Quote from: FritzefSounds like a fun session. Falco, eh? Lindsey Davis strikes again!

Actually, I'd never heard of the novels... I was thinking of Falco the musician

In the summary, I forgot to mention that our somewhat priestly Falco offered to cast an augur for Vestinus to see if his endeavours would be successful. With appropriate ceremony and prayers, he gutted a pig and examined its liver. What he saw was that the liver was good enough to have kept the pig alive, but its condition would eventually kill it. From this and other organs examined he concluded that Vestinus would have a rapid and steady rise, and then a precipitous fall without much warning.

What he told the others was that Vestinus would do well, and win the election.

The others asked what they should do with the sacrificed pig, and it was explained to them that if the omens were good, it was good luck to consume the beast; if the omens were bad, it should be burned to ashes to purge the bad omens, consuming it would be bad luck. Falco allowed them to cook and consume the pig, nobody was looking at him, but if they had been, he would have been seen to be picking delicately at his own breakfast....

I think the augury is my favourite bit.  :-)

Say, if Calidus has no Patron or Duty ties with Vestinus, how does he get anchored in the setting and story?  Has that been discussed?

I liked the augury, too. I was wondering what Tyberious Funk was going to have his guy do. I've said before how I don't have set stories in mind, I just present situations with dilemmas and the players create their own stories out of those. So now Falco made a choice. Will the others now have bad luck since they ate from a beast which gave a bad omen? If not, why not? Was Falco's augury carried out imperfectly? If so, then will they realise, and be able to rid themselves of the trouble by some means?

As for Calidus, he can behave as though he has a duty, it's just that no-one will hold him to it. By the same token, he will always be a bit on the outer. I emphasised that when Vestinus was gathering his family and friends around him before making his speech about standing for aedile.

Falco as an almost-foster-son was just beside Vestinus' son-in-law as part of the inner circle. Quintus as a favoured client was along the edges of that family line; if family weren't present, he'd be on the inner. Calidus as a plebeian with no personal connection was on the outer. I described it in that way to them, and everyone had a laugh as each player reacted to their character's position with pride, impatient ambition, or amused self-deprecation.

Calidus' possible connections, as it stands, are his professional code of honour as a physician - we must presume he's Vestinus' personal physician - and his impulsiveness. This lattter might of course take him away from Vestinus. We don't know. Originally he didn't even want to be Roman, asking to be an Egyptian or Greek physician. I said that he could do that, but he should bear in mind that most of those were slaves or at best freedmen, which would limit the positions his character could achieve. He decided to be Roman.

I find myself thinking of Robin's Laws where he writes about the "casual gamer", and how your natural impulse is to try to include them more, bombarding them with rules or setting discussion, turning to them often at the game table. But in fact that just drives the casual gamer away. Perhaps it's the "method actor" in me speaking, but I think that the kind of character a player creates is an expression of how they'd like to play. So if a player creates a character with a long background and lots of traits connecting them to others, then they want to play in a way that really engages with the setting. Whereas if they create a character unconnected with the setting or any NPCs, well... So if he just wants to cruise along, that's okay by me.

Character backgrounds for two of them, at least, are up on GameCircle.org.

Quote from: Kyle AaronI find myself thinking of Robin's Laws where he writes about the "casual gamer", and how your natural impulse is to try to include them more, bombarding them with rules or setting discussion, turning to them often at the game table. But in fact that just drives the casual gamer away.

I know what you mean!  In my own game, I have to check myself regularly -- and check with the player concerned -- to avoid doing just that to my self-described casual gamers.

QuotePerhaps it's the "method actor" in me speaking, but I think that the kind of character a player creates is an expression of how they'd like to play. So if a player creates a character with a long background and lots of traits connecting them to others, then they want to play in a way that really engages with the setting. Whereas if they create a character unconnected with the setting or any NPCs, well... So if he just wants to cruise along, that's okay by me.

I have three gamers who describes themselves as casual gamers, and yet like to supply tons of setting-related background.  It seems to be the spotlight they're worried about.

On a different topic: do you guys have any trouble keeping track of the names for the cast of NPCs?  Do you use a cheat sheet, or a relationship map, or anything like that?

