GM NOTE: This scenario reflects the game style, ranks, and practices of the "Old Roman Legion" and may not accurately represent the history of the current game's storyline. Consult with a GM before referencing any component of this scenario.

Marius Aelius' legions were firmly in place and they began to construct
fortifications to the area around Ostia from which the attack against Rome,
should there need to be one, would occur. Many bribes had been paid to the
generals that stayed loyal to him, and now word of even Tomidius Sabaco moving
the third legion to support him was rumored.

----

meanwhile

----

Officer Julius Lianus stepped up and looked at the majesty of the Imperial
Senate. He'd always wanted to join the Army, and he finally did. He'd listen to
his brother and read his letters, but never got to do any of it, until now.
Julius was an avid tactician, taking all he knew from his brother, General
Maximus Lianus. He'd heard rumors that his brother had taken his Legion X, and
given it the motto "Libero de Roma-The Liberation of Rome." Those rumors were
confirmed yesterday, when Julius heard P. Tomidius Varro



---people, whatever your first name is, it isn't. Your middle name is YOUR name,


your first name denotes your fathers name. Silly people---



talking about Marius' 7 legions, coming to invade Rome. Julius thought, and
thought hard. What he had in mind was difficult. If he could muster his
conscript legion to fight for Maximus... Julius thought long and hard about it,
and finally agreed on a plan. He mustered his men together at night, and
prepared a speech.



"Legionnaires, the Emperor does not care for you! He has assembled you only to
protect himself! Look at your uniforms! And your old beat up weapons! The
Emperor has not even seen fit to assign a General to us, only me! North of here,
Praetor Marius Aelius, and my brother, General Maximus Lianus have organized 7
well trained legions. They will win against Rome. We can escape, if we leave
now. The pay will be good, and you will eat better than the garbage here! Who is
with me?"



Dozens of the officers and centurions were disgusted with a man who had to have
sworn an oath of allegiance to the state, and the Emperor. Cheers of "traitors!"
came up from the crowd. The persecution in Rome of perceived traitors had now
become legendary. Julius has foolishly underestimated the lack of desire for
civil war. He, and those who had begun to agree with him, but quickly changed
their tune, were flogged and killed. It seemed, at least for now, the Emperor
still had control in Rome. Not necessarily because the people supported him, but
because they mistrusted Marius Aelius, and nobody seemed to want civil war
excepting the military. However, the new recruits here would have none of it.


----

meanwhile

----

Legion XI was in the heat of battling on the western front against the Gauls.
Some grumbled, though, that Maximus Lianus had saw fit to leave, perhaps they
should too. Acedus Dio saw fit to be the man to lead that rebellion. Without
Tomidius Servo in the west, there was little reason to stay so loyal. Most of
the soldiers didn't really know much about the Emperor, but knew very well the
adopted father of Marius Aelius who was Postumus Varro, and, of course, the real
father of Marius Aelius was Augustus Aelius, another brilliant general and
conqueror of Dalmatia.



Acedus Dio led his rebellion with a good grasp. The legion split nearly in two,
and during the vicious fighting and arguing, the Gauls decided to take advantage
of the situation. The came down with a two flank attack, slaughtering each side
of the opposing Romans. The irony was thick in the air, and the very few who
survived swore it was the wrath of Mars himself! Eight thousand Romans were lost
to the defeat.

----

meanwhile

----

Hadrius Septimus Thrax stood in his prison cell, for he had been waiting this
day. Septimus had been waiting the day when this torture would end. When the
time would come where once again he could dine on the fine foods and wines of
Rome, not this dingy prison gruel. And today was the day. He had been pacing in
his cell all day, waiting for the jailer. It was nearing nightfall, and he had
been like this all day. He did not know that miles away, his friend Decenaeus
Dio was lying dead, a victim to his own sword. He did not know that his friend
Actius Probus was brought down by the Emperors blade. He did not know how fate
had betrayed the young senator Acedus Julianus. He only knew that he was tired
of his fate being written for him, and that it was time for him to pick up his
own pen and begin to record his own beginnings. Looking up from his lost
thoughts, Septimus saw through the bars the jailer that had been confining him.

"It's your lucky day, Thrax. Get out." The jailer said gruffly, swinging open
the door. He dropped Septimus the clothes that had been taken from him years
before, and left. Septimus jumped up with new found energy. He dressed in the
clothes and was walking through the prisons out. Reaching the main office, the
jailer caught his attention again.

"This came for you 2 days ago."

Septimus eagerly grabbed the scroll, knowing that he held in his hands the
beginning of two same stories. Turning the scroll over in his hand, he saw the
seal of Marius Aelius and smiled. Cracking the seal, he opened the scroll even
though he was sure he knew what it contained.

"My Dearest Friend Septimus-I regret to inform you that our friends Decenaeus
Dio and Actius Probus have died, Decenaeus to his own blade and Actius to the
Emperors. We must avenge their deaths. Rome will be ours. In mere days, we shall
ride to glory. -Marius Aelius"



Septimus walked out of the prisons, wondering what part to play. Regardless of
which, Antoninus Maxus was the marionette that controlled him. He could dance
one way and possibly lose his life, or dance to the puppeteers liking and betray
his fellows. Regardless, they all seemed to stem from here. What would he do?
Where would he go? Septimus had all these problems and more...

