In Fine, Solum Est Tibi (A Quest in Rome, During The Fall of the Republic)

Stories of the Bear: The Great Flood

It had been an accident, coming across that secret wedding of the servii.

She had had enough of the honeyed words of her tutors, that polished history of the world that told her nothing of reality, and had so fled before Seirios' ramblings, using the moment they were distracted to slip away. For good measure, she had turned many a corner until there had been none who would, or even could, follow her.

So it was a surprise to her and the servii that she had stumbled upon the humble wedding between Amosis of Naukratis [whose father had failed to pay his debts] and Shamiram of Sinope [stolen in the night by raiders], startling the newly wed and their party quite terribly; it had only been when she had offered her blessing to their union that the festivities, humble as they were, resumed. Now a part of the festivities, she walked among the many desperate servii that called her villa home and spoke to many of them at great length of a great many and varied matters. It had been only when she had met with the Hiberian Math, more bear than man [even at his advanced age], that she began to hear of the stories and tales of distant lands. Broken as his latin was, so very much unlike his spirit, he was able to convey to her the tales of his ancestors, the Celts.

In distant times, there had once been a vast expanse of land connected Brittania to the whole of the world, where the Ancient Celts had once dwelt and founded a home of plenty, before a war between the gods had shattered and flooded the whole of the world. Many had perished in these times, as the flood waters rose ever higher, only those so lucky as to having been upon ships (Noah) or the highest mountaintops having survived (Hayk), but the most famed among the Celts was their ancestral mother, Danu. Having noted the strange behavior of the waters, of their distant pull far beyond the lowest of tides, she had fled before the floodwaters to the distant mountains, crying out to all who would listen of the coming wrath of the gods...and fell, alone, atop one of the Alps' highest peaks. Weakened, she wept tears near unending as all she knew was swept away by the capricious gods, continuing even as the flood waters receded and the fertile earth beneath was revealed.

It was only then, as she wandered into the valley below that she met a great and mighty warrior, cloaked with the pelt of a lion and haunted by the memories of his past, that she began to regain some semblance of composure and even a measure of peace. Together, they built a life and a family together in that fertile valley, and for a time they were happy...until the day came that her mighty warrior was called away by the gods to reclaim his honor, to fight back the last of the monsters that had survived the floods and plaguing Hispania. It was then that she learned that her husband, the man she had built a life and raised her sons with, was none other than the mightiest hero of them all, the demigod Hercules. If that wasn't enough, each of her sons, Celtos, Galatos and Iberus, now young men in their own right, chose to follow their father into battle against the monsters, leaving her alone in their mountain home.

Alongside the mightiest heroes of the age, sons and father beat back the monsters that threatened mankind, driving them further and further West to the outside of all Creation, each and every battle fierce and terrible. Years past and the sons and father grew weary of battle, yearning for their mountain home, when word reached the youngest brothers of a method to end the war and so turned their ears towards the treacherous words of Nessus, their father's once vanquished foe. Betrayed by their weak hearts, they took their father's armor [that fashioned by the pelt of the Nemean Lion], and treated it with the Hydra's venom in the hopes it would make their mighty father invincible beyond measure...but in doing so, were noticed by their eldest brother Celtos. Horrified by their actions, he attempted to notify their father of the brother's betrayal, but was driven by their blades far afoot from the battlefield long enough for Hercules to don the afflicted armor. Startled by their father's death keel, and realizing the truth of their crime, the patricidal brothers fled their father and their duties, cutting down a number of allies in their haste, the mighty Aeneas among them.

Here, Math ended the recounting by sharing with her a prophecy known to those distant Celts of the North, that there would be a day when the "When the lines of Wolves and Ravens become one, the Bear shall Rise in the West". When she pressed for more, Math told her that while he was no true bard or druid trained in these arts, that he had limited knowledge of these matters, but from what little he knew it meant that there would be little peace between the Romans and the Celts until the matter was reconciled; he also made mention of the fact that while all lines of Danu had been tainted by the brothers act of patricide, her only true sons could be found at the edge of Creation continuing that battle, still yet fending the beasts from beyond...

