IC-Ep 3-Run Elizabeth Run(Elizabeth only)

[Mr. Handy]

Scaevola's Villa- southwest of Rome, Italia
Before Dawn- March 15, 44 BC

Elizabeth dangled from the wall from her arms and dropped down to the ground outside the villa. She landed with a jolt and took off running for the outer wall. Glancing back, she saw the guard start to pull himself up over the lip of the wall, a furious expression on his face. Then his grip suddenly slipped and he fell backwards. The crunch was audible, as was his pained scream. "My ankle!" he cried. "I've twisted it!" It didn't seem likely that he'd be able to get over the wall and continue chasing her.

It didn't take Elizabeth long to reach the estate's boundary wall, which was just as high as the villa's wall.

Spoiler:

Guard's Climb roll (53% skill) trying to climb the wall:

Mr. Handy rolled 1d100:
100

Damage to guard from falling off the wall:

Mr. Handy rolled 1d6:
6

Elizabeth, if you want to try to climb the outer wall, please roll Climb. A normal failure won't hurt you, it will just take time and leave you stuck on this side of the wall. A critical failure, on the other hand...well, you heard what could happen in the worst case.

[yockenthwaite]

Elizabeth tries to climb again, still keen to try to drag any of the guards after her that she can, to give the others the best chance they can have.

Elizabeth rolls Climb (stat 40%):

yockenthwaite rolled 1d100:
44

[Mr. Handy]

Elizabeth got almost to the top of the wall before she slid back down again. So close! She looked back and saw that there was still no sign of pursuit.

Spoiler:

Elizabeth, you may attempt another Climb roll.

[yockenthwaite]

Elizabeth trying Climb again (stat 40%):

yockenthwaite rolled 1d100:
16

[Mr. Handy]

Elizabeth made it up and over the wall on her second try, coming down outside the estate. She was now free, but free to do what? Story, Lucius, and Brook were still trapped there, and the last she had seen them, Lucius was badly wounded and unconscious, Brook had been snatched, and Story had been outnumbered. Not only were her friends in danger, but she couldn't get in the TARDIS without them, much less pilot it. Unless she could find some way to rescue them, she would be trapped in this time forever.

Looking around, she could see that along the wall to the right, the road from Rome was visible as it went past the villa. Also, there was a faint glow on the eastern horizon. Dawn was coming, the dawn of the Ides of March.

[yockenthwaite]

Elizabeth pauses, recovering her breath. She can only hope that the guards chasing her reduced the numbers for her friends a little. She thinks of trying to find her way back to Caelia's home, but doubts she could find it, and thinks there will be few people left there who could give her help. Perhaps she could go straight to Caesar, but would she get near him, let alone would he believe her, or help free her friends, if it wasn't already too late. Another option is for her to go back to the villa, but what good would that do? She is unlikely to be able to help her friends alone that way, and she may be captured, causing more problems for them. No, she has to use the one advantage she has, freedom. She resolves to go to Cleopatra's palace, and tell the queen about Scaevola and his involvement. And beg her to help free her friends. Hoping, and praying she won't be too late, she starts to run as fast as she can, back towards Rome.

[Mr. Handy]

Elizabeth made her way to the road and began the journey back to Rome. It felt like it was taken longer than it had on the way to Scaevola's villa, but at least the sky was starting to lighten a little. She was utterly exhausted, and she realized that she hadn't slept all day and almost all night, and how long had she been awake before she had arrived in Rome? She couldn't remember. Climbing the walls and fleeing from the villa had also been strenuous, not to mention terrifying. While the Roman road was of high quality, better even than some country roads in her own time, it still made her feet hurt. Sandals weren't as good for long walks as modern shoes or boots.

Spoiler:

Elizabeth, please roll CON x 5.

[yockenthwaite]

Rolling Con x 5 (60%):

yockenthwaite rolled 1d100:
52

[Mr. Handy]

In spite of her weariness, Elizabeth soldiered on back towards Rome. She was reminded of the runner sent from Marathon to warn Athens of the Persian invasion. He had made it back to deliver his vital message, and so would she. She had far less distance to go than he had. Of course, the fact that he had dropped dead on the spot after passing his warning on wasn't very comforting.

The sky got lighter as she approached the city, and some traffic started to appear on the road, all if it heading to Rome as she was. Most of it were on foot, but there was the occasional cart and even a chariot. People seemed cheerful, blissfully unaware of what was due to happen today. The sun started to rise just as she reached the gates of the city, and she was allowed in along with the rest of the crowd. From there she was able to retrace her steps, which was even easier now that there was daylight, and made her way up the Palatine Hill to Cleopatra's palace. The guards recognized her and ushered her inside at once, where she made her way to the antechamber. She was utterly exhausted, but she had reached her destination at last.

Nefertiri was present in the room, along with a couple of other servants, and she smiled. "Good morning, Elizabeth," she said. "Any news to report?"

[yockenthwaite]

Still unsure whether to trust Nefertiri, Elizabeth, exhausted, decides to throw caution to the wind. "My friends, they are in grave danger," gasps Elizabeth. "We discovered that Senator Scaevola is plotting to kill Caesar, in conjunction with the dark Brotherhood. His men have seized my friends at the Senator's villa. I fear they will kill them. Please, if there is anything that Cleopatra can do to help, we need that help now. And so does Caesar. I have come straight from there. Please help us!"

[Mr. Handy]

"Of course I will help," said Nefertiri. "The first thing I must do is summon the rest of your friends and bring them here." She gestured to one of the servants. "Send messengers to locate them and tell them to come here at once, it is urgent." The servant nodded and ran from the room. "Please, make yourself at home while we await the others. Get some sleep and refresh yourself. It looks like you can barely stand up. You can use one of the guest rooms."

[yockenthwaite]

"Thank you," says Elizabeth, smiling with relief. She heads towards one of the guest rooms, and lies down. She is reluctant to sleep, worried about the others, but doubts she can stay awake for long.

Spoiler:

Out of character I'm far from convinced by what Nefertiri is saying, but I think Elizabeth will be absolutely exhausted, and so do as above.

[Mr. Handy]

The guest room was the most luxurious Elizabeth had ever stayed in, the bed so soft and comfortable that she fell asleep within seconds of her head touching the pillow.

Spoiler:

I need some other threads to advance before you wake up, which may take some time. Please be patient. By the way, you may make a Psychology roll about Nefetiri if you haven't already.

[yockenthwaite]

Elizabeth making a Psychology roll (stat 47%) about Nefertiri:

yockenthwaite rolled 1d100:
61

[Mr. Handy]

Elizabeth was awakened some time later by the same female servant who had escorted her to the guest chamber. "The others are here," she told her.

Elizabeth wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep. It couldn't have been more than a few hours, and while she was still weary, she was refreshed enough to function. She followed the servant back to the antechamber.

Spoiler:

Elizabeth, you are moving to the thread linked below:

The Ides of March