The Praetorian: and the Vipers: 2

Antonius Licinius has just survived the rescue attempt of his nephew that went horribly wrong. Prior to that the Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar learned that his Praetorian prefect Lucius Sejanus plotted to kill him and take the throne. He foiled the plot and had Sejanus executed. He then decreed that all of Sejanuss family and friends were also traitors to the throne and sent his Praetorian Guard throughout the country to arrest them. Since Antoniuss father was a good friend of Sejanus he and his family were included on the emperors treason list. Antoniuss friend Marcus Flavius who went through Praetorian training with him was also put on the list. A vengeful centurion by the name of Darius Aurelius was given the assignment to arrest them. Instead of arresting Antoniuss family however he murdered them to satisfy a hatred he bore against Antonius during their training days. All except the infant son of Antoniuss sister and his friend Marcus. He was more merciful to Marcuss family and took them to the prison in Rome. Since Antonius and Marcus were serving in Judaea at the time Aurelius went there to arrest them. When he learned that they had left Judaea on furlough with their commander Centurion Taurus he suspected that they might have learned their names were on the list and fled. A suspicion that proved to be true. He pursued them back to Rome but was unsuccessful in catching up to them. He then devised a plan to hold Marcuss son hostage in order to lure Antonius and Marcus into a rescue attempt. Aurelius kept the child at a villa that once belonged to Antoniuss family. With the help of Taurus and a man who worked at the Licinius family vineyard Decimus Faustus Antonius and Marcus rescued Marcuss family from the prison and took them to a cottage just outside of Rome. Tauruss niece Julia Cato learned they were at the cottage and helped them form a plan to rescue Antoniuss nephew. Aurelius however saw through the plan. Marcus and Taurus died during the attempt. Aurelius then fought Antonius in a duel to the death and lost. The new Praetorian prefect Sutorius Macro arrived just before Aureliuss men were about to kill Antonius and informed everyone that Tiberius had abolished his treason list. When Macro learned all the immoral things that Aurelius had done he pardoned Antonius and his companions allowing him to resume his standing with the Guard. Now Antonius must return to the cottage where Marcuss family are waiting to see if the rescue attempt was successful or not. Antonius is about to learn that the emperors treason list has created a general discord in the land. Many people who lost friends or relatives to the purge banded together and formed a group of outlaws known as Vipers. They will become a threat to Tiberius and all who support him including his Praetorian Guard.