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===Chapter 26===
 
===Chapter 26===
 
Tony Constantine IV. is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter
 
Tony Constantine IV. is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter

Revision as of 00:36, 16 November 2017

Shadow of Rome
Shadow of Rome
Creations
Spin Offs Background Stories
Chronological Order
Preceded By End of Darkness
Followed By None
Narration POV Characters, Unreliable

Shadow of Rome is a story that was created from the End of Darkness, and follows the events of the Roman Empire, and the Byzantine Empire, as well as introducing more about the Empire of Nehekhara. The Shadow of Rome details four main characters in the form of Antonia Constantine, Titus Pullo, Lucius Vorenus, and Issacc Conmenus of which detail the Byzantine Empire, Roman Empire, and for Issac Conmenus the Kingdom of Cyprus, and finally Bruno Certo is a noblemen from Athens and leads the storyline from Greece where the region is growing in importance.

The End of Darkness would detail the sections of the Fall of France that weren't discussed such as the Fall of Africanas to the Orcs, and then the Roman's invovlement in the defence and eventually fall of Hispania. The Shadow of Rome once again continues the impression that while there are good Romans the leadership of the Roman Empire is utterly lost in failure and greed and is destroying the once mighty Empire from within.

Shadow of Rome has two spin-offs in the form of Pax Romanus of which is a historical breakdown of the Roman Empire through the history lessons of Gaius Octavius. The second Spin-off is called the Rise of Ravenna and details the rise of the Kingdom of Ravenna alongside the flood of independance of northern Italy through numerous characters.

The Shadow of Rome begins with Lucius Vorenus of whom is talking with his best friend Titus Pullo as they travel into Africanas, of which during this point is still controlled by Rome to a certain extent. The two fight against the Orcish invasion and lose in Africanas but live to fight again in Hispania where under their command the Roman army is able to hold out for many months before the Orcs are finally slowed after the disasterous loss at Castille. Antonia Constantine takes over for a time and discusses his love affairs and his rise to Emperor of Byzantine and during his early chapter he begins plans for a massive expansion of the Byzantine Empire as well as radical genocide against the innocent Turks.

POV Characters

POV Character Chapter
Lucius Vorenus 1, 3, 5, 15, 22, 27, 49, 61, 73
Titus Pullo 2, 7, 9, 13, 16, 23, 25, 31, 37, 43, 55, 67, 79
Tony Constantine IV. 4, 8, 10, 14, 20, 26, 32, 38, 44, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74
Issac Conmenus 6, 11, 18, 33, 39, 45, 51, 57, 63, 69, 75
Bruno Certo 12, 17,  28, 34, 40, 46, 52, 58, 64, 70, 76
Gaius Glabo 19, 24, 29, 35, 41, 47, 53, 59, 65, 71, 77
Tiberius Crassus 21, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78

Plot Summary

Chapter 1

Lucius Vorenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he gets on a boat meant to go to Africanas and on the boat ride he befriends another Legionare named TItus Pullo. During the travel the two also come to befriend two other legionarres in the form of Gnaes Batiatius, and Sextus Irentius of whom are also members of the same unit within the legion. The Roman army stops on the waters just northeast of Carthage where they plan to land south of Carthage and meet the Orcs on the battlefield, although as Lucius watches the commanders are very indifferent to the threat the Orcs pose and take little scouting plans before landing. Together the two land south of Carthage and take part in a massacre of a large force of Orcs led by the Roman Generals the army does not consolidate their holdings but instead they decide to stop and celebrate where in they bring dozens of girls from a nearbye Africanas village and Lucius watches on guard as the generals and leadership of the Roman Army engages in a night of orgies, and gives no commands to scout the area something Lucius comments to Titus is going to get them all killed. In the morning as the celebrations continue the Roman army is set upon by a larger force of Orcs and Lucius and TItus Pullo are inside the Villa that constitutes the central command of the army as the Orcs overwhelm the camp of the army and Lucius and Titus are able to get the Legatus of the Army onto a horse escaping with a few dozen other legionarres in the villa moving northward towards Carthage. The general is extremely young and named Pompeius Magnus II. a senator sent south by his father in order to prove himself and horrified at the failure he promotes Lucius, and Titus Pullo along with Gnaes Bataiatius, and Sextus Irentius of whom were among the survivors of the Roman Army. During this retreat northward they are met on the road by the Roman General Tullius Agentius of whom leads them into Carthage and tells them the Roman Army has been brutally defeated in the west as well and there scouts are reporting the Orcs are coming on mass towards Carthage itself.

