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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: 2893475" data-attributes="member: 3722"><p><strong>Alea Iacta XI: Romantic Comedy Chp. II: At the Palace</strong></p><p></p><p>A visit of numerous gaming friends, like Wena's player, delayed this post unavoidably...See many of you this weekend!</p><p> Lucretius approaches Meloch, ignoring the scowling Ogulnius in the background. "Are you free to come to the palace, Meloch? The nobilissima Hadriana has requested your services."</p><p> Meloch and I, knowing an escape route when we see one, eagerly assent, and are escorted off to the east wing of the Imperial palace, home of Cimbrus Caesar and his family. After some hours of patient waiting, we are ushered by snobbish, prim slaves into the private family quarters of Cimbrus and Hadriana, where Hadriana, now visibly pregnant, is lying on a couch.</p><p></p><p> "Nobilissima," Meloch bows extravagantly, "how may we serve you?"</p><p> "You were able before to use your pygmy senses to check on the child I'm expecting, and its health. In this summer heat, and with all the political crises during Cimbrus'...illness, I'm a little worried, since it hasn't been kicking much. Could you use your magic again?" Hadriana requests, not really allowing room for a negative answer.</p><p> "Of course," Meloch bows and intones the chant for "Detect Pregnancy," carefully sprinkling Hadriana with some dried sage and raspberry leaves. He concentrates carefully, and looks at her, remembering that the last time, he was unable to conceal the truth from her that the child was quite small and weak.</p><p> "Nobilissima, your son is alive and well. Some babies are quieter than others, but he certainly seems to have all the right numbers of limbs and so forth."</p><p> "Thank you. Lucretius, if you, Cornelia, and Meloch could also look in on Cimbra - she's been a bit sickly of late, and I'm concerned for her health."</p><p></p><p>Duly dismissed, we collect Cornelia and some magical tests for poison and go to the nursery of the toddler and Imperial heiress Cimbra. While at first the baby seems quite cheerful and happy to see us all - although she expresses her happiness by yanking my tail repeatedly - she is indeed pale, although with a fine head of thick, full hair, and her eyes seem a little dull. Lucretius summons the slaves and wetnurses, while Cornelia and Meloch investigate magically and determine that there is indeed some trace of non-magical poison. </p><p></p><p>However, all investigations of the kitchens and questioning of the wetnurses themselves turn up empty-handed; they are two good, well-meaning women, devoted to the child and to Hadriana. They eat the same food and drink the same wine as the other slaves, and are careful about their diet.</p><p></p><p>Finally, Lucretius looks at them, and notices that they are also quite pale, but unnaturally so. "Good wetnurses," the guard asks, "have you been using cosmetics at all?"</p><p></p><p>"Oh yes," they both respond. It's the latest fashion. Face, arms, and chest."</p><p></p><p>"Can we see your cosmetic boxes?" Lucretius demands.</p><p></p><p>They return in a few minutes with a small box of white powder, which Meloch uses his herbalism knowledge to identify as arsenic, which he knows can be absorbed into the blood through the skin.</p><p></p><p>"Who introduced this new fashion?" Cornelia asks, curious.</p><p></p><p>"Oh, the Emperor's sister, Mamerca. She is always a leader of new fashions and styles in the palace."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Orichalcum, post: 2893475, member: 3722"] [b]Alea Iacta XI: Romantic Comedy Chp. II: At the Palace[/b] A visit of numerous gaming friends, like Wena's player, delayed this post unavoidably...See many of you this weekend! Lucretius approaches Meloch, ignoring the scowling Ogulnius in the background. "Are you free to come to the palace, Meloch? The nobilissima Hadriana has requested your services." Meloch and I, knowing an escape route when we see one, eagerly assent, and are escorted off to the east wing of the Imperial palace, home of Cimbrus Caesar and his family. After some hours of patient waiting, we are ushered by snobbish, prim slaves into the private family quarters of Cimbrus and Hadriana, where Hadriana, now visibly pregnant, is lying on a couch. "Nobilissima," Meloch bows extravagantly, "how may we serve you?" "You were able before to use your pygmy senses to check on the child I'm expecting, and its health. In this summer heat, and with all the political crises during Cimbrus'...illness, I'm a little worried, since it hasn't been kicking much. Could you use your magic again?" Hadriana requests, not really allowing room for a negative answer. "Of course," Meloch bows and intones the chant for "Detect Pregnancy," carefully sprinkling Hadriana with some dried sage and raspberry leaves. He concentrates carefully, and looks at her, remembering that the last time, he was unable to conceal the truth from her that the child was quite small and weak. "Nobilissima, your son is alive and well. Some babies are quieter than others, but he certainly seems to have all the right numbers of limbs and so forth." "Thank you. Lucretius, if you, Cornelia, and Meloch could also look in on Cimbra - she's been a bit sickly of late, and I'm concerned for her health." Duly dismissed, we collect Cornelia and some magical tests for poison and go to the nursery of the toddler and Imperial heiress Cimbra. While at first the baby seems quite cheerful and happy to see us all - although she expresses her happiness by yanking my tail repeatedly - she is indeed pale, although with a fine head of thick, full hair, and her eyes seem a little dull. Lucretius summons the slaves and wetnurses, while Cornelia and Meloch investigate magically and determine that there is indeed some trace of non-magical poison. However, all investigations of the kitchens and questioning of the wetnurses themselves turn up empty-handed; they are two good, well-meaning women, devoted to the child and to Hadriana. They eat the same food and drink the same wine as the other slaves, and are careful about their diet. Finally, Lucretius looks at them, and notices that they are also quite pale, but unnaturally so. "Good wetnurses," the guard asks, "have you been using cosmetics at all?" "Oh yes," they both respond. It's the latest fashion. Face, arms, and chest." "Can we see your cosmetic boxes?" Lucretius demands. They return in a few minutes with a small box of white powder, which Meloch uses his herbalism knowledge to identify as arsenic, which he knows can be absorbed into the blood through the skin. "Who introduced this new fashion?" Cornelia asks, curious. "Oh, the Emperor's sister, Mamerca. She is always a leader of new fashions and styles in the palace." [/QUOTE]
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