That was an impromptu session, so the number of NPCs was low just for the GM's sake

We had Vestinus, whom they should all remember as he's their patron and source of duty. There was Iulia Minora, his daughter, whom (PC) Quintus will remember as he fancies her. The was Senator Andronicus, who was made memorable by being grotesquely fat, gluttonous and lecherous. There was Marius, Andronicus' freedman secretary. And after that, only Prospero the gladiator trainer, and Gunfred one of his gladiators. Not too much to keep track of, but Quintus' player wrote it all down (for his journal, I suspect).

In future the wiki will help both me and the players keep track of things. You can see that here.

In the past I've had all significant NPCs on little index cards. On those I have their pictures and a few notes about their abilities - and previous encounters with the PCs. I find that flashing the pictures makes most of the PCs a bit more memorable, easier to attach faces to names. Making use of the GURPS reaction roll tables so that those who bought social dis/advantages will get the benefit or detriment of them, I'll note what the NPC thought of them last time. Then they can try to gradually make the relationship better or worse as they wish

I don't know if the players will be able to remember things. We'll see I'm sure they'll remember the ones important to them - their friends and enemies.

As best as I remember it...

Episode II


Interview with Vestinus
Well content with their work in hiring the gladiators and Armenian dancing girls, though somewhat abashed at their purchase of the sickly lion and only confused at the acquisition of the horn of the rhinoceros, priestly Falco, soldierly Quintus and the physician Calidus proceeded to the tavern to talk and plan. They reasoned that the more men of honour and prestige they could bring beside their patron Vestinus to sit with him during the Games, the better. They went to Quintus and asked if he approved their speaking to such men, and he agreed. Falco questioned Vestinus, "When you have the position of aedile, what do you intend to do with it?"

"Well, I don't know if it'll get through the Senate, but I had hoped to improve the dwellings of some of the plebs of the city. Fires burn through their wood quickly, and the buildings are too high and collapse. I would tear them down, rebuild them in brick with not less than four paces between homes to protect from fires spreading, and have the buildings not more than three stories tall."

"Why do we care about the fortunes of Plebs?" asked Falco.

"They are citizens of Rome. Many are soldiers who fought in the Civil War. During their service they were away from their lands, they got into debt to men such as Andronicus, and because they were not home to tend their land, could not harvest well, and lost it. Now men who shed blood for Rome live in slums in the city. This is not proper, and -"

"That's all very well," interrupted Falco dismissively, "but is there nothing else you wish to do?"

Vestinus stared at Falco. "Those are the only plans I wish to discuss at this time. Now, to your duties." And so they went. First they stopped to visit their lion, and noted its scrawny and sad appearance. They called a slave to feed it. "Give it lots of red meat, boy," ordered Quintus.


Priests & Plebeians
Falco proceeded to see Marius, priest of Jupiter, who responded well to him, and for the sum of 5,000 denari would open Vestinus' games with a sacrifice of a bull.

All then went to see Varro, a great bull of a man, well-known as the one who truly led among the ten Tribunes of the Plebs. It was known that his family business was as masons. Falco hinted that should Vestinus be elected, much masonry work might be coming. "I cannot speak for my lord, of course, but I know that he is a man who does not forget those who support him."

"That is well, it is good to have a friend who has a good memory. I shall see him at these Games of his."


Lions & Cubs
The three returned to Vestinus' villa and there saw their lion, lying looking sickly and skinny. "Where's that slave boy?" said Quintus.

"Sir, he is injured."

"Injured? Let me see." He stalked off to see the slave boy, who held a torn arm. "What happened?"

"The lion would not touch its meat, so I took it closer, thinking perhaps he didn't smell it. Then he bit me!"

"Foolish boy! I should have you flogged." Quintus stalked off, while Calidus tended to the slave-boy. Falco leaned on the fence near the chained beast, and idly noted its bloated belly. "Belly?" cried Quintus. "Juno's tits, you're right! Either it's a sickly male or a pregnant female. Which is it? Physician?" he called to Calidus.

"How would I know? You should check."

Everyone's eyes slid back and forth, none were keen to approach the beast and lift its tail. They called a slave who approached cautiously and fearfully, and dashed in and flicked it up. It was a female. "We need a physician for animals. Do we know one?" No-one did. Then they recalled Vulpurnius, the bushy-bearded tender of Vestinus' horses. They went to him to fetch him, and he came attended by his sandal-bearer and boy carrying tools. Vulpurnius opined that the lion was definitely female, and pregnant with twins. "We'll be rich!" cried Quintus joyfully, fondling his empty coin-purse. "When will she give birth?"

