleeps in leathers, anyway. Meanwhile, the rest of us turned to Gnaeus, while Septimus continued to cower in the corner. Wena, glancing at him, spoke finally, "Why are you fully dressed? It's three in the morning." Indeed, as we all then noticed, he was dressed in a full white toga and bronze-clasped sandals. "Well, um...uh....I heard the commotion, and wanted to be prepared for whatever was happening; that's why I brought my old sword..." Gnaeus fumbles in response. "You knew about this, Gnaeus. I can't believe you would allow your son to...assault Cornelia like this!" Metellus says, for once stepping firmly to Cornelia's defense. "That wasn't the plan," Gnaeus blurts out. "We intended honorable marriage." "Oh," Meloch interrupts. "Would that be with the help of this curse tablet?" He holds up the rectangular object which Septimus dropped in his panic. "What???" they all shout. "I know something about love magic, and I'm quite certain this tablet was intended to be slipped under Cornelia's pillow. It has her name and Septimus's name on it, and I believe was intended to induce at least temporary feelings of love for him." Melech declares. The rest of us wince. At this point, the fully dressed Cornelia steps out of her bedroom into the dark courtyard and confronts the rest of us. I have never seen her this angry, not even during the combat with Aeduana. "Cousin Gnaeus, cousin Septimus. I cannot believe that you would violate the laws of both kinship and hospitality in this fashion. You asked me, directly, if I was interested in marrying your son. I told you that I was not. Attempting to magically enchant me against my will and then, what, drag me to the altar of Juno for a clandestine marriage before I regained my senses? It''s not only tawdry and evil, it's also a remarkably stupid plan. As apparently befits your entire family. At least cousin Decimus isn't here, unless he was one of those people running in terror. Our ship departs a few hours after dawn, and it is no time to be running around Massilia looking for an inn. Meloch will be guarding my door for the rest of the night; I suggest strongly you not try any more...plans. We will speak again in the morning, and discuss exactly how you will make recompense to me and my friends for this indignity." Cornelia wheels, turns, and stalks into her bedroom. Meloch and Cato and I follow. Wena and Verix come close to applauding. Gnaeus retorts after her, "It was for your own good, silly girl. You need a man to run those fat farms of yours, and why shouldn't my son profit from them? You would have settled down soon enough..." He subsides when the combined glares of Metellus and the rest of us start to burn into his skin. Metellus, coldly, speaks, "I suggest you return to your quarters. We'll see you in the morning, I suppose." Metellus waits until the other warriors return. They tell him that they tracked the group of thugs to a tavern, where they beat them up until they confessed that they had been hired by Gnaeus for "an easy escort job" taking a woman and his son safely to the temple of Juno, and fighting anyone who tried to stop the "path of true love." The thugs were left with more than a few bruises to remember their stupidity by; they say Decimus ran off into the far reaches of the city, and Marcus, Heilyn and Llyr decided not to pursue. [/QUOTE]
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