[Scenario Seed] A Roman Trilogy.

[Catsmate]

A trio of linkable scenario ideas, set in the Roman Empire, and intended mainly for grinch's alternate First Doctor.

Part One - The Thing in The Woods.
This is basically the old FASA scenario The Legions of Death, with the antagonist replaced by the Meddler (which I'm assuming from now on is a female version of the Monk/Mortimus) set after she first meets the Alternate First Doctor ('Doctor' from now on) and her companions (which I'm assuming are Cedric, Sid and Eleanor).

The progress of Doctor's TARDIS through the Vortex is deflected by some external force and it materialises in Britain, in

• Alternatively she could have received a communication from someone asking her to investigate. Or simply have a certain independent agency deflect her TARDIS there (with our without message telling her that they think someone's happening). This diesn't mesh with the usual First Doctor themes but is certainly workable and might be useful to introduce the idea that she's answerable to certain others.
  

For those of you unfamiliar with The Legions of Death the basic plot is simple: renegade Time Lord seeks to create Roman Army via mind control technology in 43CE Britain. There's an almost unused second plotline involving Titus Flavius Vespasianus who was a legate in the early stages of a successful military career which would led to him becoming emperor in 69CE.

After the TARDIS lands the Doctor checks the instruments and attempts to locate the source of the distortion in the Vortex; this leads to the receipt of the message or her discovering that there's a nearby source of utterly anachronistic energy emissions. Which are 'jamming' the TARDIS's systems...

• If you're going with the message option this is the perfect place to allude to the Time Lords and Gallifrey, but in keeping with the First Doctor era these shouldn't be explicitly named. A mention to Cedric of "a message from home", "our people" or "your uncle" and a refusal to elucidate matters to the humans is in character. As is an air of resentment at being used...
  

The party set out to investigate, possibly stopping to equip themselves from the TARDIS chest. Presumably the Doctor, lacking a magic wand in this incarnation, takes some sort of sensor device. Following a path through woodland that heads more-or-less in the correct direction the encounter the site of a small skirmish between Roman legionaries and native Britons; one that the Romans lost badly. While they're investigating they're taken prisoner by one Marcus Cornelius Falco, a tribune serving under Vespasian.

After being taken prisoner by/allying with Falco the party, or at least Cedric, the Doctor or Eleanor, figure out that the Roman advance on Camulodunum [Colchester] the Briton capital is threatened and vulnerable to a flanking attack in the woodland. This is interesting as no such defeat is recorded and the army is being led by Emperor Tiberius Calusius in person. Likewise the capture of Vespasian is worryingly unrecorded in history.

If pressed Falco admits seeing Vespasian, and several others, disappear in an area of woods sacred to the local druids. He's worried and scared by what happened. The Doctor is also worried; anachronistic meddling and the loss of Vespasian.
Deciding to warn the Roman camp the party and Falco trek overland but at least one PC (probably Sid and/or Cedric) are captured by Britons.

When they arrive at the Roman encampment <insert description of ordered camp, with elephants> and Falco tells his superiors what happened. The Emperor is encountered (and Eleanor is utterly wrong about his personality) and must be persuaded to continue the campaign. While resting, under guard, the PCs hear an unusual noise which investigation reveals to be a Sontaran reconnaissance drone. Soon after an alarm sounds and the Praetorian guard rally around the Emperor's tents with cries of "assassins" and "look to Caesar". Assuming the part act quickly they may capture one or more of the assassins/intruders and possibly the drone. Investigation shows the intruders are actually Roman troops, from the cohort that accompanied Vespasian...
Treachery? No mental control.

Persuading Claudius to allow them to investigate the Sacred Wood the party and Falco set out. Unfortunately they're captured in the process and taken to the Briton encampment, an interesting contrast to the Roman. After questioning the party is to be "delivered to the Sacred Woods" so the one referred to as "the chieftain¹" can interrogate them. However one of the Briton leaders, a woman named Branimandua, intervenes and seems skeptical about the chieftain's magic powers and says he² has Roman guards, something the other leaders dispute.