"I don't know," said Vulpurnius. "As apprentice to the great animal physic Articles here in Rome, it never occurred to me to ask him the gestation period of lions. Perhaps some day we will have a great stadium for Games, and people will breed them professionally. Until then, your guess is as good as mine. Now I'll be on my way." And so saying he turned and was gone, followed by his slave companions.


Friends ill-met
Well-pleased by their good fortune, they rested that day, and the next went to see Senator Andronicus. They entered his city domus that morning, and found themselves in a waiting room with many of his clientes. A Greek slave, a slim curly-haired fellow named Alexander, took down their names on a wax tablet. As they sat idly amongst all the others, Alexander went back and forth into Andronicus' office, and once when he parted the curtain Quintus caught a glimpse of a familiar figure - Gaius, ill-favoured, son of his patron Vestinus.

"What's he doing here?" he asked Falco, who shrugged. "He is not well-liked by his father, liking neither politics, nor law, nor the military, nor even horses, strange lad - only time for his scrolls. Could he be plotting against him with Andronicus?"

"You have a suspicious mind," said Calidus, as the curtain parted and Longinus Gaius emerged, accompanied by none other than Antoninus.

"Son and son-in-law together? We don't see that too often," muttered Quintus.

"Good morning, good sirs," Falco said with a sickly sweet smile, giving Gaius a look that only a rival for the favour of the pater familias could give, "What brings you here to Andronicus?"

Gaius opened his mouth to reply, and Antoninus spoke over him, "That is none of your concern. And what brings you here?"

"Why, we come at the service of our lord, your father, to seek Andronicus' company at the Games."

"Hmm. Well, good day to you and -" they were interrupted by Alexander calling, "Primus Fabius Falco and attendants? The Senator will see you now."

"Falco and Quintus, you mean," said Quintus. "That's Lucius Maellius Quintus of the Equites, Tribe of the Falsci, to you."

Calidus sniggered.

"Er, yes... sir. If you'll come this way?"


An interview with Andronicus
They went in, Quintus muttering to himself as Falco explained, "That's just the way it, I'm a patrician, you're just an equestrian, I'll be spoken to first. Be glad you're not a pleb," he nodded in the direction of Calidus, who laughed. Senator Andronicus seemed not well-pleased to see them.

"Good morning, Senator," said Falco after bowing and evading Quintus' rapid legionary salute. "I see we are not the first of the Longinii villa to visit you this morning."

"Yes, and it's none of your business. What do you want?" He seemed not his usual expansive self even as he sipped wine and took a handful of dates from a bowl held by a slave.

While Alexander took notes, they explained that they came at the request of their lord Vestinus to invite Anronicus to the Games, to sit with him. He said he would come. "There is another matter - my master thinks it well that we should invite others of influence to join him on this day, at the least for the opening. Who would you recommend we invite?"

"Well, if it's influence you want, then you want money. There's Appius. But I'd not want to sit next to him, I'd want a big man between us in case of daggers."

"Why? Does he have something against Vestinus?"

"Not that I know of. It's simply that he's a greedy snake. He's started a new business - he puts out fires. While the house burns, he negotiates with the owner as to how much they'll pay to have it put out."

"I see. Well, we'll speak to Vestinus and ask him." As they left, Quintus stared intently at Alexander, who blushed, misunderstanding the reason. He was Greek, after all.

On returning to the villa, Vestinus said, "Appius? That swine! Well I suppose he is rich and in need of friends. Yes, speak to him presently. But rest for today, you've done well. A priest of Jupiter with a sacrifice, the leading Tribune of the Plebs, and of course Andronicus - that is good. Quintus, you're looking thing, take this coinpurse."


Quintus' Folly
That evening Quintus returned to Andronicus' city domus, and clad himself in a dark cloak and face mask, hiding in an alley near the slaves' entrance. He waited all night freezing until in the morning grey came and a slave boy emerged spilling the slop buckets into the street. He waited longer, and saw Alexander emerge bearing a shoulder-bag with scrolls. He followed him, and leapt on him, bearing him to the alley stones amidst the filth, hand clasping his mouth to silence him.

"Now listen! You'll tell me what I want to know or I'll break your neck. Longinus Gaius and his brother-in-law came to visit your master yesterday. What did they discuss?"

The slave only mumbled through Quintus' hand on his face, and cursing, Quintus removed it. "What?"

"I said, they came to arrange a loan!" His left eye started twitching, blinking shut in fear.

"For how much?"

