Scaeva's activities, Italy, 486AUC

[Kubrick]

Gathering knowledge was his skill. But not like those dusty old bookworms did, no. Sertor gathered knowledge by following people. By hurting them. By forcing them to speak about everything they ever did in their miserable lives. He enjoyed and the pay was good, what's more to like? He knew secrets the highest ranking magistrates couldn't even imagine. He had followed many people, all kinds of people. But the target he was following now was rather special but did it surprise Sertor? No, the wealthiest man in Rome was bound to have many enemies. But looking at the amount of gold he got his enemies where also wealthy. This thin and weak old man had come up to him asking him if he wanted to make some money. The man even knew his name, that didn't happen often. He had many disguises. He took the offer but first followed the man who hired him a bit, could be a trap. Hanged around at a tavern all day long talking to thousands of people.

His target however.. Whole different story, that man moved around like crazy. Even lost the snake a few times. But a man like Spurius Geminius Scaeva could not hide well. Sertor arranged his thoughts. Where had he been already? We started in Rome but we traveled north, during that period Sertor lost him for a while but he quickly found him again. This rich guy felt too good for taverns, spent the night in big tents. Lucky for Sertor, very easy to find things like that. During the night at the tents he met with this other guy, well known military veteran. First Sertor thought that Scaeva might have been a veteran but no, he spent the shortest time possible in armour as one possibly can. That military guy, either luck, contact or attracted by wealth. Anyways, together they traveled further north. To the military camps located there. Very neat and tidy camps, nice big tents. He quickly discovered all of this was financed by Scaeva. The troops adored him, he paid them well and took great care of them. The soldier then started a large training program with the troops. Drilling them on and on. They even got Latin classes to understand basic communications. Most units got Roman officers assigned to lead them. They didn't seemed to care, as long as they got paid.

He left his legions after this and traveled through various allied cities in the regions north of Rome. Charity was it mostly, and linking up with people that had local authority. Winning souls. At least he didn't had to figure out why he was doing this. But in the cities he financed wells, small bath houses, improvised sewers. Everything to improve the life of the poorest of the poor. He even showed his face, probably so the mob would remember it. Their saviour. Not that he approached them, not even close to that. He seemed to have a phobia of plebeians.

After that he traveled back to Rome, this time he didn't rest that much he rode on for a long period and stayed over at this large mansion close to Latium. Back in Rome he went for a quick visit to the Curia, Sertor later found out through his little birds that he had nominated himself for praetor again. After that he went back to his mansion, sent out a slave and left Rome again. His little bird also told him this letter went to Caius Geminius Dives. Scaeva's adoptive son. And the biological son of the one who paid him. Strange circle. Anyways, they went south. And that is where they are right now. Capua.

Sertor sneaked in between wooden shacks and shrubbery, rich guy Scaeva was doing the exact same thing here as he did in the north. Winning souls by financing the whole bunch. From behind a bush he took a very good look at Scaeva. He didn't know anything, he had no clue Sertor was where he was and that for quite some time now. It gave him a good feeling to see while not to be seen. Tonight, while Scaeva was sleeping he would send news to his client. Keep me up to date on everything had been his orders. The client is the king. As Scaeva and his party continued to move Sertor followed him, sneaking from bush to shack, shack to bush.

OOC: Part of Joe's story, with his permission and his general outlines. Also part of my RP that I plan to unleash soon.

[Kubrick]

Sertor inspects the letter he had temporarily 'loaned' from Scaeva's office tent. It carried the seal of Caius Geminius Dives, the current Praetor of Rome. This intrigued Sertor, he found it that this man, Dives, was the biological son of his client. He had bribed one of the clerks and after he told him about the letter Sertor had asked him to bring it to him. Now he was hiding in the forest close by, using his sharp knife to skillfully open the seal without breaking it. He smiled as it succeeded and carefully rolled the letter open and started reading.

Senator Spurius Geminius Scaeva,

On order of the Praetor of Rome you are hereby re-called to the city of Rome to defend yourself in a trial, as certain accusations have been laid forward to you.

Signed by Quintus Antonius, personal assistant to the Praetor Caius Geminius Dives.

Sertor re-read the letter twice. His client had been expecting this. It was beginning, soon he would have to strike. Soon. He carefully rolled the letter back together and re-attached the seal with the help of a sticky thin glue. He hurried to give it back to the corrupt clerk and left as soon as he could to write a response to his client. The man would be happy!

[Nota']

Spurius opens the letter, not noticing the tears of paper that came off attached to the glue. He skimmed the letter, then read it again slowly, he had been expecting this for a long time. In fact Spurius was surprised that it had taken so long to reach him.
Quintus, ready the troops, Roma has requested my presence. They did not however state the number of guests I might bring.
Spurius smiled, but Quintus looked aghast. Sir I must protest!
No time for protesting, get the men on their feet!
Quintus turned and left the tent, followed by his assistant, a Bruttian under Spurius' pay and attention, for he was responsible for keeping his master Quintus under supervision, persuading him to do the right thing, and killing him should he choose to damage the cause. The Roman officers need a good Roman man at the head of their army, and Quintus was their unwilling commander.

By noon the troops were ready, swords and shields gleaming, for Scaeva occupied their spare moments with discipline and work. He had even paid for a cheap local dye to enable them to be distinguished from the enemy in the heat of battle. Spurius stepped up into his carriage and the column began to move, Spurius nibbling on olives and grapes to the *Thump Thump Thump* of the troops as they naturally fell into time. He would change to his chariot closer to the destination, but Spurius decided on comfort for now. It would be a long trip to Rome.

[Kubrick]

Sertor moved through the camp, the troops where mobilizing and everything was being packed. He just walked through the camp, no need to sneak around. With his peasant clothing he was a nobody, a peasant that traveled with the army and did the dirty jobs. Well, he couldn't disagree with that could he? He was a peasant and he traveled with this army and his job was quite dirty. He chuckled, all the men around him where too busy to notice it. Or him.

As he walked past a marching column he realized the danger of this situation. His client would be unhappy about this. An army to march against the city of Rome. Well, he wasn't the one who had to worry about that. Meanwhile he had reached the place where they gathered the horses. He told one of the carers he had to take a horse for his master, a high ranking officer. When they objected he showed them a seal ring from a high ranking officer and they let him take a beautiful and strong horse. He knew stealing that ring would've been useful. He walked with the horse into the forest and changed his clothing to a more respective style, a filthy peasant on an expensive horse didn't match. Now he was some wealthy farmer or something. He would make something up when they asked.

From a distance he did a final check on the army camp, he saw the big chief Scaeva enter his carriage and trumpets where being blown, the entire army started marching. Sertor smiled, he turned his horse and pushes his heels in it's ribs. He stormed away on his galloping horse, he had to stay ahead of them. He had to deliver some letters.