I mean, I respect how you're going super maximum hardcore on the intense mystical faith in the Roman gods and all. But, uh... wow. Talk about 'go big or go broke.'
Maybe I got a tad over-enthusiastic when writing...
I didn't mean to give the impression that he suddenly fancies himself the very reincarnation of Remulus...
Just that Quintus Atellus, as a Roman of his time, might have a strong spiritual response to what may be perceived a spiritual problem, and not just coldly relying on the rational optimisation of his skills as military commander or legal orator.
Also, since the bandwagonning is so strong, I figured a plan that was not as radical an alternative as possible would feel a bit pointless.
But mostly it's an opposition to the view (maybe not the consensus, but at least expressed by many) that showing her mercy and not crucifying Visella Tertia was some kind of mistake.
What did people expect? That just by accepting her request, she would just bless our conquest and help us in whatever way she could to subjugate her fellow Samnites? Just like that?
That was just the beginning of an engagement. If we didn't want to engage with her, any 3 of the 4 options (kill her, destroy the temple, kill & destroy) would have been a lesser engagement. But instead of staying in Aequum Tuticum and continue the contact, we moved on to Aeclanum (correctly imo as I voted for that option).
Regardless of whether Abellinum might or might not be the right place at the right moment to do so, it should be kept in mind that there is a possibility to continue the engagement. I think Visella Tertia could be a crucial part of a Samnite and Roman reconciliation, if we handle the priestess of Mephitis in the right manner, providing us with another potential path to the reconciliation that wouldn't be available without her. (Or failing that, defeating an important supporter of the Samnite cause).
That doesn't mean we are anything other than super maximally boned if things go badly enough in the north. As far as I can tell, the main reason Sertorius is splitting the legion is precisely because he has two theaters of operations widely separated, and can't afford to let either of them go crazy.
What did people expect? That just by accepting her request, she would just bless our conquest and help us in whatever way she could to subjugate her fellow Samnites? Just like that?
Well, speaking for myself, I voted "Plan Carmen Sandiego," which proposed to practice 'Grand Theft Religion' precisely in the hope that it would keep her too busy to cause us problems in the short term.
Regardless of whether Abellinum might or might not be the right place at the right moment to do so, it should be kept in mind that there is a possibility to continue the engagement. I think Visella Tertia could be a crucial part of a Samnite and Roman reconciliation, if we handle the priestess of Mephitis in the right manner, providing us with another potential path to the reconciliation that wouldn't be available without her. (Or failing that, defeating an important supporter of the Samnite cause).
Spurio grabs an amphora of wine from a nearby slave and takes a deep drink before wiping his mouth and shrugging noncommittally. "Doesn't matter to me. Roman coin is Roman coin, whether I take it from your corpses after the battle or not."
Time seems to slow for an instant as you run through myriad possibilities from how best to use Spurio and his men should you accept the offer to whether killing him now would do irreparable damage to your reputation going forward. Unfortunately, it probably would. Just as you notice Spurio begin to grow tired of waiting, your mind stumbles upon an idea that you like very much.
"Do you have the brains to pay up, or is your puny mind trying to understand my offer?" taunts Spurio. Tercerus reaches for his sword, but you stop him with an outstretched arm. You've concocted a fitting plan for this worm, but you'd have stopped him anyways; seeing this worm dead on anyone's blade save your own would be wholly unsatisfying.
"I was merely thinking of how best to use you and your men. It would be a waste of money to have you join us in the charge or simply leave the city when we attack." you explain, letting the insult roll off you like water. "Now, if you were to leave a gate open and help my legion subdue the city once we're inside… now that may be worth the price you ask."
"Sir, you cannot seriously be considering-" you cut Tercerus off with a raised hand.
"Tercerus, I am in command." you remind him with a tone that brooks no argument. "Sertorius trusts my judgement. You will as well."
"Haha! You'd best listen to your Master, dog!" laughs Spurio. He seems to wish for death rather than a successful negotiation. Tercerus manages to control himself though, as Spurio turns back to addressing you. "We can swing a gate swung open, and we'll follow your legion's lead once you lot are inside. Now then, that'll be ten talents."
Now it is your turn to laugh. "I may be no Sertorius, but I promise you I am no dullard. You'll have your money as soon as I stand at the top of Aeclanum, not a moment sooner." Spurio opens his mouth to speak, but you cut him off. "I'm not about to entrust half my treasury to a man whom, by virtue of accepting the money, has proven himself a traitor."
Spurio actually laughs at that, and it seems humored, in contrast to his usual mocking bark. "I suppose I can't fault your logic there, Roman. But I can't just be taking you at your word either. Looks like we have ourselves a stalemate. Either pay up, or you'll find yourself on the wrong end of our blades come tomorrow."
"Hardly a stalemate. Thirty pieces of silver is Rome's base rate for this scenario." You toss a small purse to Spurio, and the coins inside clink together tantalizingly as he catches it. "I trust that's a suitable down payment?"
Spurio looks inside the purse, and you see his eyes light up at the sight of silver. He looks back up to you, and greed is replaced by suspicion. "And I'll get the ten talents once you have Aeclanum?" he asked warily.
"On my honor as a citizen of Rome, you will be paid as your deeds deserve." you say solemnly. "But know this. If you renege on your end of our arrangement, I will take those silver pieces back from your corpse."
"Tomorrow night the gate will open for your legion. Don't blame me if you ain't there to walk through though." Spurio turns to leave, waving his men to follow him as he counts the coins.
"Are you actually going to pay that scum?" asks Tercerus, finally trusting himself to speak now that Spurio has left.
"I shall reward him as a traitor deserves." you say, the savage grin on your face both shocking and relieving Tercerus. He laughs quietly all the way back to camp.
XXX
Spurio may be a greedy rat of a traitor, but he's a rat who knows how to open gates. With the walls of Aeclanum rendered worthless and the help of Spurio's men, you have taken the city in time to watch the sun rise. The public forum of Aeclanum pales in comparison to Rome's, but you decide that it is a fitting location to command the takeover of the city from.
"One Aeclanum delivered right into your hands. Now how about you deliver those talents into mine?" You are glad you dismissed the idea of exposing Spurio's treachery and then leaving him to the tender mercies of the Samnites. The man is practically flaunting it to the handful of captured citizens you have in the forum as he walks past with his bandits following behind.
"The day is won." You begin, putting on your orator voice and projecting it so that everyone in the forum turns to look at you. "As is Roman custom, it is the time to grant honors. And who could be more deserving than the man who singlehandedly swung wide the gates?"
Spurio is clearly enjoying the show, even as the captured Samnites spit at him and curse his name. "Oh, and I assume that would be me?" he asks rhetorically, as much to play along as to taunt the people wishing death upon him.
"Indeed. Come forward Spurio and be honored." You extend a hand making clear that Spurio is to clasp it to seal your little deal. It's hardly the customary way of granting honors, but you doubt Spurio knows or cares as he approaches and slaps his palm to yours. The instant the two of you touch, you yank Spurio close. "Honored as a traitor deserves."
You're still using your orator voice so that everyone can hear you, and Spurio would no doubt complain about you hurting his ears if he weren't more preoccupied with the dagger embedded between his ribs. His bandits take a second to realize what's happened, but your legion reacted the moment you gave the signal. To call it a battle would be disingenuous. Slaughter was more accurate. Not a single man from the legion died, and only a handful were even wounded.
Tercerus spat on Spurio's corpse. "I only wish I could have done it myself." he muses. "Your orders?"
You give your orders loudly, to save time repeating it to the captives, at least those present. "They may either swear sacramentum to Rome and die on their feet." You notice some Samnite faces drain of their color, while others harden into terrified defiance. You sigh softly at that. "Any man who refuses to join Rome will be joined by his family." A good number of the defiant faces break at that news.
Tercerus nods in understanding. "I will convey your orders."
You watch as he runs off to tell the other officers what they are to do, letting you get back to deciding on spoils. You seem to recall seeing a rather beautiful mural when you first clearing out the governor's estate. It might make a good gift for Sertorius, as recompense for stretching the bounds of your orders.
Struck by a bolt of remembrance, you squat down. "I'll be making good on my promise." you say to a dead man as you pocket thirty silver pieces.
AN: I wanted to write this little what-if back when the choice of how to deal with Spurio first popped up, but I had like, five essays due that week, so it got postponed until now.
