Eporedia

"PIGS! PIGS! PIGS!"

The men of Legion VIII chanted loudly as they marched towards the enemy. They wore black warpaint across their face to appear like demons. Each man had on their face the crimson hand print of their commander. The Bastard of Rome himself rode close behind his marching legion, his face painted the red of Mars. He and only a select few lieutenants rode horses, the rest of the mounted units converted to infantry for the assault. The Bastards rattled their short swords and shields loudly when the enemy came in sight.

"PIGS! PIGS! PIGS!"

---

Six Hours Earlier

"Death."

The Bastard rode down the line to speak to his men while they dressed and prepared for battle.

"This is what awaits us on the battlefield. Death will be our constant companion from here on out. If all goes well, I imagine half of you will die today. If all goes wrong, we shall all die. The treaty breakers of Carthage have invaded our lands. Feel shamed by that fact. Rome, the mighty invader now faces invasion. Feel angered by that fact. The Africans seek to take your land, kill your sons, rape your women, and enslave your daughters. Feel enraged by that fact. We are the front lines of the assault. Feel elated by that fact. The honor of drawing first blood falls to us, men. Feel delighted in that fact. The Consuls and the Senate have recognized something we have long known to be true: when you want something done right, send a Bastard. Feel proud of that fact. In just a few hours we will be engaged with the enemy in a life or death struggle for the safety of our homes and families. Do not feel burdened by that fact. Feel chosen and feel honored that you will be present at this great victory for Rome. Those of you who die today will die having achieved glory. Those of you who run today will be personally slaughtered by me. I said it in Sardinia and I will say it now: I have no intention of stopping my advance until I have personally slit the throat of that Africa treaty breaker Hannibal! Eat hearty and prepare yourselves for battle, Bastards. Today we do butcher's work and the Carthaginians are the pigs."

The Bastards let out a loud roar as Cursor galloped away on his horse. The chant started somewhere in the middle of the legion and spread through the ranks.

"PIGS! PIGS! PIGS!"

---

Now

Butcher's work was the appropriate word. Both sides stood at stalemate, the raging Bastards striking down as many of the heavy infantry as possible while taking heavy casualties themselves. Plenty of the Iberians had ran shortly after engaging the painted up mad dogs of the VIII. Those that stood tall were falling at a steady rate until the Roman advance broke against the tougher infantry behind the Iberian soldiers. From his horse Cursor shouted obscenities to his men and to the enemy, encouraging one while cursing the other. He directed the first line to yield to the second and third wave. Cursor's hastati were still green, but his more veteran soldiers were among the best of any legion. They were all men who were too rough for any other work but war, men who were not desirable in other legions for various reasons. They were the dregs of Rome and unwanted by nearly everyone. In short they were just like Cursor. These men had been personally whipped into shape by the Bastard himself.

The principes and triarri stepped up to the task well. They fought and rotated out with each other while the hastati caught their breath towards the back. The heavy losses were beginning to level out to become even between the two sides. Before long the heavy infantry began to give ground as the rotating veterans pushed ahead. Cursor laughed maniacally from the rear and cheered his men on.

"KEEP GOING, YOU BASTARDS!"

The Massacre at Eporedia

It has been a long time since the Roman army has suffered what even the Senate considers as a "catastrophic defeat".

The Consular Army facing the Carthaginians in the north lies in ruins; its troops carpeting the base of the Alps like a bloody decoration of grim foretelling.

Thousands lost, heroes felled, and to what end? Hannibal has free reign of the north now, and he has not relented in his determination to bring Rome to its knees. Already, the Veneti who only a few months previous had been brought into the Republic's borders are revolting. Garrisons in Liguria have already fallen to the locals. The north of Italy burns, and in the midst of it all, the greatest son of Carthage rides down the middle.

Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus is dead, and his seat at the head of Rome lies idle. Fortunate, though it is, that Hannibal returned his body to his peoples for proper burial; a kind act lost in the brutality of the man's battle tactics.

From afar, Rome's ancient enemy in Illryia has regained his confidence, and already Apollonia lays besieged by a force of twenty thousand Illyrian warriors.

Merchants talk of an Athenian-Spartan union, and of the resurgent power of Macedon. Will these foreign states see Rome's defeat as a beacon of weakness? Will they too try their luck with her frail borders?