----

meanwhile

----

It is a clear day on the sunny hills of Latium. There is an eerie peace on the
quiet hill sides under the report of Marius Aelius. Antonius Pontus Varro, an
officer seems very unsure of the recent events that unfolded with Marius Aelius
and his feud with the Emperor.



"This can not be right in anyway...How can Marius do this? I serve the one and
true Emperor of Rome."



With this, Antonius closed in on the tents of his closer friends, them being
soldiers.



"I know this may be hard for you to swallow, but I think Marius is very wrong in
what he is doing. He is dangerous. We need to rally the willing soldiers to
follow and report to the Emperor, secretly..."



The soldiers looked at him, solemn looks in their faces. The silence was broken
by the clapping of one man. 20 men joined in the rabble. Antonius made careful
note to explain only the 20 men of these two tents, and himself, would know of
this plan.



"I fear that I have gained your support and my plan will go into effect. I want
10 of you to come with me, and 10 to stay here. We have to be as inconspicuous
as possible. When my men and I return, I want a full report of the movings of
the legions as soon as possible. I will return in as little as a day as Rome is
but a short ride. With that Antonius left with his men.



Upon reaching Rome, it was bleak and the walls were fully manned. It took an
hour for Antonius to get through the gate check. He rode his horse, though it
was not usually allowed, through the streets of the city followed by his men.
They held aloft the cohort emblem which signaled Romans they were on official
business.



A praetorian stopped Antonius and asked him what Legion he was in.



"I am in Legion VI."



"A legion controlled by the rebel Marius I see. Why are you here?"



"I have very important news for the emperor, I follow him and only him. I am
sorry I can not tell you my plans. The Praetorian agreed and escorted the men
the rest of the way with his patrol to the Imperial Palace, which was now under
very heavy watch.



Antonius was finally given audience with the Emperor after a considerable wait.



Emperor Antoninus walked to him, his step heavy from his great size, "Hail
Officer of the XI legion. Speak your news to me."



Antonius saluted. "Emperor." He nodded his head and his hand flew to his chest
in the motion. "I come to you as a servant of the true Emperor of Rome."



Antoninus smiled and took a seat. The room was filled with the usual number of
scribes and Praetorians.



"I am Antonius Pontus Varro. I come to you as a officer from legion VI.
Obviously, one under the control of Marius.



"Obviously" repeated the Emperor.



"I want to help you. I will risk my life to help you."



Antoninus was very direct, "How can you help me?"



Antonius smiled "I have been listening in on the movements of Marius and will
continue. I have followers with me outside and back at the camps. Marius is
fortifying his position. You must attack now before his position is solid."



Antoninus Maxus knew that the the land Marius choose to defend was poor, but
with it entrenched, it would make for a difficult assault. Marius' forces,
though depleted by losses in the east, and by desertion, were a massive 60,000.
Only 66,000 were under the Emperor's command in Rome, and of which 30,000 were
new recruits.



Maxus looked at Tomidius Servo who had remained quiet the entire time. Tomidius
stood up and walked right to the mans face. "You and your friends will remain
here and serve in another legion."



Tomidius looked at the Emperor "He is not lying. My spies informed me of this
only an hour ago."



The Emperor came to his feet and laughed "The it is confirmed. Our army marches
in one day. Prepare them...and order a naval blockade of Ostia via our port in
Neopolis."

----

meanwhile

----

The armies of Tomidius and Antoninus swept down into the valley. Marius was not
fully fortified, but his forces were deployed in such a way that he protected
his heart very carefully and deliberately.



Tomidius perhaps thought this would be an easy task, but he was horribly wrong.
Marius, though on inferior soil and with a depleted army, fought with great
tenacity. Antoninus Maxus' battle plans were as good as expected; he was himself
a brilliant general.



Marius managed to outmaneuver all attempts by Tomidius for the upper hand. By
the end of the day, it was the Imperial forces fleeing the field, but both sides
suffered grievous losses.

IMPERIAL - 9,200 killed and wounded.

REBEL - 8,000 killed and wounded.

----

RESULTS:

Marius Aelius is continuing fortification in Ostia. The Navy is undecided as to
which army it will throw its support. Reinforcement and supply are coming from
the south to Rome. Rome is replacing its losses, but the quality of the training
and men is taking huge steps down.



Gaul now has legion XI on the run, and is making big snaggings of territory in
Gaul. Legion XI is all but destroyed. The Legion in Hispania will have to move
to prevent a total loss of the situation in Gaul.



Soldiers under Marius Aelius are increasingly weary of the notion of civil war.
The defeat of Imperial troops has, however, greatly lifted their spirits.



Rome is in chaos with people running about randomly killing those in the high
positions...most especially expansionists, republicans, and the blues, who are
seen as the Emperor's chief opposition.

----

PC's KILLED:

Julius Nero Lianus (own soldiers)

Acedus Dio (Gauls, during rebellion)

Octavia Julianus (riots)

Raeus Vitellius (riots)

Bocchus Agrippa (riots)

Quinarthius Nervae (riots)

Justius Vitellius (riots)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marius Aelius, Maximus Lianus, Julius Nero Lianus, Tiberius Flavus Nervae,
Commodus Lucius Nervae, Postumus Tomidius Varro, Antoninus Servo, Maximus Julius
Verus, Darius Maximus Camillus, Acedus Dio, Maximus Antoninus Dio, Hadrius
Septimus Thrax,