Triumphed Over/Dialogues

**You are now experiencing the story in third-person view.**
In a ship near the Roman cost...

* + Norah (disgusted; holding a dress): You expect me to wear THIS?!
	+ Kaleb (appeasing): Look... I know you may not like it, but we want to blend in with the Roman citizens and for this we have to dress the part!
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Why do I have to dress like some ditzy socialite?! Why can’t I be a warrior, like you?!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Shirley told me that the Romans are quite... old-fashioned. So you dressing in men’s clothes would not make sense to them...
	+ Norah (pissed): This is stupid! Screw them! I won’t be caught dead wearing that thing!
	+ Kaleb (covering his face): ....
	+ Kaleb (thinking): Actually... Now that I think of it, maybe I have a solution... But I’m not sure if you’d like to hear it...
	+ Norah (serious): Will it save me from wearing a dress? If so, you have my attention!
	+ Kaleb (nervous grin): Well... You have short hair, broad shoulders and we easily hide your breasts behind a chest plate. So I thought... Maybe we could pass you as a manle-
	+ Norah (offended): Are you trying to tell me I look like a bloke?!
	+ Kaleb (sweating): What?! N-no- What I meant is, well... I thought you may like this option a lot better!
	+ Norah (eye rolling): I guess it’s either that or I’ll have to put up to wearing dresses, ugh....

Meanwhile, Shirley is dressing up Marionette...

* + Marionette (curious): Have they always fought like this?
	+ Shirley (concerned): They did have their fights on the past but it was mostly with good grace. But lately, it doesn’t seem like they stand each other’s presence, especially in Dame Cambright’s part...
	+ Marionette (eye rolling): I can’t say I blame her...
	+ Shirley (sweet smile): Anyway, I’m done putting on your dress. What do you think?
	+ Marionette (confident): I think I look lovely. Lets wait for the others to dress up and see what they think...

After they were all done dressing up...

* + Marionette (cheerful): How do I look?
	+ Norah (winking): I think you look gorgeous! Teal certainly is your color!
	+ Marionette (flattered): Aw thank you!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): You look alright. But I was hoping you’d rid of that necklace and wear a gold one in its place.
	+ Marionette (crossing her arms): And why so?
	+ Kaleb (shrugging his shoulders): I just don’t think it looks good with your dress!
	+ Marionette (defensive): I think I look great and Madelina was nice enough to lend it to me!
	+ Norah (grinning): So that’s a gift from Madelina, huh? You know, I’m really starting to think there’s something going on between you two...
	+ Marionette (awkward grin): What?! No! We’re just friends.
	+ Norah (innocent smirk): Sureeeeeeeeeeee... That’s why you choose to wear a rhinestone necklace she gave you over one made of real jewelr-
	+ Kaleb (impatient): Can we focus on the mission now?!
	+ Norah (pissed): In case you haven’t noticed, this is OUR quest, we get to decide when to start!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Oh yes, my apologies. Tell me when do you want to start.
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): So, what’s your plan?
	+ Kaleb (serious): First, you need to learn your names. I will go by the name Callicrates. Norah, your name will be Marinus Patricius and you Marionette will be called Marina Patricia.
	+ Marionette (unimpressed): Marina Patricia? Seriously?
	+ Kaleb (awkward grin): That was the first name that came from the top of my head...
	+ Norah (confused): Why does my name sound so similar to Marionette’s?!
	+ Kaleb (annoyed): Lets just get straight to the point. You and Marionette have a resemblance, not a very strong one but it is noticeable enough to pass you both as siblings...
	+ Kaleb (serious): So here’s the story, the two of you are nobles from far away, and you were taught in a young age about your Roman heritage..
	+ Kaleb (confident): You two then meet Shirley and she tells you that the Roman Empire is still thriving, so you decide to sail all the way to Rome to reconnect with your roots!
	+ Marionette (curious): What about you? What are you to us?
	+ Kaleb (shrugging his shoulders): Me? I’ll just act like your bodyguard! Any other questions?
	+ Norah (confused): Yeah... When we get there, where exactly are we going to stay at, genius?
	+ Kaleb (blushing): I... Didn’t think that part through. But surely they have inns there or we could always crash at Shirley’s place?
	+ Shirley (shocked): My place?!
	+ Kaleb (curious): You’ve got a family there, right? They won’t mind if we stay with them for a few days, would they?
	+ Shirley (panicking): I wish I could help you with your quest, but you simply can not be seen with you! I need to stay at the ship!
	+ Norah (laughing): Why? Are you a convict there!
	+ Shirley (sweating): Ye- I mean, no, not really but... I wasn’t exactly honest about who I am, the truth is-
	+ Marionette (shocked): Norah! Kaleb!
	+ Kaleb (serious): What’s the problem, Marie?
	+ Marionette (shocked): There’s a ship outside, I think it’s coming for us!
	+ Norah (grinning): Looks like they came for a friendly chat, why don’t we go and greet the-

The other ships bumps into their ship!

* + Marionette (startled): Ah!
	+ Norah (dizzy): Alright, they definitely didn’t come here for a chat!
	+ Kaleb (pissed): Fuck! We’re under attack!

Suddenly Roman soldiers start filling the ship...

* + Soldiers (battlecry): Venus Victrix!
	+ Marionette (shocked): What do we do?!
	+ Kaleb (serious): You stay inside with Shirley, Norah and I will fight them off!
	+ Marionette (worried): Good luck...

After a couple of minutes...

* + Shirley (hopeful): I don’t hear swords clashing anymore. Do you think... They’re gone?
	+ Marionette (worried): Either that or something nasty happened to our friends....
	+ Shirley (shocked): Someone’s getting inside the ship!
	+ Marionette (serious): Quick, we need to hide!

Shirley hides inside a chest, while Marionette gets inside the wardrobe and she could see a man entering the cabin....

* + Carolus (curious): Hello? Anyone in here?

The man senses something moving in the chest...

* + Carolus (observing): Hmmm...
	+ Marionette (shocked): Shit... He’s getting close to Shirley, I can’t let him catch her!
	+ Marionette (sweating): I’ve got a gun with me, but if I shoot him I’ll just draw attention and more soldiers will come...

Marionette notices a dagger inside the closet...

* + Marionette (thinking): Maybe I could stab him. He looks like he could easily take me down, but if I act swiftly I could perhaps take him by surprise...
	+ Marionette (hopeful): Well, it’s now or never!

Marionette barges out of the wardrobe and runs to stab the soldier who immediately takes her down...

* + Carolus (grinning): Who do we have here? Aren’t you a pretty thing?
	+ Marionette (pissed): Let me go! You-

Marionette bites the soldier’s hand...

* + Carolus (hurt): Ow...
	+ Carolus (serious): I see you’re a fighter. Hopefully some time in a cell will tame you a little...

The soldier holds her tighter and drags her with the rest of her friends...

* + Soldiers (Soldier 1; grinning): Who’s that beauty you have with you, Caesar? I hope you’re not planning to keep her for yourself?
	+ Marionette and Carolus (Carolus; eye rolling): Do whatever you wish with her, but be careful, she bites...
	+ Soldiers (Soldier 2; smirking): Pretty and can fight? Sounds like my type of woman!
	+ Norah (shocked): Did that soldier just call him Caesar?
	+ Kaleb (interested): Interesting... I thought the Caesar dynasty was wiped out...

Marionette was forced to sit next to Norah and Kaleb...

* + Marionette (serious): Who are you?!
	+ Carolus (pissed): I’m the one who’s asking the questions here, woman!
	+ Carolus (serious): But to feed your curiosity, I am Gaius Claudius Caesar Messalinus Carolus, otherwise known as Carolus for short. I’m the commander here...
	+ Carolus (demanding): Now who are YOU?!
	+ Marionette (fierce): Marina Patricia...

Carolus looks at the others...

* + Norah (deepening her voice): Marinus Patricius...
	+ Kaleb (calm): Callicrates.
	+ Soldiers (Soldier 3; laughing): Oh! So you’re Romans! Commander, it looks like we’ve attacked them for nothin-
	+ Carolus (pissed): SILENCE!
	+ Carolus (serious): I don’t buy this! If you are Romans, how come I haven’t seen you nor do you know who I am?
	+ Norah (awkward grin): If you let us talk, we could explai-
	+ Carolus (bored): Save it. I’ll take you to my father, he’ll decide what to do with you.
	+ Norah (confused): Your father?
	+ Carolus (serious): The emperor.
	+ Norah (blushing): Oh...

The soldiers begin tying up the team, not noticing Shirley who was sneaking behind them...

* + Shirley (calming down): It’s okay Shirley, there’s a boat there. You just need to get to it and you can row away....
	+ Shirley (hopeful): On 3. 1... 2....
	+ Shirley (confident): 3!

Shirley runs to the boat but trips...

* + Shirley (hurt): Ow!
	+ Soldier 4 and 5 (Soldier 5; curious): Do you hear this?!
	+ Soldier 4 and 5 (Soldier 4; serious): Hey! Where do you think you’re going?!
	+ Shirley (startled): AHHHHHHHHHHH!
	+ Carolus (pissed): Where’s that scream coming from?!
	+ Soldier 4 and 5 (Soldier 5; calling): Commander Carolus! We found someone else on the ship!

Carolus spots Shirley....

* + Shirley (covering her face): Oh no...
	+ Carolus (grinning): Are my eyes fooling me, or could that be...
	+ Shirley (nervous): ...
	+ Carolus (smirking): Sherise...
	+ Shirley (defeated): ...
	+ Carolus (serious): Tie her up.
	+ Shirley (panicking): AHHHHHHH! NOOOOOOOOO!
	+ Norah (shouting): Don’t worry Shirley! We’re coming for you!
	+ Marionette (hopeful): That’s if we made it out ourselves...

Meanwhile at the palace, a young maiden is looking out of one of the windows...

* + Audenzia (singing): Are you, are you, coming to the tree. They strung up a man they say who murdered three.
	+ Audenzia (singing): Strange things did happen here. No stranger would it be. If we met at midnight, in the hanging tre-

The maiden notices the guards escorting prisoners...

* + Carolus and the guards (serious): ...
	+ Audenzia (nosy): ....

Out of curiosity, the maiden looks at the prisoners and one of them caught her attention...

* + Kaleb (calm): ...
	+ Audenzia (blushing): ...

The maiden stares at Kaleb until he catches her looking...

* + Kaleb (wary): Huh?
	+ Audenzia (startled): Ah!

The maiden quickly hides behind the curtains...

* + Kaleb (shocked): Hey-

One of the soldiers pokes him with a spear...

* + Kaleb (startled): Ow!
	+ Soldiers 4 and 5 (Soldier 4; serious): Keep moving!

Kaleb obeys and keeps moving, and the maiden tries to peek again...

* + Audenzia (searching): ...
	+ Claudilla (impatient): AUDENZIA!
	+ Audenzia (startled): Ah!

