Diplomatic Mission to Syracuse by Marcus Atrius Merula, Sicily - 483AUC

[Merula]

Marcus rides his mare down a dune and onto the beach, he gazes across the strait, the deep blue water sparkling in the midday sun. He sees small ships just off the coast, making with all speed to exit the strait and into the open sea again. The small ship is closely followed by larger vessel, its sides banked in fighting platforms and shields. Marcus can just make out the men on board the pirate vessel, their shining helmets giving them away.

"She's done for master, those bastards will catch her within the hour."

Gala, his african slave, who had been a merchant of the Carthaginians until he had fallen into extreme debt and was sold into slavery. Marcus had bought him years ago to save him from the mines, the only reason being Gala had quite a bit of intelligence, maybe more so than Marcus in terms of arithmatic. He could also speak fluent Punic and Greek, so Marcus had brought him along. Marcus continues to watch the progress of the doomed merchantman as the wind starts to pick up.

"Well, at least we know the pirates exist, but the question is whether or not they are mamertines. And also what on Jupiter's balls is those supposed Carthaginian armies doing here?"

Gala reaches down and picks up a smooth pebble, which he proceeds to skim across the calm water in the bay. As he kneels for another one he speaks.

"Well sir, the only way we can do that is to cross this channel, and I haven't a clue how to get past them."

"We go at night Gala, at night when they are drunk on the booty they theive from our Roman sailors... But first I must send word to the Senate that the pirates are indeed real."

"At once master, I will bring the writing tools."

[Merula]

The silence of the night was punctured by the sharp cries of seagulls, Marcus stepped off the small craft they had chartered across the strait. Gala was already ashore, they could see the lights of Messana in the distance, a stark contrast to the blackness that surrounded them on the beach.

"We should have taken the horses with us Gala, it just won't do for a Roman Senator to appear to these pirates on foot..."

"It is a good thing then master that there is a village near here, we can get a mount there..."

"Good. We had best get going then, I want to be at Messana at dawn." They set off at legionary marching pace towards the village.

***

Marcus rode up to the north gate of the city, he was hailed by a sentry on the tower, "Halt stranger, why do you come to the domain of the Mamertines at this early hour?"

Marcus sat up on his mount and replied loudly, "I am Marcus Atrius Merula, Senator of the glorious Res Publica of Roma. I require an audience with your leader to discuss matters of state."
'I am really hoping they do not see through my bluff, I do not even know if the Senate has granted me diplomatic status yet!'

"A Roman! Ha, you arrogant fools think you own the penninsula and all its surrounds! Yet you are like a sheep thinking itself safe ina field of lions! he spits loudly, But you may have entrance, even though no normal man would dare walk volentarily into Messana unarmed."

Marcus laughs, "Romans are not normal men my friend!"

The sentry leaves his post and Marcus can hear shuffling from the other side of the gate as men run about, doing their various duties. When the gate opens finally, three pairs of soldiers come out and escort him into the settlement. With a hidden horror, Marcus takes in their gear.

Poenii. All of it.

The Mamertines were being given or sold arms by the Carthaginians! Marcus notices another man walking past with a Roman chestplate roughly attached to his midsection, looking torn and battered, a ragged hole where its previous owner had been wounded or killed. Another pirate had a gladius strapped to his waist. But most of them were decked out in Poenii armour and weapons, his guards wielding spanish falcatas, deadly blades used exclusively by Poenii troops and their mercenaries.

They finally stop at a house, his guards turn to him and gestures that he go inside, before speaking to Gala.

"Master, we are to stay here until summoned tomorrow, we can walk around the city, but not leave it."

Marcus thinks, he is in a bit of a situation, one that is fast falling out of control, 'The Senate must know of this!'

"Alright Gala, here is what I want done...." As he pulls out some parchment and a bag of coin...

[Merula]

Messana

The room smelled foul, an odour of fish hung limply in the fetid air. This particular odour was eminating from the man sitting in front of Marcus. The leader of the Mamertines, Gellius, was a big man with a greek beard, dressed almost completely in Carthaginian wargear. His cape Poenii purple. It was clear to Marcus that there would be no deals with these people.

"Why did you come here Roman?"

"You were raiding our shipping sir! That is an affront to Roman honour, and we wished to locate the reason for this affront"

The Mamertine leader laughed, "Simple Roman, money and power. The Carthaginians offered us a price to attack your shipping, and you people did not offer anything. You were so arrogant of your own surpreme power that you failed to recognise us as a threat, but now we have brought you into a certain war..." He laughs again, "and there is nothing you can do now to sway us from this course"

"What if I told you there were two full Roman legions headed for your city? What would you say then, what is Poenii gold to Roman blades eh?"

