Restitutor Orbis: A Quest of the Roman Empire
- Thread starter Telamon
- Start date
- Original Historic
- Location
- Germany
[X] Plan Imperial Roots
- Location
- Rivendell
[X] Plan Imperial Roots
Even beyond the delicious irony of a Carthaginian saving Rome, the fact that this plan has the combo of super high Military and Charisma skills should allow us to quickly garner support in many corners, even if we don't start out nearly as popular as some of the other options. Even beyond that, we should be able to run the places we do control pretty well at 14 Stewardship, and the fact that we have a guaranteed starting income will allow us to spend on infrastructure, recruitment, etc. as needed straight from the start.
Even beyond the delicious irony of a Carthaginian saving Rome, the fact that this plan has the combo of super high Military and Charisma skills should allow us to quickly garner support in many corners, even if we don't start out nearly as popular as some of the other options. Even beyond that, we should be able to run the places we do control pretty well at 14 Stewardship, and the fact that we have a guaranteed starting income will allow us to spend on infrastructure, recruitment, etc. as needed straight from the start.
- Location
- Canada
[X] Plan Imperial Roots
- Location
- Sydney
[X] Plan fortunate Emperor
[X] The Carthaginian
[X] A Successor
--[X] The Adopted
[X] MARCVS AVRELIVS:
[X] TRAIANVS
[X] CLAVDIVS
Begin with Trait: Enmity of the Garamantes, begin with nickname 'the Moor', begin with all military-related skills at Rank 12, except where buffed or reduced by other origin choices, and begin with all social and financial skills at Rank 12, with 16 Stewardship and 16 intelligence, begin with +400 extra monthly income
Start with Imperial Authority at 4, Gain 2 extra Reputation, +1 Senatorial Backing, start with two average legions
Start with Charisma at Rank 14, start with one extra veteran legion and +3 Popular Support
(+2 to all Oratory rolls, +2 to all Administration rolls, improved relations with the people, +2 to all Diplomacy and Education rolls, -3 to all Subterfuge rolls and a malus to rolls concerning your family or loved ones.)
(+5 to all engineering and logistics rolls, +1 to all Military rolls, increased popularity with the legions, -2 to all Stewardship and Administration rolls. Gain Renown quicker, and lose it slower. Gain more fame and prestige from conquering lands)
(+2 to all Subterfuge rolls, Gain Reputation quicker, +1 Senatorial Backing, +1 to all Law and Administration rolls, +1 to all popularity rolls)
[X] A Successor
--[X] The Adopted
[X] MARCVS AVRELIVS:
[X] TRAIANVS
[X] CLAVDIVS
Begin with Trait: Enmity of the Garamantes, begin with nickname 'the Moor', begin with all military-related skills at Rank 12, except where buffed or reduced by other origin choices, and begin with all social and financial skills at Rank 12, with 16 Stewardship and 16 intelligence, begin with +400 extra monthly income
Start with Imperial Authority at 4, Gain 2 extra Reputation, +1 Senatorial Backing, start with two average legions
Start with Charisma at Rank 14, start with one extra veteran legion and +3 Popular Support
(+2 to all Oratory rolls, +2 to all Administration rolls, improved relations with the people, +2 to all Diplomacy and Education rolls, -3 to all Subterfuge rolls and a malus to rolls concerning your family or loved ones.)
(+5 to all engineering and logistics rolls, +1 to all Military rolls, increased popularity with the legions, -2 to all Stewardship and Administration rolls. Gain Renown quicker, and lose it slower. Gain more fame and prestige from conquering lands)
(+2 to all Subterfuge rolls, Gain Reputation quicker, +1 Senatorial Backing, +1 to all Law and Administration rolls, +1 to all popularity rolls)
[X] Plan Imperial Roots
II: Ruina Imperii
- Location
- Texas
As you ascend the hill, your cloak catches in the spring breeze and dances wildly, fluttering like the crimson banners that wave over the camps of the legions below. The clouds that have hung over the region for the last week finally broke at dawn, and now the sun beams down on the leather tents of your army. The augurs looked favorably on that, you remember. It was Apollo himself, they said, smiling down on the new emperor, blessing his reign and long life. A favorable sign, a blessing from the gods.
You do not feel very favored at the moment, nor particularly blessed. There are bags under your eyes miles deep, there is a pox running through the camp, and those of your men who are not shitting themselves asleep have loudly begun to question why rations are so light of late. The first letters you sent out to potential allies and supporters have begun to return, and rather than being filled with promises of funds and backing, they are filled with half-hearted words of encouragement, words that will not fill your men's bellies or put swords in their hands. Lastly, and most worryingly, the rebel general Aurelian, once your brother-in-arms, has turned his legions for Italy, declaring himself Imperator and all other emperors (yourself included) pretenders and traitors. Should he triumph, you will most certainly die.
You pause a moment, holding up a hand for your entourage of slaves and servants to come to a stop, and gaze out over the fields of the lands you claim to rule.
Your name is Synnodus of Carthage, and you have been Emperor of the Romans for one week, five days, and eight hours.
You still remember --and you do not think you will ever forget-- that warm morning when you were woken from your bed by the voices of your men. You hear vividly in your head the cheers and shouts echoing through the camp, see in your mind's eye the swords raised in salutation, feel the rough hands of your soldiers on your flesh, raising you up, up above their heads, onto their shields, and a thousand thousand voices chanting, a chorus that became a rolling tide sweeping through the air, shaking the earth as it moved in time with the marching of an army. You hear it still, ringing in your ears, settling on your shoulders -- a title and a curse, gift and godhood all in one.
Imperator.
The word rings in your ears still, as you look down on the camps below and the metal-clad figures who move in rigid formations between the ordered rows.
These men have followed you from the sands of Nubia to the dim, fog-lit woods of Germania, and they have bled and died in your name more times than you can count. They are your legions. Your reign began with them, and, as you are all too well aware, it may yet end with them.
Legion Gained: Legio XI Firma, the Unyielding Eleventh Legion (Elite) (Estimated Force: ~5,400 legionnaires, 4,800 auxiliaries)
Legion Gained: Legio VII Hellespontus Felix, the Fortunate Seventh Legion of the Hellespont (Elite) (Renowned) (6,100 legionnaires, 5,200 auxiliaries)
As you turn from the view on the hill, you notice a trio of men ascending the grassy knoll towards you. You know them well, like brothers. The foremost, with the sandy hair and firm eyes, is Aulus Artorius Felix, legatus of the Seventh Legion and your foremost (and most famed) general. Beside him is Gaius Mercator, your cavalry commander -- while not as skilled a general as Artorius, he has a firmer grip on the hearts of the men. Lastly, heading up the rear one Lars Appius, a dedicated young man of skill and remarkable dedication who served as your chief of staff when you were still merely a general. In the weeks since your declaration as emperor, he has taken on a far more central role in affairs, serving as your representative and go-between in the matters of your burgeoning state.
"Hail, Imperator," cries Appius once the three men are within shouting distance, and the voices of the other two echo his in quick unison.