Chapter 2

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he and Lucius take part in the Battle of Carthage where the remaining Romans are forced to fight for survival against a massive army of Orcs, and only through the death of nearly half the Roman army are they able to push back the Orcs forces during the first assault. Following this attack the Orcs are able to quickly regroup and surround the city in its entirety but by this point ships in great numbers arrive at the port depositing reinforcements in the form of the Legio II. Sardinia led by Daus Pigliaru III. which augment the defenders days before the second assault. Daus Pigliaru III. works well alongside Lucius and Daus's son Octavian leading the effective fortification of the central gatehouse into the city of Carthage, and all of this preperation makes the defenders feel like they have a legitamte chance at defending the city especially since Daus Pigliaru III. reveals that the Legio I Sicilia under Secundus Auspex are also no far behind in arriving in Carthage to assist in the defense and with their arrival the Romans discuss going on the offense. Following the second assault by the Orcs the Romans are spent as a defence as several gatehouses are in ruins and most of the western wall has collapsed leading to the Generals to order the army to take to this ships. With not enough space for the population of Carthage the remaining population is forced to man the remaining defences alongside Lucius, Titus, and Gnaes, and Sextus of whom remain behind to assist in the defences. Holding out for another week they allow most of the remaining population to retreat by sea and with the last of the boats leaving Titus, Lucius, Gnaes, and Sextus prepare for their own death, but are saved by the return of Pompei of whom had dropped his soldiers off on a nearbye island in the hopes of coming back quicker. 

Chapter 3

Lucius Vorenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he and Titus Pullo are now in present day and discuss the events of their lives following the destruction of Africanas. Titus Pullo tells Lucius how on his recent trip to Hispania he met a girl and she gave birth to his child, and he will be returning to Hispania to live with her. The two are happily discussing how there lives are finally becoming settled when several soldiers arrive in Lucius's estate and tell him to come to the Senate immedaitly. Leaving Titus to stay with his family he goes to the Senate where he is met on the steps by the young Emperor Nero of whom brought him into the Senate floor. The Senate would quickly convene and tell news that Hispania had come under assault by the Orcs of Africanas and were quickly overruning the land according to the most recent news. Lucius was commanded to lead two legions to Hispania and hold the tide and push them back to Africanas, and following this he returns to his estate quickly saying goodbye to his family before he and Titus Pullo now in command of a real force move to Hispania in order to defend the land and for Titus Pullo find his beloved women. Following this he and Titus Pullo arrive in Valencia where they along with the pieces of the legion that have already arrived quickly mobilize and move to the front which by the time they have arrived is only several miles south of Valencia. Fighting a series of pitched battles they are pushed back to Valencia and several fortresses along the road, and it is during there defence of Valencia TItus Pullo learns his women has been killed and only there child survived leading him to fight desperatly to defend Valencia.

Chapter 4

Antonio Constantine IV. is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he sits with his father of whom is laying in bed as he has been bedridden for some time with an illness that no one has been able to diagnose, and during this time together the two discuss the situation in Byzantine and they discuss the fact that Antonio needs to marry and plan for having a family of his own as his father fears his time is not long, and Antonio thinks on the fact that he has already fallen in love and this is why he has refused the several marriage offers made by his father. Leaving his father's room he travels to meet with his group of friends of whom plan to meet with the Sons of Constantine alongside his friend Johannes Laskaris III. and the two talk on the way there about the workings of the group. Sitting at the head of a table of young nobles of whom are part of a Society called the Sons of Constantinople, and during this opening time he discusses his hatred for the Turks of Anatolia and is joined in this opinion by everyone at the table. Following this he walks the halls of the keep with Alexious Commensis IIV., and Simone Brignole of whom discusses with them how unpopular he was as a young man, and Alexious influences him during this conversation to see why it was the fault of the Turks, and there are implications that this influence has been going on for some time. During this meeting he is also introduced to Mantilaus Breetro of whom is a low level general with the title of Prōtokentarchos which has given him command over a division of troops just outside of Constantinople, and like the others he has a hatred for the Turks. After talking for some time they are interrupted by Natashia Constantine of whom kisses him before taking him away from the others and the two talk inside their room. During his time with Natashia he is shown to be very clearly under her spell and despite thinking that perhaps he should take a different path he is so desperatly in love with her that he agrees to everything she suggests to him. 