"A hundred thousand denari." Blink, blink.

"Juno's tits! What for?"

"I don't know! Something political. Senators were mentioned." Blink, blink.

Quintus pulled out his dagger and put it to the slave's throat. "Tell me! Do not lie, or I'll cut off your head!"

Alexander began retching in terror, spilling his gruel breakfast onto the cobblestones. "May Venus make your cock fall off!!" Quintus cried, "Tell me!" But the slave could not respond through his retching. Quintus waited, then insisted once more.

"I don't remember!"

"How can you not remember? You're his secretary, aren't you?"

"He sees dozens of people every day! I don't remember everything, that's why I write it all down!"

Quintus rummaged through Alexander's shoulder-bag, seeing scrolls he had no time to read nor courage to steal, and a small coinpurse with a few denarii, which he took. "Now be silent as I go," he said, and grabbing the secretary slave by the hair, began slamming his forehead into the stones of the alley, splashing his vomit everywhere.

Somehow gaining courage, the slave wriggled out from under him, they got up together, the slave was quick and fled. Quintus pursued him, swinging wildly, but could not strike, and saw the main street coming up, so broke off the chase, fleeing in the other direction.

Nice!  I like the level of detail.  Do players come up with any of these details (e.g., "Then they recalled Vulpurnius, the bushy-bearded tender of Vestinus' horses"), or do you create all this?  How much ad-libbing is there versus clue-planting?

Quote from: AnemoneNice!  I like the level of detail.  Do players come up with any of these details (e.g., "Then they recalled Vulpurnius, the bushy-bearded tender of Vestinus' horses"), or do you create all this?  

Thanks, I always feel like I'm glossing over things!

I create all this. I have a basic bunch of NPCs but sometimes have to make up one on the spot.

My impression is that my players wouldn't be comfortable coming up with these details. Our house rule is that we can use xp as "hero points", to adjust the success of a dice roll, to halve any wound after a combat, to get an extra action in a turn, and to add something to a scene, as per what GURPS calls "serendipity" and "gizmos" advantages, "hey isn't that guard actually my cousin?" and "I'm sure I would have brought my lockpicks with me, and yes I'm sure I would have lockpicks, I've got the skill after all. And of course the guards missed those when searching me."

No Hero Points have been spent in the two sessions so far, but in previous campaigns players have only spent them for success levels, and I think once or twice for wounds. But never to add things to scenes. I think they're just not accustomed to doing that formally and/or openly, more used to the traditional GM/player creative split.

One of my GMing mottos is "complications more than obstacles" because I'd rather challenge the players than challenge their dice. Often in roleplaying game sessions we focus on obstacles, and Hero Point sorts of mechanics are usually designed to help the PCs overcome obstacles. I try to bring in complications, and it's often harder to think of how spending Hero Points could change that. So for example if a PC has a daughter, "she's kidnapped!" is an obstacle, whereas, "she's sneaking around with an unsuitable boy and you're not sure if she really knows about safe sex but since you're her father do you want to have that conversation with her? And what about the unsuitability of the boy?" is a complication.  

Of course if it didn't involve spending their xp they might be more keen on adding things to scenes, I don't know. But my thought was that if people aren't entirely comfortable with doing something, formalising it helps give it structure so that if you're not used to it, you'll get used to it. So for example if junior people never speak at your board meetings, going around the table asking each person in turn to speak for two minutes on their work will be a formal way of making sure each has their say. But if you just open up the floor to anyone, the juniors stay quiet.

But perhaps really they are coming up with the details, indirectly. Hints to the GM. "Is there a wild animal market? They have them fight in games, so surely there's a market for them?"
"Er, yes, sure."
"Okay so we go looking for what they have at the market."
"Let's see if you get lucky. Just make a luck roll, high is good. The better the roll, the wider the variety to choose from."

So in a sense the players are coming up with the details, or they're making strong suggestions about what those details could be.

Quote from: AnemoneHow much ad-libbing is there versus clue-planting?

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Am I leading them down some plot path? No. There are three or four major things which are going to happen if the PCs do nothing and just let events take their own course. Each of those things, the PCs will have some reason to care about them and interfere. If they interfere, they'll change the course of things. It's not a detective story... Is that what you meant?