Audenzia quickly turns away from the window, to the lady calling for her...

* + Audenzia (sweating): Y-yes, milady?
	+ Claudilla (crossing her arms): What are you doing?
	+ Audenzia (blushing): N-nothing, I was just enjoying the view-
	+ Claudilla (eye rolling): Well, if you’re slacking off, I want you to light up the brazier, it’s freezing in here!
	+ Audenzia (bowing): As you wish, milady.

Audenzia goes to get a sack of coal...

* + Audenzia (carrying a sack of coal): ...
	+ Ladies-in-waiting (Lady 1; sipping wine): So, spill the wine! What were you going to tell us?
	+ Ladies-in-waiting (Lady 2; excited): Please tell us! We’re dying to know!
	+ Claudilla (self-assured): Well... I got engaged...
	+ Ladies-in-waiting (cheering): AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
	+ Audenzia (startled): Ah!

The screams startle Audenzia who accidentally pours a high amount of coal in the the brazier...

* + Ladies-in-waiting (Lady 3; nosy): We’re so happy for you! Who’s the lucky guy?!
	+ Ladies-in-waiting (Lady 1; eye rolling): Don’t tell us it’s one of those old fat men at the senate! My dad expects me to marry one of those time lords!
	+ Claudilla (eye rolling): Absolutely not! My father hates them! I’m getting married to Carolus!
	+ Ladies-in-waiting (Lady 2; shocked): COMMANDER Carolus?! No way!
	+ Claudilla (smirking): You heard me correctly and when my father dies, he will become emperor and I will be his queen!
	+ Ladies-in-waiting (Lady 3; raising her wine glass): Oh, Claudilla! You will make such a great queen!
	+ Audenzia (bitter): ...

Audenzia was getting annoyed by the talk of engagement, she doesn’t realize that she put too much coal on the brazier until a hot coal falls on the carpet...

* + Audenzia (blushing): Oops...

The carpet lights on fire...

* + Burning carpet: ...
	+ Audenzia (startled): Ah!
	+ Claudilla (sniffing): Girls, do you smell this?

Claudilla and her ladies-in-waiting see the fire....

* + Ladies-in-waiting (scared): AHHHHHHHHHHHH!
	+ Claudilla (angry): AUDENZIA! What the hell have you done?!
	+ Audenzia (sweating): I’m so sorry! I-I’ll put it out...

Audenzia steps on the fire, causing it to go away...

* + Claudilla (shocked): My carpet...
	+ Audenzia (panicking): I’m so sorry, milady! I wasn’t paying attention and-
	+ Claudilla (furious): You good-for-nothing bastard! GET OUT OF MY ROOM!
	+ Audenzia (startled): Ah!

Audenzia immediately leaves the room for Claudilla to calm down...

The main group are seen in a cage....

* + Marionette (covering her face): That is one way to start our quest. Now I wish we went to Italy instead...
	+ Norah (impatient): What do you think those fuckers are doing to Shirley? What did she even do to them?
	+ Kaleb (thinking): Judging by how the commander was interacting with her, I’m guessing she must’ve been a palace slave before fleeing the empire...
	+ Marionette (shocked): You think slavery is in practice here?!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Shirley mentioned that the Romans are still living in the past, and if we the Greeks are enslaving our criminals, I bet you the Romans are doing the same or worse...

Suddenly soldiers came to get them...

* + Soldiers (Soldier 1; serious): I hope you enjoyed your stay, the emperor will be deciding what to do with you!
	+ Norah (pissed): What have you done to our friend?!
	+ Soldiers (Soldier 2; demanding): Any questions you have, you can save it for the emperor. Now get moving!
	+ Kaleb (serious): It’s better than we listen to them, we don’t want to do anything that could trigger the palace.

The group follow the guys who drop them at the throne room.

* + Guards (Guard 1; serious): Wait here, the emperor will be coming to see you. Don’t try anything funny when he gets there!

The guards leave the room...

* + Norah (confused): Is that the throne room? It looks pretty small compared to Lea’s.
	+ Kaleb (admiring): But very regal...

Marionette looks around the throne room and found herself drawn to the ornaments...

* + Marionette (resisting): I need... To take control of myself, if I steal anything I could get us all killed...
	+ Marionette (holding her head): Ugh... Why do I have to be like this!
	+ Kaleb (curious): Marionette, is everything alright there?
	+ Marionette (covering her face): Yes. I-I’m fine-
	+ Marionette (shocked): Wait! There’s someone sitting on the throne!
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Looks like the emperor is already here, lets go talk and get this over with!

**You are now playing as Marionette Patrick.**

## Chapter 1

* Investigate the throne room (Victim identified: Emperor Claudius Messalinus)
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): So our lives are on the line, and that dude has the nerve to sleep? Rude much?!
	+ Kaleb (sweating): Norah, I don’t think that man is asleep... I think he’s dead...
	+ Norah (blushing): Oh-
	+ Kaleb (nervous): And judging by the the golden laurel crown he’s wearing, I presume that this is emperor! If we get caught near the body we will be in big troubl-
	+ Carolus (scratching his head): The emperor is nowhere in the palace, so I guess this means you’re stuck with me...
	+ Carolus (serious): Now I warn you, I have a sword, if you try anything with me I will-
	+ Carolus (shocked): FATHER!
	+ Norah (sweating): I guess this confirms your judgement!
	+ Carolus (furious): You have a lot to explain for!
* Convince Carolus you are innocent (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the throne room)
	+ Carolus (angry): I’m done playing games now! Tell me who are you, where are you from and who sent you to attack our empire!
	+ Norah (awkward grin): Look man, I know that you’re mad your father died and whatever. But I promise you we came here in peace, I swear we didn’t kill the emperor!
	+ Carolus (pissed): Then how did he die? Do you expect me to believe an assassin broke in the palace, murdered my father, and escaped without anyone seeing him?!
	+ Norah (rolling her eyes): Dude, come on! Your dad was clearly poisoned, do you an idea how long that takes to kill? There’s no way we could’ve killed him in such a short notice, clearly someone came before us and did the deed!
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): You actually do make a point...
	+ Norah (grinning): Now you see my friend... We’ve done detective work in the past and if you give us time, we could find you the real killer and perhaps, you could see that we aren’t here to make an enemy out of you...
	+ Carolus (pissed): I do not trust you. But I’ll give you a chance your innocence. But if you don’t get me the killer by sunset, you’ll be the one to pay the price. Have I made myself clear?
	+ Norah (nervous grin): Crystal. But before you go, I have one question...
	+ Norah (innocent smirk): You gave us permission to handle your father’s murder. But we’re new here and know nothing about the emperor. Can you tell us more about him. Like what’s his name? Where he spent most of his time at?
	+ Carolus (serious): His name is Emperor Gaius Claudius Caesar Messalinus, but most people know him as Claudius Messalinus, or simply Messalinus.
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): He likes to spend most of his time at his office. It is where he meets people and does his paperwork...
	+ Carolus (pissed): Now remember our deal, you’ve got until sunset and if I don’t get my father’s murderer, I will be the one deciding your punishment!

Carolus leaves them alone...

* + Kaleb (shocked): I have no idea how you pulled that off!
	+ Norah (looking at her nails): It’s called charisma, darling. You should really practice it...
	+ Norah (confident): But anyway, the brat said the emperor spend most of his time at his office, so if we want to find anything about his enemies, we should really be going there!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): I for one am really excited at taking a look at his study. Lets go!
* Investigate the victim’s office (Pre-request: Convince Carolus you are innocent)
	+ Norah (shocked): The emperor was clearly a very busy person, if I had this amount of paperwork I would’ve died of boredom!
	+ Kaleb (curious): Marionette... What did you put your hands on this time...
	+ Kaleb (thinking): A bracelet? And it looks like it’s for a woman’s wrists, what’s it doing here?
	+ Norah (curious): Maybe it has the owner’s name carved in the ring?
	+ Kaleb (observing): I don’t see any signs of i-

Kaleb notices someone spying on them...

