Domus Cottae

[Gandalfus]

Character Information

Lucius Aurelius Cotta Plebeian Ranks: Paterfamilias, Senator. Economic Branch: Agriculture Age: 40 Traits: +2 wealth, +1 battle, +1 survival Bio: With both his father and grandfather having attained the consulship, Lucius is largely expected to tread the same path and attain this high office for himself. Gaius Aurelius Cotta Plebeian Homo Novus Age: 20 Traits: +1 battle, +1 wealth

Cursus Honorum:

Lucius Aurelius Cotta Tier I Class A: Be elected as Aedile or Military Quaestor Class B: Patronage (Can be from the same family) Class C: Military service/tribunus militum (optional) Bonus: Gain the rank of Senator, +1 to NPC interactions, +2 if Class C completed) Tier II Class A: Be elected Consul Class B: Be elected Proconsul Class C: Be elected Praetor (optional)* Bonus: Gain the rank of Ex-Consul, +1 to NPC Interactions (stacked with tier I), +2 if Class C completed) *Although appearing last, the praetorship was a step in the cursus before Consul, so in this case Class C should be completed before any of the rest. Tier III Class A: Win a triumph Class B: Annex lands for Rome OR defeat a tribe/enemy/people for Rome. Class C: Become a patron of Rome OR be elected Censor (Build a tier IV building, OPTIONAL) Bonus: become the first among equals. Be warned, this might not be popular. +3 to NPC Interactions, +4 if the Class C condition is met. Gaius Tier I Class A: Be elected as Aedile or Military Quaestor Class B: Patronage (Can be from the same family) Class C: Military service/tribunus militum (optional) Bonus: Gain the rank of Senator, +1 to NPC interactions, +2 if Class C completed) Tier II Class A: Be elected Consul Class B: Be elected Proconsul Class C: Be elected Praetor (optional)* Bonus: Gain the rank of Ex-Consul, +1 to NPC Interactions (stacked with tier I), +2 if Class C completed) *Although appearing last, the praetorship was a step in the cursus before Consul, so in this case Class C should be completed before any of the rest. Tier III Class A: Win a triumph Class B: Annex lands for Rome OR defeat a tribe/enemy/people for Rome. Class C: Become a patron of Rome OR be elected Censor (Build a tier IV building, OPTIONAL) Bonus: become the first among equals. Be warned, this might not be popular. +3 to NPC Interactions, +4 if the Class C condition is met.

Income Information

Agricultural Branch Tier I: Basic Class A: Cost: 0 Income: 2,750 Class B: Cost: 5,000 Income: 2,750 Class C: Cost: 7,500 Income: 3,750 (Once Class C achieved, unlock bonus) Bonus: -10% legionary recruitment costs Tier II: Intermediate Class A: Cost: 10,000 Income: 5,000 Class B: Cost: 15,000 Income: 7,500 Class C: Cost: 20,000 Income: 10,000 (Once Class C achieved, unlock bonus) Bonus: -10% legionary upkeep costs Tier III: Advanced Class A: Cost: 25,000 Income: 17,500 Class B: Cost: 30,000 Income: 15,000 Class C: Cost: 35,000 Income: 20,000 (Once Class C achieved, unlock bonus) Bonus: -10% cavalry recruitment/upkeep costs Starting Amount: 6993 Denarii Income: 5995 Denarii (+3 wealth trait = 9% income boost) +2500 (trial) Expenditure: 7500 (upgrade cost) New total: 7988

[Pontifex Maximus]

Gaius Furius Sulpicianus, along with his six lictors, arrive at the home. Gaius informs the household slaves he is here to visit with Lucius.

[Gandalfus]

Sulpicianus and his lictors are admitted by several household slaves; they are lead to the entrance of the garden, where Lucius emerged, having apparently been sat in the outdoors.

"Welcome, Sulpicianus. Congratulations on your victory in the elections." Cotta greeted him with a grin, "Perhaps some wine, if you would care to partake?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"And to you as well." he said with a gracious smile. "Watered down, if you please." He took his seat and turned to his colleague. "We have much to discuss. With the Consuls soon to leave to take up arms in the field we must be ready to lead the Senate."

[Gandalfus]

Lucius nods, waving away his slaves who soon returned with the required refreshment.

