- 2 months ago
Following the fall of the Roman Empire, a Roman woman plots to make her son the new Emperor and to fulfill the former glory of the city.
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00:00:00To be continued...
00:06:25This is not exactly the wedding night I've hoped for a husband.
00:06:55I know I'm safe when I'm with you, but you're not safe.
00:07:11I don't spend our days peering behind every tree to see if death's face peers back.
00:07:16The death faces could soon be Roman.
00:07:25These new allies of yours, they're nothing but a pack of dogs waiting to bite you, not helpers.
00:07:34The vermin should be killed, some of the better ones sold as slaves, and the main snake beheaded, not assisted by our troops.
00:07:44You never cease to amaze me, dear wife.
00:07:48The suave are merely pieces on the board of the game we play.
00:07:54And does Rome even play this game? When was the last time a tax assessor passed this way?
00:08:02They have more important things to attend to than my small garrison.
00:08:07The emperor Nepos would have every Roman do his duty, first and foremost.
00:08:14And Nepos?
00:08:16Nepos is no emperor. He's nothing but a puppet on a paper throne.
00:08:22Yes, he is the emperor.
00:08:25Ah, but for how long, and by whose bidding, husband?
00:08:31Nepos is nothing but a boil on the backside of Rome.
00:08:37You best hold your tongue.
00:08:39Why?
00:08:44Don't you understand, my husband, my warrior, my favorite?
00:08:51No one is listening.
00:08:55Treason is as treason does.
00:08:58And if treason succeeds, what then?
00:09:03What do you mean?
00:09:05My son, Cassius Rizima.
00:09:08His father had more right to the throne of Rome than Nepos.
00:09:14Rizima is dead, or had you forgotten?
00:09:17Yes, he's dead, but his son lives.
00:09:20A son with the blood of emperors in his veins.
00:09:23And until he reaches his majority, we are his regents.
00:09:30Wonderful treason, Rabina.
00:09:33All of you leave us.
00:09:34All of you leave us.
00:09:36All of you leave us.
00:09:38Think of it, Maximus.
00:09:39We have the makings of an army here.
00:09:44And with the silver from Argos' mines, we have the means to pay for an even life.
00:09:45And with the silver from Argos' mines, we have the means to pay for an even life.
00:09:49larger one.
00:09:50I wonder what dear Argos would say to you.
00:09:51I wonder what dear Argos would say to you.
00:09:52And with the silver from Argos' mines, we have the means to pay for an even larger one.
00:09:54I wonder what dear Argos would say to financing your treason, Rabina.
00:09:55Leave Argos.
00:09:56And with the silver from Argos' mines, we have the means to pay for an even larger one.
00:10:01I wonder what dear Argos would say to financing your treason, Rabina.
00:10:09Leave Argos to me, husband.
00:10:10I usually do.
00:10:11Then think on it.
00:10:12That's all I ask.
00:10:13Think of an empire, larger, larger.
00:10:16And with the silver from Argos' mines, we have the means to pay for an even larger one.
00:10:19And with the silver from Argos' mines, we have the means to pay for an even larger one.
00:10:22I wonder what dear Argos would say to financing your treason, Rabina.
00:10:25Leave Argos to me, husband.
00:10:26I usually do.
00:10:27Then think on it.
00:10:29That's all I ask.
00:10:32Think of an empire larger than you could ever imagine.
00:11:01To dream on such things is one thing.
00:11:05To act is another.
00:11:08Once the knife is drawn, it does not go back to the sheath.
00:11:14We need not act now.
00:11:16Only plan for a glorious future.
00:11:20A brief future with the executioner's block at the end of it.
00:11:25If you don't curb your tongue.
00:11:31Just remember what I said, Maximus.
00:11:38Just remember.
00:11:40Oh, don't worry, wife.
00:11:42I remember everything.
00:11:43I remember everything.
00:12:01Mother.