You nod to each of them in turn, then beckon them towards the oaken table your slaves have set up atop the hill. You have ordered several maps of Italia and the surrounding provinces laid out upon it, and the rest of the table's surface is littered with letters from potential allies and persons of interest across the empire. These semi-clandestine meetings on the hilltop, far from prying eyes in the legions, have become almost routine among you and your inner circle in the last few weeks, and the four of you know well the state of your new empire, which you now cautiously review as the blazing chariot of Apollo climbs the sky.
Multiple pretenders currently divide the empire of the Romans between themselves, each rejecting your claim to empire in favor of their own. First among these is the Emperor Quintillus, brother to the dead emperor, who has been acclaimed in Rome by the Senate. Second among the pretenders is the Emperor Aurelian, who directly commands five legions, and has much popular support. Thirdly, there is the Emperor Victorinus, who calls himself the Emperor in Gaul, and is currently warring with the Germanic tribes across the Danube. Lastly, there is the woman Zenobia in the East, who, as the regent of her son, the boy-emperor Vallabathus, has brought much of Syria and Palestine under her control, and has designs on Egypt.
Recent reports have brought news of yet another, far weaker pretender -- one Domitianus, formerly a soldier in the service of the pretender Victorinus, who has now incited his legions in southern Gaul to revolt, and proclaimed himself Imperator. With few troops and little support, it is merely a matter of time until he is defeated by one of the other claimants, or so your reports claim. Mercator, ever pragmatic, suggests that one so weak must surely recognize his uncertain position, and suggests attempting to gain his fealty -- and his legions. Artorius derides this as foolish -- for one who has turned might turn again.
The two are wholly agreed, however, in their firm belief that you must strike quickly to eliminate one of the pretenders and so establish yourself as a force to be reckoned with. Your military acumen and prowess, as well as that of the legions who follow you, are already well-known across the empire, and some may well lay down their swords (and false claims to empire) rather than risk your wrath -- or so the generals believe.
Lars Appius, however, suggests a different course. The nearby city of Mediolanum, wealthier and more prosperous than Rome, lies undefended by any force a scarce two days' march away. You could easily seize it, gaining not only a source of wealth and food for your armies, but a place to begin that most defining of imperial acts: the printing of coins. Swords and words are all well and good, but no man is truly emperor until his name is on coins. Mediolanum may even serve you as a semi-permanent capital, he suggests, a capacity in which the slowly declining city of Rome would not perform half as well.
Of course, he suggests, you could win the hearts of the people another way: Northern Italy, where your armies are now marching, is plagued by the barbarian hordes of the Vandals and the Juthingi. Defeating one or both of these hordes would win you the support of the populace and establish you as a capable defender of the lands you claim to hold imperium over.
Whatever your choice, one thing is certain: you must make it now.
Pick One
There is also the 'small' matter of the correspondences you have begun to receive from across the empire. Men who know your name and seek to ride your coattails up the halls of power have begun writing to you, and while many of them are trifling or baseborn schemers, some write to you with offers that, at least on paper, seem too good to refuse. Appius warns caution, for the most ambitious are also the most two-faced, and trusting blindly may lead you to an early grave.
(Pick up to Three. The ones you do not respond to will be ignored, and though the writers may approach you again at a later date, their situations may have changed.)
Most of the more delicate matters of state must be left for when you are not marching around Italia, but there is still an array of decisions that only you as Emperor can make. They may not all be immediate, but if you do not make them, they may be made for you.
Pick 3
You do not feel very favored at the moment, nor particularly blessed. There are bags under your eyes miles deep, there is a pox running through the camp, and those of your men who are not shitting themselves asleep have loudly begun to question why rations are so light of late. The first letters you sent out to potential allies and supporters have begun to return, and rather than being filled with promises of funds and backing, they are filled with half-hearted words of encouragement, words that will not fill your men's bellies or put swords in their hands. Lastly, and most worryingly, the rebel general Aurelian, once your brother-in-arms, has turned his legions for Italy, declaring himself Imperator and all other emperors (yourself included) pretenders and traitors. Should he triumph, you will most certainly die.
You pause a moment, holding up a hand for your entourage of slaves and servants to come to a stop, and gaze out over the fields of the lands you claim to rule.
Your name is Synnodus of Carthage, and you have been Emperor of the Romans for one week, five days, and eight hours.
You still remember --and you do not think you will ever forget-- that warm morning when you were woken from your bed by the voices of your men. You hear vividly in your head the cheers and shouts echoing through the camp, see in your mind's eye the swords raised in salutation, feel the rough hands of your soldiers on your flesh, raising you up, up above their heads, onto their shields, and a thousand thousand voices chanting, a chorus that became a rolling tide sweeping through the air, shaking the earth as it moved in time with the marching of an army. You hear it still, ringing in your ears, settling on your shoulders -- a title and a curse, gift and godhood all in one.
Imperator.
The word rings in your ears still, as you look down on the camps below and the metal-clad figures who move in rigid formations between the ordered rows.
These men have followed you from the sands of Nubia to the dim, fog-lit woods of Germania, and they have bled and died in your name more times than you can count. They are your legions. Your reign began with them, and, as you are all too well aware, it may yet end with them.
Legion Gained: Legio XI Firma, the Unyielding Eleventh Legion (Elite) (Estimated Force: ~5,400 legionnaires, 4,800 auxiliaries)
Legion Gained: Legio VII Hellespontus Felix, the Fortunate Seventh Legion of the Hellespont (Elite) (Renowned) (6,100 legionnaires, 5,200 auxiliaries)
The Roman Legions lived and breathed in and of themselves, and were defined by (and defined in turn) the wars they fought and the battles they won and lost. A legion could win itself fame and glory as much as any emperor could himself, and the greatest of generals became as closely tied to their favored legions as to their own sword hands. The legion defined the commander, and the commander defined the legion. The greatest of the legions could end rebellions simply by arriving in upstart provinces, and could sway succession crises simply by declaring for one claimant or another.
Legions have their own fame rankings, ranging from 0 (Ignominious) to 10 (Legendary). The greater a legion's fame, the higher the morale of it's troops, and the greater the effects it has on the world around you in-story. Win many battles with a certain legion, and you will develop closer ties to it and it's officers, who, with your favor, may rise through the ranks to become generals and senators -- or rivals, should you nurture their ambitions overmuch. More esteemed or famous legions will, of course, demand higher pay and more respect, and may even chafe at being assigned certain tasks which are beneath them. Do not try and send hardened men who have tasted of glory to bitter deaths -- or you might meet your own on the points of their swords.
Legions have their own fame rankings, ranging from 0 (Ignominious) to 10 (Legendary). The greater a legion's fame, the higher the morale of it's troops, and the greater the effects it has on the world around you in-story. Win many battles with a certain legion, and you will develop closer ties to it and it's officers, who, with your favor, may rise through the ranks to become generals and senators -- or rivals, should you nurture their ambitions overmuch. More esteemed or famous legions will, of course, demand higher pay and more respect, and may even chafe at being assigned certain tasks which are beneath them. Do not try and send hardened men who have tasted of glory to bitter deaths -- or you might meet your own on the points of their swords.