Thanking him for his tale, she wandered once more into the festivities, and celebrated the marriage once more.

---

Much later, in the distant present, Speio walked through the remains of the torched villa, hoping to find some measure of peace before she would have to abandon the villa once more, looking for some sort of-

She drew short, disbelieving of the sight before her, for if not for the numerous wounds and the fallen bodies of the enemy Romans before him, she could have believed the old Hiberian was simply resting against the pillar, his raven resting upon his shoulder.

For a moment all was still, before the raven's sudden call startled not only her, but those hiding in the false wall behind old Math. Duties remembered, she strove forward to gather the children [among them Iarios, Amosis and Shamiram's son], and promised to see to a proper goodbye to the old warrior who had given up his own future in return for theirs.

3.3 Battle of Theodosia Part 3: The Walls


The Legion's Modifiers:

+10 Roman Legionary Doctrine
+5 Marian Reformed Leigon
+0 Clear Sky's
+5 Well supplied.
+40 Friendly Cavalry/Cavalry superiority.

Morale Set to Estatic: These men are ready to fight and die for Rome.

City Modifiers:
+0 Clear skies
+5 Militia Skirmishers
+20 Layered Defenses
-30 Betrayed/Morale Shock
+5 Fear of Mithridates

Morale set to: Poor: This Betrayal will destroy us. But we cannot surrender. The King will kill us if we try.

Enemy Forces remaining: 5,000 Pontic Regulars.

10,000 Militia.

These Modifiers do not affect you, your sappers, or your enemies on the wall when you reach them.

These modifiers are for the main army.
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You were dismounted, on your feet, walking close to the men, as you felt the great stress of the men radiate on you, their nervousness and fear were all there. They were not going to break, but they would not march forward.

They were afraid to die, as you were, but instead, you looked to Pip. You saw the challenge in the eye of his old weary and tactical eye. "I know what to say."

"Good, then say it." He whispered.

You looked to the men, and smiled, pointing to them with a sweeping gesture. "I see fear has taken some of you." A few of the men looked down in shame. "There is no shame in fear, That is well, for I would not fight with the fools and madmen who would so think a roman life to be a cheap thing."

At those words, you raised your voice, and spoke again, this time, making sure your voice was heard by all the men who were there among this group of volunteers. "But take heart, sons of Rome, for you stand not alone but with family, ringed by kin who would kill for you. Who would die for you."

At that, there was a small stomping of agreement, as the men, seemingly lifted out from their fear, and now, trying to find something to keep pushing, to show their eagerness. "Armed and armored as Rome's finest. Take heart legionnaires! For kin who stand with you will soon be kin by blood and steel! by Fire and Oath!"

There was a whoop from the men before a shush from the older ones, who knew what was to come.

You turned and pointed your sword at the enemy walls. "There stand walls where we will prove our kinship! Where we will test our might against theirs, and I do not doubt our victory this day!"

You then walked over and tapped their shields, tapping five, ten… then fifteen, before standing in the center, as the men crouched to see you. "For we are the Strength of Rome! A mighty Legion unmatched in discipline, in valor, in courage! When they heard of YOUR arrival they trembled and quaked and hid behind their walls at the very sound of our boots, look at them now, these soft Greeks who know not of your strength, these soft Greeks who know not of your resolve, these soft Greeks who we will put to the sword TODAY!"

"Quivering behind those walls are men who deny us glory, who deny us honor, who deny ROME. Her glory we know to be unrivaled, denied by men who think they are our equals, who dare think they are our betters."

"We are the Wolves of Rome! And we will not be denied! We will take their walls for our own! their city as our own! their wealth as our own! Let us prove to them that the only thing they are superior at is dying, dying, and wailing and mewling like newborns in the dark."

You paused and felt a great deal of time passed, emphisising with an Eagle crying above. Jupiter was watching you.. "We will prove to them that Rome is unmatched, we will prove to them that our gods stand with us, that this legion will not fail. So Let us assail these walls and prove to them that they cannot deny our glory, our honour and with this victory claim Eternity! For us! For the LEGION! FOR ROOOOOOME!"