00:12:05Mother.
00:12:06I want him flogged.
00:12:09No, even better.
00:12:11I want this little fucking cheater executed.
00:12:17He beat me in land traculi again.
00:12:20And I know the game.
00:12:23So he must have cheated.
00:12:26You cannot do that, Cassius.
00:12:29Slaves are expensive and they're difficult to come by.
00:12:32You cannot have him killed for such an infraction.
00:12:37Did you cheat?
00:12:39No, I didn't, Demina.
00:12:41I won't fare.
00:12:43Give the boy ten lashes.
00:12:45Please.
00:12:46Not for cheating.
00:12:47But for upsetting my son.
00:12:48When I'm the Emperor, I will not eat the shit food in this shit place.
00:13:00I will go to Ravenna and I will leave this stink hole to the animals who live here.
00:13:19You should not allow your mouth to let out so foully unless you have some reason.
00:13:25You have some reason.
00:13:28A reason?
00:13:31I am the Cassius Rissima.
00:13:37And I will fucking do what I want.
00:13:42And who are you to order me about?
00:13:47You are not my father.
00:13:48Stop it, my darling.
00:13:51Maximus is almost your father and like your father, he has General's blood in him.
00:13:57General's blood?
00:14:00My father did not lose Africa.
00:14:03He did.
00:14:05My father saved the Empire.
00:14:09Twice.
00:14:11You should teach your son better manners and proper speech if you want him to be seen in public.
00:14:17I have asked you countless times for a grammarian but to no avail.
00:14:22A grammarian?
00:14:23Sure do you jest, woman?
00:14:26I barely have enough funds to keep my soldier's swords sharpened and you want me to hire a fucking grammarian?
00:14:32A grammarian to fondle your son's tiny prick and coo in his ear like a turtle dove.
00:14:39Teaching him to round his oes and spread his buttocks in the proper Roman way.
00:14:44Mama says I need a grammarian so I can become a good orator as befits an emperor.
00:14:57An emperor?
00:14:59An emperor?
00:15:01You?
00:15:03An emperor of flowers?
00:15:05An emperor of tithering buoys?
00:15:06An emperor of perfumes and powders?
00:15:09I see no emperor here or being a prima no matter whose blood flows in his veins.
00:15:13I see only a collection of oripuses fit for a calamite's pleasure.
00:15:18Take your simpering flower from my sight before I decide to lop off his golden petal!
00:15:25There is clearly some madness in your bloodline.
00:15:36You are a fool for not seizing this opportunity.
00:15:40Learn your place, widow, and do not speak out of turn!
00:15:43Now take your poison tongue and your orphan from my sight!
00:15:50To the people and senate of Rome, I give you the emperor of daisies.
00:16:13May his reign be long and bountiful!
00:16:26We rest and go in after dark.
00:16:29I want her alive.
00:16:43Come.
00:17:01We salute you again, Maximus Urbanus.
00:17:05The esteemed docks of this frontier legion.
00:17:08And the protector of the empire.
00:17:09We offer greetings to the emperor.
00:17:14And to all his citizens.
00:17:16And I bring gratitude from my people.
00:17:21Our greetings to you, Tyrannus Maldras, lord of the Suave and Rugi nations.
00:17:26Now, all friends of Rome.
00:17:28I am glad we have made our agreement, you and I.
00:17:32We face a common enemy.
00:17:35Valimar and his verminous horde of Amal Goths.
00:17:39Vermin, perhaps.
00:17:41But vermin with sharp teeth, General.
00:17:45Yes, indeed.
00:17:48Indeed so.
00:17:50Which is why our accommodation will be so beneficial.
00:17:54I will use my legion, with all their strength and skill, to defend your people.
00:18:01I offer you the protection of Rome.
00:18:06I and my people will be forever grateful to you and to your emperor.
00:18:13But I come to bring more than mere gratitude, General.