So the party is pushed into the Sacred Wood³, where the Briton warriors seem afraid to follow. After some atmospheric scenes they hear the hum of one of the drones and are captured by Roman troops. Romans with laser weapons...
They're taken to an impressively large oak which is of course the Meddler's TARDIS.

The Meddler comes out and takes control of the prisoners, armed with a stunner and a staff. After the expected gloating at the Doctor falling into her hands she and the controlled Romans bring the prisoners into the TARDIS and she deactivates the holographic disguise. There follows the standard exposition scene, with suitable admonitory commentary from the Doctor.

To summarise the plan is to grab the foolish and weak-willed Claudius⁴, control him and through him Rome. The New Roman Empire/Republic will be the backbone of her plan to control Earth and create an beneficent power in that part of Mutters Spiral. They're then locked up, and meet Vespasian⁵.
After some more exposition the party escape, aided by the skeptical Branimandua, confront the Meddler (damaging her TARDIS) and work to fix history (using the Meddler's holographic equipment to persuade the Briton clan leaders to disperse, allowing the Romans to win as recognised history reports.

They then depart, perhaps with Branimandua and/or Falco onboard.

SPOILER: Click to show

Meanwhile a few days later in the now quiet Sacred Wood a strange noise precedes the appearance of a large oak tree...
A door opens in the oak's trunk and a furious woman emerges, shrouded in electrical smoke.
She shouts at the empty wood, addressing who knows who: "You may have stranded me in this primitive time, and frustrated my plan, but my second plan will come to fruition in time. I will have my revenge".

Comments? Ideas? Suggestions? Parts two and three to follow.


1. No, not the tank.
2. Yes, 'he'.
3. Mostly old oaks.
4. It's one of the rare times he's outside Rome and vulnerable.
5. Currently Legate, future Consul, governor of north Africa, disfavoured of Nero (don't fall asleep when the Emperor is playing the lyre), suppressor of the Jewish Revolt, patron of Josephus and fourth of the Four Emperors, founder of the Flavian Dynasty.

[Catsmate]

Part 2: The Guns of Rome.

Outline.
Stranded on Earth for twenty years the Meddler has stewed and plotted revenge on the Doctor. Fixing her TARDIS took time, to build the tools to build the tools to build the tools to get the self-repair systems operational.
Meanwhile she's plotted and planned a scheme to get the Doctor into her clutches. Unfortunately blind chance plays it's own game....


The TARDIS materialises on Earth, outside Rome, and the 'crew' head out to explore, as an malfunction in the stabiliser system causes the craft's interior to rotater. Nearby they find a strangely abandoned villa and, tired by their recent adventures, the take up residence. The Doctor produces some home conveniences and a large supply of Roman currency from the awkwardly tilted craft and they decide to relax while the craft's self-repair systems run their course.
The Doctor, Sid, Eleanor and the newly joined Vicki¹ relax, swap stories of their travels, shop in the city's markets and explore Roman cuisine

• Such as breast of peacock in an orange and juniper sauce, with a garnish of larks tongues and baked pomegranates. Preceded by a ant's eggs in hibiscus honey.
• Sid is disappointed by the lack of cod'n'chips however.
  

After a couple of weeks of relaxation however a degree of boredom sets in and, inspired by Vicki's curiousity about her distant past, the party set out to see the sights of the greatest city in the world.

While Eleanor is impressed by the Eternal City and Vicki highly curious Sid is less interested and wanders off to find a pub. Locating a suitable establishment he finds that the popina² of ancient Rome aren't that much different from the East End pubs of his own time, though he's not impressed by posca³, and finds dice less challenging than cards⁴.
Taken for a peregrinus (free foreigner) due to his insistence on wearing trousers and attempts to find beer, though able to understand the Latin thanks to the TARDIS's translation, Sid overhears some discussion of a mysterious Doctor Fain, a soothsayer, who hired the men to collect a cargo of stone salt and move it to a warehouse near the Tiber docks.

