Tacitus Sarius Terpus walked along the streets of Rome and gazed at the beautiful blue sky. Ah, he enjoyed being a patrician! The poor plebeians rushed about, doing their jobs and trying to earn a living. Sarius was happy to have very little on his agenda for the day. He was running for Tribune, but that didn't really mean anything to him. He had no desire to speak publically, or carry out official duties. He viewed the Tribunate as an avenue of social prestige. In fact, amazingly, in his six years of public life, he had never made a single statement before the people in one of the forums. He was happy to manage his estates and leave the governing to the politically active.

As Sarius walked along the street, oblivious to everyone around him, he was followed by a disgruntled equite- H. Brutus Ianus. Brutus Ianus was a man with a keen interest in politics and public administration. Brutus had served in a series of minor procuratorial offices within the Urban Prefecture. This exposure to the Roman elite prompted a sense of hatred for the lazy patricians who held political office without any sense of public responsibility. Brutus was generally a law-abiding citizen, but today he had a little plan. It was time to stir up some trouble. And he had plenty of friends who supported him.

Some coins changed hands, and a group of several dozen plebeians formed. Brutus Ianus stood back at a distance and watched his handywork. The small mob of commoners moved quickly toward Sarius Terpus. The patrician Quaestor didn't notice anything... until suddenly he felt the sharp blow of a staff on his back. "Ugh!" he grunted, and fell to the ground. The small mob ran over him, inflicting injury and humiliation upon the would-be politician. Less than a minute later, the plebeians had melted into the surrounding crowds. Sarius Terpus groaned. Surely, they broke a few bones! Maybe... he couldn't really tell. Sarius shouted "Guards! Guards!" Several patrolmen of the Urban Cohorts appeared and helped him to his feet. "Sorry, sir. What happened?" Sarius tried to explain, but the guards didn't seem to understand. Why would a random group of plebeians assult a patrician without stealing anything? The patrolmen consulted with each other in a hushed tone, then turned to Sarius. "Sir, we will provide escort to your home. Also, we shall inform the Urban Prefect and Praetorian Subprefect." Sarius nodded, but he noticed that they were not attempting to arrest any of the plebeians. The Quaestor rubbed his head and wondered why he had been the victim of a random, pointless attack!

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By: Unknown