Chapter 5

Lucius Vorenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter Lucius and Titus Pullo fight in the final Battle of Valencia where they manage to defeat the Orcs in a crushing manner but take horrendous casualties leaving much of the defences in tatters. Lucius speeds through time as time goes by and the Fall of Hispania is all but assured following the collapse of the front line. This situation deteriotes further when news reaches them that the Bretonian army attempting to relieve Castille failed and the Orcs will be controlling land to the west of Valencia creating a situation where they could be surrounded. Lucius commands the Legions of Hispania in their entirety following the deaths of several senior commanders in a failed coup, and he greatly expands the defences of the region over the remainder of the chapter, but is unable to get more reinforcements. At the end of the chapter they recieve word that Andorra has fallen to the Orcs, and with great reluctance Lucius commands the retreat of the main Roman force by land while the remainder flee by navy once the army has gotten away.

Chapter 6

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he is walking along the dock of the the Cyprus town of Famagusta with Antares, and the two are watching their respective wives in the form of Beatrice Este for Isaac, and Otonia Sarkis for Antares, and the two watch their wives with great love. The two continue talking and when Antares brings up the help that Isaac provided him in getting Ontonia as his wife Isaac is convinced to be more open and Isaac reveals how he came to come to Nicosia revealing that when he was eight he was sent to squire for House Este on the eastern coast of Cyprus and during this time he first met Isabella, and Beatrice Este. The arrival of a pregnant Isabella causes his friend Antares to leave and left alone with Isabella it is revealed that he is the father of her baby, and as they walk together holding hands they are shown to be extremely loving together. Arriving at the home of Stefanos Este Isabella's father and lord of House Este he is shown to be extremely hostile towards the man of whom dislikes him heavily but says several times during their argument that he won't be rude to Isaac due to him being the son of Agamen Conmenus the King of Cyprus. Isaac allows Stefanos to speak with Isabella and while those two speak he watches the arrival of Evangelia Este the mother of Isabella and wife of Stefanos and just like Stefanos she shows herself to be quite hateful towards Isaac, but following Evangelia letting slip the plan of Stefanos to send away Beatrice to marry a greek Isaac attacks her knocking her out before storming into the room of Stefanos where he finds the younger Stefanos alone in the room and demanding to know where Isabella is he is resisted by Stefanos but assaults the young man tortering the information from him. Leaving the home he travels to the mance of his friend Antares Karalis where he finds Antares speaking with his father Polyas, and his brother Anaxis Karalis and talking with the two he is joined by a force of some twenty Karalis men alongside the Karalis knight captain Ser Cretheus Karalis in heading to the Famagusta docks where he wants to stop the departure of the two Este girls he loves so much. Arriving at the docks he finds Stefanos Este blocking the path accompanies by dozens of Este men, and as he argues with Stefanos he watches as Beatrice and Isabella are forced on board the boat, and threatening violence this is averted when Isabella jumps from the boat and swims to the Karalis forces and into the arms of Isaac, but the Este men retreat to the boat blocking them from getting back Beatrice who they watch cry on the side of the boat trying to escape as the boat drifts further and further out to sea.  

Chapter 7

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he joins the IIV. Hispana Legion as it retreats northward from Valencia by land towards Marseilles, and during this trip his young child Yvonne is carried on his back for the entire trip from Valencia to Marseilles. Arriving in Marseilles Titus Pullo finds Lucius Vorenus is already there and going to see his oldest friend the two discuss how Lucius has been commanded to return to Rome but is leaving behind two legions to assist in the defence of Marsielles and promices to send as much reinforcements as possible. Following this he says goodbye to Lucius of whom leaves with the Legio II Roma for Rome where they will reorganize and plan their next moves. Following this Titus Pullo meets with the Legate-Prefict Servius Regellius of whom tells him that three of the other Legate-Preficts are idiots of whom are wasting away in the Brothel while he is working diligently trying to assist Legate Quntus Grentillius of whom is fortifying the castles north of Marseilles in preperation for the Orcish assault. Titus Pullo at this point enters a brothel in Marseilles where he finds the generals of the Hispana Legion drinking and not planning for the defence of the city as Lucius had commanded they do, and when he questions them on it the general Tiberius Legettium insults him for his Sicilian blood and this causes a fight to break out between the two which only stops with the arrival of the Legate of the legion in the form of Quintus Grentillius, and his son Aulus of whom the Legate commands his son to arrest Tiberius and in front of the entire assembly promotes Titus Pullo to Legate-Prefict making him one of the generals of the army.