00:18:17I come to accept your commission in your legion as a centurion.
00:18:23If it is still offered.
00:18:26Yes.
00:18:30Indeed it is.
00:18:32With gratitude.
00:18:35And the draft of all your fighting men into my auxiliary troops still stands.
00:18:41You will teach my men the ways of the Amal Goths in war.
00:18:46You have fought them in battle and won more than we have.
00:18:48If war comes with Falamar.
00:18:53The Rugi and Swayvi will stand with us like brothers.
00:18:59Do you accept your duties and all that comes with them?
00:19:03For me and all my men.
00:19:06I accept.
00:19:09Swear to it.
00:19:15We swear.
00:19:18And so it shall be.
00:19:22Now the Rugi and Swayvi nations, united in princely marriage, are considered friends of Rome.
00:19:31Not without unification of the prince and his people under a most Christian god.
00:19:39Kneel, you pagans, and accept him.
00:19:48We have more important things to attend to.
00:19:59You don't have to believe him.
00:20:02Or.
00:20:04In him.
00:20:06I value your skill in war.
00:20:08We believe him at war.
00:20:10Not in mumbling prayers.
00:20:12I don't know.
00:20:42I don't know.
00:21:12I don't know.
00:21:42I don't know.
00:21:44I don't know.
00:21:46And what a strong-looking warlord he is.
00:21:50If I were you, I'd purchase him.
00:21:56He's worth every Aureus.
00:21:58Oh, I doubt Tyrannus is for sale, dear wife.
00:22:02After all, he's now a Roman, same as you or I.
00:22:06How sad.
00:22:07You must forgive my wife, Tyrannus.
00:22:20She sometimes forgets to have her wine watered.
00:22:23And so, my dear husband, if you cannot sell him or any of the others, where is the benefit to Rome, other than a few extra soldiers?
00:22:34I swear my allegiance to Rome.
00:22:46To stem the tide of the barbarian animals who threaten to burst the levies of civilization with blood.
00:22:52I've heard that most of that blood was your people's.
00:22:55And yet here you are, at our gates, licking your wounds and asking for help.
00:23:01We offer Rome protection through joint force.
00:23:04If a man puts a dog outside his gate to protect from other dogs, they are not joined forces.
00:23:12My wife is out of her depth in political conversations.
00:23:17She operates in a world of fantasy.
00:23:21And bedtime stories with her spoiled child, transported back in time 500 years.
00:23:27Our alliance remains.
00:23:33Strong as it needs to be.
00:23:36The strong as his bond to the Rughi Hall.
00:23:52Don't pass.
00:23:53Our village was destroyed.
00:23:56The Amals.
00:23:57They've burned everything and killed many.
00:23:59And what of Giza?
00:24:01She lives.
00:24:02She was taken.
00:24:04You must give me half a cohort and I will go after them.
00:24:07Not addressing your ducks properly and telling him what he must do does not sit well with me, soldier.
00:24:12Apologies, General, but I have agreed to all your terms.
00:24:14And now I need to rescue my wife from the Amals.
00:24:16We must strike now.
00:24:17We are not prepared to attack them right now.
00:24:19Why don't you just give me a hundred men and I will make two?
00:24:21I do not make rash decisions based on emotion and I certainly don't have them dictated to me.
00:24:27I do not throw up the board when my position in the game is unfavorable like a child.
00:24:43I plan my next move.
00:24:45But it is I people who have been taken and killed, not yours.
00:24:48Your people are not out of position, Tyrannus.
00:24:51It is you.
00:24:53Your wife is off the board.
00:24:54So you want to drag my men off for your personal agenda.
00:24:58I don't know what I would say.
00:24:58Do not touch your commander.
00:25:04You are a Roman soldier, no longer a barbarian warlord.
00:25:09This verse is on mutiny.
00:25:10Mutiny is treason.
00:25:12Death is reward.
00:25:14By the gods, arrest this man.