No.

Already, Consul Publius Cornelius Scipio is marching north with the First and Second legions, and with over twenty thousand Etruscans swelling his ranks. He will meet Hannibal outside of Velathri, relying on the sheer prevalence of numbers to blunt the Carthaginian spearhead.

In Rome, the Senate has called for a Peoples' Assembly. Though with the sole remaining Consul busy with the war, the floor is given to he who wishes to speak.

The Peoples' Assembly

Rome is alive with anguish. Men and women hurry through the streets, decrying the end times, as news reaches the city of the slaughter in the north. Panic strikes the populace, and many prepare to flee southwards into Naples - though Hannibal is yet far away.

Escaping the anger and the desperation of the mob, the Senate of Rome has gathered on the city's outskirts under heavily armed guard. Around a tall and solid oak tree, two hundred senators gather to discuss Rome's future, and her moves to repel the Carthaginian threat in the event of Scipio's defeat.

Issues Voiced

Consul Election - Consul Scipio has declined to elect the successor of his deceased counterpart, and leaves it to the surviving Legates to decide who will replace Tiberius Sempronius Longus. Who would best fill the role?

Recruitment Reforms - Currently, a Roman soldier must be a citizen of the Republic, and hold relative wealth to be eligible for recruitment. Furthermore, Roman cavalry relies on the richer classes, who can afford their own horse, to propel the legionary flanking wings. Specialists, such as archers and slingers, are consistently drafted from mercenaries and non-Roman cities. With the Consular Army in ruins, and Scipio's legions representing Rome's last combat effective force, there is clamour from within the Senate to lower the recruitment boundaries and expand the existing focus of the legions from heavy infantry into more dynamic roles. How far should Rome be prepared to change her time-tested ways to adapt to the threat of Hannibal?

The Roman Problem - Rome stands alone, though she holds sway over Italy. There are those within the Senate who feel that her allies, such as those in Velathri, Naples and Ariminum, should be made Roman citizens. This would surely not only bind Rome's client-states into a tighter alliance, but also boost the current man power availability to her legions considerably. Does Rome need to expand her sovereignty over the peninsula? Or should she remain as she always has? Singular, yet coherent?

In wake of the crisis, all surviving Legates have been given the redundant title of Consular Tribune, thus giving their voice in the Senate a considerable boost. Combined, theoretically their power equates to that of a Consul, however it has been noted that their roles will last only for the duration of the assembly.

"O Conscript Fathers, the hour grows grave, and death hangs over us. While we yet live, we must redouble our efforts to live virtuously to remove the divine impetus for this most incisive defeat. One of our consuls is dead, Romans.

It is therefore incumbent upon the People's Assembly to select another Consul and for the Senate to nominate the candidates. I had planned to wait until I was older and wiser to present myself in the service of Rome in her highest office, however.

I speak only of my accomplishments in so far as I may prove my worth to the Senate and the People. Were I to seek the consulship only for the glory and prestige, I would not run as consul sufectus, but rather ordinarus, such that a year may be given my name.

My record against Hannibal, while short as all of ours have been in the face of this new and exceedingly dangerous threat has been one of success. With inferior forces, my fellow legates elected me as coordinator. Without the loss of even the weakest of Rome's sons in combat, reports indicate Carthage and her band of faithless mercenaries and sellswords lost over 4,000 in the perilous march they were forced into. At the time, I did not consider this to be much, however, given the martial aptitude of our adversary, it may be notable.

I served faithfully in my former offices, among them Praetor Urbanus only last year, which many of you will remember.

As for my motivation, if ever the patriotism which swells in my breast, O Conscript Fathers, was in doubt, all my wealth save my villa beyond Rome's walls is on the front lines of the present conflict, either the silver mines I earned my cognomen from in Sardinia or the land I own in Magna Graecia.

On the subject of recruitment reforms, I encourage them, but only to a limited extent. If soldiers of meagre means are to be drafted, they may be indulged with the patronage of a wealthy legate and thus lose loyalty to the central government.

I therefore propose a compromise. The Senate may pass a law authorizing the disregarding, not abolition, of military property requirements for whatever period it presently deems fit. This would prevent, O Conscript Fathers, both the destruction of the state and our traditions.