  • Aulus Grentillius
  • Servius Regellius
  • Quntus Grentillius

Chapter 8

Tony Constantine IV. is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he travels through the Palace Grounds of House Constantine accompanied by his friends Theodosius Leonid, and Phocus Justinian of whom together with several knights of the Sons of Constantine arrive in the Gardens north of the Palace where they meet with David Bagrationi the Georgian King of whom has come to assist in the Turkish Night of Tears. Joining up with the rest of the Sons of Constantine command structure they begin lighting fires at the peaks of prominent buildings including the Hagia Sophia where the Orthodox Priests there side with the Sons of Constantine for the massacre to follow. Personally leading the Georgian troops alongside his friend David they go to the estate of House Saglik a prominent Turkish household he joins his forces in going house to house at the estate anihilating the noble family. As he leads the Sons of Constantine in a city wide attack on the Turks leading to the Night of Turkish Tears the killing continues throughout the night with only the screams and brutality of it alerting the non-Sons of Constantine Guards of whom alert the Emperor of whom intervenes stopping the massacre from being complete. Tony is brought before his father and the entire Court of Constantinople where he is forced to anwser for his actions, but instead of apologizing or make excuses for what happened he plays to the crowd and gains influence amongst the court by continueing to argue for the killing of the Turks. When several Turks of the court (most noteably Akkin Ilhan of whom would yell out at Tony causing Tony's father to end the meeting.) would react angrily to this the fighting in the court begin eventually leading to the end of the meeting and Tony becoming the most popular member of the Italian Nationalist movement in Constantinople.

Chapter 9

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 10

Tony Constantine IV. is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter it was days following the confrontation at the Imperial Senate when Antonio finally returned to the Imperial Palace and upon his arrival he found his father was extremely sick, but refusing to see him she was confronted by his two sisters of whom verbally attacked him for his racism. During this argument his sister Theodora Constantine would reveal to her brother that she was romantic with Toygar Ilhan of which led to him storming out of the Palace Grounds where he was emotionally overwhelmed by everything that seemed to be spiralling out of control for him and left trying to go and visit his mother, but instead was stopped by Natashia of whom consoled him turning his blame away from himself and instead towards the Turks. Still on edge she would seduce him and during their love making she convinsed him to take revenge again on the Turks something that the obsessed Tony was unwilling to resist. With Natashia words and then accompanied seduction all he could think of he left the palace accompanied by several Palace Guards, and several of his close friends where he went to the Turkish Market where he would find Toygar Ilhan working one of his fathers stores. Confronting Toygar on this there was little conversation as once Toygar admitted to the relationship it would be Antonio of whom would kill Toygar decapitating him in front of his mother and then leaving him dead in the street, and this caused fighting at the market which led to the deaths of nearly a dozen people in the market as they were cut down by the Palace Guard trying to protect the heir. Fighting there way out killed well over a dozen more but they got out of the Turkish market where fighting then broke out between the Turkish people following Antonio and Visigothic citizens who begin fighting in the streets. The fighting would burn down much of the western section of the Turkish Market and killed hundreds by its end, with the army of Constantinople forced to move in and separate the two rioting factions. Antonio avoids the calls of his father to see him at the Palace as the hooks of Natashia have gone so far that the two are now planning a wedding and with the Byzantine Orthodox Church supportive of the Sons of Constantine the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church in the form of Photius Corelius I. would invite him to pray with him at the Saint Sophia and accepting this he went there with Natashia and the top tier of the Sons of Constantine providing them a safe place while the rioting died down in the streets. Photius would bless the marriage of Natashia and Antonio despite the Emperor himself being the one who should bless the marriage, and thus with a blessing Natashia and Antonio were married in the Saint Sophia. Antonio following a blissful night with Natashia falls asleep knowing that things are going very well for him, but despite this a tears runs down his cheek as he thinks on all the violence, and also the distance between himself and his family.

