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.

"Imperial Lord!!" The messenger came screaming into the offices of the
Emperor. "The reports on earnings of the citizens are in....they are
disastrous!"

Antoninus Maxus frowned "How disastrous?". Antoninus snatched the scrolls.
"What that greedy liar! Pertinax Veno lied about the past earnings reports to
fool Rome into a good economy! These numbers are more than 10% off! It will hurt
Rome's earnings by forty million! This means we will BARELY BE EARNING ANYTHING
TO THE TREASURY!"

Antoninus threw the scrolls into the floor and demanded they be taken away at
once to the Proconsulus. Furthermore as Antoninus stood cross-armed watching the
messenger scurry up the scrolls and leave, he thought long about Hispania. They
seemed unwilling to make a peace and now their tribal leaders and unifying king,
King Aerliaric, could now even refuse to pay tribute. Hispania seemed to want
completely autonomy but still be included in the Roman trading circle. Rome
could never allow Hispania to rise as a rival to the west...when so many lay on
the east...

----------

Postumus Varro took good notice of the scrolls. "It is a shame the Emperor is
without wife. He would need a woman's touch after seeing this!"

The others senators were shocked and gasped at the loss of income appearing
nearly instantly. "That's not all" said Verius Thrax "Reports come of the drying
of the economy...it could cost us as much as 20,000,000c next year if the
economy cools...that would be a deficit of 1,000,000c."

Postumus sighed "The tribunes should be talking to shopkeepers not the
goddamned Oracles and Military! The money makers should be taken care of
first...THEN we should spend it!"

Pontus smiled "Our Proconsulus, ever conservative, ever abrasive"

Postumus growled back "Only from so much WORK Pontus does one become so
abrasive"

Pontus became quiet. Politely taking the Proconsulus' suggestion, but without
provoking him.

"We will find a solution...well...we better" Verius Thrax commented upon the
obvious situation. "We should start in Italia, where the money
lay...moreover...Rome and Latium itself."

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BY - Tomidius Servo, Postumus Varro