Stories Thread

[everyone]

The story of Manivs Clavdivs Cicero

Born into a Plebian family, Manivs had little opportunities to excel when he was young, though he displayed martial talent throughout his childhood. Though tragedy struck when his Father caught a fatal disease and died when Manivs was about to come of age.

It was a conversation he has with his father when he was young that inspired him to enlist in the Legion; and he did so as soon as he was of age. When he enlisted, he was placed in a Rorarii unit, but Manivs eventually working his way up to an officer in a Hastati unit within a year through acts of valour displayed on the battlefield. Not long after Cicero's promotion, the then-Legatus Asina recognised Cicero's leadership and martial talent and befriended the young officer; which helped to propel the young officer's position upwards, into the role of an acting offcer in Legio I Apulia by 271.

Throughout the year that Asina was on campaign with Legio I Apulia, Cicero had loyally followed him around, most of the time at Asina's request, probably Asina recognising the former's talent; Cicero too had thought of Asina as a mentor, or an elder brother.

For the next three years, Cicero stayed on campaign, along with Legio I Apulia; having marched the entire length of Italia and fought many battles, he has finally been promoted to a Tribunus, and adopted into the ruling Princep's family, sponsoring his talent.

(I'll also extend this eventually...)

[Tiberius Claudius Marcellus]

Olive, rocks, and twigs

The seasons had changed and were beginning to change again since Tiberius hired Quintus Valerius after their paths crossed in the market place. The freeman had proven his worth time and time again. From day one he began taking his new master to task, pinching pennies here and there. Ultimately he was 2,000 denarii richer for it! It never ceased to amaze Tiberius, who was always thrifty with a coin, how many unnecessary expenditures he had been making. This series of non-life-altering changes had netted him a much more spacious residence that he jokingly named the "Villa Claudia". Though modest by most senatorial salaries, these new quarters were much closer to the Curia, boasted a working fountain in the interior court yard and even an almost-finished multi-colored and rather complicated floor mosaic being worked on by imported Hellenic artisans from Taras.

Tiberius' life too was upwardly mobile in the Senate. Though he had not partaken in any major legislative sessions, he had been working closely with many senior senatores by doing the legwork for the bills that they were to propose. While not as enthralling as he expected it was to make rousing speeches on the floor to rally the troops and slaughter Roma's enemies, he was still anxiously learning every bit he could from these more experienced men. Tiberius was privy to many a conversation that would ordinarily have been behind closed doors, and he wasn't sure if the Senatores realized he was nearly memorizing every word they spoke; but the information he gleaned was invaluable. This senator was sleeping with this one's wife. This senator was good for a favor. This senator favored little boys. The never-ending flow of plotting and scheming was music to Tiberius' ears. He was in his element.

Marcus quickly stepped inisde and shook the rain off his cloak. The warmth of the fire in the inner room was almost unbearable when compared to this unseasonably cool autumnal rain that had been falling the past few days. He removed his caligae and cloak and handed them to a servant. The smell of the day's catch lightly frying in the kitchens made his mouth water. Life was certainly better now that master Tiberius had cast off the yoke of self-pity and had begun to pull himself up by his sandal straps. Life with master Tiberius was trying at times, after all, the man had nowhere near the maturity or life experience as his father; but he was still a benevolent benefactor, if impatient and insolent to the core.

Just as he was heading to the kitchens to pilfer a bite, Marcus noticed Senator Tiberius escort a rather dirty and sheepish looking man out of one of the adjoining rooms. The farmer looked more root than man he had so much filth on him. He figeted nervously with his cap in his hand as he sought the proper words.

"I haven't the coin to pay you fir all you done, m'lord. Alls I kin afford is a chicken and a basket of eggs, what takes three days to fill."

Tiberius put his hand on the farmer's shoulder and shuddered inwardly. Peasants needed help just as much as the Patricians; but must they be so dirty and uneducated about it? A trip to the baths would be necessary after this visit. He forced a smile as he spoke,

"Good sir, I do this work pro bono as I explained before. You owe me nothing in return. Simply return to your neighbor and follow my instructions. I'm sure that when he hears how high the court fees are to take this case before a magistrate, he will more than readily agree to have a neutral third party assess the damage your cow caused his fence. Now, you've a rather long journey back to your home. Please see my valet before you leave and he will give you some food for the journey. Good afternoon."