Chapter 11

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he is holding Isabella's hand as they walk surrounded by the Karalis men towards the keep of Farmagusta where Isaac plans to marry Isabella despite the rejection of this marriage by her father. Arriving at the keep they are met there by Bishop Dadaces Stavros, and lord Tyndarios Kollias of whom are both extremely antagonistic towards Isaac with the bishop barring the church to their marriage, and lord Tyndarios threatening violence if they do not leave. With a fight threatening to break out it is the arrival of Korax Demetrios a priest of R'hllor that defuses the situation as Korax is accompanied by dozens of armed R'hllor priests and agrees to marry the two under the words of R'hllor and despite the condemnation of the bishop Isaac follows Korax all the while holding Isabella's hand. Taking Isabella on his horse the two ride back to the Cyprus capital of Nicosia where upon his arrival he is revealed to now be married to Isabella of whom together with he greets their baby who was being cared for by his mother while he and Isabella said goodbye to Beatrice.

  • Dadaces Stavros
  • Tyndarios Kollias
  • Korax Demetrios

Chapter 12

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he is standing at the alter of the Temple of Saint Marcus as it is the day of his marriage, and while there he makes an offering to Saint Marcus and when standing up he catches his first glimpse of his future wife Lillian Teresi. Following this enamored by her appearance Bruno follows her procession and watches through a window as his future wife is treated to a nuptial bath which was given to the bride, and while this is happening she sees him watching her and removes herself from the bath in nervousness. Following this he travels with his sister Adrianna she talks to him about how it felt for her on her wedding day and she convinces Bruno to be especially kind to his future wife at the wedding feast. Arriving at the wedding feast he hopes to sit with his family, but as men and women sat at different tables he is forced to sit beside his father of whom he is shown to not be close to, and his uncle of whom insults him several times of which is witnessed by Bruno's wife's father of whom does not appear happy about this abuse. The chapter ends with the most significant ritual of the wedding day in the form of the anakalupteria, which was the removal of the bride's veil, and this signified the completion of the transfer to her husband's family leaving Bruno married.

Chapter 13

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he meets with several Senators who have arrived in Marseilles in order to take the major riverways and move north towards the defence of Lyons where they are to form one of the four sections of the Battle of Lyons. As the massive fleet moves through the Marseilles pass and up the major rivers the arrival of Titus's best friend Lucius Vorenus brings about a moment of happiness for the two but this is short lived as Lucius tells Titus how truly bad the situation has become.

Chapter 14

Tony Constantine IV. is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he wakes up holding Natashia and once she wakes up the two talk of their day which the plan is to meet with leadership of the Sons of Constantine about their next movements. Preparing to leave they are instead stopped by the arrival of Genikos Nikephorian the Megas Magistros of the Byzantine Empire (Head of Diplomacy) of whom alerts him to the fact that Duke Salik Uzer had demanded Antonio's arrest but had been rejected and when this happened he had declared the revolt of the Turkish faction of the Byzantine Empire. Arriving at the Great Palace of Constantinople he attempts to meet with his father but is told his father is too weak to be see so instead he goes to the Senate himself and joins the meeting there where they are deciding the direction of Byzantine in regards to the Turkish revolt. Joined in support by the Sons of Constantine loyalists on the council and without any Turkish representatives left due to their departure following the declaration of revolt he is named the regent of the Byzantine Empire due to holding the title of regent before his fathers sickness and with this new power he is able to convince the Council to deploy the Byzantine army and crush the Turkish revolt. The chapter ends with the arrival of Phillipicus Constantine the brother of Antonio of whom Antonio thinks on being an extremely violent person who has already left a trail of bodies that their father has had to hide carefully in his short life but also thinks on how kind of a brother Phillipicus has been and tries to understand these two worlds of Phillipicus but before he can come to a conclusion his brother greets him with a hug and the two get to talking. Antonio, and Phillipicus's conversation is cut short by the arrival of Damien Constantine of whom gives the tough news that their father has died leaving Antonio to realize the fact that he now stands as the Emperor of Byzantine.

