《Pathos》 Chapter One - A lazy morning with honey. Marius yawned as woke up for the day, a light breeze brushing past the elegant curtains to help cool the room on a hot summer¡¯s morning. Still, despite the beautiful morning, Marius had never been an early riser. As the son of the Provincial Governor of Germania Inferior, one the newer northern territories of the glorious Roman Empire, he had very few responsibilities beyond receiving an education to take a place in the Senate and eventually being assigned to rule a province of his own. True, governorship was not a hereditary position, but it was inconceivable that it would fall into the hands of anyone but the children of senators and governors, and besides, the empire was expanding rapidly. He was born in 862 ab urde condita, and in the sixteen years he had been alive the empire had grown smoothly. Even the current province was fairly new, just having been part of the empire for a little more than forty years. Marius woke up everyday thinking of thoughts of glory and the grand rule of Rome, it was his duty, after all, to help provide the Emotional Atmosphere his subjects would need to fully integrate with the empire as a whole. In truth, he found it a pain, but he had been taught to control his feelings and never let them control him. It was simply barbaric to let Emotional Pollution be expressed. Much like pants, Marius frowned as he dressed in his toga. What was with these northern barbarians and pants? And to think they always questioned his toga! Well, they were simply commoners and slaves after all. Speaking of, his families servants brought breakfast for him, slathered in his favorite food, honey. Happiness was the key to a good leader after all, but something was wrong¡­ Marius frowned as his father walked in, ¡°Father, do you feel that?¡± Human emotions are real things, and they leave an impact on the world. As emotions build up in places they would flow and mix along routes that people travelled. Some strong willed individuals could even draw power from this flow and use it to produce all sorts of wonders, but even without bringing the Ethosi into it, the power could have great effect on populations as a whole.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Most people were oblivious to this, but with education and practice anyone could sense the Emotional Atmosphere, and it was the duty of the governors to make sure that atmosphere was a good one, for the good of the Empire. ¡°Yes, I do.¡± His father laughed, projecting mirth into the room. His father was not an Ethosi, but his will and control over his emotions made him capable of incredible charisma. The very air would change around him and Marius always had to fight to keep himself from feeling envy. ¡°Adaline, I do not know how you can hate honey so much, but I am impressed by it.¡± A servant bowed, ¡°My apologies Lord Governor, I simply do not like sweet things.¡± She said. Marius coughed and began laughing as well, ¡°Adaline, not liking them is one thing, I almost thought someone wanted to kill me for a second!¡± At this Adaline¡¯s eyes widened and she began to try and assure Marius and his Father that she had meant no such thing. She was a slave after all, and while there were laws in the Empire to protect her, in reality this far from Rome Marius¡¯s father¡¯s words were law. Fortunately for her and everyone else, the entire family was good natured and the whole thing was laughed off without becoming anything more. ¡°And now that my lazy son is finally awake, I can finally tell him that I will be traveling to Rome soon.¡± Marius perked up hearing this, could it be¡­? ¡°You will have to manage the affairs of the province in my absence.¡± Marius could not contain his joy! He had been waiting for a chance to prove himself since he was twelve years old! He was composed as he acknowledged his Father¡¯s request, but his Father was simply smiling, being able to feel the emotions rolling off his son. ¡°Now listen carefully, I have a lot to tell you before I go.