[Place-holder title]MAKEDONIA: An EB Inspired tale...

[satalexton]

Korinthos Uprising -Part 7-
"You're no barbaroi"

“Congratulations Andriskos, you'll be seeing our senators.”
“...”
“The elders are interested in your intrigues, as well as deciding your method of death.”
“...”
“Merchants from Sinae spoke of a very interesting method, involving the tying of your limbs to chariots...”
“...”

It has been three weeks. Chained to a long wooden stake by his wrists, Andriskos is being ushered through the wilderness like cattle. The blistering heat from the Mediterranean sun bears down upon his back, angry pink patches form as the sun-burnt skin on his back peel and flake. His tunic reduced to mere rags as his captors lash him with their whips, pushing him to keep up with the caravan of prisoners. Desperation, hatred and exhaustion rendered him silent despite the constant taunt of the Romans. They would be in Roma by now if they went by sea, but the Roman's barbarism compel them to invent grueling methods to demoralize and torture their prisoners. They just reached the foot of the mountains of western Kilikia, Italia is still months away if they go on at this pace.

Lucius and his cronies are clearly not in any hurry, despite the senate's urges. The Proconsol has his powers afterall. Every night he and his barbaric minions would entertain themselves by abusing their dominion over their prisoners, such as forcing them to create a man-chain (which Lucius would occasionally join in at the end, at the front if he was drunk) or forcing the poor exhausted souls to dance upon hot coal. Afterwards which they would drink themselves silly with a beverage they called 'barley-wine', which smell suspiciously like beer, then proceed to vomit all over the camp. By the time the ordeal ended, the night would be half gone, and many of the prisoners would not be in the condition to peacefully enter their precious slumber. Day after day, fatigue overwhelms a few, taking them to the underworld. Andriskos, barely alive, would close his eyes and force himself to take whatever rest he could, no matter how painful his hind was. He had no intention of dying without howling at the barbaroi senate.

“Barbaroi.” Andriskos spatted. It was the end of another day of whipping and torment, and he could barely sit properly on the Galatioi mountains. “Ironic statement there, you finally spoke,” one of the prisoners remarked, “you're literally surrounded by 'barbaroi' so to speak. I'm a thraikioi, all of us are.” Several of the prisoners lifted their heads and chorted, “Aye.” Flustered, Andriskos quickly replied, “Not you lot, them.” Pointing at the tents with his sharp glance, he continued. “I'm a Makedones, I've seen much of thraikioi valour in my life. You're no barbaroi.”

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can a mod update the thread title for me please?