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Post by sforza on Oct 27, 2021 6:21:25 GMT -5
Aedile Decianus arrives to the forum, he is waiting for Aedile Drusus and Consul Lepidus to arrive.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 27, 2021 8:14:53 GMT -5
A number of Lepidan mobs begin causing a furore in the forum, overturning stalls, harassing citizens, and even beating those who attempt to stop them. They accost any man known to be an associate of Crassus and attack them publicly, and begin engaging in random acts of theft and petty vandalism. They begin chanting "down with Crassus!" and "Crassus to the Tiber!" making the atmosphere a very unsafe one. The Metellan Vigiles await on standby, publicly defending the property of their master and his associates, and small scale skirmishes begin occurring between them and the Lepidan gangsters.
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Post by sforza on Oct 27, 2021 8:26:16 GMT -5
"Stop this violence for the sake of our sacred city. There are other ways".
Decianus said to the assembled citizens, certainly he had not expected his ally to engage in wanton pillage.
"It is true that Crassus is an evil man whose actions in Asia have cost ten thousands of good Roman lives by starting a war without even consulting the Comitia Centuriata!"
Decianus said, trying to calm the situation, but also trying to provoke hatred against Crassus.
"He has said before in the senate that he wishes the Plebeian council to be abolished, our sacred institution of the people! And that he has thrown out senators who support the people in the senate is a gross misconduct."
Decianus then widely gesticulated with his arms.
"But violence in our city can not be an answer to this ruffian that calls himself Censor, we must protest against this gross misconduct but not resort to violence!. As aedile i also notice that he holds too many lands over the maximum allowed lands of the Ager publicus!"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 27, 2021 8:28:31 GMT -5
Decianus' vain appeals to arcane legal traditions, peaceful protest, and public land mattered little to the Lepidan attack dogs, who continued engaging in thuggery against any who even looked remotely like a man Crassus was associated with. It would take the word of their chief to call them off.
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Post by sforza on Oct 27, 2021 8:36:56 GMT -5
Decianus withdraws with his own force of bodyguards from the forum, he tries to help as many citizens as possible to escape from the unrest. Immediately Decianus dispatches a message to Lepdius to stop this wanton looting and beatings, this would decrease their popularity with the Roman people.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 27, 2021 8:50:06 GMT -5
Lepidus had send word through an intermediary to stop inciting unrest fromout his gangs but they would engage in peaceful protest. Encouraging some citizens who grew tired with Crassus to engage in malicious acts.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 27, 2021 8:53:46 GMT -5
The violence gradually rolled back, but the chanting would not. Lepidan gangs marched around the streets, which soon became deserted. It was a time for the locking of doors and the barring of windows.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 27, 2021 16:34:03 GMT -5
Word spreads across the forum. Censor Capitolinus is to address the people from the Rostra. He awaits there, surrounded by the busts of his consular ancestors, held by black-dressed slaves. Crassus himself wears a purely black toga and carried a humble urn, as to house the ashes of a fallen friend and was in mourning. He had not shaved or trimmed his hair, as was customary when a kinsman or kinswoman died. Once the crowd assembles, the censor speaks, projecting his voice over the heads of those gathered, the voice like a clarion that could be heard from a point to the other in a basilica.
"Men of Rome"
He made a dramatic pause, looking at the crowd, examining their faces as they were kin and friends.
"I am Censor Crassus Capitolinus, and today, I bring you the ashes of our mother! The ashes of divine Roma herself!"
Crassus presented the urn to those present.
"And two men have murdered her"
He sheds tears convincingly, as taught by Greek actors while in Athens.
"Two men are continuously defiling our august Res Publica, our mother, our beloved home. With their actions, with their blatant disregard for tradition and the customs that sustain our way of living, our prosperity"
He wipes the tears.
"Men that slander senators of noble birth, like proud Metellus, Pious son, man of bravery and good standing. My son-in-law. Men of the Africanus' blood are insulted and defied by men who behave like animals, like ruffians and murderers. They step on every law, hold nothing sacred, have no respect for any magistrature. Even I have been defied and insulted like a mere fishmonger, me who hold the sacrest office in our Res Publica!"
Crassus gestures fancily.
"Men who wish to rule this city like mere tyrants. Vagrants who wish to turn this city upside down and usurp all power for themselves, like they were kings in all but name. They arm ruffians and criminals and set them loose on our streets"
He stands, arms akimbo, like an authoritative father.
