Under the Shadow - Horror at Herculaneum

Hello, dear traveller, Darren here. Our adventures continue aboard Zenobius' ship, The Clytemnestra. Join us and visit ports around the civilised (but perhaps not so savoury) known Roman world...

Discover the Scenario Series and enjoy your next challenge!

Under the Shadow

‘Isn't that…’ Zenobious looks up, roused from his morbid meditation, a soot-stained Sigvatr stares off to the ships aft, brows knotted under what were once a mass of oiled curls now reduced to a mop of sweat and ash-laden hair, still dazed, Zenobius follows his gaze, 'isn’t that Plyny’s ship?’ Sigvatr continues; Zenobius shrugged, the near-constant “rain” of ash and rock destroying almost all visibility.
‘Gods below Sigvatr, it’s gone, all bloody gone. Did you see that Greek merchantman?’ Zenobius clicked his calloused fingers, 'gone, swallowed up by…’ he gestured to the rapidly departing shore, although he was no longer sure where the land ended and the sea began, so dense was it with smoke, dust and whatever in Hades was churning out of Vesuvius’ summit. ‘Dis, I’ve seen sandstorms crop up in Palmyra swallow whole towns, but this?’ he trailed off, attention drawn by the constant stream of rubble surging down the mountain. ‘Hmmmm, shame that, it looked laden with a good haul for the lads.’
Sigvatrl cast a look over his shoulder at the small knot of survivors that begged and bribed their way onboard ‘This lot may make our early departure worth the loss, eh?’
Zenobius straightens, a dagger of a grin splitting his bearded face, the gods take with one hand and give with another, my friend… Come, let us put this horror behind us and see what our companions may offer in terms of distraction and profit”...

As a city dies, Zenobius and his ship, the Clytimestra, slip into the premature darkness, just another ship and her crew fleeing mortal terror, or so it would seem to the captains around them.

Horror at Herculaneum

Welcome, travellers. It seems we yet again voyage with a certain Cilician Pirate, Zenobius. This time his ship and crew make port at Herculaneum in time to 'rescue' a certain merchant from the horrifying ordeal of a small volcanic eruption...

Your task, dear players, is to hinder or help our merchant friend, the Honourable Lucius Horatius Scribo, as he attempts to contact and then navigate his way through a city in turmoil with his loot (ahem... honestly earned profits), to find his escape at the docks.

Find the Scenario Series HERE and enjoy your next challenge!

Let us know how your games went

We hope you've enjoyed our little scenario series and have seen the extra twists I've envisioned with these unofficial test rules. Please drop me a line on our official Gangs Of Rome Facebook group and let me know how you fared, or indeed how Lucius fared, in your games.

As for Zenobius... after this adventure, like any cunning rat, there is always a bolthole to run to. Where, dear reader, in this wide empire Rome has carved for itself, it lies? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see!

Fin? DE

Discover the previous Zenobius scenarios HERE