germanicus12
First Citizen of Rome
Marcus sighed, it was a long ride from Rome to his Uncle's estate in Africa, but he straightened when the buildings came into view, the grand city of Cathage, rebuilt by Romans like Marcus' uncle as a trading center for Rome desiring African animals in their arena's. This is what Marcus's uncle specializes in and he has grown wealthy over it, and was just through sheer luck and shrewd negotiations with Sulla's supporters that allowed him to survive in Africa in a position of power. Marcus had no issue with his uncle doing what he had to do to survive, Uncle Tiberius was his only remaining family member and he had no wife or children.
Marcus entered Carthage, the day was hot and the citizens were few in the streets, allowing Marcus to reach his Uncle's villa in rapid time. He sighed, he hasn't seen his uncle since Tiberius visited him in Macedonia, before the assassination of Marcus's family and he wondered how much his uncle has changed in the years since. A slave stood nearby and Marcus hailed the man, "You, slave! Where is your master?" The slave straightened and fearfully looked behind him, saw a Roman Aristocrat with a bodyguard, a scarred Roman wearing the armor of a Centurion. He whimpered, and fell to his knees, "I didn't know they were going to do it! Please forgive me master!!" Marcus sat on his horse confused, he looked up to the house which appeared well lighted and full of bustling people. He glanced at the land, well tended and maintained, he spoke to the slave again, "Quiet you whimpering fool, and tell me what is going on!" The slave looked up with wet eyes, and pointed a trembling finger towards the house, before saying softly, "They are in there, be careful master."
Marcus stared in confusion, finally he looked to his bodyguard, "Rufus, go to the house and find out what is going on." Rufus bowed his head, "As you wish my friend, I shall get to the bottom of this." Rufus motioned his horse forward with a click of his tongue and rode up to the door, he dismounted and loudly knocked. The door opened a crack and a nervous looking woman peered through, looked up and down, saw a Roman soldier and shrieked. There was a loud sound inside and Rufus slammed the door open and pulled out his gladius, then froze, there were slaves everywhere, all of them had blood and the great atrium showed signs of a struggle. The former centurion and the slaves looked at one another for a long time before someone screamed and ran towards the centurion, Rufus' training kicked in and he dispatched the unarmed slave with a single thrust of his blade. Behind him the door opened, and Marcus stepped in asking, "What did you find out Rufus?" Marcus stood in amazement of what he was seeing... Rufus, his loyal friend from his time in the 2nd Legion, standing against 20 something slaves. Marcus chuckled, "Rufus this is no time to play hero. Allow me."
Marcus drew his sword, similar to Rufus', but much more intricately designed and said to the slaves, "Where is my Uncle?" The slaves looked to each other, some wondering what had happened, while others looked relieved, a slave stepped forward, guarded by two smaller slaves, the first slave spoke, "Master, your Uncle is dead, killed by the slaves you see on the other side of this atrium, we have been fighting them and trying to save your Uncle, but he died just moments before you arrived. I am sorry master." Marcus stared in disbelief, "My uncle dead? It can't be... he was a Legion commander, he defeated King Jugurtha of Numidia." Marcus trembled slightly, Rufus shouted the slaves to disperse, those loyal to Tiberius heeded and lay down their weapons and knelt to the side. Those who did not crowded together near the end of the atrium staring defiantly at the scarred ex Centurion. Rufus scowled, still in his splendid uniform, he stepped forward and shouted, "I am Rufus Titus Longinus, I am a former Chief Centurion of the 2nd Legion and served under Lucius Scipio in Hispania. I also had the honor of following my commander, Marcus Cornelius Scipio here, against a fortified Spanish town during his brief tenure in the Legions and I have seen him fight. You would be wise to lay down your weapons and surrender before you die." The slaves glanced at each other some appearing to believe Rufus and lay down their arms, but some of the more stronger ones threatened those into staying in the fight.
Rufus sighed, he glanced at his former commander, Marcus was looking at his Uncles body, brought out by 2 slaves and appeared to be regaining some of his famous steel nerves. "You ready, Tribune?" Marcus looked up at remembrance of his old title, and suddenly found him transformed into a warrior, he gripped his gladius and strolled over to the edge of the atrium, he stared into the crowd of condemned men and growled. He turned and faced the loyal slaves, "I will grant you freedom if you will join me." 8 Slaves stood up and slowly grabbed their weapons, and stood behind Marcus and Rufus. The leader of the condemned slaves, numbering 15, simply smirked and shouted "Charge!"
The battle only lasted 5 minutes and Marcus and Rufus found themselves calming down with a jug of wine from the cellar as the loyal slaves ran around dragging bodies away and cleaning the place up. Marcus stood and motioned for the slaves who fought on his side, now numbering 3, to join him. "You have fought with honor and helped avenge my Uncle's death. You are free." He personally shook each of their hands and gave them each a bag with 1,000 sesterces found in his uncle's room. He watched the former slaves make their way into the city before he turned and spoke to the remaining slaves, "I will now take over my Uncle's estates and operations in Africa, you are all now in my employ and I want to see this villa cleaned up and ready for the my arrival, as I will be checking on other issues. Proceed." The slaves scurried about and began preparations.
