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Post by sforza on Sept 1, 2021 13:48:28 GMT -5
"We must keep a low-profile now for the time being"
The situation was close to explode entirely in their face now. Saturninus looked pale and distraught.
"Guard yourself well and stay careful"
Saturninus addressed his friend, before retiring.
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Post by sforza on Oct 8, 2021 4:23:51 GMT -5
Tribune Decianus summons the plebeian Council.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 8, 2021 4:28:18 GMT -5
Metellus endeavours to attend, accompanied by his lictors.
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Post by sforza on Oct 8, 2021 4:45:39 GMT -5
"Good Roman citizens"
The tribune would begin his speech to the assembled citizens of Rome.
"I come today with a proposal that would improve the security and safety of the city as well as securing employment"
The tribune addressed the citizens, speaking in a neutral tone. He did not wish to came across as a demagogue.
"It has recently come to my attention that a number of citizens complained about theft, burglary and crime on the streets"
The tribune recalled his conversation in the forum with the citizens.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 8, 2021 5:49:13 GMT -5
The Plebeians half-heartedly gather to hear what he had to say. Crime did not quite have the pull of land reform, but the man's reputation as the nephew of Saturninus ensured that he got a good turn out.
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Post by sforza on Oct 9, 2021 11:38:13 GMT -5
"Citizens of Rome"
Decianus readied himself for before announcing his proposal, sweats of droplets.
"It is my intention to start a small police force that will keep the streets of our sacred city safe from any wrongdoers"
Decianus proposed to the crowd, nervously sweating.
"Their task will include fire fighting duties and stopping rascals from committing theft and burglary in our city"
Decianus added, curious to how the crowd would react to his proposal.
"It will be paid by the state well so that their loyalty is to our republic only and it will increase employment within the city, they shall also carry only light weapons for which such a force would be exempt from the restriction placed on the pomerium"
Decianus tried to appear friendly to the crowd.
"Of course, i am always open to listen to suggestions from the Roman citizens to improve my proposal if needed, or to answer questions"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 9, 2021 16:07:38 GMT -5
The plebs seem nonplussed by the proposal, certainly the idea that people should carry weapons within their sacred boundaries was seen suspiciously as a way by the Senate to maintain control by force.
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Post by sforza on Oct 10, 2021 16:26:19 GMT -5
"To alleviate your fears i ensure you that such a police force would be for the people only as all these problems i listed before concern the people of Rome foremost course"
Decianus tried to alleviate the people's fears. He looked nervously to the crowd.
"I propose that the head of such a police force would be elected by this council every year."
Decianus quickly invented the change to his bill, to gather more support from the people. He surmised that certain people in the senate would not like this.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 10, 2021 16:39:52 GMT -5
Metellus stood to speak. It was time to end this farce. Approaching the podium, he did not even wait for invitation from Decianus to begin speaking.
"Good citizens. I implore you to reconsider this bill. Though well meaning by our good tribune, the consequences could be disastrous. Think, if such power got into the hands of one that desired to make themselves a tyrant as in the Greek cities. They need only use this police force to upend the Senate and establish rule by one man, as in the dark days!"
Pius gestured behind him, to his own handsome looking Vigiles, a handful of which had accompanied him.
"To ignore our sacred traditions, of the pomerium, of the history of patronage, is all but sacrilege. Look here, look to your patrons! I myself have invested in a force of fire fighters, not armed as this Tribune would demand, but merely servants of the people of this fair city! Let the old ways continue, with the virtuous and upright looking after those that put themselves under their care. Thus has Res Publica always been, and thus shall it always remain. Need I remind you, good Citizens, that this honourable tribune would share your civic rights, won in blood and battle, with mere Italians! He only comes here because the esteemed senators roundly rejected this ill-thought proposal. While I commend his dedication to our Republic, there is no merit in what he is suggesting."
The Praetor collected his toga about himself, confident in his auctoritas compared to this upstart.
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Post by sforza on Oct 10, 2021 17:07:28 GMT -5
"Good citizens, while i appreciate Metellus for speaking honest, i respectfully disagree"
Decianus said, trying to regain his speech. Metellus had caught him off guard. This man seemed to be everywhere, like a fly.