Quote from: Kyle AaronMy impression is that my players wouldn't be comfortable coming up with these details. Our house rule is that we can use xp as "hero points", to adjust the success of a dice roll, to halve any wound after a combat, to get an extra action in a turn, and to add something to a scene, as per what GURPS calls "serendipity" and "gizmos" advantages, "hey isn't that guard actually my cousin?" and "I'm sure I would have brought my lockpicks with me, and yes I'm sure I would have lockpicks, I've got the skill after all. And of course the guards missed those when searching me."

Personally, I'm not overly fond of Hero Points coming from the same pool as XP because it means spending them diminishes your character development.  Now, using a Hero Point in combat to avoid damage is reasonably worthwhile... because otherwise, the character possibly ends up dead.  But a Hero Point spent invoking a coincidence is experience that could have been spent in developing a skill or acquiring an advantage.  
 
It's an issue of resource management and optimisation.  If I come across a challenge, I can either (a) try and figure out a solution myself, or (b) spend a point and shape the game world to suit my needs.  Option A costs me nothing, Option B costs me the point.  As an optimiser, I'm going to try for Option A every time and only use Option B as a last resort.

To me, this is where we get the distinction between characters being cool and characters doing cool things.

If you don't care about your character having cool stats, then there is no difference between a character with skill 1% who succeeds ten times because of spending 10 Hero Points, and a character with skill 100% who succeeds ten times because of that high skill which they bought with 10 Hero Points. Both the 1% skill and the 100% skill character get to do cool things.

But of course, "1%" doesn't look terribly impressive on the character sheet. You don't get to be cool with that, only do cool things with the Hero Points.

This I think is also tied in with the idea that if you rolled well you "earned" your success, but if you spent Hero Points on it you "bought" your success, and that many would rather earn than buy. But you bought your increased skill, so..?

So I don't think it's purely a matter of optimisation for success, because there are many times when it'd be optimal to spend Hero Points rather than increase a skill, for example in a skill you rarely use, or know will only be of limited use.

But in the end, Anemone, I am happy with the results. We see here one of the players saying that he'd rather try to figure out solutions. So the system, the house rules, the group play style, they're encouraging players to think about the game, to get into it all. They're being participants rather than spectators. Players adding things to scenes rather than just the GM is not innately good, in my view - what's good is that everyone gets into the game, feels a part of it, feels that their contribution (whether as PCs or as part-world-designers) made a difference to the outcome, and has fun. The player scene-contribution isn't the end, it's the means to the end of player participation. And it seems we're getting that...?

Tell me how you see it, Funk. I am always open to ideas of how to encourage player participation and make everyone happy.

Quote from: Kyle Aaron

Quote from: AnemoneHow much ad-libbing is there versus clue-planting?

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Am I leading them down some plot path? No. There are three or four major things which are going to happen if the PCs do nothing and just let events take their own course. Each of those things, the PCs will have some reason to care about them and interfere. If they interfere, they'll change the course of things. It's not a detective story... Is that what you meant?

Just to clarify, I meant "How much do you come up with on the spur of the moment, as opposed to preparing details and clues in advance."  I know that, for my part, I tend to rely much more on spur-of-the-moment inspiration than I used to when I first started GMing.  (Lazy!)  :keke:

Episode III

ENCOUNTER IN THE FORUM
Quintus returned to the villa, exhausted from being up all night in the cold. He visited Falco and told him that his "contacts had informed" him that Longinus Gaius and Cassius Antoninus had been to see Senator Andronicus to borrow one hundred thousand denarii, and that this was for political purposes. Falco enquired as to whether Quintus' contacts might tell him more details, but Quintus, thinking of the beaten slave but not telling the law-abiding Falco, said he doubted it. "Why do you smell of vomit, blood and filth?" asked Falco. Quintus mumbled something about drinking too much, and then retired to bed.

He was woken shortly later by a slave - Vestinus was going to the Forum, and wanted the company of his clientes. Quintus immediately leapt up and cleaned himself thoroughly once more. Outside, he found all gathered awaiting him. as they walked, Vestinus borne on a litter, they talked. They speculated as to the relationship of Gaius and Antoninus. They told Vestinus of their meeting with Andronicus, and that they had heard some money might be being lent - a large sum. He seemed surprised but unconcerned.

"I had thought they were not friends, your son and son-in-law?"

"They have not been before, no. Gaius, that weakling, is too bookish. Antoninus is too manly for him. They seemd distant, as many relatives are."

In the forum Vestinus came from his litter and they proceeded around, soon Andronicus came up to them, accompanied only by three slaves - a sandal-bearing boy, a lackey, and his secretary Alexander, sporting a tremendously swollen side of face.