"Indeed. The news that the Italians have finally risen against us is troubling, to say the least. I fear war cannot be our only option for the long term." Lucius took a sip of wine, mulling over some proposals. Perhaps, when the rebels were sufficiently broken, those who did not rise against Rome could be rewarded - it would send a clear message, at least.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Indeed." Gaius agreed with a coy smile. "But, we will have many things to attend to. Namely, I wish to bring the murderers of Livius Drusus to trial." he said. He knew this would be a bombshell. It would mean, eventually, trying Senators as murderers or at least, accessories to murder. "Drusus was a Roman citizen, and he was murdered within the Pomerium. We cannot tolerate this."

[Gandalfus]

Lucius leaned back in his seat, and scowled in thought. "You're right, of course. It cannot be allowed to stand that a man is murdered within the boundaries of this city without justice." With a pause, and a sip of wine, he continued. "Do we have some idea of where to begin? Hundreds of people stabbed at the man, surely we know one name, at least?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"We will questions some of those who took part and threaten them with prosecution if they do not cooperate." Gaius suggested. "Once we open the trial in the basilica, the public will aid us as well when they see our cause is just."

[Gandalfus]

"Naturally. The people were very fond of Drusus." Cotta nodded, remembering the man's proposed reforms for cheaper bread. "This... Enquiry will eventually reach members of the senate, will it not? We should be prepared to tread on a few toes."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Yes it will, and things might become precarious for us as well. We must be careful, I think." he cautioned.

[Gandalfus]

Cotta understood the potential consequences of irritating the political elite of roman society. They weren't pretty. "Yet we will go through with it, nonetheless. It may provide a welcome distraction to the raging war for the populace."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Then I will see you in the courts." He Sulpicianus concluded. He rose to leave

[Gandalfus]

Cotta nodded and rose, seeing out his visitor, before going back to pore over some documents in the study.

[Jokern]

Lucius Villius Tappulus arrives at the domus of the Cottae, requesting a meeting with Gaius Aurelius Cotta.

[Gandalfus]

Tappulus is brought in to see the Praetor, Lucius Aurelius Cotta, who he finds examining some legal documentation. Immediately, Cotta moves towards the doorway to greet his new guest.

"Ah, senator Tappulus. What may I do for you?"

[Jokern]

"Greetings, senator Cotta, I hope that your family is doing well in these troubled times. I did plan to congratulate your son for becoming Praetor at such a young age at first, though it seems that there has been some sort of error in the documentation of the last election. For you are the Praetor, Senator Cotta? It would be quite a scandal for your son, who is the same age as my own sons, to have such an important seat at his age."

Lucius chuckled a little before continuing.

"Anyway, I must say that the war with the Italians has hit quite the stalemate, has it not? The Consuls should perhaps offer more prayers to Mars for future victories, which I plan to do myself soon enough. Rome needs to win this war and to punish those who rose up against her, but I do wonder if that will solve the root cause for this whole conflict to begin with. What is your opinion, Senator Cotta?"

[Gandalfus]

Lucius chuckled in return, knowing himself of the apparent error. He offered Tappulus a seat, before taking his own.

"To win this war, we will need more than strength of arms." Cotta replied, with a grimace. "The rebels will never surrender if they believe that they will be punished harshly. When they are sufficiently defeated in the field, we should grant those that remain amnesty if they lay down their arms, and then enact reform to ensure this never happens again. Italy cannot afford to tear itself apart."

[Jokern]

"I agree with you completely, though I fear those who propose the necessary reforms will end up like Drusus. Especially now with these military defeats. The war hawks will be baying for blood, and it will only spiral out of control into resentment and more uprisings down the line. I was hoping that you would see the truth for what it is, despite what the pompous patricians say and do. We need men like you, who knows when to kill the enemy, and when to spare him. Have you thought of next year's elections, Praetor Cotta? Our Consuls' terms will end soon enough, and someone will have to take up the mantle and finish this war once and for all and bring peace to Italia and Rome."

[Gandalfus]

"I do indeed plan to run for Consul this next term, to see through the end of this war if nothing else." Cotta replied with a nod, "Sulla and Iulus are serving well enough, though the current battles have been bloody."


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[Jokern]

"Too bloody for my tastes, though we are all pawns in the great game of the gods and can merely wait for them to bless us with glory. The Consuls have done good work in the field and we have not suffered a great defeat, that is true. However, the law must be followed and their term must end, hopefully with some great victory or two."

Lucius nodded in agreement, smiling as he straightened out his white toga.

"I was hoping you would say that, for I am seeking a patron for my younger son Marcus for the next year. He is a man grown and he must take his first steps into politics, and I myself will be quite busy in my campaign to be elected Aedile. If he was to serve under a competent Consul, I am sure he would gain great experience for his future service to Rome."