Post by Gandalf on Oct 8, 2021 4:17:40 GMT -5
“Good slaves. Gallic stock. Well trained, strong men.”
While a distasteful fellow, the slave merchant at least had bought in the best stock from the newly conquered Gallic province. They were tall, fierce, yet docile as a mouse. Clearly, they had been broken and remoulded by the best. A perfect mix of barbarian savagery and Roman enforced discipline, they would follow their orders to the letter.
“Five hundred for my Dominus.”
Pius had delegated the task of negotiating to his ever faithful Greek secretary, Castor. Such slaves were prized for their intelligence, and Metellus found him to be particularly worthy of trust. While he would bargain with the lowborn salesman, the Praetor would inspect his new purchase.
“Two thousand denarii.”
Metellus waved a hand in consent, and the contract was signed. Expensive, to be sure, but he did not lack for money. It would cost even more to ensure they were properly trained and equipped, but after the debacle of the recent Appuleian proposals he felt it best to take decisive action. When the Praetor came forward with his own force of Vigiles to fight fires in the city, who would argue that the state needed to step in? Let the nobles care for the common man as they had always done, through the old systems of patronage that had worked so well in the past. They would patrol the streets in the name of the Caecilii, fighting fires… Or at least fighting the fires of those well disposed to their master.
A rigorous training program and first class equipment would ensure their usefulness in quelling public disturbance, too, if it came down to it. Though they would publicly carry buckets, Pius ensured that each man was trained (some did not need such training) to use blunt weaponry if the need arose, with the Praetor ensuring a stash of clubs was kept within his old home on the Palatine in the event that civil disturbance every broke out again. Wearing fine red cloaks and distinctive bright tunics, they were a sight to behold for their fellow citizens, and would soon be put to good use.
Metellus pays 5000 denarii to train and equip 500 Vigiles, costing 500 denarii in upkeep.
While a distasteful fellow, the slave merchant at least had bought in the best stock from the newly conquered Gallic province. They were tall, fierce, yet docile as a mouse. Clearly, they had been broken and remoulded by the best. A perfect mix of barbarian savagery and Roman enforced discipline, they would follow their orders to the letter.
“Five hundred for my Dominus.”
Pius had delegated the task of negotiating to his ever faithful Greek secretary, Castor. Such slaves were prized for their intelligence, and Metellus found him to be particularly worthy of trust. While he would bargain with the lowborn salesman, the Praetor would inspect his new purchase.
“Two thousand denarii.”
Metellus waved a hand in consent, and the contract was signed. Expensive, to be sure, but he did not lack for money. It would cost even more to ensure they were properly trained and equipped, but after the debacle of the recent Appuleian proposals he felt it best to take decisive action. When the Praetor came forward with his own force of Vigiles to fight fires in the city, who would argue that the state needed to step in? Let the nobles care for the common man as they had always done, through the old systems of patronage that had worked so well in the past. They would patrol the streets in the name of the Caecilii, fighting fires… Or at least fighting the fires of those well disposed to their master.
A rigorous training program and first class equipment would ensure their usefulness in quelling public disturbance, too, if it came down to it. Though they would publicly carry buckets, Pius ensured that each man was trained (some did not need such training) to use blunt weaponry if the need arose, with the Praetor ensuring a stash of clubs was kept within his old home on the Palatine in the event that civil disturbance every broke out again. Wearing fine red cloaks and distinctive bright tunics, they were a sight to behold for their fellow citizens, and would soon be put to good use.
Metellus pays 5000 denarii to train and equip 500 Vigiles, costing 500 denarii in upkeep.