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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: 2045093" data-attributes="member: 3722"><p><strong>Alea Iacta VIII: Under Mud, Over Sea Chp. 6: Rats. I hate Rats.</strong></p><p></p><p>We cross the abandoned, eerily empty courtyard after Llyr checks to make sure that the rockslide is reasonably sturdy, and reach a large room at the other end of the courtyard, where the squeaking noise has been coming from. Opening the door, those of us, at least, who aren't soldiers are horrified to see hundreds of rats swarming across a number of large grain and wine amphorae. Thin, half-rotted wooden planks form bridges above the amphorae, presumably once used for easy storage, and there is another closed door at the end of the passageway. One set of muddy footprints in rough sandals leads up to that door and then disappears, the other footprints appear to lead back towards the left side. </p><p></p><p>Llyr, who has good balance, volunteers to try and make it across the planks without falling into the rats, and everyone else is very willing to let him try. He narrowly avoids disaster and makes it to the other room, pulling open the door very slightly. He immediately begins choking and coughing, and Cornelia remembers her ancestor's warning. She tries to suggest that it might be volcanic gas, and that she has a "spell" which will help her avoid it (Meloch looks at her quizzically) but Llyr declares that it won't be necessary, as he had inherited (stolen off the body of) Verix's pearl protecting him from poison. He takes a deep breath and runs inside the door. </p><p></p><p>Inside, he sees multiple chests, some rotted open from water leakage, full of golden _aurei_ and gems. Among the more interesting items, he finds (later identified):</p><p></p><p>Ruby necklace</p><p>Garnet earrings</p><p>Lapis lazuli matching set, big collar.</p><p>Silver bracelets.</p><p>A sword particularly useful against shapechangers</p><p>A sharp, Druidic magical scimitar.</p><p>Ring of Counterspells</p><p>Amulet of Health +2</p><p>Boots of the Winterlands</p><p>Chime of Opening – 4 charges.</p><p>Cloak of Arachnida</p><p>Pipes of Pain</p><p>Gloves of Swimming and Climbing</p><p>Stone of Alarm</p><p>Unguent of Timelessness used for preserving scrolls.</p><p></p><p>He comes back out to consult with the rest of the group after pocketing a couple of the necklaces for himself. After quick discussion, it is agreed that they have no time to get any of the items now, and hopefully they'll be able to return later.</p><p></p><p>On the left side of the courtyard, there is a large fresco of Orpheus descending to the underworld, which Llyr and Wena believe probably has a secret door located somewhere behind it. This makes some of us nervous.</p><p></p><p>Heilyn comments, "What's the worst that a picture of a passage to the underworld could represent?"</p><p>Marcus retorts, "It could actually be a passage to the underworld!"</p><p></p><p>Cornelia, meanwhile, is actually trying to figure out how to open the door, and relatively quickly comes upon the idea of asking Meloch to play his panpipes. When he does so, the side wall swings open, revealing a long, arched tunneled staircase leading down. It is ornamented with scenes of Hades - Tartarus, Minos the Judge, the Elysian Fields, and the more perceptive members of the group can see several pairs of footsteps proceeding downwards.</p><p></p><p>As they reach the bottom, they find themselves on a spiral staircase curving down to a large natural cavern open to the sea, with a small beach and a dock jutting out into the ocean. The cavern is almost dark, lit only by faint rays coming in from the outside and some phosphorescent fungus. They can dimly see a number of armed figures on the dock, and then, dimly, they hear the sound of oars in the water, and a sardonic, mocking voice that before has only appeared in their minds:</p><p></p><p>"I'm afraid you're a little late, my dear meddling friends. I've taken everything of true value in this place...and, for that matter, back in Roma. I _do_ hope you made your farewells properly to the Imperial family..."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Orichalcum, post: 2045093, member: 3722"] [b]Alea Iacta VIII: Under Mud, Over Sea Chp. 6: Rats. I hate Rats.[/b] We cross the abandoned, eerily empty courtyard after Llyr checks to make sure that the rockslide is reasonably sturdy, and reach a large room at the other end of the courtyard, where the squeaking noise has been coming from. Opening the door, those of us, at least, who aren't soldiers are horrified to see hundreds of rats swarming across a number of large grain and wine amphorae. Thin, half-rotted wooden planks form bridges above the amphorae, presumably once used for easy storage, and there is another closed door at the end of the passageway. One set of muddy footprints in rough sandals leads up to that door and then disappears, the other footprints appear to lead back towards the left side. Llyr, who has good balance, volunteers to try and make it across the planks without falling into the rats, and everyone else is very willing to let him try. He narrowly avoids disaster and makes it to the other room, pulling open the door very slightly. He immediately begins choking and coughing, and Cornelia remembers her ancestor's warning. She tries to suggest that it might be volcanic gas, and that she has a "spell" which will help her avoid it (Meloch looks at her quizzically) but Llyr declares that it won't be necessary, as he had inherited (stolen off the body of) Verix's pearl protecting him from poison. He takes a deep breath and runs inside the door. Inside, he sees multiple chests, some rotted open from water leakage, full of golden _aurei_ and gems. Among the more interesting items, he finds (later identified): Ruby necklace Garnet earrings Lapis lazuli matching set, big collar. Silver bracelets. A sword particularly useful against shapechangers A sharp, Druidic magical scimitar. Ring of Counterspells Amulet of Health +2 Boots of the Winterlands Chime of Opening – 4 charges. Cloak of Arachnida Pipes of Pain Gloves of Swimming and Climbing Stone of Alarm Unguent of Timelessness used for preserving scrolls. He comes back out to consult with the rest of the group after pocketing a couple of the necklaces for himself. After quick discussion, it is agreed that they have no time to get any of the items now, and hopefully they'll be able to return later. On the left side of the courtyard, there is a large fresco of Orpheus descending to the underworld, which Llyr and Wena believe probably has a secret door located somewhere behind it. This makes some of us nervous. Heilyn comments, "What's the worst that a picture of a passage to the underworld could represent?" Marcus retorts, "It could actually be a passage to the underworld!" Cornelia, meanwhile, is actually trying to figure out how to open the door, and relatively quickly comes upon the idea of asking Meloch to play his panpipes. When he does so, the side wall swings open, revealing a long, arched tunneled staircase leading down. It is ornamented with scenes of Hades - Tartarus, Minos the Judge, the Elysian Fields, and the more perceptive members of the group can see several pairs of footsteps proceeding downwards. As they reach the bottom, they find themselves on a spiral staircase curving down to a large natural cavern open to the sea, with a small beach and a dock jutting out into the ocean. The cavern is almost dark, lit only by faint rays coming in from the outside and some phosphorescent fungus. They can dimly see a number of armed figures on the dock, and then, dimly, they hear the sound of oars in the water, and a sardonic, mocking voice that before has only appeared in their minds: "I'm afraid you're a little late, my dear meddling friends. I've taken everything of true value in this place...and, for that matter, back in Roma. I _do_ hope you made your farewells properly to the Imperial family..." [/QUOTE]
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