I also recommend the expansion of Roman citizenship bolster our manpower and knit we italians into a tighter weave, one not easily rent by the Punics.

The words of Argentus are ended."

Then Gnaeus Fabius Pictor stood up among his peers and said in this way.

"ὦ πόποι ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν ἱκάνει. Just as Nestor stated in Book Α of the Iliad that a great sorrow comes upon the land of Achaia, so does it now comes to our very own city of Rome! Hannibal has broken through our defenses that we desperately needed to hold. Now all the men and women and children of this state are fearing for their lives.

Sometimes, having two heads allows difficult problems to become not as impossible because of multiple input. However, especially in our case, having two many heads inputting decisions just makes matters even worse. Therefore, in stead of electing a second Consul, I shall put forth a motion for instituting the emergency office of dictator, or rather prodicator, since the sole remaining consul is away from Rome so that we might have a glimmer of hope that this great city might live on. Many men have risen up to the call of the state and saved it from certain doom. L. Quinctius CIncinnatus and M. Furius Camillus both saved Rome from impending peril. Are we not in such a dire situation now? Therefore, I would like to put for the Senate appoint Q. Fabius Maximus as the prodicator.

On the recruitment question, I stand near Marcus Cossus. Therefore, I propose to reduce the property requirement from 11,000 asses to 4,000 asses. While this will provide our great state with an ample supply of men for the ranks of our armies, it will also prevent them from being swarmed with the lowest and most base populations of our society. For the last thing we want is an armor not devoted to Rome, but rather to a man instead.

Finally, Oh Conscript Fathers, I wish to warn you about the advice given by Marcus Cossus concerning the question of Roman Citizenship for our Italian allies. Why do we need to give the non-Latins Roman Citizenship? They already provide a significant portion of our military might? In fact, at this time, there is no need for extending Roman Citizenship to our allies. Do you, Conscript Fathers, really wish for our great state to be diluted by non-Latin and non-Roman stock? If you wish Rome to remain pure, I beg of you, shout down Marcus Cossus' proposal to incorporate the Italian allies into the Roman state."

After he spoke in this way, Gn. Fabius Pictor sat down and gave the floor to the next man who wished to speak.

Cursor stood up next. They watched the Bastard silently. He was badly wounded, a sling wrapped around one arm and a large bandage covering his right eye. He should have died out there with his men, that was his plan until his staff saved him from death at the last minute. Now all he could think about was his own redemption and Hannibal's downfall.

"Whoever is consul concerns me not. You may see this as blasphemy, but in truth I am glad Longus is dead. That saves me the trouble of killing him myself. Elect whoever you wish as Consul or prodictator, it is of not my concern. The only thing that concerns me is men. I promised my men glory and all they got was dishonor. I promised a noble death, but they were cut down like hogs. We cannot and shall not let that stand. I say waive all property limitations and allow enlistment into the legions on the promise of land after a certain amount of time. You will find that men who have much to earn will fight just as hard as men who have much to lose. Citizenship to the rest of Italy? Why not? If we can ground Carthage into powder, then the untold coin we shall get from their downfall will be more than enough to let the rest of the world share in the wealth. You Senators can play your games, ave your debates, trade your favors. Let me have my men. Enough men to do the job right."

Horatius remained silent throughout the proceedings. He had gotten much grayer since the defeat. He was bitter, he was bitter a lot it seemed. The defeat at Eporedia took years out of him and he looked as if he was an old man, even though he had just turned 45. When it was his turn to speak, he rose in powerful silence and looked upon at all the men in the room. "I mourn. I mourn for the soldiers lost and the victory lost that dark day. It has given me nightmares, countless nightmares about the fall of our glorious empire. But these nightmares have a reason I feel. They're a warning. A warning of what will happen to Rome if we do not truly see our situation. We have few allies, and even fewer that are wholly loyal. If we are to survive, we need the support and manpower of a large nation. Who that nation might be, I do not know. But I do know, if we don't have powerful allies, our enemies will join together to destroy us. Nothing unites man like a common enemy." Horatius paused and looked around the room, then continued. "In order to accomplish this, we need a man who is experienced and wise. Who knows the ways of politics and battle, who can meet with this nation and arrange a deal. A deal where we are both content with it's terms. A man who can do that, will lead this empire to victory. But who that might be, I do not know." Horatius looked around the room once more, than sat down, confident that he made his point.