"How many of you have feared for their lives and property these last years? Only because two criminals, behaving like debased and debauched fiends, decided that what they cannot win on the courts and the senate shall be won by the strenght of base-born arms and their corruptive, disruptive and indecent ways"
Crassus opens the urns, grabbing some ashes. They were common ashes, but theatrics need such props.
"See, behold the ashen remains of our mother. See, behold what they want to rule over! The ashen remains of our mother, citizens!"
He leaves the ashes fall to his feet.
"But we stood together once, you and I, and we defeated Saturninus! We dragged his dead carcass through the streets and threw him to the river like the traitor he was! When our mother, when our beloved nation was besieged by criminals and traitors, we stood together, we repelled the tie and won the day!"
Crassus picks his toga, arranging the folds of the black mourning cloth.
"This shall not be. I accuse the evil-hearted Decianus and the debauched Lepidus, who consorts with Gauls and sleeps with their ilk, corrupting our city"
He raises a fist.
"These two try to woo you with empty words and false promises, but they're fiends, who threaten our Res Publica. Our beloved mother!"
The urn is emptied on the floor, before the rostra.
"Here it lies our august mother, our Res Publica"
He points at the floor and then looks at the crowd.
"But I say them nay, I say them nay. I say they shall not corrupt and end this Res Publica of us. Do I have your support? Join your voice with me, men of Rome! Say nay to these criminals, to these who should crown themselves and end the freedom and prosperity of our city, amidst the fire of burning temples and the cries of raped vestals! Men who arm ruffians and want to see all that we hold sacred done for! I won't let them do this. I will not. I stand by Rome. And you?"
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 28, 2021 3:39:10 GMT -5
Multiple Lepidus gangs are at the forum as Crassus tried to speech. They mock him him and overstem his speech completely. A often recurring slur was “Are those the ashes of the soldiers killed with your incompetence” With some 400 men in Lepidus his employ present it was hard for others to hear anything. Violence was strictly forbidden but the gangs did their best to incite others to follow their lead. The consular lictors were positioned in front of the rostra to strike down any violent tendencies.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 28, 2021 8:34:50 GMT -5
Word spreads across the forum. Censor Capitolinus is to address the people from the Rostra. He awaits there, surrounded by the busts of his consular ancestors, held by black-dressed slaves. Crassus himself wears a purely black toga and carried a humble urn, as to house the ashes of a fallen friend and was in mourning. He had not shaved or trimmed his hair, as was customary when a kinsman or kinswoman died. Once the crowd assembles, the censor speaks, projecting his voice over the heads of those gathered, the voice like a clarion that could be heard from a point to the other in a basilica. "Men of Rome"He made a dramatic pause, looking at the crowd, examining their faces as they were kin and friends. "I am Censor Crassus Capitolinus, and today, I bring you the ashes of our mother! The ashes of divine Roma herself!"Crassus presented the urn to those present. "And two men have murdered her"He sheds tears convincingly, as taught by Greek actors while in Athens.
"Two men are continuously defiling our august Res Publica, our mother, our beloved home. With their actions, with their blatant disregard for tradition and the customs that sustain our way of living, our prosperity"
He wipes the tears. "Men that slander senators of noble birth, like proud Metellus, Pious son, man of bravery and good standing. My son-in-law. Men of the Africanus' blood are insulted and defied by men who behave like animals, like ruffians and murderers. They step on every law, hold nothing sacred, have no respect for any magistrature. Even I have been defied and insulted like a mere fishmonger, me who hold the sacrest office in our Res Publica!"
Crassus gestures fancily. "Men who wish to rule this city like mere tyrants. Vagrants who wish to turn this city upside down and usurp all power for themselves, like they were kings in all but name. They arm ruffians and criminals and set them loose on our streets"
He stands, arms akimbo, like an authoritative father. "How many of you have feared for their lives and property these last years? Only because two criminals, behaving like debased and debauched fiends, decided that what they cannot win on the courts and the senate shall be won by the strenght of base-born arms and their corruptive, disruptive and indecent ways"
Crassus opens the urns, grabbing some ashes. They were common ashes, but theatrics need such props. "See, behold the ashen remains of our mother. See, behold what they want to rule over! The ashen remains of our mother, citizens!"
He leaves the ashes fall to his feet.
"But we stood together once, you and I, and we defeated Saturninus! We dragged his dead carcass through the streets and threw him to the river like the traitor he was! When our mother, when our beloved nation was besieged by criminals and traitors, we stood together, we repelled the tie and won the day!"
