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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Orichalcum" data-source="post: 2459549" data-attributes="member: 3722">Alea Iacta IX: An Easy Descent Chp. 18: Not with a bangAs we gasp for breath outside the collapsed cavern, Heilyn and Wena administer the minimum of healing needed to get nearly everyone back to consciousness. Upon examination, the other half-flayed captive turns out to be Rufus, Cimbrus' cousin and Scaevola's pupil, who is gibbering fairly insanely. Under the circumstances, it seems easier to knock him unconscious and leave the manacles on while Heilyn carries him. Cimbrus Caesar, looking tired but resolute, lifts his weary head and speaks commandingly. "We must pass out of the Place of False Visions quickly, and return to the Place of Forms. This threat to Roma must be ended, and I think now I may know how to do so. In any case, we will rest better and more safely there."Much as we long to return to the normal world of the city (and Meloch, in my case, who must be deeply panicked by all the hints of terror and pain coming over our link), it does not seem like the right moment to disobey Caesar. And now that we have faced the Black Chain Philosopher and our own worst fears, the journey back through the Place of False Visions holds little terror for us. Indeed, we reach the great shadowy plaza quite quickly, and while Wena glances with curiosity at the two other doors, we all proceed with relief out the Gate of Ivory and back through the Gate of Horn.In the Land of Forms, Heilyn and Wena try their last few, paltry curative magics and discover that they work to the greatest possible effect. Marcus is able to concentrate and restore himself to nearly full health within a matter of moments. Our guide the wolf appears, and nods with respect towards Cimbrus. They may have a brief mental conversation, but if so, none of us hears it. At this point, Cimbrus falters briefly, clearly wanting to speak but reluctant to. Cornelia, realizing the problem, fishes out the tattered, smoky remains of her wax slate and stylus and hands it to the Caesar."First Orichalcum Sphere - remove taint." Cimbrus writes in elegant capitals.While none of us are sure what he's talking about, we nod, and Metellus writes, "We follow, Caesar."The wolf leads us back up the Palatine in the glorious, perfect city of Roma. In a small grove of trees stands a white marble pillar, similar to the one which bore the Eagle of the Ninth, and indeed, Marcus, looking up, sees the Eagle swooping and diving in the sky above him. This pillar bears a translucent golden sphere, about the size of a large man's head, with shifting metallic patterns and colors curving around it. Wena, Heilyn, and Llyr can see dim shapes moving and shifting on the surface of the sphere, but they are mostly hidden by the numerous thin black chains which envelop the ball. While the chains seem to be fading and growing thinner, they are nevertheless still present. Cimbrus looks around, and hesitantly writes on the slate, "Any suggestions? Waiting risky - time different here."Marcus borrows a slate and writes, "For the Eagle, it needed my hands and pain. They are at your service..."Cimbrus shakes his head, clearly considering this his duty. He moves to the sphere, and begins unraveling the chains, which fall off the ball much more easily than the other ones did the Eagle. After some time, with Cimbrus' hands bleeding freely until Wena bandages them, the sphere is again free of Scaevola's malign influence, and various figures can be seen on its surface. Cimbrus grasps it again in both hands and looks deeply for some time, and the images swirl rapidly around. Heilyn and Wena both take careful notice, anxious to figure out if they can someday duplicate this Orichalcum Sphere.Finally, Caesar looks up, and writes quickly on his slate, smiling with relief, "My father is safe. The Magi are strong, but the Legions stronger."He stands up, and leads us down the hill again, following the thin remnants of the black chain. As we might expect, we come finally to the small black hole marking Scaevola's attempt to break the barrier between the Places. It is tiny now, but still present.Cimbrus looks at Metellus' face for a second, and seems to gain strength. He goes to stand directly in front of the hole, and draws a deep breath, before proclaiming out loud, with all of his might, a name: "Lucius Mamercus Aemilianus Gallus!"The hole shrinks and vanishes into nothingness, and we all remember now, Romans and Britons alike, the stories in our youth of the great general, the Emperor's younger brother, who routed the Gallic revolts and the barbarian invasions, and gave many freedoms to the people of Britannia before tragically committing suicide when he learned the fate of his Ninth Legion.Clearly suddenly exhausted, Cimbrus takes the slate again, and writes, "Let us rest here for now," before collapsing in a near-faint.As the Romans gather around him, ensuring the welfare of the great Caesar, the three Britannians, Heilyn, Llyr, and Wena, glance at each other, and slip off into the distant meadows of the Place of Forms.</blockquote>

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