The Curia (100 BCE)

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Curia, Rome

The Curia of 100 BCE is now in session.

Magistrates

Consul

Gnaeus Claudius Tranquilus et Publilus Sempremonius Lucullus

Censor

Numerius Aquillius Balbinus

Pro-Consul of Graecia et Asia

Gaius Aquila

Pro-Consul of Iberia

Albanus Vespillio

Pro-Consul of Sicilia et Africa

Sextus Alexander

Quaestor

Lucius Claudius Libanus et Manius Furia Cordus

Tribune

Gnaeus Herrenius et Lucius Primus Marcellinus

Praetor

Gaius Commodus Graccus et Maximinius Regulus

Events

Mining Boom: A sudden glut in the slave markets has allowed for cheap mine labor. All chances for success for each mining tier are doubled.

Plebian Roll

The people demand even greater Social Reforms, several notable Plebians have been rousing the rest and they are demanding more representation, less power for the Patricians and a drastic increase in the funds allocated for public works and endeavours. (THREE POINTS)

Pressing Matters

• Client Kingdoms in Spain are demanding Roman military aid in their tribal conflicts. These client kingdoms, currently bordering the mentioned regions, have agreed to join the Pro-Consulate of Spain in return for Roman military aid. (Tarroconensis IX, Lusitiania I and II, to limit confusion, are threatening all border regions in Spain, currently controlled by NPC chieftains paying annual tribute.)
• Pirates from Asia Minor have made the eastern seas unsafe. Although the threat to Roman shipping at this point seems minimal, it is only a matter of time before the pirates gain more confidence and begin to spread throughout the entire Mare Nostrum.
• Rumors from Southern Gaul hint at internal strife among the Gallic tribes, for now this signals that Roman interests in the south are secure.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Lucius entered the Senate house and greeted several old men standing by the entrance. The Consuls had yet to be elected, and yet the end of the year drew nearer and nearer. The government would have to sit without Consuls for now, during the elections, until two candidates were sworn in. As the room became full Lucius stood to address the three hundred senators before him.

Fathers, although we lack Consuls our meeting has been called as per tradition on this day so that the business of government may begin on time. Although I will not call him Interrex... Several senators chuckled, knowing what was to come...our beloved Censor, Numerius Balbinus, shall oversee our function until such time the Consuls sit on the curule chairs. We have much to discuss already.

[Roxas]

Numerius coolly gazed across the room, only moving to nod at the mention of his name. He would wait to act when the debate was in full flow.

[Dark Storm]

Gnaeus entered, from what he had heard the elections were going quite well for him, however he took up his usual seat until the vote was decided once and for all...

[Pontifex Maximus]

Conscript Fathers, as we are all aware, several Iberian chieftains have approached our outposts in Spain with treaty proposals. I will read one of the messages now so that the situation may become clear to all:

To The Senate and People of Rome,

I, Casturix, chieftain of the tribe of Tartessians, do hereby approach you to pursue a treaty of alliance and peace between out peoples. For long the Celt-Iberians and Lusitanians have threatened our borders, raiding our settlements and destroying our crops. I place my tribe under the protection of Rome. I implore the Senate to send us aid. In return I shall provide troops and tribute to the Senate in exchange for protection. When this threat has been neutralized, our tribe will willingly submit to the authority of Rome.

Several other letters along these lines have reached us. Evidently some sort of trouble in the interior is forcing the larger Spanish tribes to seek plunder from the weaker vassal tribes along our borders. The Pro-Consul should act swiftly to strengthen our alliance with these tribes as an excuse to travel deeper into Spain. Our sphere of influence may be broadened if we act swiftly.

[Lucius Malfoy]

(void, reply below)

[Lucius Malfoy]

Maximinus Regulus, Praetor of Rome entered the Curia and took his place where the other Praetors would sit. His ears catch the words of fellow Citizen of Rome and Quaestor Lucius. Then listens to the words against the proposal by Gnaeus. He stands up immediately.

Though your words speak true of aiding the weak, Gnaeus...if we do not aid them, these Lusitanian and Celt-Iberian barbarians will soon do the same to our lands. It is better to accept the tribes of Tartessians and Romanize them. Giving us more manpower and a better foothold in the Iberian peninsula. Plus, it gives us more auxiliary forces to conscript from. As well as resources the Republic can utilize.

Maximinus glances at Lucius and nods.

Rome could use the breathing space and living room...the land would be ideal to farm and mine for the future of our beloved nation. Our troops in Iberia could use the experience in future campaigns. I agree with your words, Quaestor that the Pro-Consulate should strengthen our ties with this tribe, further our sphere of influence and extend our protection to them.

[Dark Storm]

Gnaeus thought momentarily, "I am of the opinion that this tribe in coming to us, has show their weakness, why ally with the weak? Why not use this advantage, ally with their attackers then take their lands by force? By the end we would have the land anyway and would not have openly declared war on the largest tribes on the peninsula. Though," Gnaeus conceded, "That does itself open up a few risks."