"Ha, words only Roman, the Carthaginians protect us from harm." He takes a huge gulp of straight wine, "I was going to kill you, but I like your courage, go back to your fellow Romans and tell them a storm is coming, and that we Mamertines will be there at the end to pick up the pieces of your fallen Kingdom!"

Marcus eyes the man with stone cold fury, "Roma sir, is a Republic, and it shall never fall whilst Roman hearts are still beating!"

With that he hastily made his way out of the mansion, and out through the gate. He bought a horse and immediatly set off for Syracuse, he was troubled however by the multitude of lights and campfires on the otherside of the strait, but he had more pressing things to worry about and turned his horse south...

[Merula]

Syracuse

Marcus walks up the marble stairs leading towards the royal hall. Syracuse was one of the largest cities Marcus had ever been in, the most magnificent of all greek colonies it rivalled even Roma in its beauty. but Marcus was not here to admire the scenary, he was here to avoid a useless conflict that his country could be brought into.
As he walked through the gold framed doorway he was busy working out just what to say to the man who had forced them to war. King Heiro of Syracuse was sitting on his throne at the end of the long room, awaiting his presence. When Marcus finally stood before him the king raised an eyebrow at the utter impetuous nature of the Roman, who had not so much as dipped his head in supplication before a king, let alone bow. When Heiro realised the extent of the arrogance of the Roman who stood there in silence, openly waiting for the king to start the proceedings, not he, Heiro decided to put him in his place.

"Why do you come here Roman, to my city of culture and light, if you wish to bring your own troubles here, I will have my guards escort you out of the city at once, your petulance offends me!"

Marcus stood his ground, and just stared at the greek, letting the silence stretch for what seemed like an age. He then spoke very slowly, in a menacing tone, articulating each word with sharp ferocity.

"Our troubles you say... If I remember correctly your highness, it was you who pertitioned the help of Roma. It was you who came scurrying to us in your our of need, seeking favour of a much greater power of your own, so that you may continue your drab existance in this city of fools."

Heiro was completely stunned at the words the Roman spoke, and could barely collect his wits when the man spoke again.

"I have come here to tell you to that it is in your interest that you should see Roma as a friend and ally against the Poenii enemy. You are not, in any way, strong enough to stand against us and you know if you try to befriend Carthage, we will burn your city to the ground. You can stand with us, or against us Heiro, but either way, we win." Marcus smiles, "I personally would like to come away from this meeting with a postitive message for my people, that the brave men of Syracuse chose to stand with Roma against the Carthaginian evil that is boring down upon her. And i believe you see that it is also the right choice..."

Heiro slumped in his throne, all was lost, today was the end of Syracuse as a independant power. He had tried, putting the two giants against eachother in a hope of regaining dominance over the island. But it had failed. All he could do now is lay down and accept the bargain, however much his ancestors screamed at him to resist, it was for the good of the city and its people.

"I see that...it is in the best interests of the city and people of Syracuse, ehem, that an alliance may be drawn up between our two nations. We shall be.... friends Roman, I swear it by the wisdom of Athena."

Marcus smiled triumphantly and held out his hand, in a fist, the signet ring of his status as a Senator on his middle finger. It signified the power of the Senate and the people of Roma, and as Heiro, almost weeping, bent to kiss the ring in front of all of his court, it told all that Syracuse was no longer a free city.

[Merula]

Somewhere near Messana

Gala is lying behind a grassy hillock, watching as the victorious army of Consul Corvenus makes its way out of Messana and marches south. Gala had recently given the Consul the letter detailing the supplication of Syracuse to Roma, but it seems the Consul either did not understand the message, or not taken note of it.

'I must warn my master, no good will come of this...'

He runs back to his horse and gallops south...

[Merula]

Syracuse

Gala arrives at the city to find it already undersiege, the Romans already building earthworks...

***

'You fool Corvenus, you stupid, utter, fool...' Those words were circulating around inside Marcus' head as he witnessed the advance of the Legions upon Syracuse. He was completely confused as to how the Consul had failed to get the message he had sent, 'Surely Gala made it in time?'