"What happened to your slave?" Falco asked.

"Accosted last night - probably for political reasons. A terrible business."

"Terrible, indeed." Falco glanced at Quintus, who was taking a keen interest in some old Etruscan brass for sale on a stand. A few more words were exchanged, and Vestinus and Andronicus walked away together, obviously wishing to speak alone. Falco took Alexander aside, and Calidus stepped forward to help him. "Your wound? Shall I treat it?"

"Indeed, sir! I'd be most grateful. My master's physician is a useless blind old fool."

"Greek, is he?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"That's to be expected. Stick to Roman physicians."

"But I'm Greek!"

"And are you a physician?"

"No."

"Quod erat demonstrandum." Calidus sat the slave Alexander down beside some steps and began to tend his wound with a salve.

"Now tell me," Falco said warmly, taking Alexander's arm. "Who did this to you? Was it your master Andronicus?"

"Oh no sir! Master Andronicus never has us beaten. He's most generous and kind - too kind, if you ask me - most of his slaves rob him blind. No, this was some political matter. Just after dawn this morning I was attacked by some masked man. He asked me a lot of questions, then beat me, and I managed to run away."

"What did he ask you about?"

"About some of my master's visitors - I can't say who, I'm afraid, I must keep my master's confidentiality. But he did ask why they were there, and all about what they were doing. But I think he must have been some illiterate thug."

Quintus grunted indignantly, and tried to conceal it as a cough. Falco asked, "Why do you say that?"

"Because I had with me my scrolls. I've a terrible memory, you see sir, so I write everything down. And I was just that morning taking letters with me for my master, if the man had taken the scrolls in my bag he'd have learned more than I could ever remember to tell him. I don't know why he didn't take them, he must be some illiterate fool. He did take my coins, though. Nine denarii! I was saving that for a gift for my lover."

"So who was he asking you about?"

"I'm sorry sir, as I said I can't say."

"Ah yes of course. You serve your master well. Are you finished, Calidus?" Calidus dabbed the last smudge of salve on the blue bruise and nodded. Falco said, "Thankyou, Alexander. It's been lovely to speak with you. Here, have a few denarii, and be careful not to give it to illiterate thugs this time."

Coins jingled into Alexander's hand and immediately disappeared somewhere. "Thankyou, sir! Most kind."

The three then busied themselves going about the marketplace and asking after rhinocerous horn. All proclaimed it to be a most effective aphrodisiac for men. It appeared they were trying to drum up a market for the stuff.


SPEECHES AND SILENCE BEFORE THE SENATE
Now Vestinus called them over, saying that it was time to go to the Senate. "All those who are presenting themselves as candidates this year will stand and nominate themselves, and speak of their own worth. Please stay until I am finished."

They went to the Senate doors, and stopped as Vestinus and Andronicus went in. They waited dutifully outside with slaves and clientes of the other several hundred Senators. After a time they heard a steady stomp, and turned to see the lictors coming forward, crashing their fasce on the ground in time to their steps, the Consul Magnetia among them. He passed them up the steps to the Curia Hostilia, the Senate building for ordinary meetings. Within the Senate chamber the priests sacrificed a sheep, examined its entrails and pronounced the augurs favourable to the meeting. The Consul Magnetia then announced that his colleague the Consul Horatio was with the consular army in Illyria, and so could not be present, but begged to lay down his position by writing. This motion was accepted by the Senate, and Magnetia then laid down his own consular authority, saying that as his colleague was not here to watch over the elections, the Senate ought to choose an Interrex to oversee them.

As Magnetia moved to a seat among his fellow Senators, the Senate began debating wildly, and the name Hercules Iulius Andronicus came forward as proposed interrex. Falco listening outside explained to the others that most likely he was chosen since as interrex he would have essentially dictatorial powers, but as he was not ambitious was unlikely to use them for other than holding the elections as planned.

Andronicus then came forward and accepted the commission of the Senate, asking candidates to the various positions to step forward and nominate themselves, and any from outside the Senate to do so also. These nominations and speeches went on for some time, and the groups outside grew tired and hot in the spring sun. After a time they heard Vestinus nominate himself for one of the two positions of curule aedile. His rivals were Publius, of whom no-one had ever heard, Marinus Cassius - the uncle of Primus Cassius Antoninus, Vestinus' son-in-law and Iulia's husband. Lastly there was Spurius Caesto, none other than he who was quaestor in the legion under Vestinus, and over Quintus.