[Roxas]

Numerius stood for the first time this term, wanting to get off to a good start in his new office;

"They are not weak for recognizing us their as rightful authority; in fact they are strong for not acting so rashly and wasting their peoples lives by challenging us. I am of mind that we should strongly consider accepting and responding to these diplomatic letters...."

[Pontifex Maximus]

The borderlands will join the Republic anyway, or so they say. With their resources at our disposal we could have a just cause for the invasion of other tribes' land. But they must accept Roman commanders in the prosecution of the war.

[Dark Storm]

"What do we know of these Tartessians?" Gnaeus asked still thinking on what the others had said...

[Shadow141]

Manius stood up.

"Respected senators, I honestly have to agree with Numerius but we must look for some guarantees, that they will submit to us when we defeat their enemies because they are just barbarians, and not honest citizens of Rome"

[Pontifex Maximus]

I think, then, it is obvious that a majority of us believe that these opportunities in Spain should not be missed. It would be beneficial not to pass an official statement on the matter, however, and allow the future Pro-Consul to do with the situation what he will. I can barely ignore the shouts from the gathering crowd outside, however. It would appear the Italians are demanding things, again. I wish we could close the doors...

Lucius curled his lip at the thought of granting any more rights to the Latins

[Ozy]

"Nay, nay nay! A thousand times nay! How horribly despicable it is that you speak in such ways, as if Rome is no better than the barbarians you so proudly see as naught but animals with the gift of speech!" yelled Herrenius, his low voice echoing across the halls, as he looked down on senator Gnaeus (Dark Storm) with great dissaproval, bordering with anger.

"How, I ask, can we be a nation of superior men when we are willing to invade our neighbor, plunder their lands and take them as our slaves, solely because they are weak? Has your greed grown to such an extent that you are willing to slice not only those tribesmen, but to send good soldier of the Republic to their deaths? Only for a few more coins in your already overflowing chests."

he paused, and now, taking his eyes from the senator, he spoke to the House,

"Senators, if we are to aid in the affairs of our neighbors, let it be as bringers of justice, not death. I support the idea of aiding them, but only after the Proconsul has taken the time to investigate the situation, and found that their claims are true. Even then, I would support that our participation serves a diplomatic purpuse, working merely mediators between the warring factions."

[Dark Storm]

"Nay, nay nay! A thousand times nay! How horribly despicable it is that you speak in such ways, as if Rome is no better than the barbarians you so proudly see as naught but animals with the gift of speech!" yelled Herrenius, his low voice echoing across the halls, as he looked down on senator Gnaeus (Dark Storm) with great dissaproval, bordering with anger.

"How, I ask, can we be a nation of superior men when we are willing to invade our neighbor, plunder their lands and take them as our slaves, solely because they are weak? Has your greed grown to such an extent that you are willing to slice not only those tribesmen, but to send good soldier of the Republic to their deaths? Only for a few more coins in your already overflowing chests."

he paused, and now, taking his eyes from the senator, he spoke to the House,

"Senators, if we are to aid in the affairs of our neighbors, let it be as bringers of justice, not death. I support the idea of aiding them, but only after the Proconsul has taken the time to investigate the situation, and found that their claims are true. Even then, I would support that our participation serves a diplomatic purpuse, working merely mediators between the warring factions."

Gnaeus merely raised an eyebrow, "Calm yourself, Senator Herrenius, I merely present options to the senate, I do not endorse them, I do not go against them so adamantly as too make a fool of myself. I seek for the Senate to see every possible side of the argument before making a decision, so that, in future, it can't be said that we did not consider alternatives. If we discuss our reasoning behind not choosing options we can, if criticised, inform those who may seek to embarass us of our reasoning against it and put forth a reasonable argument to silence their accusations. Furthermore Senator, we would lose men both ways, do not take me for a fool, I can see the options and I can see the one that would lead to more deaths. So before you whip yourself into an uncontrolable frenzy, consider every facet of the argument." Gnaeus sat, slightly amused at the mans anger.

[Ozy]

"I do not see how such proposals would be relevant, I would advise you to think them over before making them, as such ideas belong in the courts of old Hellenic Tyrants, not Romans."

[Dark Storm]

"There are a great many differences between proposals and suggestions Senator, I would advise you go away and learn them. I, for one, am all for letting the pro-consul deal with it how he sees fit based on his personal experience in dealing with them, however the options need to be made clear."

[Pontifex Maximus]

I would like to congratulate the newest Consuls and Pro-Consul for their recent election. We may now begin this session in earnest with our Consuls now in place.

[rathertallhat]

Albanus Vespillio enters and thanks Lucius for his congratulations and then speaks.
"I agree Senator Herrenius we need to investigate this matter before committing our selves to action. As such I myself would like to volunteer to investigate the situation, and gather a more detailed report on what is going on."

[Pontifex Maximus]

A fair suggestion, Vespillio. I recommend you depart at once and take up your Imperium in Spain. We shall send correspondence to you inquiring as to your progress.