News of the riots spread quickly . Within moments of being informed of the events unfolding in the streets of Rome, Secondo Julianus sent orders to the Praetorian Prefects ordering that the full number of Praetorians to be placed on the streets to quell the riot using whatever force they deemed nessessary. A short while later thousands of Praetorians were on patrol, greatly boosting the Urban Cohorts already attempting to control the situation. Locating the riot was easy. Stopping it would be another matter. Honorius, who had also taken to the streets with the Praetorians to get the best scope of the situation now ordered the Praetorian cohorts to fan out and totally surround the entire area of the riot. Once this was done they were to advance towards the forum, ensuring all rioters were forced along in that direction, thus tighting the Praetorian noose around them. Those who resisted were to be executed on the spot. The Praetorians moved into the Subura district in force, "herding" anyone who they found out on the street. Many young troublemakers and disgruntled plebeians on the fringe of the mob were successfully "caught" by the Guardsmen. But several veteran Praetorian and Urban Cohort officers noted that the mob rapidly dissolved into the surrounding apartments as soon as the caught sight (or heard word) of the Praetorian deployment. Praetorian Centurion Tillus Vetaeus muttered to a fellow centurion, "The mob is behaving as espected. They are cowards... the instigators are probably the first to clear the streets! It's not possible to control a mob in such a dense part of the city, with a high plebeian population. But at least we'll have some token arrests for the Secondo's sake."

Within the hour, the remaining rioters had all been confined to the forum, with but a mere handful having to perish for their stupidity. Secondo Honorius Julianus surveyed the scene... his men had done their jobs well. But the "mob" that appeared before his eyes was far smaller than earlier reports had indicated. He frowned; this was not ideal. It would send a message to the people, anyway. Having done what was needed, Honorius returned to the Praetorian headquarters to question some who had been arrested. In the forum, the Emperor had decided to address the crowd. He now appeared, guarded by hundreds of Praetorians, and spoke.

"Fellow Romans! I understand your dismay and will this once forgive your actions. We have uncovered the the foul murderer of Prima Agrippa was General Arcadius Julianus during one of his unapproved trips to Rome. He neglected his duty on the Germanii front in order to insult my daughter, ner mother and kill the Prima. Once this was discovered, I dispatched to Praetor Julianus to have the General captured and brought to Rome. Unfortunately, we have just received word that the General fell in battle at the hand of a Germanii arrow through the neck. It appears the gods performed their own justice of this obscene matter. Concerning Oracle Tara, who is standing beside me, she shall explain how Manus raped her. Before she speaks however, heed this warning and heed it well. If any citizen decides to continue with this action, the Praetorian Guard is ordered to kill that person on the spot, then go to their homes, and execute the entire immediate family, burning the home to the ground! All citizens know that I love you and Rome with all of my heart, through my willingness to forgive ONCE! I am sure all should thank the gods for my generosity. Now, I present the Oracle Tara Vitellius!"

Oracle Tara stood before the crowd. She hoped to portray herself as a dark and mysterious character... the person of an Oracle. Her voice echoed across the Forum. "How dare you question me, the conduit of the gods! I have served Rome faithfully and now you accuse me of lying? I am loyal to Rome. I was raped by the dreadful Praetor, shortly before the Festival. All of you may recall that I was not available the month before the Festival. That is because I made a trip to the field in Germania, with several Praetorians for protection, as the Secondo can attest. I prayed to the gods to look for favor in the heathen land. A priestess of each god accompanied me, including the brave Priestess of Venus, Iona. It was she who saved my life. I had a message for Praetor Manus, a dire message that Jove delivered to me; that he and his Legions were in dire danger from a force I could not determine, but it wasn't the Germanii. He scoffed at me, then had his way with me saying that the Germanii women were fun, but a Roman Oracle would be a crowning achievement. I screamed, and the preistess ran to get the Praetorians. One of his guards informed Manus, who, when he finished with me, said that if I told anyone, he would kill me and all of the priestesses of Rome. He said he would prove he was not kidding. When the Praetorian arrived, Manus claimed that I fell and hurt myself. On the trip back, four of the priestesses were killed by arrows. The Praetorian blamed Germanii, but I know it was Manus warning me. I had no idea that the gods would retaliate. That is when I realised I had to tell someone. And instead of sympathy and compassion, you Romans attack me." She turned around and departed, crying....

Rumors spread quickly in the slave quarters of Rome's great homes. The domus of shipping magnate S. Libaeus Caestelus was no exception.. the kitchen was alive with chatter. "Did you hear?" said the girl to the older woman. "Bad omens for Rome! As Oracle Tara spoke to the mob, an eagle dropped dead at her feat!" The old woman frowned. "Bad omens indeed! Ye think she has angered the gods by breaking the truth and playing politics for her kinsman the Emperor?" The girl shook her head vigorously. "Methinks it might be! Our Emperor is a divine man, may the gods bless him, but the Oracle..." Similar rumors were heard in other circles of the city. Obviously, some people were very eager to spread the story of the eagle and the shameful lies of Tara Vitellius. However, the Oracle was not without her supporters. A substantial number of wealthy equites were quick to support Tara and condemn the "bloody mob" and the "traitor Manus". But of course, the equites formed Emperor Vitellius' most solid block of supporters. They enjoyed the relative stability of his reign and deplored mob violence... mobs were the great bane of successful businessmen.

The next day, as the early morning sun rose over the hills of Rome, people flocked to the Temple of Jupiter. There, in the residence of the priests and priestesses, Oracle Tara Vitellius lay dead. The killers had left a sign reading: "THIS IS THE FATE THAT AWAITS ALL THOSE WHO CONSPIRER WITH THE IMPERIAL DOGS! FOR ROME!"

-----------------------------
By: Unknown