Gaius Fabius Pontio Part VI REMEMBER CARTHAGE 130 B.C. Pergamum .......... [gaius] A boring meeting. One of many lately, going over what they knew and had know for weeks, trying to find some tricky maneuver, some brilliance, in a situation where nothing would be as effective as plodding effort and patience. Speaking of patience. Like most of the other officers, Gaius had long lost his, and only Roman discipline kept all huddled around the table, and marginally paying attention. Of a sudden, his incipient dozing was sharply interrupted by the unexpected but familiar buzzzing feeling. Unable to mask his start of surprise, Gaius smoothly continues it into a rise onto his feet. He had been a model of patience long enough that a minor indiscretion or two could probably be forgiven. "Litius. I've given the reports of all my scouts, and there is nothing else to add to them, or to go over them again. I don't see what further help I can give today, so I would ask to be excused now, unless there is some reason for me to remain longer." <><><><><> [GM] The tribune blinks, looking mildly annoyed, but says "Ummm...all right, Gaius. I'll want another report this evening." The report this evening is unlikely to contain any information you didn't give him this morning, but everyone is going through the motions of executing the campaign, while you wait for a new consul and fresh troops. Excused from the meeting, you proceed into the palace. Right now, any officer can wander freely through it; your temporary commander-in-chief has taken over the older palace of Philetairos, perched above the more recent palaces that line the city walls. Sentries walk along the walls and are posted irregularly at stairs and gates, to discourage vandals and looters, but security has actually been getting rather lax lately. The buzzing had faded while you made your departure from the staff meeting, but coming up the stairs from the courtyard, you pick it up again. Someone could have slipped through the garden and up these stairs, passing your meeting with only a second's exposure to view, and your fellow officers probably weren't paying any attention to their surroundings...you certainly weren't. Each palace consists of an open peristyle surrounded by various rooms that housed the king and his family, and the servants, with dining and living rooms for him to entertain small groups of guests or relax in private. The royal palaces were nothing more than a king's private residence, not the place from which he conducted business or hosted large social events. Which means there aren't many places for one immortal to hide from another within. You stand in the peristyle, and feel the buzz, and know that the other immortal is in one of the rooms that connect to this one. As the sun is low and, absent torches, the peristyle is the only source of light in the palace, most of those windowless rooms fall in shadow. <><><><><> [gaius] With a sigh, Gaius stands still for a couple of minutes, thinking... A person waiting silently in one of those rooms has the advantage over one who is walking, and in this barbaric part of the world, he has little trust in the honor of other immortals. If the other has honorable intentions, then there will probably not be any problems. But on the other hand, he who wishes to live must live carefully. Still, it is possible that he is meeting another immortal like the one in Gallia... one who is here on a mission unrelated to Gaius, which he is honor-bound to prevent. So going back down, while more personally prudent, could well cause him to shirk his proper duties. So now, the question is... go back and pick up a couple of soldiers? An excuse as to why he wants to walk through the palace with them would not be hard to find. But if the other has honorable intentions, it might be difficult then to meet peacefully, if Gaius brings other soldiers around who will be bound to attack an intruder. With a shrug, Gaius continues carefully up the stairs. He loosens both gladii in their sheaths, and palms one of the throwing knives. Unfortunately his staff, the same one that he used in Gaul, is back in his quarters. Still, it's not as if he feels uncomfortable with the grip of a sword in his hand. So he continues on, looking for signs that an intruder has passed... few servants still work, and likely some rooms have not been swept in weeks. The hobnails on the bottoms of the sandals, that are regular equipment for all legionnaires, are both a help and a hindrance. While the sound of metal on stone is impossible to muffle, it also means that any intruder's footsteps, if visible, will be instantly identifiable. So he steps on, moving slowly since he is splitting his attention between the shadows and the floor. After another thought strikes, he moves into a shadow himself, and pauses for a couple of minutes, for his eyes to adjust to the relative darkness. Gaius then continues, this time keeping to the shadows... <><><><><> [GM] Your eyes adjust, and the Quickening buzz persists, but you hear no sound except your own footsteps. The other immortal is apparently determined to wait you out. <><><><><> [gaius] That's pretty much what he had figured, unless the other is in a nearby room. But despite the shadows, it should be reasonably hard to sneak upon wary prey in a room with a nice hard stone floor like this, so Gaius continues forward, hugging the walls as much as possible to make sure that he doesn't have to worry about attack from at least one direction. After a couple of steps, he considers the danger and draws one of the short swords. He can probably explain why he is carrying an unsheathed weapon out, no matter whom he meets... and prudence is the better half of wisdom. <><><><><> [GM] You circle all the way around the peristyle, and don't find anyone. Which means the immortal must be hiding in one of the rooms. <><><><><> [gaius] Well. This is a fine conundrum. The worst part is that with his hobnails, the other can easily sneak from room to room, and Gaius could never sneak up on him. However, at that a thought strikes. After all, he is in a palace, not outdoors in the wilderness. He bends down and removes both sandals. It was time to become stealthy, to remove the other's advantage of position. Moving slowly on bare feet to the nearest room's entrance, he bends down and looks carefully at the entrance, checking for footprints. He then straightens, gives a sudden look behind him in case the other is looking from another room, then gives a quick peek into the room to one side of the entrance, with his sword up to parry an unexpected blow. The look only lasts one second, then he pulls back for a beat, and repeats the procedure looking at the other side of the door. <><><><><> [GM] You don't find any tell-tale footprints....but on the third room you check in this manner (you think it's the library), a shadow behind the doorframe, opposite the side you checked first, alerts you enough to bring up your sword. Saved again by your keen peripheral vision- and a large urn smashes against your fist and forearm, leaving what would be a lasting bruise if not for your healing power. The urn-wielder immediately backpeddles into the library. You can't make out much in the darkness, and realize you are framed in the light. But the other person's movements seem more frantic than combative. You do, however, hear metal scraping leather. This room adjoins the king's living room, and that one, like the library, opens only out into the peristyle. |----------------[ Gaius ]---------------|------------[ ]------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Library ^ Living Room | | | | v | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <><><><><> [gaius] Realizing that the other seems too uncertain to pursue his momentary advantage, Gaius takes a step forward, slashing back and forth twice with the gladius. Not so much to hit any target, but to cause the other to bring any weapon into a parrying position. After his step forward, he steps to one side, the one that takes him further away from his opponent. He want to get a better look at the other, to see what he is fighting. The throwing knife is still in his hand... he will want his other sword out soon, but for now a surprise throw might end the fight, if he ever gets a good look. "The word 'dumb' comes to mind.", he speaks in a conversational tone, looking to distract his opponent while he tries to discern more details about his opponent. <><><><><> [GM] Your sword doesn't make contact with anything. But a footrest comes flying at you. You hear heavy breathing, and the door to the living room opening as the other immortal flees through it. <><><><><> [gaius] Gaius takes two hard steps towards the living room, making sure that his steps are heard, then turns and a little more stealthily, trots out back through the door by which he entered, then makes a right hand turn, and jogs up to the door leading into the living room. Next to the door, he kneels down, waiting to trip the other as he runs by. <><><><><> [GM] And you wait, and wait.... The other immortal is either more cunning than you thought, or more indecisive. <><><><><> [gaius] He does not wait all that long.. .after all, either the other would run headlong out through the door, or would wait himself. So he soon straightens up, and considers his options. Retreat now is not one... the unwarranted