Augustus Twine

Octavian: The Coming of an Empire By: GG [[Start->Start]] [[Bibliography->Bibliography]]

Gaius Octavius Thurinus (Octavian) was born to Atia and Caius Octavius on September 23rd, 63 BC in the town of Velitrae. Octavian is a patrician and stems from a wealthy and successful family. His older sister is Octavia, who would play a role in his quest for power. His great-uncle is Julius Caesar, who would become his stepfather. Octavian has the privilege to participate in campaigns in Spain with Julius Caesar in 45 BC. Julius Caesar becomes interested in the boy and his potential. Julius Caesar decides to send Octavian abroad to study. At the age of 18, Octavian receives speech, philosophy, and military training in Apollonia (current day Albania). Sometime after March 15th, 44 BC Octavian learns of his Uncle’s assassination in letters from his mother. His mother urges him to return home, and he follows this advice. When Octavian arrives at Brundisim, he learns about the contents of Julius Caesar’s will and that he is named successor and stepson of Caesar. Since Julius Caesar is deceased, Octavian has two choices: refuse to avenge his stepfather and secure power, or fight and follow through with becoming the heir of Caesar. Octavian must decide on how to address and overcome issues that are obstacles to his success. [[First Choice (Rally the legions you are currently training with)->Rally the legions you are currently training with.]] [[Second Choice (Go to Rome to seek out Mark Antony)->Go to Rome to seek out Mark Antony]]

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Coming up with an idea, you make the decision to call upon all men and legions in the vicinity of Apollonia. Looking around on the top of a hill, you conclude that this is the perfect spot to set up your camp. Under your orders, spies are sent out to other legions across the empire to try to persuade them to join your cause and submit to your command. Your goal is to take revenge against assassins for Julius Caesar by killing them. After the elimination of the conspirators, you will march on Rome and ask for the same honors and power that Julius Caesar held. It is unlikely that the aristocrats in Rome would accept you as heir. Several legions in Apollonia have submitted to your command. In the camp your good friends Agrippa and Maecenas have told you that you do not have the strength and experience to lead legions against heavier and more experienced armies. Your friends suggest you team up with Antony in order to decimate the conspirators and gain power within Rome. [[Fight the conspirators and opposition on your own->Fight the conspirators and opposition on your own]] [[Collaborate with Mark Antony->Collaborate with Mark Antony]]

Curious about your inheritance, you travel to Rome and ask for an audience with Mark Antony, who is currently the consul. Antony does not take you seriously and only has a curt meeting with you. Leaving the meeting dissatisfied, you decide to go to Bulbus, an ally of Caesar, in order to determine your next course of action. After receiving advice from Bulbus, you decide to start recruiting more troops and raising money. Success builds when the 4th and Martian legions defect to you. Deciding to work with the Senate and terminate connections with Antony, you pursue Antony with the new consules Hirtius and Pansa. Antony is defeated in the battle of Mutina but escapes. Unfortunately, Pansa and Hirtius parish. After the battle you realize that you are being used as a puppet for the Senate. You decide to send a delegation of centurions to Rome to ask for the consulship and rewards for the troops. The Senate declines this offer and, after hearing this news, you march on Rome with your troops. Setting your sights on Rome, you coerce the Senate to give you the consulship. Moving your troops to Cisalpine Gaul, you hear communications from Lepidus and Antony that they are forming an alliance. Joining Antony will give you more power to deal with enemies. But at the same time you will have to share power with Antony. Declining Antony's offer will allow you to maintain power, but you will also be weaker with less legions. [[Join Antony and Ledipus->Join Antony and Ledipus]] [[Decline the offer->Decline the offer]]

