Sulla's Castrum - Corduba

[Pontifex Maximus]

Publius Cornelius Sulla, Pro-Consul: +1 battles

Legio II Italica

Unit Auxiliaries 200 Medium Cavalry Legionary Retinue none Unit History 1. Republican Legion founded 92 BCE 2. Defeated in the Battle of Tifernus under Consul Publius Cornelius Sulla after taking and inflicting heavy losses upon the Italian rebels. 3. Victorious in the battle of the Crossroads Veteran Status 1 battle won

Legio III Italica

Unit Auxiliaries 200 Medium Cavalry Legionary Retinue none Unit History 1. Republican Legion founded 92 BCE 2. Defeated in the Battle of Tifernus under Consul Publius Cornelius Sulla after taking and inflicting heavy losses upon the Italian rebels. 3. Victorious in the battle of the Crossroads Veteran Status 1 battle won

Legio IV Italica

Unit Auxiliaries 200 Medium Cavalry Legionary Retinue none Unit History 1. Republican Legion founded 92 BCE 2. Victorious in Battle of Sutrium under Gauis Julius Iulus Veteran Status 1 battle won

[Dirty Chai]

Aulus Postumius Albinus the Younger arrived in the provincial capital the very day this alarm went out, to his shock, though it changed his plans little. The Flamen Dialis' son went straight to the proconsulate, all the same, as told by his father.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Corduba was abuzz with activity, almost panic. "Albinus, good of you to come." Sulla replied. "I'm afraid we are in a bit of a state. Negotiations have broken down between ourselves and the Lusitanians, and they intend to invade." Sulla looked nervous. "I would raise a legion is I had the funds, but alas I do not."

[Dirty Chai]

Albinus the Younger was only in his early 20's; though he was quite familiar with ships and the sea, he was new to war, truly.
"I have come to serve in your proconsulate, as my father suggested and as you asked."

The heir to the Postumii swallowed a wave of anxiety, his adam's apple shifting along his neck.
"What?" he said, in a kneejerk way. "You do not have the funds? What about the province? It has a treasury, doesn't it?"

He had just arrived, yet now he was already sucked into the panic that was apparently sucking up this provincial capital.

[General Brewster]

A letter is sent to the pro consul

Salve,

the senate is debating which action to take. I'm trying to convince them to sent two legions. Hold on.

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus

[Pontifex Maximus]

Sulla looked bemused. "No, the Province holds no wealth for us. We stand to lose the entire province if we cannot raise the legions necessary for its defense." Sulla cursed. "These Lusitani have no honor. You may find this an eventful year." Publius said with a dark laugh

[Dirty Chai]

Albinus looked at a loss. He had just arrived. His father had told him it would be an easy time in Hispania. It seemed his father was clueless about such things. "What.. Why are the Lusitani invading? What prompted this?" asked Albinus, "How will we hold them back, proconsul?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"We have been at war with the Lusitani for 70 years." Sulla replied. "I attempted to talk reason with Punicus and dissuade him from doing anything rash. Instead I convince him to invade, apparently. He probably would have invaded anyway, if truth be told." Publius replied. "All the same, once the legions arrive, we will crush his invasion force."

[Dirty Chai]

Albinus wasn't sure if "war" was the correct term for what was before. Certainly there were no emergency-inducing invasions before.

"So we must hold out then until the legions arrive." Aulus nodded, as if reassuring himself.
"This is a colonia. The walls will hold." he said aloud, as if to himself.

He looked back to the proconsul as if with a sudden realization.
"That is your plan, isn't it? To remain behind these walls?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Yes, along with the 1,400 conscripts hastily levied to defend us if the Lusitani should become particularly aggressive." Sulla mentioned. "Though truth be told, I do not intend to die here if things go poorly. I will leave for Hispania Citerior if the Lusitani overrun this province. The Senate must send us at least on legion to defend ourselves."

[Dirty Chai]

Albinus seemed to the grasp the situation now, visibly relaxing as he now understood what needed to be done.
"I am yours to command, proconsul."

