Death of Lucius Verus
Lucius Verus, co-emperor of Rome, lies dying in a dimly lit chamber in Altino, surrounded by his brother Marcus Aurelius, physicians, and attendants. His sudden decline from illness has plunged the ro
Setting
A dimly lit chamber in a wealthy Roman villa in Altino, with marble floors and high ceilings. The room is sparsely furnished, dominated by a large wooden bed draped with fine linens. The air is heavy with the scent of medicinal herbs and the faint metallic tang of blood. Outside, the winter wind howls against the shuttered windows.
Characters
Lucius Verus
primary
A man in his late 30s, once robust and athletic from his military campaigns, now gaunt and weakened by illness. His face is pale with dark circles under his eyes, his once-well-groomed beard now unkempt. His lips are dry and cracked, and his hands tremble slightly.
Marcus Aurelius
primary
A tall, lean man in his late forties with a deeply lined forehead and a neatly trimmed beard that has begun to show streaks of grey. His piercing dark eyes, renowned for their intensity, are now clouded with sorrow. His posture remains erect with military bearing despite the emotional weight of the moment.
Greek Physician
secondary
A middle-aged man of average height with a lean, wiry build, indicative of a life spent in constant movement. His olive skin is weathered from years of travel, and his dark brown eyes are sharp with intelligence. His short, curly black hair is streaked with gray, and his neatly trimmed beard shows signs of recent neglect due to the urgency of his duties.
Slave Attendant
secondary
A middle-aged man of Greek origin, with a lean but strong build from years of household service. His dark hair is streaked with gray, tied back in a simple knot. His olive skin bears the marks of age and labor, with deep-set brown eyes that reflect both weariness and quiet competence.
Praetorian Guard
background
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his late 30s with a weathered face marked by a diagonal scar across his left cheekbone. His close-cropped dark hair shows flecks of gray, and his thick forearms bear the marks of years of combat training. His stance conveys both military discipline and alertness.
Dialog
Lucius Verus
Per Herculem... Marcus, do not let them waste more herbs on me. Save them for men who can still hold a sword.
Marcus Aurelius
Ἄνθρωπε... (Man...) The gods give and take as they will, but we shall honor your spirit while it remains.
Greek Physician
Dominus, the black bile dominates his humors entirely. As Galen writes, when the liver's heat—
Lucius Verus
Spare me your Greek babble! Marcus... the Danube legions... promise me you'll—
Marcus Aurelius
By Jupiter Capitolinus and all our ancestors, your eagles will not fall unavenged.
Greek Physician
The mandragora... if the Dominus permits? To ease the passage as the Alexandrian texts describe.
Lucius Verus
Ah... let it be wine from Falernum instead. A soldier's last drink should taste of victory.