Thermae Romae

[Ozy]

The Baths

A place for all senator to relax after a long day at work...

[Raglan]

Aulus was relaxing in the waters, he was quite happy since at this time he more or less had the place to himself. Wondering about the curia though had him worried, it looked like another pointless war was about to break out, who cares what happens in the south, They are free cities and not part of Rome. Let the Cannae do what they want, ally with who they like. As long as they don't come north towards Rome what does it matter.

But no, these stupid patricians, so used to lording it over Rome, can't bear the thought of another lording it over the south. And the tribune, a man that he'd lost against, he was a foolish as any calling for war, he should be representing the plebs, not dreaming of grandure.

[CoolIdiot]

Good Afternoon Culleolus, ohhh these baths are good. Epirous though is a direct threat to Rome and Roman people, if we let him do as he pleases south of Rome how long before Carthage decides it can do as it pleases in Sicily, Gaul north of Rome, how long before they then set their eyes on Rome? The jewell of the West. If we ignore him he will only get stronger then become harder to defeat. Bite him while he is young I say.

[Elendil of Númenor]

OOC: CoolIdiot, I think Raglan was 'speaking to himself', not audibly. It is generally accepted that italics are for inner monologues and descriptions, and normal letters are for dialogues, actual speech.

IC:
Meanwhile, Celsus entered the baths. Using the mist to hide from too many curious eyes, he quietly sat down at the end of the pool. What a day... he thought. And it was just the first.

[Raglan]

ooc; yeah that was a private pondering, so i'll pretend you didn't know my inner thoughts and just asked me my thoughts on the possible war

ic; Aulus watched as two men entered the baths, he sees the Consul sit down in the far end of the pool. And thought let him, let him sit over there rather than come over here and spend the visit looking down at me. Looking at the other man who's just entered, and asked him about the probable war, a man he doesn't know he languishes in the water for a moment before answering.

Good Afternoon,

Sorry i was day dreaming, what was it you asked?

[Stildawn]

It was a cold and windy day in Rome as Senator Titus left his inner city office on his way home.... Passing the baths he told his driver to turn round... He could do with a bit of relaxing....

Moments latter he entered the pools.... No one seemed to be around for the hour was early and most were still working.... But it will soon fill up due to the weather Manius thought to himself and he laid back in the water.... Closing his eyes and letting his thoughts wonder....

[Ciisar]

New Roman senator enters the room, it is a little strange to be here because he
does not know anyone yet.Then Augustus says with hard and loud voice: Hello to all Senators.
I am Gaius Antonius Augustus, new Roman Senator. And stretched out his hand to all who are in the bath.

[Stildawn]

Manius shook the new senators hand.... Smiling said "You might want to keep it down in here" With a laugh...

[Ciisar]

Augustus sit down in path.
Maybe your introduce yourself Senator?

[Stildawn]

"Manius Titus...."

[Ciisar]

Okay Manius Titus. How are you?

[chaplain118]

Night time, the baths became quiet. Patrons began to head home, unwilling to depart from the luxury of the baths but realizing that the darker the night grew, the more dangerous it would be to walk outside. A man urged on his load of jars towards the baths. He had to deliver the new batch of unctorium oils before dawn if he wanted the extra payments from the bats manager. Clicking his tongue, he urged the oxen forward, unaware of the shadows that now stalked him. As he rounded a corner, he suddenly felt something grab him by his midsection and ripping him from the seat. Before he could utter a sound, a heavy hand slammed in to his mouth. He felt something metallic entering his mouth.

It was a golden aureus

Shh, the man whispered in the dark. If anyone asks, you were robbed by a pack of thieves. There's a small bag of aureus next to you. It should cover the shipment of the oil as well as whatever else you'd be paid. Consider it an early Saturnalia.

The driver nodded as the other man got onto the cart and rode away into the night. He looked at his side, there indeed was a bag. Shaking it gently, he heard the unmistakable jingle of coins. Shrugging his shoulders, he left for home, happy as he can be.


The man on the seat jumped down. Opening up the wicker basket he carried, he dangled a piece of meat above it. Hissing sounds emerged from the wicker basket and a snake suddenly struck at the meat. Seizing the serpent by its head, the man drops it into one of the jars. He repeated the procedure until twelve jars had been infested with a snake. The snakes won't last long, but their poison will be absorbed by the oils, which would be rubbed into the skin of the patrons in the baths. Removing the lid from some of the smaller jars of oil, the man spilled their contents on the ground. He then slipped more snakes into those jars and replaced the lids. His work finished, he urged the oxen on. He had a delivery to make.