¡± Chapter Two - Discussions and whispers Marius walked with his father through the palace, admiring the beautiful mosaics on the floor as he did so. It was a testament to the power and glory of Rome that such a palace could be constructed along the banks of the Rhine among the conquered tribes. Whenever his father had to entertain a representative from the natives, they were always amazed by the architecture on display. Of course, Rome itself was far more amazing, but to the uncivilized tribes of the north even this palace was an incredible monument. ¡°I will be gone for the entirety of the summer,¡± His father was explaining his journey to his son. Unfortunately, even with the resources of the Governor, the capitol of Germania Inferior, Ara Agrippinensium, was still very far from Roma. The trip would take nearly a month by carriage each way, not to mention the time his father would spend in the city for his work. ¡°I expect you to be able to handle the various tribes while I am gone, and to keep up the families observance at the temple to Mars.¡± ¡°Of course, Father.¡± Marius said excitedly, ¡°I am ready for this.¡± His father stopped and looked at him sternly, ¡°I hope so. If I come back to find you have been flirting with the tribal girls at the playhouse again¡­¡± That was just that one time! Marius thought, but kept his mouth shut as his face turned red. Whatever her social status, she had been quite cute¡­ And it was not like his family used all the seats in the area reserved for them! ¡°I will take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness Father.¡± Marius rushed to say, really, it had only been that once¡­ At the playhouse anyway¡­ ¡°Hmmmm,¡± his father sounded skeptical, but had a glint of humor in his eye. ¡°Don¡¯t think I have not been aware of what you have been up to son, and don¡¯t think that I won¡¯t find out when I arrive back home again. Still, I think that is warning enough, there are more important things to discuss.¡± Marius struggled to control his embarrassment, lest it seep out into the air around him and instead focused on the next part of the discussion. ¡°Regarding the Langobardi, Father?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Indeed.¡± His father demonstrated his emotional control by exuding such an air of calm that Marius was able to use that to aid his own efforts to control himself. ¡°Our scouts have reported that the Emotional Atmosphere has become more tense along the border, so it would behoove you to aid the Legions and to keep a look out for trouble before it can begin to occur. The tribes lack Roman control over their emotions, but as we learned in the Batavarian revolt, their shamans are quite powerful.¡± ¡°I will be sure to keep a watch out, Father.¡± ¡°Good.¡± His father nodded, ¡°You have taken the economic and political lessons to heart, so I have no doubt you will perform well in those departments.¡± He put his hand on Marius¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I have some other preparations to take care of, but I just wanted to let you know that I am proud of you and that I trust you to handle this.¡± ¡°I will not let you down, Father.¡± Marius swelled with pride and his father left to finish up his business before he left. After his father left, Marius heard someone giggle from behind a nearby pillar. ¡°Given where Lord Apollonius stopped, it was almost like he knew I was here¡­¡± ¡°Aelfruna¡­¡± Marius sighed as the young woman stepped out into view. ¡°Father¡¯s emotional control is great, he probably did know you were there¡­¡± ¡°Hehe, is that a problem?¡± ¡°Well he did only warn me against the playhouse¡­¡± Marius grinned, the Germanic people had changed considerably since Julius Caesar wrote the Commentarii de Bello Gallico, but some things remained relatively the same. For one, the local religious leaders, the ¡®druids,¡¯ proclaimed that men should strive to abstain from sex as long as possible¡­ And since Marius rather liked the native ladies, well, he perfectly fine to have less competition. That said, the voluptuous Aelfruna was far more than a cute girl. She was sharp and witty, and her education about the various families and tribes in the province had been far more useful than his tutors. That said, his father¡¯s disapproval was understandable. Technically, he had not violated any Roman laws, but his behavior would be looked down upon if it was discovered. Still¡­ Of all the girls he had played with, Marius had come to wish that he could marry Aelfruna, having such a powerful woman at his side could only help him in the future. But the social differences between them were too great¡­ ¡°It was a bit of a risk to come see me,¡± Marius changed the subject. ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± Aelfruna¡¯s face turned serious, ¡°I have heard some unpleasant whispers among the tribal leaders, and I thought you should know.¡± Chapter Three - Heeding a warning. ¡°Unpleasant whispers?¡± Marius frowned, ¡°they must be particularly bad if you decided to risk seeing me with my father around.