Marcus first visited the Garrison Commander of Carthage and informed him of the battle that took place within his city. The Garrison commander appeared impressed but also apologized profusely that his guards did not catch the crime earlier. Marcus simply told him that there was nothing he could have done and that he was grateful for all his guards do to keep the city safe. Afterwards Marcus went to the docks to inspect his Uncle's fleet of merchant ships, specially outfitted to carry Lions, leopards, elephants and other goods Rome desired for their games. Satisfied, Marcus and Rufus went back to the villa to relax.
Marcus entered Carthage, the day was hot and the citizens were few in the streets, allowing Marcus to reach his Uncle's villa in rapid time. He sighed, he hasn't seen his uncle since Tiberius visited him in Macedonia, before the assassination of Marcus's family and he wondered how much his uncle has changed in the years since. A slave stood nearby and Marcus hailed the man, "You, slave! Where is your master?" The slave straightened and fearfully looked behind him, saw a Roman Aristocrat with a bodyguard, a scarred Roman wearing the armor of a Centurion. He whimpered, and fell to his knees, "I didn't know they were going to do it! Please forgive me master!!" Marcus sat on his horse confused, he looked up to the house which appeared well lighted and full of bustling people. He glanced at the land, well tended and maintained, he spoke to the slave again, "Quiet you whimpering fool, and tell me what is going on!" The slave looked up with wet eyes, and pointed a trembling finger towards the house, before saying softly, "They are in there, be careful master."
Marcus stared in confusion, finally he looked to his bodyguard, "Rufus, go to the house and find out what is going on." Rufus bowed his head, "As you wish my friend, I shall get to the bottom of this." Rufus motioned his horse forward with a click of his tongue and rode up to the door, he dismounted and loudly knocked. The door opened a crack and a nervous looking woman peered through, looked up and down, saw a Roman soldier and shrieked. There was a loud sound inside and Rufus slammed the door open and pulled out his gladius, then froze, there were slaves everywhere, all of them had blood and the great atrium showed signs of a struggle. The former centurion and the slaves looked at one another for a long time before someone screamed and ran towards the centurion, Rufus' training kicked in and he dispatched the unarmed slave with a single thrust of his blade. Behind him the door opened, and Marcus stepped in asking, "What did you find out Rufus?" Marcus stood in amazement of what he was seeing... Rufus, his loyal friend from his time in the 2nd Legion, standing against 20 something slaves. Marcus chuckled, "Rufus this is no time to play hero. Allow me."
Marcus drew his sword, similar to Rufus', but much more intricately designed and said to the slaves, "Where is my Uncle?" The slaves looked to each other, some wondering what had happened, while others looked relieved, a slave stepped forward, guarded by two smaller slaves, the first slave spoke, "Master, your Uncle is dead, killed by the slaves you see on the other side of this atrium, we have been fighting them and trying to save your Uncle, but he died just moments before you arrived. I am sorry master." Marcus stared in disbelief, "My uncle dead? It can't be... he was a Legion commander, he defeated King Jugurtha of Numidia." Marcus trembled slightly, Rufus shouted the slaves to disperse, those loyal to Tiberius heeded and lay down their weapons and knelt to the side. Those who did not crowded together near the end of the atrium staring defiantly at the scarred ex Centurion. Rufus scowled, still in his splendid uniform, he stepped forward and shouted, "I am Rufus Titus Longinus, I am a former Chief Centurion of the 2nd Legion and served under Lucius Scipio in Hispania. I also had the honor of following my commander, Marcus Cornelius Scipio here, against a fortified Spanish town during his brief tenure in the Legions and I have seen him fight. You would be wise to lay down your weapons and surrender before you die." The slaves glanced at each other some appearing to believe Rufus and lay down their arms, but some of the more stronger ones threatened those into staying in the fight.
Rufus sighed, he glanced at his former commander, Marcus was looking at his Uncles body, brought out by 2 slaves and appeared to be regaining some of his famous steel nerves. "You ready, Tribune?" Marcus looked up at remembrance of his old title, and suddenly found him transformed into a warrior, he gripped his gladius and strolled over to the edge of the atrium, he stared into the crowd of condemned men and growled. He turned and faced the loyal slaves, "I will grant you freedom if you will join me." 8 Slaves stood up and slowly grabbed their weapons, and stood behind Marcus and Rufus. The leader of the condemned slaves, numbering 15, simply smirked and shouted "Charge!"
The battle only lasted 5 minutes and Marcus and Rufus found themselves calming down with a jug of wine from the cellar as the loyal slaves ran around dragging bodies away and cleaning the place up. Marcus stood and motioned for the slaves who fought on his side, now numbering 3, to join him. "You have fought with honor and helped avenge my Uncle's death. You are free." He personally shook each of their hands and gave them each a bag with 1,000 sesterces found in his uncle's room. He watched the former slaves make their way into the city before he turned and spoke to the remaining slaves, "I will now take over my Uncle's estates and operations in Africa, you are all now in my employ and I want to see this villa cleaned up and ready for the my arrival, as I will be checking on other issues. Proceed." The slaves scurried about and began preparations.
Marcus first visited the Garrison Commander of Carthage and informed him of the battle that took place within his city. The Garrison commander appeared impressed but also apologized profusely that his guards did not catch the crime earlier. Marcus simply told him that there was nothing he could have done and that he was grateful for all his guards do to keep the city safe. Afterwards Marcus went to the docks to inspect his Uncle's fleet of merchant ships, specially outfitted to carry Lions, leopards, elephants and other goods Rome desired for their games. Satisfied, Marcus and Rufus went back to the villa to relax.
? I got a province too
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