[Multi-AAR] - History of men - EB part

[Fixiwee]

I agree with Hax. I just never commented cause nothing I say could express how great I really think your AAR is, and your writing in general. Really, REALLY good job. I've been reading and I absolutely love this text. I love it.

Thank you very much. Those comments mean a lot to me.

One of the best AAR's in a long time.

Really amazing work!

Thank you too. It's always nice when you put a lot of effort into something and people give you credit for your work.

That being said, some of my updates take up to 5 hours of work, and I still think they are incomplete. There is so much more that could be added, so much more ideas, but I guess it's never enough. So... Well.. Just thanks for being part of this AAR.

[Fixiwee]

“You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.”
-Albert Einstein

Spinning out of control

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

While Silanus entered Rome in late 82 BC Calatinus prepared his invasion of Crete from Greece. The following spring he landed on the island, faced little resistance and occupied the centre of pirate activities.



Calatinus planed to continue his campaign in Anatolia in modern day Turkey, but the events in Rome forced him to act. He returned to the Greek mainland and started making business with two young but rich Romans, the Nero brothers. Both brothers were from the old Patrician Claudian gentes and looking for an opportunity to make new political allies. If Calatinus thought to find easy influenceable men with a lot of money he was wrong, because the Neros were strictly conservative and only made business with Calatinus because it suited their current situation.
In Rome Silanus was trying to denounce Calatinus in front of the Senate. But he did not count on Calatinus wife Aurelia. She was acting behind the curtain against Silanus, maintaining important support for her husband among the Senators. The ancient historian Fabius, who hardly has anything to say about women, speaks in the highest tone about Aurelia even though he is suspicious about Calatinus in his work. For the moment the Senate did not act against Calatinus.

But Calatinus returned in 80 BC and from there on things started to spin out of control. He landed with his troops in Brindisi, south Italy, but did not dare to go to Rome. If he marched against Rome with his troops he’d have seen as the tyrant Silanus was trying to make out of him and if he went without any troops he might have been completely defenceless against Silanus. So Calatinus decided to stay in Brindisi and act against his former protégé from there. Interestingly enough, when the Neros found out that Calatinus was acting against Silanus they broke up their connections with Calatinus. [This will be important later on].



Fabius - Ab Urbe Condita
(written at about 20 BC)

Book XX

(5) From Brindisi Calatinus welcomed his clients on a daily basis. But to show his political intentions he still lived in his military camp. Some Senators came to show their support to Calatinus, some came trying to dissolve the situation by diplomatic talks. In Rome several rumours about Silanus started to make their rounds. Some people said that he was drunk heavily and neglecting his work for the Roman people, some said that he was taking part in strange foreign religious cults and some said he had a homosexual affair with his Greek slaves he brought from Corinth. And all those rumours came up so sudden that it was clear they were staged from Brindisi.
(6) Silanus had enough of it. He convinced a prominent member of the Senate, Numerius Aemilius Papus to support him politically. Papus agreed and in Sextilis 675 AUC [August 79 BC] he and the Senate voted for Calatinus to become a hostes publici [enemy of the state]. Once again the political problems of Rome could only be solved by military means. Both sides prepared for war. […]

[Fixiwee]

Battles of history with Patrick Goodwin

The battle of Aeclanum 79 BC

[The scene is an army camp in South Italy during a later summer day. It’s noon. The weather is perfect. Most soldiers are relaxing. Some are gambling, some are sleeping under trees, some are eating. The mood is well, only a few soldiers are patrolling in full battle gear. The men look experienced and battle hardened. Suddenly a Roman soldier with a chain mail and a typical Roman helmet rides on a horse into the camp. He descends from the horse and enters a large guarded tent in the middle of the camp
Inside the tent three men are sitting around a table and discussing things. The man in charge is about 55 years old with a sharp look.]



Calatinus: And then this Celtic boy asks me ‘Crusade me? But that’s not nice of you!’ and everyone bursts into laughter - only him standing there with a puzzled look. So I decided to spare his life. Heard he was killed back in his hill town for being a traitor. Bad luck, eh?

[All three men start to laugh. The soldier that just entered does not react and stands emotionless.]

Calatinus: Ah, soldier Verduncus.

[Verduncus quickly puts his right arm up, saluting his leader.]