"A very short oration, on my honor.

Pintor, even if we were elect a prodictator, we would still have to elect a consul. Perhaps it behooves us to first elect a consul, and then he may nominate a dictator, a proper dictator, as is our law. It is in times of crisis that it is most important to follow the law, or they are worth nothing in times of stability.

On the matter of property reform, if at all possible, I would like to avoid a permanent change. We are presented with the dilemma between setting a precedent which may result in two slippery slopes. Either, future senates will continue to lower the property requirements, or they will vote to disregard them when there is no need. I find the former to be more likely as our commitments abroad and demands for garrisons across the republic grow. The Capite Censi would not be missed in faraway Greece. Whereas, the precedent for a temporary ignorance of the requirements under times of extreme duress, while not impossible to abuse, seems to me much more difficult.

Finally, on the granting of Roman citizenship, we have already established colonies amongst the Socii, where the Italics may freely breed with ours. Our stock is already "diluted". We would drastically increase the soldiers available and the citizens would be liable for a tax."

Then, in response, Gnaeus Fabius Pictor stood up among his peers once again and spoke in this way.

"It seems that Marcus Cossus and Titus Aurelius hold similar opinions about the concerns that have been raised here today. They claim to uphold mos maiorum by not wanting to decrease the property requirements permanently for recruitment into the military and by wanting to elect a consul prior to appointing a dictator - or rather a prodictator in our case. But at the same time, they wish to smash the very tradition that we hold so dearly. They wish to incorporate the socii into the Roman state in order to bolster our military forces. But can they not hear the lunacy of this plan? From where would these additional troops come? Would they be born from dragon teeth, as the Thebans claim in Greece? Or would they arise from stones thrown behind our backs? It is insanity to believe that incorporating the socii into the Roman state would bring us more fighting men. In fact, the socii have already been allotted a heavy burden in our military. How can making them Roman citizens provide us with more men than they have already supplied?

I will compromise on allowing the reduction of property requirements to be temporary. This is where we will bolster our men. By lowering this barrier, we shall be able to raise many more men than providing our Italian socii Roman citizenship.

And on the topic of the prodicator and the election of a new consul, isn't it obvious? If we are going to appoint a prodicator, why elect a second consul? The powers of the consuls will fall into abeyance anyways. And once we have elected a prodicator, this man can appoint someone to fill the post of Tiberius Sempronius Longus. Nevertheless, in order not to appear the hypocrite from criticizing these men, Marcus Cossus and Titus Aurelius, I will defer to electing a consul before electing a dicator. Therefore, I nominate Marcus Atilius Marci f. Marci n. Regulus as the consul suffectus."

Once again, after he spoke in this way, Gn. Fabius Pictor sat down and gave the floor to the next man who wished to speak.

Cassius Lepidus took to the Senate floor and began to speak "Senators, Countrymen, Brothers. Today, the fate of Rome lies upon a precarious edge and the armies of Carthage come ever closer in an attempt to push us off into oblivion. The only thing that prevents them from doing so at this moment is Consul Scipio who marches north in an attempt to face this dire threat. Yet, we are here,talking about what should be done. I suggest the utmost haste in dealing with the approaching army. Thus, it makes most sense at this moment to temporarily grant Consul Scipio the title of Dictator, and grant him command of the 3rd and 4th Legions. The election of another consul can be postponed to a later time when Rome's future is secure.

Secondly, the Republic is in need of more men. That is not a point of debate. Therefore, I agree with some of my fellow Legates that the requirements should be lowered. I believe that any Roman citizen should be allowed to take up arms for the sake of duty and love of his country. If the citizen is not able to purchase their own weapons, then let us open out own coffers in exchange for a set term of service. Now, in terms of our allies. I do not think that we should be hasty and grant everyone citizenship. However, I do believe that those who do exhibit great dedication and service to Rome should be rewarded and granted citizenship. Thus, those who show themselves to be true friends of Rome should be considered to be Romans. Several conditions should be set, however, for those who distinguish themselves. First, they must renounce their old names and adopt new Roman ones. In addition, they must surrender any former civic duties and positions they may hold in their native lands. Finally, they must be or become well-versed in the Latin language. Only when those conditions are met should they be able to receive citizenship. I now open the floor to anyone else who wishes to speak, and will entertain any questions."