attack, and pain from the bruise, have riled his temper. Besides, he does not want to give the other a chance to get away. So, the only question is which door to go through, and how quickly. Taking a guess, he crouches again, then sprints at full speed into the room... the motion is likely to cause the other to move himself, so Gaius will hear where he is. And his quick movement should spoil the aim of another hurled jar, or something worse... <><><><><> [GM] A piece of furniture...another stool or a small chair, comes flying at you when you burst through the door, but you duck under it, and keep going. The other immortal backs away frantically, but not fast enough to avoid your charge. You collide with the mysterious intruder, and hear a decidedly feminine shriek as the two of you go down, with you on top. There's also a clatter as a sword falls to the rush mats beside you. There's something familiar about the continuing shriek that assails your ears, while your opponent begins beating at your face and chest with balled fists...not impotently, either. She's flailing in a panic, but when she connects it hurts. <><><><><> [gaius] "Not you again!", grumbles Gaius, pushing himself off her. The knife was dropped, but that was a minor point, as he went for the sword she had dropped. Perhaps she would be willing to listen to reason once he had all the swords in the room. Not that he had yet any reason to believe that she would be reasonable. "Shut up already, you're giving me a headache", he mumbles while scrambling for the sword. The release of tension, when he realized he had been frightened of this particular immortal, combined with his embarrasment, to put him into an exceedingly bad mood. Realizing that the screams were likely to bring more soldiers was not improving his temper in the slightest. At least, they'd d*** well better bring some soldiers, or he was going to have some pointed questions for the guards. If he was lucky, they'd be late enough for him to come up with an explanation. <><><><><> [GM] To your surprise, she actually stops screaming. "You!?" she exclaims, apparently recognizing you also. "Oh, the tragedy!" she moans melodramatically. "Are you going to take my head now?" <><><><><> [gaius] "Dumb bitch !", he mutters to himself. "I hadn't planned on it, but if there's no better way to shut you up, I may have to do it. Now let's get out of here before I have to explain you to the guards." Gaius slides her sword underneath one of the couches, and puts his weapons away. Getting a good grip on her arm or tunic, so she can't take off down the halls, he leads her out, pausing by the entry to the other room to put on his sandals. <><><><><> [GM] She accompanies you silently, without resistance. Definitely an improvement on last time. Sliding your sandals back on, in the peristyle, you hear your fellow officers coming up the stairs, and what's probably a sentry opening the door from the other side, through one of the servants' quarters. The woman's screams have stirred action after all. She stands erect, and holds her chin up proudly. "I'd rather lose my head than be taken prisoner by Romans!" she says. <><><><><> [gaius] As he finishes strapping on his sandals, he responds to her in a rough tone of voice. "Keep what few wits you have with you, and likely neither one will happen. Unless you keep screaming just for fun, in which case you will definitely lose something. When asked, you were here to clean up these rooms. Likely no one knows all the servants, I'll just take the blame for scaring one of the servants for no reason." Waiting for the sounds of feet approaching, Gaius grabs a tight hold of her arm, and all of a sudden slaps her across the face, just hard enough to redden her. After a second's pause, he repeats it again, cursing her for the fool of a woman that she is, as the first other Romans enter the chamber. <><><><><> [GM] "A *servant*!?" she exclaims indignantly. But she falls silent as your fellow officers enter...then stares at you, wide-eyed, mouth gaping, as a flush spreads over her face from the spot where you left bright red palm-prints. Your tribune, followed by the rest of the officers (obviously thinking this might be the most excitement they've seen in a while) comes to a halt. As does the legionnaire from the other side, who comes rushing in with spear at the ready. "What's going on, Gaius?" your commander demands, looking from you to the woman. There's a frown on his face, as a suspicion about why you asked to leave the meeting early dawns on him. <><><><><> [gaius] Gaius rolls his eyes, at the luck of having the tribune show up. It will take weeks to live down the obvious inferences... not to mention what this might do to his career, if the tribune is more angry than amused. Then again, considering the amusement value in this situation, that doesn't seem too likely. With an ironic smile on his face, knowing that he won't be believed, Gaius straightens out to make his report. "Sir, occasionally when I'm restless, I wander the back rooms and grounds of this estate. I always like to know all the ways in and out. I had too much energy today, and decided to walk it off, by seeing if there were some rooms in this place that I haven't found yet. But when I entered the peristyle, I heard soft sounds coming from one of the rooms, and I thought that it might be... an intruder. So I sneaked in and caught one of the palace servants cleaning." Here Gaius looks down, as if embarrassed at having made a foolish guess. "I didn't realize it was a servant, and yelled at her. I guess I frightened her, cause she threw a jar at me and started screaming. I did have my sword out at the time." The words come out smoothly, helped by the fact that he is not saying anything other than the truth, except for calling the woman a servant. But at the end, Gaius looks at the tribune with amusement, knowing that regardless of how his superior wants to accept this, the story will travel the barracks for a month or two. Then again, the story may not be completely insulting to him... no one else had yet managed to sneak a doxy into the building, though he had a suspicion that the grounds were something else again. <><><><><> [GM] The tribune looks irritated. And he doesn't look like he believes you. He glares at your captive and says "What's your name, woman?" She stammers a moment, then finally says "Danacia," with a little too much boldness for a servant. He frowns. "So you were cleaning rooms in the dark? Not having a lover's quarrel with Gaius here?" Danacia opens her mouth in shock. "Certainly not!" she bursts out indignantly. The other officers try to suppress snickers. Even the legionnaire seems to be having difficulty keeping a straight face. Danacia's inability to act isn't helping your cause at all. The tribune looks back at you. "Get her out of here!" he snaps, with a look that says *I'd BETTER not see her again!* "And don't forget that report this evening." You suspect you'll be talking about more than your report. <><><><><> [gaius] There's not much more to say at that point but "Yes, Sir !", and walk out, with a tight grip upon Danacia. Perhaps in the (relative) privacy of his room, she will become reasonable and intelligent. And perhaps Aristonicus is at this moment banging on the front gates, begging to surrender. <><><><><> [GM] Danacia continues walking meekly with you, though you feel her tense slightly as you bring her into your room. "What now?" she demands. "If you're not planning to take my head, you'll have to let me go. Unless you plan to bind and gag me again and keep me that way." <><><><><> [gaius] An evil grin finally chases the last frown away. "Well, woman, and why shouldn't I do that ? It's enough trouble you've caused me, and more to come, I'm sure." Pushing her towards the cot, Gaius finally lets go of her, and motions her to sit down. He'll stand, leaning on the inside of the door, mostly to make sure no one enters... but also to make sure she doesn't get wild again and run for it. "For starters, you can begin by telling me what you were doing there... and with a sword, too. You can't have come for my head, you're too frightened of me for that. So who was the sword intended for ? And how did you make it so far into the palace, anyway?" <><><><><> [GM] "I'm not afraid of you!" she says hastily, and she's so obviously lying that you almost feel sorry for her. She sits down slowly on the bed, eying you warily. "I only brought the sword just in case," she says. "I was *hoping* not to run into anyone, certainly not another immortal, and most certainly not you!" Then she tosses her head back, in a haughty gesture she probably once used while scolding slaves in Carthage. "I have nothing more to say to you, Roman." <><><><><> [gaius] Despite the unamusing situation he is in, Gaius begins to chuckle unwillingly. " 'nothing more to say to me, Carthaginian' ", he mocks. "You seem as unaware of your situation here as you are of good sense. Considering exactly how well your hopes of not meeting another immortal, and certainly not meeting me, have turned out, you might wish to reconsider your silence." "Think about it. I can stab you now and give my commander any story I want. He'll believe me, I have a reputation for truthfullness around here. I've been saving it up for a big lie , and this could well be the occasion. Or I could be truthful and