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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: 2476355" data-attributes="member: 3722"><p><strong>Alea Iacta X: A Civil Campaign Chp. 1: Irregulares</strong></p><p></p><p>The Celts return to find that their absence has gone relatively unnoticed, although Cornelia and Lucretius appear to have had somewhat of an argument in their absence. Cornelia is upset that Lucretius won't explain why "he" appears to be a woman in the Place of Forms. On the other hand, she is similarly unwilling to explain her scales and vestigial wings, so really, they're at somewhat of an impasse.</p><p></p><p>Rested and mostly healed in bodies if not minds, we depart the Place of Forms finally, and reunite with families and friends in Roma. Meloch is overjoyed to see me, naturally, and quietly informs me that he stopped two separate suspicious assassination attempts upon Hadriana. Somewhat to our startlement, although this had been partially expected, over six weeks have passed during our journey into the other realms, and it is now early August. While rumors and uneasy murmurs had begun to sweep the city about Cimbrus' mysterious "illness," his public appearance in good health and spirits to confidently announce Hadriana's pregnancy reassures most of the doubtful. Neither Metellus' parents nor Cornelia's mother have returned from their summer homes, although Cornelia hears from her mother's factor that she has made a great deal of money speculating in military equipment purchases in the last month.</p><p></p><p>After a day or two of quiet recovery at home, filled in my case with many long baths and nightmare-free naps, we are summoned by Cimbrus and Hadriana to their private receiving room. It is made clear that this is not an official audience, although we all still put on our best clothes.</p><p></p><p>Cimbrus, who continues to look more serious and resolute, stands as we all file into the room. "Greetings, worthy citizens. There are several matters which my wife and I wish to discuss with you. First of all,you have of course our thanks and gratitude for directly saving both of our lives, and indirectly Roma herself. If we can be of assistance to you in your future endeavors, know that you have the imperial favor.</p><p></p><p>However, we cannot reward or honor you directly. I have spoken with my father, and we have agreed that it is far too dangerous to let the ordinary citizens, or even the Senate, know how great a danger Roma faced, or how high such an evil traitor was able to infiltrate into the Imperial family. Therefore, you will receive no official recognition, and I can not directly reward you with offices or monetary rewards, lest suspicion be raised.</p><p></p><p>As a part of this, we shall require you all to swear, by gods you hold dear, to keep your recent deeds absolutely secret and between yourselves. We are not asking you to erase your memory of them - we have learned our lesson there. Indeed, the Imperial Archivist will at some point wish to speak with you and chronicle your recollections, that future Emperors may learn from your experiences. But you must not speak of this matter in general.</p><p></p><p>My cousin, Rufus, has been declared hopelessly insane, which is perhaps all for the best. We are exiling him to a remote island off the coast of Corsica. His mother, Mamerca, awoke in shock after we returned and came to Hadriana in tears, claiming to have been under the mental control of Scaevola for some time, but now to have been freed from his influence."</p><p></p><p>Hadriana interrupts here, "At least, that's what she says. I don't trust her at all though - she's always wanted the throne for her branch of the family."</p><p></p><p>Cimbrus remonstrates, "Hadriana, she's my aunt. We have no evidence against her, and we certainly know that Scaevola was capable of mentally influencing people to do things against their wishes - like me, for instance."</p><p></p><p>Cimbus turns back to us. "In any case, Mamerca remains part of the Imperial household. Scaevola's library has been searched and its contents turned over for further investigation to the Library of Trajan.</p><p></p><p>As to the last reason for which I called you here - it is not a reward, I am afraid, but rather offer of more work. The recent events, as well as others, have suggested to my father and I that perhaps the normal talents of the Praetorian Guard and the Imperial Secretaries, wide-ranging though they are, are not well-equipped to deal with more...unusual threats to the safety of Roma and the imperial family.</p><p></p><p>As a group, many of you have unorthodox talents which have been of demonstrable service to the Empire in the last year. Meanwhile, Tribune Metellus and Decurion Lucretius have official roles which make them useful liasions and leaders."</p><p></p><p>Hadriana takes over seamlessly from Cimbrus; clearly, she has had significant input into this plan. "We would like you to continue to serve the Empire as a group, in an unofficial but nevertheless distinct fashion, as Irregulares, a special team who will report directly to Cimbrus and me. From time to time, we may have specific projects we wish you to investigate. For instance, I would like you to keep an eye on Mamerca, although Cimbrus thinks this is less necessary. In general, though, you will be free to go about your own lives and careers, and we will help you where we can without being too obvious. If in the course of your days you find something which may be a threat to the Empire, we naturally expect you to report it as well as investigate it. However, this is not an Imperial edict - we cannot force any of you to join, although the rewards may be high if you do. For instance, Metellus, I believe you're planning on running for electoral office this year. While we can't guarantee a victory, we can certainly help your chances through a quiet word here and there. So, what do you each think of our little proposal?"