Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Alea Iacta Story Hour: A Mythic Rome Campaign (Baby Announcement: 8/17)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Orichalcum" data-source="post: 2882716" data-attributes="member: 3722"><p><strong>Alea Iacta XI: Romantic Comedy Chp. I: The War Council</strong></p><p></p><p>"Meloch," Cornelia sputters, trying hard to keep a note of deadly force in her voice, "did you...actually, wait a second. I am not going to ask you whether or not you attacked Gnaeus Tertius Publicola and stole from him. I am not going to ask you, because I will have to testify, at trial, about this. But rest assured, after we have won this trial, and made Publicola look a fool, you and I are having a very long talk."</p><p></p><p>"But Domina," Meloch says, adopting an aura of cherubic innocence, "of course I would never assault Publicola."</p><p></p><p>I scribble on my wax tablet with my stylus and hold up my own defense, "He was crazy to claim that I cast a curse on him. I don't know how. If you want to know what sort of person would cast curses, maybe you should talk to your friend the curse tablet specialist..."</p><p></p><p>Cornelia seems mildly startled by the wit and wisdom of my argument, but finally blinks, "I just don't want to know. But I do need help. Meloch, go to the Domus Metelli and to the Praetorian Fortress and summon everybody. We need a war council, or, at least, a strategy session."</p><p></p><p>As Meloch scampers out the front door and Cornelia goes to cry on Nanna Alma's shoulder briefly, neither of them notice Ogulnius the steward, who has been lurking behind the kitchen door, skulking into the quarters of Cornelia's mother, undoubtedly to tell her all.</p><p></p><p>A few hours later, we are all gathered around the lovely but noisy fountain in Licinia Luculla's courtyard. (I, of course, take the opportunity to frolic in the fountain itself.)</p><p>"Why did you summon us, Cornelia?" Metellus asks.</p><p></p><p>"I'm being sued. By Publicola. On charges of assault, witchcraft, theft, cursing...I think those were the main ones."</p><p></p><p>"What?" Marcus gasps, a bit surprised at the woman whom he thought had matured into a proper Roman lady. "Why did you assault one of Metellus' fellow candidates?"</p><p></p><p>"I didn't," Cornelia mutters, teeth clenched. "But he claims to have seen a pygmy and a monkey climbing out of his window, with his toga, and that then, according to the written charge, the monkey used some sort of magical curse on him. And, well, there aren't many pygmy-and-monkey combos running around Roma, particularly not belonging to someone associated with a rival candidate and..."</p><p></p><p>"And you're legally responsible for the actions of your slaves and non-citizen clients," Metellus finishes, ruefully. There was a brief pause. </p><p></p><p>"I could simply kill the pygmy for you now and solve the problem that way," Marcus offers.</p><p></p><p>"No," Cornelia says forcefully, glancing at Meloch and I, who are hovering in the background.</p><p></p><p>"Besides," Metellus points out, "that would be a tacit admission of guilt, which would be horrible for my campaign. In fact...I don't want to know if Meloch did this - if any of you did this [looking at Heilyn meaningfully]. Although if the toga is as magical as we thought, it's probably a good thing for us."</p><p></p><p>"Presuming we can clear Domina Cornelia's good name, you mean, " Lucretius interrupts.</p><p></p><p>"Well, yes, of course," Metellus answers.</p><p></p><p>"That does explain the note I got from my contact in the vigiles," Lucretius muses. "He said he had recently received a torture requisition order...for all the slaves in the house of Licinia Luculla. Since, of course, slaves can't testify under trial unless they've been tortured first. He thought I'd like to know, since he knows of my friendship with your family, Cornelia."</p><p></p><p>Cornelia shudders. "They can do that? Just take away all our slaves for torture?"</p><p></p><p>"Well, normally either the opposition would hire professionals to do it, or leave it up to the vigiles. If you want, I can pull rank...and torture the slaves myself. But I'd have to really do it," Lucretius warns.</p><p></p><p>"Still, it's better than having Publicola's hired thugs torture Meloch," Metellus offers helpfully, feeling a little guilty.</p><p></p><p>"I think you're all going about this in the wrong way," Heilyn bursts in. "You're thinking about this like Romans, all about the trial and the torture and the watchmen..."</p><p></p><p>"We are Romans," Metellus responds, a bit icily. "What would you have us do?"</p><p></p><p>"Well, what we really want is to get Publicola to drop the charges somehow, nae?" Heilyn asks.</p><p></p><p>"Well, yes, that would be ideal," Cornelia says, "but he seems to have a fair amount of evidence against us."</p><p></p><p>"So what we have to do is investigate him first, and find out all his guilty secrets, which moost be worse than awrs, and then tell him we'll tell all of Roma if he dinna withdraw his suit," Heilyn proposes.</p><p></p><p>"Certainly, it's a good start. Any idea of where to begin?" Marcus asks.</p><p></p><p>"Well, there's the whole matter of his lawsuit about my partner's smithy - it seemed verra suspicious to me."</p><p></p><p>"All right, we'll check into that, and his other cases," Metellus declares.</p><p></p><p>"Also, joost in case it does go to cuirt, ye should know that he won't be quite the bonny speaker he was afore. No toga, and besides, I think he might have a touch of the Evil Eye..." Heilyn offers.</p><p></p><p>"We don't want to know!" Metellus and Cornelia chorus, in unison for once in their lives.</p><p></p><p>"And in the meanwhile, we want to keep Meloch out of sight, and out of trouble, " Lucretius comments. "I'll bring him to the palace. Hadriana's been wanting to consult with him about whether her pregnancy's going well, and baby Cimbra always likes seeing her pygmy juggling companion."</p><p></p><p>"Thank you, Lucretius," Cornelia breathes a sigh of relief.