Domus of Aulus Licinius Caldius.

[War lord]

Pulling a Shang Tsung.

[War lord]

A demagogue must be neither an educated nor an honest man; he has to be an ignoramus and a rogue. — Aristophanes

Aulus Licinius Caldius has been called many things,a Coward,a Demagogue,and a Crime Lord.Those foolish enough to say these things to his face have often ended their lives face down in the Tiber,their families driven into exile and their homes burnt to the ground.

This however has not been enough power for him,his greatest desire has been to seize legitimate power in Rome,through the traditional Cursus Honorum or the powerful position of Tribune of the Plebs (Which,to Aulus, is simply the greatest crime lord of all) with such power he could eliminate his enemies in Rome's underworld while remaining untouchable himself.

But these are still dreams,his family has no great achievements in the senate in the past,and his shady connections may become more of a hindrance then a help,but as always Aulus has complete confidence in his ability to come out on top.

The toast in many a shady tavern: For Aulus and the People of Rome!

[dragoon47]

A messenger arrives with a letter bearing the seal of the Valerii.

Gens Valeria

Salve Caldius, Despite our differences, I believe that my mind and the will of the people are clear. If you veto both motions I can assure you that justice shall be delivered to the people of both cities with no mercy to the traitors. Sincerely, Lucius Valerius

[War lord]

Aulus frowned looking at the message,though he had went ahead and imposed his Veto,the wording of the Consul's reply was vague to the extreme,he spoke of "my mind and the will of the people" and that "justice" would be "delivered to the people of both cities".Did he mean that he would Enslave the Greeks?Or is he planning on sparing them to discredit him?In any case,if it had been left in the hands of the fools in the Senate the Greeks would have surely escaped any punishment,and he could not allow that.

He would just have to hope,and if he was double crossed perhaps he could produce the reply and claim the credit for sparing them?But such concerns were for the future,as it stood he was powerless to do anything more then bide his time and plot.

[Merula]

A letter bearing the seal of the blackbird arrives, the messanger says to the doorman, "This must be read by your dominus and him alone"

Senator,

You and I have had our differences, but I believe we may finally have a common goal. To see Corvenus stripped of office.

You may wonder as to my change of heart as, yes, I used to call that man friend. No longer.

He has betrayed me and the Res Publica to many times for my sense of honour to bear, and as my loyalty to Roma far exceeds my loyalty to a friend, Roma must come first.

If you are in agreement with me, we need to arrange a meeting at some stage to discuss this further.

Marcus Atrius Merula

[Elendil of Númenor]

OOC: Some of you may remember me. Those who don't will see soon enough. Fact is, I missed some good writing experience for a long time. I missed the massive RPs we used to do here. War lord, if you are against this, I can delete, but otherwise, I think it's time YATS got some apart-from-save-game serious and sinister action. Don't worry, I won't hurt anyone, unless they ask me. I might make a Senator too soon, but for now, I just want to have the story running.
So now, let's have some fun!



