The Republic Reborn

[TheMeanestGuest]

[ic=Before the Senate]I consider it a matter of course that the procession should enter the Eternal City at the Porta Asinaria, being the best route into the city from the Alban Hills, and likewise beholding the Lateran Palace. A direct route should then be made to the Forum, and then north until it should turn west into Pinee et S. Marci, and then unto the Leonine City. I would propose that this is indeed the most appropriate route for the occasion.

I will note, Senator de Vinti, that there is a difference in assisting the procession along its route, and being afforded place within it. Certainly the Romans who so join the train should indeed be our equites, and the noble knights sworn to any such. Indeed, Senator, I am sure your men shall find good use in ensuring the good order of the crowds, and likewise the honour of escorting the Chivalry of Latium on their exit from the Eternal City - which I will advocate should be done through Trastevere. I shall have my own men on hand to ensure the peace of the city, and I am certain the Consul shall likewise muster our loyal militia to see this done. I encourage each man of this body to do all that he might that Rome comports itself in good fashion.[/ic]

[ic=A Letter to Ottoviano dei Crescenzi]Your Eminence,

You may indeed have the right of it, and I am as always wary of Oddone. But now that the Frangipani absent themselves, I do not know that we can secure their participation in politic manner. I have called upon Signore Capocci and his own knights, and they should swell our numbers against any machination. I shall set some among my men to watch and bar the southern and eastern gates of Rome, and perhaps Crescentii men might join them in this vigil if any can be spared. I shall be informed at all speed if the Frangipani host should approach the city. Barring treachery or some extraordinary act of subterfuge, I do not think Oddone should gain the city. The Senate shall indeed be on its guard, Eminence, and we shall ensure a full muster of the militia is gathered and set to purpose. Is even Oddone brazen enough to contest by arms the Eternal City while in the Vatican one Pope is laid to rest and another acclaimed? Perhaps, but we shall not be unprepared.

Consul Roberto Basile[/ic]

[Nomadic]

[ic=In response to Basile at the Senate]
I feel that this is a good route and further that everything as currently proposed is best considering the situation. I shall for my part have my men aid in maintaining order. Further I wish to make a request of the senate. The Dean of the College of Cardinals has honored us with his offer to permit a few of us to close the doors of the basilica. I humbly request that I be permitted to take part in this part of the ceremony.
[/ic]

[Magnus Pym]

[ic=Before the Senate]It is Consul de Morroccho's right to choose whether he accepts the honour of escorting the knights of Latium outside the gates or not. I shan't steal him this honour.

The Prefect, I've been told, would be reassured with my nearby presence, but if the Senate deems my joining the procession inappropriate, I shall indeed make due without this honour. In any case, my resources will be deployed as to ensure the protection of the Curia, and then redeployed to fit with any situation that arises.

The proposed route indeed seems to be for the best. I shall likewise insist to be allowed in the closing-door ceremony.[/ic]

[ooc=Orders for Quo Vadit Event]Hugo shall await the Curial party at the Porta Asinaria, wearing his best outfit, close to Basile and accompanied by Marco Octavio*. As the consuls and I greet the guests and lead them within the city, Marco shall join the rest of my senatorial guards stationed just behind the gates, ready to assist in ensuring the safety of the Curia.

As the procession begins, Hugo's palatinii will separate in two even teams to protect the sides of the route upon which the procession will travel. They will form a line at Hugo's right and left, and Hugo shall remain close to the Prefect, within the procession. Should Cardinal Octavian be nearby, Hugo would also like to be seen in his company, if at least once.

Hugo will be focusing on the safety of the Curia -and the Prefect- first and foremost, but should any threat to the life of any of the other guests or citizens alike make itself manifest, he will gauge the amount of men required to deal with the situation quickly and successfully and dispatch his men to carry out arrests, then hand over anyone arrested to a special team of masnada who will eventually escort the criminals to my estate, to be restrained and watched closely until I decide whether the primacy of the ecclesiastical law applies.

Twenty of my masnada will keep relatively close to our location, whether in the crowd or following behind the procession, or both, and assist in the effort to prevent troublemakers from making any significant moves against the Curia, other guests and citizens. Should they, or my palatinii, make any arrests, it is these masnada that will be the ones tasked with guarding any man arrested until they are picked up by me and my men on my way back from the Leonine. Since I cannot send all of them back to my estate only for one man, each prisoner will be guarded by a single masnada, their hands tied and, should they be noisy, mouths gagged, and this masnada will remain close to the militia stationed at that place where the arrest was made. As the crowd advances with the procession and the streets become clear, they will remain close to the stationed militia until they are picked up by my palatinii. Under no circumstances are they to be separated from the militias, lest they should be isolated and become easy prey for anyone who sympathizes with the detainee.

Five of my masnada will remain at home to protect the estate while I am away.

Hugo will accompany the procession into the Leonine City and participate in the door-closing ceremony. After this is completed, he will assemble his palatinii and travel the route again, in the opposite direction this time, joining with his masnada who might have dangerous men under arrest to finally make for the estate, where he will setup a room where the prisoners will be detained until they are let go or sentenced. Marco Octavio will then take thirty palatinii, all of them armed with their crossbows, and a masnada and reach the Porta Asinaria, where he will be tasked with the investigation of the situation in Rome, the whereabouts of the knights and where, if relevant, help is needed. He shall respond accordingly, sending for more palatinii or solving any problems that might have arisen. In the meantime, Hugo will determine who must be handed over to the Prefect so that he might exercise his authority and who must be handed to the senatorial courts in order to be judged in accordance with our civil laws.