00:25:16Take his life before he takes yours.
00:25:19I will only take the lives of those who have taken my wife and killed my people.
00:25:24I care about every one of them, my lady.
00:25:26Their lives are as equal as any Roman's.
00:25:30And if you cannot see that, then you are no ally of ours.
00:25:36I will go after them without your help.
00:25:38Nothing!
00:25:49You stupid fool!
00:25:51Mark my words, that man will be the death of you.
00:25:54Your tongues fuse poison and insult again.
00:25:57This wavy will die, but after he has been properly sentenced as an example.
00:26:07I still need his men.
00:26:09You need Argos to fight for you.
00:26:12Not a pack of dogs without their leader.
00:26:14And you need my son as emperor to fight off the animals.
00:26:20One treason is enough for today.
00:26:23Speak of it no more.
00:26:24I will decide.
00:26:25I am the ducks here, and I rule by my merit.
00:26:32Precisely!
00:26:33You are the one that brought us to this shithole!
00:26:36You seem to forget your part in it, Robina Prima.
00:26:42Widow of Risma.
00:26:43I do not forget.
00:26:50Win a battle against a few Vandal Hordes.
00:26:54That's all you had to do, and yet you failed.
00:26:58The money my family had to pay to save you from the Executioner's Block
00:27:10and to get you this hellhole of a command.
00:27:15And now, your main dog cuts his chains,
00:27:20and tomorrow you bend over and you spread your ass for Balamar's ambassador.
00:27:25You disgust me.
00:27:31I'm ashamed to be alive.
00:27:36I will deal with Balamar without your help,
00:27:39and then I'll send you to a convent and your son to the Holy Chasamites
00:27:43to brighten his puckered ass!
00:27:55I'll send you to the Holy Chasamites to the Holy Chasamites to the Holy Chasamites to the Holy Chasamites.
00:28:25I'll send you to the Holy Chasamites to the Holy Chasamites to the Holy Chasamites.
00:28:32Do not despair, my love.
00:28:41I'm closer than you think.
00:28:55THE END
00:29:25Greetings again, Ambassador
00:29:35I trust your journey was not too arduous
00:29:39We Amals are not so soft as to complain about a little discomfort
00:29:48Yes, I have heard you are a hardy folk
00:29:52The lands to the east suit your hearty nature
00:29:56My King Valamar sends me to see to the fulfillment of conditions for our neighbors
00:30:07My King knows very well the discretion of the wise Dux Maximus
00:30:15Does he?
00:30:17Indeed
00:30:18When faced with an overwhelming number of Vandals in Africa
00:30:22Did he die a glorious death?
00:30:25No
00:30:26He retreated to fight another day
00:30:30Unfortunately, Rome's Emperor did not see my strategy as wise
00:30:36It sent me here as punishment
00:30:40King Valamar also knows that you are not as foolish as your predecessor
00:30:47The Dux, Quintus, Aurelius
00:30:53He was clubbed to death ignominiously
00:30:58After he took up arms against my King and lost
00:31:03A brave fool, but a fool nonetheless
00:31:06He also knows that you will be wise enough to see the benefits of joining my King
00:31:16And ridding the land of the verminous Sweevi
00:31:19I agree they are like cumbersome lice in a barbarian's beard
00:31:26My King also knows you will give him a free hand
00:31:30In Noricum and beyond to Pannonia
00:31:34At last
00:31:36Valamar's asswiper shows his teeth
00:31:41What kind of an upside-down world is this
00:31:45That a savage like you can walk in here
00:31:48Looking and smelling like he's wiped himself in his own feces
00:31:53And tell a Roman Dux how to govern
00:31:56Just what does your King offer me in return for Rome's generosity
