The Fields of Sicily

**Pontifex Maximus** · October 13, 2016, 06:16 PM

Gaius Furius Sulpicianus took his leave from the proconsular palace, grudgingly, and took to the Sicilian countryside. The tour took him first to Hadranum, a town and farming land by the volcano Mt. Aetna. It had erupted not too long before, and the land surrounding it seemed to have been all the more fertile for having done so. Gaius had hear about the fertility of lands surrounding Capua near Mt. Vesuvius, and thought that perhaps it might be the same thing.

ooc: goal here is just to conduct Rp that will deepen Gaius' understanding of agriculture. The big picture RP will require a few rolls:

1. Roll for agricultural surplus
2. Roll for transport to Italy
3. Roll for successful doling among Romans/Italians in Ostia.

**Jokern** · October 15, 2016, 03:32 PM

Publius Villius Tappulus, with tablet and pencil in hand, follows his patron as they travel the countryside. He turns to the propraetor, eager to speak.

"Propraetor, I have thought of your words from before, about who in Rome has access to a transport fleet for the surplus from the Sicilian grain. There's only one man who comes to mind who has been buying a lot of ships lately, a lot of liburnas. Sextus Erucia Mergus, who is heavily involved in the mercantile trade. I believe he would have the fleet that would be needed for this endeavor."

**Pontifex Maximus** · October 15, 2016, 03:39 PM

Gaius considered his officers' words. "Mergus, eh? I have not met him, nor do I know him. Do you have a connection with him or his family?"

**Jokern** · October 15, 2016, 04:51 PM

Publius shook his head.

"Sadly I do not, the Villii Tappuli and the Erucia Mergi have not been in much contact as our interests has so far not had any aligning interests. We invest in the development of the urbs, while they are focused on sea trade. We are not on bad terms either, so with a sufficient enough offer of profit I am sure that he could be swayed to lend his fleet to this endeavor."

**Pontifex Maximus** · October 15, 2016, 05:03 PM

"Very well." Gaius replied, disappointed. "Make the necessary overtures and see if they can be persuaded".

**Jokern** · October 15, 2016, 05:17 PM

Publius nodded in response, writing it down to make sure he remembered it later.

"I would like to go to meet with Erucia Mergus personally to make the arrangements, so I would like to ask for leave to go back to Rome and talk to him."