Your name is Marcus Tullius Cicero, and you want to be the greatest politician in Ancient Roman history. It is the year 62 BCE. The past few years have changed your life dramatically. Catiline, the corrupt politician, conspired against you ever since you were elected consul over him. Without trial, but by means you believe are justified, you executed many Catilnarian conspirators. This could either come back to haunt you or give you the political power you need to succeed. The decision is up to you.
Now, in present day, Clodius was caught breaking into Julius Caesar's house impersonating a woman. He ruined a very important religious affair, known as the Bona Dea ritual, as well as destroying Caesar's marriage. Your wife, Terentia, is attempting to convince you to testify so you are able to decline a rumor Clodius has started. You see yourself as above Clodius' pointless stabs, but this particular rumor claims you are having an affair with his sister,, Clodia. You have the opportunity to testify against Clodius, but you don't know if it is worth it. You are sure Clodius has bribed the jury, so you are uncertain of whether to take such a powered stance if it might not help. On the other hand, what if your testimony sways the jury?
Will you testify or not?
[[testify ---> testimony]]
[[do not testify ---> no testimony]]"The shameful Clodius claims to have been away from Rome when this incident happened! I, Cicero, have evidence against this. The corrupt statesman came to my home just that morning! Disproving such an empty alibi"
This was simply the bulk of your argument. In the blind rage, you even compared Clodius to Cataline and his conspirators. Clodius, at this point, has abandoned the principles of the Republic. Your anger is true and uncontainable. More of the argument was fueled by emotions you cannot control, and the Senate ultimately was not compelled. Your attempt to derail Clodius' trial was ultimately unsuccessful. He was acquitted,, but that partial victory pales in comparison to what you wished for. You hold the belief that Clodius bribed the jury. You can walk away knowing Clodius' dignity is hurt, but is that enough for you?
Do you choose to enforce your belief or leave the decision as is?
[[lash out ---> rage]]
[[stay calm ---> calm]]
You decide not to testify against Clodius. Even though you did not speak during the trial, you go to the Senate to see the final verdict. Clodius likely paid off the jury, but part of you still holds on to hope that the right choice was made. Clodius has consistently tried to destroy your career, would it not be satisfying to see him suffer for his crimes? You face the Senate and pray for a harsh punishment to befall your enemy. To your dismay, Clodius is quickly acquitted. Suddenly, you feel intense regret for not testifying. Is it over or do you still have a chance to make your point?
Do you allow your fury to spew a rant, directed at the Senate as well as Clodius, or do you resign yourself to silence?
[[yell ---> yell]]
[[storm out ---> storm out]]The next day in the Senate, seized by an overwhelming fury, you spew every last word you feel about Clodius. You fight with fire you have never felt before.
Clodius stands and takes his own stab at you, claiming irresponsible spending because of a recent, large purchase you have made: "You have bought a house."
"You have bought a jury!"
Your face then turns to the mentioned group.
Do you denounce the Senators for accepting a bribe or only assign blame to the man who you believe to be the true criminal, Clodius?
[[leave --->leave]]
[[heckle jury --->heckle jury]]
You leave without saying your peace. Something inside you burns to turn around and fill the air with rage. You clench your fists and walk away.
This moment stays with you for years.
[[two years after ---> two years after]]"How - how under a such confident republic is this //criminal// escaping punishment? Where is justice if not in Rome? Clodius has proved, time and time again, that he does not deserve a powerful spot in this republic. Are you truly driven by greed? His money can pay you to disregard your moral compass. I am saddened by the state of the Roman Republic. This land has raised me, has taught me right from wrong, but now, I see that it has changed."
Clodius stands up and walks out. You can read the indignation on his face. The rest of the room stares at you with horrified gazes. You gulp and turn towards the door. Your point has been made, or at least you hope it was.
As you walk onto the street, you see Clodius. It becomes very apparent that you have two choices - to kill or to hide.
Do you stab Clodius, doing what the jury was not brave enough to, or do you avoid your reality by hiding in your Grand Domus for two years?
