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<blockquote data-quote="Orichalcum" data-source="post: 1178051" data-attributes="member: 3722">Sixth Session: When in Rome First Post: Meet the FolksWe all look around at each other, stunned by the mental threat. Kynton says, &quot;hey, do you think everyone in Rome has a special little voice in their head? And isn't it great that they know I'm going to race in the games?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Llyr, slowly, replies, &quot;Ah, Kynton? What exactly did the little voice tell you?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;He said that I should go directly to the stadium and concentrate on my racing if I wanted to be any good at it. It makes a lot of sense - my old manager back in Londinium always told me that if I just practiced harder, I could win even more races. Of course, that argument didn't really make any sense once all the other team leaders died and I was racing against the novices. One time, last winter, I double-lapped the White charioteer, and....&quot; Kynton prattles.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Ah, right. Well, you'd best be off then, Cousin. Can't win races without practicing. I'm sure we'll see you soon!&quot; Llyr interrupts quickly.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Great! Are you sure you don't want me to take your pretty little horse and raise her for the chariots?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;No, thank you, I'll take care of Talat. Just be careful...it's a big city.&quot; Llyr answers.As Kynton scampers off, Llyr murmurs to the rest of us, &quot;We need to keep an eye on him - lots of things can go wrong in the stadium,&quot; and we all nod.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Nepa quietly whispers to Cornelia and those nearby, &quot;I thought it was the goddess speaking to me. I thought it was my calling. But if Kynton heard something too&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;What did you think the goddess said?&quot; Cornelia asks gently, but with a little fear.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;That I should go to the temple as soon as possible, and join Her initiates. It was...comforting.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Marcus murmurs to Metellus, &quot;The voice is trying to separate our young relations from us. This could be dangerous.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Metellus answers back, &quot;Yes, or he could be trying to weed out the people who don't know anything so he doesn't have to kill them. We don't know.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Cornelia advises Nepa to stay with her for at least a day or two, until they get settled in Rome, and she reluctantly agrees. Verix the pearl merchant, meanwhile, speaks up glumly, &quot;Ah...this voice - I think I heard it too. It told me that I knew too much already and that it would have to kill me? I wasn't really liking the sound of that. Not that it will really matter what it wants - my father will probably kill me anyway once he finds out I made a mess out of the pearl business back in Britannia. I suppose I should go to my patron Licinia Luculla first and report the disaster to her and give her her pearls.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Since we are heading first to the house of Licinia Luculla, Cornelia's mother, to drop off Cornelia, Meloch, Wena and myself before the men go to Metellus's parents house, we offer Verix an escort.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Rome is indeed a large city - the largest in the world. Nearly everyone except Metellus, who grew up here, and Wena, who is a seasoned traveler, reacts with awe at the huge marbled temples, the multi-storyed apartment buildings, the enormous aqueducts, and the incredible numbers of people. Londinium, which seemed enormous to Heilyn and Llyr, had, perhaps, 30,000 inhabitants; Rome has over a million. We are jostled in the streets as we pass by the throngs who gathered to see the march of the Legions - Syrians, Nubians, Jews, Gauls, Germans, Roman Senators - even a few familiar looking Britannian faces. Suddenly, an elaborate litter carried by six enormous German slaves, with&nbsp; thin linen curtains drawn closed for privacy, halts.A bejeweled and heavily scented hand reaches out through the curtain and points elegantly at Heilyn. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Yoohoo! Young Tribune! How much are you selling that one for? He's quite a ...prime specimen.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Metellus, startled, begins to respond, &quot;Ah, Domina, he's not for sale...&quot; but Heilyn, outraged, interrupts. &quot;Wha' kind of city is this? Honorable lady, I'm flattered, but ye shouldna assume that every red-haired man in this city is a slave to be bought and sold...&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;But I do so want a Britannian of my very own, &quot; the hand pouts. &quot;Marcia has one, and Lucia, and they were showing theirs off, and the market's just gone through the roof these days, particularly for the good-looking ones...&quot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Well, I'm very sorry, Domina, but you can't have this one. Farewell.