Thinking thoroughly through your options, in October 43 BC you decide to form a political alliance with Lepidus and Antony on an island in the middle of a river. It is agreed that supreme power is shared among all of you for five years. The provinces Sardinia, Sicily, and North Africa are given to you. Proscriptions are also brought up and created at the meeting. Many are slain including Cicero. In order to secure the alliance, you marry Antony's stepdaughter Claudia. Working together to control the Italian Peninsula, you and Antony set your sights on Brutus and Cassius. The two conspirators meet with the Triumvirate forces near the city of Philippi in Macedonia. Shrewd military tactics lead to the overall victory for you and Antony. After this event, you begin to lose trust in Antony due to reports of hearing about his association with Sextus Pompey. To ameliorate the relationship, you plan a marriage between your sister, Octavia, and Antony. Around the same time the Parthians invade Syria. Chances of you obtaining absolute power are slim and teaming up with the Parthians will allow you to have almost guaranteed control of Rome. Staying loyal to the triumvirate will not guarantee absolute power of Rome but you will not disgrace the people of Rome. Reflecting on next steps you decide, [[Join Parthians and rule Rome as a governor->Join Parthians and rule Rome as a governor]] [[Stay loyal to the Triumvirate->Stay loyal to the Triumvirate]]

“Antony never really cared about Caesar,” you think. You decline the offer to create an alliance with Antony. In fact, it is best that Antony should be slain immediately. You summon your legions together and inform them of your decision. You march to Antony on an intercept course. When you reach Bologna you see Antony has organized his army to attack you. Antony has 20 legions, and you have 17 legions. You get advice from your friends Maecenas, Agrippa, and Cornelius. You pray to the god Mars to help you triumph in the battle. Despite the odds, you vanquish Antony’s army. The only enemies that are left now are the conspirators, Sextus Pompey, and the Roman senators who would defy your imperium. You tell your friend Agrippa to demolish Sextus Pompey and his navy. You appoint Balbus to watch over the senate in Rome. You hear intelligence reports that the conspirators are planning an escape on the sea from Trieste. You send dispatchments for ships to be assembled and a blockade to be formed in the Gulf of Trieste. When your forces finally mobilize around Trieste you see the conspirators’ ships. You give the order to engage the enemy fleet and the battle begins. After several strenuous hours of intense battle, you isolate a supply ship that supposedly has the conspirators on board. After boarding the ship, Brutus and Cassius are placed in front of you. Without any hesitation you gut them like swine and avenge your father! You here news that Sextus Pompey is defeated and that Rome is secure. You look to the sky and thank the gods for their favor. You have made Ceasar proud and obtained glory! You also gained absolute power over Rome and eliminated all your rivals!

Disregarding your friend's advice, you make the decision to attack the conspirators who are currently sheltered in Italy. Crossing the Adriatic Sea and sailing into the port of Brundisium with your followers, you land in Italy. You sent spies ahead to recruit people in the Italian Peninsula and tell people of your arrival. You are confident that this voyage of justice will go off without a hitch and that you will impress the people of Rome and gain more dignity. On the fifth day of your trip, you reach Velletri and you see that Mark Antony has gathered his legions to defend Rome. At that point, a messenger from Mark Antony greets you. The messenger tells you that Mark Antony has made the decision with the Senate that your recruitment of troops is an illegal act of treason. You realize that you do not have the manpower or experience to defeat Antony. You decide to battle against him despite the risks. The battle leads to a serious defeat and you escape and leave behind your comrades to seek refuge. You are caught by a patrol later that day and beheaded on the spot. Your head is brought to Antony and he displays it in the Forum. Later in the year, Mark Antony becomes the Emperor of Rome. Your arrogant and hasty choice led to your untimely death!

After many years of pain and suffering, you aspire to rule the country with total control. Antony must no longer be tolerated. One night you are having dinner with Antony under the pretense of you both ruling Rome. During dinner Antony becomes completely intoxicated. Outside your palace, loyal soldiers stealthily kill guards who threaten your plot. Once all threats in the building have been neutralized, Agrippa walks in with a few of his men to tell you that the time has come to kill Antony. Antony is immediately beheaded. You hold up his head and proclaim that Rome has a great new leader, one who will bring it into its glory days. After years of political maneuvering and fighting, you are now the most powerful man on earth and emperor at last. You have made Ceasar proud and obtained glory! You also gained absolute power over Rome and eliminated all your rivals!

Hoping to avoid another civil war, you conclude that you will honor your agreement with Antony. You believe peace has been restored to Rome and justice has finally been served. Excited to begin your new life ruling the empire your father created, you begin conducting domestic business. One night you wake up and are surrounded by soldiers. You jump up but are overpowered by the men. Antony walks in and informs you of your peril. He explains he has come to eliminate his final rival, which is you, but ensures your family members will be spared death. You try to talk your way out of it but it is no use. Accepting your fate, you are killed by one of the legionaries. You have failed to live to the expectations of Julius Ceasar!

