The Rostra

[admin]

Where players may make announcements, engage in debates, or any other communications with one another. Heckling and Jeering is commonplace and encouraged.

[admin]

News From The Provinces

Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus begun a series of improvements to the city of Syracuse. This city shall soon overshadow all others save for Rome herself.

Titus Furius Pavo has begun expanding the harbor at Caralis. Soon even more trade shall flow from Sardinia.

Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo has begun construction and expansion of the state mines in Hispania Ulterior and a corresponding expansion of the harbor at Malaca. Even more silver shall soon flow from Hispania.

[Marcus Aurelius Cotta]

News From The Provinces

Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus begun a series of improvements to the city of Syracuse. This city shall soon overshadow all others save for Rome herself.

Titus Furius Pavo has begun expanding the harbor at Caralis. Soon even more trade shall flow from Sardinia.

Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo has begun construction and expansion of the state mines in Hispania Ulterior and a corresponding expansion of the harbor at Malaca. Even more silver shall soon flow from Hispania.

Senator Aurelius Cotta, happening to be sitting in the Curia around this time, and went out to heckle a bit.

Seems the provinces are flush with denarii if they can turn Syracuse into a paradise, and create work for allies and non-citizens in the provinces, perhaps the Propraetors would be happy to share more than what they promised the citizens of Rome, given that the citizens pay for the legions that protect them out of pocket!

The Senator marched off without waiting for a reply.

[admin]

Hacking and Slashing!

Legio IV has decimated rebelling Turdetani tribesmen in Hispania Ulterior. None stand in their way. Over 20 hostile villages have been raised under a thick cloud of black smoke. Slaves, sold by the wholesale, stream into Rome from the province.

[Proculus Lucius Regulus]

Overnight, a splendid mosaic springs up near the markets for all to see. A large muscular figure with the head of the rather pudgy senator Lucius Regulus superimposed upon the neck stands firmly, looking forward and gesturing towards the future. With a Boii warrior underfoot, the inscription reads:

When your only option is as good as L. Regulus, the Fates surely smile upon you.

[Marcus Silvius Pastor]

Standing atop the Rostra, M. Silvius Pastor adjusts his toga. Looking out to the assembled crowd, he flashes a smile and chuckles momentarily - briefly recalling the humorous mosaic of Senator Pro. Lucius Regulus which he passed earlier whilst walking through the market. As Senator Silvius Pastor raises a hand to address the crowd, his smile makes way for a stoic voice.

Assembled Citizens!

We have arrived at a truly glorious time of year, where our Mother City and our Republic ask us to undertake a most solemn duty - the election of Consuls - for the continued Glory and Honor of Rome. Your candidate for the Consulship - the eminent Senator Marcus Aurelius Cotta - is not just a Senatorial peer of mine, but a true friend and Roman brother to all!

Lest we forget, this is neither the first, nor the second time, a member of the illustrious Aurelii has sought the humble honor of Consular election. Just over a half-century ago, Gaius Aurelius Cotta, Triumphator, led Rome as Consul to victories in the First Punic War. Twice-Consul, Censor, and Magister Equitum, this Aurelius Cotta of old dedicated his life in service to Rome, and Rome flourished as a result.

Today, Marcus Aurelius Cotta continues to demonstrate that he is a worthy successor to his forefather! In light of Barbarian threats to Roman citizens in Hispania, Senator Aurelius Cotta advocated for the immediate dispatch of veteran legions to the provinces to protect Roman lives. As we heard from this very Rostra, one of those legions dispatched - Legio IV - decimated rebelling Barbarians in Hispania Ulterior, saving countless Romans from slavery, torture, and/or death at the hands of the vicious Turdetani. Senator Aurelius Cotta has also acted as a beacon of reason within the Senate, steadfastly opposing the immediate extension of gubernatorial terms beyond the traditional year upon Senatorial appointment; when, in haste to defeat Barbarians in Hispania, such an un-Roman idea was proposed. At the Censor’s call, Senator Aurelius Cotta endeavored to survey the entirety of Magna Graecia and report on the status of its Ager Publicus - a monumental undertaking which he completed within a mere six months time.

Quite the list of accomplishments, I hear you say. Citizens, these are merely the accolades of Marcus Aurelius Cotta within the past year! With that in mind, imagine, for a moment, what such a true Son of Rome could achieve on our Republic’s behalf as its Consul for the year 559 A.U.C. Citizens, Marcus Aurelius Cotta continues to serve Rome as an astute military mind, incorruptible politician, and capable administrator - just as his ancestor had before him. For these reasons, I stand before you in support of him and his Consulship campaign - for these reasons, you should cast your votes for Senator Marcus Aurelius Cotta for the Consulship!

Marcus Aurelius Cotta serves Rome, and Rome shall continue to flourish!

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

Bellicus mounts the Rostra, turning to face the crowd and awaiting some of their attention before beginning.

It is true that I am although I have no sought to make great waves in the Senate, the Decia gens is one that has been a part of the history of Rome for untold decades now. Some four consuls have come from my same gens and it is my intention that, after a life in the Legion and as a servant of Rome, that I too shall rise to that post. But I hope not that the name alone is not the reason that someone should rise to this most honored position.

My ideas for the immediate and longer term plans of Rome are simple, we must ensure that all of those tribes that have raised their banners against us are quashed. We must ensure that the lands that are either newly Roman or Roman once again are civilized, improved and made fit for habitation for the scores of loyal Romans that will be needed to serve the Republic by building, maintaining and improving the infrastructures of our ever-expanding Republic. In addition, steps must be taken to ensure that those who are newly folded into the fabric of Rome do not long for the more barbaric days of their past. Although the sword must sometimes be used for such acquiescence, there is the old adage about honey and vinegar.

Domestically, I support programs and measures such as those currently in place to improve not only our treasuries, our Legions and the infrastructural backbone of Rome, but also to ensure that we maintain the favor of the Gods and the demos that are the lifeblood of Rome. Without the backing of the Gods above us, and the people below us, we would be ill-fit to bear the mantle of Romans.

From there, I would support continued expansion to the four winds, though I must admit that I do not think that such expansion would be ready to commence before my period of service as Consul would be complete. This is why I believe that the position of Consul is one that should always be looking to build for the future of Rome, instead of just the future of myself, Marcus Decius Bellicus.

[Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus]

A servant for Lucretius Tricipitinus could be seen in the crowd nodding with approval at the speech.

[admin]

At various times, plebs and unaffiliated Equites have made sneering remarks and jeers at Decius Bellicus. These plebs and Equites are typically gathered up and thrown from the Forum by a group of nasty looking men.

[admin]

The forum begins to feel very tight indeed as men begin filing into it from all directions to witness tonights speeches.