After an argument escalates and knives are produced the popina is raided by a detachment of the Vigiles and has to flee, accompanying one of the men, named Lucius. Escaping in the maze of streets Sid is quickly lost and depends on his new found friend for guidance. Taking refuge at an even more dive-ish drinking place Sid is recruited to help move the Sal Petra for the soothsayer.

Meanwhile, having finally noticed the loss of Sid, the other time travellers stop for refreshment at a more upmarket inn. While Eleanor frets the Doctor is sanguine about Sid's disappearance. If all else fails he will return to the villa. After more sightseeing; the Forum, the Circus Maximus, the Temple of Jupiter and the Cloaca Maxima are seen and surreptitiously photographed.

On their way back to the villa Vicki spots a body dumped in the bushes and the Doctor is puzzled. While Vicki assumes it was a simple robbery, not an uncommon event in her home era, the Doctor points out the man's possessions, including money and an excellent quality lyre, are untouched. She takes the lyre for examination and the trio head back to the temporary home.

Meanwhile Sid accompanies Lucius and meets few more men who are berated by Lucius for the delay in 'fixing' the lyre player. Together they collect some bags of white salty sand and bring it to the small warehouse used by Doctor Fain as his laboratory. Gossiping with the men Sid discovers that Fain has a reputation as a healer and fortune teller, and has various odd substances delivered. Lucius guides Sid to an inn near where he left the Doctor and bid him goodbye.
After a rest at the inn, and some food and wine, Sid treks back to the Doctor's acquired villa.

There he's berated for wandering off and explains his adventures. The Doctor is most intrigued by the account, especially the amount of Sal Petra (saltpetre) that Fain has purchased, far more than any medicinal use should need.

Meanwhile the Meddler in her guise as Fain has made her way through the Roman hierarchy and is demonstrating a new weapon to Nero himself, accompanied by his friend and ally, the brutal Praetorian prefect Tigellinus. They're both extremely impressed by the "pilum fulminata"....
Fain also makes a number of other suggestions; showing off two plants from his 'homeland', an edible tuber and a strange hollow stemmed plant.

Bcak in 'her' villa the Doctor is intrigued by Sid's story and the amount of saltpetre being obtained by Fain and decides to investigate. Vicki reminds her of the murdered lyrist and Sid remembers Lucius's acquaintances. Suddenly things are looking less boring....

In the city the Doctor attempts to track down sellers of Sal Petra but is frustrated by the specialised nature of the material but does hear of a 'fiery chariot' seen in the sky⁵. Doctor Fain is more easily found but he's not in his 'business' tent near the markets. She does learn that Fain is associated with the notorious Locusta and is known to stay at her larhe city house. This tidbit is accompanies by salacious gossip about the pair...

Elsewhere Fain is meeting with Locusta, who's one of his principal contacts in the city;  a woman she's helped expand her business. Locusta who enjoys the protection of Nero, as his personal poisoner amongst other things, has opened a school for teaching the arts of poisoning to others.

The following day the travellers 'case the joint' as Sid put it; Locusta's house is large and well appointed, with gardens and an interior courtyard and seemingly difficult to infiltrate. But Vicki has a plan...
As does the Doctor...

Back down by the docks in Fain's workshop he is instructing his minions in the techniques of grinding the ingredients of black powder and mixing them to produce corned powder. But from a nearby buiding someone is watching...

While Vicki boldly calls on Locusta and spins a story of being a soon to be wed daughter who has no interest in men and seeks a solution to her arranged marriage, the Doctor impersonates the dead lyrist and complains to the Emperor's servants about the attempt on 'his' life. After apologies, and promises to notify the Vigiles and have the Urban Cohort⁶ scour the city. Paying for a vial that Locusta assures her will cause her widowhood to rapidly succeed her marriage Vicki attempts to change the subject of the conversation to the fortune teller she's heard about, one Doctor Fain.
Locusta tells her than Fain has a workshop near the docks where he spends much time dabbling in alchemy
Sid has been renewing his acquaintance with Lucius, and posca, trying to find out more about Fain, while Eleanor circulates through the market picking up gossip.


