Wednesday, November 30, 2016

The Country Villa of Mad Calamus

So the Valerii head out to Calamus' country place, believing the Crassi to already be there. And indeed, there is a tethered ox cart in front, not yet loaded with plunder.

Pouncequick peers in carefully, but then makes a habit of rushing ahead into dark rooms. He doesn't get killed, although he is knocked over and mauled by a hidden lion.

Rosa sends Luna, her owl, ahead to investigate. Luna finds another owl, owned by Blackbriar Thorn, the druid on Crassus' team. She also, once she gets done twittering about the other owl and how wise and gentle he is, describes the layout of the mansion. So now, we have a map!

Plunder thus far:
A sixteen-person silver dining service
Gallons of spirits of wine (near-pure alcohol)
Some mattresses
A crate for shipping unconscious lions
Some children's toy bows and padded arrows
Floral-smelling painkiller gas

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Additional Update

Sylvia, for catching an arrow out of the air in front of the quality, gets +1 SL.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Winter 533 Update

In the winter of 533 AD, our heroes return to House Valerius in Rome.

BROTHER AQUILA writes up his experiences fighting the werewolves and is commended for Fresh Insights.

POUNCEQUICK joins the Legitimate Businessman's Social Club and is welcomed by Gordus Antonius, the club's president. He mingles his blood with Antonius' and hosts a memorable, nay, an exceptional, dinner for the club! Over the next few days, nervous men come and buy all the most expensive rugs in Pouncequick's shop.

ROSA acquires the superpower of perceiving the thoughts of the dead, otherwise known as literacy.
She also discovers, while checking on a fellow druid who's in trouble with the law, that CRASSUS, the richest man in Rome, has sponsored a team of dungeoneers to bust into tombs and temples and steal gold and jewels. They have a barbarian, a gladiator, a wizard, an archer, a thief and a druid, just like we do! Plus a mysterious seventh member, but no cleric, as we have. So we've got that going for us, which is nice.

The Crassus Team is:
BLACKBRIAR THORN, crotchety old druid
BOWENN IVORYBOW, wizard, elf, and hunted criminal
ARTEMISIA, archer and Bowenn's beloved
TITANICUS, the mighty gladiator
RINGORIX, King of the Belgae
THE BLACK MOUSER, a famous thief
and a mysterious Seventh Member!

RETARIUS teaches Thalga about gladiating and supervises her first bout in the arena, against a girl dressed as Roma Mater. Thalga wins, and somewhat theatrically.

Also, Retaria finds out where the Crassus team is raiding: Calamus' country villa, located in the foothills of the Alps. Rosa interprets a map left behind by Blackbriar Thorn as part of Calamus' villa.

SYLVIA goes hunting, sees another hunter cheating, and fights a duel. As the challenged party, she chooses the bow. Andronicus, her opponent, is an overdressed fop who comes dressed in plate armor with gilded inlays. She shoots him in the thigh, causing him great, even theatrical, distress, and he forgives her. She, on the other hand, catches his arrow out of the air, which is awesome.

BJERN fights in the arena vs. Ringorix, King of the Belgae, and TITANICUS, the Man Mountain. It's a very violent fight, not least because Bjern goes berserk and forgets all about making this a good show. DECINQUE bets on him and wins a bundle.

DECINQUE then buys up chapels around the city to start a thieves' guild. BJERN buys an elephant.

JUNIUS is released from his obligation to marry ARTEMISIA, and is free to marry SIGRID. This will bring another province into the Empire, which will please the Emperor, who will in turn favor House Valerius with unspecified favors. Messages of marriage are sent! No word if she accepts yet.

Also, Junius is elected Tribune of the People, another step along the Path of Honor. Next, he'll have to be appointed a Praetor, then a Pontifex, then he can run for Senator, and then, perhaps, a Consul of Rome!  Unless Retaria thinks HER husband should get those honors FIRST. Then, Junius better hire a taster.