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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: 2070359" data-attributes="member: 3722"><p><strong>Alea Iacta VIII: Under Mud, Over Sea Chp. 9: O Muse, inspire me...</strong></p><p></p><p>The thugs are quickly subdued and bound; a brief interrogation reveals that they believed themselves to be working for Fufidius Priscus and had been "convinced" to fight to the death until his disappearance. The scrolls remaining in the boat prove largely uninteresting. However, a search of the larger cavern reveals two smaller caves. </p><p></p><p> To the left they find another sealed cavern, with a small rockslide blocking the main entrance. Marcus, still pumped up from the battle, throws the rocks aside with the careful advice of Llyr ("No, not that one, Centurion!") in about 15 minutes. Behind the rocks we find a small chamber with a floor mosaic decorated with the signs of the Zodiac. Having learned of M. Calpurnius Piso's fondness for puzzles and secret entrances from the floors above, we contemplate this picture for a while, attempting to deduce which of the twelve signs will aid us and which, possibly, kill us in our tracks. </p><p></p><p>After a few minutes, Llyr begins rereading Calpurnia's diary and realizes that her mother was born under the sign of Leo. He asks Metellus and Cornelia to leave the room and then, holding his breath, pushes the medallion of the elegant lioness on the floor hard with the edge of a javelin. The lioness swings smoothly open, revealing a small, single-person tunnel that leads down and then further back into another small chamber. Meloch sends me forward into it, somewhat to my reluctance. I report back that the room contains three dessicated, elegantly dressed corpses, an old fat man, a woman, and a young girl, </p><p></p><p>"Awwww..." everyone murmurs sadly, imagining the tragic fate of the trapped Calpurnii family.</p><p>"Yes, that's very sad. Now loot them," Heilyn snaps.</p><p></p><p>Upon thorough looting of the bodies, Llyr, protected from the volcanic gases in the chamber which began choking me, discovers two malachite bracelets and one malachite necklace. Upon investigation, these appear to block Wena's attempts to establish mindlinks or Suggestions with us. This seems extremely valuable, and arguments quickly break out as to their best allocation.</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile, various of us have been investigating the other chamber on the far side of the cavern. Oddly, when Marcus and Wena come near it, they both exclaim in disgust that this is a waste of time and go back to experimenting with the jewelry and interrogating the rest of the prisoners. The rest of us, who can see that this is clearly another elaborately decorated room, shrug and continue exploring.</p><p></p><p>This room features a large wall with an elaborate mosaic featuring 9 portrait medallions of the Muses: Calliope, muse of Epic Poetry, Clio, muse of history, Erato - Love Poetry, Euterpe - Music, Melpomene - Tragedy, Polyhymnia - Sacred Poetry, Terpsichore - Dancing, Thalia - Comedy, and Urania - Astronomy.</p><p> (See attachment)</p><p></p><p>After searching the area thoroughly and clearing mud off the bottom of the mosaic, we also discover three inscribed riddles, the first two in Latin, the third in Greek:</p><p></p><p>I come once every minute,</p><p>twice every moment,</p><p>Reflect all mountains,</p><p>I am a cohort unto myself. </p><p></p><p>A hundred and one</p><p>by fifty divide,</p><p>And if a circle</p><p>is rightly applied,</p><p>The answer is one from nine.</p><p></p><p>Sir, I bear a rhyme excelling</p><p>In mystic force and magic spelling</p><p>Celestial sprites elucidate</p><p>All my own counting can't relate.</p><p></p><p>The six of us who find this room at all interesting sit and ponder the riddles for a long time, afraid to touch anything until we're certain of the answer. Meanwhile, Llyr, Marcus, and Wena go upstairs to get the rest of the treasure.</p><p></p><p>Guesses are welcome as to the riddles - encouraged, even.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Orichalcum, post: 2070359, member: 3722"] [b]Alea Iacta VIII: Under Mud, Over Sea Chp. 9: O Muse, inspire me...[/b] The thugs are quickly subdued and bound; a brief interrogation reveals that they believed themselves to be working for Fufidius Priscus and had been "convinced" to fight to the death until his disappearance. The scrolls remaining in the boat prove largely uninteresting. However, a search of the larger cavern reveals two smaller caves. To the left they find another sealed cavern, with a small rockslide blocking the main entrance. Marcus, still pumped up from the battle, throws the rocks aside with the careful advice of Llyr ("No, not that one, Centurion!") in about 15 minutes. Behind the rocks we find a small chamber with a floor mosaic decorated with the signs of the Zodiac. Having learned of M. Calpurnius Piso's fondness for puzzles and secret entrances from the floors above, we contemplate this picture for a while, attempting to deduce which of the twelve signs will aid us and which, possibly, kill us in our tracks. After a few minutes, Llyr begins rereading Calpurnia's diary and realizes that her mother was born under the sign of Leo. He asks Metellus and Cornelia to leave the room and then, holding his breath, pushes the medallion of the elegant lioness on the floor hard with the edge of a javelin. The lioness swings smoothly open, revealing a small, single-person tunnel that leads down and then further back into another small chamber. Meloch sends me forward into it, somewhat to my reluctance. I report back that the room contains three dessicated, elegantly dressed corpses, an old fat man, a woman, and a young girl, "Awwww..." everyone murmurs sadly, imagining the tragic fate of the trapped Calpurnii family. "Yes, that's very sad. Now loot them," Heilyn snaps. Upon thorough looting of the bodies, Llyr, protected from the volcanic gases in the chamber which began choking me, discovers two malachite bracelets and one malachite necklace. Upon investigation, these appear to block Wena's attempts to establish mindlinks or Suggestions with us. This seems extremely valuable, and arguments quickly break out as to their best allocation. Meanwhile, various of us have been investigating the other chamber on the far side of the cavern. Oddly, when Marcus and Wena come near it, they both exclaim in disgust that this is a waste of time and go back to experimenting with the jewelry and interrogating the rest of the prisoners. The rest of us, who can see that this is clearly another elaborately decorated room, shrug and continue exploring. This room features a large wall with an elaborate mosaic featuring 9 portrait medallions of the Muses: Calliope, muse of Epic Poetry, Clio, muse of history, Erato - Love Poetry, Euterpe - Music, Melpomene - Tragedy, Polyhymnia - Sacred Poetry, Terpsichore - Dancing, Thalia - Comedy, and Urania - Astronomy. (See attachment) After searching the area thoroughly and clearing mud off the bottom of the mosaic, we also discover three inscribed riddles, the first two in Latin, the third in Greek: I come once every minute, twice every moment, Reflect all mountains, I am a cohort unto myself. A hundred and one by fifty divide, And if a circle is rightly applied, The answer is one from nine. Sir, I bear a rhyme excelling In mystic force and magic spelling Celestial sprites elucidate All my own counting can't relate. The six of us who find this room at all interesting sit and ponder the riddles for a long time, afraid to touch anything until we're certain of the answer. Meanwhile, Llyr, Marcus, and Wena go upstairs to get the rest of the treasure. Guesses are welcome as to the riddles - encouraged, even. [/QUOTE]
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