00:32:01Of getting down on all fours and letting the Amos fuck me
00:32:05Your life, for one
00:32:08And if you are very lucky
00:32:11The life of your wife and your stepson
00:32:14You are in no position to dictate anything
00:32:18Does your shit-eating, whore-fucking excuse for a King
00:32:26Think that a little spouting gimp like you can frighten the Dux of Rome
00:32:34Some frighten more easily than others
00:32:38A gift
00:32:45From my King Valamar
00:32:48He knows how you Romans like to bury your dead with honors
00:32:53Allow me to present to you
00:32:58This garrison's previous Dux
00:33:02The late lamented Aurelius Quintus
00:33:07His current state of grooming and hygiene seems to be in fashion of your race
00:33:26I'm all magic
00:33:44A dead man crying
00:33:48Your bastard, whore-shit-eating King must be a real sorcerer
00:33:55Look closely, you whimpering turd
00:33:59Even in death, Aurelius spits on dogs like you
00:34:05Look closely
00:34:06The Dux weeps for you
00:34:09Calling you
00:34:10No, calling you to the brave
00:34:14Ghosts of Rome
00:34:17Return to sweep the dust
00:34:20And garrison from our roads
00:34:22Back to the swamps from which they come
00:34:24You hammer turd
00:34:29Did you really think that you could threaten me with a dead man's head
00:34:33Did your pig fucker King
00:34:38Really think he could intimidate me
00:34:40Maximus
00:34:42Antonius
00:34:44Abinus
00:34:46Did he
00:34:48I have missed you, wife
00:35:00And your good counsel
00:35:02Not just a widow
00:35:04Or a wife to be divorced
00:35:06Perhaps
00:35:07Of course not
00:35:09As the bishop said when we married
00:35:12Together until death
00:35:14And we may soon meet in death
00:35:18Once Valimar discovers his ambassador died at your hand
00:35:22And the Swavy turned tail on us
00:35:24I let my anger
00:35:26Get the better of me
00:35:28At the Swavy's betrayal
00:35:30I've warned you many times about these wild dogs
00:35:33Are you here to gloat about the Swavy?
00:35:36I am ready for the Hordes to judge me
00:35:38For my miscalculation of his character
00:35:41You need not put your head on the block just yet, husband
00:35:45The Amals
00:35:48Will descend on the city soon
00:35:51With nothing to stop them
00:35:54The stepson and the wife
00:35:58You so frequently mock
00:36:00Have built a wall to stop them
00:36:02And soon new legions
00:36:05Will be added to that wall
00:36:06Is this a bedtime story
00:36:11Before I am sent to an eternal sleep?
00:36:15Argos is on his way to Orestes
00:36:18With more silver
00:36:19Now that Cassius
00:36:22Is to be emperor
00:36:23It would seem that
00:36:28Politics may be a child's game after all
00:36:31Emperor
00:36:32So it is to be done
00:36:35We will rule through him as regents
00:36:39I have underestimated your
00:36:44Wiles
00:36:45Wife
00:36:49No more fighting then
00:36:53It's great
00:36:56Fighting
00:37:00Amongst the leading family of Rome
00:37:04Is what would weaken this empire
00:37:07To its knees
00:37:09I do not think that our family needs to fall into that trap again
00:37:18It is agreed
00:37:21Cassius will be emperor
00:37:23Go find my son
00:37:29Teach him something of governing
00:37:32For all our greater good
00:37:34I really can have a gladiator games
00:37:58As your mother and I have agreed
00:38:00Your every wish will now be fulfilled
00:38:02Even if you cannot ever be like my father
00:38:10You still can be a good friend
00:38:13I'm sure that you convinced my mother
00:38:20She's rather sheepish about killing slaves
00:38:23Isn't she?