say that you are no servant, show the sword that you brought, and have you executed as a spy. Do you have any idea of how we execute spies, and are you up to a little crucifixion for a couple of days ? Silence may not buy you more than that, but perhaps information might get you out of this. Why exactly are you here, where is Aristonicus, and where is your other immortal friend." He leans back on the door, apparently with the full intention of waiting for days until she relents. She needn't know that he has to meet his commander this evening, and to make sure he has a good explanation by then, if the tribune is still looking for one. <><><><><> [GM] Danacia pales slightly when you mention crucifixion, but she still maintains her composure fairly well. "You know where Aristonicus is; he's in Pelucia!" she snaps. (True, at least according to your latest intelligence reports.) "My 'friend', as you put it, is there also, as far as I know." She fingers the neckline of her gown nervously. Finally, after stalling as long as she can, she says "I came back because I forgot something when I fled Pergamum. Are you satisfied, you smug oppressor? Or are you going to threaten me with rape while you're at it?" <><><><><> [gaius] Waiting, seemingly patiently, Gaius continues holding up the door until Danacia finishes her outburst. Then, he begins chuckling, finally turning into a long laugh. "Girl, I'll threaten you with whatever I want to threaten. It's your problem if you're enough of a fool to believe I'd have you raped, or crucified, merely for getting me in trouble with the tribune. It's not like I haven't had problems with my commanders not liking my ways before, and I've gotten mostly used to it. As long as you persuade me that you're not here for a purpose that would be my duty to prevent, I don't really have a good reason to prevent you from your purpose. " Looking darkly at the fading bruise on his arm, he continues a little more threateningly, "Well, not _that_ good a reason, anyway. After all, I didn't get a chance to finish slapping you silly. Not that I could improve upon what the gods have done." <><><><><> [GM] Danacia alternately looks indignant and uneasy, but indignation prevails. "I'm not a girl!" she snaps. She continues twisting a string of beads around her neck. "Well, if that's the case, then surely you have better things to do than keep me here. Unless you wish to 'slap me silly' first, I will be happy to get out of this city. One evening of being surrounded by Romans is one evening too many." <><><><><> [gaius] "Not a girl ?," he speaks while quirking an eyebrow. "Certainly, you should be trying to blame your lack of wisdom upon a lack of age, because wisdom you certainly lack. Either that, or you have no self control whatsoever." Clearly to the disciplined Roman, such a situation is much worse than a mere lack of wisdom. "As for getting out of here, don't you have something to finish? Something you couldn't finish last night ? I assure you, after I'm done with the sentries, you won't be sneaking back in again any time soon, so you may as well get it done now." "Of course, if you've thought better of it, I can have someone escort you to the bounds of our camp right now, so you spend no longer surrounded by Romans than you already have. Choose, girl. Choose, wisely." Gaius grins at that last, amused by the way he puts her in a situation to show more temper or to accept the 'girl' description. <><><><><> [GM] "Last night? What are you talking about?" Danacia looks flustered. "You aren't making any sense!" she sputters. "Do you mean to let me back into the palace? I care not what you do with your sentries! Let me go or escort me out of the city or do what you will, but stop taunting me!" <><><><><> [gaius] "Last night? I thought you said that you had been surrounded by Romans for one evening... so I assumed you had been here since yesterday, given that it is not yet evening. As for letting you go, I'll let you go now. But if you go back to search for whatever, then I will go with you. And if you leave the camp, then I will call for a sentry to escort you. This _is_ a military camp, and I can't let you just 'go'. " "And relax, already. If I were going to take your head we wouldn't be speaking now, and there's no need to get excited and emotional. Unless it's a woman thing. " <><><><><> [GM] "I meant *this* evening, d-" She bites her tongue. You suspect she was about to call you a dolt, but thought better of it, so perhaps she's not completely without restraint. "I only arrived this afternoon, and intended to leave before dawn." "And just because the entire world is a battlefield to you doesn't make this an army camp. It's a *city*! A fine, grand city that has stood for centuries without any help from Rome! But you're much better at destroying cities than appreciating them, aren't you?" Her tone is bitter, and her words come out in a rush, as if she knows she's being petty and irrational but can't help it. She stands, mustering all the dignity she can. "Now, if you cannot trust me to leave Pergamum unescorted, then kindly conduct me to the city gates." <><><><><> [gaius] Gaius stands up, not leaning against the door any longer, the amused smile having faded from his face at Danacia's last speech. "Well, now. I _was_ going to call for a sentry to see you gone, but being that you _can_ show calm and restraint when appropriate, I guess I won't dislike your company so greatly that I'll give to another the duty that should be mine." With that, he reaches behind him and pulls the door open. "If you're certain that you're unwilling to search for your long lost possessions with someone looking on, then let us leave. This'll give me more time to think of something to tell the tribune, in any case. Though, you may wish to take a detour on your way out of this fine, ancient, but underappreciated city, to pick up the sword that you brought in." <><><><><> [GM] Danacia blinks. "Did you leave my sword in the palace, or bring it with you?" She frowns. "Yes, it would be nice not to travel unarmed. The roads are dangerous, what with invading foreign armies and all." That last comment might almost have qualified as wit. <><><><><> [gaius] "I kicked your sword under a couch. I didn't want to explain to the tribune why I had three swords with me. I know that he didn't appreciate it when I failed to explain completely what the situation is... but he would have been really angry if he thought I was failing to tell the truth in a matter that might have had military implications. So it's still back in the room where we politely met each other." With that, Gaius steps out of the room, and waits for her. "Where now. The gates, or the room. Keep your head down and your steps short, in any case. You don't want to be attracting attention, there is only so much I can explain away." <><><><><> [GM] The Carthaginian woman steps hesitantly towards you, and the door. She frowns. "The...the room," she says. "I...I want my sword." She walks meekly with you back to the palace, shuffling along with head bowed, as instructed. You manage to avoid any of your fellow officers, but do have to pass a sentry who now stands at the entrance. It's the same legionnaire who came running in earlier. He struggles to keep his face impassive as he salutes, while you lead Danacia past him. In the royal palace, Danacia kneels to slowly drag her sword out from under the couch, and also picks up the scabbard that she'd dropped on the floor as well. Watching you fearfully, she slides the sword into the scabbard. "Do you mind stepping outside, so I can tuck this back up under my skirt?" she says, face flushing a little. <><><><><> [gaius] "Be serious, girl", he says with a shake of his head. "I'm here because it's my duty to be watching you while you're here, and there's no way that I'm going to skip on that duty merely to avoid embarrassing you. Or just because you want another couple of seconds to search for something without me watching." <><><><><> [GM] She frowns and wrinkles her nose. "Fine!" she snaps. "I should have known better than to expect any courtesy from a Roman!" She turns away from you, and lifts her skirt, trying to keep her bare leg out of your sight. You see her pulling something tight, probably a strap that holds her scabbard in place. She must have learned *something* about survival from her mysterious mentor...though she can hardly draw her sword very quickly if she's attacked suddenly. But a woman carrying a sword would probably just invite more attention than if she looks properly defenseless. After lowering her skirt again, and pulling it straight, she turns back to face you. "Well, shall we go?" she says. "I have a horse I left at an inn near the northern road. And do you think just once before I leave you might manage to address me by my name and not 'girl'?" <><><><><> [gaius] "Your name? Considering that you had not introduced yourself to me, it might be considered improper in some quarters of Rome for me to be using it without your having told it to me. Of course, in the same quarters, I should be calling you 'lady', instead of 'girl'. . Well, in any case, you have my apology for what may have been a lapse in manners. I will call you Danacia, from now on. At least, unless you really earn 'girl' some other time in the future... My name is Gaius Fabius Pontio, if you have an interest in using it, rather than 'Roman', or 'ruffian', or some other such unflattering description." Gaius looks her over thoroughly, making sure that the sword is not obvious under her garments. Explaining that to an alert sentry would be extremely difficult. So he makes sure that there is nothing to explain. <><><><><> [GM] "So, 'Roman' you consider an unflattering description?" Danacia replies archly. Her sword is well-concealed. You manage to slip her back out past the sentry (you're *really* going to have to do something about that ill- concealed smirk on his face), to an inn, where she collects a fine riding horse, and at the gate to the northern road, mounts it and looks down at you. "Well, Gaius Fabius Pontio, I cannot say it has been pleasant, nor that I have any desire to meet you again, but I suppose you are not as bad as some Romans I have met." With that farewell, she rides away. <><><><><> [gaius] **Hmmm. I suppose not. Not if she took poison to avoid being captured by the Romans.