Domitian Becomes Emperor
Domitian ascends to the imperial throne in a formal ceremony within his newly constructed palace, surrounded by senators and military leaders, marking the beginning of his autocratic rule.
Setting
The grand atrium of Domitian's newly constructed palace on the Palatine Hill, Rome. The space is vast, with high ceilings and marble floors, adorned with intricate mosaics depicting Roman victories. The morning light filters through strategically placed windows, casting long shadows.
Characters
Domitian
primary
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his early 30s with sharp, angular features and piercing dark eyes. His short-cropped black hair is neatly styled, and his clean-shaven face carries an air of calculated intensity. His muscular frame suggests military training, though his pale complexion hints at recent confinement.
Senator Lucius
secondary
A gaunt man in his late 60s with thinning grey hair combed forward to conceal his baldness. His sharp nose and deep-set eyes give him a calculating appearance. His hands are liver-spotted but well-manicured, showing his patrician status.
Praetorian Prefect
secondary
A hardened military man in his late 40s with a muscular build, short-cropped iron-gray hair, and deep-set eyes that have seen countless battles. His face bears a prominent scar running from left temple to jawline - a testament to his frontline service. His posture is rigid with military precision.
Imperial Scribe
background
A lean, olive-skinned man in his late 20s with close-cropped dark hair and ink-stained fingers. His posture is slightly hunched from years of bending over writing surfaces, and his sharp eyes dart between the speakers and his tablet.
Dialog
Domitian
The Senate kneels before us today—yet we wonder if their knees bend as readily as their tongues.
Senator Lucius
Divine Caesar, may Jupiter Optimus Maximus grant you wisdom as he did your illustrious father. The Senate stands—
Domitian
Stands? Or waits? The testudo forms only when every shield locks tight.
Praetorian Prefect
Dominus, the eastern flank is secured. The German cohorts swear fealty by Mithras' light.
Domitian
Let them swear it louder. These marble walls have ears that need hearing.
Senator Lucius
As the auspices foretold, your reign begins under favorable signs. The Sibylline—
Praetorian Prefect
The perimeter is clear, but I'd stake my gladius there's a rat in the grain dole.