&quot; Metellus speaks firmly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Oh, fine then. But if you change your mind, barbarian, Terentia Marcella on the Aventine would love to own you! Slaves, march!&quot; The litter proceeds onward, clearing a path before yet. Heilyn rants at length to Wena and Llyr about this outrageous treatment.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; We arrive at the house of Licinia Luculla, an elegant if small residence on the Esquiline Hill, picked for its lovely courtyard garden with a view. The steward, a fat Syrian slave named Ogulnius, is surprised to see us and Cornelia, but ushers us back to the garden, where a spectacularly beautiful woman, who looks to be in her late twenties, is lounging on a stone couch. Several young men in togas surround her, and a slave is offering her slices of peeled orange. Cornelia is announced, and the woman sits up quickly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Cornelia! My daughter! I had almost given up expecting you - your last letter was so...uncertain. Let me look at you...yes, you have turned out well, I can tell. A bit of a pity about your father's nose, but, in general, you clearly have both the intelligence and beauty of our side of the family. Come here - it must have been a long trip. And you, my friends - I'll see you tomorrow morning - I must have time for a reunion with my young daughter, Cornelia, back from Britannia.&quot; Licinia Luculla holds out her arms for a brief embrace and Cornelia, awkwardly, steps into them, and they cheek-kiss. It is strange for Cornelia - it feels like more than friendship, but less than truly family - she has not seen her mother since she was eight and Licinia chose Rome over her husband and daughter.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; After initial introductions, in which Licinia Luculla sizes up Metellus appreciatively, and asks Meloch if he has taught Cornelia all that she asked, and dismisses most of the rest of the group as hangers on, the warriors leave for Metellus's house, and Cornelia settles down for a brief chat with her mother.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Your trip was safe? You mentioned a curse?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;The trip was...well, not safe; there was a sea serpent and Druids and, oh, you won't believe what Cousins Gnaeus and Septimus tried to do, that's why Nepa's here with me, oh, and pirates, but yes, well, we got here fine in the end.&quot; Cornelia rambles, more than a little nervous.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;That's wonderful, and the important thing. You will have to tell me all the stories, and how you escaped them,&quot; Licinia smiles. There is a long pause. &quot;It's been quite some time, hasn't it?&quot; she offers.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Almost ten years,&quot; Cornelia answers softly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;That's right, isn't it? Time does fly...You're fifteen then, aren't you?&quot; Licinia says lightly.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Seventeen, actually,&quot; Cornelia replies, a little hurt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Oh. Hmm....you wouldn't mind being fifteen, would you? It would be easier.&quot; Licinia Luculla asks, turning a devastatingly charming smile on her daughter.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;What? Um...no....I suppose I could be...&quot;Cornelia, confused, and tired, and somewhat shaken by the entire conversation, acquiesces to her mother's wish.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Orichalcum, post: 1178051, member: 3722"] [b]Sixth Session: When in Rome First Post: Meet the Folks[/b] We all look around at each other, stunned by the mental threat. Kynton says, "hey, do you think everyone in Rome has a special little voice in their head? And isn't it great that they know I'm going to race in the games?" Llyr, slowly, replies, "Ah, Kynton? What exactly did the little voice tell you?" "He said that I should go directly to the stadium and concentrate on my racing if I wanted to be any good at it. It makes a lot of sense - my old manager back in Londinium always told me that if I just practiced harder, I could win even more races. Of course, that argument didn't really make any sense once all the other team leaders died and I was racing against the novices. One time, last winter, I double-lapped the White charioteer, and...." Kynton prattles. "Ah, right. Well, you'd best be off then, Cousin. Can't win races without practicing. I'm sure we'll see you soon!" Llyr interrupts quickly. "Great! Are you sure you don't want me to take your pretty little horse and raise her for the chariots?" "No, thank you, I'll take care of Talat. Just be careful...it's a big city." Llyr answers. As Kynton scampers off, Llyr murmurs to the rest of us, "We need to keep an eye on him - lots of things can go wrong in the stadium," and we all nod. Nepa quietly whispers to Cornelia and those nearby, "I thought it was the goddess speaking to me. I thought it was my calling. But if Kynton heard something too" "What did you think the goddess said?" Cornelia asks gently, but with a little fear. "That I should go to the temple as soon as possible, and join Her initiates. It was...comforting." Marcus murmurs to Metellus, "The voice is trying to separate our young relations from us. This could be dangerous." Metellus answers back, "Yes, or he