**, he thinks as he watches her ride away. But he doesn't have much time to think about that... he has to make sure he is thorough in his presentation tonight, and he has some plans to make. The sentries were too lax in letting Danacia into the palace, and in not spotting her sword. Not that he can be too harsh, since his story is that she belonged in the palace, but a few days of drills should help raise their alertness. And bring manners to some particular guards. Amusement is good and fine, but a soldiers should learn better than to show it to the face of a superior. <><><><><> [GM] The next week passes uneventfully. Your guards are suitably drilled and chastened. Your tribune made a few pointed remarks about proper conduct in front of the troops, and issued a city-wide prohibition against Romans consorting with, or so much as speaking to any women outside an official capacity, while on duty. He also makes it clear you will not be leaving any staff meetings early in the future. Then one evening, while walking away from your quarters for a rare night on the town (even before being chastened by your commanding officer, you've been much more restrained that most of your fellow officers), you feel the Quickening again. <><><><><> [gaius] **Humph. It must be the air hereabouts**, thinks Gaius grumpily. Though there are at least two immortals in the area that he knows of, and being that they know where he is, it is most likely one of them. Still, or regardless, proper caution is only appropriate. Without his staff, he palms one of the two knives he keeps with his sword belt, and puts his other hand on the hilt of the sword, before stepping out of the pathways into the deepest nearby shade. Although missiles, or fighting without a challenge, are forbidden, there will likely always be barbarians unwilling to follow the strictures. And so, staying on the moonlit path could well lead to an unpleasant arrow in the gut, or a slingstone upside his head. His unarmored head. Better to wait a little, and try to figure out what the other immortal, or immortals, want with him. <><><><><> [GM] Stepping into the deepest shadows, you pause.... And never see the fist that blindsides you. You definitely feel it, though. The force of the blow spins you all the way around once before you hit the ground. You feel teeth rolling loosely in a mouth filled with blood. You can't feel your jaw, so it's probably broken. "Bastard!" snarls the man standing over you, a dark shadow wearing loose clothing. It sounds familiar, though you can't be absolutely sure it's the Carthaginian you met a couple of years ago. "I gave you credit for having a certain amount of honor, even benevolence. You seemed like a reasonably decent sort, for a Roman. I guess the temptation was just too much, eh?" The ease with which he snuck up on you, and the speed with which he laid you out with one punch, does not bode well. <><><><><> [gaius] Gaius lies there on the ground. Besides the shock and the surprise, is a little calculation... the other seems to want to talk, and the weaker Gaius appears, the longer he is likely to wait. Blinking a couple of times to clear the tears from his eyes, he turns his head and experimentally spits out some blood, to clear his mouth, then mumbles a slurred reply. " 'ell, zzhat was a shur'rise. I d'dn't know you could hide your aura like zhat. Long as I'm into find'ng new t'ings out t'day, let me know whatch're tokking 'bout. I t'ink I mite p'haps be into bein' interes'ed." Perhaps the other is not careful enough to know that Gaius has another sword and knife on his belt, but at this time, the gamble doesn't seem worthwhile. Even if he could surprise him, he won't likely be winning the fight, not unless he can kill or cripple him with the first blow. <><><><><> [GM] [He did not cloak his aura....you sensed the Quickening and so knew he was near, you just didn't see him sneaking up on you in the shadows.] The other man folds his arms over his chest. "I'm talking about Danacia, you bloody bastard. Stop wasting words. There's no need for you to stall for time.... " He backs away a few paces. "Go ahead and heal. I'll give you a fair fight. I just wanted to give you that first." <><><><><> [gaius] Smiling hurts a lot, but Gaius can hardly prevent himself from chuckling. At least, focusing on the humor of the situation is keeping his mind away from the fear. "Heh. Well, t'anks for the time. Nice to know you have more honor than the last 'ool I 'ought." Talking right now seems like his best way to make it out of this situation. Unfortunately, his head is spinning a little too much to come up with a good way to continue the discussion, and besides, as long as the Carthaginian is willing to wait, he might as well let his jaw heal, so it will be less painful to talk his way out of it. <><><><><> [GM] "Romans did not invent honor, contrary to what you may believe!" The Carthaginian sneers. He paces a short distance away, while you feel your jaw tingle as it mends, and the blood stops pouring into your mouth. The headache you received from his blow fades quickly, and in a few minutes, you're better...except for the teeth, which you know from past experience will take a couple of days to grow back. The other immortal turns to face you as you rise. "Fool, eh? You must be very sure of yourself, to dare me to come after you," he says. "Now let's see who's the fool." You see a gleam in the moonlight, as he draws his sword. <><><><><> [gaius] Seeing that the other's patience seems ended, he slowly sits up, looking around for where his sword has landed. "Well, it seems like you are determined to fight. Since we've met twice before without deciding to have it out, perhaps you might consider it polite to let me know why you're challenging me now. I know it's not exactly required, but I figure if you're going to decide to try to kill someone, that it's only proper to let them know why you've decided to kill them. Especially after the scorn you showed towards Achilleus, for letting his bloodlust go to his head." Not that Gaius can't guess the likely situation. But he figures that if he allows the other to breach the subject first, it will be more believable when he denies any involvement, than if he asks about Danacia directly. In any case, though, he is not going to get involved in the fight, without making sure that his guesses are correct. Or not, as the case may be. <><><><><> [GM] The Carthaginian lowers his sword slightly, though still holding it ready. He cocks his head at you, but you can't read his expression in the darkness. "I should think it would be obvious," he says slowly. "Unless......are you going to claim that you didn't kill Danacia?" <><><><><> [gaius] So. His guess confirmed, all that now remained was to convince his opponent that there was no reason to fight. Oh, and of course, to try to figure out what did happen to the girl... but that could wait until his own neck was safe. Gaius picks up the sword he had dropped, and absentmindedly wipes the dust off it before sheathing it. While talking, he paces back and forth, careful to keep his distance from the older immortal. "Danacia, killed ? That would be news to me. And I wonder how you could know, in any case. When Achilleus made a kill near me, I felt it... I think I would have felt it across all of Rome. But not all that much farther. Now, if you were near here when she was killed, I think that I would also have felt it. Since I didn't feel it, then she wasn't killed nearby. At least, by an immortal, that is. If she was killed near you, and you weren't around here, then you should know that I was certainly not around." "The only way I can see you thinking that I killed her, is that you weren't around when she was killed, so you don't know where she died. But, in that case, I can't see why you seem so certain that she is dead. Unless you saw her body. But even then, I also can't see why you are certain that I'm the one who killed her. Especially given that I could have killed her a couple of times previously and didn't, and that I'd have to be a fool not be at least considering the possibility that you might show up afterwards, and to be prepared for it. And I may be some things, but I doubt that a fool is one of them." He stops pacing and looks directly at the other immortal. "Do you disagree with any of my reasons, or conclusions ? Not that I had great