fandomhigh | Mad Kings and Queens: Raving Royals and How to Survive Them. -- Wednesday, May 14th, 2nd Period

As people entered today, they might notice the desk were missing. Instead, it was outfitted with a wide variety of Roman couches and pillows strewn about the room. There were also a number of wine jugs and goblets filled with various ~~moddable~~ non-alcoholic beverages. Ghanima was perched on a lectus, a goblet of spiced coffee in her hand as she browsed her notes.

Once everyone had found a spot, she looked up and smiled. "Good morning, class. As a fine example of a mad royal, I lied to you last week. The syllabus is not ready today ~~due to RL moving smacking the mun upside the head~~. However, since we have just left the waters of Italy, I felt today would be an excellent time to discuss Nero, a Roman emperor who is famous for reputedly laughing and singing as his city burned."

"Nero became emperor at sixteen, the youngest Emperor up until that time," she said, sipping her drink. "Ancient historians describe Nero's early reign as being strongly influenced by his mother Agrippina, his tutor Lucius Annaeus Seneca, and the Praetorian Prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus, especially in the first years of his rule, which were known as examples of fine administration. The matters of the Empire were handled effectively and the Senate enjoyed a period of renewed influence in state affairs."

"Over time, Nero became progressively more powerful, freeing himself of his advisers and eliminating rivals to the throne. In 55, he removed Marcus Antonius Pallas, an ally of Agrippina, from his position in the treasury. Pallas, along with Burrus, was accused of conspiring against the emperor to bring Faustus Sulla to the throne. Seneca was accused of having relations with Agrippina and embezzlement. Seneca was able to get himself, Pallas and Burrus acquitted. According to Cassius Dio, at this time, Seneca and Burrus reduced their role in governing from careful management to mere moderation of Nero." Ghanima smiled thinly. "Perhaps they valued their heads more than their power. In any rate, tensions began to mount between Nero and the Senate."

"In 58, Nero became romantically involved with Poppaea Sabina, the wife of his friend and future emperor Otho. His wife, Octavia, who happened to be his step-sister -" Ghanima paused and grinned "-add another monarch to the list of dubious marriages - and mother were not amused, and Agrippina tried to reign in her son. According to Suetonius, Nero angrily responded with various attempts on his mother's life, three of which were by poison and one by rigging the ceiling over her bed to collapse while she would lay in bed. When those failed, a collapsible boat was built, which was meant to sink in the Bay of Naples. But the plot only succeeded in sinking the boat, as Agrippina managed to swim ashore. Exasperated, Nero sent an assassin who clubbed and stabbed her to death and framed it as a suicide. At the very least, we must give him points for creativity."

"Octavia also felt Nero's wrath, when he divorced her and then had her executed on a trumped-up charge of adultery to make way for Poppaea Sabina, whom he married. Unfortunately, Poppaea would also meet her end at the hands of Nero, when he kicked her to death one night after being out late at the horse races. She was seven months pregnant at the time."

"Now, Nero began his reign by promising the Senate more autonomy. Nero was known for being hands-off and spending his time visiting brothels and taverns during this period, which suited everyone just fine." Ghanima smiled and stood up, moving to begin writing on the wipeboard. "In 55, Nero began taking on a more active role as an administrator. He was consul four times between 55 and 60. During this period, some ancient historians speak fairly well of Nero and contrast it with his later rule. It is generally agreed that during this time, he was realively sane."

"Nero was also an avid lover of arts and entertainment, as evidenced by his patronage of theatre and the arena. He built a number of gymnasiums and theaters, and enormous gladiatorial shows were held. Nero also established the quinquennial Neronia. The festival included games, poetry and theater. Historians indicate that there was a belief in the Senate that theater was for the lower-class and led to immorality and laziness, and some questioned the large public expenditure on entertainment," Ghanima said, smiling. "I'm sure Nero's habit of large orgies, daliences with actors, and his frequent appreances on-stage had nothing to do with their reluctance to fund his hobbies. Really."

"By June of 68 the senate voted Galba the emperor and declared Nero a public enemy. The Praetorian Guard was bribed to betray Nero by the praetorian prefect, Nymphidius Sabinus, who desired to become emperor himself. According to Suetonius, Nero fled Rome on the Salaria road. His supporters urged him to flee to the East, where he was still universally popular, but he prepared himself for suicide. Reportedly, the praetorian guard entered to capture Nero just as he stabbed himself."

