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[Askot Bokbondeler]

that'd work, if it'd let us afford some better equipment for the whole crew, it wouldn't be a worse fate than to die in battle as cannon fodder

[stabbymcstabstab]

You sure about that? would you die free fight against a horrible enemy or die by being working to death and not even be considered human? knock out our brother and sell him no one would notice

[Askot Bokbondeler]

die free? they're our prisioners, they're not free, they stay alive so they can prove themselves useful. it's either fight as a slave or work as a slave, i'd say they'd rather go with the second

[Yoink]

Pfff, who cares, just give each of 'em a big stick.
Whoever survives the battle gets a proper sword!

[Dsarker]

You sure about that? would you die free fight against a horrible enemy or die by being working to death and not even be considered human? knock out our brother and sell him no one would notice

Depends on who you sell them to. And they also get the chance of becoming a freeman, who have been some of the greatest political and financial powers in the Roman Empire.

[Sheb]

Except we're not in the Empire. Also, our lord gave us those prisoners so that we turn them into a fighting machine. I don't think he'd like us selling his prisoners for our profit. Also, we need to treat those guys well. We're going to be fighting with them, we will most likely go on some missions with only them... Do you really want to be alone with 30 armed guys that hate your guts?

Nah, if you want better armor and weapons, we need to grab it from the Romans. They've got the best stuff around and it'll prove to our leaders that we aren't afraid to kill.

Also, we should make clear to them that if they fight well, they'll be given their freedom and their share of loot.

[Yoink]

Perhaps, we could question them about Roman troop movements? They were running from Romans when we found them, if I'm not mistaken, so they might know some stuff. I dunno.
Anyway, if we could find an isolated group of Romans, or some roman sscouts on patrol, maybe we could mob them and take their equipment.

[Dsarker]

Or we could just threaten them with death if they disobey us.

[Sheb]

Sure. And what's stopping them of "mistakenly" stabbing them in the back in the midst of a battle?

You don't understand our situation here. We don't have a few potentially disloyal element in an otherwise loyal unit. We're leading a bunch of guys that most likely saw their families killed by our bosses. On our own. We need to gain their loyalty, and that means making it clear that:
1) They owe us their lives.
2) If they don't fight well, they have no hope, for the Romans will kill them if they can and our sides will as well.
3) If they do fight well and serve loyally, they will eventually be given freedom and the right to live among us as a Scythian.

[Dsarker]

Oh, but the Romans probably won't kill them. Romans are much more practical than that. They'll probably either enslave them or leave them in peace. If they do enslave them, they're probably due for the gladiatorial arena, which means a pretty cushy life, free food, board, medical care, maybe popularity if they're good (on the level of a famous band). Really, the Pax Romana was pretty good for those under the Roman's rule.

[Sheb]

Sure, but that's not what we're going to tell them.

[stabbymcstabstab]

They don't need to know little details like that

[Askot Bokbondeler]

They were running from Romans when we found them

they were fleeing from our guys

[Svarte Troner]

Before leaving the council, the Saitae (Tattooed man) announces that the camp will move on a small Roman outpost later today, you are expected to come along. You leave the Saitae's council and call a meeting with your newly emancipated comrades. You find that many of the prisoners are of Dacian, Greek, and Thracian descent. One of them in particular seems very well versed in the others' languages. He introduces himself Anaxagoras of Byzantium. The other prisoners seem to look up to him. He tells you of the origins of the other men:

14 of the men were Thracian mercenaries captured in a recent war and transported to Crimea.
7 are Greek slaves
8 are Dacian peasants
1 Anaxagoras

The Thracians, he tells you, are highly skilled and were their former lieges prized soldiers. The Greek Slaves served Roman Nobles and are fluent in Latin. The Dacian peasants led a resistance in their occupied territory, utilizing guerrilla warfare. Anaxagoras was a doctor and surgeon before being arrested by Roman authorities in a nearby settlement.

All the men are clad in tattered, dirty tunics. They have no weapons.
Anaxagoras offers to translate for you. What plans will you discuss with your men?


Inventory

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

-Torn Worn Tunic (Body)
-Torn Camouflage Cloak (Over Tunic)
-Worn Boots (Feet)
-Father's Knife (Concealed in Tunic)
-Grandfathers Bow (On back)
-Quiver (On back)
-Roman Helmet (head)
-old shield (Right hand)
-Hand axe (left hand)

Location:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

-The Scythian noble camp

Status:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Mount: Steppe horse
Injuries: Bandaged cuts across chest
Followers:
14 Thracian mercenaries
7 Greek slaves
8 Dacian peasants
Anaxagoras (doctor)
Time of Day: early afternoon

[Dsarker]

Greeks will be useless in battle. Use them and Anaxagoras to keep your guys healthy. Thracians might be useful, but if we don't have weapons they will die quickly. Guerilla warfare? That's pretty advanced for most of the enemies Rome fought, which means they had a leader. We can't trust them, they'll be loyal to them first.


If we had an all cavalry force, that might be easier, since most of the nomadic tribes were very skilled horsemen and able to fight on horseback, but infantry will just be lambs to the slaughter. There was only one enemy that caused the Romans to change the design of their armour, and they were using very specialised weapons.


Tell you the truth, we don't stand much chance against the Romans.