Chapter 15

Lucius Vorenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he stands at the meeting of many different Senators of whom are debating what to do in regards to their situation at Lyons. During this debate Lucius is extremely adament that they follow the overall plan, but most of the Senators fall behind the leadership of 

Chapter 16

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he leaves Marseilles at the head of the IIV. Hispana of which he is now the Legate of following his victory during the Third Battles of Marseilles. Leading the army to Ravenna where they are to be stationed he arrives in the city to find his daughter now three years old, and waiting for him alongside several companions including one he has known since his time in Hispania in the form of Marcus Pilatus he had sent to Ravenna to watch over her.

Chapter 17

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 18

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 19

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 20

Tony Constantine IV. is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he makes the decision following learning of his fathers death to immediatly travel with his brother to the palace to say goodbye to their father, and throughout the journey back he is in a blur of emotions devastated that he and his father never reconciled their differences. Antonio goes to his fathers room finding his mother, and sisters crying over his body he told everyone to leave the room and he and his sisters, and mother would spend time together discussing his father. Theodora eventually breaks the hug with Antonio and their is a general sence that this is the goodbye for the two siblings of whom have clearly no future relationship considering the divergent sides the two have taken and with the prospect of Antonio becoming emperor her side is clearly about to have a very bad day. At the head of the Byzantine army he arrives in Theodosiopolis where he meets with Alberich Markussen an Ostrogothic count of the county of Laodikeia within the Theme of Thracecian and during his initial meeting the count makes it perfectly clear alongside several other Ostrogothic counts that they are extremely happy about the actions of Antonio in Constantinople and are prepared to support him going forward.

Chapter 21

Tiberius Crassus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he is spending time with his mother in the gardens of the House Crassus estates where he listens as his mother speaks with several other Roman ladies of whom all bicker over their families relative power, and thinking to himself as they argue he reveals the power and influence of House Crassus. 

Chapter 22

Lucius Vorenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter there has been a significant time jump and he now stands in the Senate of Rome where he thinks on his failings to control the Emperor Nero's increasingly madness driven desires. Following the end of the Senate meeting he is approached by several men most notable being Julius Julii and his son Romulas as well as two of Julius's prefects in the form of Gaius Glabo, and Tertius Callisnus and accompanying them back to the Julii estates in Rome they discuss how Julius also sees the plague of corruption and stupidity in Rome and wants to see it fixed as does Lucius.

Chapter 23

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he has had a massive time jump thinking on how his daughter is now a teenager and jokes in his mind that she is basically the queen of Ravenna, and in this thinking he arrives in Rome where he meets with his best friend Lucius Vorenus of whom he discusses the things he has been hearing about the rule of Nero, and despite agreeing that Nero is a bad emperor Lucius is unwilling to sully his honor by turning on Nero. The chapter ends with Titus returning to Ravenna, and after giving over command of the fleet to Secundus Julii he leaves the boat travelling to the docks where stepping onto the dock of Ravenna following the end of his trip and seeing his daughter and several prominent Ravennians waiting for him on the dock.

Chapter 24

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he begins his investigation of the corruption of the Roman Senators, and in his first meeting with the Senator Cnaeus Galerius after he threatens the Senator's life he is told by Gnaeus of a Roman order known as the Order of Jupiter of which is in near complete control of the Senate and is preparing a massive attack on Rome of which Cnaeus prepares to reveal what the plot is but is killed by an arrow which pierces the window and strikes him in the neck. Gaius sends his men to find the perpetrator but remains and tries to get some last information from Cnaeus but all he gets is the word rat. Gaius realizing that he has come upon something terrible commands the arrest of several senators of whom Cnaeus had implicated but using their political influence they have Gaius ejected from the city by the Emperor Nero despite Gaius having been sanctioned by both his Legate, and Lucius Vorenus. Returning to the city after two weeks of being ejected after Lucius discovers what had happened he is unable to bring the Senators he needs to him as they have all fled the city using numerous but logical excuses why they had to leave, and concerned by what this means for the city and the completion of the plot Gaius goes to the Imperial Palace to see Lucius but before he can he is confronted in the streets by two Skaven of whom taunt him and his men into chasing them into an abandoned building.