Meeting at an inn the travellers compare notes and formulate a plan; the Doctor is expected to play the lyre for Neo that evening and will find out what she cam, assisted by Vicki as a serving girl. Sid and Eleanor will return to the TARDIS and pick up certain items, and the group will visit Fain's workshop that night.

However things don't go to plan; 'Fain' is present that evening and eventually the Doctor's impersonation is exposed when the Meddler destroys the audio player she'd been using to fake the music. Imprisoned the Doctor is fuming and the Meddler smug; unfortunately she's unfamiliar with Vick who drugs the guards and rescues the Doctor.

Rendezvousing with Eleanor and Sid the four make their way to the docks, equipped with dark clothes and suitable tols from the TARDIS.
But it's a trap....

Locusta saw through Vicki's story and warned Fain; at the warehouse the Meddler is protected by a pair of armed androids she's acquired, a squad of the Praetorian Guard with crude matchlock muskets and her own minions with swords.
Let the gloating begin...

Trapped the Doctor listens scornfully to the Meddler's plan; firearms, horse collars and stirrups, steam engines, wood pulp paper, steel, distillation, potatoes and bamboo the Roman Empire will never fall. And she'll be behind the Imperial thone, 'guiding' matters.
Suddenly the door is broken in and a Roman officer enters. He declares that all present are under arrest, by the authority of the Vigiles Umbrum⁷. Turning to the Doctor the officer greats her by title and smiles.
But the Meddler soon recovers from the shock and orders her forces to attack. While the Praetorian's are reluctant to confront fellow Romans and her local minions are unwilling to be slaughtered by professional troops the androids have no such  problems and open fire with energy weapons, triggering a general fight. After a cask of black powder is hit by a stray energy pulse the workshop erupts in fire, smoke and explosions. Excpet the androids everyone flees, the Meddler opens a door in a pile of boxes and enters her TARDIS as the Vigiles escort the time travellers out.
Their officer bids the Doctor goodbye and smiles strangely, wishing her well.

In the background Rome begins to burn.


Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?



1. Whom I've not gender swapped, that'd eliminate too many opportunities for amusement...
2. A decidedly plebian, and indeed Plebian, establishment regarded by the middle and upper classes as wretched hives of scum and villainy.
3. A rather noxious mix of cheap wine, wine vinegar, water and herbs. Very much a bottom of society drink.
4. Playing dice for money is of course illegal in Rome.
5. Actually Halley's comet. There were, for some reason, a number of comets seen during Nero's reign...
6. Think gendarmarie while the Vigiles are beat cops and firefighters.
7. The Guardians in the Shadows. Rome's extremely secret protectors.

[grinch]

Love it! Still figuring out the timeline for the First Doctor along with some other ideas I have for future incarnations hence my delay. Really like what I am seeing here and I’m keen to see what you have for part three. Makes one wonder who would play this universes version of the Time Meddler. Esma Cannon or Dilys Laye perhaps?

[Catsmate]

Apr 19, 2020 16:01:35 GMT grinch said:

Love it! Still figuring out the timeline for the First Doctor along with some other ideas I have for future incarnations hence my delay. Really like what I am seeing here and I’m keen to see what you have for part three. Makes one wonder who would play this universes version of the Time Meddler. Esma Cannon or Dilys Laye perhaps?

Thank you!
Part 2 is actually based on my re-write of the EDCverse episode The Romans with some necessary changes.

The idea of Rome having a Torchwood-esque organisation dealing with outre problems and threats to the state is based on the Legion of Smoke (DWwiki) that appeared in the EU novel Combat Magicks (DWwiki). I rather like the idea of a web of 'hidden history' behind the masquerade of normality, with multiple, competing if not antagonistic, organisations working behind the scenes to protect humanity in the manner of the Shadow Directory or Special Congress.
 
And of course they may have encountered the Doctor out of sequence...

