Progress Counter
This shows you what might happen in a number of turns. Note, this shows only the dangers your character is aware of.
Julius Nepos moves: 4 / 5
Vandals take south Italy: 3 / 5
Alemanni attack Gaul 2 / 5
Alans attack Gaul 2 / 5
Christianity Schisma 2 / 3
Burgundian Civil War 2 / 10
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The year 478 A.D. was set for War. Orestes made sure his expansion in the military didn't come to a stop. A second Legion was created on his order, but this time it took longer until the unit was formed. This was most likely thanks to a mixture of a lack of equipment and recruits. Still, the second Legion was founded and added to the slowly growing military power in Italy. Both units were stationed in the north of the peninsular under the guise of the protection of Italy. Of course, we know that this was a ruse by Orestes as he was already planning an expedition into Dalmatia. Not only would this be done to bring the first province back under the direct control of Rome, but it would also allow the removing Julius Nepos. This would eliminate the last pretender for his son's throne and secure Oreste's family in the saddle.
The planning took most of the winter and saw many scouts being sent into Nepos realm. At the same time, more and more troops gathered at the border, and supply depots were established. At the same time, a letter was sent to Emperor Zeno. In it, he was informed of what was going to happen. Orestes made it clear that he now had more than enough troops at his disposal to take control of Dalmatia. He also pleaded for Zeno to do nothing as this was an internal matter of the West and would help to stabilize the Empire as a whole. In his answer, Zeno didn't openly agree to the conquest of Dalmatia, but he stated that he agreed, this was an internal matter of the Western Throne. With this agreement at his back, Orestes began his planning in the open. Many historians see this as the best example of Zeno needing to be pragmatic when it came to his not much-loved brother Emperor in the West. As he was facing an unstable Empire himself, a stronger Western Empire was playing into his hands.
The preparations didn't go without the notice of Julius Nepos, but there was little he could do. His troops were loyal to him, but the new strength of Rome was far higher than anything he could send into the field. For the longest time, he had mostly relied on the silent protection of Zeno, as he waited for a chance to regain his throne. Even if no text about his view of things remains, one can imagine his anger and disappear as his destiny grew closer.
One of the most dramatic changes Orestes reintroduced to West Rome was drafting. Not since the days of the Republic had been citizen been allowed to be drafted into the military. It was with the help of his son that he managed to get the public to agree to the reintroduction of drafting. They accepted it, even if many weren't happy about it. Nobody could deny that it was necessary to secure what was left of the Empire.
New Unit can be recruited: Citizen Legion (2d6 when Fighting on Roman territory; costs are 1 Stability per unit)
Especially in the South of Italy, where the Vandals tended to raid often, the numbers of volunteers were high when the news spread that the Emperor began constructing a new Navy. So high was the number of volunteers that it was to many who wanted to join the Navy. To use this high number of human resources, Orestes ordered that these men would first be used in the building of the ships before they all would be expected into the Navy. It seemed like the Navy was up to a beautiful start.
As soon as the weather allowed it, Orestes sent a column of five thousand to Syagrius as reinforcement. The Magister militum of Gaul was hard-pressed and begged Romulus Augustus for aid in defense of the small territory still held in the name of Rome. It was Syagrius' humble appeal that made Orestes agree to the request, as the man only saw himself as a servant of Rome and hadn't declared himself Emperor. The march of the column lead trough the territory of the Burgundy, who was less than thrilled that a Roman army was marching trough their lands - and shocked.
This was made better by the arrival of an official ambassador of Romulus Augustus at the court of the Burgundian kingdom. He explained why the column was marching north and that they hadn't to fear anything from it. As an official at least, they were part of the vast Empire. It helped to calm the more hotheaded barbarians. At the same time, the ambassador wrote a report back to Orestes. In it, he described how the Burgundians stood shortly before a civil war as Gundobad, the murderer of the Emperor Anthemius, tried to subjugate his brothers after the death of his father four years ago. Practical, the Burgundians couldn't wage war any time soon.
New Progress Counter: Burgundian Civil War 2 / 10 replaces Burgundian's take north Italy: 2 / 5
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Choose 6 actions!
Military - 3 (0/15 next Skill point)
-Trait: Ravenna - Strong defence +2d6 Military
-Trait: Rome - Normal defence +1d6 Military
-Trait: Legion, +1d6 for each Legion send on a Campaign (Current Number of Legion's 2)
-Trait: Citizen Legion, +2d6 when Fighting on Roman territory, outside like a Legion
[ ] War against Nepos
-[ ] Sent out skirmishers to test the enemy (+1 Skill progress, +1 Dice Result for Invasion)
-[ ] Beginn Invision of Dalmatia(+3 Skill progress)
[ ] Recruit more troops (+2 Skill progress)
-[ ] Form a Legion (Gain 1x Legion)
-[ ] Form a Citizen Legion (Gain x Legion for the same amount of Stability)
[ ] Reforme the Military (+3 Skill progress, ???)
-[ ] Focus on heavy infantry
-[ ] Focus on light infantry
-[ ] Focus on heavy cavalry
-[ ] Focus on light cavalry
[ ] Begin the construction of Navel Yards(+3 Skill progress, ???)
[ ] Hire foederati from Barbarian Lands (Gain Trait: Foederati Troops +?d6)
-[ ] Write-in who
[ ] Plan a military expedition (+3 Skill progress, War!)
-[ ] Against the Vandals
-[ ] Against Julius Nepos
-[ ] Against the Ostrogoths
-[ ] Against the Burgundians
-[ ] Against the Visigoths
-[ ] Against the Alemanni
-[ ] Against the Alans
-[ ] Write-in
[ ] Sent troops to …
-[ ] Armorica, the Britons need the protection of the Empire (???)
Civilian - 4 (4 / 20 next Skill point)
-Trait: Support of the Common Men +1d6 against Senators
[ ] Strengthen the image of your son in the public's eye (+1 Skill progress, +1 Stability)
[ ] Reorganist the Civil Administration (+3 Skill Progress, +1 Stability)
[ ] Restore Rome …
-[ ] Repair the Forum (+1 Skill Progress)
-[ ] Repair the Walls (+1 Skill Progress, +1 Stability)
[ ] Order public works on …
-[ ] Monument to honor …
--[ ] Your son (+1 Stability, ???)
--[ ] Yourself (+1 Stability, ???)
[ ] Write-in
Diplomacy - 2 (2/10 next Skill point)
[ ] Ask East Rome for … (+2 Skill Progress)
-[ ] Troops
-[ ] Money
-[ ] Write-in
[ ] Ask the Burgundians for … (+2 Skill Progress)
-[ ] Troops
-[ ] Money
-[ ] Write-in
[ ] Try to force a Civil War in the Burgundian Realm (+2 Skill Progress)
[ ] Sent an envoy to … (+1 Skill Progress)
-[ ] Julius Nepos (-1 on all Results)
--[ ] Demand his submission
--[ ] Write-in what you wish to do
-[ ] Germanic Kingdoms
--[ ] Write-in to who
---[ ] Recognize their realm
---[ ] Demand tribute in troops or money
[ ] Establish a ambassador at … (+1 Skill progress for each)
-[ ] the Vandals
-[ ] the Ostrogoths
-[ ] the Burgundians
-[ ] the Visigoths
-[ ] Write-in
[ ] Write-in
--[ ] Write-in