[[stab Clodius---> enemy blood]]
[[two years later ----> After Two Years]]You walk away, your face still sizzling with rage. Heavy breaths align with heavy footsteps as you walk through Rome. The city looks bleaker to you. At each turn you can only think about the corruption you just witnessed.
This moment stays with you for two years.
[[two years later ---> Year 61 BCE]]
You walk away, your face still sizzling with rage. Heavy breaths align with heavy footsteps as you walk through Rome. The city looks bleaker to you. At each turn you can only think about the corruption you just witnessed.
This moment lives with you for years.
[[two years later ---> two years later]]
You decide you must target the jury too. You begin a furious rampage, insulting various positions and people along the way. Most of this eludes you, as you were blinded by your own emotion. Shockwaves ripple through Rome. You look around to see it is all your fault.
This moment lives within you for years.
[[two years later ---> 61 BCE]]It has been two years and your reputation as an uncontrolled rage monster still precedes you. Clodius has risen to greater power and is searching for more. Clodius hopes to hold his own contines, which would be devastating to you and your political power. You know that the cancellation of consul Pupius Piso's upcoming governship in Syria would crush Clodius' hopes, but you are also aware the Senate will not be convinced by you. You see Clodius on the street and realize you have one true choice.
Will you simply give up and resign yourself to a life of shame or will you attempt to kill your enemy before he creates further disruption?
[[resign ---> resignation]]
[[stab Clodius ---> Stab Clodius]]It has been two years since the trial, and all you feel is the suffocating regret of becoming submissive -- the last thing you wanted to be. Now, Clodius is attempting to hold his own contio, which would be beneficial to his political career. You feel very strongly that he should not be permitted to do this. If you want to destroy his plan, there is one clear way to do it. Pupius Piso is running for consul, and the cancellation of this would prevent Clodius holding his own contio. However, if you interfere, you might create controversy between you and the other politicians, thereby stunting your career.
Do you risk your career to sabotage Clodius?
[[attempt to convince Senate to cancel Pupius Piso's consulship ----> cancel Pupius Piso's consulship]]
[[don't start waves with Senate ---> calm Senate]]It has been almost two years, and you have risen to greater political power. There is a current conspiracy that Clodius had a plan to murder Julius Caesar. Caesar, extremely protective of his image, even if he feels safe from danger, is attempting to convince the Republic to exile Clodius. His means of doing this is a new law that any evidence of conspiring to kill a high ranking politician will result in exile. You know that if Clodius is exiled, your life will be ridden of one of its greatest boundaries.
You have made your argument time and time again, but all you can do now is wait...
[[Cross Your Fingers ---> Clodius Exile]]
Your dagger seems to burn a hole in your side, getting hotter each moment you have to stare at your mortal enemy. He hasn't seen you, but you know that once he does, you'll have no chance of getting your true revenge. The white toga he so proudly wears begs to be painted by blood. You cannot control it anymore; your feet sneak towards him as your hand sneaks towards the blade. As you approach Clodius, you draw back the dagger and muster all your force.
''//Slash//''
The blade slices through the air and plunges into Clodius' back. His hands make weak fists that are no threat to the power you feel coursing through your veins.
''It is over.''You decide there is nothing left to do. Walking to your Grand Domus, nothing feels real anymore. The world around you suddenly seems bleak.
Who are you now?
Does it //really// matter?
''It's over.''
You convince the senate to cancel the consulship of Pupius Piso. This crushes Clodius' hopes of holding his own contio. He then serves as the quaestor of Sicily, returning to Rome in June of 60 BCE. In the second half of 60 BCE, Clodius is striving to transition to plebian status so he can be tribune. A tribune can veto laws, suggest laws, and protect whoever they please. There is no doubt that Clodius becoming tribune would be devastating to nearly every aspect of your life. You notice that one of your most powerful allies, Pompey, is seeking political allies and has cultivated a relationship with Clodius. In 59 BCE, Caesar and Bibulus are set to be consuls. The power of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus combined angers you. This thought runs through your head as you stand, ready to defend a former colleague of yours, named Antonius.
