Lend me your ears

[Celsius]

Sennius stood in center stage, and spoke with a smile

"People of Rome. Patrician and Plebeian alike. Tribune Gallus has gone so mad you would laugh at the sight of him. Plebeians, you elected this man. The man who at this very moment plans an attempt to overthrow the Senate, who have protected these lands, and protected you. The Tribune Gallus will try to rally you to arms to do his bidding. The Senate knows you are not stupid to do this. The Senate knows you have elected a less than pitiful Tribune to speak for you in the Senate. Tribe Gallus tells you all about how he fights for you. How he IS your WILL. I have heard him say this with my own ears. He does not fight for you, he fights for himself and his own ambition. You will simply be a tool to getting there. Do not let the Republic to fall to a man of this poor mind. Do not replace the democracy we have with a dictatorship. I thank you for your time, and may the Gods spread their blessings among you."

He stepped down from the stage, and bought some fruit from a merchant.

[RVFVS]

OOC: I know I'm not supposed to do this but these are special circumstances.

Gallus limped into the forum.

"THAT MAN TRIED TO KILL ME!"

The people began to notice the blood stains on both men. The color from Gallus' face had began to drain away and he was losing a fair amount of blood.

"He was hired by the Senate to kill me! KILL HIM! STORM THE SENATE!"

The crowd began to move closer and closer to Dalmatius. Gallus' supporters screamed insults at Dalmatius.

"The Senate has done this to you! Kill the messanger of their will! TAKE THE STATE BY FORCE!"

[Celsius]

Dalmatius remained calm. When he spoke, there was not a crackle in his voice
"Trust me, if I were to try to kill Tribune Gallus, I would have gone for the heart or throat, not a petty gut wound as he so himself inflicted. I did not support Tribune Gallus in the Senate, for this, he murdered all of my household servants, and burned my home to the ground. He wishes me out of the way because I am one of his most vivid opponents in the Senate. The People of Rome are not stupid Gallus. They will not follow a madman no matter what you accuse me of. Next I suppose you will accuse me of trying to kill Mars and Pluto."

[RVFVS]

"That hypocrit! The liar! My blood stains his toga and he says he did not try to kill me! The time ha come for similar liars to die. The Senate must die. Similarily this Republic must die. A new Republic will be born. A Republic where the people rule freely and with conscience! Where there is no poverty and all have land and food. A Reublic where wealth is distributed equally! Where you, my comrades, are as rich as any patrician!"

Gallus spit the name out so vulgarly that the crowd cheered as loud as ever.

"Kill this servant of your oppressors! This assassin! Kill him as he tried to kill me slowly! And when he is done, burn the Senate House!"

[Elendil of Númenor]

ooc: Oh come on, I bet he went to talk to the people in a toga dripping with blood...

“Enough!”

Rufus' voice rang across the Forum clearly. It wasn't tainted by anger or any emotion. He strode up the Rostra calmly and looked at the crowd gathered below seriously. A relative silence fell as the mob looked at him – and several senators who followed him there.

“Enough. I implore you, see reason! I do not look at the man who was
your voice – I look at you, People of Rome, for your mind is healthy and is not maddened by ambition and greed. Rome is – we are – the greatest civilization the world has ever seen! We are the centre of everything the gods have crafted! Our realms reach from the West to East and we are powerful.
How did we achieve that? We – and that means all of us: every one of you, every one of us – were greater than our enemies. We were wiser, we were stronger, we were greater! And why the past tense? We ARE all of these and more! And yet, as I look at you, I cannot see all this. I cannot see prudence, wisdom, reason. I cannot see civilization! Are we truly so barbaric? To curse and burn and kill ourselves? I feel shocked, appalled, disgusted. But then I see – it is not you. It is not the People of Rome who have gone mad, who have thrown away all that had worked well for centuries, swept away law and wished for the death of brothers. It was but one man.”

He did not even glance at the Tribune.

“Only fifteen years after this great Republic was formed, a new office was set up. An office that held much power and therefore meant a huge responsibility. An office for the People, so that he who held it, could use its rights to carry their will. But what happens when such powers fall into the wrong hands – when they are used by a man who has lost his mind?

This man calls for revolution – I see chaos. He advocates new chances, new life – I see only death. He believes in a 'New Republic' – what I see, if I look down the road he wishes to take you, is something much worse. Something horrible, something we have vowed to never let into Rome again.”

He did not need to continue. The audience knew very well what horror he was talking about. Rufus looked at the many people gathered around the Forum graved.

