Curia Hostilia: Consulate of Barba and Celsus

[Ozy]

MAGISTRATA IN ANNO 474 A.U.C.

CONSVLES
PVBLIVS HERRENIVS BARBA / MARCVS JVLIVS CELSVS

PRAETOR
DECIVS JVNIVS FELIX

QVAESTOR
MARCVS FVRIVS CAMILLVS

TRIBVNVS PLEBIS
DESIVS FESTINIVS BIBVLVS

PONTIFEX MAXIMVS
PVBLIVS HERRENIVS BARBA

[Ozy]

Now, Senators, I would like to ask the Quaestor for a report on our finances, as well as a plan for the troops he intends to recruit, or buildings to build.

[Ciisar]

I would also like to see it.There is nothing better than Republic Senators who working together.

[Raglan]

I would also remind Herrenius that we are awaiting the augies for this year.

And to congratulate everyone for who succeeded in the elections

[Ozy]

Barba went out of the House, only to come back soon after, this time backed by two hasipices, their hands covered with blood.

"Senators, I have consulted the gods will on this issue! The entrails of the beast show dark long stains on the liver and kidneys! This is a clear sign of the gods that there are two faced men among ourselves, in this city, perhaps in this very Hall! We need to keep our eyes closer, look for those who will try to destroy our Republic! They're not Calabrians or Greeks, but Romans, traitors!" he said, looking Pallas with inquisitive eyes.

"And it is our duty, as the working body of this Sacred Nation, to purge our land from them! Beware, senators! Beware!"

Saying those words, Barba left the room, leaving the Curia quiet, with his voice still echoing in the walls and in the ears of all of them men inside.

[Celsius]

Felix stands, he nods at Barba, and leaves the Curia to his private office.

[Raglan]

Consuls, since we are discussing further war, i would like to here a report on Romes troops and their positions. It will help the senate in its debates

[Ozy]

Barba came back to the House, this time holding a scroll in his hands,

"Senators, I present you here the state of our legions as of today,



As you can see, we still have a good amount of spare troops in the North, at the border with Cisalpine Gaul, and could bring those men int the war if necesary. I would however suggest that we do build a new army to face any posible unforeseen circunstances. As for our navy, it is very obvious to notice that we have a tiny fleet considering the amount of coasts that our terrotories have, so I think it would be a good idea to extend those numbers as well. After all, all the Pyrrhic invasions have come because we do not have a fleet large enough to deflect their invasions before they reach our shores."

[chaplain118]

How convenient, Barba, to find the entrails of treason and pin it upon me, no matter how subtly as you try, as I return to these halls. I see that few men here have forgotten the proscriptions I carried out five years ago. No surprises here, considering how many of your own families and businesses those death had affected. But, at the same time, I cannot help but wonder if these accusations are real or motivated by a political fear.

Might we not question you ourselves? After all, Celsus had crushed Pyrrhus once, yet it was not him, but YOU who came and declared that Pyrrhus had returned from the dead. I wonder if your attempt at singling me out for treason may not be an attempt at masking your own ambitious desires.

Senators, I grow weary of your discussions about my sincerity to Rome. All I ask is that we do not hold Cannae so closer to our hearts and many of you appear to so eagerly be doing. I ask we exercise caution when dealing with those men and not to get too trusting with foreigners. After all, we have found that trust can be a dangerous attribute when the person you trust had slipped a poisonous adder into your bath waters as some of you no doubt remember from five years ago when that Pleb was found guilty of attempted murder of the sitting Consul.

[Raglan]

Yes i remmeber, and least we forget it was also found to be under your employ that the pleb made his attempt. We all know why you and Herrenius don't get along, it was him that replaced you as Preator, and he that banished you. So i take your words with little faith when you question him.

But his ambitions you say? A man that is Pontifex Maximus, and Consul. Strange that you should critise a man that has achieved his goals of being ambitious.

But let it lie, that the Preator has not attempted to uphold your banishment is suprising to most of us that remmeber your actions. Now i am no fan of Herrenius 's, but i prefer him to you, at least he does not kill those that hold different political views.

As to Herrenius's report itself, i must question the wisdom in recruiting more men. Are they needed? since it is no small thing to take a man from his family and ask him to possibly sacrifice his life.
Though the increase in our Fleets seems sensible enough given the amount of water that surronds Rome

ooc; just though i would develop the story a little, hope you don't mind

[chaplain118]

Hm, need we bring up old familial matters, Aulus Statius? Or shall we remember that it was your own brother who carried that adder under his toga and let it loose within the waters? But like you said, that is neither here nor there.

