IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Story and his companions arrive in Rome in 44 BC, the day before the Ides of March. They encounter a very unusual soothsayer who delivers a warning to Julius Caesar and soon find themselves embroiled in intrigue.

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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by Ritterton »

"That makes a lot of sense, Spurius," Artemis said while nodding his head in agreement. I will meet you back in the forum after I have made a few arrangements and adjustments to my wardrobe. Till then Spurius, safe travels and open eyes."

Artemis left the theater and proceeded back the way he had come to the forum. He kept his eyes open and scanned the various crowds and such as he headed back to his lodging. He also kept his eyes open for a merchant selling clothing with the hopes of finding something a bit more appropriate for him to wear to a meeting with a Senator at a villa. He thought also about a few other items he had still hoped to address: the sale of goods he had brought, the purchase of the wine cups he hoped to get back to his own inn, gifts for the kids and others, and possibly a special item for the community to commemorate their start as a city of the Republic. He walked as quickly as the crowds would allow.
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by aine »

Caelia smiles and nods at Germanicus but as soon as they walk in the shade, she drops all the pretence, looks around carefully and then says in a grave, low voice, "Germanicus, there is a serious plot to assassinate Caesar. A very real one this time, and it is to occur within two days. Artemis, Spurius and some other people and I arrived almost by fate at the Egyptian Palace. We went inside and spoke to the Queen herself. She, Nefertiri and the seer, Adelphus who had a vision, asked for our help to uncover the assassins and their backers.

I know it's not becoming to chase around the city but I feel I must help where I can. There are some other people involved, a man called simply 'Story' and some friends of his. He's not with the assassins but he's also not entirely trustworthy. Anyway, we are to find information about the Black Pharaoh, The sphinx and the Brotherhood of the Beast who may behind the plot."
She sighs, "And we only have today as we must return to the palace tonight. It's so difficult as I don't know who to trust."
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by DrPeterson »

Image
Germanicus doesn't interrupt his stride and hides his amazement behind the experienced politician's face that is his.

"These are grave tidings indeed, Caelia."

He's quiet for a while as he thinks.

"So Adelphus has some connection to the Queen. I can't say it really strikes me as a surprise. There are many things hidden on the borders of Rome and many more where Egypt is concerned. This rumour of an organised Brotherhood is very disturbing. If Caesar's enemies have indeed rallied to a common cause and are joined in ritual, they might prove more dangerous than he would accredit them.

You are right to be wary, Caelia, the City has become corrupt and many of its senators with it. That is what Caesar seeks to combat and that is why they hate him so. Our 'friend' Scaevola being one of those, I surmise, his insinuations revealed as much earlier on.

I host Caesar to dinner tonight, you must come and present your case to him, though I fear he may be ill-inclined to take heed. Nonetheless, I should accompany him often these coming days and keep an eye on him.
"
"He said we were all cooked but we were all right as long as we did not know it. We were all cooked. The thing was not to recognize it."
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by Mr. Handy »

"That would be the Suburra," Lucius told Story. "It is the great slum of Rome, or at least it was the last time I was here. If anything, it is probably even worse now. You will not find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." He repeated a line he had heard Brook say once. He was unfamiliar with the reference she had been making, but it had stuck in his mind. "It is not far from here, just across the Argiletum, nestled between the Caelian and Esquiline Hills. However, it is an extremely dangerous place. If we do not know what to look for, we could wander all day and find nothing - except perhaps trouble. The three of you are more familiar with the history and personages involved than I am. Much will be known of this plot after it has been carried out. It seems it will not be forgotten even many years hence. We will need your special knowledge to identify the conspirators."
OOC,[b]Spurius[/b], you are free to roll Spot Hidden (as is anyone else who wishes to do so).
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by dustakr »