As you turn from the view on the hill, you notice a trio of men ascending the grassy knoll towards you. You know them well, like brothers. The foremost, with the sandy hair and firm eyes, is Aulus Artorius Felix, legatus of the Seventh Legion and your foremost (and most famed) general. Beside him is Gaius Mercator, your cavalry commander -- while not as skilled a general as Artorius, he has a firmer grip on the hearts of the men. Lastly, heading up the rear one Lars Appius, a dedicated young man of skill and remarkable dedication who served as your chief of staff when you were still merely a general. In the weeks since your declaration as emperor, he has taken on a far more central role in affairs, serving as your representative and go-between in the matters of your burgeoning state.
"Hail, Imperator," cries Appius once the three men are within shouting distance, and the voices of the other two echo his in quick unison.
You nod to each of them in turn, then beckon them towards the oaken table your slaves have set up atop the hill. You have ordered several maps of Italia and the surrounding provinces laid out upon it, and the rest of the table's surface is littered with letters from potential allies and persons of interest across the empire. These semi-clandestine meetings on the hilltop, far from prying eyes in the legions, have become almost routine among you and your inner circle in the last few weeks, and the four of you know well the state of your new empire, which you now cautiously review as the blazing chariot of Apollo climbs the sky.
Multiple pretenders currently divide the empire of the Romans between themselves, each rejecting your claim to empire in favor of their own. First among these is the Emperor Quintillus, brother to the dead emperor, who has been acclaimed in Rome by the Senate. Second among the pretenders is the Emperor Aurelian, who directly commands five legions, and has much popular support. Thirdly, there is the Emperor Victorinus, who calls himself the Emperor in Gaul, and is currently warring with the Germanic tribes across the Danube. Lastly, there is the woman Zenobia in the East, who, as the regent of her son, the boy-emperor Vallabathus, has brought much of Syria and Palestine under her control, and has designs on Egypt.
Recent reports have brought news of yet another, far weaker pretender -- one Domitianus, formerly a soldier in the service of the pretender Victorinus, who has now incited his legions in southern Gaul to revolt, and proclaimed himself Imperator. With few troops and little support, it is merely a matter of time until he is defeated by one of the other claimants, or so your reports claim. Mercator, ever pragmatic, suggests that one so weak must surely recognize his uncertain position, and suggests attempting to gain his fealty -- and his legions. Artorius derides this as foolish -- for one who has turned might turn again.
The two are wholly agreed, however, in their firm belief that you must strike quickly to eliminate one of the pretenders and so establish yourself as a force to be reckoned with. Your military acumen and prowess, as well as that of the legions who follow you, are already well-known across the empire, and some may well lay down their swords (and false claims to empire) rather than risk your wrath -- or so the generals believe.
Lars Appius, however, suggests a different course. The nearby city of Mediolanum, wealthier and more prosperous than Rome, lies undefended by any force a scarce two days' march away. You could easily seize it, gaining not only a source of wealth and food for your armies, but a place to begin that most defining of imperial acts: the printing of coins. Swords and words are all well and good, but no man is truly emperor until his name is on coins. Mediolanum may even serve you as a semi-permanent capital, he suggests, a capacity in which the slowly declining city of Rome would not perform half as well.
Of course, he suggests, you could win the hearts of the people another way: Northern Italy, where your armies are now marching, is plagued by the barbarian hordes of the Vandals and the Juthingi. Defeating one or both of these hordes would win you the support of the populace and establish you as a capable defender of the lands you claim to hold imperium over.
Whatever your choice, one thing is certain: you must make it now.
Pick One
[] The Pretender in Gaul: You turn your forces for Southern Gaul, and the pretender Domitianus. If you can successfully best him, you will eliminate one pretender and badly weaken another, opening up further expansion in Gaul and providing a powerbase for further expansion. Alternatively, you could attempt to use his weak position against him and coerce him and his legions into your service.
[] The Pretender in Rome: Rome is waning, and it is not as valuable to hold as it once might have been. Yet still, it is Rome, and to defeat the pretender there and seize control of the Senate would strengthen your rule -- yet it might trap you in Italia without relief.
[] The Pretender in Pannonia: You march to face the great pretender Aurelian, mightiest of the false emperors. Defeating him will surely bring the army behind you, and all but solidify your claim to the empire. Of course, you must defeat him first, and Aurelian is one of the greatest generals of Roman history, your peer --perhaps your better-- in every way, leading an army that far outstrips yours in size, if not in skill.
[] Repel the Juthingi: You take your forces to repel the Germanic barbarians known as the Juthingi. Though two legions might be called overkill for some marauding barbarians, repulsing them will win you the love of much of Northern Italy.
[] Repel the Vandals: You take your armies to repel the great horde known as the Vandals, who even now are breaching the interior of Italia. Their king, Gieoseric, seeks to carve out his destiny in Roman blood. Repelling their forces will win you much fame across the breadth of Italy, and perhaps even recognition outside it.
[] Take Mediolanum: You march your forces to Mediolanum, in Northern Italy, a scarce half-day's march away. The city and it's rich farms will make for a good staging ground for future actions, and might even serve as a potential capital.
[] The Pretender in Rome: Rome is waning, and it is not as valuable to hold as it once might have been. Yet still, it is Rome, and to defeat the pretender there and seize control of the Senate would strengthen your rule -- yet it might trap you in Italia without relief.
[] The Pretender in Pannonia: You march to face the great pretender Aurelian, mightiest of the false emperors. Defeating him will surely bring the army behind you, and all but solidify your claim to the empire. Of course, you must defeat him first, and Aurelian is one of the greatest generals of Roman history, your peer --perhaps your better-- in every way, leading an army that far outstrips yours in size, if not in skill.
[] Repel the Juthingi: You take your forces to repel the Germanic barbarians known as the Juthingi. Though two legions might be called overkill for some marauding barbarians, repulsing them will win you the love of much of Northern Italy.
[] Repel the Vandals: You take your armies to repel the great horde known as the Vandals, who even now are breaching the interior of Italia. Their king, Gieoseric, seeks to carve out his destiny in Roman blood. Repelling their forces will win you much fame across the breadth of Italy, and perhaps even recognition outside it.
[] Take Mediolanum: You march your forces to Mediolanum, in Northern Italy, a scarce half-day's march away. The city and it's rich farms will make for a good staging ground for future actions, and might even serve as a potential capital.
There is also the 'small' matter of the correspondences you have begun to receive from across the empire. Men who know your name and seek to ride your coattails up the halls of power have begun writing to you, and while many of them are trifling or baseborn schemers, some write to you with offers that, at least on paper, seem too good to refuse. Appius warns caution, for the most ambitious are also the most two-faced, and trusting blindly may lead you to an early grave.