"With his death, the Julio-Claudian dynasty came to an end, and chaos ensued in the Year of the Four Emperors."

Ghanima turned back to the class, tapping her marker against the board. "Many of the surviving sources paint Nero as insane. It is not known whether they are speaking figuratively or literally, given the political climate. It was not uncommon for 'madness' or 'depravity' to be used as political weapons, even then. Recent scholars are divided in attempting to ascribe a medical reason for Nero's behavior, citing as possibilities encephalitis, epilepsy or meningitis, especially considering his family history of madness, and the fact that his brutality and erratic behaviour increased as he aged. The question of whether or not Nero was truly insane, however, remains unanswered."

"Now, I'd like us to discuss a few different things; do you believe that Nero was mad, or merely slandered by unhappy rivals? If he was insane, what do we think caused it?"

"Miss Liddell, Miss Levine, and Reno, may I see all of you when class is done?"

[OOC: Please wait for the OCD done. Enjoy! Availability for the teacher will vary today, but hit me on aim if you need me to tag in somewhere. See store for details.]

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Ghanima had to take a moment to remind herself that psychologically dissecting other people was rude, especially when it was a student given into her care.

That didn't mean it wasn't tempting.

"Cultural brainwashing, then?" she asked. "That is one large reason why many populations fail to rise up against a monarch, they simply cannot fathom life being any other way. Until you get a glimpse of something different, you never know there are alternatives."

"The trick is in convincing that the alternative is better than everything that they know."

Reno shook his head a little. No sunlight, no rain, no wind, no sky, no soil, no life, no life, no life....

"Not even that. Bottom of the barrel, nothin' better to reach for, because you know you ain't never gonna get it. So what if whoever's sittin' at the top is messed outta his head? He don't give a damn about you so long as you keep bein' nothin'..."

He tensed a little.

Don't give a damn if you're in the way, either.

Every word, every gesture, every breath Reno made was a punch to the gut as Ghanima watched him, the Truthsense reinforcing her suspicions by the moment, and quietly infuriating her.

And she was not alone. Every single one of her inner lives was seething with rage at whatever had been done to him, with Chani in-particular making noises about ripping the still-beating heart out of whomever had done it.

Times like this, Ghanima loved her mother dearly.

"It's still brainwashing, Reno. People don't think of themselves as worthless or hopeless unless they've had someone beating it into them repeated," she said. "It can be a physical and/or metaphorical beating, but either way, it gets under the skin and into the brain, down into your DNA until it can be almost impossible to overcome."

"However, that doesn't make it true." Ghanima folded her hands sedately. "I tend to take solace in the fact that anyone who underestimates the underclass tends to lose power in a rather violent, and entertaining fashion."

"Yeah," Reno replied sourly, pulling his hands from his pockets just so he could ball them into fists and then flex them out again. "Was real entertaining. Between the giant rock in the sky and the terrorists, there wasn't a moment edgewise to bother with bein' bored."

He was glowering at the floor now. Down at his toes. Stupid toes.

"Didn't wanna stay down there anymore. They saw some use for me, offered me a way out. I freakin' jumped on it. Who's gonna take a second to think about it if it means they'll get to-"

Eat. Bathe. Go outside. See the sky?

"-be somebody, for once?"

"There is a saying, with my tribe," she said, meeting his eyes. "That there is a difference between living and having a life."

"My name means 'spoil of war' in the language of my people," Ghanima said quietly. "I was born to be a beautiful ornament, used by those around me. I do not, however, have the proper temperament to be satisfied with merely existing."

"I chose a very long time ago to have a life, much as you did. I have alternately served and betrayed my Imperium, my planet, and my own house, all because I made that choice." Her eyes flared brightly once, challengingly. "People died. People will continue to die. That does not make it the wrong choice."

Blue. Bright blue. Like mako, like the sky, like his own eyes. Probably for entirely different reasons. Still struck him in th gut for a moment, and he nodded, numbly.

"Wasn't the wrong choice. I don't regret pullin' myself outta that hole. I'm... damn proud of what I am." He was. "But what I ain't proud of- that would be every wrong decision I made that makin' that first one let me make."

He could never lift that plate and make it better.

Mad Kings and Queens: Raving Royals and How to Survive Them. -- Wednesday, May 14th, 2nd Period

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