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Post by Skye on Feb 12, 2006 1:06:36 GMT -5
Asira, at age 21 was the youngest child of Nero the emperor and his wife Cassia. She sat against a marble wall which gave way to a window over looking the city.
The city of Rome was bustling as usual in the heat of the day; everyone was preparing for the gladiatorial games tomorrow afternoon to celebrate her brother, Deodatus’ birthday. She wrapped her perfectly curled, auburn red hair around a finger. She was absolutely disgusted with Deodatus. He was intent in continuing the royal family with her, his own sister. Her lip curled at the thought. Not only that but she and her other, older brother were sure (though they don't have proof) that their mother Cassia was manipulating Deodatus to kill their father Nero.
So as you might have guessed this royal family was far from perfect, although they were blessed with two sons and a daughter to take care of the empire, there was a lot of danger ahead of them all.
Also it’s just reported assassin enemies are in the city streets working to kill the whole royal family including advisors and all those who appose them afterwards. They call themselves Cólera which is Wrath in Spanish. They came from somewhere but where, Asira did not know, apparently they have strange, foriegn armour. Oh well. She sighed and looked over her exposed arm. She was lucky, she had gotten flawless, smooth skin from her mother, curly red hair and bright blue eyes, the eyes being one of her father’s traits. Suddenly she was snapped out of her thoughts when something reached her ears, looking past her large bed she stood and walked out of her room, past two guards and down the marble hall. As she approached the source of the sound Deodatus came out from the room to her right. He was beside her in a flash, looking at her in a strange way. “Hello my sister,” his hand cupped the side of her jaw and she cringed, “I turn twenty three tomorrow. I expect you’ll be in your best outfit for the celebration.” His face came in close as his dark eyes looked into his sisters. Asira pulled away leaving Deodatus behind, "I am going to check with father to see what he has planned." She lied, she wanted to find her older brother. A chill went up her spine as she felt his gaze watch her in such interest that made her feel sick to her stomach.
You have much freedom in this RP and can do what you want wether it be planning the demise of the emperor Nero, the whole royal family, fighting the assassins or helping Asira and her older brother against Deodatus and their mother. You can even create your own civilization outside Rome.
Who you can be:
Cassia: The emperors wife, you are discreetly planning the demise of your husband
Centurion: you are a commander of a fleet and hunt Colera’s or a more trained guard for a royal family member. (has potential to be on Deodatus’ side)
Soldier: you are a guard and fighter, can also be spy to seek out Colera’s secret hideout in the city. (has potential to be on Deodatus’ side)
Colera assassin: Your goal is to kill the royal family. You can also be the leader
Royal servant: you are a servant that cooks, cleans, and does whatever the royal family tells you to do. (has potential to be on Deodatus’ side)
Advisor: the closest people to any royal family member, you know what an advisor does (has potential to be on Dedatus’ side)
Gladiator: You are a trained fighter and the most deadly fighter. All gladiators dine with the emperor and his family for dinner the night before the big fight.
Assassin: not with the Colera assassin’s but your goal is the same and hopefully you kill royal family first as you get paid (woot)
Or create a new city outside Rome where you can be leader n' stuff.
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Post by Kai! Kai! on Feb 12, 2006 6:54:29 GMT -5
(Me hopes thsi is ok...) Egyptian Desert Cobra:[/u] The elite of Egypt’s assassins and fighters. They move with the stealth and speed of the very cobras they are named after. They can melt into a crowd like shadows. They can be many people within one, servants, slaves, appear as members of the nobility and never once falter in their guise. Men and women chosen at birth and carried away to secret underground tombs where they are raised form the crib to fight and kill in hundreds of different ways. Unarmed and armed they are deadly and there is nothing they won’t do in service to the one they are employed by.
-=-=-=-=-=- Meskhenet worked with precision as she straightened up the chambers of Deodatus’ her dark eyes going meticulously over every surface her dark hair tied back to keep it free from her face. There were footsteps behind her and slowly Meskhenet watched as Deodatus walked in, his expression was one like the rain storms that came to the Nile every year and breathed life into the arid land. That look was common after he had gone to visit his sister. Inwardly the Egyptian recoiled with revulsion at his disgusting desires as she observed him, she had made it a chore to observe the young man and it had often proved fruitful, much like how she observed Cassia. Both she and her son thought her a stupid Egyptian slave brought to do work in the imperial palace, unable to understand their language or their customs… how wrong they were.
“Be gone wench!” Deodatus spat taking her arm and thrusting her towards the door. Meskhenet made a show of looking cowed and frightened as she was thrust from the chambers. She ‘stumbled with her footing and then righted herself scurrying away quickly like any frightened servant. For all her simpleminded appearance Meskenet seethed inwardly. How easily she could stick a knife in that vile pig driven by thoughts of bedding his own sister. She had seen his journal and the writings alone made her stomach churn with revulsion. She was half tempted even now to wait until night and end his life just for her own piece of mind; men like him deserved no life.