At that Pip seemed to make give you a wink with his one eye, as he pulled out a shield and stood next to you. "Your father taught you well." He said.

Morale Roll: [/url']https://rolz.org/info?91b52i0oqy:l32hb80i] [/url]
[/url']https://rolz.org/info?91b52i0oqy:l32hbcir] [/url]
[/url']https://rolz.org/info?91b52i0oqy:l32hbswc] [/url]
[/url']https://rolz.org/info?91b52i0oqy:l32hby5o] [/url]
[/url']https://rolz.org/info?91b52i0oqy:l32hc1fx] [/url]

Reward: For the Remainder of the Battle, Claudia's Sappers are now Unbreakable. They will now fight to the Death.

Secondary Reward: Due to the Roll Explosions: In addition to the +10 to the rolls from omakes, and +13 from Volunteers' combat skills, Claudia now has a reroll for the remainder of the battle. As a result, if her men fail a roll, she will immediately save them, and if she succeeds, she will be eligible for a Civic Crown.

Trinity Reward: Due to Enemy Morale Rolls Scaling the first Walls will automatically pass.
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The Testudo was moving forward at a pace that surprised you. Despite the close clutter and the shields, and the missile fire from the walls beyond.

It was a hellish walk of nearly half a roman mile, by your estimate, with all the fire from the Enemies that were focused on you.

Enemy Attack:

Testudo Defense:658
Reroll on Last Roll:

But the walls held as if the Gods themselves wanted a spectacle, and the missiles deflected off the shields, keeping things from hurting or killing any of the men as you marched forward.

"Come on lads!" that blasted Severianus stated as he kept tapping the lads on the shoulders. "Soon we will be drinking wine and fucking all the pretty girls from here to Pontus!"

At that, the men realized that you were trying to keep them together, and as the only woman in the company, they realized the mistake of such a drastic… statement.

"We need to cross the walls first you Basterd!" His battle brother stated.

At that, the young man fell silent. They then continued forward. It was like trying to walk through the rain.

Only the rain was arrows.

No one died, however, despite the cuts, and bruises.
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Meanwhile:

(Caeser POV)

The Legate was waiting for something. That much was clearly certain as he watched from the hill, as Claudia's suicide mission was marching forward, but like a wall, the Testudo moved, like a well oild machine that had seen combat numerous times.

Instead of it being the first battle that these green men had ever seen.

Including yourself. "Legate. What are we waiting for?" You asked as the old man took a drink.

"You saw the Eagle above priest, tell me what it means?" He asked.

You frowned, as you sighed. "Jupiter watches, and that he wishes for us to attack."

"Indeed." The old man replied as he waved forward. "You shall lead the assault on the enemy Forces."

"What!?" You shouted. "That seems improper?"

"Is it?" He raised an eyebrow. He then gave a chuckle, as he quickly drank another swig of his wine. "Centurion Severus!" He shouted to the Prime Centurion who was waiting in the wing with his cohort.

He ran forward and gave a nod of his head. "Yes, Legate!"

"Caeser shall be your second, command the men, move them forward, in battle line, make sure the pilla are ready, they will be coming for us!" He ordered.

You gawked. "Murena, are you-"

"Tribune you will follow my orders!" He demanded. "Severus, prepare the men. It's time to earn our pay!"

You then realized what he meant, as he saw the Greek forces line up outside their walls, beyond the first line of defenses they had in place. All their skirmishers were focusing on Claudia and her force.

And despite the gods themselves protecting them, they did not seem keen on letting them get to the wall without a fight.

All of the Skirmishers seemingly.

That meant you had the advantage.

"Bacchus! Ride to our allies, tell them to be the Hammer!" He ordered Before turning to you. "Now move you basterds, we need to spring our trap!"

The other tribune gave a nod and then rode like he was fleeing the Underworld itself.

"What are you waiting for you bastards! March!" the old legate shouted, before drinking another sip of his wine.

You then ran towards the front, sword in hand, for fear of getting left behind.