¡± Aelfruna nodded gravely, ¡°The tribes across the border seem to be restless this year.¡± ¡°They are restless every year.¡± ¡°Not like this,¡± Aelfruna shook her head, Marius was able to feel the air change as anxiety poured into it. ¡°This is different.¡± He put his arms around her and focused his emotions¡­ He was not very good with emotional control, but at this distance he might be able¡­ Yes, he felt Aelfruna relax in his arms, then sigh. ¡°Do you know how odd it is for you to use excitement to get rid of worry?¡± She grumbled, ¡°It just feels strange¡­¡± ¡°Haha,¡± Marius laughed. ¡°Well I am not an Ethosi after all. Still you don¡¯t need to worry, my father already warned me about the Langobardi. The watches will be strengthened and the legions will be on alert.¡± ¡°I think it is more serious than that¡­¡± Marius frowned as he felt her nervousness begin to slip out again. ¡°I will send a messenger to Legio I Minerva in Bonn,¡± Marius said soothingly. ¡°The legion even has Ethosi within it, and with them watching the border we should be fine. Though if you could explain a bit more I would be grateful¡­¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Marius was familiar with the tribes within and without of Germania Inferior mostly, but there were many and they often moved, merged, or split into new tribes seemingly without warning. As Marius recalled, the Langobardi had came from further north, and were pushing tribes south as they settled more expansive regions. Though really he had not expected them to be this far south for another twenty or thirty years¡­ ¡°The Langobardi used to only worship the Vanir,¡± Aelfruna pulled back and began to give a short lecture. Many might be bored with this kind of thing, but for Marius it just made him wish she would be at his side more. ¡°As they have moved south, they have begun to worship the Aesir as well.¡± She gave Marius a look as if to say that she had explained those two groups before and that he had better remember. ¡°So from fertility gods to war gods,¡± Marius mused. ¡°I would guess that the change affected their Emotional Atmosphere then? Damn, we might be looking at a Rage Plague¡­¡± A Rage Plague was a common occurrence during wars, and required the strictest management of an armies Emotional Atmosphere to prevent. Essentially, emotions of anger, rage, glory, greed, and lust would form in an army as it conquered and pillaged and eventually the Emotional Atmosphere would be so strong that it actively affected the troops emotions, effectively perpetuating itself like a disease. As it grew, and the army moved on, the effect would spread, often to cities never even touched by the war, and when it did riots and civil unrest were sure to break out. ¡°I don¡¯t think my father knows about this,¡± Marius gathered his thoughts. ¡°I have to go tell him.¡± It was unseemly for a man of his station to run, and harder in a toga than it would be for someone in pants, but he wanted to catch up to his father as soon as possible. He thanked Aelfruna and left her behind, though he knew she was relieved that he took this so seriously. Well of course he did, barbarians were one thing, but barbarians unable to control their emotions could spell catastrophe! Chapter Four - First precautions. When Marius caught up to his father he had to take a moment to catch his breath. His father looked surprised, ¡°I would not have expected you to have left Aelfruna so soon¡­¡± Despite the seriousness of the situation, Marius noted that his father did in fact know that Aelfruna was there. Perhaps he was relenting on his disapproval for their relationship¡­ But Marius would leave that for later¡­ ¡°Father,¡± Marius gasped. ¡°Aelfruna brought news about the Langobardi tribe¡­¡± ¡°The Langobardi?¡± Apollonius frowned, ¡°They are too far north to be any real bother¡­¡± ¡°The word is that they have adopted worship of the Aesir,¡± Marius¡¯s father was also familiar with local gods and religions, so he understood what that would mean. ¡°Their push south is less settlement and more conquest this year.¡± ¡°I see,¡± his father frowned and thought for a moment. ¡°Unfortunately, I cannot delay my trip to Roma¡­ But this situation makes me feel uncomfortable¡­ When I pass through Germania Superior I will be meeting with Governor Gaius Marcellus, between his position and his training as an Augur and Ethosi he might already be aware, but I will ask him to send reinforcements north to you, just in case.