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Rel's Faded Glory III: Glory Reborn (FINAL UPDATE 6/22 - SHE'S DONE, BABY!!)
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<blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 1834805" data-attributes="member: 99"><p>“The Senator will see you now.” Marius had already put out of his mind the name of the aide who invited him into the nicely appointed office of Senator Gracchus. The villa he maintained outside Emor was modest but well maintained. It seemed that Gracchus did not possess as great a flair for excess as did many of the other senators. Or if he did, he displayed it in other ways besides his home.</p><p></p><p>The squat, thick-chested, grey-haired man did not rise from his marble topped desk as Marius came into the room. He was thumbing through a thick stack of dispatches from informants all over the capital and around the Empire. He absently gestured toward a comfortable looking, if somewhat worn, chair that sat opposite his own. His eyes did not leave the page he studied for several more seconds. Then, shaking his head, he laid the papers aside and turned his threadbare attention to the man in front of him.</p><p></p><p>“You’re Marius Flavius? Of the Imperial Explorers Society?”</p><p></p><p>“I am, sir. But it is not in the capacity as an official of the IES that I come to you.”</p><p></p><p>Gracchus raised an eyebrow, “That’s not what I was told. If this is about some kind of personal matter then you’ve come at an incredibly inopportune time and I’m afraid…”</p><p></p><p>Marius shook his hands in front of him and interrupted, “No, sir. What I’ve come to tell you is very pertinent to the crisis we face. But it does not directly involve the IES. I just used those credentials to get an audience with you.”</p><p></p><p>The Senator leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Speak then but I warn you that I have little time to waste and I’m not afraid to have you removed from my villa forcibly.”</p><p></p><p>“Fair enough, sir. I’ll get right to the point then: The lapse in the defenses of the Empire is no accident. The fact that our Legions are in a poor position to defend our lands was purposefully wrought by enemies of the Empire.”</p><p></p><p>Gracchus gave Marius a stony stare. “And who exactly do you think is behind this conspiracy? The Emperor himself?”</p><p></p><p>“Actually, my suspicions fall far more heavily on Senator Pontius, sir. And there may be a way to prove it.”</p><p></p><p>That clearly got the Senator’s attention. “What?! What is the proof you have?”</p><p></p><p>Marius knew that he had to handle this next bit carefully, but he had accomplished his first goal in identifying that Gracchus clearly was willing to gather information harmful to Pointius and the faction that supported the Emperor and his invasion of the Northlands. “It is largely circumstantial at the moment, but I deem it likely that if we start digging that we’ll find something more firm.” Marius saw the Senator’s face fall and quickly continued.</p><p></p><p>“Of course you know all about the rumors swirling around the death of Pontius’ first wife and his quick marriage to Solvaria.” The Senator nodded. “Well, I know for a fact that Solvaria is a Banite and I suspect that, if put to the question, that it would come to light that she had his first wife murdered. It may be that Pontius himself is a Banite.”</p><p></p><p>Gracchus gasped despite the cool demeanor he wished to display, “Pontius? A Banite?”</p><p></p><p>Marius quickly stepped in before Gracchus jumped to too many conclusions, “That is a possibility but is far from certain. But what is certain is that Solvaria helped to convince him to proceed with his plan of clearing the Corsairs from the Crescent Sea and invading the Northlands. And this was timed in such a way as to have many of our best, most battle hardened Legions across the sea just when they are needed here most.”</p><p></p><p>Gracchus was back on an even keel now and quickly drew the most obvious of conclusions, “If that is all true then it is certain that Pontius will be expelled from the Senate. And it might call into question the entire succession of Emperor Flavius…but why? Why would he do this? Senator Pontius already holds more power than anyone save the Emperor. Why put that in jeaopardy?”</p><p></p><p>“That is the reason that I suspect that he may be an unwitting dupe in the plans of his wife,” said Marius.</p><p></p><p>“’Unwitting dupe’? I’ve not gotten this far in my political career by underestimating my opponents, young master Flavius. Pontius is sharp as a gladius and I’ve seen him cut apart nearly all his foes in the Senate. I’ve feared that I might be next. An ‘unwitting dupe’, he is not.”