The small camp was buzzing with activity, the night was setting and everyone had orders to leave. The head of the small scout regiment scratched his head as he peered over the latest reports. Publius stood in the background, an apple in his hand and his mouth busy crunching the large portion he had bit into. “What now centurion?”

“I am not sure sir, I was hoping you provide me with this information. I am concerned about the activity here, according to people in Mallus, there are large legion concentrations in Antioch and Alexandria.” He pointed down east and south of Mallus in Syria province...

“And why is this any of our business...” Said Publius... “I doubt they would be concerned or even noticed a small band of cavalry rushing through their north. In either case, we are to move carefully...” He turned to the few regimental leaders behind him, took another bite of his apply and crunched it loudly. “Alright, we will ride at night, moderate speeds. I would like scouts to fan out three miles in all directions. I would like a scout group of a few men (ten or so fast riders) to head directly to Pylae Amanicae... their job will be to scout the area and report anything out of the ordinary. Once we cross the Pylae Amanicae will go full speed following the road northeast to Doliche.”

“Sir...” Said one centurion “Where are we going, this seems like you are taking us to the Parthian border.”

Publius threw the pulp of his apply to the ground, wiped his hand with his tunic and pointed further east of Doliche. We are planning to go their gentlemen, we are crossing into Parthian territory and I am planning to offer my services to the Parthian king. There is a chance that he will laugh in my face, lop off my head and stick on a pike for his private amusement. If anyone here feels that he or his unit is incapable of following this path with me. Feel free to put your helmet on, take your horse and grovel before Caesar. Otherwise, the rewards of this plan succeeding will beyond anyone’s wildest dream.”

As he left the modest tent, there were men still inside, he left them to decide their own fates, he strapped his own helmet and he jumped on his horse. In the back of his mind, he played with the possibility of being very alone in this quest, though he had better hopes.


(Attention GM: I will require a ruling regarding how many of my men decide to follow me east. Orders are also to follow: we will ride at night, moderate speeds. I would like scouts to fan out three miles in all directions. I would like a scout group of ten or so fast riders to head directly to Pylae Amanicae... their job will be to scout the area and report anything out of the ordinary. Once we cross the Pylae Amanicae will go full speed following the road northeast to Doliche.)