nextgen_parent (nextgen_parent) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2012-02-13 01:14:00

Entry tags:

antaeus, iron dragon, jenny woolverton, nicholas salem, perenawska, plot-"a study in stealing", team - champions

Unexpected Visitor
Lucius Antonius Aquilla rarely ventured out of the city of Nova Roma deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, but his mission was quite urgent and had brought him New Orleans. His grandson Cornelius lived here with his teammates and Lucius needed their help.

With little difficulty he made his way through the city and eventually came to the headquarters of the Champions. He double checked the address and satisfied that he was at the right place he knocked on the door.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-03 04:39 pm UTC (link)
	"If whoever took it is bad enough that I'll get anything, it will be where the dagger was held when it was stolen." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

nextgen_parent
2012-03-03 11:17 pm UTC (link)

"Welcome to Nova Roma," Lucius said after he stepped through the portal. Beyond them a marble city rose up out of the jungle. The architecture of the buildings was dominated by graceful columns and carved statues and many fountains splashed water throughout the city. A wide open square was in the middle of the city where people went about their daily lives.

"This way," Lucius said and started leading them toward the middle of the city.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-04 04:28 am UTC (link)
	Nick follows along, but cautiously. This is a place of different gods, different emotions, different sins and standards than he's used to, and the demon is definitely stirring. He just hopes that whatever the sins of the thieves, its worse than any of the locals when he tries to tap into the Rider's power. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma sandcastlegod 2012-03-04 11:38 pm UTC (link)
	Corey just enjoys breathing that home air for a moment. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma irondragon 2012-03-04 11:54 pm UTC (link)
	Rose finds herself in awe of this place. It's very pretty. She is though also careful to not offend with the looks she keeps sending ever which way. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-05 01:13 am UTC (link)
	"Alright, I know its sacred and all, but I'm going to need to see where the knife was held, asap." He wants to get this over with. Entering holy ground can kind of suck. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-05 01:28 am UTC (link)
	"Actually we are going to the Curia," Lucius said. "The knife was kept in there to remind us that we shall always be a republic." They got some stares as they walked through the city, but not too many. Outsiders had been to Nova Roma before. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma sandcastlegod 2012-03-05 03:26 am UTC (link)
	Considering the lack of separation of church and state, Corey's not positive that Nick won't be a little weirded out in the curia, but he hopes not. He smiles at people as they go by. "Just... get what you can. Do things like betrayal of the public trust ping you, or just the more normal kinds of wrongdoing?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

vicious_cycle
2012-03-05 03:28 am UTC (link)

"The intent behind it, people hurt by it, and relative trauma of the hurt matter more than specific deeds." he responds. More open about how it works, but in matter-of-fact tone, than usual. If there's something he needs to be worried about, best they have warning.

"If it was simple greed, I may not get anything at all. If there was some great and sinister intent... then it might rise above a lot of the casual sins here. Either way... this is a risk."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma irondragon 2012-03-05 03:53 am UTC (link)
	"Then we will be there to help you Nick," Rose says with that calm and reassuring tone she uses. She knows that they have to be here to support him and she will do her best. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

nextgen_parent
2012-03-06 10:19 pm UTC (link)

Lucius led them through the city to a building in the center. He led them up the marble steps and into the building. It was a short walk to a small chamber just off the main senate chamber.

"The knife was kept in here," he said. There was a small pedestal in the center of the room where the knife once sat. "As you can see we do not have any security measures. This was not done by a citizen of the city."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

vicious_cycle
2012-03-10 12:55 am UTC (link)

Whatever the nature of the place, the knife is sacred to these people. Even not knowing it, he can feel its lack. The place somehow less spiritual than it ought to be.

He's also getting something - though he's not precisely sure what yet, as he approaches the pedestal.

"No. Definitely by an outsider. I'm not sure where its gone yet, but whatever was here is definitely not in the area anymore..." he starts, focusing his attention, closing his eyes.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma irondragon 2012-03-10 01:14 am UTC (link)
	Rose lingers a little ways from Nick. She doesn't wish to disrupt him. She is though aware that the balance of this place feels of. The people she saw on their way to this building looked tense. This worried her a bit. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma sandcastlegod 2012-03-10 03:25 am UTC (link)
	Corey just bit his lip in thought. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-10 04:09 am UTC (link)
	"Do you think you can find who's responsible?" Lucius asked. "There were a few witnesses if you need to speak to them." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

vicious_cycle
2012-03-10 08:12 am UTC (link)

"Witnesses won't help. I'm not a detective. I'm a bit of a mystic, which is what I'm working with now - but the real trick is going to be when and if we decide to let the Rider loose. If so, I'll home in on the greatest source of sin in the area, whether its the knife or not - and regardless if its the thieves, or a native, I won't be able to stop, be reasoned with, or anything else. So I'm trying every finders trick I know before getting to that - then I'll let you decide if you want to take the risk."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma sandcastlegod 2012-03-10 03:00 pm UTC (link)
	"Anything else weird being going on, Grandfather?" Corey asks. Maybe they'll have to resort to talking to witnesses in a normal way, but it's hard to track anything through that route. But they /definitely/ don't want to do the rider thing if there's been any trouble at home that could...distract him. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma irondragon 2012-03-10 08:00 pm UTC (link)
	"Perhaps I could be of more use here?" She offers a slim smile. "I am not as experienced in these matters as I would like to be but I do know how to question people. I am more of a.... warrior than a detective though so my questions may lack the depth we need." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-11 12:58 am UTC (link)
	"Nothing that I can think of," he said to Corey. He looked at Nick warily. "I think maybe as a last resort, Mr. Salem. We are only human and even though we have different gods, we are not free of sin." He smiled at Rose. "Maybe it would be best that you and my grandson talk to the witnesses." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

vicious_cycle
2012-03-11 01:26 pm UTC (link)

Nick nods firmly. "That's what I was trying to warn people about in New Orleans. Those two will put people off less than I do. Is there somewhere I can have a couple drinks and read up everything you have on the knife, so I can try working on the low-level mysticism research route a little while they go the diplomatic route?"

Because, well, A) it might work, even if probably not, and B) he could really use a drink.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma sandcastlegod 2012-03-11 05:11 pm UTC (link)
	"You can go to our place. I know Mom keeps some extra raisinwine around. Strongest stuff in Nova Roma. Can't stand it myself." He smiles at Rose. "Okay. I don't know anything about detectiving, but I do know everybody, and I can help you with the latin." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma irondragon 2012-03-11 09:46 pm UTC (link)
	She gives Corey a half bow. "Thank you. I will need you to translate as best you can. I do not want to probe deeper than I must. But it is logic and reasoning I must tap into so that we may find out as much as we can... and you may think of questions I would not." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-11 10:46 pm UTC (link)
	"Raisinwine, huh? Ok, I'll take you up on that. If you guys want to get me what books you can that deal with this, I'll work on the mystic angle a bit, and stay out of your way otherwise." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-11 11:27 pm UTC (link)
	"While you eat and have a drink, I will get what information we have on Lucretia's knife," Lucius said as he led Nick out. "We will leave Cornelius and the lovely lady to their work." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-12 01:43 am UTC (link)
	"Sounds good. What magic I know is mostly minor ritual. After researching, I may need a couple things. Nothing too big - we'll see what I find. Do you still have anything that might have a sympathetic connection to the knife? The cloth it rested on, something associated with its legend, that sort of thing?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)