You know that you need to speak about the state of the Republic, one way or another. Do you criticize the Republic, being true to your feelings, or do you praise the Republic, attempting to keep those in power close?
[[criticize republic ---> bash republic]]
[[praise republic ---> praise republic]]You decide not to interfere, but quickly realize it was a mistake. Clodius holds his own contio and it is widely successful. He becomes the top statesmen of the Roman Republic. The men who were once your allies are falling at his feet. Rome has lost its love for you. To make matters worse, it became love for your enemy. You wish it was your choice to leave Rome, but it truly is not. What are you meant to do here? Live under Clodius' domination? You have the choice to work for Caesar, but you know you never could. In 60 BCE, you decide to leave the streets of Rome behind.
''Suddenly, it's over. Did you choose right?''You decide there is nothing left to do. Walking to your Grand Domus, nothing feels real anymore. The world around you suddenly seems bleak.
Who are you now?
Does it //really// matter?
''It's over.''Success has never quite looked like this. Clodius has been exiled, and your argument pushed it over the edge. The "great" politician has fallen, just as you knew he would. Now Rome is yours for the taking. You think of all the Roman citizens who will kiss the ground you walk on. Isn't it great to be powerful?
''Isn't this what you wanted? -- or, would you do it differently?''You choose to express how the state of the republic has bedeviled you under power of the First Triumvirate. As you speak, you can tell your words are not merely dissolving into the air. Each pair of eyes that meets your own makes your heart beat a little stronger. When you finish speaking, you know something happened -it's just unclear whether it will benefit you or not.
Luckily, you do not have to wait long to find out. Almost immediately after you spoke, Caesar arranged his own transition to plebian status through adoption. He also sanctioned the adoption of Clodius by the plebian P. Fonteius. This news relieves you deeply. However, to your dismay, Clodius' adoption takes place in 59 BCE.
[[the next step ---> the next step]]
Clodius is adopted rather quickly. Your praise of the Republic was not helpful, but rather might have accelerated the process. Shortly after he is adopted, he is elected tribune for the year 58 BCE. You cannot help but feel disappointed in yourself.
To make matters worse, political drama is tearing Pompey from you. Vettius, whom you know from dealing with Catiline, has claimed his desire to murder Pompey. Vettius told his murderous plan to Curio, who then told his father. As news moves, Pompey found out from Curio's father and brought the matter in front of the Senate. Vettius was then imprisoned, justified by the discovery that Vettius was carrying a dagger through the city. Having abundant evidence that a previous colleague of yours was planning to murder Pompey, your protector, threatens your political support while it is already weakened. Vettius eventually spoke to the tribune Vatinius, in which he told a different story than the basis of his arrest. Now, Vettius, at this point, is saying that his fellow conspirators were not youthful aristocrats as previously stated, but instead ranking senators. When you hear this, you know your name, thought it does not deserve it, is within that list.
You are unsure of whether this incident is enough to damage your relationship with Pompey substantially, but you also do not want to discuss it unnecessarily. Part of you, both protective of your masculinity and hesistant to grow the situation, wants to ignore the the drama completely. The other part of you knows Pompey is upset, and is worried it will hurt you in the long run. Do you go to Pompey, attempting to heal the relationship, but possibly heightening the political theatre, or do you brush it off?
[[ignore drama ---> ignore drama]]
[[attempt to heal relationship ---> attempt to heal relationship]]You are not worried. Pompey will continue to protect you, right?
Your hope turned out to be unjustified. At a time when your enemy is at very high rank, Pompey is not protecting you. Fear crawls from your fingertips to your chest every moment you consider the situation you are in, but you cannot show anything but confidence. Clodius has proposed four laws, all aimed at mitigating the concerns of average citizens. He is playing his cards better than you expected. All you can do it wait.