A messenger is sent to Mark Antony informing him how you will join him in order to bring justice to the conspirators and secure Rome. Later that month Mark Antony approves of your idea and tells you to come to Rome at once. You travel across miles of land to meet him. Once there, you enter into the grand city of Rome and meet Antony at his beautiful house in Esquiline Hill. While meeting with Antony you come up with a plan of attack. The primary goal is to eliminate the conspirators. You and Antony defeat Brutus, Crassus, and their followers; Admiral Sextus Pompey is destroyed as well. You and Antony agree to co-rule Rome. Something does not seem right with his proposal and you ponder on what to do. If you honor your agreement with Antony you will never have absolute power and he can possibly kill you. If you betray Antony will will not honor the agreement but you will aquire unlimited power. [[Betray Mark Antony->Betray Mark Antony]] [[Keep the agreement->Keep the agreement]]

Making up your mind, you decide to work with the Parthians. You contact Orodes II, the king of Parthia, and pledge him your support and loyalty. You notify Pacorus (Orodes II son) and warn him of Publius Ventidius's plan to stop your attack. You make the decision to ambush Antony and Sextus Pompey. At the same time, you create a pretense that you are also attacking the Parthians. In reality, you are allowing hordes of Parthian armies to enter into the Mediterranean. Once your followers know what you are up to, they attempt to kill you. You make a desperate escape to a Parthian camp. At this camp you meet Pacorus who tells you that you will become the governor of Rome and have extensive power over your region. Once the city of Rome is taken control by the Parthians, you return to administer over the land. After your amazing journey, you decide to settle for mediocracy by ruling Rome as governor. You obtained power but not absolute power. You are the most hated man in Roman history and you will never rule as a Roman!

In 40 BC the marriage between Antony and Octavia occurs and reestablishes your alliance. Over the years you see how Antony is more interested in Cleopatra than Octavia. You send letters to Antony chastising him on disrespecting your sister and you. Antony responds in his letters and eventually divorces Octavia. "Enough is enough", you think, and you decide to go to the Senate and declare war on Cleopatra. You organize your forces to head for Greece were Antony is staying with Cleopatra. Once arriving in Greece at the opening of the Ambracian Gulf, you, Agrippa, and a few of your other men plan your tactics. Agrippa asks for command of the attack on Antony on September 2nd 31 BC. Agrippa has more experience than you and is more likely to make good decisions. You commanding and winning will give you personal glory. [[Give Agrippa command of your forces->Give Agrippa command of your forces]] [[Reject his proposal->Reject his proposal]]

Ready to engage in battle, you give Agrippa command of your fleet. Agrippa decides to blockade the opening of the Ambracian Gulf and wait for the right opportunity to attack. After the standoff, Agrippa makes his move and advances to attack the enemy from all sides. Throughout the fighting, your more maneuverable ships fire missiles and grappling hooks at Antony's larger ships. During the battle, Cleopatra makes a desperate escape with her lover Antony. They abandon their fleet for you to finish off. After strenuous hours of battle, you become victorious at the Battle of Actium. Antony and Cleopatra are no longer a threat to your power. Finally, after 13 years of blood and toil you finally have become the first emperor of Rome. The Roman Empire has just begun! Congratulations! You have won the game historically correct.

Rejecting Agrippa's request for command, you decide to lead the battle. Your decision is to allow Antony's fleet to escape and then to catch up with them and attack from behind. Ordering your fleet to open a gap, you allow Antony's fleet to slip away. Giving chase, you go after his fleet, but Antony gains too much momentum and you lose sight of him. Desperately searching for him, you finally see his ships in the distance. Moving to intercept, you only find that a quarter of his ships are present. At that same moment, the rest of Antony's fleet reveals itself and attacks you from all sides. Your fleet returns fire but is taken off guard and many craft are lost. Ultimately, you go down with your ship and drown in the Adriatic Sea. Antony has no rival left for him and is now the sole ruler of Rome. Your lack of faith in your Admiral ends up destroying your future!