Moving down the corridor like a shadow passing unseen by those who moved about the palace she disappeared down one of the servants passages avoiding the many servants who bustled about in preparation for Deodatus’ birthday celebration and then vanished again down another passage unseen by those busy in her work. Here this passage was silent yet she could clearly hear the voices of people who moved about beyond the wall that separated them from her. The secret passages that honeycombed the palace were of great use to her. There was at least one passage to every room in the vats structure giving her a virtually free run of the entire grounds, though her Employer asked her not to intrude upon the baths or the rooms of his or his sisters unless she had a reason. Placing her hand on the barely noticeable square lump beneath her own cloths she pondered still if this was the right thing to do… yet. They had a right. She had written what she could from her near perfect memory of Deodatus’ explicit journal. It was getting worse and she feared what he might do very soon.
The sounds softened and then thinned out until two voices carried to her from the passage wall. One was the voice of her employer the other was one she had learn to instinctively identify as Asira’s. The young woman was perhaps a year older then herself but Meskhenet had a profound respect for her gained through observation and listenening even though se wasn’t supposed to the conversations between the two. She spoke fiercly in their quiet talks and inspired Meskhenet to think of the woman in the same way she thought of Bastet the fierce protector of Kings who appeared with the head of a lioness undaunted by any and all. Such women were rare in this male dominated society, it was a pity… She paused at the secret door and listened more closely. Ignoring the voices of the speakers and listened for other noises but there was none which mean he had his door closed.
Pausing only once she removed the latch that kept it firmly closed and swung the door open stepping silently into the room. Unobserved by the pair as she walked silently into the room. Standing there for a minute Meskhenet cleared her throat making the pair jump. “Forgive me…” she asked meaning her intrusion not the fright she gave them and smiled faintly as reached into her cloths retrieving the carefully written documents. “I came to drop these off…” she paused and looked at Asira. “Be careful he’s starting to make even me nervous…” she bowed once and melted back through the door after handing the documents to Asira’s brother and closed it before either could speak. They both knew who she was and what she did, they also knew that she didn’t like to talk much unless she was giving a report which was almost always late at night when everyone else was asleep. She would leave them to make the decisions about the writings she just hoped the woman would be careful.
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Post by Skye on Feb 12, 2006 16:30:55 GMT -5
Asira watched Meskhenet leave, only to look to her older brother, Reign. "What is it?" Asira went to her brothers side. "Don't know..." He opened it up to see writings, it was a journal of someones. "Father..." Asira narrowed her eyes, "this is Deodatus' journal." she whispered, how did Meskhenet get her hands on these? Asira would have to seek out Meskhenet herself and speak with her in private. "We have proof." Reign murmered, "it has everything in here... strange how it's not completed in some areas though." "Everything is in there?" Asira took a hold of the book and scanned through it, she gasped at the more recent entries, "you keep a hold of this." Asira gave it back to Reign, "it's too dangerous for it to be on me with Deodatus after me all the time." Reign nodded when suddenly his advisor, T'ylian, came to the door. "I must go for now dear sister, do be careful around here." Reign turned heel and grabbed his harp. Asira waited until her older brother was gone, then she left the room and began searching for Meskhenet
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Post by Kai! Kai! on Feb 12, 2006 17:22:12 GMT -5
(I hope you no mind about my small control Skye)
Meskhenet was laden down with fresh linen as she carried it from the lines across the main hall to the linen closet for later use. It was on her journey across the marble hall that Asira walked past her. “You servant,” Asira said in a commanding voice. “My rooms are in need of cleaning when your done with this duty go to my chambers and straighten them up,” Meskhenet nodded her head in understanding and continued on her way to deposit her load and get started on the room. She turned down another passage and then headed down the stairs to the servant’s quarters beneath the palace. She carried her load to the storage cupboard and deposited the clean linen before turning and collected the cleaning items she would need on her way towards Asira’s quarters. The room was empty when she arrived so Meskhenet started with her tidying, Asira might not have meant it in the matter of her rooms needing tidying but they did just the little. Moving with professional care she wiped down the desks straightened the beds blankets and sheets, fluffed the pillows and straightened anything else that was in need to tidying while she waited.