"Gnaeus Pictor forgets. The Socii provide around half the infantry, which is the principle component of the army, where we provide the others. Yet, the Socii have more population than we. Ergo, arithmetic yields the conclusion that the socii bear a lighter military burden.

The expansion of Roman Citizenship is not unprecedented, as. After our fathers defeated the Latin League, did they not grant citizenship? We have little tangible to lose by extending the citizenship, but if we do not, we make insurrection in the south more likely. The Samnites will rise up at the slightest provocation, as they did when Pyrrhus invaded. We do not need to give them arguments to sway our valuable allies. Is it not our destiny to expand? But I am willing to compromise. Perhaps we simply expand the Latin Right to all states who were loyal during the entirety of the First Punic and Pyrrhic wars?"

A Rude Conclusion

The Peoples' Assembly, though in full swing and full of vigour, is abruptly halted by the arrival of a Roman cavalry troop. Battered and bloodied, they ride up to the Senate's guards, and after the group's leader exchanges a few quick works, he is allowed through on foot.

Keen eyes notice the Legio I engraved into the side of the man's dented helm.

Finding himself in the centre of the assembly, the soldier removes his helmet, and holds it down by his side. He is a man of middle years, with an ugly face and few teeth.

"Senators," he shouts. "I bring news from the front."

Two hundred of Rome's greatest men descend into heated discussion and anxiety, as the soldier seemingly taunts them with an inappropriately long pause.

"Consul Publius Cornelius Scipio's Consular Army has been defeated. Five thousand Romans are dead, or worse. A similar number of our Italian allies litter the field." he proclaims; his face hard as iron, unmoving. "Hannibal moves south, to Rome. Though the Consul is contesting every road and bridge between here and there, he has neither the men or material to seriously oppose the Carthaginian dogs. He has sent me here, with all haste, so that you all may know the situation."

Old and powerful men weep in despair.

Assembly Summary

Military Reforms

The Senate has voted in a majority to lower the current recruitment boundaries, based on land ownership value, from 11,000 ases to 4,000 ases. It has been decided to keep this lowered boundary temporary, and will be lifted as soon as the immediate threat to Rome is destroyed.

With these changes, tens of thousands of Romans have become eligible to fill the empty ranks of the recently deceased.

All legions previously broken in the The Massacre at Eporedia are restored to full strength as a result.

Italian Unity

The Senate has sided with the majority, with Gnaeus Fabius Pictor being one of few to oppose the idea of unifying Italy into a single nation.

Many of the Socii states have welcomed this news, knowing all too well that they stand to benefit; however, there are a few among them who are outraged, and already there is rumour of rebellion.

With the creation of a Roman Italian State, from Valathri to Cosentia, the manpower reserves available to Rome's legions has almost tripled. However, now that all men are citizens, the existing Alae have been disbanded.

In light of this, and the situation, the Senate has issued each attending Legate with the rights to raise an additional legion.

Existing legions would do well to use this time of military consolidation to refit themselves, and the Legates may adjust the shape and nature of their force composition.

Consul Elected

The Senate have, with a vague majority, elected with all speed Marcus Cornelius Cossus Argentus to the position of Consul.

With Scipio fighting a losing retreat across northern Italy, it falls to the new Consul to issue his immediate orders to the Legates - or call for another Assembly, if he feels the issue of dictator has not been resolved.

Legio III and Legio IV are at his disposal, making him the head of a 4-legion strong Consular Army in its own right.

Other

Quintus “Sulpicius” Cursor has gained senatorial scorn, for his blatant attack on the system and the honourable men that operate it. Were it not for his exploits and heroism during the The Massacre at Eporedia, there would have been talk of repercussions. Instead, he has been barred from attending the next Peoples' Assembly, so that he may perhaps reflect upon his distasteful actions.

However, his bold honesty and love shown for his men has sparked an admiration from the mob. Rumours sweep this way and that, that this Bastard of Rome is the real man that the city needs in its darkest hour.

