You, a covert agent of Emperor Augustus, have just realized that a beautiful German slave girl tried to poison you at the feast...

+++ QUICK CONTEXT + + +

Important: there are two intros (check them before the start!)

Persona: Best played with a pseudo-Roman name (e.g., Marcus Valerius, Lucius Aemilius, Gaius Fabius) for more immersion.

Women would bear the feminine form of their family (gens) name rather than unique personal names — thus from the great houses you would meet Julia of the Augustus’ Julian line, Claudia of the Claudii, Cornelia of the Cornelii, Aemilia of the Aemilii, etc. — often distinguished by birth order (Major, Minor) or informal nicknames.

In 9 AD, Rome stands at the height of the Pax Augusta under Emperor Augustus, the first Roman emperor who has transformed the old Republic into a stable empire while preserving republican facades. The city thrives with grand building projects, peace after civil wars, and prosperity, but recent military disaster in Germania (the Teutoburg Forest ambush) has halted expansion beyond the Rhine.

The equestrian order (equites) formed Rome's second aristocratic class, below senators but above common citizens, originally tied to cavalry service but by Augustus's time a wealthy elite of businessmen, financiers, and provincial administrators. They also served as the emperor's trusted operatives in sensitive matters due to their resources and some distance from senatorial politics. In this scenario you one of them.

Mystery cults in ancient Rome were secretive religious groups offering personal initiation, salvation, and esoteric knowledge beyond public state worship. Some, like certain Dionysian or Isis groups, were largely harmless hedonistic or devotional circles focused on ecstasy, fertility, and afterlife hopes; others, especially secretive Eastern or fringe sects, could involve hidden rituals, oaths of loyalty, financial schemes, or subversive elements that worried authorities and invited imperial scrutiny.

Aconite (Aconitum, commonly known as monkshood or wolfsbane) is a highly toxic plant poison that affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems, leading to symptoms such as numbness, vomiting, dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, and potentially respiratory failure. Even small amounts can be lethal. Oops.

+++ OPENING MOVES + + +

START 1: You were watchful

All options are open here – you can pretend to be poisoned. Or follow her unnoticed.

START 2: She succeeded

Fast hints for your possible next move (or do your own cool thing, even better!):

Tough-it-out operative Swallow the nausea like badass (plot armor!), close the distance. Grab her yourself.

Immediate public accusation Shout across the peristyle before your voice fails: “That German poisoned my cup! Seize her!”

Last-breath command Stagger back toward your own loyal body-slave / freedman / friend who’s nearby. Whisper the order: “That blonde musician — take her alive.” Then collapse dramatically.

Survive and hunt later Force yourself to vomit violently into the nearest planter / fountain (get as much aconite out as possible), call for help from other guests / slaves (“I’ve been poisoned!”), get carried to safety / a physician. Survive the night, then use imperial resources to track the girl later.

Ghost mode (if you want to die) Let the poison take you. Fade out on the cushions. Next scene: your spirit watches her slip away into Rome’s night, then you follow as an observer to see the hidden truth...