Verduncus: Consular Calatinus. I bring news from Rome.

[He steps forward and gives him a leathern casket. Calatinus opens it, takes out a piece of paper and starts to read it.]

Calatinus: So what do we have here? More lies from Silanus? Well… Hmm… Interesting. [Pauses]
Gentlemen, Silanus has made me an enemy of the State. You have officially the right to kill me now.

[All three men laugh. Verduncus still stands emotionless.]

Calatinus: Dismissed soldier.

[Verduncus salutes Calatinus and leaves.]

Military legate: So what are you going to do? You can only go back to Greece or face Silanus in battle. And that would mean civil war.
Calatinus: I’m not going to take my legs and run away from that drunken son of whore, that’s for sure. Well…
[Sighs]
I guess Silanus really wants civil war. He shall have it.
[Pauses]
Alright, prepare the men. We leave the camp in three hours. Better not waste any time.

[Three hours later. All tents in the camp are gone. The soldiers, disciplined as they are, are standing in a perfect row. Calatinus and his legates are sitting on horses ready to address the soldiers.]

Calatinus: Soldiers! Men! Friends! Three hours ago I received a transcript from a senatorial resolution. This resolution says that we are trying to overthrow the Republic. Overthrow the Republic? Us? After all we have done serving the republic?
[Takes a deep breath]
A few of you were with me in Sparta, facing the mighty Spartiads. Some of you were with me in Spain testing our mettle against the Cantabrians. And most of you were with me on Crete, fighting off the pirates. And yet they dare to say we want to overthrow the Republic? Are those old men in the Senate mad? We safe their butts and they thank us by making us enemies?
[Looks around, starts to speak in a very loud voice.]
Let us teach this Silanus and the Senate a lesson.
Let them see that we will not step down from our righteous claim from the victories we have won.
Let us face Silanus to show what we are made off.
[The crowd cheers. Some draw their swords and swing them up in the air.]

[A day later. The scene is the Campus Martius, the large field with a few buildings. In the background Rome can be seen, with the Temple of Jupiter. Many soldiers run around gathering their equipment. Silanus, a thin man with a somewhat arrogant look stands in his breast plate among some Senators in their togas.]



Silanus: My good friends. It has come this far – we are marching to war – against Calatinus. I have promised to protect the Senate and the people of Rome. Yet this tyrant refuses to return to Rome without his legions. Clearly this Calatinus is a power hungry man who wants to rule Rome by him self. You all know what brutal men he is. He lusts for blood, killing innocent people in war. What stops him to do the same to us?
This is why we have to face Calatinus and win. Farewell Senators. I will return when Rome is safe from this tyrant. And if that means chasing him to India, I will.

Goodwin: The year is 79 BC and the Roman Republic is in a deep crisis. The Senate is divided into two factions. One the one side, the Optimates, represent the aristocratic elite who has been ruling Rome through the Senate for centuries. On the other side the Populares represent politicians who make politics through the people’s assembly of Rome. Both factions want power in their hands and neither can be compared to a modern democratic party.
In 79 BC two men are about to wage civil war. The first one is the smart Publius Iunius Silanus, an Optimates from an insignificant patrician family. The second one is the charismatic Aulus Atilius Calatinus, a plebeian who rose to the political top through military success. Both men know each other very well, since Calatinus was once the mentor of Silanus. Now they are enemies.

[Later on the same day: Silanus legion is marching to the beautiful Italian landscape. Olive trees can be seen on both sides of the impressive ancient Roman road. On the front a column marches carrying the legionary eagle. Silanus is on a horse riding just a few paces behind them.]

Silanus [speaking to his legates]: This Calatinus is an experienced military leader. He has seen many battles and mastered many battle tactics. But so do I.
The key to success is to break his elite cavalry. This is why I brought Liguarian mercenaries to aid us. They fight with long spears that are perfect to counter his riders.
Military legate: We could deliberately give away the initiative by taking the high ground, let Calatinus flank us and use the Ligurians to counter the attack.
Silanus: Brilliant idea. We could even post ourselves close to a landmark like a large formation of rocks or a wood that would cover one flank entirely forcing Calatinus to use all his cavalry on one side only.


The plan: Silanus main line is red, his mercanaries are grey. Calatinus main line is green, his elite cavarly blue.