Chapter 25

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he stands in full armor looking at the home of Marcus Pilatus of whom he thinks on as being an honorable man but he needs to die in order to complete the take over of Ravenna as Marcus Pilatus is the only one of the top echolon of Ravenna that disagreed with the plans to leave the Roman Empire and spies had said that he had already tried to leak information to Rome leaving the Ravenna rebels with little option but to silence him. Following the killing of Marcus Pilatus Titus arrives at the Ravenna courthouse which he thinks on how he hasn't visited in years and it has been turned into a palace and in this moment he realizes that his daughter had been planning this for far longer then she ever would admit to him.

Chapter 26

Tony Constantine IV. is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter

Chapter 27

Lucius Vorenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he is woken by his wife of whom tells him that messengers have arrived for him and saying goodbye quickly to his family he travels to the Senate where he is alerted to the fact that the province of Ravenna has declared its independance under the rule of Yvonne Pullo causing everyone to question Lucius as this is the daughter of Titus and there are many acusations that he knew about this. Following a long debate he leaves the senate and attempts to find Gaius Glabo but his scouts are unable to locate him and thus he plans to return home to his family but senate clerks tell him the senate meetings are starting again so instead he sends two of his men to his house where he tells them to have his family leave the city immediatly and travel to the House Glabo lands. Lucius is standing in the Senate where he listens to the Senators continue to fail at doing anything, and as he ponders the words of advice of his friend Titus in that he should destroy the Senate and take control himself in the name of the Emperor he is interupted by a messenger of whom says that a great fire has started in town. Leaving the Senate he travels into the street and as he and his men move towards where they see smoke they are attacked by Skaven of whom overwhelm and kill most of his men and stab him in his gut dealing him a terrible wound. Moving forward he links up with surrounded Legionaries and fights off a large Skaven force and then fights with these men and more he gathers along the way to the Legionare Baracks where he believes his wife is. Reaching the Barracks he finds the entire place has been put to the sword and his family either dead or not present. Devastated but knowing that he needs to keep moving he and his men fight there way back towards the Roman Palace where they find the Emperor and his family dead and their bodies mutilated. Giving command of his forces he says goodbye to his prefect Herius Lentullus of whom had found him in the ruins of the Palace, and makes Herius promise to find his family and take them to Titus Pullo in Ravenna. When Herius leaves the world begins to quiet and the pain disappears and laying down beside the ruined body of his emperor the last thing he sees is the burning of the Senate before he finally succumbs to his wounds.

Chapter 28

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 29

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he joins his cohorts to the incoming Legion of his mentor and Legatet Julius Julii of whom arrives at Rome to retake the city from the Skaven.

Chapter 30

Tiberius Crassus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he goes to his father's study where he finds his father and brothers talking, and 

Chapter 31

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he learns of the death of his friend Lucius and the sacking of Rome. Horrifed at his death Titus Pullo retreats into his personal hamlet and refuses to be seen by anyone outside of his daughter, and to her great horror he reveals that he feels hopeless something he had never said before.

Chapter 32

Antonio Constantine is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he begins preparations for his Invasion of Bulgaria, Greece, and following the Islands of the Mediterranean. 

Chapter 33

Isaac Conmenus Is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 34

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 35

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 36

Tiberius Crassus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 37

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 38

Antonio Constantine is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 39

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 40

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 41

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 42

Antonio Constantine is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he travels to 

Chapter 43

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 44

Antonio Constantine is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he travels to 

Chapter 45

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 46

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 47

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 48

Tiberius Crassus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 49

Lucius Vorenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 50

Antonio Constantine is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he travels to 

Chapter 51

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 52

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 53

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 54

Tiberius Crassus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 55

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 56

Antonio Constantine is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he travels to 

Chapter 57

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 58

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 59

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 60

Tiberius Crassus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 61

Lucius Vorenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he travels to 

Chapter 62

Antonio Constantine is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he travels to 

Chapter 63

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 64

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 65

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 66

Tiberius Crassus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 67

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 68

Antonio Constantine is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he travels to 

Chapter 69

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 70

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 71

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 72

Tiberius Crassus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 73

Lucius Vorenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 74

Antonio Constantine is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he travels to 

Chapter 75

Isaac Conmenus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 76

Bruno Certo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he

Chapter 77

Gaius Glabo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 78

Tiberius Crassus is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he 

Chapter 79

Titus Pullo is the POV Character of this chapter and during this chapter he