The Triumph

[Pontifex Maximus]

Historical Context

Publius Cornelius Sulla returned to Rome at the head of three legions in a triumph over the Lusitanians. Many of them were in chains following the legions. The legionaries sang lewd songs poking fun at their commander. Sulla tried to drink in the splendor of the moment. IN the back of his mind, though, he could not shake the fury at the murder of his friend and brother in law Sulpicianus, the Consul no less. The legions marched beneath the gates and into the city, down the Via Sacra into the Forum Romanum. 2,000 golden aurea had been minted depicting Sulla's victories over the Lusitanians. They were thrown out in handfulls to the mob. The slave stood behind Sulla, murmuring something he couldn't understand. He was tempted to tell the man to shut up. This was the highest honor accorded to a citizen of the Republic, however, and he held his tongue. In his triumporal garb he was dressed as closely as one may be to the ancient kings of Rome. After today the clothes and crown would be displayed in the atrium of his home, never to be worn again. Finally the procession ended outside the Curia, where Sulla dismounted form his chariot. The legions filed in behind him.

[Dirty Chai]

Aulus Postumius Albinus the Younger rode a horse at the front of the 4th Legion, Victrix, dressed in his armor, recently cleaned and scrubbed to shine. But, as the triumph reached its end and the triumphator entered the curia's hall, the younger Albinus waited for the earliest moment that he could slip away - and when it came, he was gone, gone home.

Until then, however, he stands ceremonially in his place upon his horse, wearing the golden crown of a victorious soldier.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Maximinius Atilius Regulus rides upon a horse, leading the 2nd Legion, Primigenia, dressed in corona aurea. As the crowds cheered for the victorious Sulla, the young Roman had hoped to see his father among the crowds, Lucius, who was still present in Gallia. He had missed Rome deeply and yearned to see his adopted family once more. Yet among the people, he did spy his sister-in-law, Sulla's daughter, Cornelia, and the infant Septimius, son of the late Gaius. He sighs deeply, looking at the people of Rome. Maybe one day, he will return in triumph with a son and a wife awaiting him...

[Rhapture]

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius waits atop the steps of the Curia for the Triuphator to arrive. It was a very good triumph, the best since Marius over a decade before.

"Welcome back, my friend Publius Cornelius." He greets the man in triumphal garb and paint. " I am sorry you had to come back to such a tragedy, I know Sulpicanius was an important client of yours. I think the reminder of the power of the legions will keep any trouble at bay for the rest of the year."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"I brought all of them despite your warnings because I couldn't be sure of the situation so far in advance." Sulla answered. "Sulpicianus' murder has sullied this triumph for me, I will not lie." he added bitterly

[Rhapture]

"It is understandable, I did not know which way the wind would blow right after the events. But I trust you have the legions allegiance and Iulus is extremely unpopular, more than he realizes." Quintus commented.
"But this triumph will settle the populace down I believe."