The Debate #
The Council assembly is a portrait of despair. The Chief Magistrate stands on the steps, announcing the evacuation to Paestum. "The gods have spoken. The land is cursed."
Aulus, his face flushed with defiance, retorts: "And abandon the flocks? If we leave, we aren't just refugees—we’re beggars!"
Gaius attempts to rally the Sixteen Houses: "Picentia is wool! We need to process it here."
But the Magistrate scoffs, pointing at the rolling carts of archives. "With what hands, Gaius? You’re asking us to stay and starve for a dream of thread."
Chaos erupts. The noble families begin to follow the Magistrate. Gaius looks at Aulus, defeated. The exodus has begun.