Spurius, left alone at forum start wondering around, while asking about senator's villa to the passerby making way through crowd, he slips into the backstage of the theater where performers were resting, acts friendly, asks about anything out of ordinary in there voyage so far..hinting them with words like brotherhood, sphinx, black pharaoh, asks them about Rome and Caesar, after sometime he leaves the backstage and heads back to the place where he supposed to meet Artemis, finds himself shed to stand under and rest, while observing the forum crowd.
OOC & Spot Hidden Roll,I hope Spurius by now aware of whereabouts of senator's Villa. [dice]0[/dice]
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by Grognardsw »

With the Senator busy, Aricus leaves and goes drinking. He'll trust his slaves to find him when's needed.
Last edited by Grognardsw on Sun Mar 06, 2016 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by Thorn »

Brook stifles a giggle-snort at Lucius' pop culture reference. Looking from Lucius to Story, she shrugs a little. "So...We're looking for those Brotherhood guys, right? But what do we do if we find them?"
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

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"We learn whatever we can," said Lucius, "then report back to the others with what we'v discovered. We'll all need to coordinate together before we act against them. We could try pretending to join them, but that didn't work out so well for me and Grit that time in Londinium." He shuddered with the memory.

Spurius spoke to the players backstage, who showed no reaction to the odd words he threw out there beyond bewilderment. The players, like the play, were Greek, and they felt honored to perform in Pompey's Theater in Rome. Now that Spurius was up close, he could see how the actor who had played Oedipus had faked his blindness. His eyelids had been dyed black, presumably when he had been offstage before the final climactic scene, and red berry juice had been dripping from them down his cheeks. He had simply come out with his eyes shut, thes appearing from a distance to have empty sockets out of which his eyes had been gouged. Since his eyes had been closed, he had genuinely moved and acted like a blind man. The troupe had nothing but good things to say about Rome and Caesar, and they were pleased to have him in the audience. He was able to get directions to Senator Germanicus's villa from one of his servants. It was located a short distance north of Rome, appropriately near the Field of Mars.
Spurius Papirius Valens,As [b]Spruius[/b] watched the crowd, he noticed that most of the Senators and [b]Caesar[/b] himself had left by this time. [b]Scaevola[/b] was just now leaving through one of the theater's gates with his entourage. Several people in the crowd were looking at [b]Germanicus[/b] and [b]Caelia[/b]. Perhaps it was because he was famous and she was beautiful, and perhaps seeing the two of them together would be grist for the rumor mill. It was of course possible that some people had other motivations for watching them, but [b]Spurius[/b] had no way of knowing.
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

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It took a bit longer than he had hoped, but he managed to find the inn he had secured lodging at upon his arrival. It was run by a retiree and his younger bride and they had treated Artemis with kindness upon his arrival. When he entered the inn, there were some eating at one of the tables and others sipping from clay drinking cups. The proprietor caught his eyes, and Artemis found himself spilling out the challenge he had before him.

Good Sir, truly if you could help your fellow veteran of the Republic, for I am in something of a bind I think, Artemis felt his heart racing as he talked. "I have been invited to Senator Germanicus' villa in less than an hour, and fear that even this my best tunic is not adequate for such a kindness bestowed upon me by the invitation of one of the Senate. Truly, do you know where I could borrow, maybe even pay for, a finer tunic that I could wear for the evening?"

Artemis caught himself and tried to slow down both his mouth and his heart. I have to hurry, though I have to meet Spurius back at the Forum, what have I gotten myself into, he thought to himself.
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by Emma.Wyatt »

Titus thinks for a moment of going back to Cleopatra's to discuss this Brotherhood with Adelphus but is concerned he won't make it back to the Senator's on time. He will try to catch Aldelphus after dinner... Maybe tomorrow.