Then came the candidates for quaestor, and of these there were many, since there were after all twenty quaestors to be elected. To the surprise of all including himself, Falco stepped into the Senate chamber to declare his candidacy. As he stepped in and raised his hand, hundreds of distinguished men of the Republic, resplendent in their brilliant white togas, silent in their surprise, all turned to look at him, and a wave of nausea came over Falco. Mastering himself with a great effort of will, he declared, "I, Primus of the family Fabius, called Falco, member of the tribe of the Vestitii, declare my candidacy for the position of quaestor. It is true that I am young for the position, but the rules of age have ever been lax. Scipio Africanus was elected to the consulship at thirty-one, though I dare not compare myself to him in aught but age. As a soldier in the service of Rome, I was no great fighter, but I was a good leader of men, and when made Signifer kept good, detailed and honest accounts of our affairs. These are the qualities the Republic must look for in a quaestor. I thank you." And so saying, he bowed and left the Senate chamber. An impressed silence greeted his words and they echoed through the chamber, and then applause began, sending him out. Vestinus glared after him while Andornicus beamed in amusement.

As he walked out past the doors, once out of sight of the assembled Senators, he stumbled and was caught by Quintus and Calidus, who expressed surprise and admiration at his gall.


A DARK DINNER
That evening, dinner was subdued. Vestinus was not present, "taken ill", said his slaves. Falco enjoyed a light meal with Quintus and Calidus, and Vestinus' son Gaius joined them. Falco's candidacy was on the lips of all, even the slaves, and it was known that Vestinus was not well-pleased. Gaius laughed when he saw him looking disconcerted.

"I don't understand," said Falco, "I had thought he would be proud of me, almost -" he glanced at Gaius, "- almost a son to him."

"Father hates surprises," said Gaius, laughing at him. "You should know that! He is your patron, you should have consulted with him before declaring your candidacy. Or at least told him of it. As it was, he was surprised in the Senate chamber - all could see he knew nothing of this. You humiliated him in the Senate, made him look an ignorant fool. You may even have cost him the position of curule aedile." Gaius laughed once more.

"Well, it did take courage. Not something that you would understand, Gaius. It takes no courage to unroll a scroll!"

"Courage? Or folly? Do you really think that the second son of a merchant will be elected a quaestor before he is of age? Will the people consider a man who surprises his patron to be trustworthy?"

Their argument continued in this manner, vicious and cruel, the argument of jealousy - one favoured by father by blood but not mind and heart, the other favoured by mind and heart, but not blood.


ADVENTURE IN AN ALLEY
A few days passed, Falco taking the time to smooth the ruffled feathers of that proud peacock Vestinus, and finding that one of the leaders of the tribe Vestitii would ensure votes in exchange for "some of this marvellous rhinocerous horn everyone's talking about", and Quintus recovering from his exertions. Quintus was one day in the Forum with Calidus, and met with Senator Caesto. "Ah, Quintus, I believe it's that time again - for our business."

"Ah, yes," said Quintus nervously, turning to Calidus, "I have business with this man, and may be some time."

"What business?" Calidus asked, turning from the apothecarian he had been convincing of the usefulness of rhinocerous horn.

"None of yours. I'll see you later," said Quintus, putting hand to Caesto's shoulder and walking off with him.

As Quintus led them through the city's streets, his normally excellent sense of direction through the city deserted him, and they found themselves walking down a dead-end alley, and confronted by half a dozen thugs armed with heavy sticks and daggers.

"Good day, noble sirs. We'll just be relieving you of the weight of your coin, then," said one of the thugs, drawing his dagger, "oh and those rings, too - they're nice," he added pointing at Caesto's hand.

"This man is a Senator, and candidate for quaestor. Do not lay hand upon him!" cried Quintus, drawing his gladius.

The thugs laughed, "The fatter the fish, the better he fries! Hand it over!"

Quintus hesitated, and Caesto cried, "Never! Kill them all, decurion!"

Again Quintus hesitated, though he put his gladius before him. He began backing up, bringing Caesto with him. The thugs followed and surrounded them. From behind her heard a grunt and cry, and turned to see that Calidus had been following them, and had heaved a cobblestone at one of the thugs, striking him in the leg. This steeled Quintus' resolve - if a mere physician could fight them, then a soldier of Rome certainly could! He stepped forward and ran the lead thug through, his blade sticking out the man's back as the man collapsed, gasping and gurgling. All froze a moment as Quintus put his foot on the man's chest and dragged the blade forth. As he raised it bloody, they turned and fled.