* + Kaleb (calling): Hey! You! Show yourself!
	+ Audenzia (startled): Ah!
	+ Norah (shocked): Woah, chill out! It’s just a girl, you’re not here to harm us, right?
	+ Audenzia (sweating): N-no...
	+ Kaleb (serious): Whatever you’re here for, we’d like to have a talk with you!
* Ask the lady to identify herself (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the victim’s office)
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): So young lady, would you mind sharing your name with us?
	+ Audenzia (blushing): My name is Audenzia Diodora... I-I work here as a lady-in-waiting...
	+ Norah (grinning): That sounds like a very prestigious position, and you look very pretty too, I certainly hope your mistress is treating you well.
	+ Audenzia (crossing her arms): I get treated better than the slaves, that’s for sure...
	+ Kaleb (curious): Do you have a habit of spying at people?
	+ Audenzia (blushing): What?!
	+ Kaleb (confused): I’m pretty sure I caught you staring at us earlier from one of the windows!
	+ Audenzia (awkward grin): You saw me...? My lady often complains about how nosy I am, she says it is very unladylike of me...
	+ Norah (offended): What?! That is bullshit! How is it bad to be curious and since when was it associated with manhood?!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): There’s nothing wrong with looking for answers, but some things are none of your business, *Marinus*.
	+ Audenzia (shy): Forgive me if I’m being too intrusive, but... Since I told you my name, is it okay if you told me who you are!
	+ Norah (winking): Of course not, my name is *Marinus Patricius* and that here is my lovely and beautiful sister, *Marina*!
	+ Audenzia (curious): What about him?
	+ Norah (thinking): Who? That dickhead? What did you say your name is again?
	+ Kaleb (eye rolling): *Callicrates*.
	+ Audenzia (awkward grin): It’s a pleasure to meet you all! But if you don’t mind me being invasive, may I ask what you are doing here? I’m pretty sure I saw the guards taking you prisoners...
	+ Norah (innocent smirk): Technically we still are under imprisonment, but the commander decided to let us go for a while to find out killed the fucking emperor.
	+ Audenzia (shocked): The emperor is dead?!
	+ Kaleb (confused): Weren’t you told? I thought the word have spread through the palace by now?
	+ Norah (thinking): Since you’re just learning about this now, mind if you tell us more about the emperor? As a lady-in-waiting, I expect that you met him a few times...
	+ Audenzia (sad): I did. He often invited me at dinner to eat pork with the Imperial family. He was very nice and it’s devastating to know that we lost him...
	+ Norah (curious): Seeing that you’re familiar with the palace, do you happen to know who this bracelet belongs to? We found it inside the emperor’s office!
	+ Audenzia (remembering): I do! This is Nefertiti’s bracelet!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Nefertiti? So that is a stolen Egyptian artifact?
	+ Audenzia (awkward grin): Oh no! I don’t mean THAT Nefertiti! I’m taking about Nefertiti from the emperor’s harem!
	+ Kaleb (blushing): A harem?
	+ Norah (grinning): Interesting...... Thanks for letting us know. *Marina*, why don’t we go and give this respectful lady a visit...
* Inform Nefertiti of her master’s demise (1 star; Pre-request: Ask the lady to identify)
	+ Norah (winking): You must be the beautiful Nefertiti, a very fitting name I must sa-
	+ Nefertiti (shocked): MAN! How did they allow inside the sacred harem!
	+ Norah (nervous grin): Hey! Look, I’m not here to make moves on your or anything!
	+ Norah (grinning): But I must say you’ve got a nice pair of milker-
	+ Nefertiti (offended): How dare you speak this way with me! If you don’t leave that instant I’ll call the guards on y-
	+ Norah (nervous grin): I’m just kidding! Geez, learn how to take a joke!
	+ Nefertiti (looking at her nails): What exactly do you want from me?
	+ Norah (thinking): First, we came to return this bracelet to you. Lady Diodora said it was yours.
	+ Nefertiti (shocked): My bracelet! I must have misplaced it while paying the emperor a visit at his office!
	+ Norah (grinning): And I wonder what you two were doing during you brief “visit”.
	+ Nefertiti (crossing her arms): What the emperor and I do behind closed doors are none of your concerns. And speaking of you, you know he doesn’t allow other men to seek his concubines?
	+ Norah (innocent smirk): You don’t have to worry about him, cause the old man’s gone anyway!
	+ Nefertiti (shocked): He’s dead?! But that can’t be happening! He was going to ask me to marry him!
	+ Norah (confused): The emperor was planning to marry you?
	+ Nefertiti (innocent smirk): I don’t know for sure... But a little bird told me that he’s finally planning to settle down and find himself a second wife...
	+ Nefertiti (smirking): And it’s only reasonable that he chooses someone from the harem, and I just happen to be his favorite concubina and the most likely candidate of being his queen!
	+ Nefertiti (eye rolling): But it looks like my ambitions of ruling Rome have come to a crash!
* Autopsy victim’s body (Killer attribute: The killer handles snakes; Killer attribute: The killer eats pork ribs)
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): Kaleb, I hope that you’re putting as much attention on that corpse as you’re putting on my sister’s.
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Don’t worry, I am. And I found some clues against his killer...
	+ Kaleb (serious): First, we know that the victim was poisoned. But it wasn’t ordinary poison, it was snake venom!
	+ Kaleb (shocked): And the killer didn’t just purchase extracted snake venom, I found a snake bite on his neck and judging by the mark I believe it was from an Egyptian cobra!
	+ Kaleb (serious): So for the killer to perform such a murder, I expect that they have experience in manhandling snakes!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): I also found traces of grease on the victim’s clothes which have come from pork ribs, and since his stomach didn’t have any at the time of his death, I’m confident it came from the killer!
	+ Norah (grinning): So the killer had to deal with snakes both in life and death? How poetic! Lets write that down on our notes!

Later...

* + Kaleb (covering his face): Marionette, I understand you’re mad about me turning you down, and I’m sorry for leading you on. But can we put this fight to rest? We need to be in fair terms if we wish to solve this case...
	+ Kaleb (thinking): We do know that the killer eats pork ribs and that girl we’ve spoken to mentioned it as a dish at the imperial family dinners, which we can assume is including Carolus...
	+ Kaleb (shrugging his shoulders): Now the real question, how do we figure out which of our suspects are snake charmers?
	+ Norah (smirking): It looks like you guys started talking without me, did I miss something?
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): You wouldn’t be missing anything if you had shown up earlier! Where exactly were you!
	+ Norah (shrugging her soldiers): Nothing, I was just talking to a few people on the streets...
	+ Norah (glad): And I found some interesting information regarding the emperor!

## Chapter 2

* + Kaleb (covering his face): Marionette, I understand you’re mad about me turning you down, and I’m sorry for leading you on. But can we put this fight to rest? We need to be in fair terms if we wish to solve this case...
	+ Kaleb (thinking): We do know that the killer eats pork ribs and that girl we’ve spoken to mentioned it as a dish at the imperial family dinners, which we can assume is including Carolus...
	+ Kaleb (shrugging his shoulders): Now the real question, how do we figure out which of our suspects are snake charmers?
	+ Norah (smirking): It looks like you guys started talking without me, did I miss something?
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): You wouldn’t be missing anything if you had shown up earlier! Where exactly were you!
	+ Norah (shrugging her soldiers): Nothing, I was just talking to a few people on the streets...
	+ Norah (glad): And I found some interesting information regarding the emperor!
	+ Kaleb (shocked): Then what are you waiting for? Tell us what it is!
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Alright, I’m getting to it! No need to rush me, geez!
	+ Norah (grinning): But what I learned from the people is that the emperor’s relationship with the senate is not really good... He’s apparently very unpopular there...
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Not surprising for me. Roman kings and emperors have always clashed with the senate back at the Ancient times...
	+ Kaleb (remembering): As a matter of fact, Julius Caesar himself was assassinated after being ambushed by the senators which led to a civil war where every single member of the senate involved in the murder was-
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Yeah yeah! We all heard that story! Now can I continue what I was about to say?
	+ Norah (serious): So yeah, I learned that the emperor was in bad terms with the senate and that he actually a row with them earlier this day!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): That doesn’t sound very good, do you think someone from the senate may have followed Messalinus to the palace and had him killed?
	+ Kaleb (serious): It’s possible, I think we ought give the senate a look inside!
* Investigate the senate.
	+ Kaleb (thinking): According to that board, the victim was scheduled to debate a senate by the name of Albertus Audentius Diodorus...
	+ Kaleb (confused): Audentius Diodorus? Isn’t that the name of the lady-in-waiting we’ve met at the palace?
	+ Kaleb (thinking): Assuming they are related, the senator must be acquainted with the emperor for her to receive such a high honor in the palace. It would be a good idea that we speak with him...
	+ Kaleb (curious): What’s that you have on your hands?
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Marionette, I know that you have trouble with kleptomania, but you can’t just grab any piece of jewelry that catches your eyes! We aren’t in Graecita anymore, you could lose your arms!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): This looks like a brooch and there’s a drawing of a man’s profile on the center.
	+ Kaleb (curious): Do you think the brooch was custom-made? And the drawing could be of the owner?
	+ Kaleb (curious): We need to identify that man. Have you found anything else?
	+ Kaleb (thinking): A book and it looks like its written in latin...
	+ Kaleb (shocked): And look! They circled on a line! “linguam autem nullus hominum domare potest; est intemperans malum, plenum veneno mortifero”, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison”!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): There’s no doubt the killer circles on this, and line seems familiar to me...
	+ Kaleb (serious): Maybe if I read more of the book, I could recollect my memory on where I heard it from!
* Ask Diodorus about his relationship with the victim (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the senate)
	+ Albertus (praying, behind a dish of pork ribs): Dear lord, thank thou for this food. Bless the hands that prepared it. Bless it to our use and us to you service, and make-
	+ Kaleb (blushing): Excuse us, my lor-
	+ Albertus (irritated): US ever mindful of the need of others. Through Christ our Lord we pray. AMEN.
	+ Albertus (pissed): Who are you and what are you doing at my estate?!
	+ Kaleb (sweating): The slaves told us we could get i-
	+ Albertus (crossing his arms): SERVANTS, I do not own slaves in this house and if you are hear to discuss politics, you can save it after lunch. Now screw off!
	+ Kaleb (curious): We’re not here to talk politics, we came for something else, but before we start, we have a question. Are you somehow related to an Audenzia Diodora?
	+ Albertus (crossing his arms): I am, she’s my niece.
	+ Kaleb (thinking): Nice. I assume you’ve heard about Messalinus’ assassination.
	+ Albertus (eye rolling): Who haven’t? The news spread through Rome like a wildfire!
	+ Kaleb (curious): Seeing that your niece is a lady-in-waiting, we wondering where your relationship with the emperor stands?
	+ Albertus (shrugging his shoulders): My relationship with the emperor was mostly professional. We didn’t really no each other outside work and I only applied to have my niece as a lady at the palace as I saw it beneficial for the family!
	+ Albertus (crossing his arms): But I found it ridiculous how much influence a family has when it comes to the good of the empire and I did clash many times with the emperor during our debates.
	+ Albertus (covering his face): But my opinions on his rule aside, I find it tragic what have happened to him...
* Identify the man on the brooch (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the senate)
	+ Kaleb (thinking): So the drawing on the brooch is of a man called Gaius Claudius Drusus Livius. He’s one of the newest members of the senate and...
	+ Kaleb (shocked): It says that he is the emperor’s nephew!
	+ Kaleb (serious): Being a relative of the victim makes him a prime suspect of the murder, we need to go talk to that senator!
* Talk to Livius (1 star; Pre-request: Identify the man on the brooch)
	+ Kaleb (thinking): You must be Gaius Livius. We came to speak with you about the emperor...
	+ Livius (shocked): I’m still at shock about the news! I can’t believe anyone would kill him!
	+ Kaleb (curious): If you are a public figure, you’re bound to make some enemies. We heard that he was your uncle?
	+ Livius (wiping his tears): He is. But he was more like a father figure to me! Ever since father died, he took me under his wings and taught me everything I needed to know about politics!
	+ Livius (sad): If it wasn’t for his teachings, I don’t think I would have gotten a place at the senate, and my family would have lost all the power we had!
	+ Kaleb (sympathetic): You seem to be close with your uncle, has he told you of any rivals he had?
	+ Livius (sweating): No. But sometimes arguments break out at the senate and they can get really scary with all the shouting...
	+ Livius (serious): I really hope you find out who killed the emperor and make them pay for what they’ve done!
* Analyze the bible (Killer attribute: The killer is a christian)
	+ Kaleb (glad): Marionette, I read a few passages of the book and no wonder it was so familiar to me!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): You see, my father was a Christian extremist! He would force his beliefs on me and my siblings, use outdated punishments on us and he owned a mental institution where he would try to “heal” people through exorcism!
	+ Kaleb (confident): The book we found is a bible and seeing that the line that was circled could be a reference to the murder, I believe this means our killer’s a christian!

Back at the palace...