The servant quickly ushered the farmer out a rear door as Tiberius turned to Marcus.

"Ahhh, Marcus, good to see you - I trust the rain did not hinder your errands? Foul weather, this."

"No, sire, it did not, and foul indeed - the cold can run a man through to his very bones!"

Tiberius knew what the old officer was talking about. He had been feeling rather under the weather himself ever since this cold spell moved in. If it kept up, the farmers' harvest would be affected. He made note to stop off at the shrine to Ceres for supplication later in the day.

"Sire, Marcus said, "I've taken the liberty to procure the services of a Mathematician I found working in the Greek quarter to better aid you in your studies of siege machines and the various sciences and architecture. After our conversation the other night and your expressed desires I thought it appropriate. If I have overstepped my bounds, please allow me to send him home and I beg your forgiveness."

Tiberius considered what Marcus had said, one hand cupping his chin and mouth with the other arm across his chest, holding his other elbow. The services of a Mathematician would be useful when it came to siege warfare. Tiberius remembered well how bored he was when Marcus used to teach him tactics using olives, twigs, and pebbles to represent armies. Oh, how tiresome it was, if only he had paid more attention! This new learning could also come in useful perhaps even one day if he were to govern a province! But he was getting ahead of himself......still, there was no harm in being prepared. Well, perhaps there was harm to his purse strings. Marcus should have conferred with him before hiring this man. He could picture Quintus cluck clucking like a mother hen as he re-arranged finances to make this man's salary appear from no where.

"Marcus, you've not overstepped your authority. I'm sure you will help Quintus arrange the new finances to assure that this man has a place here in the Villa Claudia? I trust your judgment, my father would not have hired you were you not a good and capable man. Still, in the future, please bring it to my attention before you bring a stranger to this house. What are his references?"

Marcus came to attention and bowed his head.

"Of course, sire. It will not happen again. I found this man overseeing the construction of platforms and rather complicated machinations in the Greek quarter in preparation for a festival to celebrate Pallas Athena. I stood watching him attend to drawings and double checking measurements while the laborers put together the wooden structures. He was quite confident and quick to make corrections, being not afraid to raise his voice to emphasize a point.

"After a solid period of observation I approached him and identified myself as your aide. He relayed to me his name as Antigonos Thessolonikki. He had come to Roma as a slave, purchased by a member of the Gens Aurelia. He did not relay as to how he became a slave; but he did say that he had studied in the Megale Schole and designed siege engines for Pyrrhus Anax while in his home town before coming to Italia."

A slave captured as a spoil of war now doubt! Surprised, Tiberius asked, "The Gens Aurelia? Surely they would not part so willingly with a valuable slave? They're some of the greediest Romani to people the land! Was he a freeman? Where are his papers?"

"No, he is not a freeman, m'lord," said Marcus. "I have arranged a trade which I think you will find highly favourable."

Tiberius raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps you have overstepped your bounds. What sort of scheme is this?"

Marcus smiled. Master Tiberius was sure to be pleased with this arrangement.

"Sire, it would seem that the lady of the house needed to reduce expenses now that her husband had journeyed with the ferry man to Hades. When I spoke with her about an arrangement she was more than happy to "sell" him to you in return that I educate her youngest son in the ways of the soldier. I have agreed to help him every other day for a year, unless you require my services. She was most pleased and had a clerk draw up the paperwork in two copies. I have them here for you to stamp and I shall return one to her when you give me leave."

Crafty indeed, thought Tiberius. A slave would not require any payment at all. This would relieve Quintus, he was sure, though there would be some added calculations to account for food and clothing. A sudden bout of violent coughing racked Tiberius' body. It took him a brief while to regain his breath and composure. These humors spread by the cold weather be damned!

"Marcus, you have done surprisingly well - not out of lack of faith of your abilities; but in your sheer cunning. You've my leave to train the boy as you have agreed, provided I do not require your services elsewhere. Leave the papers in my dormitorium and I shall affix my seal after evening meal. Now, let us eat. This cold weather has emptied my belly."

Tiberius extended an arm around Marcus' shoulder in friendship, the first time he had ever done so. The two men started walking into the kitchens when Tiberius turned and remarked,

"Marcus, guard well your heritage. I fear that perhaps Lady Aurelia wished to be rid of our new charge for his lineage. Those of the Gens Aurelia are quite the xenophobes, as I hear told."