You question his proposal to raise troops, I do not. Rome needs a strong military to bend other nations to our will. Besides, it is of strategic importance that we have at least a semblance of a reserve army in case our illustrious consuls do... ah, fail. Wouldn't want our Republic's gates to be wide open in that case now would we? But this determination for a navy, why? Why do you insist that we put men into the sea so uselessly? Wouldn't their efforts be better spent on the ground where they have control over their lives rather than to leave it up to the unequal sea? To develop a navy means to mobilize a tremendous building effort in Northern Italy as the only east-facing city that is in striking range of Epirus is Cannae. And were we to begin construction in the north, it will be months, nay, years before we can even begin considering building a navy. The problem with Pyrrhus and Cannae must be dealt with now. If you suggest raising a Navy on the western side of Italy, then we must cross considerable coasts, all held by foreign powers who are more than capable of sinking our ships.

Your suggestions for a stronger navy will fall upon deaf ears so long as I am in this chamber, as too shall your questioning of the prudent idea of recruiting more troops.

ooc: took some liberties there

[Ozy]

"How brave of you to come here and throw accusations on everyman who rightfully opposes your return to this Halls, Rutulus! The criminal reflecting his sins on those who are actually sane enough to recognize the madness within you!

But let me turn your game back on you, dear colleage. Why do you oppose the creation of a fleet? Don't ships have the capacity to stop our enemy before they reach us, before they pollute our soil with their invading feet, before the land you claim to want to turn into a fortress is invaded? But of course an exile who has spent his days living among Greek cowards will certainly start to like their ways. Tell me Rutulus, how much have they paid you to come back here and bring our nation down from inside? Was it Pyrrhus? Was it some other Hellenistic monarch?! Sooner or later we will show the truth behind you and your letters, and when that occurs, there will be no power in this Earth or in the Heavens capable of protecting you!"

[Ciisar]

Augustus thinks and says.
What would be if when we combine armies to two legions?
Then we have a full strength legions.If Create a new full strength legion then we have
3 full strength legions.Then we would be able to crush the South.Share to both legions about 2013 men strong.I calculated the size of our forces, and i was shared by two,it is equal to 2013 men strong to both legions.Then perhaps we can create new legion? And we can crush the South! Or what you think senators?

I'm sorry.If it is too difficult what I said.Consuls can win him?

[Xavier Dragnesi]

"After careful consideration of the funds in our treasury, what is expected to come in over the next year and how our costs would affect that income, I have come to the conclusion that it is probably best to levy as few troops as possible, and wait for buildings under construction to finish before we commission more. This is clear from the state of our treasury shown below:



"I believe it best to take the Consul's advice, and use troops from the north to create the legion that was commissioned under the recently passed bill. Our relations with the Gauls and northern tribes are cordial and quite peaceful I believe, and I'm sure that even Aventinus cannot suddenly conjure up letters to suddenly warn against treachery on their part." He winks at Aventinus. "The best way to split the troops would be to take one hastati, one principes and one triarii from each of Arretium and Ariminium, and then levy a squadron of equites for 750 denarii in Apulania which could meet the infantry maniples on their march southward. This would leave both sides of the north still fair well protected, instead of having the bulk of the troops all on one side."

[Ciisar]

Augustus rises and says loudly. I agree with you senator!
But if we take the all Army out from Arretium? Is it begins to revolt against our laws and our Republic?
Please inform me,what units is there?Take out the whole army from Roma and use it to other legions.I do not believe that,Roma will revolt.Augustus sits and listens the opinion of Senators.

[Ozy]

In Arretium and Ariminum there two legions (2 hastati, 2 principes, 2 triarii, 2 velites), what the Quaestor proposes is that we take only 1 of those legions, and move them South, to Cannae, senator Augustus.

But why should we not recruit more troops? This war will demand more troops than we have ever had to send. I still consider recruiting at least an other legion should be necesary to make up for the losses our armies have taken over the course of the last year. Furthermore, I think it would be best to do those troop movements as soon as possible. I believe the previous motion presented by the Quaestor has been passed, and so I would encourage the Praetor to take his troops, and march to Cannae. I would do the same very soon, to get back to my men in the Apenines.

[Raglan]

ooc; i'm not sure if what you said was correct, when i was checking the save for xavier i saw some cities with less troops than that

[Ozy]

ooc: I meant Arretium and Ariminum only, im almost 100% sure those are the troops they have.

[Ciisar]

We need new legion soon as possible.But when cities do not revolt
we can take the Army out from those cities which does not need protection at the moment.
Then again, we would have greater legions or one more legion.
We need disband those troops what we don't need and make new ones what we need and what missing from legion.I mean if we have too much hastatus and we do not need them,then we can disband them and make those troops what we need to make good and strong legions....If we are smart and save our money then in Good case our income do not fall but may increase.

[Ozy]

The doors of the Curia were opened by a messenger who brought news from the Seas.

"Senators, I regret to inform you that we have been attacked! Not by Epirote troops, but by pirates in the Mediterranean! Our fleet was doing some reconnaissance work away from our shores, when it was ambushed and practically destroyed by pirates! They have stayed at our coast, and threaten to blockade our ports!!!"