Caesto laughed. "Well done, decurion!" Calidus stepped forward to assist the fallen man. Quintus grunted, held back a hand to restrain Caesto, and swept his blade across the fallen thug's throat, finishing him. He found a few coins in the slain thug's tunic and took them.


A TEMPTING OFFER
Later in an upmarket taverna, Quintus explained to Calidus the hold Caesto had over him. "I have a debt to him; years before in the legions, I took more than my fair share of spoils, stealing the bread from his fellow soldiers' mouths - as they would see it. Caesto, then quaestor of the legion under Vestinus, saw my theft and made me a deal - he would not expose me, would "lend" me the money stolen, and I would pay it back. Forever. This then was our "business" together."

Caesto now sat with them, checked with Quintus that he was happy for Calidus to hear all, and said, "I was most impressed by your butchery there. You are as ever a true professional. But what you do for an old friend and a few coins, would you not do for an old friend and many coins?"

"Perhaps."

"There is a man who troubles me. Or more precisely, his father-in-law troubles me. You see, I am standing for curule aedile this year. But there are only two positions, and four of us vying for them. And it's so expensive to bribe enough of the tribes to vote to ensure a win. And some of them are very dishonourable, they might take the bribe and then vote for who they want anyway!"

"What has this to do with me?"

"When a man is in the period of religious mourning, he may not stand for election, it would be blasphemous. So I thought that perhaps if Titus Longinus Vestinus and Marinus Cassius were in mourning, well it would be just me and and old Publius. And then I thought, who might they mourn? Why, Marinus Cassius would mourn his nephew, Antoninus, and of course Vestinus would mourn his son-in-law. And then who should I remember but my old friend Quintus! Quintus, who for so many years had harboured a secret passion for dear Iulia Minora Longina - now wife of Antoninus. If Antoninus were to have a terrible accident, why then that would be to both our benefits. And of course your debt would be cancelled, and a bonus besides."

"I cannot betray my master!"

"What betrayal?"

"Stopping him from running in the election."

"You would not stop his election, merely postpone it a year or two. Postpone his ambitions and fulfill your own. That is the way of the world."

Quintus' features turned dark, and he drew his gladius and placed it on the table between them. "I think you have misjudged me Sperius. I am no assassin. You insult my honour by asking me to do such a thing." Caesto tried to reason with Quintus, but to no avail. Not even the implied threat of shameful secret revealed would persuade him. Quintus and Calidus left in anger.


A MISUNDERSTANDING!
On returning to the villa, Quintus enraged, they discussed the events and would-be plot. They agreed that they must share the news with those affected, Quintus to tell Vestinus, and Calidus to tell Antoninus. "He would not hear it from me, his rival", said Quintus.

Calidus went down the road to Antoninus' villa, its hills clad in grapevines. There he was shown to the peristile, the rear garden, and given some of Antoninus' finest wine. In one corner was a small shrine, and in the other war gear, sword and harness, obviously where Antoninus practiced. Antoninus came in from the fields, and cleaning his hands in the water asked Calidus what had brought him here.

Calidus' words were not well-chosen. "I have come to warn you that someone close to you may kill you for political reasons, there may be an attempt soon, and -" Antoninus stopped him with a glare.

"Do you threaten me?" he said.

"No, no, you misunderstand, I simply wanted to say that others will - I mean - you're going to be - Iulia will - um -" but Antoninus was walking to his practice gear, and took from the wall a gladius, drawing it from its scabbard and casting the scabbard aside.

"You come into my house, drink my finest wine, and dare to threaten me, and my wife?" He raised his blade as Calidus protested innocence, and...

So had Tyberious planned on having Falco run for quaestor, or was it a spur-of-the-moment decision?  I love that bit.  I also love the players' decision to refuse to play to Caesto's conspiracy and go warn the guy they don't like, Antoninus.    

Quote from: AnemoneSo had Tyberious planned on having Falco run for quaestor, or was it a spur-of-the-moment decision?

It was purely spur of the moment.

QuoteI love that bit.  I also love the players' decision to refuse to play to Caesto's conspiracy and go warn the guy they don't like, Antoninus.    

I soooooo wanted him to kill Antoninus.  If characters were reversed, I suspect I would have done it