Post by Romae Fabulus on Jun 27, 2006 11:19:41 GMT -5
Publius was hunkered down behind an ox-cart. Around him pressed a thousand plebians, all of them anxious, and expectant. They held in their arms butcher's knives, cleavers, sharpened poles, wood axes, large wooden cudgels and anything else which might serve as a weapon. wood doors served as shields. They remained in place behind their makeshift barricade before them was assembled the forces of the Visigoth garrison. The Visigoth commander knew that this peasant rebellion needed to be crushed sooner rather than later, or a full scale uprising was likely.
Publius knew this too, and gathered some of the people around him. three washer women, two street urchins, and a soothsaying old man.
"We put our hopes in you. If we do not get word to the rest of the city than they will slaughter us like sheep. Our only hope is that you reach the rest of the city and have them rise up as well."
The assembled plebes nodded. Publius prayed to Mars, father of Romulus, and Venus, the matron of Aeneas for that singular roman virtue to prevail: the ability to come together and act in concert when things were dire. At peace the Romans would tear at each other, and connive and manipulate, but when the dice were rolled, they could act together.
"Go now, each of you. Do not draw attention to yourself. Tell as many as you can.. Quickly now..."
The plebes scampered to their task...
But not all were to be blessed with success. One of the washerwomen were caught by a visigoth patrol, suffering a fate worse than death. One of the children and the soothsaying old man met the sharp end of Visigoth spears. Not before the old man rattled a bone-chilling curse upon the whole visigoth race. But three of the newly made messengers arrived in the Suburba. In meat markets and in taverns, the three spread their message. An Uprising. A real honest, popular uprising against the barbarians. That news, combined with words that the Roman troops were rebelling against their traitor officers, turned the plebes out into the streets in force... thousands took to the streets, in small and large crowds. from somewhere the cry went up that they should march to the forum. But another group didn't get the message, and headed for the temple district. Another branch broke off, with the collective notion of reinforcing the market, and yet another group headed towards the walls, with a cry of "Open the Gates for our victorious legions!"
The Roman people had taken to the streets.
Results: Plebian uprising increases to 8,000. Rioters in Marketplace increase to 3,000. 2,000 plebes occupy the forum, 2,000 occupy the temples. 1,000 plebes to city gate.
Publius knew this too, and gathered some of the people around him. three washer women, two street urchins, and a soothsaying old man.
"We put our hopes in you. If we do not get word to the rest of the city than they will slaughter us like sheep. Our only hope is that you reach the rest of the city and have them rise up as well."
The assembled plebes nodded. Publius prayed to Mars, father of Romulus, and Venus, the matron of Aeneas for that singular roman virtue to prevail: the ability to come together and act in concert when things were dire. At peace the Romans would tear at each other, and connive and manipulate, but when the dice were rolled, they could act together.
"Go now, each of you. Do not draw attention to yourself. Tell as many as you can.. Quickly now..."
The plebes scampered to their task...
But not all were to be blessed with success. One of the washerwomen were caught by a visigoth patrol, suffering a fate worse than death. One of the children and the soothsaying old man met the sharp end of Visigoth spears. Not before the old man rattled a bone-chilling curse upon the whole visigoth race. But three of the newly made messengers arrived in the Suburba. In meat markets and in taverns, the three spread their message. An Uprising. A real honest, popular uprising against the barbarians. That news, combined with words that the Roman troops were rebelling against their traitor officers, turned the plebes out into the streets in force... thousands took to the streets, in small and large crowds. from somewhere the cry went up that they should march to the forum. But another group didn't get the message, and headed for the temple district. Another branch broke off, with the collective notion of reinforcing the market, and yet another group headed towards the walls, with a cry of "Open the Gates for our victorious legions!"
The Roman people had taken to the streets.
Results: Plebian uprising increases to 8,000. Rioters in Marketplace increase to 3,000. 2,000 plebes occupy the forum, 2,000 occupy the temples. 1,000 plebes to city gate.