“We cannot allow Rome to fall into the hands of a tyrant again. Of course he speaks of freedom, speaks of things he could never and would never give you. I have spoken about wisdom and prudence – and there is also another thing: order.
Order, that drives our civilization – order that decides who will lead and who will follow. It is the foundation of our Republic. To cast it away is to bring anarchy, to cast away the Republic. And to cast away the Republic is to cast away the People. To murder the system that had stood for centuries, that led us to victory after victory. To murder you, me, us.”

Rufus adjusted his toga and continued with the same tranquillity with which he had begun his speech.

“Whoever denies to see this, is a fool. You are not, I know too well. And one man, no matter how clouded his mind is by insanity, cannot change – nay, destroy! - that, which had stood for so many years.
Blood only differentiates us on the outside – it might decide who leads better, and who is given more, who may take less... But it does not set us apart in the simple, but deeper things. Citizens, Romans, my brothers: we all want the same things, we all fight for the same justice, we all love the same way...
It is not ours to decide, what path we need to take, what fate is set for us. All we have to do, is to walk that road, to fulfil our destinies, wherever they may lead us, as true Romans.”

Rufus bowed. Raising his arms, and looking at the senators behind him, and the crowd around him, he said with a smile,

“Thank you, People of Rome; I suggest we all go home, and continue whatever work needs to be done.”

Slowly, people began to clap and soon mostly everyone broke out in applause. It wasn't wild, nor was it weak – it was just what was needed, what was deserved. And just as slowly, the place around the Rostra cleared.

[RVFVS]

OOC: He posted while I was posting in his domus...and you can't have that much crowd control. Sure some would leave but many would stay.

"Typical of a patrician! Stop where you stand citizens! I was attacked by that murderer and it is your legal obligation to kill him. This patrician dog tells you what to do! Kill him as well! Kill all of those who threaten your plebeian sovereignty!"

Gallus' supporters edged the crowd back.

[Elendil of Númenor]

OOC: Or many would leave and some would stay. You're character is a tribune, not a god worshipped by the Plebs. They have no reason to follow you if you act like a madman. And, the truth is, the late 200s was a time when the Plebs respected the Patricians quite much – it was later, at the end of the 2nd century, that revolution came to Rome.


Rufus rolled his eyes, a hint of impatience appearing on his face.

“Who's controlling who, madman? Truly, I still remember saying my final words a second ago: 'I suggest we all go home'. I didn't order anyone, and if you insist, People of Rome, you can stay here and watch the poor man bleed to death by a wound that was clearly not dealt by a man intent upon killing him. I'm sure his babbling is a much more interesting show than some tragedy – no, comedy! - in a Greek play.
But who gives commands to who, I ask again. He keeps his mercenaries around just to make sure he doesn't have to look as if he had no real followers! And I see those men do a fine job in keeping you here. Did he not order you, People of Rome, to 'stay where you are and KILL US?' What is this, some barbarian tribal sacrifice to some false gods? I think you might not know, Tiberius dear, but people don't go around killing people they don't like in Rome,” Rufus said, smiling sweetly. “At least sane people don't,” he added under his breath.
“You are no murderers, People of Rome! Oh, or should I call you cats, or perhaps, umm, mice? Your animal metaphors are so... unique, so imaginative Tiberius!” He was talking to the Tribune in a voice that suggested the latter being a very small and rather dim child. “Interestingly enough, I called out to you as Romans, as Citizens, as friends and brothers. I do not slander your name, no matter where you come from.
As for your last, ahem, point – well, I didn't see myself threatening anyone's sovereignty. You know, we are called a 'Republic' because power is in the hands of the People, not one man, and definitely not a fool. You know, that's why we vote for offices and laws, that's why we elect at least two men for every office, all that fascinating stuff! Patricians do not rule over you – the Senate accepts all classes under it's roofs, and we do not judge by blood. Only by deeds and ideals. Actually, in this case, our dear little Tribune is the one who judges us to be unanimously, oooh, evil!
Well, before this really becomes a bad Greek comedy, let's just all leave the matter. We don't have to be here just because a madman wants to kill the whole State.”

He stepped down, glancing once again at Gallus .
“Oh, and I'd see a physician if I were you. You lose more blood and you might even miss the trial you'll be facing when term's over!”

[RVFVS]

OOC: You do have a good point...but support from the Aristocrats was eroding quickly. And with such talk as this I find it hard to believe the mob (remember mobs tend to think like a hive) would not latch on to some of the demagoguery I am spouting. So alot left but I would say a reasonable number stayed, especially the younger citizens and the poor who stood to gain a ton from what I am proposing.