could be trying to weed out the people who don't know anything so he doesn't have to kill them. We don't know." Cornelia advises Nepa to stay with her for at least a day or two, until they get settled in Rome, and she reluctantly agrees. Verix the pearl merchant, meanwhile, speaks up glumly, "Ah...this voice - I think I heard it too. It told me that I knew too much already and that it would have to kill me? I wasn't really liking the sound of that. Not that it will really matter what it wants - my father will probably kill me anyway once he finds out I made a mess out of the pearl business back in Britannia. I suppose I should go to my patron Licinia Luculla first and report the disaster to her and give her her pearls." Since we are heading first to the house of Licinia Luculla, Cornelia's mother, to drop off Cornelia, Meloch, Wena and myself before the men go to Metellus's parents house, we offer Verix an escort. Rome is indeed a large city - the largest in the world. Nearly everyone except Metellus, who grew up here, and Wena, who is a seasoned traveler, reacts with awe at the huge marbled temples, the multi-storyed apartment buildings, the enormous aqueducts, and the incredible numbers of people. Londinium, which seemed enormous to Heilyn and Llyr, had, perhaps, 30,000 inhabitants; Rome has over a million. We are jostled in the streets as we pass by the throngs who gathered to see the march of the Legions - Syrians, Nubians, Jews, Gauls, Germans, Roman Senators - even a few familiar looking Britannian faces. Suddenly, an elaborate litter carried by six enormous German slaves, with thin linen curtains drawn closed for privacy, halts. A bejeweled and heavily scented hand reaches out through the curtain and points elegantly at Heilyn. "Yoohoo! Young Tribune! How much are you selling that one for? He's quite a ...prime specimen." Metellus, startled, begins to respond, "Ah, Domina, he's not for sale..." but Heilyn, outraged, interrupts. "Wha' kind of city is this? Honorable lady, I'm flattered, but ye shouldna assume that every red-haired man in this city is a slave to be bought and sold..." "But I do so want a Britannian of my very own, " the hand pouts. "Marcia has one, and Lucia, and they were showing theirs off, and the market's just gone through the roof these days, particularly for the good-looking ones..." "Well, I'm very sorry, Domina, but you can't have this one. Farewell." Metellus speaks firmly. "Oh, fine then. But if you change your mind, barbarian, Terentia Marcella on the Aventine would love to own you! Slaves, march!" The litter proceeds onward, clearing a path before yet. Heilyn rants at length to Wena and Llyr about this outrageous treatment. We arrive at the house of Licinia Luculla, an elegant if small residence on the Esquiline Hill, picked for its lovely courtyard garden with a view. The steward, a fat Syrian slave named Ogulnius, is surprised to see us and Cornelia, but ushers us back to the garden, where a spectacularly beautiful woman, who looks to be in her late twenties, is lounging on a stone couch. Several young men in togas surround her, and a slave is offering her slices of peeled orange. Cornelia is announced, and the woman sits up quickly. "Cornelia! My daughter! I had almost given up expecting you - your last letter was so...uncertain. Let me look at you...yes, you have turned out well, I can tell. A bit of a pity about your father's nose, but, in general, you clearly have both the intelligence and beauty of our side of the family. Come here - it must have been a long trip. And you, my friends - I'll see you tomorrow morning - I must have time for a reunion with my young daughter, Cornelia, back from Britannia." Licinia Luculla holds out her arms for a brief embrace and Cornelia, awkwardly, steps into them, and they cheek-kiss. It is strange for Cornelia - it feels like more than friendship, but less than truly family - she has not seen her mother since she was eight and Licinia chose Rome over her husband and daughter. After initial introductions, in which Licinia Luculla sizes up Metellus appreciatively, and asks Meloch if he has taught Cornelia all that she asked, and dismisses most of the rest of the group as hangers on, the warriors leave for Metellus's house, and Cornelia settles down for a brief chat with her mother. "Your trip was safe? You mentioned a curse?" "The trip was...well, not safe; there was a sea serpent and Druids and, oh, you won't [i]believe[/i] what Cousins Gnaeus and Septimus tried to do, that's why Nepa's here with me, oh, and pirates, but yes, well, we got here fine in the end." Cornelia rambles, more than a little nervous. "That's wonderful, and the important thing. You will have to tell me all the stories, and how you escaped them," Licinia smiles. There is a long pause. "It's been quite some time, hasn't it?" she offers. "Almost ten years," Cornelia answers softly. "That's right, isn't it? Time does fly...You're fifteen then, aren't you?" Licinia says lightly. "Seventeen, actually," Cornelia replies, a little hurt. "Oh. Hmm....you wouldn't mind being fifteen, would you? It would be easier." Licinia Luculla asks, turning a devastatingly charming smile on her daughter. "What? Um...no....I suppose I could be..."Cornelia, confused, and tired, and somewhat shaken by the entire conversation, acquiesces to her mother's wish. [/QUOTE]

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