[X] Plan Roman Duty
-[X] Bovianum
-[X] A Law Beyond The Sword
-[X] Sic Semper
-[X] Write Home
--[X] Cicero
--[X] Proserpina
June 9th, 85 BC
669 Years After The Founding Of Rome
The Year of Flaccus and Marius.
The Fourth Samnite War (85 BC - Ongoing)
Your first ever campaign, you were assigned as military tribune to the VI Legion under one Quintus Sertorius, a famed general and the Legate of Italia. The legion was dispatched by the Proconsul Cinna to defeat the Samnite tribes once and for all, and win a resounding Roman victory close to home.
Legion(s): LEGIO VI GRADIVIUS (Sixth Legion, Blessed By Mars) Position: Tribunus Laticlavus (Broad-Striped Tribune) Commanding Officer: Quintus Sertorius Commanding Officer Reputation: 8/10 -- Sertorius is the soldier's ideal, a young man who rose from nothing and won the Grass Crown, the Republic's ultimate military honor. Held to be a champion of his soldiers and a defender of the common people, there are many in the Sixth who would die for Sertorius without question. Total Forces: 5,600 combined Roman legionnaires, equites, and auxilaries. Reputation With The Legion: 6/10 -- The giver of laurels and the breaker of the Samnites, the bringer of coin and law, and a capable fighter in your own right -- you are many things to the men of the Sixth Legion, but first and foremost you are the Tribune. They may not all love you, but they respect you. Location: Apennine Italy Outcome: ???
The sun beats down on your tanned skin as the short, barrel-bodied legionnaire standing in front of you finishes his long litany of complaints against everyone and anyone in the camp, from the camp cooks (who are poisoning him with their food) to the slave who dumped out his latrine that morning (who is helping the cooks). As he closes out with the absurd accusation that his centurion has been trying to steal his boots for the last few weeks, Rufus, next to you, can barely keep himself from laughing. You, however, lean forward, plastering just the right amount of interested concern on your face as you pretend to take down his name.
"These are some serious claims. I promise you, I'll personally look into each and every one of them. I'm astonished these abuses have been allowed to continue for so long, and I thank you for bringing them to my attention...ah...Varius Mertilla, was it?"
"That's right, Tribune." His face relaxes from the semi-permanent scowl that has twisted it for the last half-hour, and you swear you see the shadow of a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Good to see there's someone else in this damn camp who's willing to open their eyes."
Mertilla gives you an appreciative nod before pacing off into the throng of soldiers around your table, pausing to stare accusingly at a nearby tent, perhaps suspecting it of trying to cheat him.
The last week and a half have been full of men like Mertilla, you reflect. When you first started setting up, men only came to you with important cases, things like missing food or late pay, but as time has gone on and you have made it clear you will hear out any legionnaire who wishes to air his grievances before you, other, more trivial things have started to make their way before you and Rufus. But for every petty complaint about ill-fitted boots or lumpy cots, there's a brewing rivalry you can nip in the bud, or an ownership case to settle, or any of the thousand-and-one arguments and disputes which can spring up in a legion largely stationary for over a month. Most of these are not terribly serious, but there are one or two which you see could easily develop into a heated feud which might break apart the unity of a century, or even a whole cohort. These, you settle with a trial and a fair judgement, which more often than not puts the matter to rest permanently.
However, there is an accusation you have heard from several different ears in the last few weeks: namely, that Scemperio, a centurion of some small infamy in the legion, is far too harsh to the men under his command. Those who come before you spin tales of broken bones and backs whipped raw, of soldiers unable to march for days and men denigrated and tortured for the slightest of offenses. Harshness is valued, even enforced, in the legions, but when Carcellus comes to you one afternoon with a quiet request to look into the centurion --a boundary he, as an officer, cannot cross himself without incurring the wrath of his peers -- you are fully convinced Scemperio has overstepped his remit as a centurion.
The day after Carcellus comes to you, you quickly round up the tribunes and hold a court-martial for the overzealous 'Barracks Tyrant', as the men have so nicknamed him. There is an outpouring of witnesses from almost every corner of the legion, and even men not under Scemperio's direct command volunteer to testify to his actions. In the end, faced with overwhelming evidence, you and Rufus pass sentence on Scemperio, one that is met with cheers by the legionnaires watching the trial: you issue him a gradus deiecto, stripping him of his rank and making him a legionnaire once more. As a measure to ensure he is not murdered in the night by his former subordinates, you switch him to a different cohort than the one he previously commanded. While the legionnaires respond to this with celebrations and praises of your name, the officers do no take it well. Though Scemperio was far from well-liked, the idea that you can simply strip away their rank for disciplining their men is one which does not sit well with many of them.
Aside from this, however, your duties have become a routine and ordered part of your life, leaving you some small free time for your own matters. For the first time in the months since the campaign began, your thoughts can turn at last to Rome, and the friends and family you left there. You write first to Proserpina, who responds almost immediately. She has been keeping herself apprised of the well-being of your family and estate — both your sisters are doing well, she says, though the eldest is receiving many callers and suitors from all walks of life. You will have your hands full with them when you return to Rome, she warns.
Other messages follow this first, written in a special cipher your father invented for just this purpose back in Spain. You are a mite rusty with it, but when you recall the gist of it —the first ninety-four words of Scipio Africanus' memoirs correspond to the letters of the alphabet, backwards — you can puzzle out the messages, though it takes you a bit longer than you'd like. You can't escape the nagging feeling you've missed something, but the letters are largely decipherable, at least.
(Needed 8 Subterfuge)
Proserpina's network is growing quickly, and well. The small stipend you send back to Rome monthly is enough for her to slowly expand the number of servants and slaves in the houses of Rome's well-to-do who are on her payroll. She has continued making contacts among the aristocracy, as you ordered, and several salacious secrets have already passed her ears. But though she has kept her ear to the ground on the matter of Pompey, she has heard little that most do not know. The Young Butcher, by all accounts, is growing restless in Rome — almost as restless as his legions, who have started three riots in the past week. He has made no further moves against you, at least not openly, but she warns he is not a man to forget or forgive slights. Her final message ends with a curt instruction to watch your back.
Your second correspondent takes far longer to respond, and it is just when you think Cicero's forgotten that a sheaf of papers as thick as your wrist arrives in camp. You are baffled, and it takes you a few minutes of reading to realize that this is all one letter. Those pages contain anything and everything, from ruminations on legal developments to topics as mundane as the rumors and scandals of Rome --a Senator's daughter was caught in bed with five centurions half a week ago-- and as abstract as a long tangent on the inherent selfishness of many of the Greek philosophies, to which Cicero half-jokingly attributes the moral decay of Roman culture. It takes you almost a week to read, but no matter the topic, it is almost always pleasurable reading.
At first, you do not think you can match the erudition and wit of such a letter, but as you begin to draft out your response, you find yourself answering him in kind. Cicero wrote about his experiences, so you write about your own. You tell him of the scandals and troubles of the legion, from the petty to the grim, and of the fierce, unbending resistance of the Samnites. You write of your own near-admiration for their tenacity and determination, of your own successes at Aeclanum and elsewhere, and of the growing responsibilities --and glories-- heaped upon you by Sertorius. You match Cicero wit for wit and wordplay for wordplay, and when you are finished, you have a stack of papers to rival Cicero's own. You have Rufus look it over, then pay the Legion's fastest messenger fifteen denarii to see it to Rome as quickly as possible. In the weeks to come, you quickly strike up a correspondence with the young lawyer, and his letters to you come to provide a welcome break from the stifling strictures of the legion.
390 XP to Intelligence!
400 XP to Education!
Law in the Legions: 1d20 + 2 (Accomplished Charisma) + 1 (Proficient Diplomacy) + 1 (Proficient Law) + 1 (Gift of Minerva) = 18
Needed: 11
Letters to Cicero: 1d20 +4 (Renowned Intelligence) +2 (Accomplished Education) +1 (Gift of Minerva) = 19
Needed: 15
June 24th, 85 BC
669 Years After The Founding Of Rome
The Year of Flaccus and Marius.