The laws are enacted, which you know means Clodius will move on to targeting you. It is not inconsistent with the frame of power Clodius strives for; his reputation will be even better after dissolving Cicero's power. You are not a popularis. The city does not look at you as a leader for the average citizens. What did you expect?
Clodius passes a law that states anyone who executed a Roman citizen without a trial must be exiled. This is targeted at you, as you exiled and killed Cataline conspirators without due trial. The bill was flooded with support, there was no doubt about it. Clodius has simultaneously honored a long-standing Roman right, while maliciously attacking you. Even Caesar publicly praised the principles of the law, but privately asked you to join his command staff in Gaul. You don't even consider this, it is inconsistent with the person you are, and you know that.
[[fight ---> fight]]
[[willingly leave---> willingly leave]]You are not worried. Pompey will continue to protect you, right?
Your hope turned out to be unjustified. At a time when your enemy holds great power, Pompey is not protecting you. Fear crawls from your fingertips to your chest every moment you consider the situation you are in, but you cannot show anything but confidence. Clodius has proposed four laws, all aimed at mitigating the concerns of average citizens. He is playing his cards better than you expected. All you can do it wait.
The laws are enacted, which you know means Clodius will move on to targeting you. It is not inconsistent with the power Clodius strives for; his reputation will only grow after dissolving Cicero's power. You are not a popularis. The city does not look on you as a leader for the average citizens. What did you expect?
Clodius passes a law that states anyone who executed a Roman citizen without a trial must be exiled. This is targeted at you, as you exiled and killed Catiline conspirators without due trial. The bill gained overwhelming support, there was no doubt about it. Clodius has simultaneously honored a long-standing Roman right, while maliciously attacking you.
Breathing in the air of Rome, which has now turned stale, you decide it is over. You stand, winded from your climb to the top of the hill, your breath further stolen by the beauty it overlooks. You wish you were thinking about what to do next, you wish there was a choice, but instead you are preparing to start a journey. A journey far from Rome.
''This is truly the end. DId you choose right?''
You decide that you cannot risk your allyship with Pompey, so you walk to his home in an attempt to reconcile. He opens the door, but does not gesture you in. The look on his face startles you. He takes heavy breaths and then turns back and walks away, leaving the door open. Unsure of what to do, you step inside and look to your right, no sign of Pompey. You turn to your left and see the man who guided you holding a rusted dagger. His hand grasps the handle, paralleling the unique way his eyebrows seem to grasp his face. Something inside you tells you to take a step back, but you do not move. Pompey raises his arm, and you see the dagger's clear path to your chest. As your body crumples from the shocking pain, you see Pompey's expression turn to sadness. His eyes frown down at you, as you lay on his floor, bleeding out. You’re not at peace, you're not ready to die, but you do know that the choices you made led you here.
''Would you do it all again?''You stomp through the streets of Rome, angry with the Republic for letting you down. Across the way, you see Clodius. The dagger on your hip seems to sear through your skin. Your fury overwhelms you as you walk towards him. As you near his heels, you reach for the dagger, but your hand knocks it out of place and it falls to the ground. Before the clatter of your weapon is silenced, Clodius turns and sees it. Immediately, he pulls his own blade out and slashes the side of your face. Instinctively, you turn and face the ground, holding both your hands over the fresh cut. As you pick your head up, Clodius plunges the dagger deep into your heart. The look on his face looks almost identical to the aggression of the blade. For a moment, you wander what there is to miss.
''It is over for you, but are you at peace? Should you have choosen differently?''You know you cannot work for Caesar; it would be inconsistent with everything you stand for. You could have stayed, you could have fought. But you've decided that is not who you are.
Who are you then?
Now, you stand alone, exiled from the city you love. Your grand domus, sitting with your pride on the aristocratic Palatine hill, has been flattened. Your social status went with it. Your choices have led you here, it could have been different.