The oddest thought crossed over the young Albinus: the proconsul's son was now his brother-in-law. Was Sulla then his .. uncle? His father-in-law? Curious. He had never met the man before, truth be told. But he was family.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"And I can promise you that by the end of the year, you will have seen war." Sulla said with a laugh. He poured a tall glass of wine for himself and Albinus. "Drink." he commanded. "The Lusitani will not appear forthwith. It will probably be some weeks yet. Our Pedites Extraordinari will gather in the meantime, and I do not know what sorts of number the Lusitani shall be capable of fielding."

Sulla tapped his foot nervously. Even in the cavernous, palatial estate of his home in Corduba it was enough to make a man mad. "Come!" he ordered, and soon musicians began filing in.

[Lucius Malfoy]

A red-haired Roman would approach Corduba. When he requests to see the Proconsul, he states that his name is Maximinius Atilius Regulus Rufus, adopted son of the Consul Regulus, sent to aid Sulla in the coming conflict.

[Dirty Chai]

Aulus took the cup, sighing as he looked into the dark wine. He was completely out of his depth here.
"And once the legions arrive? What then? Does the tide turn there?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

A red-haired Roman would approach Corduba. When he requests to see the Proconsul, he states that his name is Maximinius Atilius Regulus Rufus, adopted son of the Consul Regulus, sent to aid Sulla in the coming conflict.

He is welcomed into the Proconsular palace, where Sulla and his officers brood.

Aulus took the cup, sighing as he looked into the dark wine. He was completely out of his depth here.
"And once the legions arrive? What then? Does the tide turn there?"

Sulla swirled the wine in his cup, an inferior blend of something originating in this province. "When the Lusitani break themselves upon these walls, I will lead the legions forth and make safe the borders. If I deem the Lusitani to be weak, then I shall press on ahead into their territory. This Punicus, at least, must be brought to pay for his insolence. I will capture him if I can."

[Dirty Chai]

"What if he is another Viriathus? That would be a long war."
Albinus had read about such things, at least.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Just days ago, the young Roman had been welcomed into the Reguli family, having once been the third son of an ex-consul from almost two decades ago. It came as a surprise when he was made a Consul's son once more. Yet he had garnered the attention of Lucius not because of his lineage, but his upbringing and talents. Maximinius walks into the palace where Sulla was with his officers. He salutes the Proconsul.

Maximinius Atilius Regulus Rufus at your service, Proconsul Sulla. My adoptive father, Consul Regulus, thought I could be of service to you in Hispania.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"What if he is another Viriathus? That would be a long war."
Albinus had read about such things, at least.

Sulla looked out the window into the countryside. "Then he underestimates me. Lusitania will burn and be brought to heel before I cede Roman land permanently. With three legions at my back the Italians could not withstand me, and neither shall these Iberians."

Just days ago, the young Roman had been welcomed into the Reguli family, having once been the third son of an ex-consul from almost two decades ago. It came as a surprise when he was made a Consul's son once more. Yet he had garnered the attention of Lucius not because of his lineage, but his upbringing and talents. Maximinius walks into the palace where Sulla was with his officers. He salutes the Proconsul.

Maximinius Atilius Regulus Rufus at your service, Proconsul Sulla. My adoptive father, Consul Regulus, thought I could be of service to you in Hispania.

"you're a new face." Sulla began. "How is it that I did not see you at the villa just weeks gone by?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

I was recently adopted, Proconsul. My real name is Publius Ritilius Rufus, a name that should be surely familiar to any Roman. I am the third son of that very ex-Consul.

Maximinius speaks plainly.

The good Consul, my adoptive father, felt my talents would be a boon to the Regulus family, under Lucius and, in the future, your grandson, Septimius.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"We shall test the consul's theories here then. I am told the Senate is deliberating our reinforcement. Once they arrive we will prepare an initial defensive cordon of the province " Sulla explained