* + Norah (curious): Sooooooooooooooooo... Did you guys mean any interesting individuals at the senate?
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): We’ve met two. One is the uncle of that girl who was peeking at us and even though his niece has an honorable position at the palace, he doesn’t seem to he fond of the emperor’s political choices...
	+ Kaleb (thinking): The other is a nephew of the emperors, and he seems to be saddened by his uncle’s death...
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): I wouldn’t buy into his crocodile tears, you and I know what kind of things certain people can do to their families...
	+ Kaleb (scratching his neck): Even if he had some deep hatred for his uncle, I don’t think he would act on it. He comes off as someone who is too... frail...
	+ Norah (innocent smirk): Eh... Whatever you say. Anyway Marie, do you want to come with me and snoop the victim’s office again? Maybe we could find something that’ll help us find his killer!
* Investigate the study room.
	+ Norah (curious): So, Marie, did you find anything?
	+ Norah (thinking): These papers looks important, but I don’t understand a single thing written on it. Maybe we should have Kaleb translate it...
	+ Norah (shocked): This red cloth must be the emperor’s toga and look it has a green stain on it!
	+ Norah (thinking): I wonder where it is from, maybe we should examine the substance...
* Examine toga (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the study room)
	+ Norah (thinking): The stain was caused by tears mixed with crushed malachite...
	+ Norah (scratching her head): Apparently this is a gem Ancient woman used to make green eyeshadow...
	+ Norah (shocked): We know a suspect who wears this shade of eyeshadow! Nefertiti! Was she the one crying on the emperor?!
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): I wonder what happened that broke her down to tears? We have to go speak with her...
* Question Nefertiti on what made her cry (1 star; Pre-request: Examine toga)
	+ Norah (concerned): Nefertiti, we found your tears on the emperor’s toga, can you tell us what happened at his office? Did he hurt you?
	+ Nefertiti (furious): Physically? No! But that pig was going to fire me!
	+ Norah (confused): Fire you? I thought he was going to marry you?!
	+ Nefertiti (shocked): I thought so too, and when he invited me to his office, I thought he was going to ask my hand for marriage. But instead, he told me that I was getting too old for him and it’s time for another girl to take my place!
	+ Nefertiti (offended): He’s 56, and I’M too old for HIM?! Can you believe this?!
	+ Nefertiti (panicking): And do you know what the harem means to me?! I was a slave when the emperor met me! Becoming a concubine gave me more privileges than I expected and when the emperor dies I’m supposed to become a free woman!
	+ Nefertiti (angry): But if he had fired me, I would’ve lost these privileges and turned back to slavery again! I was so angry when he told me about his decision, I considered sneaking a snake into his office that’ll kill him before he finalizes his choice!
	+ Norah (curious): And did you go for it?
	+ Nefertiti (horrified): Absolutely NOT! I may be clingy to my freedom, but killing Messalinus would have me in bigger risk of losing it!
* Send documents to Kaleb (Pre-request: Investigate the study room)
	+ Kaleb (curious): Norah, when talking with Carolus, has he mentioned anything about how related he is to the emperor, biologically?
	+ Norah (confused): No? And why would he do that?
	+ Kaleb (scratching his head): Because the documents you sent me are adoption papers that date back a decade and a half. The adopter being your victim...
	+ Kaleb (serious): And the adoptee being a teenage boy called Sextus Lucius Carolus...
	+ Norah (shrugging her shoulders): Aside from the cognomen. That sounds like a totally different person?!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Norah, when Roman orphans are adopted they inherit the name of their adoptive fathers. Carolus was simply added as the end of his name because this is the name he is known for!
	+ Norah (confused): But Carolus didn’t say anything about being adopted?
	+ Norah (serious): You’re right, Marie! We must go talk with him!
* Ask Carolus about Messalinus adopting him (1 star; Pre-request: Send documents to Kaleb)
	+ Norah (curious): Lord Carolus, we understand this may be a difficult topic for your to talk about. But we found those papers on your father’s bookshelves, and we’re curious if you are truly Messalinus’ son?
	+ Carolus (furious): How dare you question my relationship with my father! Of course I am a son of Messalinus’!
	+ Carolus (pissed): We may not be bound by blood, but this kind man was a friend of my father’s and when he died, the emperor took me under his wings and raised me as his own!
	+ Carolus (sad): He had soldiers train me on how to wield a sword, and he taught me how to handle wild animals like snakes and wolves...
	+ Carolus (affectionate): He’s also betrothed me to his daughter, the beautiful Claudia Messalina, so I would be the one to grow his family line!
	+ Carolus (angry): And for all this and more, I am proud to call Gaius Claudius Caesar Messalinus my father! And with God as my witness, I will not let his death go unpaid!

Later...

* + Norah (shrugging her shoulders): So, what do we know so far about our killer? Have you found anything else against them?
	+ Kaleb (thinking): We do know that the killer is a christian...
	+ Norah (confused): Christian? I thought the Romans worshipped the same gods as us, except like, with different names?
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): That was ages ago! Ever since the fourth century AD, Christianity became the official religion of Rome!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): And if my memory is not failing, I’m pretty sure Senator Diodorus was reciting a Christian prayer while having his meal...
	+ Norah (blushing): And now that you mention all this. Didn’t Carolus mentioned “God”? It could be just a figure of speech, but I think it would wiser to make a note on this...
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): Anyway, right now, he and Nefertiti seem to be our prime suspect as they are the only ones who admitted to handling snake-
	+ Audenzia (shocked): I’m so glad I found you! I-I need your help!
	+ Kaleb (serious): Lady, we would like to help you, but right now we have something more important to focus o-
	+ Audenzia (panicking): But I really really need your help! Carolus is attacking the senate!

## Chapter 3

* + Norah (shrugging her shoulders): So, what do we know so far about our killer? Have you found anything else against them?
	+ Kaleb (thinking): We do know that the killer is a christian...
	+ Norah (confused): Christian? I thought the Romans worshipped the same gods as us, except like, with different names?
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): That was ages ago! Ever since the fourth century AD, Christianity became the official religion of Rome!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): And if my memory is not failing, I’m pretty sure Senator Diodorus was reciting a Christian prayer while having his meal...
	+ Norah (blushing): And now that you mention all this. Didn’t Carolus mentioned “God”? It could be just a figure of speech, but I think it would wiser to make a note on this...
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): Anyway, right now, he and Nefertiti seem to be our prime suspect as they are the only ones who admitted to handling snake-
	+ Audenzia (shocked): I’m so glad I found you! I-I need your help!
	+ Kaleb (serious): Lady, we would like to help you, but right now we have something more important to focus o-
	+ Audenzia (panicking): But I really really need your help! Carolus is attacking the senate!
	+ Norah (pissed): Wait?! What is he doing?!
	+ Audenzia (worried): He’s gathered troops outside The House! He thinks one of the senators killed the emperor and he wants to slay them all!
	+ Audenzia (crying): My uncle and Livius are both members of the senate, and if... And if Carolus attacks, they’re both going to die! Please, you need to stop him!
	+ Kaleb (sympathetic): There there, you don’t have to cry. We won’t let Carolus do anything to your loved ones...
	+ Audenzia (wiping her tears): You won’t?
	+ Kaleb (serious): We promise. Marina, lets go stop that idiot before he gets anyone killed!

At the senate...

* + Carolus (serious): Are you all on your ranks?
	+ Guards (serious): YESSIR!
	+ Carolus (shouting): Venus Victri-!
	+ Kaleb (pissed): What is happened at here?!
	+ Carolus (pissed): Isn’t it obvious?! We’re taking the senate down! I’ll make them rue the day they turned on the emperor!
	+ Kaleb (confused): Are you even sure that they’re responsible for the assassination?!
	+ Carolus (serious): It’s no secret that they despise the emperor, and if the assassin doesn’t give him or herself away then it’s time to do the right thing and dissolve the senate for good!
	+ Kaleb (serious): This all sounds barbaric! Besides, you promised to give us until sunset to find your father’s murderer, remember?
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): ...
	+ Carolus (pissed): I was actually planning to overlook the possibility of you murdering the emperor, but as you insist on carrying on the investigation, then fine! Do as your wish! But remember that this was your last chance to walk away unharmed!
	+ Carolus (shouting): Soldiers, RETREAT!
	+ Kaleb (relieved): That was a close call...
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): I know that we could have walked away alive and let Carolus handle this, but honestly, I’m not willing to risk hundreds of innocent lives just for us to feel safe...
	+ Kaleb (serious): Since we are at the senate, I think its worth we give it another look!
* Investigate court steps.

Leaving the senate house...

* + Kaleb (eye rolling): Nothing! I couldn’t find anything inside, that was an absolute waste of time!
	+ Kaleb (confused): What? You spotted something?
	+ Kaleb (shocked): Those stones! They’re a different color than the court steps!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): They seem to be forming something... A tablet!
	+ Kaleb (scratching his head): I’m not really good with puzzles, so do you think you could piece it back together? I think this could be really to our murder...
* Restore broken tablet (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the court steps)
	+ Kaleb (thinking): The tablet is a birth certificate, for a girl called Caesaris Messalina and her parents are Claudius Messalinus and Audentia Diodora...
	+ Kaleb (shocked): Audentia?! Is that an alternative spelling of Audenzia?! Do you think that young girl from the palace had a child with the emperor?!
	+ Kaleb (serious): She’s never mentioned all of this! We have to go talk to her about this!
	+ Confront Audenzia about her relationship with the emperor (1 star; Pre-request: Restore broken tablet)
	+ Audenzia (tears of relief): Thank you so much for stopping Carolus! I don’t know how I can express my gratitude to you!
	+ Kaleb (warm smile): There is nothing to thank us for, we only did what was right...
	+ Kaleb (blushing): We actually found something at the senate and we want to talk to you about it...
	+ Kaleb (confused): Why did you not tell us you had a child with the emperor?
	+ Audenzia (crossing her arms): Because I didn’t. Audentia is my mother’s name. Caesaris used to be my name before my uncle took me in and I adopted his instead...
	+ Kaleb (shocked): So you are the emperor’s daughter?!
	+ Audenzia (pissed): I’M NOT. At least, he refuses to consider me his!
	+ Audenzia (sad): My mother was betrothed to the emperor. He had divorced his wife to be with her, but she died during childbirth before they tied the knots, so I became illegitimate...
	+ Audenzia (crossing her arms): At first he accepted me, but then rumors about the affairs she was having circulated around the empire and since wasn’t there to defend herself, the emperor decided I can’t be his so he left me at the care of my uncle...
	+ Audenzia (sad): I pray to God everyday, that one day, the emperor would recognize me as his child. But that day never came...
	+ Audenzia (covering her face): This is why I got along very well with Livius, because, even though he didn’t have it as bad as me, we both understood the feeling of never being enough in the emperor’s eyes...
	+ Kaleb (pissed): I know we barely know Audenzia, but just hearing her story makes my blood boil! I can’t believe the emperor decided to disown her based on rumors that may or may not be true!
	+ Kaleb (crossing her arms): Not only did he hurt Audenzia’s feelings, but he also basically invited people to question her mother’s dignity, and I’m sure that her uncle isn’t happy with all this! We need to speak with him about this!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): I think we should also talk to Livius again, because according to Audenzia he received a similar treatment from him...
* Ask Albertus about what he feels about the emperor disowning Audenzia (1 star; Pre-request: Confront Audenzia about her relationship with the emperor)
	+ Kaleb (blushing): Lord Diodorus, we just came from a chat with your niece and she told us that the emperor and your sister used to be... in love...
	+ Albertus (angry): In love?! Ha! There was no love in that engagement! If he had truly loved Audentia he wouldn’t have humiliated her the way he did!
	+ Albertus (pissed): I supposed my niece told you about what he did? How rumors were spread about my sister’s “infidelities” have spread and how he spat on my sister’s grave by disowning the daughter they had together!
	+ Albertus (furious): Now my sister is immortalized as some whore, and the worst part, her daughter, my niece, has to live with the shame of it all!
	+ Albertus (pissed): I’ve been begging Messalinus for years to claim her and put an end to these rumors, but the best offer he’s given was appoint her as his other daughter’s lady-in-waiting!
	+ Albertus (angry): And I’ve seen how she was doing at the palace, that bitch was treating her like a servant! That wasn’t the life I wanted for Audenzia!
	+ Kaleb (curious): So did you kill the emperor for this? As an act of revenge for not recognizing for niece?
	+ Albertus (pissed): How foolish of you to think this! My niece’s life was already made hard enough with the rumors made on her mother, me killing the emperor would do nothing but sink her reputation even lower!
* Ask Livius about his struggle in receiving his uncle’s approval (1 star; Pre-request: Confront Audenzia about her relationship with the emperor)
	+ Livius (worried): Are the soldiers gone?! I-is anyone hurt?!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): The soldiers retreated, and don’t worry, no one was harmed...
	+ Kaleb (curious): We actually have some question to you about your relationship with your uncle. You see, we have spoken with Audenzia...
	+ Kaleb (scratching his head): And she told us how you could “relate with” her struggle in gaining his approval...
	+ Livius (pissed): And she is right! It just feels like whatever efforts I do, it means nothing to him!
	+ Livius (crossing his arms): I studied for a career in politics like he’s hope for me. I memorized every verse on the bible and maintained my purity while my friends wasted time and money throwing parties and taking girls to their home!
	+ Livius (frustrated): I did all what he expected of me, I even learned how to handle snakes hoping to impress him, but whatever I do it never seems to be enough!
	+ Livius (sad): He thinks that I am weak, because I can’t hold a sword without trembling and I hesitate when having to punish slaves...
	+ Livius (crossing his arms): He wants me to be ruthless like Carolus...

