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Post by sforza on Sept 15, 2021 15:38:19 GMT -5
"Soldiers of Rome"
Saturninus rode into the camp of the eight legion. With a salute he greeted the soldiers of its legion. He then rode to the camp of the centurion on his horse. Requesting an audience. He told the guards he had an interesting offer.
+3 dignitas
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Sept 15, 2021 15:42:08 GMT -5
"Soldiers of Rome" Saturninus rode into the camp of the eight legion. With a salute he greeted the soldiers of its legion. He then rode to the camp of the centurion on his horse. Requesting an audience. He told the guards he had an interesting offer. +3 dignitas Immediately, Atellus notices the man as Saturninus. The gods were with him today! He points at the Roman. In the name of the Senate and People of Rome, I arrest you, Saturninus, as a leader of conspiracy and sedition! For crimes against the peaple of Rome for the bloodshed you have caused and violence committed by your confederates! You, Saturninus, are nothing more than a Gaul for your treasonous actions! You are the truest of traitors and shall be executed as one!Atellus then commands his soldiers to take Saturninus into custody. Arrest this traitor! Ensure he cannot speak nor escape!Jupiter be praised! Rome would be saved from its darkness and its people given justice!
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Post by sforza on Sept 15, 2021 15:50:26 GMT -5
"Do not listen to this man who wishes harm on his fellow Roman soldiers"
Saturninus replied loudly with a smile.
"I come in name of the Roman senate and the Consul suffectus!"
Saturninus loudly protested, his uniform covered by dirt.
"Consul Flaccus offers 35 000 denarii to serve in his capacity, to guard Rome from its enemies, whatever they offer Flaccus shall pay much more"
Saturninus widely gesticulated with his arms.
"He also wishes to establish Colonia for all those who have served in sicily, no soldier shall live without land when they retire!"
Saturninus said, so loud that many soldiers could hear him.
"Don't let them do harm on your fellow Roman soldiers"
+3 dignitas
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 15, 2021 16:09:54 GMT -5
A few in the legion moved forward, then hesitated. The officers looked at each other, perplexed. For a long and drawn out moment, silence reigned.
Metellus then rode forwards. ”Saturninus, I name you traitor to the Senate and People of Rome. This man attempted to overthrow the Republic by force of arms. He marched on Rome itself, by Jupiter! Seize him!”
Two centurions then moved forwards towards the Tribune, as if broken from their rapture. Saturninus was seized from his horse and thrown down into the dirt, then carried away by the legionaries to a tent.
”Fortuna smiles on me. I shall sacrifice to Jupiter tonight.” Metellus muttered under his breath, looking to the heavens.
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Post by sforza on Sept 15, 2021 16:21:32 GMT -5
"Well do whatever you want"
Saturninus admitted defeat, he'd never see Sertoria alive again.
"I will never see Sertoria again"
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 15, 2021 16:49:28 GMT -5
With some clarity of thought, Metellus would find the tent in which Saturninus was kept. Though they owed him no personal loyalty, the legionaries stood aside at the entrance to let him pass.
"Salve, Tribune. I thought you would be dead before I saw you again. It seems the Gods have decreed otherwise."
Metellus Pius took a seat opposite Saturninus, who had been roughly treated - bound and tied to a stool in spite of his noble birth.
"I expect you may not find your situation so fortunate as I do mine."
Pius gave a slight smile. It seems divine punishment had been meted down at last.
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Post by sforza on Sept 15, 2021 16:56:04 GMT -5
"Do whatever you want with me what you desire"
Saturninus replied, defeated, he realized now perhaps that it was all not worth it. The Roman people had failed him, his intentions so noble that it led him to utter ruin.
"just leave my wife and child alone"
Saturninus replied, there was nothing of fire with him left anymore. All what remained was a pathetic relic that wanted to die. His eyes betrayed sadness and sorrow.
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 15, 2021 17:00:34 GMT -5
Metellus gave a long silence. The Tribune that had spoken with such verve and passion had been reduced to a mere shell of himself, a broken blade shattered on the anvil of the mob. He had been caught up in the tide, swallowed by it, and had broken every compact and law he had once held dear. Such was the fate of all that toyed with tyranny, and yet Pius held a glimmer of pity in his passive gaze.
"They will not be harmed."
Metellus affirmed, quietly. They were not barbarians. Once again, time was swallowed by a momentous pause.
"If you wish, I could have one of the legionaries outside provide you a sword. A quick and easy route into the next life. A chance to preserve your dignitas before the inevitable verdict has your name blackened for eternity."
