Raunchel
2015-03-30, 07:28 AM
For months now there has been a threat in the air. News spreads quickly in the great city, and all heard it when the distant colony on Trister came under attack almost a year ago. The small city fell before reinforcements led by Panarius Drusus could reach them. He refused battle against a numerically superior fleet, and withdrew his two squadrons to safety. Reinforcements were sent to the east, but several other colonies and client cities were sacked before they could be relieved. The whole cities were burned to the ground, and all valuables taken. The attackers were identified as orcs, but normally they wouldn’t take fortified cities, especially not that quickly. The raids came ever closer to Clusium, and there has been talk of defection by several allies who feel ill at ease with the apparent lack of protection. Deciding that they needed to act the Pentarchs chose one of their own, Manlia Iulilla, who was given command over the combined fleet and set out to destroy the attackers in a cataclysmic battle.
Today is a strange day, you were in one of the markets, looking for something. The Curia has called a meeting, which is extraordinary, because it normally only meets on the second day of the month. Or when there are special events, but there are none, no great ambassadors arriving, and the reason is a secret, although many of the people have heard rumours. One fishmonger claimed that they were meeting because an oracle had seen that the skies would fall down. A lingering slave assured you that it was because one of the pentarchs had died in her sleep. And finally a publican thought that it was to secretly introduce a new tax on wine, which would drive him to bankrupcy.
And then you see the most peculiar sight. A woman wearing the toga of the great families. She is accompanied by two burly figures and carries a scroll. She folds it open, and everyone falls silent, wondering what this is. Normally such occasions mean something like a new tax or law, and everyone pays attention.
People of Clusium! The most esteemed Curia has spoken! Let it be known that an army is to be raised! Any human slave in a sufficient physical state who is handed over to the state at the market of Cel will be compensated for to the sum of fifty denarii! Any freedman who turns himself over to serve the state will be given fifty denarii, and citizenship at the end of his or her term of service. Any citizen who joins shall be given a hundred denarii! The Republic calls on you! Heed her call!
Today is a strange day, you were in one of the markets, looking for something. The Curia has called a meeting, which is extraordinary, because it normally only meets on the second day of the month. Or when there are special events, but there are none, no great ambassadors arriving, and the reason is a secret, although many of the people have heard rumours. One fishmonger claimed that they were meeting because an oracle had seen that the skies would fall down. A lingering slave assured you that it was because one of the pentarchs had died in her sleep. And finally a publican thought that it was to secretly introduce a new tax on wine, which would drive him to bankrupcy.
And then you see the most peculiar sight. A woman wearing the toga of the great families. She is accompanied by two burly figures and carries a scroll. She folds it open, and everyone falls silent, wondering what this is. Normally such occasions mean something like a new tax or law, and everyone pays attention.
People of Clusium! The most esteemed Curia has spoken! Let it be known that an army is to be raised! Any human slave in a sufficient physical state who is handed over to the state at the market of Cel will be compensated for to the sum of fifty denarii! Any freedman who turns himself over to serve the state will be given fifty denarii, and citizenship at the end of his or her term of service. Any citizen who joins shall be given a hundred denarii! The Republic calls on you! Heed her call!