IC-Ep 2-The Mysteries of Egypt(Caelia/Artemis/Spurius)

[aine]

Caelia looks at the statues as she walks up the path and then stops at the sphinx and looks at it closely. "I hope this is the Egyptian variety and not the treacherous Greek type. Well, here goes; into the lion's den. Shall we have a code word? If we are in imminent danger and must leave at once; let it be 'Ariadne'." And with that, she leads the way through the double doors.

[Ritterton]

Artemis nodded, "Ariadine, will work, Lady. Let us go visit Egypt restyled and hope for a way to save the Queen's friend."

He followed behind Caelia, past the sphinx, and into the Senator's estate.

[Mr. Handy]

The Sphinx was indeed in the Egyptian style.

Caelia entered the main house, followed closely by Artemis and Spurius. A short corridor led to the open-air atrium, where Senator Scaevola awaited, standing in front of a bubbling fountain and flanked by Egyptian servants wearing Egyptian garb. A couple more guards stood here as well. Several doors and corridors led to other parts of the villa. "Lady Caelia, welcome!" called Scaevola, bowing deeply. He clapped his hands. "Wine and food for our guests!" The servants bustled around, carrying trays. One young Egyptian woman bore a tray with goblets of wine, and another had a tray piled high with dates, olives, grapes, and other fruit.

[Ritterton]

Artemis bowed slightly and saluted the Senator by bringing his right hand closed in a fist to his chest. He looked about and found his gaze following the servants wearing the thin shimmering linen of the Egyptian markets. When the woman brought in the tray with all of the food, he felt his stomach's needs overcome any other interests he might have been harboring in his mind. He smiled at the Senator and looked at Lady Caelia.

[aine]

Caelia smiles widely and and walks towards Scaevola, holding out her hands for him to take. "Senator! Thank you for such a warm welcome; this all looks so lovely! I do hope you don't mind me bringing along a distant cousin and his friend; this is Artemis Gaius Sylvius, and Spurius Papirius Valens." Caelia turns on her best Roman high society self, hoping to impress the senator.

[Mr. Handy]

Scaevola smiled, taking Caelia's hands in his and squeezing them gently. "Your cousin and his friend are welcome in my house as well," he said. "It was wise of you to bring an escort. The roads near Rome are not as troubled as they were during the war, but one can never be too careful."

[Ritterton]

"Senator," Artemis bowed his head, "your kindness is reflective of the best of the Republic's leaders, thank you for the welcome. The streets were crowded with merry makers celebrating the festivities."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," said Scaevola, bowing slightly. "It is good that the people of Rome are enjoying the holiday. Rome has endured so much, it is nice that there is some good fortune."

[Ritterton]

"I have to believe that the best of Rome is ahead of us, Senator." Artemis responded with a smile. "For if this retired auxillaria standard bearer could see the palace of a Queen and the villa of a Senator in the same day, well then all things are possible."

[aine]

"Yes! Please show us around your lovely home, I'm dying to see your collection too." Caelia says excitedly.

[Mr. Handy]

"You are correct," said Scaevola. "Rome's best days are indeed ahead! The Republic shall endure forever if I have any say in the matter." He rose to his feet. "I'd be glad to show you around my collection of Egyptian art and artifacts. I'm sure you noticed the Sphinx out front. That piece is the pride of my collection."

[Ritterton]

"Yes, we did notice that as we came onto the villa's grounds," Artemis nodded. "Rather unusual to see here in Rome, where were you able to find something such as that?"

[Mr. Handy]

"I did not," said Scaevola with a grin. "I had craftsmen brought in from Egypt to create a replica of the Sphinx for me. It was expensive, but one cannot be a Senator without being wealthy."

[Ritterton]

"It is a true marvel, Senator, having never served anywhere but in the Treveri and some of those associated areas, I believe the treasures of Egypt have to be beyond my ability to imagine if your Sphinx is any guide." Artemis genuinely smiled as he thought of Egypt through the eyes of his earlier encounters. "If I could be so bold, what started your interest with Egypt?"

[Mr. Handy]

"I first journeyed to Egypt years ago," said Scaevola. "It was in the days of the Triumvirate, and I was sent there to negotiate grain shipments. I fell in love with Egypt at first sight. I had read up on it before I traveled there, but nothing prepared me for the reality."

[Ritterton]

"All I know of it is what a fellow veteran shared, too hot even in the shade, sand, sand, and more sand," Artemis laughed as he recalled the stories he had heard from Augex years ago while sitting about a fire on campaign. "I just cannot imagine how different it must be to the Republic and Rome."

[aine]

As they walk along the pathways past the impressive statues, Caelia listens politely to the men but looks carefully for anything in the collection that is particularly unusual for Scaevola to possess; anything that might point to an association with the darker arts side Egypt.

Rolls,Spot hidden (35): 33%, Egypt (21): 07%

[Mr. Handy]

"It can get quite hot in the desert, it's true," Scaevola said to Artemis, "but you'd be surprised just how cold it can get there at night. And while the desert is barren, the flood plains on the banks of the Nile have the most fertile soil. Egypt prospers even when the rest of the world starves. Rome imports much grain from Egypt."

The group walked into the tablinum, just off of the atrium, where Scaevola had his study. Shelves were lined with papyrus scrolls, a few of which were also on a mahogany writing desk. There were also a few busts and statuettes on the shelves and on small display tables. Some of them continued the chimera theme of humanoids with animal heads, and others were busts of Pharaohs long dead. His imago, wax masks of his ancestors, also hung on the walls. A few luxurious chairs were present, and he motioned for his guests to take seats.

Caelia Alba,Humanoid figures with the heads of various animals were common in Egyptian art and mythology. Several of their gods took this form, and she recognized Thoth, the ibis-headed god of wisdom, and Anubis, the jackal-headed god of the underworld. While Anubis did signify death, he did not have the negative connotations that similar deities did in other cultures. He was a protector of burial places and also a guide to souls in the underworld, where he weighed them and judged whether or not they were worthy. [b]Caelia[/b] also recognized two of the busts as depicting Akhenaten, who had originally been known as Amenhotep IV, and his queen Nefertiti. Please also roll Occult and History.

[aine]

Caelia takes a closer look at the busts, "These are very beautiful, Scaevola, and very old; where did you find them?"

rolls,occult (15%) roll: 05. History (20%) roll:69

[Ritterton]

Artemis took a closer look at the two Egyptian busts after he heard Caelia's acclaim for them. The details and the craftsmanship were impressive to be sure. The colors vibrant and lifelike. "If you could excuse my ignorance, who are they? Or, who where they?"