All men under my command are to report any event of importance -that cannot be immediately seen by myself- directly to me, or to Marco Octavio during the procession (he can then report to me if it is necessary) so that I may adapt the use of my resources according to the situation. Events that count as events of importance are; invasion, plunder and sack of infrastructure, gatherings in which men without proper authority, Senate or otherwise relevant to our deal with the Curia, are armed and riotous mobs.

My wife and my father shall both remain in the De Vinti palazzo.

*Marco Octavio is my palatinii captain.[/ooc]

[TheMeanestGuest]

[ic=Before the Senate]Let me reassure you, Senator, that I was not proposing that you yourself remain absent from the procession. Indeed, I should think it appropriate that all consiliarii make themselves so present. Perhaps I misunderstood, but it had seemed as if you proposed your own private armsmen to participate. This I would necessarily oppose, for reasons I have already made clear.  [/ic]

[Magnus Pym]

Polycarp, I've been trying to look on the internet for what, exactly, is the door closing ceremony, but I can't find the procedures. Are we actually partaking in the burial of the Pope, or are we simply closing the doors for the guests and then leaving the Leonine?

[Polycarp]

Polycarp, I've been trying to look on the internet for what, exactly, is the door closing ceremony, but I can't find the procedures. Are we actually partaking in the burial of the Pope, or are we simply closing the doors for the guests and then leaving the Leonine?

The closing of the doors has nothing to do with the funeral; rather, it begins the conclave (the meeting of the cardinals to elect a new Pope).  Following the funeral, the college of cardinals will assemble at the basilica, and the basilica doors will be shut and barred to prevent interference and assure the secrecy of the conclave.  The Dean has invited the senators to be the ones to actually shut that door (from the outside, of course).  It's prestigious to be the one to do this, but there's no "ceremony" involved really.  The procedure is "you shut a door." :P

[Magnus Pym]

Right. But that is very informative, thank you.

So, basically, after we shut the doors, I could deem it useless to remain there and decide to go back to whatever other duty related to matters of security, and all that without being perceived as unceremonial or something like that. Right?

[Elven Doritos]

[ooc=Orders]Unless directed otherwise by the Consuls, stay in my villa and have the masnada on high alert for rioting.[/ooc]

[Polycarp]

So, basically, after we shut the doors, I could deem it useless to remain there and decide to go back to whatever other duty related to matters of security, and all that without being perceived as unceremonial or something like that. Right?

Yes.  After that you're no longer needed, and presumably there won't be anything going on until the conclave ends with a new Pope.

Historically, papal conclaves have lasted anywhere between one night and three years (during that conclave, the roof of the cathedral of Viterbo was eventually torn off to compel the cardinals meeting therein to come to terms).  At the time of our game, however, conclaves typically lasted for no more than a few days.

[LD]

[ic=Regarding the Door Closing- Senate]
I too, as the former consul of the interior and as a friend of Rome and chief defender of the Roman popolo in the past season of siege would have great interest in partaking in the door-closing ceremony; however, I also think that Consul de Morrocho as current Consul of the Interior should have precedence in selecting who participates or whether he himself wishes to personally conduct the honor.
[/ic]

[Magnus Pym]

Thank you for your quick replies. I should be finishing my orders tonight or tomorrow morning.

[Rhamnousia]

Sorry about my silence, guys. Having to move earlier than I expected, so I'm having some issues with my internet.

[Magnus Pym]

[ic=Letter to Barzalomeus Borsarius]Senator,
Your explicit support of my expertise in the Senate during the heated debate over the Sentinels hasn't gone unnoticed, and I feel as though you have made a significant step in proving you are a man of your word, that you wish to reconcile. As for myself, I am a stubborn man and, unfortunately, easily stirred when trying to defend my opinions. Perhaps it is time for me to show some good faith as well, and convey my apologies for the harm done to your name. There is one quality we both share and I can recognize its value; we are generous men, willing to spend our hard earned fortunes to the benefit of others. Maybe in the future this quality will bring us closer, and those around us might enjoy the fruits of our cooperation.

The people of Rome are emotional, easily stirred into fits of rage. I hope I am wrong, but during the ceremony their hearts will be divided, I fear. Divided between the solemn duty to respect, as well as enjoy, traditions and the desire to see those considered as corrupt and greedy pay the price they must. It shall not be a surprise should someone use this conflict to further his own dark agenda.

The people loves you, and I feel as though I must humbly ask for your help during the upcoming ceremony. I wish no harm to my brothers, the Romans, and likewise wish for the safety of our guests, but I must be swift and decisive when responding to threats. I'm not unpopular myself, but the people will see me beside the Curia with armed men under my command. No words of mine, should the people be incited to rebel, will be sufficient to silence a riot. Therefore, I hope that you will be present, whether within the procession or nearby, for the people adore you and will be receptive to your requests. Furthermore, I'd be surprised if they dared inflict harm upon the very man who secured their survival during their time of utmost distress.

Sincerely,
Senator Hugo De Vinti[/ic]

[Polycarp]

Sorry about my silence, guys. Having to move earlier than I expected, so I'm having some issues with my internet.

No problem.  Our deadlines are not set in stone here, so you're welcome to request a later deadline if you need it.

[Nomadic]

I would be fine pushing things back for superbright. I myself am in the middle of finals week now  (which is why I haven't posted much myself) so a bit of a wait couldn't hurt.