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Post by Skye on Feb 12, 2006 18:00:58 GMT -5
Asira walked into her room and paused at the doorway, looking at Meskhenet, turning around she shut the large wooden doors. "I must say i didn't expect you here so soon." Asira smiled and set a few things on her desk neatly. "Please, come sit." Asira's tone was alot nicer than earlier, and as she sat on the marble window frame she patted the spot beside her. Thin curtains blew in her room from the slight breeze that had picked up. Meskhenet sat beside Asira, waiting. "Where did you get it?" Asira's tone was nearly a whisper and she only hoped Meskhenet knew what she was talking about, she didn't want anyone to over hear what they were talking about, so she avoided saying her brothers name, and saying anything obvious that would give away the journal
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Post by Kai! Kai! on Feb 12, 2006 18:08:09 GMT -5
Meskhenet smiled ruefuly. "I read his journal and wrote it in my own hand so he wouldn't notice it missing. A picture perfect memory is a good thing ot have..." her voice was soft like a breeze across the desert sands as she sat down beside Asira. "I wish your brother would let me do soemthing more perminant to that godless pig...' Meskhenets dark eyes narrowed dangerously. 'I'm almost half tempted to do it withor without his orders but... work ethics.." she shruged helplessly. "There are many things missing in it I know but... thier detail was such that not evne Icould bring myself to write those words..." she shuddered and looked away. "theres still more I need to write but you'll have to wait people tend to notice hwen a 'slave' can read and write.... I must more carefuly or risk not just myself but the both of you.." she stood up and bowed formaly. "If you will excuse me... I have duties to preform for the celebration... its best I get bakc ot them beofree i'm missed." she slipped out of the room on silent feet her cleaning gear still in hand as she moved slipping once mroe inot her servant persona.
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Post by Skye on Feb 12, 2006 18:34:24 GMT -5
Asira grabbed something from her drawer and went out after her. She cleared her throat, and Meskhenet stopped to look back. Asira caught up and took a hold of Meskhenets hands. "Take this," she murmered and slid gold coins into the womans hands, "thank you... you be careful dear Meskhement." "M'lady, your mother wishes to see you." A servent bowed, "please follow me." Asira looked to Meskhement one last time then turned on her heel and went past her room and around the corner. Going down some stairs Asira followed the lady to yet another room and as she arrived she bowed her head. "You wanted to see me mother?" A tall woman turned to face Asira with a stern face, which lightened up into a smile. Cassia demanded huge respect. She had a history of violence, killed servants who didn't do their job properly and her strength was incredible for a woman. Asira came in where they exchanged kisses, "my dear daughter, we need to find something nice for you to wear tomorrow." Asira nodded, "yes, you have something picked out?" Asira eyed a beautiful red toga www.funfolly.com/g/c/ctog6rgd.jpg"Yes indeed, try it on." Cassia urged her daughter forward. Upon trying it on, servants began making alterations. "Thank you mother, although a little big i'm sure it will be ready for tomorrow?" Cassia nodded, "it will be waiting in your bedroom as you wake up." Asira thanked her mother once more and left, she was not interested in the toga, she wasn't interested in what her mother was wearing. Her mind was on that journal, the contents of it. She was angry with her mother, angry with Deodatus hopefully the game tomorrow would be able to take her mind off things.
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Post by Skye on Feb 12, 2006 22:49:35 GMT -5
The dining hall was rustling and bustling with preparations. A long wooden table was sat in the middle of the room with food being placed on it every minute. All types of meats, cheeses, fruits, breads, wines, everything, 'course only the hot meals were going to be brought out last. It was all being held for the gladiators who were going to bravely fight the next day. At the end off the long room were four stone stairs leading up to the royal families seats. Nero, Cassia, Reign, Deodatus, and Asira all had their own place to sit. There still was a little more time until the feast began none of the Royal family members were there yet and it was only the servants who were bringing out the food.
Asira stepped in quietly and took a look around at the preparations. They were coming along nicely.
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v
Trooper
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Post by v on Feb 13, 2006 14:22:12 GMT -5
Desert Raider: A small band of nomads, not very familar with the common tongue, or the whole concept of civilisation, yet important none the less. Most Desert Raiders are extremely skilled with the bow, though some have taken to close combat more recently. They have something of a 'mutual friendship' with anyone who is prepared to trade with them, offering their services or finely crafted bows in exchange for swords or knowledge of metallurgy. It has proved more or less impossible to sucessfully integrate them into the Roman Society, and all attempts to erradicate them fail. Desert Raiders are, put simply, too impatient, and too 'wild' to ever become full members of a civilised society. A Roman might decide he wants to do something, and spend a time working out the best way, a Desert Raider will simply go out and do it. Preferrably, in the most violent way possible.
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"Asira send." Draai grummbled as he handed the strange man at the city gates in chainmail armour. Draai was dressed in the hides of various animal he had caught on his way to the city, coupled with a few pieces of flesh from anyone who had annoyed him on his way there. The Legionairre began reading through the message, the words large and simple, assumably to ensure Draai would actually read it rather that just ignoring it. Though where the messanger was who had delivered the letter was? That was probably better left unasked. Draai shifted impatiently, fidgetting on the spot waiting for the Legionairre to let him in. To try and stall for time he ran his finger through his long, matted hair.