Foul-mouthed and drunk as he may be, Lucius Licinius Murena, was a Roman General of the old school, as the Centurions would say.

If he were not competent. He would be dead.

That filled you with some comfort.

Roman Positioning:106

And you would make it to your position in time.
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POV Shift

(Claudia)

The Greeks Broke when you reached the wall. "Up the Wall!" You shouted as you jumped up, not even needing the assistance of the legionary next to you as you lept up the wooden palisade. Even with Shield and Sword in hand, you reached the Top of the wall and pulled yourself up without any effort.

Much to the amazement of the men below, and to the surprise of the Greek archer whom you saw, an arrow knocked and ready to fire.

Greek shot:

Wound Roll:

And the arrow glanced off your helmet, the dinging sound it made the only indicator that you had even been shot at. You hadn't even noticed that you had even been shot.

You jumped over and stabbed the man in the throat, his armor, if you could call some strip of leather covering his heart armor?

He died instantly, and despite all your training, ending his life did not end easy. He gurgled, trying to say something as blood shot out of his mouth, he then collapsed, his bow shattering with his weight on it, his arrows on his side being lost to the cluster.

And the other twenty-five men in your immediate vicinity only looked in fear at you.

You took it as your opening to start killing:

Fight!:


You forgot the rush of combat, the thrill of murder and death. Mars above, you were alive! You immediately slashed, and your blade went through two men, their guts spilling out onto the wooden wall.

A moment later, five more died as you stabbed into the cluster of men who had tried to take a shot at you, their hearts being the targets of your blade's fury. One had tried even to stab you with a dagger, but instead, it stabbed one of his fellow soldiers in the eye, killing him instantly.

Another moment passed, then ten of the bravest of the men charged you at the same time.

And in a moment, you set your shield, planted your feet, and let them come.

The first three were decapitated, their stances wide and clumsy, the blades that had been part of their equipment ill-suited to even touch yours.

Their heads merely fell off the wall, as the first head of your comrades, the ever boastful Severianus poked his head up, struggling to get above the wall, without assistance as you had.

And they saw him.

You did too.

Greek Ambush:

Severianus Battle Roll:

Claudia Rescue Roll: 741

You had looked at that foolish boy, and saw his life coming to an end.

And you decided to say fuck the Gods and do what you needed to do. No one in your charge would die.

No one!

And so you raised your shield and let out a war cry. "ROME INVICTUS!"

The shout had frightened all of them, including those who had poised to kill Severianus.

He swung, but your shield blocked the blade just in time. Your sword then removed the hand first, causing the man to scream in shock and horror, in a tongue you could not understand, before you stabbed his throat.

And the men who remained stood in horror as Severianus drew his blade. "Thanks!"

"Start killing, I'll take the left." You ordered.

"Fuck you, take the right!" He shouted back. "I'm right-handed, unlike you."

Oh to be a man with vigor. He was going to suffer for that.

But he did have a point. "Very well."

And the Greeks began to die, as the First wall's defenses began to collapse.
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Half an hour later, the Greeks had either died or fled.

There were no Roman casualties, but three were wounded, from falls from the wall, and had suffered light stab wounds from when they almost reached the wall.

One did, however, almost lose an eye from a slash, but we would have a scar for the rest of his days instead.

The men were ready and waiting for new orders. What do you do?

What do you do?:

[]Keep Pushing: You are going to push deeper into the city's defenses, demoralize the enemy and kill them all. (Considered High Risk, very high risk of injury, but will cause enemy morale to suffer dramatically. Most likely will make them break and flee the battlefield.)

[]Enemies at the Gate: You will get to the gatehouse and lock the enemy army out. If they cannot escape, they will surrender. (Considered High Risk, Low risk of injury. May cause enemy to fight to the death, if they do not break, knowing they have no escape.)

[]Start the Fire: You need to divert the attention of the enemy army, and what better way to divert attention than to start a fire. (Low risk, but high chance of getting minor injuries and burns. Will divert enemy attention towards you.

[]Write in

Reward: Due to Poor intelligence, you do not know if the Enemy's Morale has been affected.

AN: Enjoy.