(Pick up to Three. The ones you do not respond to will be ignored, and though the writers may approach you again at a later date, their situations may have changed.)
[] The Spanish Dilemma: The general Barracus, guardian of the borders in Spain and nominally loyal to the Emperor Aurelian, has written a flowery letter filled with praise and adoration for your surely enlightened rule. He would, he writes, of course declare immediate support, but his co-governor in Hispania, a 'vile worm' by the name of Lucianius Verro, has already declared publicly for Aurelian, and he fears he could not defeat Verro's legions in direct combat. Had he military or financial support, of course, he could and would declare for the esteemed Emperor Synnodus, and would bring you all of Spain.
--[] Funds: You promise to send Barracus funds with which to hire mercenaries to oust Verro and take control of Spain. (-450,000 denarii)
--[] Troops: You dispatch several cohorts of the Eleventh to assist Barracus in Spain, leaving the legion understrength. (-2,000 men)
[] The Praetorians: The Praetorian Guard, the elite of the elite, the bodyguards (and the murderers) of emperors since the time of Augustus, have approached you in secret. The Praetorian Prefect, one Aemilianus Castor, who is currently the emperor's chief administrative aide, claims dissatisfaction with the base politicking and scheming of the Emperor Quintillus, and longs to serve under a soldier again, under a true Emperor. He offers to work towards bringing Quintillus' reign to a sudden and certain end, but suggests he will need a large amount of funds to enact a daring scheme which will end with Quintillus dead and Rome in Praetorian hands -- your hands.
--[] Minor Funding: You send Castor 200,000 denarii, enough to grease a few hands.
--[] Moderate Funding: You send Castor 400,000 denarii, enough to hire a small army.
--[] Major Funding: You send Castor 1,000,000 denarii -- 166 talents of gold, enough to hire a legion.
[] A Byzantine Scheme: You have received letters from the governor of the city of Byzantion, a Greek named Herakleos of Meganon. The commander of the legions in Byzantion, one Herulian, has remained silent on the question of his imperial loyalties, opting to wait and see who emerges from the current squabble. His men, however, are apparently not so impartial, and, fearing punishment once the dust has settled, seek to declare for an emperor. Herakleos sees opportunity here: with money and time, he could ensure the death of Herulian and the rise of a commander partial to your interests, who would then declare for you -- making it possible for Herakleos and the wealthy city of Byzantion to safely declare for you as well.
--[] Minor Funding: You send Herakleos 200,000 denarii, enough to grease a few hands.
--[] Moderate Funding: You send Herakleos 400,000 denarii, enough to hire a small army.
--[] Major Funding: You send Herakleos 1,000,000 denarii -- 166 talents of gold, enough to hire a legion.
[] The Three Hundred: Shapur the Great, the Sassanid Emperor and the King of Kings of Persia, has been the bitterest enemy of Rome for nearly thirty years since his ascension to the throne of Persia in 240, and dealt her a humiliating blow when he captured the Emperor Valerian in 260, keeping him imprisoned until death. And yet he has written to you, congratulating you on your ascension to the throne of the Shahanshah-e-Rum (lit. The King of Kings of Rome). After that terse greeting, he states his purpose bluntly: he fears Aurelian more than he fears you at the helm of empire, and so offers three hundred thousand Persian spearmen to fight for you in your wars. This comes with a cost: an oath, sworn by yourself or an acceptable representative, for the sons of Rome to never again take up arms against the House of Sassan while you live.
--[] Take the Oath: You personally leave your generals in charge of the campaigns in the west while you and Lars take the quickest ship possible eastward, to bend the knee before the oldest of the foes of Rome and return with three hundred thousand spears at your back. You will not be loved for this.
--[] A Representative: You send Lars in your place, to bend the knee before the Persian Emperor in your stead, and to return with the might of Persia at his back.
[] The Fealty of a King: The Marcomanni, once one of the greatest of the Germanic tribes west of the Danube, have been enemies of Rome since time immemorial, famously warring with Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus half a century ago in Marcomannic wars. Resoundingly bested by Rome and beset on all sides by enemies and other ambitious tribes, their fortunes have declined immensely in the decades since. Now, with the Goths and the Juthingi threatening their last holdouts, their King, one Helmanric, has written to all the current claimant emperors of Rome, swearing fealty and aid in all their wars in exchange for settlement beyond the Danube, and a final, slim sliver of hope for his people.
--[] Foederati: You write back offering Helmanric a typical foederatus, a deal of the sort long made between Rome and the barbarians outside her shining walls. They will receive food and coin in return for their service against the empire and her enemies, but will not be allowed to settle on Roman land -- they are but barbara, after all.
--[] Settlement: You write back to Helmanric accepting all of his conditions and outlining an area beyond the Danube where his people may settle freely. This has been done before -- most recently to the Vandals when they were allies of Rome -- but carries risk. Most importantly, it has never been done to gain soldiers to war for control of Rome herself, merely to protect her borders. If we invite the barbara into the empire, can we ever get them out?
[] An Eastern Ally: Zenobia, the shrewd and clever widow of the famous king of Palmyra, Odaenathus, has established a burgeoning empire in the east in the name of her son, Vaballathus. She writes to you in curt, smart language of the threats posed to both your 'empires', and suggests an informal partnership. Rather than a cessation of hostilities or an outright alliance, she speaks of a union of convenience. She will send you funds to support your war effort -- and you need do little in exchange other than simply focus your efforts in the west, drawing the attention of Aurelian and Quintillus away from her fledgling empire, allowing her to expand in the east. What is unspoken --and indeed, hardly needs be said-- is the implication that once all your common enemies are defeated, any ties between you will be severed, and you will be foes. You write back to her, accepting her proposal.
[] The Vipers of Rome: A group of influential Senators have written to you promising financial backing and the advancement of your cause in the Senate, in exchange for certain financial and legal breaks once you assume your rightful position as supreme master of Rome. In a word, should you support their ancient rights and privileges as the upper class of the empire, they will fund your rise to power. But being in debt is always a risky proposition in Rome, and being in debt to Senators is an even riskier one. The Senate, as a famous historian once wrote, is a worming nest of vipers, and their poison is deadly indeed. Nevertheless, you write back to them, accepting their proposal.
--[] Funds: You promise to send Barracus funds with which to hire mercenaries to oust Verro and take control of Spain. (-450,000 denarii)
--[] Troops: You dispatch several cohorts of the Eleventh to assist Barracus in Spain, leaving the legion understrength. (-2,000 men)
[] The Praetorians: The Praetorian Guard, the elite of the elite, the bodyguards (and the murderers) of emperors since the time of Augustus, have approached you in secret. The Praetorian Prefect, one Aemilianus Castor, who is currently the emperor's chief administrative aide, claims dissatisfaction with the base politicking and scheming of the Emperor Quintillus, and longs to serve under a soldier again, under a true Emperor. He offers to work towards bringing Quintillus' reign to a sudden and certain end, but suggests he will need a large amount of funds to enact a daring scheme which will end with Quintillus dead and Rome in Praetorian hands -- your hands.