liking for the girl, she got on my nerves every time that I met her. But I didn't dislike her either, and I have no liking for any that go around hunting heads for the pleasure of it. So I'd like to figure out what happened to her, and who may be guilty. Especially given that if someone's hunting heads nearby, I'd sorta like to have an idea of who." <><><><><> [GM] "Stop rambling!" the other man snaps. "And stop making so many assumptions." He paces opposite you. "Danacia left on her fool's errand to Pergamum a little over a week ago," he says. "Three nights ago, her horse returned to Pelucia...with her head in a sack, tied to its saddle. Obviously, *someone* meant to send me a message. Now if she died here in the city, you may or may not have sensed it....it depends on various things, including how sensitive you are to the Quickening. But she could have been ambushed on the road. The question is, if not you, then who?" <><><><><> [gaius] "I'm not rambling, I'm thinking out loud. Mostly because you can then check me on some of the many assumptions I was making," Gaius grumbles in return, before waiting fo the other to finish his own version of the events. "Three nights ago ? She left here a whole week past. I don't think she was planning to travel that evening, but if she travelled straight to Pelucia, she should have arrived a little earlier. And if she was killed here, then somebody went to a lot of trouble, making sure her horse got all the way to you rather than being captured by some of the scouts on either side and being confiscated by one of the forces. What I don't understand is how somebody both knew where you were, and that Danacia was here. I haven't felt anyone else's Quickening before yours... perhaps she just got unlucky on the road, but I'm getting a feeling that somebody set up her death and the message to you deliberately to get you to fight me. Either one of us could have died, or both, if I were in a situation to call other guards who might get you after you kill me. Seems like someone else profits greatly, if they want to kill immortals. Two in one week, and perhaps a third." <><><><><> [GM] [I was wondering if you forgot this. You sensed the Quickening two nights *before* Danacia showed up in Attilos' royal palace. I can repost that message if you like....it was the last one in the last archive upload (GAIUS5.ZIP).] The other immortal stands still, thinking. "Now, *assuming* I believe you," he says slowly, "I'd say that this hypothetical other immortal would most likely have had to intercept Danacia on the road. Even if you didn't sense her Quickening being taken, someone would probably have noticed a strange lightning display here in the city, and you'd have heard rumors and suspected what it was, yes? The same if it had happened in Pelucia." "I'd say her murder would have had to have been planned, as well- if Danacia was just unlucky enough to run into a hostile immortal between Pergamum and Pelucia, then her horse bearing her head wouldn't have finished the trip. No, whoever killed her knew I was in Pelucia. And as you say, wanted to lure me back to Pergamum. Or else merely wanted to goad me with her murder." "This other person could have questioned Danacia before killing her, and learned about me that way, of course. But the entire sequence of events is too calculated. Your scouts, that's a good point. So this other immortal also had to lead Danacia's horse past them, to make sure it arrived at the gates of Pelucia." "Assuming this other immortal was not you....then we are dealing with someone who is devious, malicious, and capable of spying on one or both of us from a distance....either through oracular abilities, or more likely, mortal agents." He resumes pacing. "Tell me, if you please, every detail about Danacia's visit." In the distance, you hear a guard calling out a routine challenge, and being answered by another sentry making the rounds. <><><><><> [ooc: no, I missed that. It would have lent more strength to Gaius' suspicions, actually...] [gaius] "Well, first of all, you could possibly find out that I've been here every night for the past two weeks. Since I met Danacia and had to explain her presence to the tribune, I'm afraid the sentries have my movements down as the gossip of each day. All were wondering how I managed to have an assignation without meeting anyone in the city. So I, at least, couldn't have taken the horse... though I suppose that doesn't completely clear me, since I might have killed her, and bribed someone to take the horse from there." Afterwards, Gaius runs through the visit, skipping the details and just listing the main events... sensing her, meeting her (and her throwing a pot, and dropping her sword), explaining her to the tribune, and then letting her leave. <><><><><> [GM] The other chuckles at some point in your story, but you're not sure why. "Poor, foolish Danacia," he says, when you finish. He shakes his head. "All right. Someone is playing a game of some sort. He may or may not be in this city, but if he is, I want to find him. It's possible he somehow keeps track of your whereabouts, and thus avoids getting within Quickening range of you. If the two of us cover the city in an overlapping pattern, we might have better luck rooting him out. Or we might be wasting our time. If this person was willing to kill Danacia, who was barely more than a fledgling, his next likely target is you. You are far younger than me." <><><><><> [gaius] Gaius stands there thinking for a short while. "Keeping track of my location would be relatively easy... also, there are places in the city that I've never gone near, my duties didn't take me there. The taverns nearby cater to us, and farther away we're not exactly made welcome, so I haven't seen large parts of the city. Hmm... I haven't noticed anyone nearby, though with the ringing in my ears that might have been difficult for a while. So probably he won't know that I've cut my trip to the taverns short, at least for a while, nor that we've met. Sounds reasonable that he won't be expecting us to be looking for him tonight." "If we're going hunting, I need to go back to my quarters first... pick up some more weapons, and some armor. If he's as dishonorable as it seems, I may want some armor to turn a shot from the dark, if it turns out that he is not surprised." <><><><><> [GM] The other man nods. "Go equip yourself, then." He looks off into the night, as if trying to sense for your mysterious foe. <><><><><> [gaius] "I'll come back here, and then to the tavern at the end of the street, if I don't meet you here for any reason", says Gaius as he heads back up the street towards the palace. Hmmm. The sentries are much more alert, now. Certainly no one will question Gaius when he passes the doors with armor on and his staff... but on the other hand, any death that night that seems purposeful will almost certainly then be laid at his door. Of course, that may be a problem to worry about later... the armor is certainly necessary. Still, Roman military justice is definitely something to seriously worry about. Especially since they are here as an army that is supposed to dethrone an usurper, rather than a conquering army. The way the tribune is feeling about Gaius right now, he may just decide to make an example of him, to impress the rest of the troops that the laws are paramount, like always. Too bad he hadn't asked Danacia how she got in... if there was a hidden way, perhaps he could have used it. But he'd almost certainly have to just walk past the guards, and then leave a story that would explain why he was wearing armor. Normally he'd just walk out and say that he would be gone on a scouting mission for a couple of days, but considering the gossip about him, it would be certain to reach the tribune, who would know that he had never authorized such a mission. Or, he could just jump out his window, and trust to stealth. That was one of the reasons why he had taken a ground-level room like the lower-ranking officers, on the excuse that it would be more convenient for his scouts to report there. But he had little faith in his ability to sneak around like the Carthaginian, and evade the sentries. Hmmm... an idea... he'd take his equipment out to the stables, say that he was considering an extended scouting foray on the morrow. Then he'd be fine, if he just mentioned it to the tribune in the morning, though he wasn't really looking forward to such a mission after a sleepless night. Then, he could much more easily sneak it out of the stables... or just say that he had discovered that he had forgotten to clean his armor and weapons, and take them back out of the stables... and the groom would never check on him to see that he actually took his equipment back to his rooms. Yes, definitely felt like a workable plan. And in any case, there was little time to come up with better, the Carthaginian may not have much patience, waiting in the shadows. <><><><><> [GM] As you figured, no one questions your taking your equipment to the stables. Soon, fully-armored, you rejoin the Carthaginian immortal on the street. "I know my way around this city well enough," he says. "I'll start from the north, you begin searching the southern half. Our search may well be fruitless if our foe is not even in Pergamum, but if he is...well, it depends how good he really is. Depending on how skilled the