Consulate of Septimus and Balbinus - 538 A.U.C

[M D]

As the whole of the CVRIA burnt, the Temples, the Offices, the Senate House, Gracchus was suddenly struck.. The Punic messenger had stabbed him, Gracchus fell..

"I have died, and left the people better lives.. And now you COnsul Poplicola must make them even better.."

The Government of Rome was almost damaged beyond repair, the Legions coming under the Praetors command from outside, the Vestial Virgins raped, the Senate House destroyed, the Republic was in serious jeopardy, and Gracchus was dead..

[dacder]

*The punic messenger spits on his body then turns to the senators*

[dragoon47]

Lucius was in shock...an eerie silence befell the battlefield and the tribune of the people lay dead at his feet.

Lucius stood, still woozy from the stomping he turned to the messenger and stabbed him in the gut with a gladius on the ground. His guts were spilled and he vomited on the ground before succumbing to pain.

He looked around, the utter chaos had stopped, the plebs watched in horror.

[Tazgrent]

Cassius stumbles out of the mass toward the gathered Senate. His entire upper right is covered in blood. A pugio is in his right hand.
"JUPITER'S BALLS! I was attacked three times! And it wasn't random, I saw them pick me out deliberately. I do believe someone tried to have me killed!" He bent to clean the blood off of his pugio by wiping it on the tunic of a dead slave. "How uncivilized."

[dragoon47]

Lucius went over to Cassius and called Vorenus to him.

Vorenus, send the legions through the streets, enforce a curfew right now, try to do it without bloodshed, take the worst offenders to the campus with you and find out what they know about Gracchus and Claudius. Bring the Vestal Virgins to my Villa under armed guard until replacements can be found.

Cassius I need you to assess the damage and find missing senators, clean this mess up, get what lictors we have left to get the Forum clear.

[AspisPhalanx90]

A messanger came bolting into the Senate

I bear a message from Consul Septimus. He would like to ask for the Praetor's permission to enter Rome and aid in the pacification of the city. He also wishes to add that the Legion is growing restless seeing the chaos from afar. Many fear for their families. The Consul is ready to devote his forces to the Praetor's discretion of maintaining law and order.

the messanger awaited a response, looking uneasy, seeing the blood on the floor and the remaining chaos in the area.

[dacder]

*A punic messenger approaches the praetor holding a message*
"Dear Praetor,
As you can see I still have a place in my heart for rome.That was a numidian assassin so im not overly concerned you killed him.
Looks like rome will live to see another sunrise.
Yours Truly, Aulus Claudius Ambustus

[chaplain118]

Pallas walked in, the chanting of his name still going outside, but growing quieter and quieter

I don't think we shall worry anymore about the Plebs. They're going home. The storm has passed. And this scum, he still walks the earth? How many of them are here?

He grabbed the Punic messenger and dragged him outside of the torn down Senate House. Placing him at the very edge of the steps, he kicked the man down the steps.

[Tazgrent]

Cassius nodded. "I need three things. Number I: A fresh toga! I'm sure one can't be too hard to find. Number II: A proper sword." He held the pugio disdainfully. "Number III: I need you to give me the authority to make arrests, personally, or with any men I bring with me." Cassius turned to a nearby centurion. "Oy, officer! Gather your century and follow me. We need to look for survivors."

[Crozimodo]

Gerges had emerged, his toga was blackened with ash and a gash had opened in his leg from a falling timber, he had barely escaped with his life but now was no time to tend to his wounds,

He looked to the assembled masses and spoke,

Today, you may as well have been led by a King, for he was in all but name. Gracchus led you by the nose with his idle promises and can you not see how the confliction of his desires would only have harmed you? Would you desire now to share your status with the Socii? Have you not earned your places here as Roman citizens and your champion would hand out this prestige like bread. Today you have shamed yourselves and the man you carried upon that litter, my colleague, may as well have bore the name Tarquin!

You have destroyed a symbol of the authority and superiority of Rome herself, her prestige is tattered because you were selfish and naive. As I stated to Gracchus, the greatest gift, the greatest assurance I can offer to you is that of your lives, as your Tribune, yet he would throw all that away to hear you shout his name in the streets! What did you imagine would happen following this? You would leave the city to golden fields and more slaves than you can imagine, fools. The legions would have found and crushed you, today you were saved by a punic messenger, such a disgrace...

And now you must hope, pray, that the Gods do not exact a righteous vengeance upon you for the heinous crime you have committed. Pray that they ward away pestilence, pray that they contain widespread famine, pray that your lives do not end swiftly for your own selfish whims.

The tramp of soldiers feet echoed in the streets as all listened to the one remaining Tribune, their Tribune,

Do not resist the soldiers for the Praetor has stayed their hands for now, defiance will leave you slaughtered. Return to your homes and know that Titus Cassius Gerges watches over you, your Tribune.

And with that he turned away to search the remains of the Curia for survivors knowing in his heart that whatever lay beneath that rubble was beyond any saving.

[chaplain118]

Scaurus picked himself up from the debris. The mob had done their work well. Night had fallen on Rome and an odd peace had settled. He was the only one left inside the curia. Well, not the only one. The boy, Pallas, with his cold gray eyes, sat atop one of the smoldering ruins. Scaurus was no fool, he had heard some of the Plebs chant Pallas' name earlier. But why?

Oh good, you're up.

With the fluidity of a snake preparing to strike, Pallas leapt from his position. Flicking flecks of dust from his toga, he helped Scaurus to his feet. He smiled, but his eyes were just as cold as before.

What do you want, Pallas?