</p><p></p><p>“But would you not agree, Senator, that sometimes the touch of a beautiful woman can make a man compromise himself in ways that all the foes in the world could not?” By the end of the question, Marius had a somewhat far off look in his eyes and his voice was nothing if not earnest.</p><p></p><p>Gracchus smiled, “You may well have a point there.”</p><p></p><p>Marius snapped from his reverie, his hand absently straying to a new sheath that hung at his side, “The only way this can be proved is by getting inside their villa to see if Solvaria retains any of the trappings of Bane. My companions and I believe it likely that she has an amulet like this one.” He drew from a pouch one of the ‘three spoked wheel’ pendants that had drawn the Inquisition to the Northlands the year previous. “They use them to communicate with one another at long distances.”</p><p></p><p>Gracchus eyed Marius with suspicion, “And how is it that you have one in your possession?”</p><p></p><p>“I cut it personally from the neck of one of their priests,” Marius answered coldly. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some more cutting of Banite necks to do.” Marius rose from his chair. Ending the meeting on his terms was a bit of a breach in protocol and a gamble. But he wanted to be taken seriously, as the representative of a force to be reckoned with rather than a mere messenger.</p><p></p><p>The Senator seemed a bit shocked that Marius was calling an end to the meeting but stood anyway. His face was a distracted mix of emotions as the wheels were already turning as to how he could best exploit this new information. “It will take a bit of time but I may be able to intensify the whispering campaign against Pontius. If I can manage to get his wife implicated as a Banite then maybe the Inquisition will drag her sins into the light without me having to do anything overt…”</p><p></p><p>Marius nodded, “I have a highly ranked friend in the Church of St. Cuthbert. I’ll see if he can put in a word with the High Priest about that. Good day to you, Senator. I’ll be in touch.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, yes. Please do! I’ll be happy to share any information I can turn up on my end. Thank you for sharing this with me. I’m in your debt.”</p><p></p><p>As Marius was escorted from the villa he smiled at a hook well set. His fishing expedition had gone well. Now it was time to do some hunting.</p><p></p><p>His hand went back to the hilt of his new dagger.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Rel, post: 1834805, member: 99"] “The Senator will see you now.” Marius had already put out of his mind the name of the aide who invited him into the nicely appointed office of Senator Gracchus. The villa he maintained outside Emor was modest but well maintained. It seemed that Gracchus did not possess as great a flair for excess as did many of the other senators. Or if he did, he displayed it in other ways besides his home. The squat, thick-chested, grey-haired man did not rise from his marble topped desk as Marius came into the room. He was thumbing through a thick stack of dispatches from informants all over the capital and around the Empire. He absently gestured toward a comfortable looking, if somewhat worn, chair that sat opposite his own. His eyes did not leave the page he studied for several more seconds. Then, shaking his head, he laid the papers aside and turned his threadbare attention to the man in front of him. “You’re Marius Flavius? Of the Imperial Explorers Society?” “I am, sir. But it is not in the capacity as an official of the IES that I come to you.” Gracchus raised an eyebrow, “That’s not what I was told. If this is about some kind of personal matter then you’ve come at an incredibly inopportune time and I’m afraid…” Marius shook his hands in front of him and interrupted, “No, sir. What I’ve come to tell you is very pertinent to the crisis we face. But it does not directly involve the IES. I just used those credentials to get an audience with you.” The Senator leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Speak then but I warn you that I have little time to waste and I’m not afraid to have you removed from my villa forcibly.” “Fair enough, sir. I’ll get right to the point then: The lapse in the defenses of the Empire is no accident. The fact that our Legions are in a poor position to defend our lands was purposefully wrought by enemies of the Empire.” Gracchus gave Marius a stony stare. “And who exactly do you think is behind this conspiracy? The Emperor