Gaius Pompolussa is no Lucius Mercator, you reflect for nearly the tenth time since meeting the man. The foremost centurion of the Second Cohort, he is as different from the Primus Pilus as night is from day. Where Mercator is grim and introspective, a veteran with eyes too old for his body, Pompolussa is wry and talkative, a man closer to Tercerus' age than yours with a tongue foul enough to make the gods blush. A lifelong soldier, he's been killing men since before you were born, and he and Tercerus hit it off more than well enough, talking about campaigns and wars and men long since dead. As you lead your horse over a particularly rocky stretch of terrain, you think, not for the first time, that you will be more than glad to have the two old dogs with you in Bovianum.
Sertorius has given you command of the Sixth, the Third, the Ninth, and the Second cohorts, as well as a group of auxiliaries from Gaul. Of those, the best-trained are the Second, Gaius' cohort, composed half of veterans and half of green men. The rest are primarily composed of relatively new recruits with veterans scattered into the command structure, or are Gauls, who, while skilled warriors, are no Romans. Sertorius offered his apologies for saddling you with the greenest men in the legion, but you are going to an ostensibly friendly city, while he is heading to the lands of the Hirpini, the most infamous and violent of all the Samnite tribes. He will more than need every veteran he can get, and you do not begrudge him for it.
But gods, these men are green.
Sitting in camp and only skirmishing with the odd bandit troop has softened these men of what training they already had, and their drills and exercises haven't prepared them for marching hard over rough country. The march to Bovanium should've taken two days at the most, and instead it has taken a full four. The Gauls have horses, at the least, but you have had to stop them from raiding a nearby village twice, and were forced to flog a man on the second day to make an example. They didn't appreciate that much, you don't think -- Roman discipline is lost on men as barbarian as they, and they only see a slight on their vaunted Gallic honor, not a just reprimand for disobeying orders.
At least you'll have lots of time to focus on the men under your command in the weeks to come. You think you'll...
Pick One
Whip Them Into Shape [] You'll focus on honing and training the green legionnaires into a fighting force to be reckoned with. Sertorius isn't expecting you to see much fighting, so you can hardly imagine the look on his face when you return with four cohorts of battle-ready men, not the boys he sent you out with.
Whip Them Into Order [] The damned Gauls could be a terrifyingly effective weapon against the Samnites if you could just get them to reliably follow orders and understand Roman discipline. Though you have your own doubts as to the worth of these unwashed barbarians, Tercerus and Pompolussa both assure you that the Gauls are a force as horrifying as any legion when properly motivated and utilized.
Forge Bonds [] You forgo stricter training in favor of forging closer bonds with the cohorts under your command. If you tie these men tight to you, they might volunteer for service under you when and if you raise a legion of your own. Building your future armies starts here and now, by making these men remember your name, whether it be through gold, food, or your own sheer charisma.
Forge Contacts [] These Gauls are important men back in their homelands, second and third sons of chieftains who volunteered as auxiliaries to find glory in foreign lands they could not find at home. You promise to return them to their countrymen loaded heavy with Samnite gold, and make an effort to forge connections and bonds with these men that may pay dividends in the future. Having a Gallic tribe or two which holds the name of Atellus in high favor could be more than useful in the years and wars to come -- least of all in more auxiliaries, who will readily volunteer to serve under the man who brought their countrymen such wealth.
Rufus, at your side, passes his hand through the scraggly auburn beard that has sprung up on his chin in recent weeks. It's not strictly Roman, but you must say it makes him look like less of a boy and more like a man grown. Combined with his thickening arms and the slight reduction in the paunch of his belly, he almost looks the part of a Tribune. He catches your eye and steers his horse closer to yours, his faced prickled in thought.
"I've been thinking on what we should do in Bovianum. You said Sertorius left the specifics of it up to you, correct?"
"Correct. As long as they don't turn to the rebels and the city's still standing, we can do whatever we like." You try to stress the we. Rufus is technically your co-commander for this venture, and though he's nowhere near as skilled militarily as yourself, this is an ample opportunity for him to earn himself accolades as well. You don't expect him to become the next Marius, but any fame for him is good for you -- if your friends rise in step with you, it means you will have more allies as you make your way up the cursus honorum.
"Well, it just came to me that it's not strictly necessary to give them anything. We've got 2,500 men, give or take. If we garrison them in Bovianum, I expect it would be rather hard for them to flip sides. And once Sertorius brings over the Hirpini, I can't imagine they'll dare turn against us."
You chuckle. Rufus certainly is more ruthless than his flabby body might bring one to imagine.
"I can't say the thought hadn't crossed my mind," you start, "but giving them some small concessions now could mean true loyalty down the line. Or, well, we could actually attempt to solve their problems. That would win them over to us for certain."
"Solving their problems would mean putting them to the test," Rufus says with a nod towards the cohorts behind you. "I don't like our odds on that. I'm no soldier, but then again...hardly are they."
Dark eyes stare at you from alleyways and corners, brimming with mistrust and suspicion. Though the streets are packed, the throng parts before your regiment. They part uneasily, unkindly, with hardness in their eyes, but they part, moving to the side before your horses.
This, then, is Bovianum. A city of murmured words and distrustful looks, divided on itself by fear and tradition.
You have left the majority of the cohorts camped outside the city walls and entered Bovianum with a small regiment. Rufus and Tercerus ride at your side, and from the looks on their faces, they are just as uneasy as you.
"Remind me," Rufus mutters, "Did these people not come over to Rome freely? They're treating us like conquerors."
"They joined us out of hunger and fear," Tercerus says plainly. "There is no love lost in their hearts for Rome."
Your meeting with the city elders only supports Tercerus' position. A pack of hard-eyed old men with flowing beards, the elders of Bovianum make clear in no uncertain terms that their willing subjugation to Rome is a thing of practicality, not loyalty. The foremost of their group is Mencinio, a balding aristocrat with a bent nose who quite clearly lays out the numerous problems facing the city. Many have not taken well to bending the knee to their ancestral enemy, and there is talk of rebellion fomenting in the underclasses. On top of this, the last harvest was a poor one, and half the city is starving, with the other half well near.
In times like this, Mencinio explains, they would rely on supplies and aid from their sister city of Aquilonia, some ten miles away, but bandit raids have made it harder and harder to even travel between the cities, much less transport valuable grain. Not to mention, the local rebel leader, Gemino, has declared he will punish any settlement which attempts to send food or supplies to Bovianum. From what you can gather, this Gemino is as fervent a believer in the rebel cause as the recently-deceased Spurio, largely using his authority to raid and molest the towns he claims to protect.
After careful consideration and deliberation with yourself and the officers, Rufus presents the legion's plans for the next few months...
Pick Three
Secure A Route [] You send one of the cohorts to Aquilonia to clear out any bandits on the road and secure a stable route between the towns.
Fortify the City [] You set one of the cohorts to building and refurbishing the city's walls. Devastated by Sulla during the Social War, they are a poor defense against bandits and rebels.
Pacification [] You set one of the cohorts to patrol the city's streets, acting as a city guard that cracks down on any signs of rebellion or dissension.
Liberate the Towns [] You begin sending your forces to the towns and villages around Bovianum, returning then to Roman rule simply by marching into their streets. You order them to resume supplying the city, which should feed Bovianum come winter.
Eliminate the Bandits [] You set one of the cohorts to tracking down and eliminating the numerous bandit groups plaguing the hills around Bovianum. There are many places for crafty and cunning natives to hide, and it will no doubt be an arduous task to track down and destroy each group of then.
Defeat the Rebels [] This Gemino has too long defied the will and the might of Rome. You set a cohort to hunt him down and bring you back his head.
Restore the Roads [] The roads between Bovianum and surrounding settlements have decayed and fallen into disrepair, making travel a daunting task. You set a cohort to repairing and, if necessary, rerouting these roads.
Build an Encampment [] You decide that garrisoning all of your cohorts in the city is too much of a risk. It invites licentiousness and rioting, and makes you less able to gather your men at a moment's notice. You set a cohort to building and constructing a temporary camp on the outskirts of the city, a durable fortification which should prove more than useful should you be forced to winter here.
Supress Revolution [] You decide to harshly suppress the rebels in Bovianum and the surrounding area, ordering a cohort to round up dissidents and malcontents and crucify them on the major roads in the area as a reminder of the power of Rome. By showing the people what happens to traitors, you may be able to shock them into servitude.