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Marius was relieved. Another legion would make a world of difference in terms of their ability to defend themselves. ¡°In the meantime, I would like your permission to send Legio I Minerva to Bonn.¡± Marius would not actually have provisional authority until his father left, so for now he could only ask for his father¡¯s approval.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Legio Minerva has Ethosi in its ranks¡­¡± Apollonius mused, ¡°Good thinking Marius.¡± ¡°Thank you father,¡± Marius bowed slightly, brimming with pride. With the support of the south, and his father¡¯s approval, Marius figured this might be a good time to make a name for himself¡­ ¡°I know what you are thinking,¡± his father sighed. ¡°Truly, you spend too much time with that girl. Mars Utlor may be a god of war, but he is also the god of our legions, do not listen to those who worship the Aesir and Vanir¡­ We are Roman, and proud servants of Mars and Jupiter.¡± ¡°Of course father,¡± Marius agreed to that last part. ¡°But surely you see why I am interested? With her by my side¡­¡± ¡°You are not likely to succeed me as Governor here,¡± Apollonius sighed again. ¡°And if you go elsewhere you will realize that she is less intelligent than knowledgeable about the region. It is good that you have learned to find and recognize people who can help you, but you need a good Roman woman to serve as your wife.¡± ¡°I disagree Father,¡± Marius stood his ground on this point. ¡°And I hope that I can convince you otherwise in the future.¡± ¡°Juno and Venus help me,¡± his father muttered, then cleared his throat and continued. ¡°Regardless, make certain to stay alert. You should take the time to visit the Legio before you have them sent to Bonn.¡± Chapter Five - Legio Marius walked over to the castra1 where the legio was situated. Since his father wanted him to visit the legio before giving them their orders, he would be speaking to the Legatus Legionis2, as his father was the Legatus Augusti pro praetore3. Legio Minerva had Ethosi as well, so he would likely visit them as well. The castra¡¯s gate was open, but guarded, and he was able to pass through as the guards recognized him. Marius always admired the organization of the castra. Although it was modified for the region, the castra had the basic layout that all castra adhered to. This made navigating them incredibly easy, and finding someone you are looking for quite simple. Not to mention that this castra housed Ethosi, and so the Emotional Atmosphere was incredible. They were projecting an air of discipline and efficacy, and it made you want to work and do well. If only he could project this over the entire city, think of what could be done¡­ But no matter, he would have to leave that for later. ¡°Ave4 Marius!¡± The Legate seemed to have been informed Marius was looking for him, which certainly saved time. ¡°What brings you here today?¡± ¡°Nothing good, Legate, I am sad to say.¡± Marius grimaced, it was not the kind of news he wanted to bring. ¡°Or I would be sad if it were not for your excellent Ethosi, I will have to give them my thanks later.¡± ¡°They are quite good at their job, but your words sound serious.¡± The Legate frowned, ¡°here, let us talk about it in the praetorium5.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°A good idea,¡± Marius agreed and followed the Legate inside. ¡°So what news do you bring Marius?¡± The Legate was more blunt in quiet, which Marius was ok with. The Legate was also of senatorial rank after all, and did not have to be respectful to Marius at all. So the greeting outside was more polite than it had to be and Marius appreciated it. ¡°Not the good kind,¡± Marius sighed. ¡°Local informants have given us information about possible movements by Langobardi tribes, and I am here to order you and your legion to the border.¡± The Legate frowned, ¡°is it really that bad?¡± ¡°There are some worries about a Rage Plague¡­¡± The Legate started, and looked at Marius in surprise. ¡°Trully? That is too serious to ignore.¡± ¡°I hate to say this,¡± Marius admitted. ¡°But I sincerely hope I am having you march for nothing.¡± ¡°If it is a Rage Plague I hope so to.¡± [1] Castra: A fortified Roman military camp. They had a very organized layout. [2] Legatus Legionis: The commander of a Roman legion. [3] Legatus Augusti pro praetore: A Roman military rank that functions as governor of a province and commander of the armed forces. These are all citizens of Senatorial rank. [4] Ave: Hail! [5] Praetorium: Headquarters of a Roman castra. The commanders live and work here.