searchers are, it's possible to pass right by a hiding immortal and not come within Quickening range....a city is a big place, after all. It's even more possible if the quarry is a wily, experienced immortal. But for one who's never played such hunter-prey games before, avoiding two hunters making a concerted search effort can be difficult." He definitely sounds like he's played this game before....quite possibly from both sides. You don't think you'd like to be doing the hunting if he was the one hiding. "Of course whichever of us finds him first will probably end up dueling him. How are your fighting skills? Better than your spotting skills, I hope?" <><><><><> [gaius] Gaius nods his acceptance of the other man's plan. "Right. Where will we meet if we don't find him by dawn ?" After the question, he replies with a grin, not giving any free knowledge away.... "I've survived this long. So I also hope that my fighting skills are better than my spotting skills, else I may not survive much longer." Sort of a polite way of saying 'none of your business'. <><><><><> [GM] The other man replies "We'll meet at the temple of Athena." Holy ground. He snorts at your last comment, and simply nods, then turns around and disappears into the shadows. His Quickening fades from your senses. You still don't even know this mysterious elder immortal's name. <><><><><> [gaius] "Humph. Maybe when I get older I'll learn to say nothing in any circumstance, and live as if the gods had sewn my lips together", Gaius grumbles quietly to himself, watching his elder walk away. "Then again, you're only young once.... why give it up before you have to ? And I don't think I'll learn to be silent, not if I'm given a thousand years." With a grin, Gaius turns away and begins his search, this time staying to the shadowy sides of the streets and alleys, and waiting at the entrance of each new passageway, trying to listen for breathing or a faint scrape of wood or leather on stone. The grin quickly fades, into his usual frown of concentration that he wears on scouting forays, and during practice bouts. Although time is limited, he will not allow himself to hurry. There will be other chances other days, but not other lives if he messes up because of the fear of the oncoming dawn. <><><><><> [GM] Up and down the city streets you walk, passing a few late-strolling Romans, Pergemites, and occasional footpads who give you a wide berth in your armor. Your search continues for several hours, and dawn is only two hours away, when you reach the sparsely-populated hill between the acropolis and the asklepeion. From the asklepeion, and the safety it offers as holy ground, you walk the Via Tecta, the sacred road, towards the amphitheatre and stadium that are nestled in the hillside facing the acropolis. And it's here that you sense the Quickening again....unless your purported ally has doubled back to come after you, he should not be anywhere about this area. <><><><><> [gaius] Gaius immediately stops, looking around for some deeper shadow, and hides there. Right now, he has a clear idea of the direction of the other immortal... most likely in a path straight ahead, given that it's most likely that Gaius approached him rather than the other way around. So running straight ahead would bring him to the other's presence before the other can move away. But that would only be beneficial as far as making a meeting certain, while giving all the advantages in that meeting to the other immortal. Besides, he has good reason to figure that different immortals may have different ranges at which they sense the Quickening. So the other has likely either already sensed him, or has not yet, rather than sensing Gaius at the same time that Gaius did. For now, he will wait a while... perhaps curiosity will overcome good sense in the other, and he will come by. Also, time may help give more clues as to whether the other had sensed Gaius first, or not. And in any case, there is plenty of time to spare... even a quarter hour, or so. <><><><><> [GM] You wait in the shadows for only a few minutes before you hear footsteps approaching. They stop several yards away, though. The immortal is standing on the Via Tecta. He calls to you in a familiar voice, "So what are you waiting for, Gaius old man? Don't you want to come out and greet your old friend Achilleus?" <><><><><> [gaius] Aaah. Some suspicions prove right. With a smile of relief, Gaius palms a throwing knife, and steps out into the street. If he had to fight some other immortal, Achilleus would be first on his list. There was much baggage between them that had to be gotten rid of. "A pleasant morning to you, old friend. Fancy meeting you here, in the middle of nowhere." Then, not having the patience to deal with the expected rounds of false civility, Gaius quickly continues... "..taken any interesting heads, lately ?" <><><><><> [GM] "Why yes, I have," Achilleus responds in the same tone of false civility. "But I was rather hoping to take yours next. It's long overdue." He gestures down the road, towards the stadium. "There is a lovely stadium here for the purpose. What say you? A straight duel, no dirty tricks, everything above the table. The least I could do for an old friend." <><><><><> [gaius] "Well, then. I'm glad that the immortal involved turned out to be you. I'll feel better taking the head of someone whom I'm certain deserves it, rather than some unknown fool." After Achilleus points towards the stadium, Gaius considers for a second. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't much like it. I'm not certain how much you're willing to do for an 'old friend', but I'm thinking that you've likely practiced there enough for me to be unwilling to give you the advantage of fighting there." Looking around, Gaius nods towards the northern side of the hill. "That seems deserted enough for my tastes. And a fair ground, too. Of course, if you don't like it, this is an even battleground, anyway... but I agree that it's a little too public." <><><><><> [GM] Achilleus laughs. "Suit yourself, old man!" He shrugs. "Certainly not right here though....besides being too out in the open, I have a bad feeling about fighting a duel on the Sacred Road. The entire road may not *feel* consecrated, but better not to take chances, eh?" He turns- always keeping you at least in his peripheral vision- and walks towards the northern hillside. You see that he's wearing armor much like your own, but without any military insignia this time. And he seems to have abandoned the gladius in favor of a large, chopping blade like those favored by the Kelts. That's what he carries in his hand, anyway; there is a military shortsword tucked in his belt. <><><><><> [gaius] "Agreed on that", he mutters at Achilleus' comment about the road. He walks together with the former gladiator, keeping the same wary distance that Achilleus does. The staff in his hand is held together with the knife, leaving his other hand free, though he uses the staff to help his footing in the dark and to push aside brambles and other larger weeds. The larger sword does not greatly worry him... in his training, the importance of the straightline attack had been emphasized, and he discounted the slash. While he had seen its effectiveness, he was far more worried about a stab slipping by his staff, than a slash, and the staff had proven that it could withstand blows for a sword as large as the one Achilleus wore, though perhaps not wielded by as strong a warrior. In truth, if he had more faith in the other's honor, he would have accepted the invitation to fight in the stadium... he well remembered Achilleus' prowess in hand-to-hand fighting, and in uncertain footing like this, it might be hard to avoid close quarters. But at least here he could focus his whole attention upon his opponent. <><><><><> [GM] The northern hillside is a sparsely-vegetated slope, not too rocky, but the ground might come loose underfoot. Achilleus swings his arms back and forth, sword in one hand, shield in the other, loosening his shoulders. He looks at your staff with a guffaw. "You're going to fight me with that? Not that you're going to take my head, of course, but how would you do it with a stick?" He slides into a fighter's stance, holding his sword erect and moving towards you slowly. <><><><><> [gaius] Once they stop, Gaius reaches out wide, and then as high as he can, stretching his shoulders, while Achilleus is doing his own stretching. "This ?", he says, looking at the staff. "No, this is here just for balance.", he continues, and grins. Moving his staff from the right hand to the left, he keeps the knife in the right and low, so its blade will not shine in the wan light. One of these days he will have to dull the brightness so that he won't have to worry about this. Well, live and learn... die and forget. Once the staff is in the left hand, he does a clumsy flourish with it, to draw Achilleus attention to his left hand, steps to his left, and uses the motion to throw the knife hard at the most open area of the gladiator's body that he can see... even the face perhaps, since in the dark Achilleus may not see the knife in time to flinch. After the throw, he won't waste any time, and yanks out another knife to throw... repeating that, until he runs out or Achilleus stops dodging the weapons and charges. <><><><><> [GM] Achilleus doesn't see your knife, but