Nothing [] You have come to the realization that Rufus is quite correct. You do not have to do anything at all — and so you don't, instead choosing to simply sit and garrison your troops in the city. They cannot rebel with the cohorts in the city, and what happens to them afterwards is not very much your problem. (Can pick no other option if this is selected)
VOTING
Forging a Reputation: The people of Bovianum see you as an occupying invader, an outsider come to force them into obedience. While this is, technically, true, you can act and behave in such a way as to change their opinions of you. You...
A Harsh Hand [] You paint yourself as the conqueror, the destroyer and the annihilator, the contemptuous Roman trampling their lives beneath his feet. You attempt to cultivate a personal legend of harshness and viciousness, every bit the enemy they imagine you as, the great demon of Rome given flesh and a name: Atellus. Dissidents are whipped in the streets, and rebels are executed in the town square as an example to all who would defy the mighty name of Rome.
I Am The Law [] You become the impartial, unflinching master of Bovianum, following the laws to the letter and the word. You are not cruel or kind, simply just — and justice is blind. You attempt to build the image of a stony-faced judge, passing down law from on high, regardless of where the scales may fall. You punish legionnaire and Samnite in equal measure, for Rome knows no favorite in the courts.
Friend of the Samnites [] You paint yourself as the willing ally and friend of their people, trying to protect them from the depredations of their people as well as the viciousness of your own. Addressing Aeclanum as a regretful necessity, you attempt to win the Samnites over to your side by filling their bellies and safeguarding their homes. You spin them great promises of ensuring their valued citizenship within Rome, and of protecting their ancestral lands.
[] Write-In
Rufus' Reputation: Rufus, as your co-Tribune, is regarded much the same as yourself. However, you have previously discussed how he is to present himself to the Samnites, and in concert with you, this will hopefully lead the Samnites into the waiting arms of Rome.
Ruthless Administrator [] Rufus portrays himself as a heartless, tyrannical administrator, ruthless and without mercy. Taxes increase, rations are clipped short, and Samnites are treated like second-class citizens.
Willing Advocate [] Rufus portrays himself as a noble defender of the Samnite people in the courts, a heroic advocate of their freedoms and rights as Roman citizens, representing them in every case for which he is able and then some. From land claims to theft charges, he is a ceaseless ally of the Samnite people.
Enemy of the Samnites [] Rufus takes on the identity of a driven and ceaseless legal rival of the Samnites. He presses cases against them, judges against them in the courts, and makes audacious claims about stripping away their rights or censuring their right to vote when he can return to Rome and lobby the Senate to do so.
[] Write-In
A Matter of Food: Feeding a legion is a troublesome affair, and it is even more so in a city struggling to feed itself. Several means of procuring food for the cohorts lie before you, and you decide upon...
Sharing [] You will share the already-strained resources of the city with your men. This will initially be difficult, but if you increase the town's food stores, the amount available to your men will increase as well.
Appropriation [] You appropriate the harvest of the nearby towns and settlements in the name of Rome, in order to feed your men.
Forge a Route [] You attempt to establish a decent supply train from nearby Beneventum, a steadfastly Roman town which has procured supplies for the legion for a few months now. Protecting such a long supply train across hostile territory would be tricky work, however.
Scavenge [] You order the men to quite literally live off the land, scavenging farms and hunting local wildlife in order to procure enough supplies to feed the legion. This will necessitate constantly having a detail of men out in the fields scavenging, and will likely mean your men must keep their belts tight for the foreseeable future.
There is now a TWELVE-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.)
[] Plan "Restoration of Order"
-[] Whip Them Into Order
-[] Liberate the Towns
-[] Eliminate the Bandits
-[] Restore the Roads
-[] I Am The Law
-[] Willing Advocate
-[] Sharing
We're playing Good Cop/Bad Cop here, but nothing says our Bad Cop has to be nasty, so much as Just. We're not here as conquerers, we're here as restorers of order, a reputation that will serve us very well in the future to come. To that end, we need to ensure that our auxiliaries don't get out of hand, and that we present our forces as fighting for the locals in the cause of stability.
I feel it's critical that we train these guys. First and foremost, we need to not lose, and I'd rather not get embarrassed by Samnite bandits.
Our first priority regarding the town should be to secure food. To that end, we have two options, Aquilonia or the nearby towns.
Aquilonia: Secure a Route, Eliminate the Bandits, Restore the Roads: Clear the bandits off the road, make sure they don't come back, and improve the roads while we're at it.
Towns: Liberate the Towns, Defeat the Rebels, Eliminate the Bandits: Make the towns supply us, then remove the threat against them. The bandits will harass the shipments if given the chance, so they have to go too.
I don't really see the appeal of deliberately being a dick to the Samnites. As such, I favor neutrality on our part and support for Rufus.
As I advocate securing food first, I support sharing food, as we can focus our efforts on securing food for both us and the city, rather than divide our forces.
Interesting update and very interesting choices coming up. Getting our troops trained up would almost certainly be worthwhile but I personally still somewhat favour the befriend the Gaul approach, partly simply because it seems quite interesting to me but also since I would really love to make some allies outside Rome, especially with an eye to maybe a latter post in the province (or even Caesar). In regards to the city itself and its problems I would favour a proactive campaign focused on defeating the enemy though I suspect that if we go with a non training option it might be a better idea to focus on less high risk/high reward option (I mean it seems far easier to fail the hunt the rebels action than it would be to pacify the towns or build the roads) - though this seems a great place for a write-in that combines the actions chosen into a coherent strategy (for example combine the route action with the hunt rebels one in the way of a trap or the like)
In regards of the last set of options I would really like to take a more positive approach than last time since ending as the enemy of the Samnites was not my intention when we started this campaign though i fear that from a purely mechanical perspective a more confrontational stance might be better. What certainly seems to make sense to me is that we and Rufus take up different positions for some simple but hopefully effective good cop, bad cop interplay (and I don#t think that Rufus would actually be that bad of a choice for "bad" cop). And the food one does I think really depend on the rest of our approach.
(and I don#t think that Rufus would actually be that bad of a choice for "bad" cop). And the food one does I think really depend on the rest of our approach.
We really shouldn't do good cop with our malus to diplomatie with the samnite, I myself am looking toward I am the Law here, make it clear that we only mess with you if you mess with Rome.
Hummm, I think we should deal with the The Rebels while restoring order in the towns...we also need to restore the road if we want this to work, make sure to have both the Legion and the People well feed so that we can take further actions.
That subterfuge check fail... Pompey on the move?
No xp in law for keeping order in the legion?
So far we are playing as a Stannis-esque figure, harsh but fair; that should continue. Rufus, in contrast, can be the velvet glove, the friendly advocate "moderating" our regime.
In regards to the bandits I think we need to be careful about overextending ourselves. Taking over the villages expands our mandate and makes it easier for bandits and rebels to attack us; as our legion is relatively green, and not necessarily well suited to the kind of asymmetric warfare we are likely to deal with, I think we would be better off putting our eggs on the Aquilona basket, helping the roads at the same time, which simplifies matters somewhat. Cavalry will be essential for this, so disciplining the Gauls would be more important than disciplining the men, especially if they will be within the walls or behind an encampment. I think hunting the rebels is a bit more important than hunting the bandits, albeit both are essential, as the rebels are more likely to try and attack us in the city or find sympathizers there, which is the major danger- in the long term so long as we don't get defeated and don't starve I think we win, providing food helps quell the unrest, build loyalty, which leaves the danger of attack. I actually think we should build an encampment as well rather than explicitly hunting the rebels- keeping our men garrisoned in the city is asking for trouble. We should also be very careful about guarding ourselves from various forms of assassination as that's an obvious threat. Construction of both plays to Rome's strengths and puts the men to work (idle hands are the devil's toys), whilst also demonstrating Roman power and civilization to the natives.
[] Plan "Restoration of Order"
-[] Whip Them Into Order
-[] Eliminate the Bandits
-[] Liberate the Towns
-[] Restore the Roads
-[] I Am The Law
-[] Willing Advocate
-[] Sharing
I mostly agree, but I would prefer to open the road to Beneventum in order to secure our logisitical situation.
I also would like to start with building a fortified encampment as quartering soldiers in civilian houses is a recipe for trouble (the term dragooning comes to mind or the Quartering Acts).