***

Later

Marcus found himself inside the main hall of the King once more, with the last remains of the Syracusian army. The Kings Guard had fought valiently against the rougue legion under Corvenus, but could not stem the tide of Roman soldiers puishing into the city. Many, many hundreds (perhaps thousands!) of men had died in the vicious street battles that followed the destruction of the north gate.
'Again Corvenus shows his ignorance when it comes to military matters...' Marcus mused, but that incompatence did not matter as the waves of Romans kept on coming, and now they were just outside the door to the Royal hall, battering it down with a wooden coloumn of some sort...

Marcus had tried to stop them, but the legionaries were battle crazed, the bloodlust not letting them see the Senator that stood before them. So he had to retreat with the Greeks back into this hall like a frightened rabbit. Certainly, Heiro was a frightened rabbit, the man had dropped his sword and Marcus could see a wet patch on his robes just under his belt.
The loud banging of the makeshift ram the romans were using was growing louder, accompanied by the second by more sounds of splintering wood. Marcus reached down to his waist and grasped his gladius, the one he had used in countless campaigns for the Res Publica. It was a comforting friend after so long without anyone.

Finally the doors broke down, and in ran about fifty Roman Hastati, wanting to be the first to loot the kings main chamber. They were met by a volley of arrows by the kings guard that had arranged themselves about twenty paces infront of the door. Marcus had seen enough, and without thinking of his own safety stepped between the two sides.

"ENOUGH! Ceasefire!" The Romans halted their charge, stunned at the brave older man standing between them and their prize. A curious sight, wearing a toga whilst wielding a Gladius like an expert. At the same time Heiro also ordered his men ceasefire. There was some tense moments of silence for while, then Marcus spoke,

"I am Marcus Atrius Merula, Senator of Roma, and i demand to see your commander now, ALONE!" The soldiers withdrew out of the hall and back down the corridor, then out of the smoke haze, Marcus could see the figure of the Consul, being escorted by his guard, coming towards him.

[Maiar93]

Marcus?! Here? Fool, you fool...

Marcus, what the **** are you doing in here? You could've been killed! We have laid no alliances with the Syracuseans! Your words are invalid, whatever you might say. Now, what is your purpose here? Why are you in the syracusean king's main hall? He spoke swift latin hastily.

[Merula]

Marcus sheaths his sword infront of his friend and Consul, "I was ordered here by the Senate! From what i know, the alliance with this city is valid as any, what you are doing here is in direct violation of that! Did you not get my message, my slave Gala was meant to get it to you? By making Syracuse a vassal, we would not have to fight on two fronts, as i told the Senate in one of my messages, surely you recieved such a thing?" Marcus is confused and at the same time, VERY angry...
"I tried to stop your men but they were so blood crazed in the streets here that they would not listen to me, and because i did not want to end up like the inhabitants of the city, i could only retreat the last safe place, here."

[Maiar93]

A letter?

Are you sure your slave really did it? I recieved no message. In fact, i was ordered to conquer sicily and that is what I am doing. Do not lay alliances without the permission of the senate. These syracuseans killed hundreds of my men from their missile fire. And now, the only ones left to defend are the king and his household. What should we do anymore? Your warnings came too late. This city is now roman.

Flavius turned to the King. He spoke perfect greek.

This city is now Roman. I offer you a chance to leave unharmed from this city, and be the governor of this city.

Hiero said back in a loud voice: I will NEVER be under any roman rule, not yours or the senate's!

With those words, he charged the Flavius's guards and the hastati with his own bodyguard. Soon, the two commanders were locked in a swordfight. Soon, the fight was turning against Hiero and he began retreating with his troops. With a flying thrust of his gladius, Flavius pierces Hiero's left shoulder. Hiero gave a cry, but his men were cut down at every direction. Soon, Hiero was taken captive and taken away.

[Merula]

ooc:woah, jumping the gun much

Marcus viewed the fight that ensued between the guards, the aftermath, and Heiro strangly refusing to submit, when moments before he had been a weeping mess... 'All my work, destroyed'...
After the Consul's men leave with Heiro in chains, Marcus walks down the corridor in a daze, and sits himself down on a fallen coloumn, with his head in his hands....

[Maiar93]

ooc: The city had already fallen, besides, in the battle i killed the general when he rode against me with his bodyguard

[Merula]

ooc:dont kill him though, in history the romans just made him be governor of the city. And thats what i was going to anyway, what you did there was just contradicting my earlier rp, read it and you will see. Herio felt it best to bend knee to Rome, he had no fight left in him

[Maiar93]

OOC: Yeah, i thought of making him that anyway