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Post by sforza on Sept 15, 2021 17:08:29 GMT -5
"I would be grateful, Tribune"
Saturninus replied with a broken voice, Roman politics were cruel. He'd now blame himself for sticking his neck out. Had Saturni us chosen a different path, he could have been with wife and child in villa on the lovely countryside of Italy.
"Let me write a final letter to my wife if I may"
Saturninus politely requested, knowing that these are his final minutes. Perhaps even his arm was shaking too much for it to even write. Life seemed to abandon him already.
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 15, 2021 17:15:10 GMT -5
Metellus nodded. For a moment, he stepped outside, and then returned with a centurion and his subordinate. One of them unbound Saturninus, and presented him with a quill and papyrus. The other waited with a sheathed sword, with which the Tribune would use to hasten his passage into the next world.
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Post by sforza on Sept 15, 2021 17:28:22 GMT -5
Saturninus had much to explain, perhaps so much that not all of it could be written in a letter. He'd explain why he had chosen the path he walked, writing how he found himself cornered into doing what he did. And how much he regretted seeing each other only for such a little time, or perhaps the greatest crime was that he had never seen their recently born daughter in his life.
In these cold last moments Saturninus could barely control himself, his thoughts being everywhere and nowhere. He thought about the Roman people for a moment, he regretted their plight still. His thoughts turned to Vitulus, his friend and closest ally that always supported him. He thought of the trees of his estates, his marriage with Sertoria.
But in the end the feeling that he could best describe was that of regret, regret for the path he walked, sorrow and regret for Serotia and their daughter, regret for Vitulus whom he dragged into this mess, regret for the Roman people. And finally regret for the gods.
As the centurion approached he grabbed its sword. His hands shake but luckily he still held enough strength to commit the final act that would bring one into an eternal sleep.
"For Sertoria and Child"
Saturninus replied before performing the final act, his life leaving his body quickly, his final thoughts being with them. One day they would reunite.
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 15, 2021 17:33:49 GMT -5
Metellus frowned at the Tribune's last words, turning away as he plunged the sword into himself. Unfastening his cloak, he veiled the Tribune's body in the red woollen cloth as he barked for some slaves to fetch a stretcher for the corpse. Once this was done, Metellus went to find the Pro-Praetor to relay the news.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Sept 15, 2021 18:15:19 GMT -5
Atellus hears the report from his colleague and sighs deeply. Suicide… seemed Saturninus saw no other way out. Still, with him gone, opposition would certainly crumble.
“Have a death mask be made and his body cremated. When we return to Rome, let us have a guard be placed at his household to prevent retaliation. The people may turn violent against those who began all of this.”
It was the right thing to do seeing as the late opponent requested to at least say goodbye to his wife and child.
“Metellus, let us retrieve one of his rings and send it to Legio V. Give them one final chance to join us or be ready to endure the wrath of the Senate upon our return. For joining us, I will see to it that they are rewarded. If there are any supporters of Saturninus, request their surrender and they will be treated well on the road back to Rome. Their judgement will await them upon our return to the city. I suspect that Saturninus’ death will make them reconsider their position.”
Atellus was willing to give them a final chance to join them. Considering how Saturninus approached VIII l, he was likely in camp with V. Which meant he may have more supporters there. Otherwise, Legio V would be punished for their traitorous and negligent stance in ensuring Rome’s security. Another rider was sent with the message for the Fifth, giving them a final chance.
“We will resume our march once we hear back.”
Atellus has a letter be prepared and sent to Rome. It would detail that Saturninus was captured and that those who were his confederates had best surrender to the justice of the Republic.
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 15, 2021 18:27:20 GMT -5
"I shall see it done. Somehow I suspect that this conspiracy had more than one head."
There was Vitulus, who had been an equal partner. There was also the matter of Sertorius, who had been Saturninus' political ally from the start. Metellus somewhat doubted that the Pro-Consuls hands were clean, and only hoped he was still preoccupied in Asia.
"If they refuse to join us, I suggest circumventing them to protect the city. From there we can contact Lepidus and summon the legion from Africa or Hispania. There is no need to risk ourselves so completely in battle, and I would rather avoid shedding our own blood."
---
Sure enough, a rider came to Vitulus bearing a letter from Metellus and the signet ring of his colleague. Upon failing to bribe the legion, Saturninus had been taken captive and had chosen honourable suicide over certain prosecution for treason. The message was undoubtedly clear.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Sept 15, 2021 19:24:00 GMT -5
Atellus ponders for a moment. Then looks at his colleague.
I will send another rider to Lepidus now then. Better we do it now than later as time could be of the essence if the Fifth still refuse to join us.
The Roman knew that time was needed and there was little of it. It could turn into a mad dash for Rome to determine which side is truly the dominate one. Especially if the Fifth continue to be stubborn.
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