Thus I propose:
[] Plan "Order & Logisitics"
-[] Whip Them Into Order
-[] Build an Encampment
-[] Liberate the Towns
-[] Restore the Roads
-[] I Am The Law
-[] Willing Advocate
-[] Forge a Route
The sun beats down on your tanned skin as the short, barrel-bodied legionnaire standing in front of you finishes his long litany of complaints against everyone and anyone in the camp, from the camp cooks (who are poisoning him with their food) to the slave who dumped out his latrine that morning (who is helping the cooks). As he closes out with the absurd accusation that his centurion has been trying to steal his boots for the last few weeks, Rufus, next to you, can barely keep himself from laughing. You, however, lean forward, plastering just the right amount of interested concern on your face as you pretend to take down his name.
While the legionnaires respond to this with celebrations and praises of your name, the officers do no take it well. Though Scemperio was far from well-liked, the idea that you can simply strip away their rank for disciplining their men is one which does not sit well with many of them.
While this may seem an open-shut case of 'they're privileged assholes', there's the classical legal element of Precedent. What we decide will be argued as evidence in future disputes. What happens if an officer is whipping an undisciplined legion into shape gets brought up on charges?
Again, it's mostly BS, but something to consider in regards to what our opposition may think.
Your second correspondent takes far longer to respond, and it is just when you think Cicero's forgotten that a sheaf of papers as thick as your wrist arrives in camp. You are baffled, and it takes you a few minutes of reading to realize that this is all one letter. Those pages contain anything and everything, from ruminations on legal developments to topics as mundane as the rumors and scandals of Rome --a Senator's daughter was caught in bed with five centurions half a week ago-- and as abstract as a long tangent on the inherent selfishness of many of the Greek philosophies, to which Cicero half-jokingly attributes the moral decay of Roman culture. It takes you almost a week to read, but no matter the topic, it is almost always pleasurable reading.
On that, I am not so aquainted. However, good Cicero, should you happen to have an original greek copy of the Illiad and Odyssey, I'd be happy to discuss the meaning in the differences of the greek and roman translations.
At first, you do not think you can match the erudition and wit of such a letter, but as you begin to draft out your response, you find yourself answering him in kind. Cicero wrote about his experiences, so you write about your own. You tell him of the scandals and troubles of the legion, from the petty to the grim, and of the fierce, unbending resistance of the Samnites. You write of your own near-admiration for their tenacity and determination, of your own successes at Aeclanum and elsewhere, and of the growing responsibilities --and glories-- heaped upon you by Sertorius. You match Cicero wit for wit and wordplay for wordplay, and when you are finished, you have a stack of papers to rival Cicero's own.
Sertorius has given you command of the Sixth, the Third, the Ninth, and the Second cohorts, as well as a group of auxiliaries from Gaul. Of those, the best-trained are the Second, Gaius' cohort, composed half of veterans and half of green men. The rest are primarily composed of relatively new recruits with veterans scattered into the command structure, or are Gauls, who, while skilled warriors, are no Romans. Sertorius offered his apologies for saddling you with the greenest men in the legion, but you are going to an ostensibly friendly city, while he is heading to the lands of the Hirpini, the most infamous and violent of all the Samnite tribes. He will more than need every veteran he can get, and you do not begrudge him for it.
Sitting in camp and only skirmishing with the odd bandit troop has softened these men of what training they already had, and their drills and exercises haven't prepared them for marching hard over rough country. The march to Bovanium should've taken two days at the most, and instead it has taken a full four. The Gauls have horses, at the least, but you have had to stop them from raiding a nearby village twice, and were forced to flog a man on the second day to make an example. They didn't appreciate that much, you don't think -- Roman discipline is lost on men as barbarian as they, and they only see a slight on their vaunted Gallic honor, not a just reprimand for disobeying orders.
Whip Them Into Order [] The damned Gauls could be a terrifyingly effective weapon against the Samnites if you could just get them to reliably follow orders and understand Roman discipline. Though you have your own doubts as to the worth of these unwashed barbarians, Tercerus and Pompolussa both assure you that the Gauls are a force as horrifying as any legion when properly motivated and utilized.
Forge Contacts [] These Gauls are important men back in their homelands, second and third sons of chieftains who volunteered as auxiliaries to find glory in foreign lands they could not find at home. You promise to return them to their countrymen loaded heavy with Samnite gold, and make an effort to forge connections and bonds with these men that may pay dividends in the future. Having a Gallic tribe or two which holds the name of Atellus in high favor could be more than useful in the years and wars to come -- least of all in more auxiliaries, who will readily volunteer to serve under the man who brought their countrymen such wealth.
This. So much this. there is a reason the germanic tribes became the true military and political force in Rome. Gaulish loyalty, if properly maintained and not destroyed by offense or broken agreement, reaches Persona "This person will now die for you" meme levels.
Your meeting with the city elders only supports Tercerus' position. A pack of hard-eyed old men with flowing beards, the elders of Bovianum make clear in no uncertain terms that their willing subjugation to Rome is a thing of practicality, not loyalty.
Many have not taken well to bending the knee to their ancestral enemy, and there is talk of rebellion fomenting in the underclasses. On top of this, the last harvest was a poor one, and half the city is starving, with the other half well near.
Build an Encampment [] You decide that garrisoning all of your cohorts in the city is too much of a risk. It invites licentiousness and rioting, and makes you less able to gather your men at a moment's notice. You set a cohort to building and constructing a temporary camp on the outskirts of the city, a durable fortification which should prove more than useful should you be forced to winter here.
Liberate the Towns [] You begin sending your forces to the towns and villages around Bovianum, returning then to Roman rule simply by marching into their streets. You order them to resume supplying the city, which should feed Bovianum come winter.
Eliminate the Bandits [] You set one of the cohorts to tracking down and eliminating the numerous bandit groups plaguing the hills around Bovianum. There are many places for crafty and cunning natives to hide, and it will no doubt be an arduous task to track down and destroy each group of then.
I Am The Law [] You become the impartial, unflinching master of Bovianum, following the laws to the letter and the word. You are not cruel or kind, simply just — and justice is blind. You attempt to build the image of a stony-faced judge, passing down law from on high, regardless of where the scales may fall. You punish legionnaire and Samnite in equal measure, for Rome knows no favorite in the courts.
Willing Advocate [] Rufus portrays himself as a noble defender of the Samnite people in the courts, a heroic advocate of their freedoms and rights as Roman citizens, representing them in every case for which he is able and then some. From land claims to theft charges, he is a ceaseless ally of the Samnite people.
Scavenge [] You order the men to quite literally live off the land, scavenging farms and hunting local wildlife in order to procure enough supplies to feed the legion. This will necessitate constantly having a detail of men out in the fields scavenging, and will likely mean your men must keep their belts tight for the foreseeable future.
Sharing [] You will share the already-strained resources of the city with your men. This will initially be difficult, but if you increase the town's food stores, the amount available to your men will increase as well.
We really shouldn't do good cop with our malus to diplomatie with the samnite, I myself am looking toward I am the Law here, make it clear that we only mess with you if you mess with Rome.
Hummm, I think we should deal with the The Rebels while restoring order in the towns...we also need to restore the road if we want this to work, make sure to have both the Legion and the People well feed so that we can take further actions.
That subterfuge check fail... Pompei on the move?
No xp in law for keeping order in the legion?
That is a factor but on the other hand since in some ways we still intend for a political outcome to this campaign that in some way or another will likely involve the Samnites you could argue that this a good chance to loose that trait before it "solidifies" itself further. Which I think is certainly something to consider, especially if you add in the fact that a more positive relationship with the Samnites might have certain longterm beneficial impacts (to give you an extreme example, in case of a civil war it might be better to be known as a friend/neutral of the Samnites then as an enemy if we want them to join our banner). To some extent our political allegiance/factions also play a role there since I think the Marius faction is generally held to be more favourable towards the sociis (including the Samnites) than the aristocratic one...
(That isn't to say that I think that this decision will be the deciding factor in that or that we couldn't come to some agreement with the Samnites despite being viewed negatively, especially later on)
Damn, I would love to do some socialising with the legionaries and Gauls, but if the men are so green, training is the better of the two options.
Besides, we aren't so far from Aesernia, so we might get into conflict with the rebels there.
Pacification [] You set one of the cohorts to patrol the city's streets, acting as a city guard that cracks down on any signs of rebellion or dissension.
Let the Gauls do that, nothing can go wrong.
I'll have to think of it, but what I'm certain of is that we better don't play conqueror in a city which a) invited us and b) only did so grudgingly. Pretending to be friends... yeah, maybe if our charisma and diplomacy were higher.