"Must i remind you that it was Metellus who implored Consul Lepidus to remove parts of his reforms that would have the Quaestors distribute grain to the Roman citizens for free because he called it "pleb friendly"?"
Decianus countered evenly, trying to undo Metellus. Apparently, history seemed to repeat itself here, with Saturninus standing on the same stage against Metellus.
"Like i said before those vigiles would be funded by the Roman state so that their allegiance would be only to the city and its republic. I find individuals funding slaves privately to be much more dangerous than a force paid by the Roman treasury. Not all individuals like the good Praetor Metellus have always good intentions with such a force."
Decianus added further, silently fumed, now he shared the same distaste as Saturninus had for this oaf.
"Like i said they would only care light weapons though if necessary such a force can be armless too if the People so desire it"
Decianus conceded, not wanting to come across as dangerous.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 10, 2021 17:12:51 GMT -5
"Unless I have not noticed, the ancient restrictions on weapons inside the Pomerium still stand. Vigiles such as they are pose no threat, and merely act as any of my slaves would to assist me or my clients. If necessary, they could be employed to deter criminals, as any good citizen might themselves try to."
Replied Pius, ignoring the ranting about grain and bread to press home his point.
"Furthermore, our own treasury cannot bear any further expense. We cannot afford such wasteful expenditure. Let the Consuls and Praetors defend the city as they have always done. Sully my reputation all you wish, Tribune, but such proposals are impractical and will bankrupt our republic. Surely, you do not wish for taxes to be raised on Italy, or for more of our citizens to shoulder the burden?"
Such a thing was unthinkable.
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Post by sforza on Oct 11, 2021 16:10:26 GMT -5
"Perhaps if your father in law had not been so careless in his war that he provoked and is losing then we would not be so short of cash right now. Besides, i would call the security of our city never a wasteful expenditure"
Decianus reprimanded the praetor, filibustering the counterpoints of the oaf.
"Like i said before, and you seem not to listen again, if the people are more comfortable for a police force without weapons then that is fine, i have no qualms about removing that part."
Decianus then continued to come up with counterarguments more.
"Perhaps you did not notice but two years ago a certain somebody held the city captive with a mere hundred rascals, where were our praetors and consuls to stop that?"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 11, 2021 17:42:47 GMT -5
"If you change your bills at the whims of public opinion, then you are no more use to this state than a palm tree in the wind. Put your bill before the Assembly, so that they may vote on it, and end this debacle. Enough time has been wasted already."
Pius was tiring of this man's inexhaustible appetite for confrontation.
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Post by sforza on Oct 12, 2021 6:01:10 GMT -5
Lex Appuleia Vigiles Urbani
- A police force shall be created within the city of Rome from the citizens of Rome.
- A censor has the right to either deny a citizen entrance to the vigiles or to expel him from the vigiles
- Their tasks include: Fighting fires, stopping theft and burglary.
- This police force shall consist of 5000 vigiles who are to be commanded by a Praefectum Vigilum.
- The vigiles shall be divided into five cohorts commanded by a tribune, each cohort shall be divided into ten centuries of about 100 men.
- The Praefectum Vigulum shall be elected by the Plebeian council and each term is one year only.
- Consecutive terms are not allowed
- Any abuse of the Vigiles shall be trialed before the plebeian council.
- If found guilty he shall pay a sum of 100 000 denarii and shall lose his citizenship and property.
- Vigiles shall be equipped with light weapons only and are exempt from the restriction on carrying weapons.
Additionally, Decianus also gives the council the choice of the vigiles being armed or not. If the citizens wish the vigiles to be armless then the bill shall be amended.
+2 dignitas
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 12, 2021 8:07:33 GMT -5
Base chance: 0/20
+5 proposed by Tribune
+3 related to plebeian champion
+2 dignitas
-3 Metellus dignitas
-2 Metellus auctoritas through offices held
-4 no high ranking backing or popular desire.
1/20 chance
The Bill fails.
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