Goodwin: A few days later, in early September of 79 BC both armies are in close reach in Campania, in the centre of Italy. Silanus, fearing Calatinus Spanish and Macedonian auxiliary cavalry takes the high ground on a hill near modern day Montemiletto. There he waits for Calatinus. On the 5th of September Calatinus reaches his position. The weather is terrible that day, it rains since the morning.

[The hill of Montemiletto can be seen in the background. It rains and fog clouds the mountains in the back. Calatinus stands in a field and musters the enemy.]

Calatinus: He is trying to lure me to attack, but why? This looks like a trap to me. But what is this boy planning exactly.
Military legate: He might be trying to ambush you from the trees.
Calatinus: Yes probably. If we attack him in this weather his line of sight will be weak. He probably wants me to force my cavalry over one flank. I guess we could disturb his plan by pushing through the forest with the foot soldiers.
Ha!
We will flank him at the one spot were he thinks we cannot. Brilliant. Order the military tribunes to prepare everyone for the attack.


Calatinus plan: Break through the forest with infantry.

Goodwin: Both sides prepare for battle. The soldiers control their equipment and make their prayers. Calatinus and Silanus both give last instructions to their legates and tribunes. They give the orders to the centurions who pass it to their soldiers. The battle is about to begin.


The initial battle formation.

Calatinus: My fellow soldiers. I won’t bore you with long speeches now. The time for talking is over, now is the time for deeds. It’s time to chop down the enemy of the hill. Remember, they are not Romans, they are traitors! I’ll see you behind the enemy line.





[Calatinus rides ahead of his troops. He comes up to the enemy lines in attacking distance.]





Calatinus [shouting to the enemy infantry]: Romans! You are about to fight those men who went out to defend the Republic and the people of Rome. Don’t believe the lies of the Optimates. Disobey their orders. Despite what they tell you, we are not the enemy.

Silanus [to his bodyguard]: Calatinus may be a pig. But I’ll give him that he is one hell of a brave pig. Signal the attack. Order the Scorpions to fire at Calatinus.

[Low pitched trumpets signal Silanus troops to get ready. The artillery (Scorpions) begins to load its arrows]



[The artillery fires their arrows. They hit two bodyguards of Calatinus.
Calatinus gives the signal to attack: Their trumpets sound as well. Suddenly his troops start to run up the hill with their throwing spears in hand. They stop and throw it. The battle has begun.]





[Calatinus soldiers start to charge Silanus line]



Goodwin: Like planned Calatinus surprises Silanus by attacking the flank in the woods. It is in fact the flank that he thought well protected.



[Fighting is happening all over the battle field. It is noisy and hectic. Some people scream caused by stabbing wounds, most people remain disciplined.]









[On the open flank the Liguarians fight the Spanish cavalry]





[Calatinus is close behind his troops, shouting orders.]

Calatinus: Reinforce the centre. And for the sake of Mars, someone order the Spanish fools back from the flank. I’ll be d…

[Calatinus is suddenly pierced through his torso with a large Scorpio arrow. The impact immediately throws him off the horse. Lying on the ground he is mumbling breathless. A few seconds later he stops to move. His legates jump of the horse trying to help him.]



Goodwin: The battle is about to turn. Calatinus is killed by the relatively new artillery weapon. Yet the body of the army continues to fight without its head. The battle is not decided yet. In the forest, where Calatinus ordered his attack, his soldiers make good progress.





Goodwin: Silanus is unaware that Calatinus is dead. All of the sudden his Macedonian cavalry charges out of the nearby woods and kill all soldiers maintaining the Scorpio. Silanus himself attacks Calatinus elite riders.



[There is fighting between Macedonian lancers and Roman cavalry. The lancers are not suited for hand to hand combat and retreat. The Scorpio is unmanned.]





Goodwin: But alas, the battle turns. News spreads that Calatinus is dead and from the centre, where Calatinus was slain, people start to panic and flee.

[A soldier stands on the battle field with blood all over his chain shirt. He screams: ‘We can’t fight without our leader. Save yourself! Run! Run!’ A centurion tries to stop him and wrestle him to the ground, but more and more people start to flee.]


Silanus breaks through. The red X marks the positon of Calatinus death.



Goodwin: The panic spreads quickly among Calatinus troops.