It was to have been posted a few days ago but I had a sudden creative spurt regarding the EDC and another Whoniverse project called Artefacts and Collectors. A quick peak:

Officially, by global treaty and the multitude of Enabling Acts and orders, UNIT and the United Nations have sole jurisdiction on extra-terrestrial contacts and custody of artefacts from “elsewhere” including other planets, times and dimensions.
Of course the reality is a little more...complicated.

Many government (and private organisations) precede the creation of UNIT and many national governments maintain programmes and agencies to manage contacts and encounters. These are (usually) officially there to “liase” with UNIT and assist them with local expertise.
Again, the reality is frequently a bit different.

In the Whoniverse there is rather a lot of “stuff” of unusual origins floating around; developed by humans animated by Mad Science; left behind, lost or gifted by visiting aliens, or recovered or captured from them; things dropped by passing time travellers; oddities from other dimensions and universes.
Many of these are, if not mundane, pretty harmless. Some are interesting, useful or understandable, possibly with the capacity to improve human technology or better humankind's lot; alien power cells, healing devices, new materials and similar.
Some are fantastically dangerous.
Some are just plan odd.

Not everything is in the Black Archive.
This is fundamentally for practical reasons; it’s difficult to collect all this junk, especially if the average UNIT investigation isn’t sure if the mysterious object even is alien. UNIT doesn’t have the scientific resources to test everything brought in, much material is boxed, labelled and stored in warehouses. Only if something is interesting, dangerous or useful does it get move to the main archives.

Now officially unit claims sole jurisdiction over unusual artefacts; in practice this is more theory than reality. Many minor artefacts don’t come to its attention and can end up in bric-a-brac stores or on mantelpieces where their powers, if any, remain unknown.
Some were “souvenired” by mundane squaddies who were attached to UNIT and encountered oddities. Not a few were, and are, kept “off the books” by UNIT personnel who found them useful and want to avoid the paperwork.

But some end up in other hands.

[Catsmate]

Part 3: The Third Emperor

A direct sequel, set five years after The Guns of Rome. In 68-69CE after his suicide Nero was replaced by Galba, the Otho, then Vitellius, and finally Vespasian. This scenario fits during the brief reign of the third of these emperors, Vitellius.

Some background.
68-69CE was known as ‘The Year of the Four Emperors’ for the obvious reason; Nero killed himself on 09JUN0068, was succeeded by Servius Sulpicius Galba (then governor of Mediterranean and central Spain). This would begin a chain of events leading to rebellion in Germania.
However Galba was also unpopular and politically inept, ordering many extra-judicial executions, levying huge fines and failing to reward the Praetorian Guard as expected. He was also
The Vitellian rebellion began on 02JAN0069 when the Legions around the Rhine proclaimed Aulus Vitellius Germanicus emperor. Galba was killed by the Praetorian Guard on 15JAN0069 and succeeded by Marcus Salvius Otho (who’d arranged said assassination).

Proclaimed Emperor by the senate, Otho (who’d been a friend of Nero until his wife’s affair with the emperor) was initially welcomed by the populace but faced a civil war against the forces of Vitellius. This he lost, considerably due to his own impatience and refusing the accept the advice of seasoned military officers. Taken by surprise his forces suffered a serious defeat near Cremona. Despite his still formidable military strength Otho stabbed himself in the heart while alone in his tent.
His reign lasted 91 days.

When news of Otho’s suicide reached Rome the Senate proclaimed Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Emperor on 16APR0069. His reign would last about eight months and be ended by Vespasian (remember him?).
Vitellius was described as lazy, gluttonous and self-indulgent; almost all accounts of his reign are unfavourable, despite his administrative reforms.

The TARDIS materialises near Cologne, or more specifically the Roman city of Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Colonia
grippina for short) which would become Cologne in early June 69CE on a dry though rather cool day.

• Colonia Agrippina is a major city for the period, with over thirty thousand inhabitants. In the absence of Vitellius the city and region are being administered by Gaius Dillius Vocula, a dull and uninspired man.
  

