The Odyssey of Agrippa Menenius Lanatus

[Rhapture]

The Samnite army was preparing for a march, that much was clear even in the dark. The sounds of it were unmistakable, tents were being packed away, mules and horses loaded with gear, the general bustle of men moving. Freed from being tied up to a pole, since there was no battle to be forced to watch, Menenius's guard had been called away. And now he with only his hands behind his back and his legs attached to a stake, Agrippa decides to be bold and try to escape.

[Oznerol]

One knows when he is more less disposable, now he was even left without guards. Clearly he wasn't truly important now that his mandate ended and no ransom was accepted. Long months since he was captured and it had payed its toll on the consul, who was thin and sinewy. The senator looks around.

His legs attached to a stake and his hands tied... Let's try with the hands first.

Lanatus starts struggling with the ropes, even if that scratches his skin somewhat painfully. However he tries to unmake the tie. Since he was captured he had behaved well, nor a singl complain, nor a single demand. Maybe they were off-guard.

At the same time he tries to lift his legs to free the stake from the ground. All while looking around cautiously, watching carefully no-one's near.

I'll completely rebuild the temple of Liber and Libera if I achieve to scape!

[Rhapture]

Suddenly a loud crash and bang went off. Yelling and screaming was heard from that direction. While he was not fluent in Oscan, Agrippa knew when people were arguing about whose fault something was. The commotion led even more people away from Lanatus' around prison tent as he could dimly see figures moving. The moon had set early, probably why they had picked tonight to move, he thought. But it would give him an even better chance.

[Oznerol]

Noticing the commotion now Lanatus struggled hardly, with all his strenght, trying to pull the stake from the ground and untie his hands, even if that could lacerate his wrists. He looked around for a sharp stone that he could pick to cut the ropes with the hands tied back.

Oh! Fortuna, favor me

[Rhapture]

Noticing the commotion now Lanatus struggled hardly, with all his strenght, trying to pull the stake from the ground and untie his hands, even if that could lacerate his wrists. He looked around for a sharp stone that he could pick to cut the ropes with the hands tied back.

Oh! Fortuna, favor me

As he moved around on his ass, feeling for some sharp object, suddenly he felt something. It was hard, but it wasn't a rock. No it was a metal. Fortuna! But it was a knife from a camp food kit. This would surely work he thought.

[Oznerol]

Thus he tried to cut the ropes tying his hands.

[Rhapture]

Thus he tried to cut the ropes tying his hands.

After a few stressful minutes, the first ropes is cut, then soon after another, until finally his hands rest in front of him. His shoulder burn from being stuck in that position, but he can not get his feet free and determine his next move.

[Oznerol]

Agrippa, thanking all gods of Rome, continues to release himself cutting the ropes that tied his feet. In the meanwhile he looks around, maybe there is something useful.

[Rhapture]

There is the tent, with its stakes. The knife, of course. But he was kept away from the regular troops and it would be dangerous to try and sneak to another area searching. At last he sees one thing, a sagum, slightly worn and more brown than anything, if he guessed correctly in this light.

[Oznerol]

He puts the knife on his belt. He notices the sagum. Immediately Lanatus wraps himself with it, and walks away trying to act casual...

[Rhapture]

He remembers that they had camped in some kind of valley. Now he must find some where to hide before some notices that he is gone.

[Oznerol]

Lanatus looks around anxiously for someone might notice his absence soon. He looked for a crag, a cave, or even a tent. Also he thought that creating a distraction could be useful, maybe starting a fire and then running away, perhaps after looking for a horse. He was an expert rider.

[Rhapture]

There was a group of cavalry horses ahead. He might be able to get away quickly with one, but the tracks were easy to follow and horses had a reputation of whinnying when other horses approached. Did he go for the horse, or up into the hills and trees?

[Oznerol]

There was a group of cavalry horses ahead. He might be able to get away quickly with one, but the tracks were easy to follow and horses had a reputation of whinnying when other horses approached. Did he go for the horse, or up into the hills and trees?

He found the group of horses. Riding one would be much faster, and he didn't know where the Roman where. However they were easy to follow. But Lanatus would feel exposed on foot, and long months of captivity (even if not harsh) had payed it's toll, Agrippa wasn't as swift footed as before. Having thrown the dices and praying Fortuna he approached the horses. Once riding he would try to find a stream, to conceal the horse's tracks.

[Rhapture]

He found the group of horses. Riding one would be much faster, and he didn't know where the Roman where. However they were easy to follow. But Lanatus would feel exposed on foot, and long months of captivity (even if not harsh) had payed it's toll, Agrippa wasn't as swift footed as before. Having thrown the dices and praying Fortuna he approached the horses. Once riding he would try to find a stream, to conceal the horse's tracks.

While he was able to grab a horse quietly and there was water near them so that they could water, a cavalry rider soon noticed his horse was missing. And right when the army was preparing to move out. He went to inform his commander. Meanwhile, Agrippa needed decide on hiding or getting as far away as possible.

[Oznerol]

While he was able to grab a horse quietly and there was water near them so that they could water, a cavalry rider soon noticed his horse was missing. And right when the army was preparing to move out. He went to inform his commander. Meanwhile, Agrippa needed decide on hiding or getting as far away as possible.

Agrippa needed to decide. Now he had a horse but still he had to be cautious. So he decides to hide.

[Rhapture]

After hiding for the night, Agrippa knows he needs to head south and find the Roman army and let them know what he has seen.

[Oznerol]

After looking at sunset he knew where to ride. He supposed Samnites had marched North and that his remaining forces should be somewhere in Campania. He rode fast, resting only few minutes each time, to let his horse eat and drink. He ate some herbs he found and drank fresh water from the stream he found on his way. More and more he ride to the South, looking for the Roman army.

[Rhapture]

After half a day of riding, Agrippa came across a group of horsemen, who appeared to be Samnites. He needed to figure out a way around them before they saw him.

[Oznerol]

Instead of just concealing himself, as he knew it was useless, he called the Samnites loudly, but he spoke it in Greek:

"Riders! Forgive my boldness, but I need to know the way to Metapontum. My name is Cleisthenes, son Apollodorus, oil merchant, Romans ambushed me and stole all my cargo and slaves. And now I'm completely lost!"

He showed indignation and anger, like if he really had been robbed. Thankfully his Greek was fluent, in part because the long discussions and chat that he usually had with Philetairos, his Greek slave.