--[] Minor Funding: You send Castor 200,000 denarii, enough to grease a few hands.
--[] Moderate Funding: You send Castor 400,000 denarii, enough to hire a small army.
--[] Major Funding: You send Castor 1,000,000 denarii -- 166 talents of gold, enough to hire a legion.
[] A Byzantine Scheme: You have received letters from the governor of the city of Byzantion, a Greek named Herakleos of Meganon. The commander of the legions in Byzantion, one Herulian, has remained silent on the question of his imperial loyalties, opting to wait and see who emerges from the current squabble. His men, however, are apparently not so impartial, and, fearing punishment once the dust has settled, seek to declare for an emperor. Herakleos sees opportunity here: with money and time, he could ensure the death of Herulian and the rise of a commander partial to your interests, who would then declare for you -- making it possible for Herakleos and the wealthy city of Byzantion to safely declare for you as well.
--[] Minor Funding: You send Herakleos 200,000 denarii, enough to grease a few hands.
--[] Moderate Funding: You send Herakleos 400,000 denarii, enough to hire a small army.
--[] Major Funding: You send Herakleos 1,000,000 denarii -- 166 talents of gold, enough to hire a legion.
[] The Three Hundred: Shapur the Great, the Sassanid Emperor and the King of Kings of Persia, has been the bitterest enemy of Rome for nearly thirty years since his ascension to the throne of Persia in 240, and dealt her a humiliating blow when he captured the Emperor Valerian in 260, keeping him imprisoned until death. And yet he has written to you, congratulating you on your ascension to the throne of the Shahanshah-e-Rum (lit. The King of Kings of Rome). After that terse greeting, he states his purpose bluntly: he fears Aurelian more than he fears you at the helm of empire, and so offers three hundred thousand Persian spearmen to fight for you in your wars. This comes with a cost: an oath, sworn by yourself or an acceptable representative, for the sons of Rome to never again take up arms against the House of Sassan while you live.
--[] Take the Oath: You personally leave your generals in charge of the campaigns in the west while you and Lars take the quickest ship possible eastward, to bend the knee before the oldest of the foes of Rome and return with three hundred thousand spears at your back. You will not be loved for this.
--[] A Representative: You send Lars in your place, to bend the knee before the Persian Emperor in your stead, and to return with the might of Persia at his back.
[] The Fealty of a King: The Marcomanni, once one of the greatest of the Germanic tribes west of the Danube, have been enemies of Rome since time immemorial, famously warring with Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus half a century ago in Marcomannic wars. Resoundingly bested by Rome and beset on all sides by enemies and other ambitious tribes, their fortunes have declined immensely in the decades since. Now, with the Goths and the Juthingi threatening their last holdouts, their King, one Helmanric, has written to all the current claimant emperors of Rome, swearing fealty and aid in all their wars in exchange for settlement beyond the Danube, and a final, slim sliver of hope for his people.
--[] Foederati: You write back offering Helmanric a typical foederatus, a deal of the sort long made between Rome and the barbarians outside her shining walls. They will receive food and coin in return for their service against the empire and her enemies, but will not be allowed to settle on Roman land -- they are but barbara, after all.
--[] Settlement: You write back to Helmanric accepting all of his conditions and outlining an area beyond the Danube where his people may settle freely. This has been done before -- most recently to the Vandals when they were allies of Rome -- but carries risk. Most importantly, it has never been done to gain soldiers to war for control of Rome herself, merely to protect her borders. If we invite the barbara into the empire, can we ever get them out?
[] An Eastern Ally: Zenobia, the shrewd and clever widow of the famous king of Palmyra, Odaenathus, has established a burgeoning empire in the east in the name of her son, Vaballathus. She writes to you in curt, smart language of the threats posed to both your 'empires', and suggests an informal partnership. Rather than a cessation of hostilities or an outright alliance, she speaks of a union of convenience. She will send you funds to support your war effort -- and you need do little in exchange other than simply focus your efforts in the west, drawing the attention of Aurelian and Quintillus away from her fledgling empire, allowing her to expand in the east. What is unspoken --and indeed, hardly needs be said-- is the implication that once all your common enemies are defeated, any ties between you will be severed, and you will be foes. You write back to her, accepting her proposal.
[] The Vipers of Rome: A group of influential Senators have written to you promising financial backing and the advancement of your cause in the Senate, in exchange for certain financial and legal breaks once you assume your rightful position as supreme master of Rome. In a word, should you support their ancient rights and privileges as the upper class of the empire, they will fund your rise to power. But being in debt is always a risky proposition in Rome, and being in debt to Senators is an even riskier one. The Senate, as a famous historian once wrote, is a worming nest of vipers, and their poison is deadly indeed. Nevertheless, you write back to them, accepting their proposal.
Most of the more delicate matters of state must be left for when you are not marching around Italia, but there is still an array of decisions that only you as Emperor can make. They may not all be immediate, but if you do not make them, they may be made for you.
Pick 3
[] Your brother, Synnodus Mercer, writes to you concerning his position in your new empire, and offering his support. Little more than a sycophant, he is still your brother, and he and his family would be a valuable bargaining chip for any of your opponents. You write to him to join you.
[] Your young wife, Florentia Tertia, writes to you begging caution and asking to join you as soon as is possible. Your wife's senatorial family is influential in Rome, and so having her at your side may be useful. However, a woman is seen by many in the legions as bad luck on the battlefield.
[] Your personal defenses are not as secure as they could be. You whip up a group of the sturdiest men from the legions to serve as your personal guard on and off the field. (-50 men from both legions)
[] You dispatch letters to all competing emperors proclaiming your mercy -- if they lay down their arms and surrender, you will suffer them and their families to live. A bit arrogant, for a man with two legions to his name, but empires are built on arrogance.
[] The men have begun to complain of light rations, a result of no longer having the apparatus of the Roman army to feed them. You dip into your personal funds to see to it their bellies are full for the next week or so. (-12,000 denarii)
[] There are rumors of a Sibyl in the Appenine mountains, two days hard ride away, a powerful seer-woman who speaks with the voice of the prophet-sun. Though the power of the Sibyls and their cults have declined since the fall of the Republic, prophecy still holds power in Rome. You take a small detour from your troops to visit this seer.
[] You take time out of your day to eat in the mess with your men, as a common commander. You have not forgotten where you came from. You will never forget, and they will love you for it.
[] You try and raise auxiliary forces from the surrounding areas. Though you do not have time to train them into legionnaires, more arms with swords never hurt a prospective emperor...well, usually.
[] You send out emissaries to pressure all the nearby tax collectors, encouraging them to give their collections to the rightful emperor instead of sending them on to Rome. The emissaries, quite incidentally, have swords, and you wonder briefly on the exact definition of banditry before sending them out.