</p><p></p><p>Metellus, Lucretius, Cornelia, and Marcus enthusiastically agree to be a part of this team. Meloch explains loquaciously that as Cornelia's slave, he of course will assist her when asked, failing to mention what he would do if ever freed. "Fast talking, my friend - you think like a monkey!" I praise over our mental link. </p><p></p><p>Wena, however, offers her regrets, "Thank you for the honor, noble Caesar and nobilissima Hadriana. However, I am needed by my people, the Iceni. It is time for me to take up my role as their vates and bring the knowledge and wisdom I have learned here in Roma back to Britannia. I will of course be happy to continue to protect people and stop more foul magics from Britannia, but I must soon journey home."</p><p></p><p>"Indeed," Cimbrus responds, "It is good for all of us to fulfill our duties and responsibilities. Go safely, good Vates, and please use my name to travel with the Imperial posting houses, that you may reach the Iceni all the sooner."</p><p></p><p>Llyr speaks up, "Begging your pardon, great Caesar, nobilissima, I am very much at your service, of course. But I also think I should go home to my people, the Brigantes, for a bit. Matters are a bit unsettled there, with my cousin the heir dying and all, and I also need to fulfill my duties there. But I'll be back in a few months, I hope." He glances briefly at Cornelia.</p><p></p><p>"And you, mighty smith?" Hadriana asks Heilyn.</p><p></p><p>Heilyn looks extremely sulky and irritated as he gives his answer, although he does so politely. "Mistress Hadriana, Master Cimbrus, there is still much for me to learn about smithing, and I might as well do it in Roma. I am working with a great master smith here, the Master of Naxos, and I'll be doing that for quite a while, so I'm sure I can help out with anything that needs doing in the meantime, as long as the rewards are more than the wounds."</p><p></p><p>Both Cimbrus and Hadriana's eyes widen during Heilyn's speech, and they murmur briefly to each other, before Cimbrus says, "Ah...good Heilyn. You said the Master of Naxos?"</p><p></p><p>"Aye, do ye know him?" Heilyn asks, puzzled.</p><p></p><p>"Well, ah...you might want to pay him a visit. Apparently, there was a bit of an accident of some sort in his forge recently, Hadriana tells me."</p><p></p><p>Heilyn looks unnerved, but decides that Caesar is clearly not the right person to ask for more details.</p><p></p><p>The audience soon ends, and Lucretius and Metellus are given secret passwords to use to ensure immediate audiences with Cimbrus or Hadriana. Wena and Llyr make their preparations to leave, amid tearful farewells from Cornelia and Meloch.</p><p></p><p>Heilyn, however, heads straight for the Via Ferra, where many of Roma's best smithies are located.</p><p></p><p>Even from a block away, it is easy for him to identify the forge of the Master of Naxos, in which he had bought a journeyman's share by investing nearly all of his own money and a substantial loan from Metellus.</p><p></p><p>It's the smithy which doesn't have a roof anymore.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Orichalcum, post: 2476355, member: 3722"] [b]Alea Iacta X: A Civil Campaign Chp. 1: Irregulares[/b] The Celts return to find that their absence has gone relatively unnoticed, although Cornelia and Lucretius appear to have had somewhat of an argument in their absence. Cornelia is upset that Lucretius won't explain why "he" appears to be a woman in the Place of Forms. On the other hand, she is similarly unwilling to explain her scales and vestigial wings, so really, they're at somewhat of an impasse. Rested and mostly healed in bodies if not minds, we depart the Place of Forms finally, and reunite with families and friends in Roma. Meloch is overjoyed to see me, naturally, and quietly informs me that he stopped two separate suspicious assassination attempts upon Hadriana. Somewhat to our startlement, although this had been partially expected, over six weeks have passed during our journey into the other realms, and it is now early August. While rumors and uneasy murmurs had begun to sweep the city about Cimbrus' mysterious "illness," his public appearance in good health and spirits to confidently announce Hadriana's pregnancy reassures most of the doubtful. Neither Metellus' parents nor Cornelia's mother have returned from their summer homes, although Cornelia hears from her mother's factor that she has made a great deal of money speculating in military equipment purchases in the last month. After a day or two of quiet recovery at home, filled in my case with many long baths and nightmare-free naps, we are summoned by Cimbrus and Hadriana to their private receiving room. It is made clear that this is not an official audience, although we all still put on our best clothes. Cimbrus, who continues to look more serious and resolute, stands as we all file into the room. "Greetings, worthy citizens. There are several matters which my wife and I wish to discuss with you. First of all,you have of course our thanks and gratitude for directly saving both of our lives, and indirectly Roma herself. If we can be of assistance to you in your future endeavors, know that you have the imperial favor. However, we cannot reward or honor you directly. I have spoken with my father, and we have agreed that it is far too dangerous to let the ordinary citizens, or even the Senate, know how great a danger Roma faced, or how high such an evil traitor was able to infiltrate into the Imperial family. Therefore, you will receive no official recognition, and I can not directly reward you with offices or monetary rewards, lest suspicion be raised. As a part of this, we shall require you all to swear, by gods you hold dear, to keep your recent deeds absolutely secret and between yourselves. We are not asking you to erase your memory