</p><p>***</p><p></p><p>In the doorway of the servants' quarters, where a number of slaves have been listening avidly to as much of the war council as they could overhear over the fountain, an enraged Ogulnius turns to Meloch, his face glowing bright red. "Pygmy! If I get tortured because of you, rest assured that you and your mistress will be publicly flayed alive..."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Orichalcum, post: 2882716, member: 3722"] [b]Alea Iacta XI: Romantic Comedy Chp. I: The War Council[/b] "Meloch," Cornelia sputters, trying hard to keep a note of deadly force in her voice, "did you...actually, wait a second. I am not going to ask you whether or not you attacked Gnaeus Tertius Publicola and stole from him. I am not going to ask you, because I will have to testify, at trial, about this. But rest assured, after we have won this trial, and made Publicola look a fool, you and I are having a very long talk." "But Domina," Meloch says, adopting an aura of cherubic innocence, "of course I would never assault Publicola." I scribble on my wax tablet with my stylus and hold up my own defense, "He was crazy to claim that I cast a curse on him. I don't know how. If you want to know what sort of person would cast curses, maybe you should talk to your friend the curse tablet specialist..." Cornelia seems mildly startled by the wit and wisdom of my argument, but finally blinks, "I just don't want to know. But I do need help. Meloch, go to the Domus Metelli and to the Praetorian Fortress and summon everybody. We need a war council, or, at least, a strategy session." As Meloch scampers out the front door and Cornelia goes to cry on Nanna Alma's shoulder briefly, neither of them notice Ogulnius the steward, who has been lurking behind the kitchen door, skulking into the quarters of Cornelia's mother, undoubtedly to tell her all. A few hours later, we are all gathered around the lovely but noisy fountain in Licinia Luculla's courtyard. (I, of course, take the opportunity to frolic in the fountain itself.) "Why did you summon us, Cornelia?" Metellus asks. "I'm being sued. By Publicola. On charges of assault, witchcraft, theft, cursing...I think those were the main ones." "What?" Marcus gasps, a bit surprised at the woman whom he thought had matured into a proper Roman lady. "Why did you assault one of Metellus' fellow candidates?" "I didn't," Cornelia mutters, teeth clenched. "But he claims to have seen a pygmy and a monkey climbing out of his window, with his toga, and that then, according to the written charge, the monkey used some sort of magical curse on him. And, well, there aren't many pygmy-and-monkey combos running around Roma, particularly not belonging to someone associated with a rival candidate and..." "And you're legally responsible for the actions of your slaves and non-citizen clients," Metellus finishes, ruefully. There was a brief pause. "I could simply kill the pygmy for you now and solve the problem that way," Marcus offers. "No," Cornelia says forcefully, glancing at Meloch and I, who are hovering in the background. "Besides," Metellus points out, "that would be a tacit admission of guilt, which would be horrible for my campaign. In fact...I don't want to know if Meloch did this - if any of you did this [looking at Heilyn meaningfully]. Although if the toga is as magical as we thought, it's probably a good thing for us." "Presuming we can clear Domina Cornelia's good name, you mean, " Lucretius interrupts. "Well, yes, of course," Metellus answers. "That does explain the note I got from my contact in the vigiles," Lucretius muses. "He said he had recently received a torture requisition order...for all the slaves in the house of Licinia Luculla. Since, of course, slaves can't testify under trial unless they've been tortured first. He thought I'd like to know, since he knows of my friendship with your family, Cornelia." Cornelia shudders. "They can do that? Just take away all our slaves for torture?" "Well, normally either the opposition would hire professionals to do it, or leave it up to the vigiles. If you want, I can pull rank...and torture the slaves myself. But I'd have to really do it," Lucretius warns. "Still, it's better than having Publicola's hired thugs torture Meloch," Metellus offers helpfully, feeling a little guilty. "I think you're all going about this in the wrong way," Heilyn bursts in. "You're thinking about this like Romans, all about the trial and the torture and the watchmen..." "We are Romans," Metellus responds, a bit icily. "What would you have us do?" "Well, what we really want is to get Publicola to drop the charges somehow, nae?" Heilyn asks. "Well, yes, that would be ideal," Cornelia says, "but he seems to have a fair amount of evidence against us." "So what we have to do is investigate him first, and find out all his guilty secrets, which moost be worse than awrs, and then tell him we'll tell all of Roma if he dinna withdraw his suit," Heilyn proposes. "Certainly, it's a good start. Any idea of where to begin?" Marcus asks. "Well, there's the whole matter of his lawsuit about my partner's smithy - it seemed verra suspicious to me." "All right, we'll check into that, and his other cases," Metellus declares. "Also, joost in case it does go to cuirt, ye should know that he won't be quite the bonny speaker he was afore. No toga, and besides, I think he might have a touch of the Evil Eye..." Heilyn offers. "We don't want to know!" Metellus and Cornelia chorus, in unison for once in their lives. "And in the meanwhile, we want to keep Meloch out of sight, and out of trouble, " Lucretius comments. "I'll bring him to the palace. Hadriana's been wanting to consult with him about whether her pregnancy's going well, and baby Cimbra always likes seeing her pygmy juggling companion." "Thank you, Lucretius," Cornelia breathes a sigh of relief. *** In the doorway of the servants' quarters, where a number of slaves have been listening avidly to as much of the war council as they could overhear over the fountain, an enraged Ogulnius turns to Meloch, his face glowing bright red. "Pygmy! If I get tortured because of you, rest assured that you and your mistress will be publicly flayed alive..." [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Alea Iacta Story Hour: A Mythic Rome Campaign (Baby Announcement: 8/17)
Top