She walked softly down the corridor. The sound of her footsteps mingled with the quiet dripping of water. The rain had finally subdued, but the atrium was still drenched. The small pool in the centre was overflowing and the finely polished tiles around it were wet, making it dangerously slippery. Her Dominus will arrive home soon. He probably found shelter somewhere before the storm; but he won’t be pleased if he finds his atrium wet, he won’t be pleased at all.
So she walked softly down the corridor carrying a towel folded around itself a few times. She removed her ragged shoes, and pulled the length of her simple clothing up, so when she knelt next to the impluvium to scrub the floor’s surface, none of it got wet. The dimming, reddish sunlight that got through the swirling clouds during the last hours of the day lit her bodyline faintly from above. Caldius’s past and present as a so-called crime lord cannot go unnoticed – he had a good eye when choosing slaves. And above all, this one was extremely attractive.
Anyone would have caught his breath at the sigh of her. Instead, one person breathed out.
“May I, er, lend you a hand?”
She jumped, and swirled around. Being on her knees didn’t help this maneuver. Her hair was falling down in wet curtains over her face, her clothes fell under her bare feet, and she was slipping, falling backward as the figure leaped out of the shadow. Strong arms held up her head from being slammed into the sharp edge of the impluvium. Before she had a chance to scream, her mouth was filled with the towel she had been cleaning with. Bending her neck, she saw a man’s face only inches from her. Unable to take in any detail, she stared into the black eyes, shocked, feeling her heart beating in her throat.
“Your master isn’t home?” His voice was cold, wheezy and agitated. The slave, unable to utter a word, with the man holding the towel firmly, shook her head.
“Will he arrive soon?” She did not move – her eyes widening even further with fear.
“I said… will he arrive soon?” Someone has to hear them, someone has to notice… But his voice was silent, not louder then the water splashing around in the pool. She nodded.
“Lead me to his study.” The slave remained on the ground, frozen. “You deaf?” The touch of something cold and hard around her throbbing neck made her move. The setting sun’s dark red glimmer reflected on the blade, coloring his face and his eyes. The man was so close, she couldn’t see his mouth, but seeing the muscles on his face move, she knew he was smiling. She writhed. In a second, she was pulled up to her feet, the man close behind, the flat side of a blade pressing hard into her skin.
“Move.”
Silently, they went back through the corridor, entering a door on the left at the end. Then another door on the right. They were alone. The guards were far away.
“Light a, that, a candle.” She followed the order. He removed the towel, but the blade remained close. “Not a word, darling.” He stroked her ashen face with his free hand. An unseen ring pulled her hair and the touch of his fingers was far from soft.
“Sit. No, no, not there, here. On the desk,” he breathed. “And don’t do nothing stupid.”
She sat, griping the desk, trying to breathe normally as the tip of the knife danced threateningly above her chest, scratching the perfect skin lightly. Her face and the blade were well lit by the single candle. The man’s hand that held the dagger stuck out from the shadow, but otherwise he remained hidden.
“Slaves?”
“Sleeping,” she whispered.
She could not see the cold smile on his face, as the blade pressed harder. Tiny beads of blood appeared on her skin, but he soon relinquished his grip. He knew she’d have to open her mouth to answer that question.
“Now keep silent,” the man hissed. “We’ll, er, wait for, for Aulus here. Hm?”

[War lord]

Suddenly a man appeared as though melting out of the shadows.

You really need to work on your break-ins, I heard you coming from a mile away. Covering your Dagger until you need it is also a good idea.

Now, you have 5 seconds to explain who you are and what you are doing here before I have you hung by your :wub:.

[Elendil of Númenor]

The man laughed. It was an uncontrolled, strange shaking, the eyes flashing, his voice filled with the air of insanity.
“You really are, er, worthy of being a criminal, Aulus. Oh, where, where has the old Rome gone? You know, the one without bad guys in the, um, government. Ah, wait… it never existed that way.” He cackled again, yellowish teeth sparkling in the candlelight. He gave one last stroke of his hand to the slave girl, then pushed her away.
“Sit, stand, do whatever you want.”
Seeing that Caldius wasn’t exactly in the mood to take orders, the man sighed, and jerked his head towards the door. Two figures appeared, one came inside, the other, the larger one stood in the doorway, blocking it. Both the man and Caldius were trapped inside the study. The first figure who appeared continued to light more candles. He took a wine jar from the shelf, but his master signaled to him. He put it back in it's place.
“Forgive me, I had no manners. Living the way we do has a few side-effects. But trust me, you don't want people to know we're here.” He put away his knife which he realized he was still holding. Looking with a puzzled look at Caldius he then grunted, “Oh! Regulus. Lucius Regulus.” He lifted his hand to the senator.
“Now. There’s no need to act like that, so unwelcoming and cold. You see, we’re going to be friends. I, er, need your help.”

[War lord]

Make it quick, or your death will be slow. I'm not in the mood to humor a mad man.