At the palace...

* + Kaleb (covering his face): *sigh* This case is really starting to turn into a family drama...
	+ Norah (confused): Woah! Did I miss something?
	+ Kaleb (thinking): A lot more than you think, we’ll tell you everything after we’re done with the case, right now...
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): We need to focus on finding the killer. Only three of our suspects are known by for snake handling and the evidence seems to be leading us to Carolus...
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Carolus? You mean the same guy who said “Find my father’s killer or you will be dead”. Yeah, I definitely want to know how he’ll act when we act!
	+ Kaleb (sweating): Yeah... If Carolus is the killer we’ll be damned. That’s why I think we need to look for more evidence first...
	+ Norah (shrugging her shoulders): Well... We looked at the senate and the victim’s office twice, but we didn’t get a clear look at the crime scene itself. Maybe we should give it another shot?
	+ Kaleb (serious): I agree! We haven’t even found the snake that killed him and it cannot have went far from the throne room!
* Investigate the emperor’s throne.
	+ Kaleb (thinking): A snake charmer basket... This must be where the killer was keeping the snake...
	+ Kaleb (serious): There’s some green leaves at the bottom of the basket! Maybe if we figure out what they are, it could give us a clue on who our killer is!
	+ Norah (eye rolling): You found a basket! Cool! All what’s left is to find the fucking snak-
	+ Cobra: Ssssssssssss....
	+ Norah (startled): AHHH!!!!! SNAKE!
	+ Kaleb (sweating): Fuck... How are we going to catch it without it biting us?!
	+ Audenzia (shocked): STAND STILL!

Audenzia approaches the snake, grabs it and uses her other hand to hold its neck...

* + Audenzia (holding a cobra; happy): Got it!
	+ Kaleb (shocked): Where did you learn how to handle a snake!
	+ Audenzia (awkward grin): Oh... This little skill. I... I learned it from my uncle, he’s very fond of snakes and even keeps a python at his garden!
	+ Kaleb (relieved): Well... Thank you so much for helping us out there...
	+ Audenzia (blushing): I did the least I could do. Here’s the snake, try not to let go of its neck, it can bite...
	+ Norah (pouting): I TOTALLY was not scared!
	+ Kaleb (eye rolling; holding a cobra): Yeah, sure. Whatever you say...
	+ Norah (confused): Hey... What’s that string on the snake’s fangs?
	+ Kaleb (confused): What? Oh! It must be from something it bed!
	+ Kaleb (serious): We have to examine its fangs and see where that thing came from!
* Collect leaves from basket (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the emperor’s throne)
	+ Kaleb (glad): Marionette, now that we have the leaves, lets put it under the microscope!
* Examine leaves (1 star; Pre-request: Collect leaves from basket; Killer attribute: The killer wears a laurel crown)
	+ Kaleb (serious): The leaves we found from the basket are from a laurel tree!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): It is a very common custom in Ancient Rome for people to wear laurel wreaths on their head to symbolize status or victory!
	+ Kaleb (glad): The crown our victim wore was made of gold, not real laurels, so the leaves we found could have only come from the killer!
* Examine the cobra’s fangs (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the emperor’s throne)
	+ Norah (glad): Good job, Marie! Lets have Kaleb analyze the strings you’ve collected!
* Analyze the red strings (Pre-request: Examine the cobra’s fangs; Killer attribute: The killer wears red)
	+ Kaleb (thinking): Norah, remind me, was the victim wearing any red piece of cloth when we found his body?
	+ Norah (blushing): He didn’t, but we did find a red toga that belongs to him at his office...
	+ Kaleb (thinking): That’s good...
	+ Norah (confused): How?
	+ Kaleb (serious): Because the strings you found came from red fabric, and since the victim wasn’t wearing any...
	+ Norah (glad): It must be from the killer! Lets add that to the profile!

Later...

* + Norah (happy): Alright! It’s time we go and-
	+ Kaleb (serious): Wait!
	+ Norah (impatient): OH MY GODS! What is the problem this time?
	+ Kaleb (thinking): I’m just double-checking. We have 5 attributes and...
	+ Kaleb (confident): Yeah, I think we’re just about ready!
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Finally! What are we waiting for? Lets go arrest the killer now!
* Arrest the killer (1 star; Guilty: Albertus Diodorus)
	+ Kaleb (serious): Albertus Diodorus, you are under arrest for the murder of Emperor Messalinus!
	+ Albertus (angry): This has to be a joke! How dare you accuse an honorable man like myself of such a heinous act!
	+ Norah (serious): We dare because we found leftovers of the pork ribs you’ve eaten on the victim’s body!
	+ Albertus (pissed): That is some of the most ridiculous evidence I’ve heard! Who doesn’t enjoy themselves a bit of pork?!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): We also found your bible where you circled on a verse referencing the way you killed the emperor!
	+ Albertus (shrugging his shoulders): Do you think these are the BCE’s?! No one worships the false gods anymore, the majority of us here are Christians!
	+ Kaleb (serious): The majority may be Christian, but not everyone has the luxury of affording red fabric!
	+ Albertus (pissed): Now you are just spewing nonsense! Emperors are known for wearing red! You’re just throwing the murder on me because I am now for my fascination with serpents!
	+ Norah (innocent smirk): You know... We never said anything about the emperor getting killed with snakes, how did you know about this?
	+ Albertus (shocked): ...
	+ Albertus (covering his face): I guess I can only hide for so long, I confess, I assassinated the emperor...
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Did you actually kill him because of the embarrassment he caused for your niece?
	+ Albertus (furious): Certainly not! I killed Messalinus to PROTECT HER from HIM!
	+ Albertus (covering his face): I care a lot for my niece and I want nothing for her but a life of comfort. So I was desperately looking for rich families for her to marry into.
	+ Albertus (crossing his arms): But with our family’s reputation, I couldn’t find many available suitors, so instead, I turned to the emperor and he promised to find a husband for Audenzia!
	+ Albertus (happy): And at first, he kept the promise and scored her an engagement with Livius!
	+ Albertus (excited): I could think of a better match! Livius was exactly the type of man I was looking for Audenzia: Kind, noble and if the two got married, Audenzia will finally be considered a member of the Imperial family!
	+ Albertus (crossing his arms): I was feeling eager to see them walk the aisle, but I started noticing how Audenzia’s dresses were getting provocative, so much that she became the talk-of-the-court and when I asked her why she was dressing the way she was, she told me the emperor asked her to dress like this...
	+ Albertus (shocked): Soon after, I heard that her engagement with Livius was broken off!
	+ Albertus (angry): At first, I thought Livius called it off, so I went to talk with him and instead I learned that it was Messalinus who made the decision of breaking them apart!
	+ Albertus (pissed): I went to confront him at his office. We argued and he slip out why he broke off the engagement...
	+ Albertus (furious): And told me he planned to make Audenzia his wife!
	+ Norah (shocked): The emperor wanted to marry Audenzia?! But isn’t he like triple his age?!
	+ Albertus (angry): EXACTLY! And I told him I wasn’t going to allow this! I wanted Audenzia to marry rich, but I also wanted her to marry her age! Not someone old enough to be her father!
	+ Albertus (covering his face): This just got us in an ever deeper quarrel and he ended up having guards throw me out of the palace!
	+ Albertus (pissed): But I wasn’t going to give up on my niece like this! I had to stop this marriage from happening at all costs!
	+ Albertus (crossing his arms): So I pretended to be over this fight, and I wrote the emperor a letter asking him to forgive me for the way I acted...
	+ Albertus (crossing his arms): We agree to meet at his throne room and I brought him a basket which had an “early wedding gift”...
	+ Albertus (pissed): But what he didn’t know was, that basket had a snake and when he opened it the cobra bit him on his neck and I left him to suffer a slow, painful death like the one he deserves!
	+ Kaleb (covering his face): Lord Diodora, we understand you did what you had to do to protect your niece, but I’m afraid by killing the emperor, we have no choice but to take you to Carolus...

At the throne room...

