That's right. We'll call it: 'Miasma'. (OK, we'll find a better name for it one of these days...)

This is actually going to be a murder mystery story set early in Cicero's career (75 BC), when he is serving as Quaestor in Sicily (headquarters at Lilybaeum). However, for the purposes of the story, he is staying in Syracusae (probably on holiday). The plot is simple, with a three-fold mystery story (as Robert van Gulik had a habit of writing).

There are three mysteries - the bizarre murder of a local businessman, the apparent suicide of a young freedman, and the secret location of Archimedes's lost tomb. Frustrated by the inability of the local officials to solve these mysteries, our man Marcus T. takes on the job himself, for in the Greek district strange events, seemingly supernatural in origin, suggest to the locals that there is now miasma in the city...

As for organization, once we've assembled a crew we can chat in regards to this. However, my proposal is that we start with the crimes themselves (though we should probably introduce Archimedes's tomb into the works slowly) and that a criminal is chosen for each mystery as soon as we have assembled a goodly group of writers, though motives can be decided upon at a more sedate pace if new ideas arise. (The choosing of killers will be in secret, of course, as we want to keep you in suspense). The principal characters shall be, of course, Cicero and his slave Tiro, though I have many other important roles planned.

Anyway, we're recruiting now, as a nice group of writers is necessary to start this off. I'm sure you'll all enjoy this unusual story. If you wish to join, either send Maria or myself a message.

Addisonius Furius,
Chief Plotter...