The Villa of the Aurelii Orestides

[Dirty Chai]

The Villa of the Plebeian Aurelii Orestides
Located to the southeast of Rome, just north of Alba Longa, in the tribe of Horatia.



The Plebeian family of the Aurelii Orestides are famously traditionalist, and seen by many patrician families as being dutiful and exemplary plebs.
However, the new head of the family, commonly known Orestes the Younger, sold all slaves but those of his household and now hires out the people with wages.

Orestes became Tribune of the Plebs two years in a row, and participated (from the start) in the First Samnite War. Sacrificing the most of all the generals in the war, Orestes lost his left hand and gained a limp in his right leg; He is now known popularly as "Unimanus".

Orestes' Points & Traits

Patrician Points: 0
Plebeian Points: 8

Gravitas Bonuses
+3 for being currently a Praetor
+8 from Pleb/Pat Points.

Traits
Skilled Swordsman +2
(+2 to duel rolls, +7 to Injury Rolls)

Equipment
Greaves (+1 Defense)

History
Tribune of the Plebs - 343 BC
Tribune of the Plebs - 342 BC
Military Legate under Consul Lanatus - 343 BC - 342 BC
Military Legate under Dictator Regulus - 342 BC
Praetor - 341 BC

Residents

Quintus Aurelius Orestes Unimanus - Senator - born 369 BC
Aurelia - daughter - born 353 BC.

Economy

343 BC

343 BC Income: Start: 5,000 denarii Senatorial Income: 2,500 denarii Magisterial Income: Farm Income: A(1,000+350*2) = 2,700 Building Income: Misc. Income: Expenses: -5,000 (buying a farm) Total: 5,200 denarii

342 BC

342 BC Income: Start: 5,200 denarii Senatorial Income: 2,500 denarii Magisterial Income: Farm Income: A(1,000-350*2) + B(1,000-350*2) = 2,600 Building Income: Misc. Income: 10,500 (from selling 70 captured slaves) Expenses: -5,000 (farm purchase) Total: 10,800 denarii

341 BC

341 BC Income: Start: 10,800 denarii Senatorial Income: 2,500 denarii Magisterial Income: Farm Income: A(1,000+350*2) + B(1,000-350*2) = 4000 Building Income: Misc. Income: Expenses: - 5,000 (bid for Sheep track) Total: 12,300 denarii

Assets

Farm A in province Rome II - bought in 343 BC
- Produces Fruit; 30+10% chance of additional 35% income
- 25 Plebeian Workers; 875 Denarii in wages
- 75*25 = 1875 - 875 = 1000 normal income twice-a-year (2000 a year).
- Produces 1/4 Modii of Grapes twice-a-year (2/4 a year)
Farm B in province Rome II - bought in 342 BC
- Produces Fruit; 30+5% chance of additional 35% income
- 25 Plebeian Workers; 875 Denarii in wages
- 75*25 = 1875 - 875 = 1000 normal income twice-a-year (2000 a year).
- Produces 1/4 Modii of Grapes twice-a-year (2/4 a year)
Sheep Track A in province Rome II - contracted in 341 BC
- Produces 1 Modius of Mutton;
- 10 Year contract up in 331 BC;
- Mutton rots after 1 year if not preserved.

Resources

343 BC

Grapes +2/4 from Farm A Total: 2/4 Modii of Grapes

342 BC

Grapes +2/4 from 343 BC +2/4 from Farm A +2/4 from Farm B Total: 6/4 Modii of Grapes

341 BC

Grapes +6/4 from 342 BC +2/4 from Farm A +2/4 from Farm B Mutton +1 from Sheep Track A Total: 10/4 Modii of Grapes, 1 Modius of Mutton

Vintner Business

See Forum Boarium Here
Alban Wine
Owner: Quintus Aurelius Orestes Unimanus
Availability: 2.5 Urna of Wine (2 possible Urna to be used)

Details: Wine grown around Alba Longa in the tribe of Horatia.
Grown from Aglianico grapes.
Very sweet and occasionally dry.

Resource Record:
From 343 BC: 2/4 Modii of Grapes
From 342 BC: 6/4 Modii of Grapes
From 341 BC: 10/4 Modii of Grapes
(2.5 Modii of Grapes)

Prices:
n/a

Sheep & Mutton From Horatia

Owner: Quintus Aurelius Orestes
Storage: 1 Modius of Mutton

Details: Sheep and Goat herds from the tribe of Horatia.

Resource Record:
From 341 BC: 1 Modius of Mutton

[Celsius]

Early in the afternoon, Horatius Claudius Quintillus arrived at the Senator's villa. As he approached he took notice of the lack of slaves working and middling around the grounds.

[Dirty Chai]

There were some slaves still, but most had been sold off.
None were working the fields, mostly inside attending to the Senator himself and his family.
Senator Quintillus was shown into the atrium and then led down into the far room where Orestes Minor could be seen sitting at a desk with some scrolls and three slaves pouring over the shelves of records.

When he entered the room, Quintus Aurelius Orestes Minor looked up from his desk, setting down his inked feather, and smiled to his guest as he stood.
"Ah, welcome, Senator."
He turned his head slightly and waved the servant scribes away, "That will be all for today."
And then back to his guest. "Will you take bread and wine with me?"

[Celsius]

As Quintillus was being lead in, he took a moment to take in the atrium. He himself had no room for such a place, but he admired the greenery without jealousy
"Perhaps just a small portion if you would."
He glanced at the large collection of scrolls and ledgers
"You must constantly be reading with all of this material about. How do you keep track of it all?"

