"What is it about blacksmiths and large hands and strong wrists? Does the work draw these kinds of men, or are their families blessed with the blood that spawns these over-grown dwarfs over the generations? I finally met with the master blacksmith Juicy Two-Bones and his son John. I could tell they were an interesting mix of Christian and Greek, and besides owning most of the metal-working district, they also played a hand in organizing gambling fighting rings across Palmyra. Two-Bones, a man aging and growing wrinkly over his muscles that refused to shrink, was glad to receive me. Or anyone from the Palace for that matter. He'd been a close associate of the governor Gaius Julius, and shared my concern over his long absence. His ambitious son had invested much of his inheritance into the wrestling school where many pit fighters trained, and asked a question which I myself was trying to answer: Why weren't the gambling ringleaders playing a bigger role in Atia's tournament? Had the senators and the temples side-lined them on purpose? Or were they too short-sighted to see the potential profit?
Either way, I managed to pull some details on their methods and modus operandi. My plans for gaining more political influence would start here. Cato's upcoming funeral would be my first strike against the ruling elite (unbeknownst to them) as they will be the ones to sponsor me for the city master's office...
But I write here tonight not to drone on about my plans (they are still scattered about in my head) and I dare not put pen to paper anything that could indict me for treachery. The real reason I've opened this journal, and huddled up beside an old candle in the dead of night, is what I saw as I exited Two-Bones' residence and turned the corner into the wrestling school.
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It should not have been possible. Whether the laws of the physical world weaken this far east, or Hurek has been telling the truth about his possession, one thing is for sure; I hadn't imagined it. I wasn't the only witness to the feat of super-human strength that Hurek displayed. He held up a wagon laden heavy stones the size of a mule. They towered over him in a pile inside the wagon, which seemed to crack and splinter under the weight. He lifted that weight many times as the other men watched, and I couldn't utter a single word. Hurek's strength and healing was quickly surpassing what I'd expected during his training. And the way he'd stared off into nothingness afterwards, even as we'd walked back home later that evening and I bade him goodnight. It's like he wasn't there anymore, and saying his name did nothing but return a blank look."
- Cicero's Journal
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Strength increased from 88 to 101
- Unapplied mori socium
- Unapplied chorus socium
- Super-natural Impact
Toughness increased from 81 to 86
- Unapplied mori socium
- Unapplied chorus socium
- Super-natural Impact
image [https://i.imgur.com/Cf4MVif.jpeg]