"Yes, you may enter, and lets keep this as civil as possible." The Legionairre finnaly stated before stepping sideways to allow Draai in.
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Post by Skye on Feb 14, 2006 19:45:44 GMT -5
Asira soon left the hall only to be met by a Centurion, "There is someone who wishes to see you... a Desert Raider." Asira looked to the Centurion in suprise, "...really..." The Centurion lead her to closer to the front of the palace and she spotted a man in furs and flesh as they approached...
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v
Trooper
Posts: 188
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Post by v on Feb 16, 2006 9:58:09 GMT -5
When Draai saw Asira approach he instantly stiffened his body, forcing his chest outwards, and, using his left arm, opened his clothes slightly, opening up a small patch of exposed flesh where his heart was. An ancient Sand-Raider custom, designed not to show bravdo, but instead to symbolize a level of trust to the approaching party. While few Sand-Raiders wore any armour, the clothes were sufficently symbolic to make the point. She nodded before raising her head up slightly, exposing her throat.
The centurion retreated slightly, though stayed within listening distance of Asira, he was clearly more intimidated by the sight of a Desert Raider than she. That said, most after hearing tales of their savagery and violent tempers, wouldn't want to risk angering one.
"Asira trouble here." Draai mummbled, his voice creaking slightly from dis-use and his throat clearly dry. "Draai come. Help." He added, before cocking his head slightly to the left as if to indicate the bow strapped to his body.
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Post by Skye on Feb 16, 2006 17:28:04 GMT -5
"Trouble ye say." she looked to her feet then up to the man, "please, come with me." The Centurion followed the two, when they passed soldiers, they eyed Draai suspiciously. They both entered Asira's room where she kindly asked a servant to get some water and a tray of snacks for the visitor. She closed her doors enough to leave a little space, only to allow the Centurions to glance in if they feel she is in danger. "Draai, why am I in trouble?" she looked out her window, only turning to face him.
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v
Trooper
Posts: 188
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Post by v on Feb 16, 2006 17:49:03 GMT -5
"Trouble." He stated again, a slight note of frustration in his voice, before he pulled the tattered paper once again from inside his furs and slammed it onto the table. The paper had clearly been heavily worn during him transporting it, and rather than being neatly folded, it seemed he had stolen the paper, there was clear evidence of dried blood around the sides, discolouring the paper, though not destroying its content. A perfectly rendered image of Asira, framed in swirling, ornate paterns, with a small note beneath.
100 acres of land and 2,000 gold pieces to the man whom brings this head to the table of Hannibal.
She looked at it for a moment, eyes widening before looking back to Draai, a feeling deep inside her, if only for a moment, that this might be some form of ritual of him stating he was intending to take her head. Yet she quickly managed to remove the thought, Rome had an, understanding, with the Sand Raiders, most of which had been through her work. As if reading her next thought, Draai stopped for a moment, brow furrowing in concentration before speaking.
"Find on nasty man in gold and silver. He have curvey sword and big hat." It took a brief moment for the impact of Draais statement to sink in. Those were the colours of the Colera assasins, an organisation based somewhere in Persia, though where no one had ever discovered. The Colera and the Desert-Raiders had long since been enemies, likely because the Colera had been hired several times to try and wipe them out. That and one things the Desert-Raiders were very good at was holding a grudge.
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Post by Skye on Feb 16, 2006 17:56:45 GMT -5
The servant came striding in after being allowed to enter. Setting a silver tray of breads, cheeses and cold meats such as ham, Asira nodded to the assortment of food, where a pitcher of water and a silver goblet stood waiting. "Please, help yourself." She sat on the edge of her bed, thinking, this is quite the situation. "What am I gonna do..." she sighed, "i'm going to have to let mother and father know, they'll know the best plan of action." She looked over Draai, "I should ask if you can stay for dinner in return for your services. We will be having the gladiators in the main hall for dinner as well."
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Post by Kai! Kai! on Feb 16, 2006 21:37:31 GMT -5
Meskhenet had been busy for most of the day though when she began to hear whispers of a man wearing furs and skin for clothing, her intrest in her chores began to slacken. Meskhenet knew the description of a Desert Raider when she heared it. The desert Raider according to gossip had come to see Asira That caught her intrest even more but meskhenet was a professional she restrained her curiosity and continued her work. Gossip was thick enough in the palace, she'd find out what she needed by listening.
When she had finnished her work for the upcoming party Meskhenet returned to her normal chores and waited for an opertunity to find out what the Desert Raider had come to say to Asira, she would either find out through gossip or from Asira herself. Time enough to wait.
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