Quite clearly we do the law angle. Why not exploit it and show that Roman law brings order. People usually like stable governments and protection through the law. And with Rufus playing advocate, I think we can pull this off.
However, there is an accusation you have heard from several different ears in the last few wees: namely, that Scemperio, a centurion of some small infamy in the legion, is far too harsh to the men under his command. Those who come before you spin tales of broken bones and backs whipped raw, of soldiers unable to march for days and men denigrated and tortured for the slightest of offenses. Harshness is valued, even enforced, in the legions, but when Carcellus comes to you one afternoon with a quiet request to look into the centurion --a boundary he, as an officer, cannot cross himself without incurring the wrath of his peers -- you are fully convinced Scemperio has overstepped his remit as a centurion.
sums it up pretty nicely...
I think we might need to add Subterfuge to the list of stats we should aim to increase in the near future. Although pushing for Proficient (Rank 8-9) is probably pushing the amount of actions we should allocate to this skill for some time.
Nice! 1) With 15 this had a pretty high DC so I'm glad we got that. 2) I think this was the first time we gained Intelligence & Education. Definitely information to keep in mind for when we want to keep pushing those stats. 3) Cicero = BFF, what more can I say
Gaius Pompolussa is no Lucius Mercator, you reflect for nearly the tenth time since meeting the man. The foremost centurion of the Second Cohort, he is as different from the Primus Pilus as night is from day. Where Mercator is grim and introspective, a veteran with eyes too old for his body, Pompolussa is wry and talkative, a man closer to Tercerus' age than yours with a tongue foul enough to make the gods blush. A lifelong soldier, he's been killing men since before you were born, and he and Tercerus hit it off more than well enough, talking about campaigns and wars and men long since dead. As you lead your horse over a particularly rocky stretch of terrain, you think, not for the first time, that you will be more than glad to have the two old dogs with you in Bovianum.
Sertorius has given you command of the Sixth, the Third, the Ninth, and the Second cohorts, as well as a group of auxiliaries from Gaul. Of those, the best-trained are the Second, Gaius' cohort, composed half of veterans and half of green men. The rest are primarily composed of relatively new recruits with veterans scattered into the command structure, or are Gauls, who, while skilled warriors, are no Romans. Sertorius offered his apologies for saddling you with the greenest men in the legion, but you are going to an ostensibly friendly city, while he is heading to the lands of the Hirpini, the most infamous and violent of all the Samnite tribes. He will more than need every veteran he can get, and you do not begrudge him for it.
The first paragraph reminded me why I was so supportive of picking this legion. Only in Italy could we make use of Tercerus. I think between the capture of Spurio at Aeclanum, the constant trickle of highly needed Command XP and his seemingly near instant connection with officers and men of every cohort we have gotten assigned he has definitely proven his worth.
Let's hope Sertorius doesn't get into too much trouble down south.
You don't expect him to become the next Marius, but any fame for him is good for you -- if your friends rise in step with you, it means you will have more allies as you make your way up the cursus honorum.
Unsure if this has already been stated, I will have to go back and reread the quest, but I wonder how he is related to the Consul Rufus in 105 and the Rufus who later sided with Caesar.
On to option analysis:
1st Vote:
Whip Them Into Shape [] You'll focus on honing and training the green legionnaires into a fighting force to be reckoned with. Sertorius isn't expecting you to see much fighting, so you can hardly imagine the look on his face when you return with four cohorts of battle-ready men, not the boys he sent you out with. Whip Them Into Order [] The damned Gauls could be a terrifyingly effective weapon against the Samnites if you could just get them to reliably follow orders and understand Roman discipline. Though you have your own doubts as to the worth of these unwashed barbarians, Tercerus and Pompolussa both assure you that the Gauls are a force as horrifying as any legion when properly motivated and utilized.
These two are the 'improve combat ability of X' options...
Forge Bonds [] You forgo stricter training in favor of forging closer bonds with the cohorts under your command. If you tie these men tight to you, they might volunteer for service under you when and if you raise a legion of your own. Building your future armies starts here and now, by making these men remember your name, whether it be through gold, food, or your own sheer charisma. Forge Contacts [] These Gauls are important men back in their homelands, second and third sons of chieftains who volunteered as auxiliaries to find glory in foreign lands they could not find at home. You promise to return them to their countrymen loaded heavy with Samnite gold, and make an effort to forge connections and bonds with these men that may pay dividends in the future. Having a Gallic tribe or two which holds the name of Atellus in high favor could be more than useful in the years and wars to come -- least of all in more auxiliaries, who will readily volunteer to serve under the man who brought their countrymen such wealth.
... and these two the 'improve standing with X'.
While it may be tempting to go with the latter, especially Forge Bonds. I think our standing in Rome and with the Legion as a whole will also improve by training the forces we have been assigned. For one, it should make some of the more combat heavy actions below easier. Additionally, if my fears about the situation down south prove true, me might need to use these troops to get Sertorius out of a bad situation.
So, any plan I'd vote for will have to contain either [] Whip Them Into Shape or [] Whip Them Into Order.
2nd Vote:
Some possible combinations:
Liberate the Towns [] You begin sending your forces to the towns and villages around Bovianum, returning then to Roman rule simply by marching into their streets. You order them to resume supplying the city, which should feed Bovianum come winter. Eliminate the Bandits [] You set one of the cohorts to tracking down and eliminating the numerous bandit groups plaguing the hills around Bovianum. There are many places for crafty and cunning natives to hide, and it will no doubt be an arduous task to track down and destroy each group of then. Defeat the Rebels [] This Gemino has too long defied the will and the might of Rome. You set a cohort to hunt him down and bring you back his head.
Secure A Route [] You send one of the cohorts to Aquilonia to clear out any bandits on the road and secure a stable route between the towns. Build an Encampment [] You decide that garrisoning all of your cohorts in the city is too much of a risk. It invites licentiousness and rioting, and makes you less able to gather your men at a moment's notice. You set a cohort to building and constructing a temporary camp on the outskirts of the city, a durable fortification which should prove more than useful should you be forced to winter here. Pacification [] You set one of the cohorts to patrol the city's streets, acting as a city guard that cracks down on any signs of rebellion or dissension.
There are lots of possible combinations here, especially when taking into consideration together with the last vote (Sharing or Appropriation).
If we don't wanna go with only aggressive options, I would advise to always include at least one defensive/'order-keeping' option or building the encampment outside the city. This way we shouldn't lose most of our legion to some form of coordinated attack from the rebels inside and outside the city.
3rd Vote:
Definitely Good Cop Bad Cop!
The only real question he is whether we are the A Harsh Hand (Profits from Trait, strengthens Trait, Success means new Romans who don't like us, chance of improved standing with the legion) or The Law (no bonus from trait, we shouldn't be remembered as badly, chance to lose standing with the legion).
4th Vote depends heavily on the which choices we pick above.
I'm hesitant to present a plan, since there are so many acceptable combinations. That said here is a more conservative plan. We secure our legion by building an encampment. We ignore the bandits and secure our food supply by focusing on one route. We first go after the most dangerous and organised force, the rebels. [] Plan Slow & Steady
-[] Whip Them Into Shape
-[] Secure A Route
-[] Defeat the Rebels
-[] Build an Encampment
-[] I Am The Law
-[] Willing Advocate
-[] Forge a Route
Edit: Changed to Forge a Route. I can see its synergy with Defeat the Rebels, who would be forced to attack said supply line. Also Secure A Route might not bring in enough food to supply both the city, and the legion.
Tentative Plan
[] Plan Stannis
-[] Whip Them Into Shape
-[] Liberate the Towns
-[] Eliminate Bandits
-[] Defeat the Rebels
-[] I Am The Law
-[] Willing Advocate
-[] Appropriation
Having Guals as a calvary force may prove useful, especially against some of these bandits/rebels. But I'm skeptical long term value of forging contacts among a small band of Gualish mercenaries. How is this helpful long term? We can always hire Gallic mercenaries, so I'm not sure I understand the benefit. In addition, I'm skeptical of our ability to even get them to follow roman discipline. We can still use them. We just need capable soldiers for everything else more.
I'd say focus on the training up the legionaries. We are already pretty well liked among the men. So getting these guys into fighting shape is worth it and won't hurt our reputation with them much.