Goodwin: A few groups hold out, but they are encircled by Silanus troops. Strangely enough, Silanus left flank, the flank he had his best troops, breaks away, even after most of Calatinus troops are on the run by now.





Goodwin: Silanus jumps into action once again and charges into his left flank…





Goodwin: … and moments later the last pocket of resistance breaks away as well.









Silanus [shouting to his remaining soldiers]: We did it! We defeated Calatinus. We did it! The Republic is saved.
[catches breath]
By the gods, we have defeated Calatinus.

Goodwin: Silanus had won the battle. Both sides had about 30.000 troops. Calatinus lost 27.000 men, while Silanus lost 18.000 men. The battle of Aeclanum was a dreadful battle with high costs on both sides. But the Optimates had won an important victory nonetheless.

But that was not the end of the story. Silanus returned to Rome. Not as a victor but as an avenger. After this victory the head of the Populares was defeated and Silanus saw his opportunity to destroy the Populares once and for all. He sought to end the civil war. Did it all end with Silanus victory at Aeclanum? Certainly not!

[Fixiwee]

A man of violence

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

Silanus returned to Rome immediately after the battle of Aeclanum. Unlike his previous returns to the city after campaigning against the enemies of Rome, the return was most unwelcoming. The remaining followers of the Populares went out on the streets protesting and they clashed together with followers of the Optimates on the Forum. Soon the whole situation deteriorated to violence and at the end of the day hundreds of dead bodies covered the Forum. The following days Silanus retaliated for what he saw as an attack on the Optimates and more Populares were murdered on the streets.
After seeing that he was walking on dangerous terrain with this sort of disposal, he legitimated his action with the lex Iunus de proscritione that allowed the killing of everyone who was published on a list by the Senate. For the first weeks, Silanus took merciless revenge on his enemies and Rome sank into blood.

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon
(part II)

“There is no need to worry. We are absolutely safe.” The Marcundus family was sitting in the garden, eating dinner outside. The table was filled with olive oil, water and wine pitches. The family was eating pork enrolled in chards. Manius, the father, was talking, having baked pork ears in his hands. “I have had long lasting business with many patrician Optimates. I doubt that any one of them will put my name on the lists.”
Manius was referring to the new law that was being passed in the Senate. With the victory over Calatinus, Silanus had returned to Rome seeking to destroy the Populares forever. His enemies’ names were released on a list making them outlaws.
“I heard that there is fighting on the Forum again. When is this going to stop?” Lucius, now sixteen years old, seemed to be worried.
“I don’t know. This will probably delay the Populares. But it certainly won’t stop them. See, that is the reason why I don’t get into politics. Being a Senator, yes I could afford it. But then I would have to choose sides and the next morning I’ll get stabbed. Being a politician in Rome is more dangerous then being a gladiator these days. But let’s talk about something else while eating this delicious food.”
The expression in Manius face suddenly changed from serious to relaxed and the dining conversation did not mention politics again.

The following morning Lucius could sleep in because his rhetoric class was cancelled due to the violence on the streets. His younger sister Gaia entered the Room while he was still dozing. “Silly brother, you have guests. Tiberius is here.”
“Why am I the only person on earth who likes to sleep in?” Lucius was rather mumbling sleepily then talking clearly.
Tiberius suddenly stepped in and when Gaia noticed Lucius' friend she started to giggle and ran out of the room.
“Look at you. You are like a worthless old ox sleeping all day. Your father should sell you as cattle on the market.”
“Shut up and let me sleep.” Lucius pulled buried his head into his pillow.
“You are such a goober. Get up; I heard there's dead bodies and blood all over the Forum. They’ll dump the bodies into the Tiber. I want to see that.”
Naturally sensationalism was a part of the Romans life.
“Janus! Alright alright. You’re not going to let me sleep anyway. But get out of the room I have to get dressed first.”