[] Establishing yourself as emperor will take lots of popular support, and nothing wins popular support like money. You send relief efforts to nearby towns scarred and looted by the Vandals, hoping to establish yourself as a kind and just ruler. (-300 men for 2+ turns, -20,000 denarii)
[] Establishing yourself as emperor will take lots of support from the army, and nothing wins the love of the army like money. You give a small 'imperial ascension' bonus to all your men. (-100,000 denarii)
[] You send out fast riders in every direction to proclaim that Synnodus, hero of the Garamantian Wars, is now Imperator of the Romans, and is thus owed fealty by the common people of Rome. With enough luck, this will pluck the heartstrings of the people, who once hailed you for your victories in Africa. (-600 auxiliaries for 2+ turns)
[] Your young wife, Florentia Tertia, writes to you begging caution and asking to join you as soon as is possible. Your wife's senatorial family is influential in Rome, and so having her at your side may be useful. However, a woman is seen by many in the legions as bad luck on the battlefield.
[] Your personal defenses are not as secure as they could be. You whip up a group of the sturdiest men from the legions to serve as your personal guard on and off the field. (-50 men from both legions)
[] You dispatch letters to all competing emperors proclaiming your mercy -- if they lay down their arms and surrender, you will suffer them and their families to live. A bit arrogant, for a man with two legions to his name, but empires are built on arrogance.
[] The men have begun to complain of light rations, a result of no longer having the apparatus of the Roman army to feed them. You dip into your personal funds to see to it their bellies are full for the next week or so. (-12,000 denarii)
[] There are rumors of a Sibyl in the Appenine mountains, two days hard ride away, a powerful seer-woman who speaks with the voice of the prophet-sun. Though the power of the Sibyls and their cults have declined since the fall of the Republic, prophecy still holds power in Rome. You take a small detour from your troops to visit this seer.
[] You take time out of your day to eat in the mess with your men, as a common commander. You have not forgotten where you came from. You will never forget, and they will love you for it.
[] You try and raise auxiliary forces from the surrounding areas. Though you do not have time to train them into legionnaires, more arms with swords never hurt a prospective emperor...well, usually.
[] You send out emissaries to pressure all the nearby tax collectors, encouraging them to give their collections to the rightful emperor instead of sending them on to Rome. The emissaries, quite incidentally, have swords, and you wonder briefly on the exact definition of banditry before sending them out.
[] Establishing yourself as emperor will take lots of popular support, and nothing wins popular support like money. You send relief efforts to nearby towns scarred and looted by the Vandals, hoping to establish yourself as a kind and just ruler. (-300 men for 2+ turns, -20,000 denarii)
[] Establishing yourself as emperor will take lots of support from the army, and nothing wins the love of the army like money. You give a small 'imperial ascension' bonus to all your men. (-100,000 denarii)
[] You send out fast riders in every direction to proclaim that Synnodus, hero of the Garamantian Wars, is now Imperator of the Romans, and is thus owed fealty by the common people of Rome. With enough luck, this will pluck the heartstrings of the people, who once hailed you for your victories in Africa. (-600 auxiliaries for 2+ turns)
There is now a TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR MORATORIUM on all votes.
Use this time to discuss the choices available and create different Plans. As previously discussed, any votes not in plan form, or submitted before the moratorium is up, will not be counted.
As always, discussion is rewarded. (As are Omakes and Reaction posts.)
Use this time to discuss the choices available and create different Plans. As previously discussed, any votes not in plan form, or submitted before the moratorium is up, will not be counted.
As always, discussion is rewarded. (As are Omakes and Reaction posts.)
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- Location
- Estonia
My thought is either taking a "New capital" or murdering one of the barbarians to further build our reputation. Probably murdering a barbarin raid and then taking the city seems most wise.
germans seem like a easy option but the vandal option might have more rewards with some more risks i guess.
also people dont forget external factors .
germans seem like a easy option but the vandal option might have more rewards with some more risks i guess.
also people dont forget external factors .
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- Location
- alphen aan den rijn
so where are we now.
and how much can we get around?
and how much can we get around?
- Location
- Estonia
we are in northern italy since the city that is available for taking is two days march away wich is 40 or 50 leagues tops. The city is Milan actually and it was the later capital for italy for the roman era in like 15 years anyway so it wouldnt be as strange as people would think.
I think we are still in the char creation stages.
The two actions i kinda like from the middle actions are the spain and byzantium legion actions and probably moderate options and hope we roll well.
Id probably avoid rome for now tough.
I think we are still in the char creation stages.
The two actions i kinda like from the middle actions are the spain and byzantium legion actions and probably moderate options and hope we roll well.
Id probably avoid rome for now tough.
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- Location
- Somewhere In NC
Alright so I'm a bit interested. Currently Imperator PC has 1,400,000 denarii/233 Talents and an income of 400 denarii.
@Telamon
If taken and done well enough would:
[] Repel the Juthingi: You take your forces to repel the Germanic barbarians known as the Juthingi. Though two legions might be called overkill for some marauding barbarians, repulsing them will win you the love of much of Northern Italy.
mean that Mediolanum would support us? Since we're actively dealing with threats to them nearby and we decided not to sack/invde them?
As much as I'd like to get Byzantion on our side(for that sweet sweet trade money) I don't imagine we can trust a man willing to sell out his higher ups. After all if hes sold out one higher up whats stopping him from selling out another?
Overall I think these 3 would be a great syncronized choice:
More than one Emperor lost due to lacking the loyalty of their legions after all IIRC.
@Telamon
If taken and done well enough would:
[] Repel the Juthingi: You take your forces to repel the Germanic barbarians known as the Juthingi. Though two legions might be called overkill for some marauding barbarians, repulsing them will win you the love of much of Northern Italy.
mean that Mediolanum would support us? Since we're actively dealing with threats to them nearby and we decided not to sack/invde them?
As much as I'd like to get Byzantion on our side(for that sweet sweet trade money) I don't imagine we can trust a man willing to sell out his higher ups. After all if hes sold out one higher up whats stopping him from selling out another?
Overall I think these 3 would be a great syncronized choice:
More than one Emperor lost due to lacking the loyalty of their legions after all IIRC.
- Location
- Somewhere In NC
- Location
- Venezuela
My bad. I forgot of that part. I already deleted it
Taking Spain and Milan to build a support base seems to be the best strategy to me. After that we can use additional soldiers from Spain to march on Domitianus or barbarians to make our name. Those would leave us in a good position to take Victorinus and conquer Gaul while others face off for Rome.
I'm mulling over two broad strategic approaches at the moment.
1 – Italy First. Claim Mediolanum, put an iron or two in the fire with the Senate and/or the Praetorians, maybe foment trouble in Spain, and reach an arrangement with Zenobia. Basically aim to increase that income and legitimacy, while taking the logical first step to striking at the barbarians or the pretenders. This is slow, though, and doesn't actually increase our military strength. It also isn't a strong opening, in the sense that it isn't dashing or inspiring and is thus unlikely to sway hearts and minds.