As a result, thousands have flocked to his barracks with hopes of serving him. Quintus “Sulpicius” Cursor's legion strength is boosted by 1,000 soldiers.

Meanwhile, Gnaeus Fabius Pictor has earned the warmth of some of the senate's more conservative members. They stand behind him, though will not openly admit it, of course. There is much to be said for having friends in the Senate.

He has been given the title of "Imperator", and has been allotted a third legion.

New Blood

The trip from Sicily to Rome was a short and plain affair.

No pirates occupied the main shipping routes in times of war; it was a wholly unwise business to persue. Nor did the Carthaginian navy, as timid as it was, try to bar the way of Rome's newest legion as it sailed across the calm waters.

Legatus Toxilus Maecenus, of Vulci, was a sombre man with sombre intent. He had served Rome for most of his adult life, though until now he was a mere Etruscan - a forced ally of the notorious Republic. Dozens of men had died at his hand in that time, and thousands more as a direct result of his commands issued on the field of battle. Illyrian, Greek, Iberian, Gaul and Libyan had shed their lifeblood before him. His name was sung from house to square in his home city of Vulci, but in the wider Republic of which he now belonged, no one knew him.

As his meagre vessel approached the coast of Italy, and he took in its lush splendour for perhaps the hundredth time, he wondered if anyone ever would.

Legio XVI Etruscorum

"Hold, push, lunge!" Toxilus yelled, scorning his trembling hoplites with his customary passion for battlefield perfection. "Again," he spat, obviously dissatisfied with a warrior on the far left of the formation who could be seen visibly stumbling.

The training session had reached its eighth hour, and the best of Toxilus' warriors were showing their fatigue. The hoplites were his elite; his rock in any battle. Whether fighting as a rearguard to the Alae's retreat, or guarding the flanks from mounted assaults, they were an essential component. It was okay back then, for these hardened and bloody minded men to show weakness; to lose heart and strength.

Why bleed for the Romans? Some would ask. Why risk more than we need to give? Others would say. Retreat in the face of a superior enemy was not dishonour, it was reasonable.

That mentality had become redundant two weeks ago. Toxilus had started the year at the head of Vulci's Alae, and though Summer had only started to break the clouds, he now commanded a Legion.

"Call yourselves Romans," Toxilus barked, as the phalanx once again carried itself through the motions in a clumsy demeanour. "I should have the lot of you nailed to the vinyards. Maybe then your blood would at least sweeten something."

"I aint no Roman," someone shouted, deep within the phalanx's rear.

Toxilus was slow to anger. He shouted much, this was true, and beat men with a club when he felt it would serve a purpose - but real anger was something hard to coax from him. The owner of the dissenting words had managed it, and then some.

"Ten decussis to the man who kills that ungrateful cur," roared Toxilus, storming forwards so that he might see the impending carnage.

There was some hesitation in the phalanx, as spears wavered and plumbed helms looked this way and that. For a moment, Toxilus felt a pang of defeat, and was momentarily terrified that his men were rife in mutiny.

Then someone screamed, and a brief orchestra of wet stabbing sounds relieved him. The phalanx turned in on itself, and the men jeered as they used their short swords to butcher the unfortunate fool. It was unwise to go against your commanding officer, whether you were Roman, Gaul or Greek. It was even more unwise to go against him, when you were alone in your mischief.

Toxilus pulled a small bag of bronze coin from his waist and threw it at his men. It exploded on a hefty round shield, causing a glittery rain to briefly drench them.

"Enough, for today," the Legate sneered. He turned to his attending Optio, an old friend by the name of Larth. "Dismiss them, but withhold the oxen. My men wont eat real meat until they stop being so stupid."

Larth, with his shaved head and scarred face, gave a wheezing chuckle. "Begging your pardon, Legatus. Don't you think that you're going too hard on your men? They're new to this type of drilling."

Anyone else, and Larth would have been the second man Toxilus ordered dead that day. "Our Roman brothers, though levy-based as we, seem much more capable. They move like water, and their shield walls are beyond reproach. We, new as we are to their blood, are but hungry peasants with itchy arses. I will not have myself shamed before Consul Cornelius Cossus Argentus because of their inability to find the iron in their bodies."