Exiting the TARDIS the Doctor is accompanied by three companions; Vicky, a waif-like orphan from the twenty-fifth century, Stephanie 'Stevie' Baker, a brash pilot from twenty-third century Earth and Brendan Branch, a security agent from the early fifth millennium Confederation.

After some banter about where they've ended up now, the party walk down to the nearby river while speculating about which river exactly it is. The spot a small riverboat turning a bend in the river and, thanks to Brendan's Resourceful Pockets, watch through a view-scope as something attacks the boat from under the water.

Through the scope they see a trio of green, humanoid, creatures assault the boat and attempt to overpower the small number of crew and passengers. Reacting on impulse Stevie begins shouting at them and draws a weapon. Her aim deflected by the Doctor's stick, the blaster shots strike the water harmlessly but cause the attackers to abandon their attack.

The boat heads in the direction of the TARDIS party but the Doctor leads them away and they conceal themselves. A small group land from the boat and carry out a quick search of the banks until recalled by their leader who speaks of their missions in the city.

After berating Stevie, to little avail, about the anachronistic use of energy weapons the Doctor wonders what exactly the creatures attacking the boat were. Vicki speculates the may have been humans in costume while Brendan is intrigued by their willingness to land even after the blaster shots. The Doctor suggests that Roman military discipline may be responsible.

At her instigation the party head for the city, having heard the Romans name it as Colonia Agrippina. Clearly something odd is going on...
The journey to the city wall takes a couple of hours and leaves the Doctor irritable. Even before entering the town by the Portia Caludii, there's an air of tension around the city, with speculation about the actions of the new emperor Vitellius, quiet worry about hid wisdom in stripping the German provinces of the regular Legions, and anger by a legionary about the lack of pay.

Inside the city the architecture is quintessentially Roman; they see a large stone built temples to Mars as well as the Forum and Baths while picking up gossip (made difficult by their outlandish clothes)/ Near the Basilica, the centre of government, they witness most of the group from the boat accompanied by a team of slaves carrying heavy chests and several watchful soldiers. This interests the Doctor greatly and she discretely watches through Brendan's 'scope as the meet Governor Dillius and his staff.

Attempting to enter the Basilica the party, minus Brendan who escapes quietly, is arrested. Disarmed and taken to the cells below they're on edge until summoned by a slightly familiar face. Titus reminds the Doctor of the last time they met, in Rome some five years earlier. "Yous is a face not easy to forget Doctor".
The Vigiles Umbrum are back...

Titus explains that the situation is dire; in his bid for the purple Vitellius has stripped the frontier provinces of troops, there are barely two centuries in Cologne and they haven't been paid for months. The boat they saw earlier was carrying pay chests for the troops, along with the small time of Vigiles who are tasked with investigating certain strange occurrences in the area.

Titus is worried; rebellion seems imminent¹, the Empire is in disarray due to the political instability and there are signs that Vespasian (Governor of Judea and hero of the Jewish Revolt²) is making a play for the throne. Worse there are signs that Vespasian used certain otherworldly artefacts in suppressing the Jews and is listening to soothsayers who claim he's destined to control the world³. Then there was the mysterious 'suicide' of Otho...
A rebellion in Germania would help Vespasian by tying up troops loyal to Vitellius.
Titus proposes that they join forces, the alternative is the Doctor and his companions being locked up.
 
Meanwhile Brendan is infiltrating the city like the trained agent he is, one not inexperienced in dealing with primitive cultures. A little discrete mugging yields suitable clothing and a little cash. He avoids the area of the Basilica and the Temples but scouts the city, making careful use of a compact scanner from his kit. Near the townhouse of a prosperous citizen he detects some anachronistic energy emissions an notes this for investigation.
He them heads back to the Basilica at dusk to spring the others from durance vile.

However this effort isn't needed as he sees the Doctor, Vicki and Steve walking out of the columned entrance on their own. Discretely signalling them the party wander off to an inn to discuss matters.
Over some rather mediocre wine they exchange stories and information and make plans for the evening. While she's made a deal with Titus the Doctor is concerned about the Romans, even the politically neutral Vigiles Umbrum, acquiring advanced technology. There's also the matter of the course of history; the revolt is supposed to happen, Vitellius will be deposed and Vespasian will found the strong Flavian dynasty.