Gallus, in anger, snarled and leaped onto Rufus. He pulled out a knife and plunged it into him. He stood, dripping with even more blood.

"Comrades! We will storm the Senate House!"

Gallus rose and his supporters began to move toward the Senate House.

OOC: Your choice if you want it to be a killing blow.

[Celsius]

"Gallus! The law will hereby be taken into account!"
Dalmatius jumps on Gallus, and stabs him

[RVFVS]

Gallus gasps. He lies down, not dead, but dying. The plebs burst into a rage. They rip Dalmatius off Gallus and take turns beating him with clubs. He was thrown to the ground when he appeared dead (once again Celsius' choice). The mob picked Gallus' dying body and began to move toward the Senate.

[Elendil of Númenor]

Ooc: Sorry, the time of Rufus' death has not come just yet. I'm going on with all this for the sake of rp, but I do feel it's quite unrealistic...

For a moment, pain blinded him. It seemed to burn through his like fire and bite as ice. Even so, opening his eyes, he realised that the wound from the blow – though deep – was not dangerous, and in no way fatal. Clutching at his side, Rufus staggered backwards, away from the rostra and the mob. It was with relief that he saw, not everyone was maddened by the Tribune's words. Some of the braver and more loyal Plebs even ran into the mass of people, trying to stop them.
Rufus hurried to a group of guards standing at a door on the street. They were gaping at the sight in front of them.
“What the HELL are you looking at?!” Rufus bellowed, his injury more painful than ever. “Get together the city guard! Do you want a madman, to overthrow the Republic? And tell the Praetor to move his damn arse here already!”
They hurried away, clearly frightened, and Rufus collapsed on a bench, away from the deadly crowd.

[RVFVS]

Ooc: Sorry, the time of Rufus' death has not come just yet. I'm going on with all this for the sake of rp, but I do feel it's quite unrealistic...

For a moment, pain blinded him. It seemed to burn through his like fire and bite as ice. Even so, opening his eyes, he realised that the wound from the blow – though deep – was not dangerous, and in no way fatal. Clutching at his side, Rufus staggered backwards, away from the rostra and the mob. It was with relief that he saw, not everyone was maddened by the Tribune's words. Some of the braver and more loyal Plebs even ran into the mass of people, trying to stop them.
Rufus hurried to a group of guards standing at a door on the street. They were gaping at the sight in front of them.
“What the HELL are you looking at?!” Rufus bellowed, his injury more painful than ever. “Get together the city guard! Do you want a madman, to overthrow the Republic? And tell the Praetor to move his damn arse here already!”
They hurried away, clearly frightened, and Rufus collapsed on a bench, away from the deadly crowd.

OOC: maybe so but its fun.

Caesar approached Rufus. He had been watching from afar.

"He has gone mad. But Dalmatius did try to kill him. I doubt he will live for much longer he has many wounds. Do you want help, Senator?"

[Elendil of Númenor]

Rufus looked up furiously.
“Well, it was a damn nice idea of Dalmatius to kill him after what he's done!” Frowning, Rufus surveyed the man in front of him. “Well yes, some help wouldn't hurt. Who are you, anyway?”

[RVFVS]

Rufus looked up furiously.
“Well, it was a damn nice idea of Dalmatius to kill him after what he's done!” Frowning, Rufus surveyed the man in front of him. “Well yes, some help wouldn't hurt. Who are you, anyway?”

"Tiberius Julius Caesar. I will escort you back to your house."

Caesar lifted Rufus up and draped him around his back. He made his way toward the Palantine Hill.

[Celsius]

Dalmatius was lying on the platform, bleeding and unconscious.

[Maximus Macro]

Maximus and his 2 guards where just leaving his domus on the via appia. when they suddenly hear screams comming from the distance.they quickly run in the direction of the noice.terrifyd citizens pass them while they come closer and closer.they arrive to late the furious crowd was already moving in the direction of the senate.the ground is litered with wounded.Maximus ordered his guards to unsheat there swords.when he suddenly slipped and barely remained on his feet.he looks down and sees a man lanying on his back horriblly beaten and bleading from the head.Maximus gasps,he notices the purple band on the mans toga.This is a senator maximus shouted turn him over!!on of maximus guards turnes the body.He instantly recognised the man lying in frontof him it was Dalmatius a well known senator.maximus felt his neck and felt a very weak pulse.Get this man to my domus and get a churgion.his two guards picked up the man and headed to Maximus house.Maximus followed the road to the sanate house the noice of the crowds was getting deafening.