[Elendil of Númenor]

The men accompanying Regulus now didn’t move.
“You have, um, strength in your voice!” the man who broke into Caldius’s house wheezed. “I - like - that! You know how few people in this city have the guts to say – and do – yeah, do! That what needs to be done?!” He seated himself, facing the senator.
“But you’re, you’re real. I mean, you’re not… quite like them! Yes, you see, there’s a difference between Aulus Caldius and all the other idiots in the Senate or even the Council.”
Interestingly enough, the instability in his voice did not make him look weaker. On the contrary, Regulus seemed even more reckless, truly… mad. Like a wild animal that would be ale to do anything to reach its goals. The cold grin only made the look even more sinister.
“But how can it be then, that you have to take orders from those old fools? How can it be, that someone as, er, what’s the word, what’s the word… mighty as yourself has to bow – down – to – them?!” He seemed to be genuinely furious. Then suddenly all of it disappeared and his face became relatively calm. Even so, his gaze remained sharp and unwavering.
“How much do you know about Rome’s history?”

[War lord]

I already told you, I will not humor a madman, now tell me exactly what it is you want or get out.

Aulus was rapidly losing his patience with the strange intruder.

[Elendil of Númenor]

The smile disappeared from the mans face.
“Well, that’s just… bad. I thought we could help each other.” He was breathing heavily now, and distancing himself from Caldius, his hand fumbling at the desk. “Maybe some people are just – stupid!” He seemed to chortle on that last word, turning into a cackle. His hand found something hard on the table. It was hard. He grabbed it, and through it at the sitting Caldius. The ink jar broke, and the dark fluid splattered everywhere across the room and the Senator.
“Oh, how humiliating!” Before Caldius could even move, Regulus was holding his sword at the level of his heart, only a few feet between them. The other two men already backed out of the office. One grabbed a torch. Regulus laughed.
“I am really sorry you couldn’t play along with us. It would’ve been an interesting game.” The grin was maniacal. “Of course you’re too tough for games, those are for children! Maybe this will soften you up – I’ve always wondered how ink burns!”
He grabbed the torch and threw it inside, the dry furniture and ink-soaked papers quickly catching fire. “Oh, and I’ll take your little beauty too!” he called, grabbing the slave girl by the wrist. Still cackling, Regulus slammed the door on Caldius, leaping out onto the corridor and into the atrium. The flames spread quickly, but by the time there was a chance to put them out, Regulus was long gone, together with his men and the attractive girl he later on let go freely.

[War lord]

Wonderful! Maybe just once, crazed nutjobs could make an enemy of someone else. Nevermind that, I can still salvage the situation.

Vulpes!

A huge man lumbers into the ruined office.

Yes Boss?

Find out how those bastards got in here, and kill whoever you deem responsible, then double the Gaurd.

Consider it done, Boss.

And find that slut!

Right away, Boss.

[dragoon47]

Vibius arrived at the Domus of Caldius and knocked in a very loud and obnoxious manner.

[War lord]

(As soon as Vibius takes his hand away from the door a huge, hairy arm shoots out, grabs him by the Tunic and pulls him through.)

He's Unarmed, Boss.

(Aulus Caldius appears from behind a nearby pillar.)

Who are you and what do you want?

[dragoon47]

Vibius was no longer used to being the one under suspicion but he held his temper in respect of the man who obviously had the same charge he usually had. A mission of intrigue wasn't his strong suit but for Lucius, he would do his best.

I am Vibius, Vibius Cornelius Dolabella, currently employed by the praetor to investigate the break-in that occurred here some time ago.

[War lord]

Ah yes, at last. Forgive me if my hospitality is lacking, but my Office is currently a damp smoldering shell.

How may I assist in your investigation?

[dragoon47]

Vibius took out a list of items Lucius gave him to ask about.

For one, did you recognize the man? Two, did he have any distinguishing features? Three, did he steal anything? Did he commit any other crimes apart from breaking into your home? Anything you tell me after that is up to you.

[War lord]

No, I've never seen the man before, or the two big fellows he had with him. They were definitely Romans. The leader called himself Lucius Regulus he had a funny way of talking, like he was gasping for air all the time. Aside from breaking into my house and the aforementioned arson, he ran off with a slave of mine.

[dragoon47]

Did you have men sent after him? Was the girl ever found?

Vibius was hoping for more details but a missing person would be the best lead he could get on the man.