As for how to handle this Samnite city. I definitely agree with others that having Rufus be the velvet glove to our Stannis like attitude about the law would be an ideal combo.
With our cohorts trained up (Edit: and remembering that not everyone is green. We do have the 2nd Cohort), we should be able to secure the surrounding settlements for food and eliminate both the bandits and rebels (if there is even much of difference between them).
Edit: Misread the sharing option. I think Appropriation would be the best then. We can take the food we need from the towns after we secure them and have them supply Bovianum with food.
I doubt that. However, the Hirpini are the most warlike tribe around, so he takes the veterans in case things go south. Is a sound strategy, especially since we do police work and bandit hunting.
Anyway, my take. Most of our men are rather green, so if we really want to hunt rebels we should whip them into shape. Personally I'd love to get some inroads with Gaulish chieftains, but I'd rather not lose too many men before our battle at Nola. Besides, why should we promise them gold when there aren't that many villages and cities around to plunder? Afterall, we are here to protect people (unless we find the bandits' stashes of loot).
So, not sure on who to train. The legionnaries if we plan on hunting down the rebels as we likely need a proper army to deal with them. The Gaulish cavalry if we plan to play whack-a-mole with the bandits first. (At least I assume that they are auxiliary cavalry).
What we should definitely invest in is a fortification for our men. The Samnites don't like us, housing our men with them can go so wrong. And sleeping outside the city without protection just invites rebels to harass us as the men sleep.
Not putting anyone on policing is likely a risk, because I can see riots start if we don't manage to get enough to food in short order. However, by garrisoning men in the city we lose another option which could bring in food. So pass. Same goes for building fortifications for Bovianum. Not before the unrest is quelled, even if we are close to Aesernia.
Overall, I think we should first secure a road and rebuild it. It means we can't yet execute rebels as a sign of strength, but provisions are important and I think protecting the road will overall be easier than hunting down the bandits across the entire region.
I'd like to liberate the towns, but that would mean we'd have to go against Gemino first and I'd like to train a lot more before that encounter. Besides, the man might try scorched earth tactics and who says he doesn't strip the villages of food before we arrive?
However:
Forge a Route [] You attempt to establish a decent supply train from nearby Beneventum, a steadfastly Roman town which has procured supplies for the legion for a few months now. Protecting such a long supply train across hostile territory would be tricky work, however.
It might be better if we do bandit hunting instead of repairs first. We need that food and a bad roll might mean that sharing food between our men and the city will just end in bloodshed. The importance of making sure that our men have a stable supply line, one which can benefit Bovianum, too, can't be pressed enough. As I doubt that we won't spend a good chunk of time here the repairments on the roads can probably be done later, too.
So, as of now I'd say:
Whip Them Into Order [] The damned Gauls could be a terrifyingly effective weapon against the Samnites if you could just get them to reliably follow orders and understand Roman discipline. Though you have your own doubts as to the worth of these unwashed barbarians, Tercerus and Pompolussa both assure you that the Gauls are a force as horrifying as any legion when properly motivated and utilized. Secure A Route [] You send one of the cohorts to Aquilonia to clear out any bandits on the road and secure a stable route between the towns. Eliminate the Bandits [] You set one of the cohorts to tracking down and eliminating the numerous bandit groups plaguing the hills around Bovianum. There are many places for crafty and cunning natives to hide, and it will no doubt be an arduous task to track down and destroy each group of then. Build an Encampment [] You decide that garrisoning all of your cohorts in the city is too much of a risk. It invites licentiousness and rioting, and makes you less able to gather your men at a moment's notice. You set a cohort to building and constructing a temporary camp on the outskirts of the city, a durable fortification which should prove more than useful should you be forced to winter here. I Am The Law [] You become the impartial, unflinching master of Bovianum, following the laws to the letter and the word. You are not cruel or kind, simply just — and justice is blind. You attempt to build the image of a stony-faced judge, passing down law from on high, regardless of where the scales may fall. You punish legionnaire and Samnite in equal measure, for Rome knows no favorite in the courts. Willing Advocate [] Rufus portrays himself as a noble defender of the Samnite people in the courts, a heroic advocate of their freedoms and rights as Roman citizens, representing them in every case for which he is able and then some. From land claims to theft charges, he is a ceaseless ally of the Samnite people. Forge a Route [] You attempt to establish a decent supply train from nearby Beneventum, a steadfastly Roman town which has procured supplies for the legion for a few months now. Protecting such a long supply train across hostile territory would be tricky work, however.
Half the city is already starving, the other is close, too. I doubt sharing what they have left with ~2500 Romans and Gauls will go over well or actually keep our men fed. Food is essential, we need it fast.
And scavanging might just drive the villages around Bovianum into Gemino's arms willingly.
Soldiers will always be soldiers: They will bitch about everything.
While this may seem an open-shut case of 'they're privileged assholes', there's the classical legal element of Precedent. What we decide will be argued as evidence in future disputes. What happens if an officer is whipping an undisciplined legion into shape gets brought up on charges?
Again, it's mostly BS, but something to consider in regards to what our opposition may think.
... Cicero, are you having a bunch of scribes follow you around while you dictate, or is your WPM that bullshit?
Oh please, you're Romans. Of course you have orgies.
On that, I am not so aquainted. However, good Cicero, should you happen to have an original greek copy of the Illiad and Odyssey, I'd be happy to discuss the meaning in the differences of the greek and roman translations.
And thus, we ensure that some of our letters will survive history, like his.
Aaaaaaand he's planning to fight them. Oh dear.
Out of shape soldiers, and Gauls with sticky fingers. great.
Best way to lose their favor... unless they're Ok with it.
This. So much this. there is a reason the germanic tribes became the true military and political force in Rome. Gaulish loyalty, if properly maintained and not destroyed by offense or broken agreement, reaches Persona "This person will now die for you" meme levels.
Give them time, Tercerus. The common person wants food and stability. A rebel who brings only ruin will find no love here.
So we must show the unshakable nature of practicality.
Food is the main priority. Bread riots bring down empires. Class riots, less deadly.
We've already got one city killing Romans in the streets, let's not have another. Especially with our malus.
These two are the things we should focus on. If we destroy the bandits, its no good if we can't feed the city.
This sounds like the right combo.
Neither of these.
If we get the food situation fixed, we can prove that swallowing your pride is fine, so long as it has a good taste.
I'm glad to see that our two [Tribune] actions, had the synergy I hoped for. Also, typo marked above.
sums it up pretty nicely...
I think we might need to add Subterfuge to the list of stats we should aim to increase in the near future. Although pushing for Proficient (Rank 8-9) is probably pushing the amount of actions we should allocate to this skill for some time.
Nice! 1) With 15 this had a pretty high DC so I'm glad we got that. 2) I think this was the first time we gained Intelligence & Education. Definitely information to keep in mind for when we want to keep pushing those stats. 3) Cicero = BFF, what more can I say
The first paragraph reminded me why I was so supportive of picking this legion. Only in Italy could we make use of Tercerus. I think between the capture of Spurio at Aeclanum, the constant trickle of highly needed Command XP and his seemingly near instant connection with officers and men of every cohort we have gotten assigned he has definitely proven his worth.
Let's hope Sertorius doesn't get into too much trouble down south.
Unsure if this has already been stated, I will have to go back and reread the quest, but I wonder how he is related to the Consul Rufus in 105 and the Rufus who later sided with Caesar.
On to option analysis:
1st Vote:
These two are the 'improve combat ability of X' options...
... and these two the 'improve standing with X'.
While it may be tempting to go with the latter, especially Forge Bonds. I think our standing in Rome and with the Legion as a whole will also improve by training the forces we have been assigned. For one, it should make some of the more combat heavy actions below easier. Additionally, if my fears about the situation down south prove true, me might need to use these troops to get Sertorius out of a bad situation.
So, any plan I'd vote for will have to contain either [] Whip Them Into Shape or [] Whip Them Into Order.
2nd Vote:
Some possible combinations:
Liberate the Towns [] You begin sending your forces to the towns and villages around Bovianum, returning then to Roman rule simply by marching into their streets. You order them to resume supplying the city, which should feed Bovianum come winter. Eliminate the Bandits [] You set one of the cohorts to tracking down and eliminating the numerous bandit groups plaguing the hills around Bovianum. There are many places for crafty and cunning natives to hide, and it will no doubt be an arduous task to track down and destroy each group of then. Defeat the Rebels [] This Gemino has too long defied the will and the might of Rome. You set a cohort to hunt him down and bring you back his head.