* + Carolus (crossing his arms): It is nearly sunset. I hope that you’ve kept to your words and found the killer, or you know what I promised to do...
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Yeah yeah! Don’t worry about that, we found our guy!
	+ Carolus (furious): Albertus Audentius Diodorus?! After everything the emperor have done for your family, how could you give him such a dishonorable death!
	+ Albertus (pissed): I gave your emperor the death I saw most fit, and I pray that he’s suffering as much in the afterlife like he did in his death!
	+ Carolus (pissed): Not only did you kill him, but you dare mock him after he’s gone?
	+ Carolus (furious): You’re a traitor to the empire, and for this I’ll make you feel the edge of my swor-
	+ Audenzia (shocked): Carolus! NO!
	+ Audenzia (begging): I know what my uncle have done is wrong, but PLEASE, have mercy on him! There must another punishment you could use on him! I’m begging you, don’t kill him!
	+ Albertus (sympathetic): Audenzia, my dear girl, please stay out of this...
	+ Audenzia (panicking): But... But... I can’t let him kill you! I can’t let you die!
	+ Albertus (serious): I knew exactly what would happen to me if I killed the important. I deserve any punishment that is bestowed on me and all what I want is for you to be safe. Promise me that you’ll be strong for me!
	+ Audenzia (shocked): Uncl-
	+ Carolus (holding his sword): VENUS VITRIS!

Carolus slashes Albertus’ throat...

* + Albertus (dying): .....
	+ Audenzia (crying): NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

## The Roman Empire (1/6)

* + Norah (blushing): Well... THAT happened...
	+ Kaleb (covering his face): Audenzia shouldn’t have seen this, I can only imagine how much this scene will scar her...
	+ Kaleb (serious): But what’s important now, is that we proved our innocence and we can focus on what we’ve come here for!
	+ Norah (curious): Before we start our quest, have either of you crossed paths with Shirley at the palace?
	+ Kaleb (shocked): Fuck! I’ve forgotten about her! And no, I haven’t seen her anywhere!
	+ Norah (pissed): Ugh... We can’t just leave her at the hands of the Romans while we continue our quest! We have to help her!
	+ Kaleb (shrugging his shoulders): Well... We could talk to Carolus and convince him into taking us to her...
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Ha! As if he’ll cooperate! No, I think it would be better if we asked someone else!
	+ Kaleb (thinking): Assuming Shirley was a slave, she’s likely acquainted with the palace servants, so you could ask one of them where she was commissioned...
	+ Norah (glad): Marionette, a concubine is technically a slave, right? Do you think Nefertiti and Shirley may have known each other? Why don’t we go and talk to he-
	+ Carolus (serious): Where do you think you’re going?!
	+ Kaleb (sweating): Oh, commander! We were just going to meet someone. We found the emperor’s murderer, so technically this makes us free?
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): I only agreed to spare your lives if you found the assassin, you are still prisoners in the palace until I say otherwise!
	+ Carolus (serious): And besides, I wish to see you at the Imperial office!
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): Well, *Marina*... I think you and *Callicrates* should go and see what the commander wants. I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done...
* See what Carolus wants from you (1 star)
	+ Kaleb (nervous): Is there something you wish to disclose with us, commander? I pray that we are not in any kind of trouble?
	+ Carolus (serious): No, you are safe, for now. But I called you in the office as there is a task I have for you.
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): As you know, since my father died, Rome needs a new empire and there are many people jumping at a chance to take this honor...
	+ Carolus (serious): Since father didn’t publicly name his successor, any man can call himself emperor and many powerful noblemen and public figures are fighting for the throne, which could only lead to chaos!
	+ Carolus (confident): But I know my father! No way was he unprepared for his mess. I’m certain he chose an heir by now and he’s only keeping his identity a secret to keep him from harm’s way!
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): He must have left a will at the senate, and I do not trust its members with it so I want you to bring it for me!
	+ Kaleb (confused): I thought you said we’re prisoners here, now you want us to leave the palace?
	+ Carolus (angry): I know what you’re trying to do and it’s not working on me! Go get the will or I’ll chop your fucking balls off! Understand that?
	+ Kaleb (sweating): U-understood. *Marina*, lets go to the senate...
* Investigate the senate (Pre-request: See what Carolus wants from you)
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): If the emperor really kept his will at the senate, then he is a fucking idiot, he surely knows that they want the empire to go down?
	+ Kaleb (holding a papyrus roll): One of these rolls must be the will , and- Wait! I think we found it!
	+ Kaleb (reading the roll): “Ego , Gaius Claudius Caesar Messalinus , regnum meum nepoti meo , Gaio Druso Livio”
	+ Kaleb (confused): Livius? But that man does not have the spirit of a leader in him, how does he expect him to rule an empire? The senate and nobles will screw him over!
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): But I understand that he doesn’t have any other options. The emperor probably wants the legacy of Caesar to live on, and Livius is after all the only male blood relative he has...
	+ Kaleb (confused): We can’t hand the will over? But why?!
	+ Kaleb (shocked): Oh shit! It wasn’t sealed! If we hand it over some power-hungry noble may try to deny Livius his throne! They’ll question it’s authenticity!
	+ Kaleb (sweating): I know this is probably not legal, but I guess we need to mark it ourself, but where’s the seal?
	+ Kaleb (serious): Do you think it may be in this leather pouch? Then we need to look through it!
* Search leather poach (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the senate)
	+ Kaleb (glad): Look, Marionette! We found a seal!
	+ Kaleb (curious): But is it the imperial seal? How can we be sure?
	+ Kaleb (serious): We’ve got to identify is through our database! It could belong to anyone else, not just the emperor!
* Identify seal (1 star; Pre-request: Search leather poach)
	+ Kaleb (looking around): There’s the seal! Is anyone looking at us?
	+ Kaleb (holding the stamp): Good... And...
	+ Kaleb (glad): SEALED. Now lets go hand this to Carolus!
* Hand the will to Carolus (1 star; Pre-request: Identify seal)
	+ Carolus (serious): The will? Did you find it?
	+ Kaleb (sweating): We did, here it is...
	+ Carolus (reading the papyrus roll): Hmmm... Lets see who the emperor chos-
	+ Carolus (shocked): LIVIUS?!
	+ Carolus (angry): There has to be a mistake! There’s no way the emperor chose HIM to be his successor! That kid knows nothing about being a house master, nonetheless and emperor!
	+ Kaleb (nervous grin): The roll has his seal on it...
	+ Carolus (pissed): That is not right! I did everything the emperor told me! I’ve mastered all the skills needed to become emperor! He was supposed to make ME his heir!
	+ Kaleb (sweating): Can we have the will back? Shouldn’t we hand it to Livius?
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): *sigh* Give this will to him, and tell him to come to the palace immediately! I need to train him before the day of coronation comes...
	+ Kaleb (serious): Alright, *Marina*. Lets go talk to the new emperor!
* Inform Livius about the will (1 star; Pre-request: Hand the will to Carolus)
	+ Livius (shocked): T-this can’t be real! D-did the emperor actually write this?!
	+ Kaleb (scratching his head): That’s his seal isn’t it?
	+ Livius (blushing): I-I believe it is!
	+ Kaleb (shrugging his shoulders): Then yes, it was written by him and this makes you the new emperor of Rome...
	+ Livius (shocked): I-I don’t know what to say say. Thank you!
	+ Kaleb (confused): For what?! We’re not the ones putting you on the throne?
	+ Livius (blushing): I know, but if someone else had found it they would’ve kept it from the public eye and people would be fighting for the role. So I appreciate that you’re even handing this over to me...
	+ Kaleb (serious): Ah, you’re welcome then. Anyway, the Carolus is waiting for you at the palace, he says you need to practice some things before your coronation day!
	+ Livius (awkward grin): Then I must go, Carolus can have a really bad temper. Thank you again for your help...
* Ask Nefertiti about Shirley (1 star)
	+ Norah (confused): Uh... Nefertiti... What are you doing?
	+ Nefertiti (packing a trunk): I’m backing my stuff. My master is dead and this makes me a free woman.
	+ Nefertiti (eye rolling): As a concubine, I have more privileges than a regular slave. I have the choice to leave or let the new emperor claim me as his, and I’m not letting my ambitions blind my judgement!
	+ Norah (glad): And you’re definitely going for the right choice! We’re happy that you finally have your freedom!
	+ Nefertiti (crossing her arms): Thank you, now if you’re just going to stand here, could you at least pass me that headdress?
	+ Norah (passing a headdress): Sure... And... We actually have a question for you...
	+ Nefertiti (holding her head): Make it quick...
	+ Norah (curious): We were wondering if you’re familiar with a girl called Shirley?
	+ Nefertiti (confused): Who now?!
	+ Norah (sweating): Damnit... I forgot that she was using a fake name... Do you remember what Carolus called her? Ugh...
	+ Norah (nervous grin): She’s a pale girl, with jet black hair and really green eyes. We believe she is a slave at this palace...
	+ Neferiti (shocked): You mean Sherise?!
	+ Norah (shocked): Ah, yes! That’s what Carolus called her!
	+ Norah (nervous grin): Sorry, we mixed up her name with someone else’s. Can you tell us everything you know about her, and what work the palace had commissioned for her?
	+ Nefertiti (thinking): She’s a girl of Gallic descent, so just like me she was born into the slave life.
	+ Nefertiti (crossing her arms): She used to be Claudia Messalina’s personal slave. That was until a year ago, where she ran away and no one heard from her since...
	+ Norah (curious): Claudia Messalina? That’s the emperor’s daughter, right? Can you tell us where we can find her?
	+ Nefertiti (thinking): Her chamber is just across right, you’ll probably find her there with her ladies-in-waiting.
	+ Norah (glad): Thank you for sharing this. Marina, lets go!

Outside the harem...

* + Kaleb (curious): What did the lady tell you?
	+ Norah (eye rolling): You know, you could have just went there with us?!
	+ Kaleb (blushing): I absolutely can’t! This is a harem, I’m a man I can’t get in there!
	+ Norah (sarcastic): Awwww... Now aren’t you a gentleman?
	+ Norah (pissed): Funny. You didn’t have any of those values when you fucked my dead sister!
	+ Kaleb (fed up): You’re on this again?! Can’t you just get over it?!
	+ Norah (furious): GET OVER IT?! My sister’s body isn’t your toy to play around it! You should have buried her the moment we flee from Cambright! Instead you kept her fresh in a casket!
	+ Kaleb (impatient): Can we at least save the conversation for another time?! Look, even Marionette is annoyed! Lets just go and find Shirley, what did the lady say?
	+ Norah (pouting): She told us we can find Shirley working at the emperor’s daughter’s bedchamber.
	+ Kaleb (eye rolling): Then lets go get her!
* Ask Claudilla to let you see Shirley (1 star; Pre-request: Ask Nefertiti about Shirley)
	+ Norah (curious): This must be the bedchamber, should we knock?
	+ Kaleb (thinking): I can hear girls giggling, so it must be it...

Kaleb knocks the door...

* + Kaleb (hopeful): Now we just have to wait for an answer-

The door opens...