he already had his shield raised warily, and the blade spangs off the metal rim. "You're throwing knives at me?" the former gladiator exclaims, disbelievingly. He charges you as you draw another knife; you have time to flick it at him, striking his semi-protected leg, then you're forced to jump aside as he tries to shield-rush you. "DECIDED THE ODDS IN A FAIR FIGHT DON'T FAVOR YOU ENOUGH?" he bellows, hurtling past you, his indignation no doubt fueled further by the fact that you could get another shot at his back before he can turn around. <><><><><> [gaius] Gaius had been expecting a shield rush to prevent him from throwing more knives, and was indeed glad for it. On the slope, with the bad footing, it wouldn't take much luck to have the large, armored gladiator trip and fall while running, or even to turn an ankle. Though he'll happily take a shot at the other's back, in any case... like most armors based on that of heavy infantry, all Roman-built armor had less protection in the back.. both thickness and coverage. And the greaves only protected the front of the leg, but in the end Gaius just threw at Achilleus' back rather than trying for a leg in the dark. "I have just a stick and some small knives, against your huge sword and shield. I don't see what your problem is.", smirks Gaius. Getting Achilleus mad enough to stop planning would be a great benefit, though it might backfire if he just enraged him without causing him to lose patience. <><><><><> [GM] Actually, you are both wearing chainmail, which generally provided all- around coverage. Centurions continued to wear chainmail even after the legionnaires switched over to breastplates, and later segmented armor. In any case, your knife whizzes just past his shoulder, as Achilleus spins around and raises his shield. "You're a coward, Gaius!" Achilleus spats. "A coward and without honor! Why not just bring javelins, or better yet a bow?" He advances on you, this time more slowly, but still fast enough to make drawing another knife unwise- he'd be on you too quickly to get a chance to parry with your staff. Sneering, "I just want your Quickening, but it turns out I'll be doing a service to the rest of our kind, eliminating a cheater!" His sword swing is an overhead slash, and you catch it with your staff, smacking his sword out of his hand. He winces and shakes his numbed fingers, cursing. <><><><><> [gaius] Gaius has several things to answer Achilleus with. But it seems none fit the moment.. clearly the gladiator thinks that anything but melee weapons are dishonorable. A bootless argument, to have in the middle of the fight. So he stands at guard, silent and unmoving, until the attack. Warned by some sixth sense that the swing is coming, he steps inside of it and hits the side of the blade just above the hilt, with surprisingly effective results. The sword's arc as it flies by causes him to flinch, and his intended continuation into a strike at the knee was aborted. But the situation was still excellent, and Gaius stepped sideways, intending either to block Achilleus' move towards his sword, or to get a good strike at him if he did. Likely the other would shield rush him now, to knock him down and even the odds again. That was something he would have to be careful of, or at least attack forcefully himself to prevent Achilleus from making his charge. So he steps forward towards Achilleus... with the plan to keep attacking and forcing Achilleus back, or to sidestep and strike at the back of his head as he goes by, if the gladiator charges. <><><><><> [GM] You step forward and land a fast blow to his side, hard enough probably to crack a rib or two even beneath his chainmail. Achilleus exhales sharply, but manages to block your second blow with his shield. His hand fumbles at his shortsword, and he draws the gladius with a wince. <><><><><> [gaius] Good. Better to keep the pressure on now, than to give Achilleus time to recover. Still, his last duel provides a warning memory... and Gaius does not charge in again, but stays at normal range, attacking with both ends of the staff to keep the gladius involved in parrying rather than in counterattacking. <><><><><> [GM] Achilleus obviously has only a rudimentary understanding of shield- work; he holds his shield like dead weight in front of him. A smaller man's arm would tire quickly, and he isn't able to stop the first of your next rapid one-two blows. You catch him on the other side, and he grunts much more heavily as a few more ribs fracture. He's fast with the gladius, though, and manages to parry the longer staff. "Bastard!" he grunts, and then does something totally unexpected; you were prepared for an all-out lunge, or a shield bash or even another rush, but not for him to bring his thrusting shortsword down on your staff with a motion like a woodcutter chopping a log...and with the same effect. The short steel blade hacks through the hardwood staff, snapping it in half with a loud, dry crack, and suddenly you're holding a splintered length of pine in each hand. "If you were honorable, I *might* graciously let you draw another weapon," he says with an awkward grin that betrays the pain he must be feeling from his battered ribs. "But things being what they are-" He lurches towards you, preparing to try to stab you before you can draw your own gladius. <><><><><> [gaius] For a second he remains paralyzed by shock, looking at the wood pieces in his hands. After the staff had defeated the other immortal, and survived the fires afterwards, he had assumed that it was favored by the gods. Certainly he had not expected it to break in combat against another immortal. Perhaps he had been mistaken. Or, perhaps Achilleus' contention that Gaius was cheating was correct, and the gods had decided to balance things out. Still, time enough to worry about the Rules later... right now there was still a battle to win, and a much more difficult one, now... The thing that would save him was that he could use both hands equally well. Gaius stepped back, thoughts of offense forgotten... hitting Achilleus with either stick would do little, now. Both sticks, though, were useful in parrying blows, and he would use them as such. The classic attack with a gladius would be a thrust, and against that his two sticks should be as effective in parrying as another gladius each... perhaps more, since they were lighter and easier to move. Still, the sticks would not win the fight for him. After his initial step back, Gaius began circling to his right, moving towards Achilleus' shield hand. This should free his right side from attack, and while using the left hand to defend himself, he flicked the stick in his right hand towards Achilleus' head... not to injure, but to cause him to raise his shield, so that he couldn't attack while Gaius drew out one of the two gladii. Then, stepping back with his left foot, and defending with the right hand swords, he repeated the flick and draw, arming himself with the other sword. Or, at least, so the plan went. <><><><><> [GM] The first throw actually works; you flick the broken end of the staff at Achilleus' head, and he raises his shield to block it, while you draw your gladius, much more smoothly than he did. He ignores the second flung piece of wood, which sails over his shoulder anyway, and lunges at you with his own gladius. You manage to parry it with the shortsword in your right hand, and draw the second with your left. But Achilleus takes advantage of your preoccupation with arming yourself, and times his next thrust perfectly, so it occurs just as your left hand is wrapping around the hilt of your second gladius. His sword comes straight at you, too fast to block, and he buries the point in your breast, withdrawing it quickly before you can slash at his arm. You stagger back, with a burning pain now searing your chest. <><><><><> [gaius] **good move**, he thinks dispassionately as Achilleus shows surprising speed, moving in and out so fast. **oh, oh...** is his second thought, as the extent of the damage is realized. Hoping that this wound won't finish the fight, Gaius staggers, almost going to a knee, and dropping his weakside guard. If the wound is as bad as he fears, blood loss might finish him before it can close, and his only hope is to entice Achilleus into carelessness. If he looks weak enough, the gladiator might think this an easy opportunity to end it, and then perhaps Gladius can surprise him with a quick counterattack. It would have to be quick, a prolonged fight won't give the wound the chance to close... And if Achilleus thinks the fight is over, and waits for Gaius to drop, there isn't much left to do... ready as he is, the chances of sneaking a knife past his shield for a killing blow are nonexistent, and if the wound is that bad, he won't be able to catch up to Achilleus, broken ribs or not. Of course, if it's not that bad, then waiting will suit Gaius just fine. <><><><><> [GM] Achilleus hesitates, then moves forward to try stabbing you again. He's cautious enough that your parry and counterattack doesn't take him completely by surprise, but you still slip past his guard with your off-hand gladius and stab him in the side, showering yourself with a gush of his blood. Achilleus grunts and stabs at you again, wounded but not slowed by the injury. You parry a second time, stab at him, and are blocked by his shield as you rise back