Crassus picks his toga, arranging the folds of the black mourning cloth. "This shall not be. I accuse the evil-hearted Decianus and the debauched Lepidus, who consorts with Gauls and sleeps with their ilk, corrupting our city"
He raises a fist. "These two try to woo you with empty words and false promises, but they're fiends, who threaten our Res Publica. Our beloved mother!"
The urn is emptied on the floor, before the rostra. "Here it lies our august mother, our Res Publica"He points at the floor and then looks at the crowd.
"But I say them nay, I say them nay. I say they shall not corrupt and end this Res Publica of us. Do I have your support? Join your voice with me, men of Rome! Say nay to these criminals, to these who should crown themselves and end the freedom and prosperity of our city, amidst the fire of burning temples and the cries of raped vestals! Men who arm ruffians and want to see all that we hold sacred done for! I won't let them do this. I will not. I stand by Rome. And you?"Multiple Lepidus gangs are at the forum as Crassus tried to speech. They mock him him and overstem his speech completely. A often recurring slur was “Are those the ashes of the soldiers killed with your incompetence” With some 400 men in Lepidus his employ present it was hard for others to hear anything. Violence was strictly forbidden but the gangs did their best to incite others to follow their lead. The consular lictors were positioned in front of the rostra to strike down any violent tendencies. Crassus won a good deal of sympathy from the audience, at least from those who could hear. The presence of the Lepidan mobs made it difficult for him to be heard above the jeering and heckling, and soon the crowd broke down into a shouting match between the sympathisers of Crassus and the Lepidan gangsters. A few people starting shoving each other in the crowd, and it seemed to all present that an altercation would soon break out.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 28, 2021 14:14:43 GMT -5
(I am using the historical map of buildings as a guide)
Marcus Livius had been standing on the steps of the Basilica Aemilius behind and across from the Rostra in the Comita Well. He listened to Crassus try to gain support among the common citizen of Rome with his theatrical display. The crowd was loud, with mocking and laughter combined with some clapping. It was not quite violent, but it was a tense situation. Drusus was not a supporter of violence and had no desire to see it break out again.
Arranging his white toga in the most austere look, he slowly walked across and up to the Rostra, and stood next to Crassus, who looked taken aback and almost shocked to see him there, at first and then agitated. (Excuse me for taking liberties with another characters reactions)
"Lucius Licinius." he began loudly so others could hear. "Pick up your ashes of Roma." He gestured to the ground in front of them. He stepped next to the man cautiously, he did not want to alarm him, and put his left arm around him to turn him around.
"Look there!" He pointed with his left arm, shouting now. "There stands of The Temple of Janus! One of the oldest in the Forum. It is not the prettiest , or the biggest, or the most visited. But it is there and it is ours." Using his hands to outline it, and show off its rather plain features.
"It is the temple to doorways, the temple to endings and beginnings. " Drusus explained. "Come with me now, Lucius," He asks " Come with me now, with your ashes. " He motions with his hand toward the temple in a welcoming gesture. " We will burn your ashes in sacrifice to Janus and ask for an ending to the violence in Rome and a new beginning of peace and hope." He explains.
He turns to the crowd and using his loudest voice asks the people. " Should Censor Crassus come with me to sacrifice to Janus?!?" and repeats it as the crowd tries to hear his question.
