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.

News had reached Decenaeus very quickly. While he was not closely associated
with Septimus Thrax, word of his murder and the names that had been shouted
afterward, reached Decenaeus' office within the hour.

"Unbelievable" said Decenaeus as the Imperial messenger finished his report.
Decenaeus paused and thought while the messenger awaited his dismissal. Taking
hardly any time to decide his course of action, he cleared away the papers on
his desk and took out a fresh scroll. He penned out a short message:

--Great and Noble Emperor Antoninus Maxus, I wish to express my heart felt
grievance for the loss of your Secondo Legati Claudius, and most especially the
loss of your wife of nine years, Baerana. I see your son Duvius is now eleven
years old and in excellent health. We must all be grateful for what we still
have.

On other matters, no doubt you have also received word as I hear that your
Prima Legatus, Postumus Varro, was nearly injured in the skirmish that resulted
from the murder of Septimus. Had it not been for the guard escorting Postumus,
his life would have most certainly been in jeopardy. This is why I write to you
now; with your permission, I request an additional guard to escort me in my
travelings while I conduct the business necessary to complete my tasks as
Consulus. The acts of maniacs, such as Septimus' and Claudius's demise, could
quickly spread throughout the city. I request from you the protection necessary
to secure my life so that I may complete the tasks before me. Please bring word
back to me as soon as possible.

Hail,

Decenaeus Aelius---

Decenaeus rolled the scroll and affixed his seal to it. "Messenger, please
take this to the Imperial Office as fast as you can...and let us hope the answer
comes with equal haste!"

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

Meanwhile

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"Hail Emperor, I come here to make it aware to you, that after this term I
will be leaving politics and joining the military. I am not asking to become a
praetor upon entry, But I wish to be something more important then a officer.
But I understand I must work my way up."

Otho Decenaeus Aelius spoke in a whisper like tone, Suvius stood just in
front of the door way, and was still a little surprised by Decenaeus' decision.

"Ahh Senator, how about this, for the rest of this term you work with
Tomidius Servo. He will teach you everything you will need to know. At the end
of the term, return to me, if I think you understand what you will need to
understand to lead a legion, I will give you a spot as General. You are a
honored aristocrat, And an Aelius. Great military strategies are in your blood.
I would not like you to get killed in the first battle or have your men mutiny."

"Thank you my lord, I will visit Tomidius tomorrow, and every day there after
for the rest of my term."

Antoninus smiled and waved his hand "You may go".

-----------

meanwhile

-----------

Lucius rubbed his eyes in the dreary early morning sunlight which crept into
his house, it felt so good to be back, and after two years since his late wife
passed he had married again, and in the background he could hear his new wife,
Patricia ruffling the blankets slightly.

The peace had not lasted long though, immediately almost having returned from
Hispania he was ordered to draw up plans for the invasion of Germania, which he
had done, and now, he had but a few weeks of complete freedom with his wife
before he left to oversee the preparations along the border of Germania so that
if needed the Roman military could quickly act on the Emperors orders and plunge
into their task ready for any occurrence.

Lucius turned from his table though and sat watching his wife Patricia,

and it bothered him that every thought escaped his grasp that was not derived
from sadness.

The Family of Nervae was still as strong in its loyalty to the Emperor as
ever, but over the last wars their number had fallen drastically, leaving
literally only four Nervae in good standing to direct the Family's affairs.

Lucius was torn from his contemplative thoughts though by the sweet melody of
a bird outside the domus, one thing was becoming clear to Lucius though, he had
become too accustomed to life in the field.

He felt like a useless mouse when he wasn't busy planning or looking over the
Nervae financial assets, and he saw plainly that while the servants of the house
respected him, they did not think him capable of even straightening his own
toga.

Lucius finally shifted though, looking at his hands, feeling far too old for
his age, an age of only twenty eight, and briskly walked to the den to write a
note in a half haze, he knew he would hate himself later in the day, when he was
walking through parks with Patricia or visiting the forum, but now he knew that
he wasn't suited to this life of mundane, he as were all the Nervae before him
were meant to be in the Emperor's service, completely, and totally until death
took them from active military service,

and after affixing his seal to the letter he looked over his words one last
time before walking into the Atrium and handing his message to a messenger to be
taken to his direct superior.

He stood in the doorway though as the messenger hurried off, and nodded to
himself wishing the message godspeed on its way, the message, asking for
permission to move ahead of schedule and return to the field a month early

----------

meanwhile

----------

Marcus Agrippa finally had the final numbers together. A three foot tall
white marble statue to lady Baerana would be sculpted and fixed into the
Imperial Senate as had been done for Marcellus Servo some many years ago.

Marcus took great pride in seeing this to its conclusion, and despite
thinking the senate would be behind it, he was quite pleasantly surprised to see
them cheer resoundingly when it was finally placed and had attention called to
it. Marcus thought to himself, "If only they cheered while she lived...". He
laughed quietly to himself.

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Decenaeus Aelius, Tomidius Servo, Postumus Varro, Antoninus Maxus, Decenaeus
Otho Aelius, Lucius Nervae, Q. Marcus Agrippa, Nero Daia