2 – A Bold Stroke. Strike at Domitianus and look to absorb his legions. (The man himself should ideally end up dead.) Couple this with funding in Spain. The result is that we're closer to Spain and better able to link up with forces there if they need a final push to secure the theatre, or (optimally) have them link up with us once we're ready for our next move. If it works, we're massively stronger and have played a vigorous opening hand that leaves us looking like a serious contender. The downside, of course, is that this is basically going maximumLEEROY JENKINS GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR. Our supply lines and finances would be severely stretched.
1 – Italy First. Claim Mediolanum, put an iron or two in the fire with the Senate and/or the Praetorians, maybe foment trouble in Spain, and reach an arrangement with Zenobia. Basically aim to increase that income and legitimacy, while taking the logical first step to striking at the barbarians or the pretenders. This is slow, though, and doesn't actually increase our military strength. It also isn't a strong opening, in the sense that it isn't dashing or inspiring and is thus unlikely to sway hearts and minds.
2 – A Bold Stroke. Strike at Domitianus and look to absorb his legions. (The man himself should ideally end up dead.) Couple this with funding in Spain. The result is that we're closer to Spain and better able to link up with forces there if they need a final push to secure the theatre, or (optimally) have them link up with us once we're ready for our next move. If it works, we're massively stronger and have played a vigorous opening hand that leaves us looking like a serious contender. The downside, of course, is that this is basically going maximum
That makes it an even better opportunity. As far as I can see Aurelian and Quintillus will be fighting for Rome for the foreseeable future and we can easily make a pact of non-aggression with Zenobia, leaving us with a free hand. Since Victorinus is tied up with barbarians, we can build up before hitting him from the back, securing great amounts of territory.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
@Telamon
Could you please resume your traditional practice of including the winning vote from the last round at the start of each update? It's useful for reference purposes at times like this, because I find myself having to page back to our character sheet to know what regnal names we've taken.
Could you please resume your traditional practice of including the winning vote from the last round at the start of each update? It's useful for reference purposes at times like this, because I find myself having to page back to our character sheet to know what regnal names we've taken.
The basic supplies we have to work with, right at this moment:
1) One legion of 5,400 legionnaires and 4,800 auxiliaries; and a second legion of 6,100 legionnaires and 5,200 auxiliaries
2) 1,400,000 denarii
It should also be noted that our stats give us a strong Military backing.
I think that our primary focus this turn should be on Repel the Vandals. Not only will it allow us to nip a major problem in the butt early, it will also be something we can leverage from a political standpoint - by protecting the Empire from outside invaders, we can play that up later on grounds of "The True Emperor protecting the Empire and her peoples". Anyone else who's busy politicing and playing for ground in the diplomatic sphere will be at a disadvantage by comparison, as we can play them as 'having their own best interests at heart' while we're busy fighting the important fight.
I'd be open to advancing on Mediolanum instead, but I'd rather focus on the Vandals first and take the risk of having the option to advance on Mediolanum next turn and think it should be our priority.
As result, I think we should focus the rest of our actions to support going to war against the Vandals. As such, I support the following supplementary actions:
[] The men have begun to complain of light rations, a result of no longer having the apparatus of the Roman army to feed them. You dip into your personal funds to see to it their bellies are full for the next week or so. (-12,000 denarii) - This will help build up support of the troops ahead of an important military action
[] You take time out of your day to eat in the mess with your men, as a common commander. You have not forgotten where you came from. You will never forget, and they will love you for it. - Likewise, this is meant to help us in our upcoming fight against the Vandals
[] You try and raise auxiliary forces from the surrounding areas. Though you do not have time to train them into legionnaires, more arms with swords never hurt a prospective emperor...well, usually. - As is this. This will both give us extra troops to work with as we go to war against the Vandals in defense of Rome, as well as give us additional troops for the long-haul. We can probably play up the fact that we are defending Rome and calling them up specifically for the purpose of fighting off foreign invaders in order to help support this action.
As for the letters, we need to be careful about who we support and how we spread our support. We want to play to some of the options, but make sure we don't do them just for the sake of doing them. I think we should go with the following:
[] A Byzantine Scheme
-[] Moderate Funding: You send Herakleos 400,000 denarii, enough to hire a small army.
&
[] The Fealty of a King
-[] Foederati: You write back offering Helmanric a typical foederatus, a deal of the sort long made between Rome and the barbarians outside her shining walls. They will receive food and coin in return for their service against the empire and her enemies, but will not be allowed to settle on Roman land -- they are but barbara, after all.
At the moment, I don't think that forcing the taking of Rome is in our best interests, so I think The Praetorians is actually a plan that would be detrimental to our overall goals right at the moment. The others I'm really not opening to considering at all right now.
Byzantine Scheme strikes me as a potentially lucrative gamble that aligns with troops that want to join us, and in a city that's not as big a mess to deal with right now as Rome. Fealty of a King with Foedarati, meanwhile, plays off existing policy, should cost us little, and should reap big rewards longterm if we play it right.
Together, all of it will also still leave us with 988,000 denarii, plus 400 that we'll be getting next month, which still leaves us with a comfortable cushion of funds to work with for the immediate future.
All together, I propose the following plan:
[] Plan In Defense of The Empire
-[] Repel the Vandals
-[] A Byzantine Scheme
--[] Moderate Funding (-400,000 denarii)
-[] The Fealty of a King
--[] Foederati
-[] The men have begun to complain of light rations, a result of no longer having the apparatus of the Roman army to feed them. You dip into your personal funds to see to it their bellies are full for the next week or so. (-12,000 denarii)
-[] You take time out of your day to eat in the mess with your men, as a common commander. You have not forgotten where you came from. You will never forget, and they will love you for it.
-[] You try and raise auxiliary forces from the surrounding areas. Though you do not have time to train them into legionnaires, more arms with swords never hurt a prospective emperor...well, usually.
1) One legion of 5,400 legionnaires and 4,800 auxiliaries; and a second legion of 6,100 legionnaires and 5,200 auxiliaries
2) 1,400,000 denarii
It should also be noted that our stats give us a strong Military backing.
I think that our primary focus this turn should be on Repel the Vandals. Not only will it allow us to nip a major problem in the butt early, it will also be something we can leverage from a political standpoint - by protecting the Empire from outside invaders, we can play that up later on grounds of "The True Emperor protecting the Empire and her peoples". Anyone else who's busy politicing and playing for ground in the diplomatic sphere will be at a disadvantage by comparison, as we can play them as 'having their own best interests at heart' while we're busy fighting the important fight.
I'd be open to advancing on Mediolanum instead, but I'd rather focus on the Vandals first and take the risk of having the option to advance on Mediolanum next turn and think it should be our priority.