"The Romans have fought this way for many years, Legatus. Give our men time, they'll come around." Larth said, smiling with broken teeth.

"With Carthage four days march," spat Toxilus, as he pointed northwards, beyond the hills of Rome. "We do not have time."

Larth sighed, and nodded. He knew when his words were useless.

"Enough, captai- Optio. I will retire, for the Consul wishes to see me," Toxilus said, his anger suddenly replaced by shaken nerves.

"Is that so?" Larth asked, lifting an eyebrow.

Toxilus nodded. "No doubt he wishes to issue my orders, and perhaps to get a glimpse of who I am."

Larth stifled a laugh, "Do not fret Legatus, you'll fit right in with his ilk."

"Careful, old friend," Toxilus hissed; his large bark coloured eyes beaming from a mountain of sun bleached beard.

Larth bowed slightly, and backed away to dismiss the phalanx.

Aulus Gordianus Tranquillus and his legion XIII known as the sphinx legion, through the career of Aulus Gordianus he was able to defend villages against some of the gale attacks with their legion of horsemen and advanced legion fighters. Aulus Gordianus used his horsemen to his advantage in every battle using their quick speed and weaponry to flank the enemy while the other legion units held the enemy pinned down.

However at the moment their great legion of defenders were simply in the legion barracks in the city of Rome waiting for their next orders to come in right now Aulus Gordianus was waiting in his office waiting for word for the senate to send them off somewhere while the other men were playing cards or training for their next battle. Aulus Gordianus second in command was making sure that the other men were 'playing clean' making sure that none of the men turned their weapons against each other out of a fit of rage, or simple boredom. Aulus Gordianus Tranquillus is able to command his legion proudly on the field and leads by example always making sure he keeps the civilians safe from the battle while they took care of the enemy. Aulus Gordianus was waiting for his orders so that they can go into another glorious battle for Rome....

Rome

Cursor strode through the busy streets of Rome with his small retinue of staff members following in his wake. He was still furious at the Assembly for the way they chastised him for saying what clearly needed to be said. He hated the power structure of Rome, the old men, and all they stood for. He knew that his hatred was rooted in his own father and the disdain the old man had shown for him and his mother. He wanted to show the Patricians, his half-siblings especially, that they were no better than the people they looked down upon. Word of his behavior in the Assembly had already reached the people and he noticed several approving nods and salutes in his direction.

"Ave Legatus," Cursor announced when he entered the legate's quarters just outside the city walls. "Aulus Gordianus Tranquillus, I am Quintus Cursor of Legio VIII: Spurii Romanae. The Bastards of Rome. Well met. I have our orders from the Consul. We are to ride with all due haste up the coast towards the western half of the Arno. From there we make our stand, and no pig of Carthage shall be allowed to cross that river."

Cursor paused and looked at the legate. He wasn't encouraged by the site of the man who looked much younger than he.

"Are you up to the task, Gordianus?"

Caesena Muster

The town of Caesena appeared much as Toxilus remembered it. Greek, Roman and Gallic architecture fought each other through fleeting streets of cobbled stone and houses of thatch. Pillars lined the bigger roadways, and off to the north-easterly corner, a twenty foot marble statue of Athena looked on with indifference.

What the Etruscan really noted though, was that the town's walls were still as low as they had been the last time he visited. A mere ten feet of stone defended Caesena from the hordes of Gauls that ravaged it frequently. True though it was, that since Rome's conquest of the area a century previous, the town suffered less incursions, it still held a recent history of being stormed by armies. With Hannibal on the horizon, it seemed this history would be expanded slightly.

"Home," Larth muttered. The man rode upon a gracefully built mount, clad in the colours of his office's finery.

"For you, perhaps," Toxilus added. "For me, this is just another part of our great Empire."

"Empire, now?" Larth mused, raising an eyebrow.

Toxilus felt a heat of embarassment for getting carried away, "Republic. Empire. It's all the same to me, old friend."

Larth seemed troubled by this, but he shrugged it off after a moment. "Where's the Consul?"

The Legatus scanned the rolling fields surrounding the town, and saw no sign of Consul M. Cossus Argentus's troops.