* + Audenzia (curious): Hello? Who’s knocking?
	+ Audenzia (sulking): Oh... It’s you...
	+ Kaleb (awkward grin): Hey... Lady Diodora, how are you doing?
	+ Audenzia (sulking): ...
	+ Kaleb (covering his face): Look, about your uncle, we are really sorry for what happened to him! If we weren’t under the pressure of finding the emperor’s assassin, I swear we wouldn’t have given him away-
	+ Audenzia (sad): It’s alright, I forgive you...
	+ Kaleb (sympathetic): How are you holding up?
	+ Audenzia (tearful): I feel horrible. My uncle killed Messalinus because of me, and I can’t help but feel it’s my fault he was executed!
	+ Audenzia (wiping her tears): But I’m trying to stay strong for him, and I’m learning to accept that justice has been served...
	+ Kaleb (warm smile): I’m sure your uncle will be proud of you...
	+ Norah (nervous grin): I don’t mean to be an asshole and ruin your mourning. But can we get in?
	+ Audenzia (blushing): I-I can’t let you in, my mistress is here and I’m not allowed to enter uninvited visitors-
	+ Claudilla (pissed): AUDENZIA! What are you doing blocking the door? Let them get in! JESUS!
	+ Audenzia (sweating): Oh... I guess it’s your lucky day, come in...
	+ Kaleb (speechless): You... You must be Lady Claudia Messalina...
	+ Claudilla (looking at her nails): Please, just call me Claudilla. I find the name Claudia rather too common...
	+ Kaleb (blushing): It’s a pleasure to meet you... Claudilla...
	+ Claudilla (flattered): And who may you be?
	+ Kaleb (sweating): My name is Ka- Callicrates..
	+ Claudilla (smirking): Callicrates... The name means beauty and power, and I can see one of these traits are true...
	+ Ladies-in-waiting (giggling; Lady 3): My lady... Are you forgetting that you are engaged?
	+ Claudilla (eye rolling): So? Who said I can’t have a few lovers by my side? I’m sure Carolus wouldn’t mind!
	+ Audenzia (envious): ...
	+ Norah (impatient): As Callicrates is saying, it’s a pleasure meeting you. But we actually came here for Sherise...
	+ Claudilla (eye rolling): Sherise? You mean that incompetent slave girl? What could you possibly want from her?!
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): Is she here?!
	+ Claudilla (shrugging her shoulders): No. Carolus brought her back to me after a year of not seeing her, and I sold her back to the slave market!
	+ Norah (shocked): What did you do?!
	+ Claudilla (crossing her arms): I don’t have the time to deal with slaves who’ll just run away from me, so I thought I may as well get rid of her and let someone else put up with her!
	+ Norah (crossing his arms): Thank you for letting us no. Callicrates, lets go...
	+ Kaleb (dissapointed): Already?
	+ Claudilla (innocent smirk): Actually if you don’t have a problem with it, I would like to have your friend keep us company, of course if you don’t mind...
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Sure, keep him busy. Marina, lets go.

Outside the palace...

* + Norah (pissed): I can’t believe that bitch just sold Shirley! How are we going to find her now?!
	+ Norah (curious): It’s likely she sold her back to the same person she bought Shirley from. Do you think the emperor keeps a report of his purchases in the office?
	+ Norah (confident): Maybe we can find out where they got Shirley from and we could then buy back her freedom!
* Investigate the emperor’s office (Pre-request: Ask Claudilla to let you see Shirley)
	+ Norah (Looking through scrolls; frustrated): UGH! I don’t know what to do! I don’t understand anything on these scrolls!
	+ Norah (holding her head): Is this what I get for skipping the Latin lessons at camp?! Please tell me you have something...
	+ Norah (curious): One of the scrolls is torn apart, should we try to restore it?
	+ Norah (shrugging her shoulders): I guess there’s no harm in doing so!
* Restore papyrus roll (1 star; Pre-request: Investigate the emperor’s office)
	+ Norah (shocked): That scroll looks like a contract! But what is it for?!
	+ Norah (holding her head): You know? I don’t understand shit about this! Lets just drag Kaleb out of his date and have him read it for us!
* Send the scroll to Kaleb (Pre-request: Restore papyrus roll)
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Did you make me leave Claudilla’s chamber just to read this?! What happened to the Latin lessons the camp have given you?!
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Oh please! You should be thanking us for saving me from that spoiled bitch!
	+ Kaleb (shrugging his shoulders): I thought she was a nice and respectful woman.
	+ Norah (pissed): Respectful?! Are you forgetting that she sold Shirley at the slave market?
	+ Kaleb (blushing): She’s... She’s just a product of her environment, I’m sure if she came from a more progressive society, she would be a lot kinder.
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Here you are thinking with your d-

The scene switches to Eva El Reina.....

* + Eva (twirling her hair): You got me spinnin’ like a ballerina...
	+ Eva (affectionate): You're the bad boy that I always dreamed of!
	+ Eva (seductive smirk): You're the king and, baby, I'm the queen of....
	+ Eva (singing): Disaster! Disaster! Oh Oh Oh! Oh Oh Oh-

Back to Norah...

* + Norah (eye rolling): -k before your brain once again. Just tell us what’s on the contract!
	+ Kaleb (scratching his head): Like we were hoping for, the contract was made regarding who gets to hold ownership of Shirley, or should I say Sherise...
	+ Kaleb (serious): The emperor signed the contract and according to the content, the person who sold Sherise to him is a slave trader by the name of Eusebius Abelardus!
	+ Norah (serious): Wonderful! Lets go negotiate with that guy and convince him to sell Shirley to u-
	+ Kaleb (shocked): Norah! We can’t go!
	+ Norah (confused): And why not?!
	+ Kaleb (serious): Have you forgotten? We’re prisoners here and unless we receive permission from Carolus, we can’t leave the palace!
	+ Norah (pissed): Ugh... Great, just great! I guess that means we have no choice but wait for him to decide what to do with us!

**You are now experiencing the story in third-person view**
After a short time, Livius comes to visit the palace...

* + Livius (nervous): Anyone in here?
	+ Audenzia (happy): LIVIUS!
	+ Livius (shocked): Audenzia!

Audenzia runs to give Livius a hug...

* + Audenzia and Livius (hugging): ...
	+ Audenzia (excited): I’m so happy you’re moving in here! Is true that you’ll be our new emperor?
	+ Livius (looking at the will; unsure): I-I think...
	+ Livius (curious): Do you know where I could find Carolus?
	+ Audenzia (smiling): Yes. He and Lady Claudia are waiting for you at the Imperial office. Here, I’ll take you there!
	+ Livius (blushing): Thanks...

At the Imperial office...

* + Claudilla (pissed): I can’t believe he’s going to be the emperor! I thought father was going to make YOU his successor!
	+ Carolus (disappointed): The emperor chose him for a reason and I trust his judgement, so it’s best we respect his decision...
	+ Claudilla (pouting): But you worked so hard to get to where you are! You should be the emperor, not him! This is all so unfair!
	+ Carolus (impatient): When is he going to show up?!
	+ Audenzia (happy): He’s here! Livius is here!
	+ Livius (sweating): Hi...
	+ Claudilla (eye rolling): Finally...
	+ Livius (nervous grin): Hi Carolus, how are things going? I heard about your engagement...
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): Sit down.
	+ Livius (blushing): Oh ok...

The team are sitting on a corner at the room, observing the meeting...

* + Marionette (covering her face): They’re already fiddling with his strings...
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Yeah, reminds me of how a certain someone used to treat Leonora...
	+ Kaleb (pissed): Hey! I was never that controlling!
	+ Norah (crossing her arms): ...
	+ Kaleb (blushing): Alright... Maybe I was...

Back to the meeting...

* + Carolus (serious): Before you take up the throne, there are that you must learn that every emperor must know!
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): Because if I’m being frank, I think you are far from ready to become the emperor, and I have no idea what my father was thinking by making you his successor!
	+ Livius (covering his face): I thought you would say this...
	+ Claudilla (seductive smirk): You should also start looking for a wife by now, and lucky for you, I know a beautiful woman who would make a great empress for Rome! She’s engaged, but if you agree to take her hand, she’s ready to break it off.
	+ Carolus (angry): Claudilla?!
	+ Claudilla (crossing her arms): What?! Is it wrong of you to try my luck?!
	+ Livius (blushing): This is nice of you to offer, but... I actually already have another woman in my mind...
	+ Audenzia (giggling): Hehe...
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): So that parts is settled then. Anyway, before we start with the training, there is something I need your help with...

Carolus turns to the team...

* + Carolus (shouting): You can come out now!
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Finally!
	+ Carolus (serious): These people were caught trespassing our empire! We don’t know where they are from, but we believe they might be spies!
	+ Carolus (crossing his arms): I was planning to prepare a punishment for them, but since you’re the emperor now, I’d like to ask what you’d like to do with them?
	+ Livius (curious): I’ve met those people, but I don’t believe I’ve received the honor of knowing their names. Who are you?
	+ Norah (whispering; nervous grin): Marionette, would you mind handling this? You’re better with words than I am and I’m afraid I might mess this up...
	+ Marionette (nervous): Yeah... No problem...

Marionette takes a deep breath and shares the story...

* + Marionette (serious): My name is Marina Patricia, and this is here is my younger brother, Marinus. We come from a family of nobles and as you would have guessed, we aren’t from here...
	+ Carolus (pissed): Then what are you doing here?! You sent you?!
	+ Marionette (crossing her arms): No one sent us, we travelled in our own accord...
	+ Marionette (serious): Growing up, we were told about our Roman legacy. We really wanted to relive this time period, but we were made to believe that the empire had fallen!
	+ Marionette (shocked): That was until we met Sherise! And she told us all about her home, and when we learned that the Roman empire was still alive, we knew we had to come!
	+ Marionette (serious): So we set for a voyage and we had Sherise guide us to the empire, so we could connect with our roots!
	+ Carolus (wary): What about him?! He doesn’t look Roman to me at all?!
	+ Norah (laughing): Oh! That’s our slave, Callicrates!
	+ Kaleb (shocked): That’s not what we agreed o-
	+ Claudilla (appalled): You what?! You didn’t tell me you were a slave?!
	+ Kaleb (glaring at Norah): ...
	+ Norah (holding her laughing): Hehe...
	+ Carolus (impatient): This story is not making any sense to me. Livius, just tell me what to do and I’ll make it happen!
	+ Livius (curious): Audenzia, what do you think of all this?
	+ Claudilla (laughing): Are you seriously asking for the bastard’s opinion?
	+ Audenzia (blushing): They seem like they are nice people and I don’t think they’re here to do us any harm...
	+ Livius (shrugging his shoulders): Then I think we should let them go.
	+ Carolus (shocked): What?! We can’t do that!
	+ Carolus (serious): Your Grace, Audenzia is a woman, you can’t trust her sentiments! What does she know about security?!
	+ Livius (offended): Just because Audenzia is a woman, that doesn’t mean her judgement is less reliable! Also, I happen to trust these people myself!
	+ Livius (smiling): In fact, they’re also welcome to stay at the palace until they find themselves another place to sleep at!
	+ Carolus (pissed): Alright, now you’re just pushing it!
	+ Audenzia (innocent smirk): It’s nice that you mention this, because I actually had Nebet prepare a special room for them!
	+ Claudilla (pissed): Hey! Who told you, you can make orders for our slaves?
	+ Livius (blushing): Nebet... Would you mind if you tell her, to drop by the office while you’re there? There’s a request I have for her...
	+ Livius (serious): Everyone else, you may be excused!