Oh nothing, just a congratulations to you.

Scaurus narrowed his eyes.

Congratulations? What are you talking about?

Didn't you hear? Septimus wants to install you as dictator of Rome. Quite an honor, if I must say so myself. Though of course, the occasion for such powers has been rendered void, has it not?

Yes, fill me in. What happened? Where is Gracchus?

Pallas pointed at a puddle of blood and a single prostrate figure. Walking Scaurus over, he kicked the corpse and revealed Gracchus' body on the floor.

Shame, really. I wanted to see what he would've done to counter my speech.

Realization started to dawn in Scaurus' mind. The mob chanting Pallas' name. Gracchus dead. Pallas with his new air of confidence. By the gods...

You didn't...

Oh no, no, no. Far from it, esteemed Senator. I've simply pacified the mob.

Why are you back here?

Well the Senate will hardly find me to be an ally after the little fiasco I've made in the Forum. Which is where you come in.

Blackmail.

Pallas clucked and shook his head.

No, no, no, Lucius Aemilius. Not blackmail. If the Senate were to see me escort you, the very embodiment of Senatorial authority, from the burnt ruins of the Curia, then they would realize that I pose no threat. At least not in the same way as Gracchus.

Scaurus was injured, but his mind was still very much intact. The words "not in the same way as Gracchus" set off alarm bells in his head.

What do you mean not in the same way as Gracchus?

Gracchus had a vision, but it was poorly realized. A demagogue's true power comes not from his ability to rouse the people to violence. Anyone can do that, and when done, it is a terribly ineffective tool. Each man will resist to his last dying breath for something he believes in. And we saw that today, or I did. No, a demagogue's true power comes from his ability to threaten his opponents with violence. The apprehension of violence is always far more frightening than violence itself. Violence leaves one without a mean of retreat, nowhere to run, and that makes cornered men. Cornered men have nothing to lose and will resist until they die. But threats, threats will leave you with the option of backing down. Men are willing to back down. Holding a knife to a man's throat is not the same as releasing a poisonous adder in his house and letting him catch a glimpse of it. He will fight you in the former but submit to you in the latter. And that, is where Gracchus has failed.

And where I will succeed.

What?

The smile on Pallas' face grew wider.

Claudius' defection to Carthage, Gracchus' attempt at civil revolt, all of these were direct assaults against the Senate. And they have both failed. Your attempt at abolishing the tribunate outright when Gracchus reared his head failed as well. But I, I have ended the tribunate. Not within the Senate, but among the people. I poured words so sweet in their ears that they believed every word I said before proclaiming my name like a god. And when I said that the tribunate must be abolished, they cheered, because they fear another Gracchus might rise and betray them the same way as this Gracchus had. I daresay I've taken care of your populist problems far more effectively than you ever did. Their fear prompted them to give up their precious freedom, their precious rights.

Which leaves me with one more question. What to do with you.

Are you going to kill me? Or threaten me with death?

Oh that is not necessary, Scaurus. We both know you're too stubborn for that. I'm going to escort you out of the Senate House and back within the city. And I will make sure that you are not harmed.

What are you planning, Pallas? What is going on inside that twisted mind of yours?

All in good time, Lucius Aemilius. And when the time comes, you will have wished you had not asked me this question

Slinging the old man's arm around his shoulder, Pallas walked Scaurus away from the ruins of the Curia Hostilia. They were headed into the City, towards the house of the Rutuli Aventini.

[dragoon47]

By Praetorian decree, those men who attempted and did rape any of the Vestal Virgins shall be clubbed to death tomorrow afternoon.

The Curia will be rebuilt using money accumulated by the Valerii household and from the selling of the traitor Claudius possessions in Asia upon its seizure.

That is all.

[dacder]

"Excuse me senators but shouldnt the Vestal Virgins be buried alive?"

[dragoon47]

If you feel that is the case then do it yourself and join the rest of the men tomorrow who get clubbed to death.

Lucius walked back to the Basilica, one of the few buildings spared by the mob, contemplating how people became senators who did not even understand Rome's core laws.

[dacder]

*Looking rather embarressed*
"Im sorry I am rather new to administration of any kind due to my humble beginnings."

[dragoon47]

Lucius stopped in his tracks and came back.

No matter Minius, you reminded me of something.

Those who raped the virgins shall also be scourged before the death penalty is commenced for forcing the sacred fire to die out.

He then continues back on his original course.

[dacder]

"Because of the days events shouldnt we perform sacrifices and do other sacred dutys as soon as possible?"
*said Minius rather meakly*

[dragoon47]

Lucius stopped again, he had reached the breaking point and snapped back into Minius' face knocking him over.

You filthy little Pleb! Do you honestly think I care about anything you have to say to me today? Do you honestly think the gods care what we do for them today?

The Daughters of the Roman State have been raped by her people, by all rights I should proscribe every Plebeian in the city for this outrage! An outrage that has withdrawn Sacred Vesta's protection! An outrage that has ended with pure incest and treason by the people of Rome against the state! That has ended in the burning of our Curia, numerous affronts to the gods and all out class-war as well as civil strife!

The Senate and People of Rome have been violated and I will see justice done.

Lucius stomped heavily back tot he basilica, uninterested in any more interruptions.

[dacder]

*The inexperianced senator quietly sat back down and thought Is that really our praetor????*

[dacder]

*He knew that if the senate thought he had no backbone then he would never get anywhere politicaly.
So he suddenly stood and raising his voice said*
"Filthy little pleb?If I were among that crowd I would also be desperate for hope with you as praetor!"