As result, I think we should focus the rest of our actions to support going to war against the Vandals. As such, I support the following supplementary actions:
[] The men have begun to complain of light rations, a result of no longer having the apparatus of the Roman army to feed them. You dip into your personal funds to see to it their bellies are full for the next week or so. (-12,000 denarii) - This will help build up support of the troops ahead of an important military action
[] You take time out of your day to eat in the mess with your men, as a common commander. You have not forgotten where you came from. You will never forget, and they will love you for it. - Likewise, this is meant to help us in our upcoming fight against the Vandals
[] You try and raise auxiliary forces from the surrounding areas. Though you do not have time to train them into legionnaires, more arms with swords never hurt a prospective emperor...well, usually. - As is this. This will both give us extra troops to work with as we go to war against the Vandals in defense of Rome, as well as give us additional troops for the long-haul. We can probably play up the fact that we are defending Rome and calling them up specifically for the purpose of fighting off foreign invaders in order to help support this action.
As for the letters, we need to be careful about who we support and how we spread our support. We want to play to some of the options, but make sure we don't do them just for the sake of doing them. I think we should go with the following:
[] A Byzantine Scheme
-[] Moderate Funding: You send Herakleos 400,000 denarii, enough to hire a small army.
&
[] The Fealty of a King
-[] Foederati: You write back offering Helmanric a typical foederatus, a deal of the sort long made between Rome and the barbarians outside her shining walls. They will receive food and coin in return for their service against the empire and her enemies, but will not be allowed to settle on Roman land -- they are but barbara, after all.
At the moment, I don't think that forcing the taking of Rome is in our best interests, so I think The Praetorians is actually a plan that would be detrimental to our overall goals right at the moment. The others I'm really not opening to considering at all right now.
Byzantine Scheme strikes me as a potentially lucrative gamble that aligns with troops that want to join us, and in a city that's not as big a mess to deal with right now as Rome. Fealty of a King with Foedarati, meanwhile, plays off existing policy, should cost us little, and should reap big rewards longterm if we play it right.
Together, all of it will also still leave us with 988,000 denarii, plus 400 that we'll be getting next month, which still leaves us with a comfortable cushion of funds to work with for the immediate future.
All together, I propose the following plan:
[] Plan In Defense of The Empire
-[] Repel the Vandals
-[] A Byzantine Scheme
--[] Moderate Funding (-400,000 denarii)
-[] The Fealty of a King
--[] Foederati
-[] The men have begun to complain of light rations, a result of no longer having the apparatus of the Roman army to feed them. You dip into your personal funds to see to it their bellies are full for the next week or so. (-12,000 denarii)
-[] You take time out of your day to eat in the mess with your men, as a common commander. You have not forgotten where you came from. You will never forget, and they will love you for it.
-[] You try and raise auxiliary forces from the surrounding areas. Though you do not have time to train them into legionnaires, more arms with swords never hurt a prospective emperor...well, usually.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
For reference, we have 1.4 million denarii, and our monthly income is 400 denarii per month (yes, those numbers are correct, this kind of wild disparity between income and assets is normal for prominent Romans).
I'm thinking something like this:
[] Plan Firm Foundations
-[] Take Mediolanum
Taking Mediolanum will ensure that our army is properly fed, get us away from a campsite that is rapidly becoming a source of sickness, and give us a base of operations for any immediate future military actions (e.g. against Domitian or the barbarians)
-[] The Spanish Dilemma:
--[] Funds: (-450,000 denarii)
I'd like to send troops, but we're already going to have heavy numerical opposition in every direction. If Aurelian comes our way, or if we want to inflict serious defeats on the barbarians, or if we want to gank Domitianus and take over his legion... Well, any which way, we need every man we can get.
-[] The Praetorians
--[] Moderate Funding: (-400,000 denarii)
This is enough to give us a chance of getting the Praetorians on-side and staging a coup in our favor, which would be GREAT. Even if the coup doesn't materialize, having the Praetorians on-side in general, or at least favorably disposed towards us, is going to make a huge difference in how things play out, in my opinion.
If a coup is successful, we have allies holding Rome, one pretender out of the picture, AND Mediolanum as a second base of operations that gives us a shield against Rome. This is a very valuable combination.
-[] An Eastern Ally
Zenobia being willing to actively fund us while we tackle our competitors in the West seems like a worthwhile compromise. Worst case, she does hella well and we end up dividing the Empire between us, I can live with that outcome.
-[] Visit the Sibyl
-[] Feed the Men Ourselves (-12,000 denarii)
-[] Eat With The Men
Cementing the loyalty of the men is going to be important, so I plan to put two personal actions into that. As for the third...
I want to check out the Sibyl. If @Telamon 's other Rome quest is any indication, prophecies have overt, objective game impact. In Res Publica, Quintus Atellus got a +2 bonus to all d20 combat rolls at the Battle of the Tabelline Gate because we critted a 'read the omens' roll. And it really helped.
I'm thinking something like this:
[] Plan Firm Foundations
-[] Take Mediolanum
Taking Mediolanum will ensure that our army is properly fed, get us away from a campsite that is rapidly becoming a source of sickness, and give us a base of operations for any immediate future military actions (e.g. against Domitian or the barbarians)
-[] The Spanish Dilemma:
--[] Funds: (-450,000 denarii)
I'd like to send troops, but we're already going to have heavy numerical opposition in every direction. If Aurelian comes our way, or if we want to inflict serious defeats on the barbarians, or if we want to gank Domitianus and take over his legion... Well, any which way, we need every man we can get.
-[] The Praetorians
--[] Moderate Funding: (-400,000 denarii)
This is enough to give us a chance of getting the Praetorians on-side and staging a coup in our favor, which would be GREAT. Even if the coup doesn't materialize, having the Praetorians on-side in general, or at least favorably disposed towards us, is going to make a huge difference in how things play out, in my opinion.
If a coup is successful, we have allies holding Rome, one pretender out of the picture, AND Mediolanum as a second base of operations that gives us a shield against Rome. This is a very valuable combination.
-[] An Eastern Ally
Zenobia being willing to actively fund us while we tackle our competitors in the West seems like a worthwhile compromise. Worst case, she does hella well and we end up dividing the Empire between us, I can live with that outcome.
-[] Visit the Sibyl
-[] Feed the Men Ourselves (-12,000 denarii)
-[] Eat With The Men
Cementing the loyalty of the men is going to be important, so I plan to put two personal actions into that. As for the third...
I want to check out the Sibyl. If @Telamon 's other Rome quest is any indication, prophecies have overt, objective game impact. In Res Publica, Quintus Atellus got a +2 bonus to all d20 combat rolls at the Battle of the Tabelline Gate because we critted a 'read the omens' roll. And it really helped.
The problem with striking at the Vandals, if I remember correctly, (which is by no means guaranteed) is that they're Aurelian's logical first target as well. I really don't want to be anywhere near Aurelian when he has us outnumbered five to two and is at absolute worst our peer as a general.
Also, if we intend to remain in the vicinity of Italy, we probably need to take the personal guard action. Gaining our legions is pretty much the only hope Quintillus has of resisting Aurelian, and if Aurelian gains their allegiance he's pretty much unstoppable.
Also, if we intend to remain in the vicinity of Italy, we probably need to take the personal guard action. Gaining our legions is pretty much the only hope Quintillus has of resisting Aurelian, and if Aurelian gains their allegiance he's pretty much unstoppable.