''Do you wish it was different? ''The Roman Republic has remained in the same state for almost two years. Now, nearing the end of 61 BCE, you see that there is no escape. As you painfully stroll the corrupt streets, faces reminding you of your failure pass you by. One face, in particular, catches your attention. It is your mortal enemy, Clodius, the man who destroyed your life. You walk past him, unnoticed, but something inside you burns to turn back around. You realize you have two real options: you can kill Clodius, giving Rome what it deserves for a leader, or you can keep walking, and resign yourself to a torturous life of submission.
What will you do?
[[resign ---> resign]]
[[stab him ---> stabbing]]You decide there is nothing left to do. Walking to your Grand Domus, nothing feels real anymore. The world around you suddenly seems bleak.
Who are you now?
Does it //really// matter?
''It's over.''Your dagger burns a hole in your side, getting hotter each instant you have to stare at your mortal enemy. He hasn't seen you, but you know that once he does, you'll have no chance of getting your true revenge. The white cloth he so proudly wears begs to be painted by blood. You cannot control it anymore; your feet sneak towards him as your hand sneaks towards the blade. As you approach Clodius, you draw back the dagger and muster all your force.
''//Slash//''
The blade slices through the air and lands in Clodius' back. His hands make weak fists that are no threat to the power you feel coursing through your veins.
''It's over.''You just cannot believe it. It is December of 59 BCE, and Clodius has just been elected tribune for the year 58. It was an accomplishment to establish your ability to impact Clodius's career, but you were ultimately unsuccessful.
To make matters worse, political drama is tearing Pompey, your most powerful ally, from you. Vettius, who you know from dealing with Cataline, has claimed his desire to murder Pompey. Vettius told his murderous plan to Curio, who then told his father. As news moves, Pompey found out from Curio's father and brought the matter in front of the Senate. Vettius was then imprisoned, further reasoned by the discovery that Vettius was carrying a dagger through the city. Having abundant evidence that a previous colleague of yours was planning to murder Pompey, your protector, threatens your career while it is already weakened. Vettius eventually spoke to the tribune Vatinius, in which he told a different story than the basis of his arrest. Now, Vettius, at this point, is saying that his fellow conspirators were not youthful aristocrats as previously stated, but instead ranking senators. When you hear this, you know your name is implied to be within that list.
You are unsure whether this incident is enough to damage your relationship with Pompey substantially, but you also do not want to discuss it unnecessarily. Do you continue on, hopeful he will still protect you, or do you start a conversation with Pompey, possibly furthering this political theatre?
[[brush it off ---> brush it off]]
[[try to heal relationship ---> try to heal relationship]]
You decide that you cannot risk your alliance with Pompey, so you walk to his home in an attempt to reconcile. He opens the door, but does not gesture you in. The look on his face startles you. He takes heavy breaths and then turns back and walks away, leaving the door open. Unsure of what to do, you step inside and look to your right, no sign of Pompey. You turn to your left and see the man who guided you holding a rusted dagger. His hand grasps the handle, paralleling the unique way his eyebrows seem to grasp his face. Something inside you tells you to take a step back, but you do not move. Pompey raises his arm, and you see the dagger's clear path to your chest. As your body crumples from the shocking pain, you see Pompey's expression turn to sadness. His eyes frown down at you, as you lay on his floor, bleeding out. You’re not at peace, you're not ready to die, but you do know that the choices you made led you here.
''Would you do it all again?''Your dagger burns a hole in your side, getting hotter each instant you have to stare at your mortal enemy. He hasn't seen you, but you know that once he does, you'll have no chance of getting your true revenge. The white cloth he so proudly wears begs to be painted by blood. You cannot control it anymore; your feet sneak towards him as your hand sneaks towards the blade. As you approach Clodius, you draw back the dagger and muster all your force.
''//Slash//''
The blade slices through the air and lands in Clodius' back. His hands make weak fists that are no threat to the power you feel coursing through your veins.
''It's over.'' ''Blood on Your Hands''
by: Kate Kranias
[[Introduction]]
[[Bibliography]]
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[Bibliography]
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