The party in the Senate building starts as soon as the sun sets, as the party invites stated. After twenty-five years, the people and senators of Rome had learned that an invite (or even a side comment) made by Emperor Donegealus should be taken as an order with death as the only alternative. Too many people, including senators, had disappeared over the years for disobeying the Emperor
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From all over Rome the aristocracy arrives and begins to mingle. Emperor Donegealus greets the guests in the main audience chamber as they arrive. A Polyroman SS marks each name off a checklist as they are greeted. In only half an hour, all guests have been checked in. The Emperor promptly disappears to a backroom of the building.
“Are they all here?” Donegealus asks.
“They are, your majesty.” Replies a Polyroman Legionary.
“Excellent.” Replies the Emperor as he makes his way to the balcony of the Senate building overlooking the great city of Rome.
He stares out over the city. “We need a change. I fear the citizens of Rome are becoming complacent to my rule.” Donegealus peers out at the city. “Burn it. It has become old and weak. We need a new Rome. A Rome as hard as marble!” A Polyroman Legionary hesitates indistinguishably, then trots off to carry out Emperor Donegealus order. “And have the senate building locked. I don’t want any of our esteemed Senators getting upset at the loss of their property.” Another Legionary runs off to have this order carried out. Within five minutes, several areas of the city begin to smoke. Donegealus takes up position on the balcony to watch as the fire spreads. Large flames can be seen. The Emperor grins his devilish grin as his favorite personal lyre is played in the background.
Back in the Senate audience chamber, the guest become alarmed as several Polyroman Legionaries take up positions at the doors. At one of the entrances, Emperor Donegealus walks in a cheerful mood. The crowd parts as he walks amongst the Senators.
“Friends! Romans! Countrymen! Lend me your ears! We come not to praise me, but to bury the old Rome. As I speak, the city burns. It is weak! The War with the Celts is to far from our home and its populace has become complacent. You have become complacent! A change was needed for the good of the Empire, I have decided that that change was going to start right here!”
A lone Senator emerges from the crowd and approaches the Emperor. “You are correct, Emperor Donegealus!” Senator Aquavian Lungarius states. “The empire does need a change, and that change needs to occur right here in the great city of Rome!”
Emperor Donegealus smiles. Senator Aquavian Lungarius was the harshest opponent of Donegealus’s policies that was still alive. “Why Senator Aquavian Lungarius, I am glad to see that you are finally on the same page as the rest of us.”
Aqualungus glares at Donegealus with contempt. “But the people of Rome have NOT become complacent. It is the Empire itself that has become corrupt!” A slight murmur passes through the guests at this open defiance of the Emperor.
The Emperor turns and faces the crowd. “The empire is corrupt? I have made this place into what it is today! I have purged corruption where ever I have seen it!” He faces Aquavian Lungarius again and stares at him. “But it appears that there IS corruption right here in Rome.”
Suddenly Aquavian Lungarius dives at Donegealus. In a brief instant, Donegealus sees that he has a dagger in his hand that had been smuggled past his Polyroman guards. It plunges into his gut.
Several more figures emerge from the crowd. They all unsheathe daggers that were smuggled in. Donegealus turns toward one of the figures. Lord Nuclearus shoves his dagger into Donegealus stomach. He then feels three more daggers pierce his back. He staggers around to face them. Senators Joncnunnus, Roadamus the Cagey and Jagjef all have shocked looks on their faces and blood on their hands.
Senators Platypus Rex, Chrisius Maximus, Ormuzd and Paddius of Rome all approach and thrust their daggers into the Emperor.
Donegealus world spins. A final figure approaches. Emperor Donegealus eyes come into focus one last time.
“Et tu, Skrobism?”
Senator Skrobism pulls out his dagger, hesitates, then plunges it directly into Donegealus’s heart.
Emperor Donegealus collapses to the floor and blood empties from his body.
…And so ends the Dark Years under Emperor Donegealus.
.
From all over Rome the aristocracy arrives and begins to mingle. Emperor Donegealus greets the guests in the main audience chamber as they arrive. A Polyroman SS marks each name off a checklist as they are greeted. In only half an hour, all guests have been checked in. The Emperor promptly disappears to a backroom of the building.
“Are they all here?” Donegealus asks.
“They are, your majesty.” Replies a Polyroman Legionary.
“Excellent.” Replies the Emperor as he makes his way to the balcony of the Senate building overlooking the great city of Rome.
He stares out over the city. “We need a change. I fear the citizens of Rome are becoming complacent to my rule.” Donegealus peers out at the city. “Burn it. It has become old and weak. We need a new Rome. A Rome as hard as marble!” A Polyroman Legionary hesitates indistinguishably, then trots off to carry out Emperor Donegealus order. “And have the senate building locked. I don’t want any of our esteemed Senators getting upset at the loss of their property.” Another Legionary runs off to have this order carried out. Within five minutes, several areas of the city begin to smoke. Donegealus takes up position on the balcony to watch as the fire spreads. Large flames can be seen. The Emperor grins his devilish grin as his favorite personal lyre is played in the background.
Back in the Senate audience chamber, the guest become alarmed as several Polyroman Legionaries take up positions at the doors. At one of the entrances, Emperor Donegealus walks in a cheerful mood. The crowd parts as he walks amongst the Senators.
“Friends! Romans! Countrymen! Lend me your ears! We come not to praise me, but to bury the old Rome. As I speak, the city burns. It is weak! The War with the Celts is to far from our home and its populace has become complacent. You have become complacent! A change was needed for the good of the Empire, I have decided that that change was going to start right here!”
A lone Senator emerges from the crowd and approaches the Emperor. “You are correct, Emperor Donegealus!” Senator Aquavian Lungarius states. “The empire does need a change, and that change needs to occur right here in the great city of Rome!”
Emperor Donegealus smiles. Senator Aquavian Lungarius was the harshest opponent of Donegealus’s policies that was still alive. “Why Senator Aquavian Lungarius, I am glad to see that you are finally on the same page as the rest of us.”
Aqualungus glares at Donegealus with contempt. “But the people of Rome have NOT become complacent. It is the Empire itself that has become corrupt!” A slight murmur passes through the guests at this open defiance of the Emperor.
The Emperor turns and faces the crowd. “The empire is corrupt? I have made this place into what it is today! I have purged corruption where ever I have seen it!” He faces Aquavian Lungarius again and stares at him. “But it appears that there IS corruption right here in Rome.”
Suddenly Aquavian Lungarius dives at Donegealus. In a brief instant, Donegealus sees that he has a dagger in his hand that had been smuggled past his Polyroman guards. It plunges into his gut.
Several more figures emerge from the crowd. They all unsheathe daggers that were smuggled in. Donegealus turns toward one of the figures. Lord Nuclearus shoves his dagger into Donegealus stomach. He then feels three more daggers pierce his back. He staggers around to face them. Senators Joncnunnus, Roadamus the Cagey and Jagjef all have shocked looks on their faces and blood on their hands.
Senators Platypus Rex, Chrisius Maximus, Ormuzd and Paddius of Rome all approach and thrust their daggers into the Emperor.
Donegealus world spins. A final figure approaches. Emperor Donegealus eyes come into focus one last time.
“Et tu, Skrobism?”
Senator Skrobism pulls out his dagger, hesitates, then plunges it directly into Donegealus’s heart.
Emperor Donegealus collapses to the floor and blood empties from his body.
…And so ends the Dark Years under Emperor Donegealus.
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