00:38:26You're clever for your age
00:38:28Even without a grammarian
00:38:29Grammarian
00:38:31I really do not want some old monk
00:38:34Smelling of goat cheese
00:38:35Teaching me quotes from dead Romans
00:38:38I'd rather see a bit of bloodshed
00:38:42Now and then
00:38:44And so you shall
00:38:59I, Maximus Antonius Albinus
00:39:06Dux of the glorious Victrix 12th legion
00:39:10Of the imperial army of the west
00:39:13Have, by the power granted me by the emperor
00:39:17To defend and root out all evil
00:39:20Sentenced all of you
00:39:23To die
00:39:25For treason
00:39:26Daring to invade, harass
00:39:30And even kill
00:39:31Citizens of Rome
00:39:32But our God
00:39:37Is merciful
00:39:38To my dearest son
00:39:43Having heard
00:39:47His holy call
00:39:49Has decided to spare
00:39:52Some of you
00:39:53What would surely be
00:39:55A most deserved death
00:39:57The one
00:40:00Who will not be spared
00:40:03Is the Suebi Lord
00:40:05Tyrannus Maldras
00:40:07Not only
00:40:09Has he betrayed Rome
00:40:11He dared
00:40:14Try to attack me
00:40:16And assassinate me
00:40:19While a guest in my house
00:40:22For this cowardly act
00:40:28Of treason
00:40:29He has been confined
00:40:32To the black cell
00:40:33And on the next occasion
00:40:35Of our celebration
00:40:36He will be publicly disemboweled
00:40:39And then beheaded
00:40:41As a warning
00:40:42To all of you
00:40:44Some of you
00:40:57Would think
00:40:59That all of you
00:41:01Should die
00:41:02As enemies of Rome
00:41:04But not me
00:41:07I think it's better to die
00:41:11In fair combat
00:41:13Than on the executioner's axe
00:41:18Who agrees with me
00:41:22If you do not praise me
00:41:33If you do not respond
00:41:36To my next request
00:41:38Then I cannot save you
00:41:41So
00:41:43Who wants to be free again
00:41:46You will fight
00:41:51For your freedom
00:41:52Suebi
00:41:53Against Amos
00:41:55Those who will stand
00:42:01At the end
00:42:02Will repeat their performance
00:42:04A few weeks
00:42:05Hence
00:42:07Against real gladiators
00:42:10Who wins
00:42:13Will go free
00:42:14The ones who will lie
00:42:16Dead
00:42:17In the sand
00:42:18I wish a great journey
00:42:22Into the afterlife
00:42:23Begin
00:42:24Wise words
00:42:31An even wiser decision
00:42:33To entertain us now
00:42:34And the citizens of Rome
00:42:36On the day you were
00:42:38Elevated to the throne
00:42:39He's
00:42:41He's
00:42:41He's
00:42:42He's
00:42:43He's
00:42:44He's
00:42:45He's
00:42:46He's
00:42:47He's
00:42:48He's
00:42:49He's
00:42:50He's
00:42:51He's
00:42:52He's
00:42:53He's
00:42:54He's
00:42:55He's
00:42:56He's
00:42:57He's
00:42:58He's
00:42:59He's
00:43:00He's
00:43:01He's
00:43:02He's
00:43:03He's
00:43:04He's
00:43:05He's
00:43:06He's
00:43:07He's
00:43:08Let's go.
00:43:38Let's go.
00:44:08Let's go.
00:44:38Let's go.
00:45:08Let's go.
00:45:38Let's go.
00:46:08Let's go.
00:46:38Let's go.
00:47:08Let's go.
00:47:38Let's go.
00:48:08Let's go.
00:48:38Let's go.
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00:49:38Let's go.
00:50:08Let's go.
00:50:38Let's go.
00:51:08Let's go.
00:51:38Let's go.
00:52:08Let's go.
00:52:38Let's go.
00:53:08Let's go.
00:53:37Let's go.
00:54:07Let's go.
00:54:37Let's go.
00:55:07Let's go.
00:55:37Let's go.
00:56:07Let's go.
00:56:37Let's go.
00:57:07Let's go.
00:57:37Let's go.
00:58:07Let's go.
00:58:37Let's go.
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