marianfaction

[marianfaction]

But Wait! Hope Isn’t Lost.

Wanna join the New Order of Rome?

[marianfaction]

The Beginning of the End

Gaius Marcius Censorinus, in the name of the religion Censoranity, has publicly crucified himself. The people feel weird about it. 

As troops are assembled outside of Rome’s walls, it has begun to seem that a bloody and terrible factional conflict is inevitable. Troops affiliated with Marius, Sulla, and Pharoah Lucius Valerius Flaccus have been spotted surrounding the city. As this storm was gathering, plans were set into motion to eliminate Lucius Cornelius Sulla once and for all, with the intention of preventing unnecessary bloodshed. His house was torched in the early hours of the morning, but the consul was not inside. All was not lost, however, as the complex network of Marian-aligned spies in the city was able to locate him. All this means…

You got him!

However, the storm has not yet passed. After officially identifying Gaius Julius Caesar as his successor for the consulship he assumes he will win, should a successor be necessary, bad news is on the way for Marius...

Finally, armed with the power of democracy and friendship and Cinna’s money, unarmed soldiers in a “Magnum Horse” (apparently, they could not fit in a Trojan) have entered Rome. Considering the city is surrounded by leaderless soldiers and is currently descending into chaos, the citizens seem less than receptive. Maybe they’ll come around eventually. News of skirmishes throughout Roman territory is also rampant, so it seems we may be witnessing the breakdown of Roman government as we know it.

[marianfaction]

Caeleps in Roma

Aly Pabani: beautiful, talented, wonderful. She’s got it all, including two members of this committee who wish to duel for her hand in marriage.

[marianfaction]

Positively Devastated

After a devastating naval defeat involving the loss of every ship in the Marian fleet, the public sense of the legitimacy of Marius’ cause is at an all time low. There is talk that Marius’ faction is entirely illegitimate. 

Meanwhile, while everyone was busy at sea, a servile uprising has broken out across the Italian peninsula, and Lucius Cornelius Cinna is at the head of a movement to secure their citizenship and restructure voting procedures in Rome to be more like this brand new, super-chic system of government: democracy!

Additionally, a section of Rome has been occupied by troops commanded by Lucius Junius Brutus Damasippius. Troops are concentrated in citadels and other public spaces, but their control is currently unopposed and is thus somewhat absolute. 

And, finally, a plan involving several members of this committee has finally come to fruition...

[marianfaction]

I “Sea” What You’re Trying to Do...

For some time now, small skirmishes in and around the Forum between the Sullan and Marian factions have been creating tension so thick in Rome that you could cut it with a foam sword. However, things have yet to escalate.

Until now.

Eyewitness reports from several fishing boats and other citizens in the parts of Rome closer to the coast report a large gathering of ships using a naval fleet with ties to the Sullan faction. A response from a fleet with Marian ties has not yet been confirmed, but it feels inevitable. Additionally, associates of the Sullan faction have begun denouncing the Marian faction as agents of the Titan “Chaos.” Could this be the point where this internal conflict starts to heat up? It’s unlikely that such an outward show of sectarian aggression will not go ignored, and word in Rome is that we may soon see our first full-scale battle not on the land, but rather on the sea...

[marianfaction]

Hooyah!

Supporters of the “New Socii,” formerly known as the Lamponian faction and led by the newly-named Marcus “Ironfist” Lamponius, have struck a legislative compromise in the Senate to extend citizenship to all residents of all Roman territories. In exchange, a Senatorial review committee designed to supervise the “godliness” of all Senators has been established. As of now, the effectiveness of this new committee remains to be seen.

In other news, repair projects are underway on the aqueducts and sewer system, and a new “emergency relief team” has been dispatched alongside Marian troops to help resolve the disaster in the city. Troops currently guard all sewer entrances. The people, all things considered, seem pleased. Researchers affiliated with Marius have secured a recipe for Greek fire, and with the establishment of the official Marian navy (!), it seems that morale and loyalty among Marian sympathizers is at an all-time high.

Several members of a small religious cult known as “the Sparrows” have died gruesomely in the streets of Rome, but the motive for these killings remains unknown.

[marianfaction]

Troops affiliated with the Sullan faction have begun patrolling Rome. Troops under the command of Gaius Carrinas have taken control of the Cilician border. Reports from the Library of Alexandria of missing books on military strategy, Bacchus, magic, and miracles came just before news that the city is under siege by forces associated with Commander Lucius Valerius Flaccus.

In other news, the Lamponian faction seems to be picking up popular support, as well as the support of notable leaders throughout the Roman provinciae. Marius the Younger has announced his bid for next year’s consulship. Mercenaries associated with Marius the Elder have attempted and failed to arrest Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus and Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus Minor, capturing two apolitical citizens instead, though he has pledged to fund the reparation of the destroyed aqueduct. The attendees of the recent festivals featuring wine and waffles report strange visions.