"He'll come," Toxilus said. "Unless he wants the Republic to burn under us."

"So it is a Republic?" Larth chuckled.

Toxilus sighed heavily, and urged his horse onwards towards the town.

At his back, two and a half thousand infantry marched. On his wings, a thousand light horse circled. The Legatus would not let them rest; tonight they would establish camp, outside the town's walls, and then the drilling would commence. His men had come some ways into becoming considered 'professional', but there was still much work to be done.

Byrd Man said
Cursor strode through the busy streets of Rome with his small retinue of staff members following in his wake. He was still furious at the Assembly for the way they chastised him for saying what clearly needed to be said. He hated the power structure of Rome, the old men, and all they stood for. He knew that his hatred was rooted in his own father and the disdain the old man had shown for him and his mother. He wanted to show the Patricians, his half-siblings especially, that they were no better than the people they looked down upon. Word of his behavior in the Assembly had already reached the people and he noticed several approving nods and salutes in his direction."Ave Legatus," Cursor announced when he entered the legate's quarters just outside the city walls. "Aulus Gordianus Tranquillus, I am Quintus Cursor of Legio VIII: Spurii Romanae. The Bastards of Rome. Well met. I have our orders from the Consul. We are to ride with all due haste up the coast towards the western half of the Arno. From there we make our stand, and no pig of Carthage shall be allowed to cross that river."Cursor paused and looked at the legate. He wasn't encouraged by the site of the man who looked much younger than he."Are you up to the task, Gordianus?"

Alus read the orders seeing that he and his men were under the command of a quintus cursor in the VIII legion. As far as Alus was concerned it would be the best thing for his men to fight a defensive battle and with someone that spoke in the senate the way he did would be an honor, for its the people that seek our protection so knowing someone that believes the same is a welcomed sigh of relief. When he came over and called for him Alus went over and gave him a salute "ave legatus" he said as he mounted up with his lieutenant and noticed the legatus looking at alus and he knew what he was trying to ask when cursor asked if he was up to the task and he said "do not worry legatus, while I may be young it is not for no reason. My men have been trained to handle defensive situations and as such we will give you the best help during this mission, legion XIII sphinx will be a great asset to you."

"on an unrelated topic its an honor to meet a man who speaks for the people like you did at the senate meeting, wish I was their to see you talk to those men and tell them just how normal they look down on everyone simply because they have power given by their families before them." Alus said as he waited for the legatus to lead them and his men to the river to stop the attack.

Argentus' departure from the city was delayed by the rituals and the assembling of troops. Eventually, the men came together and with all expedience he marched to Caesena with his enormous force of 19,000 courageous citizen soldiers.

The Ex-Socii Legion was entirely his innovation. The Roman tactical model depended on the city states with a strong equestrian tradition. To create 4 legions of all Roman style would leave the army undefended against the elite Carthaginian cavalry. With his Campanian cavalry and Equites Extraordinarii, he felt adequately prepared to meet Hannibal. The additional Etruscan legion may even give him an edge in the battle to come.

He strolled into the city flanked by his Lictors and Equites Consularem, straight to the lodgings of the Etruscan General.

"Ave," He entered the room with the Lictors in tow. "We haven't minutes to waste. Prepare your men to march."

Toxilus had been given mere moments to prepare himself for the Consul's sudden entry. Wearing the simple cloth of a soldier, he feared his superior would not know him for a Legate.

Such a fear was unfounded however, as Argentus greeted him. Toxilus took a second or two to marvel at the man, for Argentus was in his mind, the embodiment of the ideal Roman: handsome, powerfully built and keen eyed.

"Greetings, Consul," said Toxilus, hastening himself into a bow. "My men are ready, and I have news of those who oppose us across the way."

Toxilus wasted no time in leading Argentus to a nearby table, heavily laden with crudely drawn maps of the local area. Various lead figurines dotted them, representing the armies in play.

"My scouts have confirmed that a large force of the Veneti are coming our way. Furthermore, my eyes and ears buried in our adversary's midst believe a direct attack on Caesena is their intent..." he trailed off, scrunching up his face in thought. "Though, why they would choose the strongest place in Rome's wall of legions to assault is beyond me; I fear Hannibal has not committed his allies in error, but rather, as some form of ruse."