Chapter 21: Casting the Dice
Return them to their rightful masters.
Septimus returns to the Forge that season and combines another artifact. However, the peace only returns briefly to New Rome. The Senate demands settlement to squabbles once more.
This is the perfect time, Septimus.
Indeed.
Take your time, Septimus. Make sure you prepare antidotes, you're entering a nest of Serpents.
You're not coming with me to the Senate?
My place is here with the army. Good luck.
You decide to spend your time usefully until the Senate is convened. You go through your speech again and make a list of all your possible allies and enemies.
We're here. But there's still time if you want Severus to make a supporting speech. His words never fail to rouse the Senate.
Worth a try.
All these concessions seem very...valuable. What if I offer you 4,000 gold as a token of goodwill?
Septimus turns towards Valerius, whose expression darkens.
No. We will not compromise on that. Anything but that.
You've heard my friend, Severus. Take the gold.
In that case I cannot promise you anything.
Severus gives a dismissive wave. You leave his house in a foul mood, knowing all too well that without the support of this merchant family it'll be much more difficult to have your way in the Senate.
Greedy bastard.
We've misjudged him. He is too concerned with gold. Bloody merchants, let's go. They're about to begin.
The Senate is in session again. You wait until everybody is there, then you begin your inflammatory speech.
Fellow Senates of the four houses. New Rome is in great peril. Chaos spreads throughout the provinces - tales of dark magics and monstrous Formorians plague the countryside. This I've heard from the famed Sentinels and the common folk. Not to mention the recent Picts invasion which the Sulla army is proud to repulse. I assure you, all these threats will continue to haunt Eboracum and if we want to end it permanently, we need a sole, strong leader to survive. Me.
He used to be a commander, but he led his legions into death! His family was too weak to even handle their own slaves, who rebelled and destroyed their lands!
You feel the sour taste of fury in your mouth, but you know that it'd be useless to interrupt him in this uproar.
You mean the plagues that your men started in Quintus' province? No wait, don't answer that question. I've fought in more battles than you, and saved Roman lives.
Oh, you did...and you let hundreds of soldiers perish!
Did I? Ask the Quintus family, who lent me two of their best legions in the battle against the Picts how many men they lost that day. No more than thirty. And the Picts? Over a thousand lay dead in the section of the wall which you left broken in your territory.
You've won this round, Septimus.
People fell around Sulla like flies! Darkness and tragedy follows his every step! Who knows what sad fate will befall Eboracum if he's the governor?
Ovidius Caracalla pauses before continuing.
Well, I know. Augur, stand forth and share your vision with us!
This is bad. The Augur is from the Messala family. One we do not have good relations with.
Decadent scum... I should've let Pompeius die.
And what does this epic vision entail, O Augur?
The augur casts a frightened glance at Ovidius Caracalla, then at you.
Look at you, trembling. The Picts must be laughing at New Rome now...
Music:
Baldur's Gate
After a long pause, he finally answers.
The vision speaks clearly. Septimus Sulla has been cursed by the gods and he will destroy us!
IMBECILE!
He can barely finish the sentence in the sudden uproar.
Septimus, control yourself!
Fools. All of them!
WHO AMONGST YOU HERE STANDS WITH ME? SPEAK NOW OR THE SILENT SHALL BE STRUCK DOWN BY THE SWORD OF SULLA!
"For Eboracum! For Septimus Sulla!" roars Horatius Quintus, and all his allies repeat his shout. Valerius smiles widely.
You can count on the Quintus legions.
The Messalas slowly leave the hall, showing that they want to get as far away from you as possible.
Just you wait, Pompeius... A terrible fate awaits you.
There's no redeeming that man. Is that Severus? He's coming here...
Cornelius Severus walks up to you and bows his head. It's a clear sign to all his allies and family members that he will support you in the coming battle.
Don't let me down, Septimus. I've got my money on you.
It's a pleasure doing business with you.
I think we're done here.
I agree.
Publius Carbo greets Septimus outside.
I've heard the commotion and the Senators leaving in drove. What happened?
Prepare for war. We'll reunite Rome under the Sulla family.