He walks forward a half dozen steps in the direction of the temple, then turns toward Lucius Licinius. Drusus waves the magistrate forward towards himself in a welcoming gesture. After doing this a couple times, he begins to head to the Temple of Janus. He would go and pray to the god and prostate himself if Crassus would not follow.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 29, 2021 14:04:14 GMT -5
(I am using the historical map of buildings as a guide) Marcus Livius had been standing on the steps of the Basilica Aemilius behind and across from the Rostra in the Comita Well. He listened to Crassus try to gain support among the common citizen of Rome with his theatrical display. The crowd was loud, with mocking and laughter combined with some clapping. It was not quite violent, but it was a tense situation. Drusus was not a supporter of violence and had no desire to see it break out again. Arranging his white toga in the most austere look, he slowly walked across and up to the Rostra, and stood next to Crassus, who looked taken aback and almost shocked to see him there, at first and then agitated. (Excuse me for taking liberties with another characters reactions) " Lucius Licinius." he began loudly so others could hear. " Pick up your ashes of Roma." He gestured to the ground in front of them. He stepped next to the man cautiously, he did not want to alarm him, and put his left arm around him to turn him around. " Look there!" He pointed with his left arm, shouting now. " There stands of The Temple of Janus! One of the oldest in the Forum. It is not the prettiest , or the biggest, or the most visited. But it is there and it is ours." Using his hands to outline it, and show off its rather plain features. " It is the temple to doorways, the temple to endings and beginnings. " Drusus explained. " Come with me now, Lucius," He asks " Come with me now, with your ashes. " He motions with his hand toward the temple in a welcoming gesture. " We will burn your ashes in sacrifice to Janus and ask for an ending to the violence in Rome and a new beginning of peace and hope." He explains. He turns to the crowd and using his loudest voice asks the people. " Should Censor Crassus come with me to sacrifice to Janus?!?" and repeats it as the crowd tries to hear his question. He walks forward a half dozen steps in the direction of the temple, then turns toward Lucius Licinius. Drusus waves the magistrate forward towards himself in a welcoming gesture. After doing this a couple times, he begins to head to the Temple of Janus. He would go and pray to the god and prostate himself if Crassus would not follow. Crassus was first and foremost, an actor, and knew roles had to be adapted and played regarding the circunstamces. So, he tilted his head and lowered the steps leading to the Rostra, then grabbed Drusus' arm. "I have to honor the gods, first and foremost, for such is the custom of our fathers"His voice was clear and without shadow of doubt.
"Hear, hear, Drusus. He is a man of virtue, unlike the rabid beasts who would rather burn everything"He raised an admonitory finger. "With you, I shall sacrifice"Added the censor, still grabbing the senator's arm, the took him on his embrace. "But you should rein in your despicable friends"He said in hushed tone as he embraced the man.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 29, 2021 17:03:20 GMT -5
Many in the crowd were pleased and applauded the public display of unity, especially the notion that both men should jointly pray and sacrifice to the two-faced Janus. Crassus, despite his theatrics, was well thought of especially by those that had suffered the tyranny of Saturninus, just as Drusus had adopted the favour of the urban poor and landless veterans that had once loved the populist Tribune for his defence of their wellbeing. The Lepidan mobs, perhaps understanding that their master would not want such an event interrupted, backed off and faded into the crowd, as the calls for violence were soon defused by loud acclamation.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 29, 2021 18:02:21 GMT -5
Drusus and Crassus continued into the temple and made the requisite sacrifices with the proper rituals followed. The priests of the temple assisted them and it appeared the other Senators had not joined them, perhaps seeing that it would not appear genuine.
After completion of the burning and prays, Drusus spoke to Crassus in confidence. "I did not advise any one to hire ruffians or encourage any kind of violence, Lucius. I do not know why they thought it might be a good idea. " He shook his head in slight disbelief and agitation. "I expect no more violence this year and into next," He continued. " And while I very much appreciate and thank you for today, Lucius, you are not blameless either."
He added emotionlessly. "These men had similar motivations as I had to try and pass land bills this year, but that does not mean I Share all of their ideals."
After a pause, he offered his hand.
"I am amiable to working together with you again if our purposes align in the future, you know what my positions are." He looked Crassus in the eye. "I have strong hope for the future of Rome, and I will not let if flounder in petty squabbles."
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Post by oznerol on Oct 30, 2021 9:37:28 GMT -5
Drusus and Crassus continued into the temple and made the requisite sacrifices with the proper rituals followed. The priests of the temple assisted them and it appeared the other Senators had not joined them, perhaps seeing that it would not appear genuine. After completion of the burning and prays, Drusus spoke to Crassus in confidence. " I did not advise any one to hire ruffians or encourage any kind of violence, Lucius. I do not know why they thought it might be a good idea. " He shook his head in slight disbelief and agitation. " I expect no more violence this year and into next," He continued. " And while I very much appreciate and thank you for today, Lucius, you are not blameless either." He added emotionlessly. " These men had similar motivations as I had to try and pass land bills this year, but that does not mean I Share all of their ideals." After a pause, he offered his hand. "I am amiable to working together with you again if our purposes align in the future, you know what my positions are." He looked Crassus in the eye. " I have strong hope for the future of Rome, and I will not let if flounder in petty squabbles." Said Crassus. "I might not be blameless, but if I let them free reign over the Senate they would reign as kings. And remember, I never raised arms against them, neither left the city when Saturninus tried to seize it"
He added.
"You're a man of reason, Drusus, rarely were spiteful or disrespectful. You honor the Republic, despite your stances on certain policies that I cannot and will not approve of"
Crassus looked pensive. "Come by my villa for supper, one of these days, if you are willing"
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