[marianfaction]

Ain’t No Party Like a Marian Party

In the aftermath of the HUGE FLOOD that is currently still consuming a large section of Rome’s residential areas, several large festivals featuring wine, waffles, and raucous fun are being thrown throughout Rome. The Roman Theater Festival and the Official Celebratory Parade of the Order of the Seven Eagles have just begun, and the people are confused and somewhat disinterested in partying in ankle-deep water. The association of these events with Marius and his supporters has inspired rumors about insincerity of mission: aren’t they supposed to be helping the people?

[marianfaction]

Yikes

It has been quite a day.

Propaganda linked to Lucius Junius Brutus Damasippius inciting an attack on the Forum was posted throughout Rome before sunrise, presumably in response to the armed men still inhabiting it. Other politicians aligned with Gaius Marius soon joined the call for action, commanding the troops loyal to Marius to leave the Forum and surround it so as to prevent the escape of Sullan troops. This seemed to have been an aggressive decision, however, given that the Sullan faction nearly simultaneously directed their troops in the Forum to leave peacefully. All in all, a situation that was so close to being defused seems to have been reignited through political mis-maneuvering once again. Things grow tenser by the day. Though it seems the Marian faction had plans to evacuate the city in place, a few problems have prevented their successful implementation…

Just after sunrise, and at the same time as the standoff in the Forum, an aqueduct was destroyed. It has flooded a significant portion of the city, and prominent priests report it is a sign from the gods warning of a prophesied “rising tide.” 

Several prominent members of the Marian faction were targeted in their homes with poisoned barrels of wine. Fortunately for them, the casks all shared a manufacturers stamp and were thus identified before the wine was consumed. It seems an enemy of Marius was responsible for these attempted assassinations, but the individual is yet to be identified. Less fortunate, however, is that forcing Marius and his supporters to address this issue stalled plans to evacuate the city.

Whispers have been heard at the edges of Roman territory—Sicily, Corsica, Gaul—regarding the formation of a Lamponian faction. Popular support, especially among plebeians and noncitizens, seems far-reaching, though no official endorsements by fellow politicians have been made at this time.

[marianfaction]

Disaster! At The Vineyard

A great swarm of flies has decimated wine production across Italy, and priests have reported the god Jupiter is pissed about recent prayers and offerings: it seems he feels some contradictory behavior is motivating some of his practitioners.

[marianfaction]

Fascism, Wine, and Satisfied Gods

Word on the Roman street is that the Sulla presents a fascist threat to the Roman republic: young, up-and-coming orators, popular public figures, printed propaganda, and word of mouth say the same, and perhaps indicate a slip in Sulla’s public support. In either case, military reforms have been passed through the Senate with the intention of strengthening soldiers’ loyalty to the Roman state rather than any one general. Additionally, religious nationalism and fanatacism is on the rise, with more citizens than ever dedicating themselves to their worship. If the omens are anything to go by, the gods are pleased.

In other news, wine production across the Italian peninsula is booming, and the people are loving it. They seem to be spending more money than ever on wine that’s been described as “the best ever produced by Romans.” Other recent developments include the ramping up of raw material production and an increase in public events, such as plays and circuses.

[marianfaction]

Spiderman Pointing Meme.png

In response to the shock murder, politicians from both sides of the Marius/Sulla divide have seen through a number of actions to attempt to curry favor with the public to deflect from the insidious rumors. Agricultural reforms abound, and great efforts are made by both sides to increase public access to necessities like grain amongst even the poorest of Rome’s citizens!  Some of these attempts border on the excessive. Some say that Marius’ allies are trying too hard to pander to optimates, and some allies of Sulla seem to have gone a bit overboard in attempting to launch distracting festivities and circuses, but overall the people find it hard to ignore the full feeling in their bellies.  The people are generally happy with all the work that has been done, which ALMOST leads to the average Roman forgetting what happened that fateful day in the Forum. However, politicians will be politicians, and the need for control can cloud even the soundest of judgements. As a result, a funny thing happened on the way to the forum...

[marianfaction]

Catastrophe in the Forum

Early this morning, the young plebeian tribune Lucius Flavius Fimbria was murdered by a large group of unidentified assailants while walking through the Forum. Popular and known for his sociable public persona, the tribune’s death has outraged patricians and plebeians alike: personal loyalties aside, the violation of tribunal sacrosanctity is an offence for which the typical punishment is death.

In the hours that have passed since the murder, rumors have begun to spread that a member of your faction is responsible. While the veracity of these is yet unclear, there is no doubt that leaving them unaddressed will have serious consequences for the accused, and will impact public support for your faction at large. Citizens, especially those concerned with history and politics, are eager for a resolution, with memories of the chaos that surrounded the deaths of other notable populares still fresh in many minds.

Though an errant accusation does not guarantee the death of the accused—political influence and the opportunity to appeal to a sympathetic magistrate protect most members of your competing faction—it is certain to heighten tensions and offer up reason to seek revenge.