Sesta stood in the makeshift eting hall, his expression resolute. The weight of responsibility as the newly appointed administrator of Niutum pressed on him, yet his resolve never wavered. His appointnt, recomnded by Juleios himself, had received widespread approval among the senators, save for a reluctant Antikris in Andolara, who begrudgingly continued as fire chief. Alongside him, Arsistatus was appointed as Sesta’s secretary, a trusted aide in managing the city and implenting the alliance’s policies for the Lucanians. Bagul, now a special inspector, was charged with maintaining harmony between Lucanians and Greeks.
Upon securing Niutum, Sesta acted decisively. The first order of business was the identification of prisoners. Those who had once ruled the city were shackled, their dependents imprisoned, while smaller, subjugated tribes were persuaded to surrender. This delicate task fell to Bagul, whose familiarity with Lucanian culture proved invaluable.
The second task was equally challenging: the liberation of slaves. Niutum had held many captives, their origins revealing the brutal history of the region.
Greeks: Captured during raids on Thurii and the Sybaris Plain, they were the spoils of past Lucanian victories.Lucanians: Victims of internecine tribal wars, often defeated by Gruntum-led coalitions or Niutum’s oppressive leaders.
Bagul and Arsistatus took charge of liberating the Lucanian slaves. anwhile, Sesta summoned the Greek captives to the city gates.
A Cry for Justice
As the Greek slaves gathered, their gaunt faces and tattered clothes painted a grim picture of suffering. Many won barely covered their emaciated forms, their eyes hollow with despair. Sesta, overco by emotion, addressed them with a solemn voice.
"Greeks, you have endured unimaginable tornt. Your suffering ends here."
At his words, the crowd erupted into tears. The dam of their silence broke, and sobs filled the air.
Monts later, Sesta ordered the imprisoned leaders of Niutum—nearly 700 n, including Chief Ram—to be paraded before the freed Greeks. Their captors, stripped of dignity, stood trembling in chains.
Sesta stepped forward, his voice ringing with authority. "Here are the n responsible for your suffering. Today, I grant you the weapons of justice. Take your revenge!"
The slaves hesitated, their disbelief palpable. Then, a man stepped forward, his hands trembling as he grasped a spear. Rage contorted his face as he thrust the weapon into one of the prisoners. The act shattered the fragile silence.
A wave of vengeance swept through the crowd. Ard with swords and spears distributed by Sesta’s soldiers, the slaves attacked their forr torntors. Screams of terror echoed as the prisoners fell one by one, their blood staining the ground.
Intervention and Order
Assisters rushed forward, alard. "My lord, this is a violation of the Senate’s orders! You must stop this at once!"
Sesta turned to him, his eyes blazing. "So what?! Look at them!" He gestured to the Greeks, their faces twisted with grief and fury. "Would you deny them justice? Would you ignore what these prisoners did to their families? Didn’t the Archon execute Croton’s generals to show Magna Graecia the strength of the Thurii Alliance?"
The carnage only ceased when a group of Greek won, many visibly pregnant or cradling infants, threw themselves between the attackers and the remaining prisoners.
Sesta demanded an explanation, and Arsistatus returned with grim news. "These won were violated by the prisoners. So are carrying their children; others already have..."
Sesta’s face darkened. "Enough!" he commanded. "Stop the slaughter!"
So of the slaves, driven by unrelenting hatred, refused to relent. They raised their weapons against the won shielding the prisoners. Sesta’s soldiers intervened, disarming them and restoring order.
A New Hope for the Freed
Sesta addressed the Greek slaves with a steady voice. "According to the new laws of the Thurii Alliance, any Greek forrly enslaved here will now be a free citizen of the alliance. In three years, if you et the requirents, you may beco full citizens. Tell , do you wish to remain in Niutum or return to Thurii?"
The male slaves overwhelmingly chose to return to Thurii. However, the won hesitated. For many, the scars of their enslavent—both physical and social—made reintegration into Greek society seem impossible.
Arsistatus stepped forward, his tone asured but hopeful. "By decree of our eternal Archon, Juleios, a new law has been passed: any Lucanian who marries a woman of the Thurii Alliance will imdiately gain prospective citizenship, land, and a two-year tax exemption. In two years, they may beco full citizens of the alliance."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. A woman stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Is this true?"
"It is absolutely true," Sesta confird. "Couples who marry under this law may register imdiately at the municipal office—or at the chief’s residence."
The won wept, their tears a mix of relief and joy. "The Archon Juleios is truly a great man who cares for us!" they exclaid.
Even so of the male Greek slaves, originally from outside Thurii, found the prospect enticing. Compared to the long road to citizenship in Thurii, marrying a Lucanian woman promised imdiate benefits.
Assisters, observing the scene, foresaw the ripple effects of this policy. Once announced in Thurii and Andolara, it would likely attract droves of freen eager to claim the sa opportunity.
As Sesta surveyed the aftermath of the execution, where blood soaked the earth and bodies lay in grim piles, he thought grimly, At least the widows of Niutum will now have soone to care for them.
Unsettled Lucanians
The grueso spectacle outside Niutum’s gates sent shockwaves through the city. Families who had lost loved ones mourned quietly, too fearful to voice dissent.
That evening, Bagul hosted a banquet for familiar Lucanian leaders, including Ksema and Ulaza. Despite Bagul’s efforts to ease tensions, the mood remained tense.
"Sit down! Please, everyone, sit down! We’re all old friends here," Bagul urged, attempting to channel Juleios’ charisma. But the guests remained stiff and wary.
"Where is Abinu?" Bagul asked, noticing the absence of a key ally.
"Abinu... quarreled with Udler’s son, Damalu, and was beaten to death," Ksema replied, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Bagul’s fists clenched. "Curse Udler! Curse those tyrannical tribes! Where is Damalu now?"
"He died, along with Udler, in the last battle against the Greeks," Ulaza interjected, his eyes flickering toward Assisters.
Bagul cald slightly. "Good. At least Abinu can rest in peace, honored by the mountain gods."
The tension in the room deepened when one of the guests voiced the fears lingering in everyone’s mind. "Udler, Ram, and their kind oppressed us. What if the Greeks do the sa? Won’t they slaughter us just as they did the others today?"
Bagul slamd the table. "Enough! The Thurii Alliance is not like your old oppressors!"
When one guest muttered doubts about Assisters’ presence, Bagul swiftly interjected. "He’s one of us! He’s my brother-in-law, a Lucanian by marriage!"
Though the banquet remained subdued, Bagul’s fierce defense and assurance sowed seeds of trust. Niutum’s future under the alliance was uncertain, but its foundation had been laid—blood-soaked, yet resolute.
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