Secure A Route [] You send one of the cohorts to Aquilonia to clear out any bandits on the road and secure a stable route between the towns. Build an Encampment [] You decide that garrisoning all of your cohorts in the city is too much of a risk. It invites licentiousness and rioting, and makes you less able to gather your men at a moment's notice. You set a cohort to building and constructing a temporary camp on the outskirts of the city, a durable fortification which should prove more than useful should you be forced to winter here. Pacification [] You set one of the cohorts to patrol the city's streets, acting as a city guard that cracks down on any signs of rebellion or dissension.
There are lots of possible combinations here, especially when taking into consideration together with the last vote (Sharing or Appropriation).
If we don't wanna go with only aggressive options, I would advise to always include at least one defensive/'order-keeping' option or building the encampment outside the city. This way we shouldn't lose most of our legion to some form of coordinated attack from the rebels inside and outside the city.
3rd Vote:
Definitely Good Cop Bad Cop!
The only real question he is whether we are the A Harsh Hand (Profits from Trait, strengthens Trait, Success means new Romans who don't like us, chance of improved standing with the legion) or The Law (no bonus from trait, we shouldn't be remembered as badly, chance to lose standing with the legion).
4th Vote depends heavily on the which choices we pick above.
Spurio grabs an amphora of wine from a nearby slave and takes a deep drink before wiping his mouth and shrugging noncommittally. "Doesn't matter to me. Roman coin is Roman coin, whether I take it from your corpses after the battle or not."
Time seems to slow for an instant as you run through myriad possibilities from how best to use Spurio and his men should you accept the offer to whether killing him now would do irreparable damage to your reputation going forward. Unfortunately, it probably would. Just as you notice Spurio begin to grow tired of waiting, your mind stumbles upon an idea that you like very much.
"Do you have the brains to pay up, or is your puny mind trying to understand my offer?" taunts Spurio. Tercerus reaches for his sword, but you stop him with an outstretched arm. You've concocted a fitting plan for this worm, but you'd have stopped him anyways; seeing this worm dead on anyone's blade save your own would be wholly unsatisfying.
"I was merely thinking of how best to use you and your men. It would be a waste of money to have you join us in the charge or simply leave the city when we attack." you explain, letting the insult roll off you like water. "Now, if you were to leave a gate open and help my legion subdue the city once we're inside… now that may be worth the price you ask."
"Sir, you cannot seriously be considering-" you cut Tercerus off with a raised hand.
"Tercerus, I am in command." you remind him with a tone that brooks no argument. "Sertorius trusts my judgement. You will as well."
"Haha! You'd best listen to your Master, dog!" laughs Spurio. He seems to wish for death rather than a successful negotiation. Tercerus manages to control himself though, as Spurio turns back to addressing you. "We can swing a gate swung open, and we'll follow your legion's lead once you lot are inside. Now then, that'll be ten talents."
Now it is your turn to laugh. "I may be no Sertorius, but I promise you I am no dullard. You'll have your money as soon as I stand at the top of Aeclanum, not a moment sooner." Spurio opens his mouth to speak, but you cut him off. "I'm not about to entrust half my treasury to a man whom, by virtue of accepting the money, has proven himself a traitor."
Spurio actually laughs at that, and it seems humored, in contrast to his usual mocking bark. "I suppose I can't fault your logic there, Roman. But I can't just be taking you at your word either. Looks like we have ourselves a stalemate. Either pay up, or you'll find yourself on the wrong end of our blades come tomorrow."
"Hardly a stalemate. Thirty pieces of silver is Rome's base rate for this scenario." You toss a small purse to Spurio, and the coins inside clink together tantalizingly as he catches it. "I trust that's a suitable down payment?"
Spurio looks inside the purse, and you see his eyes light up at the sight of silver. He looks back up to you, and greed is replaced by suspicion. "And I'll get the ten talents once you have Aeclanum?" he asked warily.
"On my honor as a citizen of Rome, you will be paid as your deeds deserve." you say solemnly. "But know this. If you renege on your end of our arrangement, I will take those silver pieces back from your corpse."
"Tomorrow night the gate will open for your legion. Don't blame me if you ain't there to walk through though." Spurio turns to leave, waving his men to follow him as he counts the coins.
"Are you actually going to pay that scum?" asks Tercerus, finally trusting himself to speak now that Spurio has left.
"I shall reward him as a traitor deserves." you say, the savage grin on your face both shocking and relieving Tercerus. He laughs quietly all the way back to camp.
XXX
Spurio may be a greedy rat of a traitor, but he's a rat who knows how to open gates. With the walls of Aeclanum rendered worthless and the help of Spurio's men, you have taken the city in time to watch the sun rise. The public forum of Aeclanum pales in comparison to Rome's, but you decide that it is a fitting location to command the takeover of the city from.
"One Aeclanum delivered right into your hands. Now how about you deliver those talents into mine?" You are glad you dismissed the idea of exposing Spurio's treachery and then leaving him to the tender mercies of the Samnites. The man is practically flaunting it to the handful of captured citizens you have in the forum as he walks past with his bandits following behind.
"The day is won." You begin, putting on your orator voice and projecting it so that everyone in the forum turns to look at you. "As is Roman custom, it is the time to grant honors. And who could be more deserving than the man who singlehandedly swung wide the gates?"
Spurio is clearly enjoying the show, even as the captured Samnites spit at him and curse his name. "Oh, and I assume that would be me?" he asks rhetorically, as much to play along as to taunt the people wishing death upon him.
"Indeed. Come forward Spurio and be honored." You extend a hand making clear that Spurio is to clasp it to seal your little deal. It's hardly the customary way of granting honors, but you doubt Spurio knows or cares as he approaches and slaps his palm to yours. The instant the two of you touch, you yank Spurio close. "Honored as a traitor deserves."
You're still using your orator voice so that everyone can hear you, and Spurio would no doubt complain about you hurting his ears if he weren't more preoccupied with the dagger embedded between his ribs. His bandits take a second to realize what's happened, but your legion reacted the moment you gave the signal. To call it a battle would be disingenuous. Slaughter was more accurate. Not a single man from the legion died, and only a handful were even wounded.
Tercerus spat on Spurio's corpse. "I only wish I could have done it myself." he muses. "Your orders?"
You give your orders loudly, to save time repeating it to the captives, at least those present. "They may either swear sacramentum to Rome and die on their feet." You notice some Samnite faces drain of their color, while others harden into terrified defiance. You sigh softly at that. "Any man who refuses to join Rome will be joined by his family." A good number of the defiant faces break at that news.
Tercerus nods in understanding. "I will convey your orders."
You watch as he runs off to tell the other officers what they are to do, letting you get back to deciding on spoils. You seem to recall seeing a rather beautiful mural when you first clearing out the governor's estate. It might make a good gift for Sertorius, as recompense for stretching the bounds of your orders.
Struck by a bolt of remembrance, you squat down. "I'll be making good on my promise." you say to a dead man as you pocket thirty silver pieces.
AN: I wanted to write this little what-if back when the choice of how to deal with Spurio first popped up, but I had like, five essays due that week, so it got postponed until now.
So, not sure on who to train. The legionaries if we plan on hunting down the rebels as we likely need a proper army to deal with them. The Gaulish cavalry if we plan to play whack-a-mole with the bandits first. (At least I assume that they are auxiliary cavalry).
[...]
I'll admit, some complications are always possible. Anyone feel like discussing points?
Pretty much in a agreement with you. Only I think going for training legionaries & killing rebels first will be easier. I feel that we can safely ignore the bandits for now, if we Secure a Route.
With the rebels dealt with, we can liberate the towns, hunt the bandits and bring order to the town/repair the roads next round.
You might have a point on securing our own supply via Forge a Route though.
Guys, I'm pretty sure the "Sharing" option isn't about how to feed the city, it's about how to feed our troops. By picking it you're having the city stretch its already thin food supplies to also cover the soldiers it currently doesn't much like. This seems like a bad idea.
Personally I'd favor setting up a proper supply line to Beneventum. Especially if we can then use any surplus from that route to feed Bovinium, forcing this Gemino to come out and engage our men directly if he doesn't want us making a mockery of Bovinium's proscription.
Maybe I got a tad over-enthusiastic when writing... 