An hour later the two friends were standing on the Capitoline hill looking down on the Forum. It was a nice September morning with a few clouds covering the sky. The two of them were observing people caring dead human bodies and piling them up on carts.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? The fascination of death. We all fear it but we all love to observe it, be a part of it from a safe distance”. Tiberius loved to talk like a Greek philosopher.
“I think its plain stupid: Both sides claim to fight for the people of Rome, yet all they do is to kill each other for power and money. I’m sick of this of this place.
“Since when are you being so critical? You always used to joke about politics. And now you are pissed off about everyone and everything? That’s not like you.”
“It’s just that killing each other is crossing the line.”
Lucius paused and for a while the both just observed how people were cleaning up the mess on the Forum.
“I have to tell you something. Next spring, when I’ll turn seventeen, I’ll be going to Greece studying sculpting.” He waited for Tiberius reaction.
“That sounds great.” Tiberius had a surprised yet happy expression in his face.
“You are not mad? After all I’m leaving my best friend here.”
“Nah boy. Of course it’ll be a bit boring without you, but hey – you’ve got to take the opportunity. I’ll still be here when you return, right?”
“Yeah sure.”
“Is your father paying for that?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn. Your family is really making a fortune with your animal sculptor business.”
“Well I have to do some business for my father in Greece too. That’ll pay the expenses.”
“Well that’s really great news. We should celebrate and go get drunk tonight.”
Lucius thought about it for a second.
“Sure why not. But let’s head over to Via Flaminia and watch some girls. We could pick up some salted dates at Maximus.”
Both left the miserable, yet not unusual scene with dead people lying dead on the Forum.

Lucius burst into laughter.
“He put the pork chops on his stomach, the lion comes up and starts to eat them. Hasalius giggles and says that lions are as hungry as he is. When Faustina comes into the house Hasalius wants to hide his lion in the basement. He immediately notices the cake in the kitchen. He looks at the lion, looks at the cake and looks at the lion again. He says something like: ‘How mad can my wife be just because I bought a lion instead of bread?’ and starts eating the cake.” Tiberius was on a rampage when telling funny stories. He was retelling the comedy play of a whacky fat Eastern Greek who comes to Rome marrying a rich but angry patrician woman. They play was quite popular in Rome these days for its subtle parody of Roman politics, but also for the blunt slapstick comedy.
Lucius could not stop to laugh. Both were quite drunk on that night.
“I haven’t heard about that one” Lucius replied while catching his breath again. “The last play I saw was with the Roman legionnaire. You know, the one were Hasalius gets mistaken for a Roman general and accidentally goes to Carthage, returns to the city riding in naked on an elephant.” Lucius took a napkin and tried his eyes.
“It’s funny that the real Hasalius actor gets invited to Silanus parties even though he makes fun of him all the time.” Tiberius was always well informed about politics.
“You know what they say about artists: Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.” Lucius took a sip of his wine and suddenly burst into laughter again, spitting the wine all over the street where they were sitting. “You remember the one where Hasalius became an artist and paints all the busts with those serious Roman faces?”
“Ha-ha that’s one of the earliest plays. Hilarious!”

Lucius and Tiberius were sitting on a wooden table in a small narrow street somewhere in Rome. The tavern they were visiting was called Carthalo, after the famous Carthaginian general. It was a place for young Romans to get wine and pay young prostitutes for sex.

The both noticed that a group of young Romans was about to walk past them. One of them suddenly turned at the laughing duo.
“Why are you laughing, you stupid *****?”
Lucius and Tiberius looked around. It seemed like the bunch was looking for a fight. The leader of the gang, a thin guy with very short hair and strange looking eyes was provoking the two.
“**** off. We are not looking for a fight ********.” Tiberius was first to react, while Lucius tried to be more subtle: “Hey guys, you want to sit down and drink some wine with us?”
Lucius' try to navigate through the situation with diplomatic measures was unheard.
“Who are you to tell me to **** off?” The leader leaped forward on Tiberius trying to push his fist into his opponents face, but missing due to a fast dodging reaction of Tiberius. Nevertheless the leader pushed his whole body against Tiberius pulling him down from the chair on the ground. Lucius always tried to use reason over action, but he was not afraid to act quickly. He jumped from his chair, ramming one of the gang members, using his shoulder to push against the soft belly. While Lucius used the momentum to surprise the attackers thus compensating for his lack of strength, Tiberius was pinned down by the leader and nearly helpless. Tiberius was strong enough to block a few hits from the aggressor, but one punches hit his nose, resulting in a cracking sound. Blood immediately started to spill out of the nostrils.
The rest of the gang reacted and grappled Lucius who was unable to defend against four attackers. They started to kick Lucius with their sandals, while he covered his face with his hands.
The whole situation didn’t even last for a minute when two bulky men from the tavern came up after being alerted by bystanders. These bouncers were used to breaking up fights. The first man kicked the attacker of Tiberius in the left arm, making him fall over from his attacking position. The other bouncer grabbed one of the four gang members at the neck from behind and brought him to the ground with a powerful thrust. The rest of the gang members immediately retreated after realising the bouncers. The gang leader stood up and yelled “you *********” while running away.
After a few seconds Tiberius and Lucius got up. Tiberius was bleeding out of his nose, it was obviously broken.
“****,” he swore. “My ******* nose. They broke it.”
“You two guys okay?” one of the bouncers asked with a Campanian dialect. They were about in their 40ies, but packed with muscles and scars in their face, an obvious mark for a veteran soldier.
“Yeah we are fine, mostly. These ******* pigs. Always looking for a fight.” Lucius replied, then suddenly shouted at the retreating gang: “Sign up for military service if you want to fight”.
“Don’t worry kids. When I was at your age fighting was totally normal at a bar.” The bouncer replied. “You should get your nose fixed at a doctor.”
“Thanks for helping us anyway.” Lucius replied while taking a look at Tiberius nose. “Doesn’t look that bad. I mean, it’s going hurt fixing this, but you should be fine.”
“I think I’m going home now and see what I can do about the nose. Hope the bleeding stops soon.”
Both friends left the scene with bruises and scratches. Such is the way of the male Roman adolescent they figured.