himself?” “Actually, my suspicions fall far more heavily on Senator Pontius, sir. And there may be a way to prove it.” That clearly got the Senator’s attention. “What?! What is the proof you have?” Marius knew that he had to handle this next bit carefully, but he had accomplished his first goal in identifying that Gracchus clearly was willing to gather information harmful to Pointius and the faction that supported the Emperor and his invasion of the Northlands. “It is largely circumstantial at the moment, but I deem it likely that if we start digging that we’ll find something more firm.” Marius saw the Senator’s face fall and quickly continued. “Of course you know all about the rumors swirling around the death of Pontius’ first wife and his quick marriage to Solvaria.” The Senator nodded. “Well, I know for a fact that Solvaria is a Banite and I suspect that, if put to the question, that it would come to light that she had his first wife murdered. It may be that Pontius himself is a Banite.” Gracchus gasped despite the cool demeanor he wished to display, “Pontius? A Banite?” Marius quickly stepped in before Gracchus jumped to too many conclusions, “That is a possibility but is far from certain. But what is certain is that Solvaria helped to convince him to proceed with his plan of clearing the Corsairs from the Crescent Sea and invading the Northlands. And this was timed in such a way as to have many of our best, most battle hardened Legions across the sea just when they are needed here most.” Gracchus was back on an even keel now and quickly drew the most obvious of conclusions, “If that is all true then it is certain that Pontius will be expelled from the Senate. And it might call into question the entire succession of Emperor Flavius…but why? Why would he do this? Senator Pontius already holds more power than anyone save the Emperor. Why put that in jeaopardy?” “That is the reason that I suspect that he may be an unwitting dupe in the plans of his wife,” said Marius. “’Unwitting dupe’? I’ve not gotten this far in my political career by underestimating my opponents, young master Flavius. Pontius is sharp as a gladius and I’ve seen him cut apart nearly all his foes in the Senate. I’ve feared that I might be next. An ‘unwitting dupe’, he is not.” “But would you not agree, Senator, that sometimes the touch of a beautiful woman can make a man compromise himself in ways that all the foes in the world could not?” By the end of the question, Marius had a somewhat far off look in his eyes and his voice was nothing if not earnest. Gracchus smiled, “You may well have a point there.” Marius snapped from his reverie, his hand absently straying to a new sheath that hung at his side, “The only way this can be proved is by getting inside their villa to see if Solvaria retains any of the trappings of Bane. My companions and I believe it likely that she has an amulet like this one.” He drew from a pouch one of the ‘three spoked wheel’ pendants that had drawn the Inquisition to the Northlands the year previous. “They use them to communicate with one another at long distances.” Gracchus eyed Marius with suspicion, “And how is it that you have one in your possession?” “I cut it personally from the neck of one of their priests,” Marius answered coldly. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some more cutting of Banite necks to do.” Marius rose from his chair. Ending the meeting on his terms was a bit of a breach in protocol and a gamble. But he wanted to be taken seriously, as the representative of a force to be reckoned with rather than a mere messenger. The Senator seemed a bit shocked that Marius was calling an end to the meeting but stood anyway. His face was a distracted mix of emotions as the wheels were already turning as to how he could best exploit this new information. “It will take a bit of time but I may be able to intensify the whispering campaign against Pontius. If I can manage to get his wife implicated as a Banite then maybe the Inquisition will drag her sins into the light without me having to do anything overt…” Marius nodded, “I have a highly ranked friend in the Church of St. Cuthbert. I’ll see if he can put in a word with the High Priest about that. Good day to you, Senator. I’ll be in touch.” “Yes, yes. Please do! I’ll be happy to share any information I can turn up on my end. Thank you for sharing this with me. I’m in your debt.” As Marius was escorted from the villa he smiled at a hook well set. His fishing expedition had gone well. Now it was time to do some hunting. His hand went back to the hilt of his new dagger. [/QUOTE]
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