The baths were deserted when he arrived, save for the angry foreman who demanded to know why he was late. Issuing a half-genuine apology, he immediately set out to work on placing the jars inside the baths. The morning sun started to climb in the sky as he finished his work. Twenty four jars now stood in the bath, unnoticeable even to the most astute eye. The venom of adders swimming in twelve while the snakes themselves swam in the others.

[Tazgrent]

[Scribonius and Valerius arrive at the baths wearing the armor of soldiers and armed with swords. They look for more of their compatriots.]

[chaplain118]

Pallas enters the baths, both of his arms are hidden under his toga. He caught sight of the men armed with swords. Laughing to himself, he slowly approached them.

Well, well, gentlemen, I see that we are in violation of the very laws of Rome? Carrying weapons inside the Pomerium, and you thought MY punishment would be horrible.

[Tazgrent]

(ooc: Dragoon has told me to cover his RP for him)

Scribonius gives Pallas a long, cold stare.

"We all know we have every right to be here. You accosted a tribune. Your life is forfeit. I offer you the chance to take your own life now, and spare your family the shame of having your property and goods confiscated. Your poison will no longer course through the veins of this great city, snake. What do you say? Take your life with honor, or be struck down in shame as and enemy of Rome?"

Valerius and Scribonius place their hands on their gladii.

[chaplain118]

Pallass laugh echoed in the dark bath house, reverberating from the walls until it seemed that a hundred of him were there. Backing up slowly, he slowly began to edge to the unctorium. As he moved, he kept his eyes trained on the swords of the two men before him.

Gentlemen, must we be so rash as to bring weapons within the sacred boundaries of the City? You do realize that as soon as the words of your violence has escaped to the world, your defiance of the Republican laws will land you in a similar state of affair as I am currently in now. So why don't we put down the swords and resolve this in a more... civilized way?

As he spoke, Pallas shook his toga slightly, as if he were afraid. But under the cover of darkness, two black adders slithered silently from his toga and towards the two men. The smile crept up on Pallas' face as he felt his back touch the door to the unctorium. Salvation was at hand.

[Tazgrent]

[Senator Valerius tenses up in anger]

"Damnit, Pallas, we'll have none of your games!"

[In anger he kicks a nearby jar of oil. A snake slithers slowly out of it...]

[Valerius looks up in shock and anger]

"You... you monster! YOU TRAITOR!"

[Valerius charges with his sword raised...]

[chaplain118]

Pallas laughed savagely as he grabbed the charging man's head.

No discipline. Just sheer brutish strength.

He snarled as he slammed Valerius' head against a jar, knocking him out. From the corner of his eyes, Pallas saw Scribonius raising his sword. Smiling curtly to the man, he said.

Behind you.

The two snakes reared their heads as Scribonius turned. Their forking tongue darted in the dark. One opened its mouth and let out a harsh hiss, which was echoed by the dozens of snakes that had been snuck into the baths. Before Scribonius could turn around, Pallas slammed the man into the ground and held his head down as the snakes slithered about.

You know what the fascination thing about snakes is? They can see your fears. An adder is just as harmless as a newborn infant to the man who does not fear them. But to all else, they can see the putrid image of fear rising from your body. These snakes, are born and raised in the waters. Their venom is enough to kill a bull with a single bite. I have heard that when a man is bitten by one, he will convulse until his limbs become stiff and his own spittle will fill his lungs so that he drowns while being far from the water. Of course, that's only a rumor.

Pallas ran his fingers through Scribonius' hair as he leaned close to the man's ears and hissed.

You should leave now and not return until the morning. Then you can carry out your wishes of violence in the City. And judging by the number of my pets in this bath house, you'd be wise to leave now before they're all roused.

One of the black adders slithered past Scribonius' face, hissing at the man before coiling itself around Pallas' arm once more.

Leave now, and take your friend with you before this gets... too out of hand.

Releasing Scribonius from his grip, Pallas stood in the dark, his grey eyes glinting. The snake that had slithered from the jar looped itself in front of Pallas' feet, its forked tongue quivering in the humid air as it darted in and out.

[Tazgrent]

[Scribonius stood in a flash shaking the writhing snakes about in a flurry.]

"Damnit! We finish this now, traitor!"

[He turned to attack the man again, but there was no sign of Pallas in the bath house.]

"Grr... come Valerius" he said, picking the stunned man off the ground, "We must inform the senate of this."

[They exited the bath house, and headed toward the Capitoline Hill]

[chaplain118]

Pallas emerged from the shadows as he watched the men depart. Stroking the adder around his arm, he whispered.

Soon, Juturna, you will taste the flesh of a tribune as Neoptolemus once had. You will have your chance.

Pressing his lips to the crest upon the snake's head, Pallas left a small kiss on the deadly adder, who hissed in pleasure as she felt the warmth of Pallas' lips upon her head. Slipping back into the shadows, Pallas waited.