[Fixiwee]

A man of reforms

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

Besides getting rid of his enemies Silanus needed a legal basis for his reform plans and he remembered that there existed an ancient emergency magistrate which haven’t been used in a while. He let the Senate vote for him as a dictator legobus scribundis et rei publicae constituendae, a dictator who could pass laws and re-establish the Roman state. And Silanus passed laws and re-established the Roman state. Of course there was no end of term for Silanus in his new position.
After the terrifying proscription lists the weakened equites were strengthened again because 300 new Senators (to a total of 600) were drawn from this class. Strangely this process was elected publicly.

Silanus saw the Plebeian Tribune as a main reason for the disintegration of the Roman state. Therefore he tried to reduce its political power. The right of intercession (veto) remained, but Silanus ordered that it was impossible for the Tribunes to pass on laws by them self. Until Cotta in 123 BC it was the custom that the Tribunes would present the law before the Senate, now it was the law to do so. But what made the institution completely insignificant was the regulation that the Tribune was excluded from any further office in the cursus honorum. Silanus thought this would make the Tribune only interesting for Plebeian Do-Gooders.

The important ‘constant law court’ was filled with the new Senators coming from the Equestrians order. In this questiones perpetuae eight Praetors presided, and the Quaestors were raised to a number of twenty. Furthermore Silanus tried to put a lock on the military potential of the magistrates. Both Consulship and Praetorship were now civil position inside of Rome without imperium. Only after their term the Senators could go to the provinces as proconsul/propraetor having imperium. Finally the Censors were not allowed to use their right of lectio senatus, all magistrates, beginning with the Quaestor, were members of the Senate class.

All these reforms tried to conclude and reform the Roman state as a working machine with many different parts. It was not a constitutional revenge against the Populares, but rather a serious try to save the republic. Some historians argue that this was the vehicle to speed up the disintegration, some argue that these reforms were serious and prolonged the republic for a few more decades.
But there is the cynical observation that all this was build on murder and revenge. How was the reform to work if it was preceded by trail and fire which robbed the goods of many supporters of Calatinus. How was Silanus any better then Calatinus? He had become a dictator after claiming to have saved Rome from a tyrant. After two and half years of reform works people started to wonder if he would ever step down from his position as dictator.
Silanus stepped down to maintain his credibility, but remained a strong political figure in the Senate. His role model was Metellus the censor who was one of the highest regarded Senators of the Roman history. To the public Silanus tried to play the guardian of morality like Metellus did in his time. But rumours were spreading that Silanus spent most of his free time with festivals and parties in his estate outside Rome.

[anubis88]

I'm not gonna pretend i read through every part, but this is really EPIC!

[Fixiwee]

I'm not gonna pretend i read through every part, but this is really EPIC!

Thank you.
I try to please all sorts of readers. From the deep thought reader who reads all from the beginning to the guy/gal who just likes to watch some screenshots. That's why some updates are picture and some text heavy.