of them - we have learned our lesson there. Indeed, the Imperial Archivist will at some point wish to speak with you and chronicle your recollections, that future Emperors may learn from your experiences. But you must not speak of this matter in general. My cousin, Rufus, has been declared hopelessly insane, which is perhaps all for the best. We are exiling him to a remote island off the coast of Corsica. His mother, Mamerca, awoke in shock after we returned and came to Hadriana in tears, claiming to have been under the mental control of Scaevola for some time, but now to have been freed from his influence." Hadriana interrupts here, "At least, that's what she says. I don't trust her at all though - she's always wanted the throne for her branch of the family." Cimbrus remonstrates, "Hadriana, she's my aunt. We have no evidence against her, and we certainly know that Scaevola was capable of mentally influencing people to do things against their wishes - like me, for instance." Cimbus turns back to us. "In any case, Mamerca remains part of the Imperial household. Scaevola's library has been searched and its contents turned over for further investigation to the Library of Trajan. As to the last reason for which I called you here - it is not a reward, I am afraid, but rather offer of more work. The recent events, as well as others, have suggested to my father and I that perhaps the normal talents of the Praetorian Guard and the Imperial Secretaries, wide-ranging though they are, are not well-equipped to deal with more...unusual threats to the safety of Roma and the imperial family. As a group, many of you have unorthodox talents which have been of demonstrable service to the Empire in the last year. Meanwhile, Tribune Metellus and Decurion Lucretius have official roles which make them useful liasions and leaders." Hadriana takes over seamlessly from Cimbrus; clearly, she has had significant input into this plan. "We would like you to continue to serve the Empire as a group, in an unofficial but nevertheless distinct fashion, as Irregulares, a special team who will report directly to Cimbrus and me. From time to time, we may have specific projects we wish you to investigate. For instance, I would like you to keep an eye on Mamerca, although Cimbrus thinks this is less necessary. In general, though, you will be free to go about your own lives and careers, and we will help you where we can without being too obvious. If in the course of your days you find something which may be a threat to the Empire, we naturally expect you to report it as well as investigate it. However, this is not an Imperial edict - we cannot force any of you to join, although the rewards may be high if you do. For instance, Metellus, I believe you're planning on running for electoral office this year. While we can't guarantee a victory, we can certainly help your chances through a quiet word here and there. So, what do you each think of our little proposal?" Metellus, Lucretius, Cornelia, and Marcus enthusiastically agree to be a part of this team. Meloch explains loquaciously that as Cornelia's slave, he of course will assist her when asked, failing to mention what he would do if ever freed. "Fast talking, my friend - you think like a monkey!" I praise over our mental link. Wena, however, offers her regrets, "Thank you for the honor, noble Caesar and nobilissima Hadriana. However, I am needed by my people, the Iceni. It is time for me to take up my role as their vates and bring the knowledge and wisdom I have learned here in Roma back to Britannia. I will of course be happy to continue to protect people and stop more foul magics from Britannia, but I must soon journey home." "Indeed," Cimbrus responds, "It is good for all of us to fulfill our duties and responsibilities. Go safely, good Vates, and please use my name to travel with the Imperial posting houses, that you may reach the Iceni all the sooner." Llyr speaks up, "Begging your pardon, great Caesar, nobilissima, I am very much at your service, of course. But I also think I should go home to my people, the Brigantes, for a bit. Matters are a bit unsettled there, with my cousin the heir dying and all, and I also need to fulfill my duties there. But I'll be back in a few months, I hope." He glances briefly at Cornelia. "And you, mighty smith?" Hadriana asks Heilyn. Heilyn looks extremely sulky and irritated as he gives his answer, although he does so politely. "Mistress Hadriana, Master Cimbrus, there is still much for me to learn about smithing, and I might as well do it in Roma. I am working with a great master smith here, the Master of Naxos, and I'll be doing that for quite a while, so I'm sure I can help out with anything that needs doing in the meantime, as long as the rewards are more than the wounds." Both Cimbrus and Hadriana's eyes widen during Heilyn's speech, and they murmur briefly to each other, before Cimbrus says, "Ah...good Heilyn. You said the Master of Naxos?" "Aye, do ye know him?" Heilyn asks, puzzled. "Well, ah...you might want to pay him a visit. Apparently, there was a bit of an accident of some sort in his forge recently, Hadriana tells me." Heilyn looks unnerved, but decides that Caesar is clearly not the right person to ask for more details. The audience soon ends, and Lucretius and Metellus are given secret passwords to use to ensure immediate audiences with Cimbrus or Hadriana. Wena and Llyr make their preparations to leave, amid tearful farewells from Cornelia and Meloch. Heilyn, however, heads straight for the Via Ferra, where many of Roma's best smithies are located. Even from a block away, it is easy for him to identify the forge of the Master of Naxos, in which he had bought a journeyman's share by investing nearly all of his own money and a substantial loan from Metellus. It's the smithy which doesn't have a roof anymore. [/QUOTE]
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