So Titus sets out into the forum looking for any of his not trusted colleagues. Maybe one of them has heard of the brotherhood.
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

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"I don't have a fancy tunic," said the innkeeper to Artemis, "but I do have a toga that should suffice. You'd do better with a toga anyway, as Senator Germanicus is something of a traditionalist. You're welcome to borrow it, and congratulations on getting the invitation. You've already paid for your room in advance and all your things are there, so I know you're not going to disappear with it."
OOC,[b]Titus[/b], please roll Luck. To do this, you can use the board's built-in dice roller to roll 1d100, trying to get equal to or less than your Luck stat, which is 65. You can find instructions for using it [url=http://www.callofcthulhu.org.uk/pbp/viewtopic.php?f=318&t=5318]here[/url]. The dice roller we used to use, Invisible Castle, is down, perhaps permanently. You are free to use another online dice roller if you like (other players use Orokos.com). In a pinch, you could even roll physical dice and post the result in a spoiler button like this one. If you need to know how to use spoiler buttons, there are instructions in [url=http://www.callofcthulhu.org.uk/pbp/viewtopic.php?p=68577#p68577]this ancient post[/url].
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by Ritterton »

"Mitras bless you, that would be perfect. Thank you," Artemis' face relaxed and his whole body showed his gratitude mixed with deep relief. He followed the innkeeper who found the toga and helped Artemis with getting it on. He tucked his pugio into his belt and hid it under the toga. He suspected having it would be of great help than not. He thanked the innkeeper and got directions back to the Forum. With another set of thank yous, Artemis departed the inn and headed as quickly as he could to the Forum.

The people of the City ebbed and flowed like a constant current that filled the City with life and distraction. He finally found his way to the Forum and scanned about trying to find Spurius. When he recognized the soldier, he headed towards him and called to the waiting man, "Ave, Spurius, sorry for the wait."
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by aine »

Caelia is glad that Germanicus doesn't think she has her head full of crazy ideas. "I am due to visit Scaevola tonight; ostensibly to admire his fine Egyptian collection but really to carefully discover his views on this. However, if he has anything to do with the Brotherhood, it could turn rather awkward for me. I'll have to make sure he doesn't guess the true purpose of my visit. Caelia looks a little doubful."
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by jaysun81 »

Story nods at Lucius, "Agreed. Hopefully we don't run into any great trouble while attempting to reach them. In addition to preserving the time line, we must also preserve our lives as well." Story rubs his chin and continues, "Hopefully Caelia and the others discover some things as well. Well my friend, lead on."
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by yockenthwaite »

"Well that sounds like a good starting point," says Elizabeth, smiling as they set off. "Perhaps as we walk there we could try to formulate a plan for how to look for the Brotherhood most effectively. Though it does sound as though it will be a difficult task."
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by jaysun81 »

"Yes, and the difficulty is compounded by the fact that there's not much time. Frankly for once I'm at a lose." With a smile Story continues, "Perhaps the gods will show us the way."
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by Mr. Handy »

OOC,[b]Story[/b], [b]Elizabeth[/b], and [b]Brook[/b], you may each roll Idea.
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by DrPeterson »

Image
"I see your father's boldness hasn't skipped a generation. You are a brave woman, Caelia, to be venturing into the lion's den like that, and a testament to the strength of Rome. I would advise you to take an escort of armed with you, however. I would gladly offer some of mine, but Scaevola's people will recognise them and see my hand in it, and you won't be able to feign a disgust for me."

Germanicus pauses for a moment, thinking.

"I will relay what you have said to Caesar. I think it better that you do not appear publicly at my house tonight. Do not mistake your welcome, Caelia, there will always be room for you at my table, but if you will work yourself into the confidence of Scaevola any friendly affiliation between us will appear suspicious."
"He said we were all cooked but we were all right as long as we did not know it. We were all cooked. The thing was not to recognize it."
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by jaysun81 »

SUCCESS,[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/default.asp?do=showone&id=80972&macid=0]Idea 65% - [1d100] = 63[/url]
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Re: IC-Ep 1-Plans and Schemes(Everyone)

Post by dustakr »

Ritterton wrote: "Ave, Spurius, sorry for the wait."
Spurius greets back Artemis, 'Not to worry..I have been busy'.
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