to your feet. You circle while still jabbing at each other. Now you're both bleeding about equally. He backs away slightly, thrusting at you again as he does. The point only catches against the links of your mail vest this time. He grimaces in frustration. <><><><><> [gaius] Surprised to find that he is actually enjoying this, aside from the one sick rush of fear at the beginning, and another when he was stabbed, Gaius begins moving a little more freely, relaxing a little. Not because winning the fight is any less important to him now, but because all of a sudden losing becomes much less fearsome. Having just faced defeat and death, he realized that it was nothing to be feared... avoided, certainly, but incongruously he recalls his own long-ago words... everyone dies, later or sooner. Living or fighting in fear of dying will not affect whether one dies or not, and it will certainly detract from the enjoyment of the life. Or the fight. With a surprising smile on his lips, Gaius renews his attack. Apparently the wound was not quite as debilitating as he had thought, and since it appears that he can support a strong attack, he does not hesitate in implementing it. After all, in a purely defensive fight his off- hand gladius is less useful than Achilleus' shield, while it is much better in an attack. So there is little question... to win, he must attack, hard, with both hands. As long as his attack is furious enough, Achilleus will be too busy parrying two weapons to counterattack, and if it is good enough, Achilleus will be dead before Gaius runs out of strength. If it isn't, that's life. Or, likely, death. <><><><><> [GM] Achilleus is surprised to have two weapons coming at him at once. He parries your right-handed weapon, but you jab him with the left, gouging his shoulder and drawing a little more blood. He lashes back with a hasty thrust just as you're stabbing at him again- your shortswords grind against each other, sending up a surprising shower of sparks, and then both of you lose your grips, and two gladii [sp?] tumble to the ground. That leaves you with one, and Achilleus with none. He jumps back, evading your next thrust, and then glowers at you, and begins doing something with his shield, loosening the straps perhaps. <><><><><> [gaius] Expecting Achilleus to have a backup option, perhaps a dagger strapped to the inside of his shield, Gaius makes a halfhearted swing at Achilleus. Not even partially intended to score, all he wants to do is to engage the other's shield, to make it harder for him to draw his weapon, while he moves sideways to pick up his own sword. There he stands for a moment, considering... Achilleus had implied that he would normally have allowed Gaius to reweapon himself. If Gaius had earned a disarm fairly, there was no question that he would follow up his advantage. But as it was, he was merely lucky in that his other hand held a weapon instead of a shield. Remembering the results of the last time he ignored the gods above, who no doubt preferred a good show, he backs away a couple of steps, thinking that the wait would no doubt help him more, just like last time... broken ribs would still heal more slowly than the other puncture wounds, though they didn't bleed and weaken you. <><><><><> [GM] Concentrating on your throbbing stab-wound, which is still bleeding, you feel the pain fade slightly, and can almost sense the blood flow diminishing. Achilleus's arm comes free from from his shield, and then he hefts it with both hands, and flings it at you! It's big enough that it's difficult to dodge, but it's a very unwieldy projectile, and you manage to step aside with only a glancing blow from the edge as it spins past. In its wake, Achilleus is launching himself at you with arms outstretched! You get your gladius up in time to attempt a single thrust at the charging immortal, but he sails right through your offense, knocking your arm aside, and grappling you in a bone-crushing grip. You manage to stay on your feet, barely, but you know with Achilleus's background as a gladiator, a wrestling match with the larger man is a definitely a losing proposition. "If I have to rip your head off with my bare hands, that's what I'll do!" Achilleus snarls, lifting you off the ground and squeezing your spine. <><><><><> [gaius] Every breath of air is too precious to mutter the "Doubt it!" that he thinks, at Achilleus' threat. In his armor, there isn't much that Achilleus can do with unarmed blows, and as far as carrying out his threat... the bigger foe has forgotten one thing. Baring his teeth in a snarling grin, Gaius grabs a throwing knife in each hand... Achilleus' body is too close to slam the knives in his neck as he'd like to do, but he'll willingly settle for bringing the knives up into the back of the neck. **how nice of him to lift me up for this**, thinks Gaius, hoping that Achilleus doesn't realize the threat in time to slam him down. <><><><><> [GM] Drawing weapons isn't easy when someone is grabbing you and trying to break your back. You slide one knife out of its sheath, but your hand fumbles on the second. Your attempt to plant it in the back of his neck is spoiled by his suddenly slamming you to the ground. Then he jumps on you, trying to pin you to the ground. You get a quick jab at his stomach, but his chainmail stops the small knife-point, and you find yourself being pinned by his superior strength and weight. <><><><><> [gaius] Clearly Achilleus would have the advantage in a wrestling fight, but perhaps Gaius could surprise him... perhaps he hadn't spent enough time in the army to know all the tricks. While trying to set up another jab with the knife, and using the other hand to fight off one of Achilleus' hands, Gaius brought up his knee, trying for the gladiator's groin. No doubt he'd be expecting that, but what might surprise him would be when Gaius continued by trying to straighten his leg to scrape the bottom of his sandals along the back of Achilleus' calf. The sharpened hobnails on the soles, occasionally annoying on cobblestones, could be quite effective in close combat. And if he could drive the nails into Achilleus' leg, the pain might distract his opponent long enough for Gaius to get the big brute off him, already. <><><><><> [GM] You get one more jab with your knife, which is still too light to penetrate his chain links. Achilleus, being a skilled wrestler, blocks your knee easily, and before you can try scraping your soles against his leg, he has you pinned completely. You can do little more than writhe and try to break free; an unlikely feat. On the other hand, while Achilleus is holding you, he can free only one hand, and your swords are all lying just out of reach. Your knives are not, but rather than reaching for those, the big wrestler makes a fist...and proceeds to pound you in the ribs. Even with gloves, he must have very tough knuckles. But you're feeling the blows even through your chainmail. He's going to batter you unconscious very quickly, even if he doesn't think to pull your helmet off and hit you in the face instead. <><><><><> [gaius] Nothing to do but to try to move too much to give Achilleus a good base to throw punches from. Squirming frantically to try to free either arm, Gaius ducks his head forward to try to smash the top of his helmet into Achilleus' head. If all else fails, he undertakes a desperate maneuver... he goes completely limp after Achilleus' latest blow, and giving the gladiator the space of one long breath to shift for a finishing blow, he arcs upwards as hard as he can, to try to flip Achilleus off to either side. <><><><><> [GM] A valiant effort.... But all for naught. Achilleus is too strong for you to break free. You do manage to slam your helmet against his, but the effect is negligible. Your last desperate gambit is futile; Achilleus is too good a grappler to be thrown by such a trick. He drives a final blow into your ribs, knocking the wind out of you. A few more, which you barely feel, send you sliding into a darkness from which you never emerge. GAIUS FABIUS PONTIO 239 B.C. Born in Rome. 216 B.C. Killed and becomes immortal at the Battle of Cannae. Sent back to Rome, bringing terms from Hannibal of Carthage...terms which are refused by the Senate. Before being sent back to a life of slavery, meets the elder immortal, Persius Romulus Solus, who explains what he is. 216-199 B.C. Spends seventeen years in Bithynia as a slave. 199 B.C. Freed, returns to Rome, meets Achilleus for the first time. Persius leaves on a quest for vengeance, and never returns. 199 B.C.-183 B.C. Becomes a merchant, meets other immortals in the Mediterranean world, such as Hadrius of Sardinia, Alexander of Sparta, and Semoch of Rhodes. 183 B.C. Meets Hannibal in exile in Bithynia, just before Hannibal commits suicide. 183-149 B.C. Continues to travel the Mediterranean as a merchant 149-146 B.C. Rejoins army, participates in destruction of Carthage during the Third Punic War. Re-encounters Achilleus, meets Techo and the fledgling Danacia. 146 B.C.-135 B.C. Continues serving in the Roman army as a scout. 135 B.C. Joins Numantian campaign in Spain, first Quickening in a duel with an Iberian Celt 135 B.C.-132 B.C. Continues serving in the army. 132-130 Joins campaign in Asia Minor to pacify Aristonicus' revolt in the former kingdom of Pergamum. Meets Danacia and Techo once again. 130 B.C. Killed by Achilleus.