[Dirty Chai]

Orestes gestured to another room where a table was flanked by some couches and benches and chairs, and began to walk slowly.
"Records, tallies.. " he shook his head, ".. even chronicles; Every year around this time the household has to go through it all with a comb."
He sat down on a sofa, and a servant came over with a tray carrying a loaf of bread and some wine.

Orestes blinked, making a tired look for a split-moment.
"No comedies, no dramas, not even philosophies. My great-uncle wrote a chronicle of sorts, but.."
He turned to his guest, making a polite face.
"So, Quintillus, how are things?"

[Celsius]

"They are well for the most part. A lowly tax collector here in the Senate with a tax collector for a father and his father as a tax collector as well. I think it will be sometime before I amass even a small amount of the chronicles you hold here."
He took a bite of the bread
"Though things could always be better. Especially in the Curia. I have not even stepped foot in the building yet I already feel as though I don't belong. Those Patricians are a odd sort of people. I can't tell whether I should fear them, envy them, or hate them."

[Dirty Chai]

Orestes paused, then took a sip of wine.
He was now relaxed on the sofa, but wasn't all-out lounging.
"Mm," he began after putting down the wine, "I wouldn't fear them. There are twenty of the people to each and every patrician in this city, at the very least."
It came out more as an observation more than anything else, a thought mulled over with food.
"Consider yourself in their shoes," he suggested, implying that they, the outnumbered elite, are likely the fearful ones.

[Celsius]

Orestes paused, then took a sip of wine.
He was now relaxed on the sofa, but wasn't all-out lounging.
"Mm," he began after putting down the wine, "I wouldn't fear them. There are twenty of the people to each and every patrician in this city, at the very least."
It came out more as an observation more than anything else, a thought mulled over with food.
"Consider yourself in their shoes," he suggested, implying that they, the outnumbered elite, are likely the fearful ones.

"I suppose you are right. If only the people we speak for knew their power."
He mulled for a moment
"Perhaps it's best if they didn't. For all of us. Patrician and Plebeian alike."

[Dirty Chai]

"I suppose you are right. If only the people we speak for knew their power."
He mulled for a moment
"Perhaps it's best if they didn't. For all of us. Patrician and Plebeian alike."

The Aurelian laughed gently.
"The system would be broken, indeed. It only works if they push occasionally, not always."

Waiting in the Atrium, Valerius paces back and forth, impatiently.

Orestes approached with a polite expression.
"Senator Valerius Poplicola," he greeted, "forgive me for my delay. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

[Rhapture]

Lucius Valerius Poplicola arrives after the elections, to congratulate Orestes. He speaks to the steward and announces himself.

[Rhapture]

Waiting in the Atrium, Valerius paces back and forth, impatiently.

[Rhapture]

"Ah, Orestes I came by to congratulate on your position as Tribune before the Senate met for the first time. I wanted to discuss how we could support each other during the coming year."

Lucius searched the man's face, hoping to see if he knew how important the situation was.

[Dirty Chai]

The tribune nodded, understanding at least some of the gravity.
"Well, I have no doubt we can come to an understanding," he answered without ceding anything.

Orestes gestured behind him, to a lounge.
"Come, we can talk over some fruit from my orchards."

[Rhapture]

Lucius, walks behind him toward the lounge and takes a seat on one of the offered couches. He grabbed a few grapes and plopped them in his mouth, enjoying their sweetness.

"So, Orestes, how does it feel to be elected? I heard rumors that you did not expect to be voted in this year?"

[Dirty Chai]

"Surprising, yes." His eyes narrowed, but he focused them on a peach in his hand.
"I put myself forward for the office, but I held no expectations."

Taking a bite of the peach, Orestes faced his guest.
"You've been elected to Aedile. Congratulations."

[Rhapture]

"Thank you. It was a weak lineup, but I will take it. Now I will have to put on decent games. And check on the sewers, always a pleasurable experience from what i have heard."

He takes a glass of water to clear the sugary taste inside his mouth. "I met with the other tribune a few nights ago, Horatius Claudius Quintillus, we discussed a few things."

He let the statement linger, waiting for a response.

[Dirty Chai]

"Ah, I imagine good Quintillus has agreed to a plan for the assembly tomorrow, the same plan you wish me to agree to."
He titled his head. "Assuming I am correct, what end does this plan serve?"

[Rhapture]

"Oh, I imagine a good amount of compromise, but we have almost always had to take it by force. The plebeians have walked out or threatened to quite a few times. Though that seems far too extreme now with the size of Rome. The patricians did force us through 25 years of Military Tribunes with Consular powers because they refused us the office of consul remember. So they have pushed us hard too. But I do think give and take would be a preferable option."

He went for the wine this time. It was needed.

[Rhapture]

"I wouldn't say we have any specific plan, more like long term goals. Getting plebeians in the Colleges of Pontiffs and Augors, would be a major one. More short term, would be getting plebeians into the higher offices. Having a plebeian Consul would give us a much better chance of getting laws passed, because of right now the Concilium Plebis laws do not affect patricians, so it is very much neutered."

The peaches looked tempting, but something was prohibiting him from taking one.

[Dirty Chai]

Setting down the peach, he sat up and leaned forward on the sofa.
Serious business.
"You plan to push them, then. You will get a reactionary response of equal value."