At the hallways...

* + Audenzia (excited): And here’s your room! I had one of the slaves clean it up while we were all at the office!
	+ Kaleb (warm smile): Thank you, Audenzia. We wish the rest of your family are as hospitable as you are.
	+ Audenzia (smiling): Livius is actually not bad! I’m sure as you get to know each other, you’ll become good friends!
	+ Norah (smirking): You seem to be in a really good mood right now. Where’s all the energy coming from?
	+ Audenzia (innocent smirk): Now that Livius is going to be emperor, this means I could become empress! And then Claudilla won’t be able to order me around anywhere!
	+ Audenzia (hopeful): This is, of course, if he decides to bring back our engagement...
	+ Marionette (curious): I hope things will go will for you, but... Do you even love Livius? I mean as a lover?
	+ Audenzia (thinking): He is nice to me, and I definitely like him way more than Carolus...
	+ Norah (grinning): Did you fuck?
	+ Audenzia (awkward grin): Uh...
	+ Kaleb (crossing his arms): Marinus, I don’t think this is an appropriate question to ask a lady. Lets just get in the room...
	+ Norah (eye rolling): Fineeeeee. I’m just trying to help her out, she wouldn’t be pleased if he pulled a one-incher in their wedding night...

Inside the room...

* + Nebet (cleaning): Just one more spot her-
	+ Nebet (shocked): Ah! I- I didn’t think you would be here already!
	+ Norah (shocked): NEFERTITI?!
	+ Marionette (confused): We thought you were free, what are you doing cleaning our throne?!
	+ Nebet (awkward grin): I think there is a little confusion going on here...
* Ask Nefertiti what she doing at your room (1 star)
	+ Norah (pissed): Did the palace force you to come back? What happened to the rule where harem girls are set free once their masters die?!
	+ Nebet (blushing): You’re getting this all wrong! I am not Nefertiti!
	+ Nebet (awkward grin): You’re talking about my twin sister. My name is Nebet and I was never a member of the emperor’s harem!
	+ Norah (shocked): Oh, Nebet! Ah yes, Audenzia did mention sending you to prepare our room!
	+ Marionette (smiling): Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Nebet.
	+ Nebet (nervous grin): It’s a pleasure to meet you too. Is there anything you want me to help with, or can I be excused?
	+ Marionette (thinking): Oh no, you can leave! In fact, Lord Livius has asked to see you in the emperor’s office...
	+ Nebet (blushing): Livius is here?! Then I have to go!

The slave leaves the room...

* + Audenzia (smiling): So what do you think of the room?
	+ Marionette (blushing): It has a balcony, which is good, but...
	+ Audenzia (worried): But what?
	+ Norah (shocked): It’s way too small! Where can we find space to do anything!
	+ Norah (awkward smile): And those beds! They don’t bounce at all, you can we sleep on those things?
	+ Marionette (snapping her fingers to remember): This reminds me of that phrase! What was it? Oh yes!
	+ Marionette (posh accent): What. A. Dump!
	+ Norah (laughing): OH MY GOD! That was a spot-on impression! Hahaha!
	+ Audenzia (embarrassed): ...

Kaleb realizes how hurt Audenzia was of Marionette’s remarks...

* + Kaleb (warm smile): I think the room is perfect! You’ve done a lot to make us feel welcome, and I don’t know how to express my thanks...
	+ Audenzia (blushing; smiling): It was my pleasure...

Audenzia leaves the room and Kaleb stares at Marionette disappointedly...

* + Kaleb (glaring): ...
	+ Marionette (blushing): ...
	+ Norah (laughing): That was so funny! I didn’t expect you to have such a sense of humo-
	+ Marionette (sulking): Norah, stop laughing...
	+ Norah (confused): What?
	+ Marionette (feeling guilty): ...

At Jennifer Tanaka’s estate...

* + Alex (processing): So let get this straight. A girl kisses you. You turn her down. And now all of a sudden you’re starting to realize you have a crush on her?!
	+ Zachary (covering his face): Yes...
	+ Alex (laughing): My gods! Zachary Riley, you are a certified idiot!
	+ Zachary (frustrated): I KNOW. What was I thinking?! How am I going to get back from that?!
	+ Jennifer (serious): It’s simple. Just go talk to her and tell her that you feel the same way!
	+ Zachary (confused): Are you being serious, Jen?! I can’t do that! There’s no way she still likes me after what I’ve said!
	+ Jennifer (waving her fan): It’s only been, what? One week since the kiss? I seriously doubt she’s moved on in such a short time...
	+ Jennifer (serious): You still have a chance and if I were you, I would go for it!
	+ Zachary (covering his face): Even if she still likes me for whatever reason, I told her that I still had faith in my relationship with Maylin. If I ask her out, she’ll probably think I’m using her as a rebound...

Meanwhile at another part of the estate, Madelina is shopping for a gown...

* + Gina (awkward grin): Madelina, this dress looks way too simple. Are you sure you don’t want something flashier? This is very unlike you...
	+ Madelina (thinking): I’m not looking for something that grabs too much attention. I don’t want to set the wrong idea...
	+ Flora (crossing her arms): Like what? That you are an attention hog? If that’s what you’re afraid people would think of you, screw them!
	+ Madelina (eye rolling): Believe me, if I cared about what every person thinks about me, I would not be leaving my home!
	+ Madelina (awkward grin): But this not why I’m trying to dress modestly. You see, Mia is going to perform on theatre for the first time and I want to support her. But you know how she feels about me...
* Madelina (blushing): I don’t want her to me in the crowd and assume I’m trying to steal her thunder...
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 1; eye rolling): Who cares what SHE thinks?!
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 2; pouting): Yeah, she’s a total bitch!
	+ Madelina (nervous grin): She’s not a bad person, she’s just.... judgy.
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 1; crossing her arms): That’s just a nicer way of calling her self-righteou-
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 2; excited): Is that Zachary Riley over here?!

The daughters of Aphrodite all turn to stare at him...

* + Zachary Riley (covering his face): ...
	+ Gina (nosy): I wonder what they are talking about?
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 1; lovestruck): Isn’t he just so dreamy?
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 2; giggling): And he’s not wearing a shirt under his jacket, I can see his abs!
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 1; dramatic): Ugh... I think I’m going to faint, he’s so hot!
	+ Madelina (giggling): He’s also a total sweetheart! But it doesn’t look like this is relevant to you...
	+ Gina (smirking): Sweetheart in what way? Huh?
	+ Madelina (blushing): What I meant is that he’s a super nice guy... It’s not what you think!
	+ Gina (laughing): I bet!
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 1; whispering): Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 2; confused): What are you thinking about?
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 1; whispering): Mia Loukas clearly likes Zachary, this is why she poured chum at us while we were admiring him!
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 2; covering her face): Do you have to remind me? I can still feel the stink coming from my body!
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 1; grinning): My point is, we should try and encourage Madelina to ask Zachary out and maybe this would teach Mia a lesson! Just imagine how mad she will be when she sees the match!
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 2; excited): I like this idea! Lets try it out!

The girls turn to Madelina...

* + Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 2; giggling): You like him...
	+ Madelina (awkward grin): Who? Zachary?? No way! We are just friends!
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 1; laughing): Come on, it’s obvious! Look, you’re blushing!
	+ Madelina (holding her laugh): Nooooooo!
	+ Aphrodite daughters (Daughter 2; excited): You HAVE TO ask him out! You two would make a cute couple!
	+ Madelina (laughing): For the last time I’m telling you, I don’t like Zachary!
	+ Madelina (sad): And besides, what would Chet thin-
	+ Gina (eye rolling): Oh, spare me! You’re still thinking about that guy?!
	+ Madelina (blushing): Yes...
	+ Gina (holding her head): Madelina, you deserve WAY better than that guy. I agree with my sisters, it’s time that you get yourself a REAL man.
	+ Gina (smiling): And Zach is right there! You need to take him before someone else does! Don’t blow your chance!
	+ Madelina (tight smile): ...
	+ Madelina (tidying her hair): You know what? You’re right! Zach’s cute and it’s time that I move on!
	+ Gina (cheering): You go girl!
	+ Aphrodite daughters (both snickering): Hehehehehehehe...

Yoyo joins the crowd...

* + Yoyo (suspicious): What are you all girls gathering here for?
	+ Flora (innocent smirk): Our sisters are just being their matchmaker-selves, trying to get Madelina to ask Zachary out...
	+ Yoyo (shocked): WHAT?!
	+ Flora (excited): And it looks like they gave her the push she needed! She’s going to ask him out!
	+ Yoyo (panicking): Oh no!

Madelina approaches Zachary’s group...

* + Madelina (nervous smile): Hi Alex! Hi Jenny! Hey... Zach...
	+ Alex (smiling): Oh! Hey Mads! It’s nice to see you, what’s bringing you here?
	+ Madelina (blushing): I’m just shopping... For dresses and... I wanted to speak with Zachary...
	+ Alex (smirking): Well, there he is! Say whatever you want to him!
	+ Madelina (sweating): Well... uh... How do I word this?
	+ Zachary (concerned): Madelina, isn’t everything oka-
	+ Madelina (closing her eyes; speaking fast): You’re single! I’m single! I think you’re nice guy and I may have a little crush on you!
	+ Alex (blushing): Oh shit...
	+ Jennifer (smirking): Things are getting exciting now...
	+ Madelina (blushing): Did I say this out loud?
	+ Zachary (blushing): You did...
	+ Madelina (awkward grin): Now that I got this out of my chest. I wanted to talk to you because I’m planning to go to the theatre this week and... uh... I was wondering if you’r mind joining me... As my date...
	+ Alex (sweating): Madelina, I don’t mean to disappoint you, bu-
	+ Zachary (scratching his head): Sure... Why not...
	+ Madelina (shocked): Wait, really?
	+ Madelina (smiling): Cool! See you at the theatre!

Madelina leaves...

* + Alex and Jennifer (crossing their arms): ....
	+ Zachary (holding his head): Don’t stare at me like that! I blew my chance with Mia, so I may as well give Madelina a shot!
	+ Jennifer (pissed): I don’t know what’s the point of me helping out weak-willed men!
	+ Zachary (covering his head): I fucked up, didn’t I?
	+ Alex (wincing): Uh... Kinda...

Madelina returns to the girls...

* + Flora and Gina (Gina; eager): So? How did it go?
	+ Madelina (tight smile): Hehe....
	+ Aphrodite daughters (both excited): AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
	+ Yoyo (nervous): Mia isn’t going to be happy about this...