Quietly studying the historical database⁴ on his personal slate Brendan points out that Cologne did not historically fall to the rebels, perhaps that turning point was intended? The Doctor replies that whoever was responsible for the attack on the boat knows that someone from elsewhen is in the area, glaring at the trigger-happy Stevie⁵, who is utterly unabashed

Finishing the wine the quartet decide on a plan. They'll visit the house that Brendan discovered earlier. The Doctor will boldly knock on the door and demand entry, Brendan will infiltrate quietly, Stevie will remain outside as backup and Vicki will inform Titus, in case assistance is needed but giving the others time to investigate and 'sanitise' the house.

Surprisingly this goes reasonably well. The Doctor's loud demands for entry divert the attentions of the servants, the master of the household (a local magistrate) and his enshrouded 'guest' who watches the disturbance quietly from a shadowed doorway. At least until a device under his toga beeps.
Drawing a handgun he⁶ runs across the internal courtyard to a staircase heading down to the cellars, shouting orders to the servants as he does so. The Doctor's welcome turns from puzzled and unfriendly to actively hostile and she's forces to defend herself with her stick against three sword armed men while attempting a fighting retreat. This proves a tactical mistake as it allows her attackers to encircle her, until Stevie intervenes and stuns them unconscious.

Meanwhile Brendan has used his skills and gear to climb to the house's roof, circle around and drop into the courtyard, relying on his scanner to detect any alarm systems. Unfortunately its emissions are themselves detected as he picks a lock on the cellar door and he's soon being fired on with an energy pistol. In the dark cellar the two take cover and exchange fire, while Brendan's backup is trying to break open the sturdy front door.
Rescue comes unexpectedly from Vicki; having passed the message on to one of Titus's Vigiles she sprinted back to the townhouse to help and climbed the courtyard wall while everyone else was engaged fighting off Stevie and the Doctor.

She distracts the person in the cellar long enough for Brendan to activate the lights, but the man dodges behind a supporting column and enters a small device resembling an enclosed, wheelless motorcycle. Activating a weapon Brendan and Vicki take cover from a torrent of blaster fire and Vicki picks up a bag. Second later the device's door opens momentarily and three small cylinders arc out. Grabbing Vicki, Brendan runs from the grenades and the pair make it to the courtyard's covered walkway before the cellar erupts in white-hot plasma.

In the house chaos reigns as several of the inhabitants drop dead suddenly, neighbours investigate the disturbance and the Vigiles arrive and force entry.
While the fires are being fought Titus quips with the Doctor; "Chaos and fire, like old times...".

The next morning they all meet in one of the rooms at the Basilica, Dillius and a few aides are also present. The bag Vicki grabbed contained some papers; a few cryptic notes, relating to Vespasian and mentioning Masada, and a map showing a location near the river. Investigating in force, reinforced by squads of the now paid legionaries, they find the remains of a base, cauterised by another plasma device, and the bodies of four reptilian creatures who've been fitted with cybernetic devices implanted in their skulls.

Of whoever was responsible for this, there is no sign.

Realising that she needs to look into what's happening in Judea the Doctor says goodbye to Titus and she and her companions head back to the TARDIS.

To be continued...... Possibly.


Comments? Suggestions? Ideas?



1. He's not wrong either, the Batavian Revolt is due to start soon.
2. To the Romans anyway.
3. An actual prophecy ubiquitous in the Eastern provinces of the Empire at this time.
4. Future Wikipedia...
5. Think reboot Starbuck.
6. Or perhaps she. It's impossible to tell in the dark..

[greyhame]

Did you ever finish this?

[Catsmate]

Nov 29, 2022 20:24:54 GMT greyhame said:

Did you ever finish this?

No exactly. I used parts of it in our ongoing campaign, highly modified and expanded the original idea to seven parts set along the Roman timeline, mostly as notes.