Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 928: Southern Italy During the Festival of Hades

Because each team represented its respective demos or town, the spectators naturally took sides and grew deeply invested in the matches. Though they still did not fully understand many of the rules, that did not stop them from cheering wildly for their local teams or getting into heated arguments with spectators from other regions.

As the Rugby championship progressed, a strange phenomenon unfolded in Rome: conflicts between the native Romans and the newly relocated Daionian citizens steadily declined. After the matches, they could even be seen slinging their arms around each other's shoulders, shouting the names of their shared team's players in their respective languages. The quarrels had instead shifted to the citizens of the different demos...

...

While the people of Rome lost themselves in the festival revelry, the Daionian soldiers in the camp outside the City of Satricum felt utterly stifled. To prevent the plague from spreading, they had to obey orders to stay inside their tents as much as possible. They were forbidden from gathering in the camp or holding athletic competitions, and they even had to undergo daily medical examinations. It was arguably the dullest Festival of Hades they had ever experienced. Their only silver lining was King Davos's frequent visits to individual tents to comfort the troops, marking the most direct contact these soldiers had ever had with the King of Daonia.

The doctors and nurses were overwhelmingly busy. Every day, wearing heavy protective clothing that covered them from head to toe, they rushed between camps to tirelessly examine and treat the sick. The medical staff dispatched to the plague-ridden Roman camps faced the constant threat of infection. Even so, many doctors eagerly volunteered for the assignment, viewing it as a rare and invaluable opportunity to put their medical theories into practice.

The Daionian medical staff carefully treated and tended to the wounded and infected Roman soldiers, caring for them as if they were family. This dedication gradually moved the Roman troops, slowly eroding their hatred toward the Theonians.

Stesichodas, the director of the medical camp, frequently wrote letters to Hippocrates in Thurii, consulting him about various issues encountered during treatments.

Despite being in his seventies, Hippocrates was adamant about sailing there upon learning of the plague in Latium. His students repeatedly pleaded with him not to go, ultimately preventing his departure. Nevertheless, his willingness to risk his own life for the sake of medicine spread far and wide, deeply inspiring countless Daionian doctors.

Thurii's Festival of Hades and Rugby championship were notably less spectacular than in previous years. The various towns in the Sicily Territory were engulfed in war and could not send teams to compete. Furthermore, the finest players from the other cities were often also their finest soldiers; they were either following King Davos on the expedition to Latium or marching under Alexis's command through the mountains of Samnium.

After learning from the captives that several other remnant factions from Apulia might attack in the near future, the Senate made a decision: the towns of Apulia did not need to send teams to Thurii. Instead, they were to complete their autumn harvest as quickly as possible and focus entirely on their defenses.

The Senate also instructed the Ministry of Military Affairs to notify the Ninth Legion, which had stayed behind, and the Second Cavalry Legion to relocate completely into the Peuceti military camp. They were temporarily placed under the unified command of Tagetinos, Legion Commander of the Ninth Legion, who would anchor the center and coordinate counterattacks against any enemies landing on the Apulian coasts.

The Senate's decision sparked protests among the citizens of Apulia's towns, particularly in the Messapii and Peucetian areas. They dispatched representatives to the Senate of Thurii to plead their case to the senators, insisting that sending teams to compete would not compromise their ability to fully defend against potential invasions.

The Senate ultimately approved their request, but the ordeal profoundly stoked the Apulian people's hatred for the enemy.

With the Apulian populace united against a common enemy, the tiny fraction of people secretly tied to the remnant factions did not dare make a single reckless move.

During the festival, one particular event became a favorite topic of conversation among the citizens of Thurii.

Because King Davos was absent, it stood to reason that Praxinas, the kingdom's Scepter Priest, should take over the responsibility of presiding over the sacrifices at the Main Temple of Hades on the day of the grand ceremony. However, Praxinas declined. He firmly argued that on the Lord of the Underworld's birthday, the rites must be led by one of his descendants. Only then could they please the somber King of the Night and ensure his continued protection over the kingdom during this extraordinary year.

The majority of the senators agreed with him, but the practical reality was problematic. Not only was Davos away from Thurii, but his only adult son, Crotokatax, was also absent. His other children were still too young...

After much deliberation, the senators finally decided that Queen Christoya would preside over the sacrifices.

In the senators' eyes, even though Christoya was not a descendant of Hades, she was King Davos's wife. They were family, so they figured Hades would not object too strongly.

Why did they not choose Agnes? The reason was simple: she was already the chief priestess of the Temple of Hera. If she were to host this grand festival, it might anger both Hades and Hera. Of course, Christoya's personal influence over the senators was another reason why none of them raised fierce opposition.

Thus, on the day of the festival, the graceful Queen Christoya, dressed in a pristine white robe, stood before the altar of the Main Temple of Hades. With solemn dignity, she recited the sacrificial prayers to Hades. Her beautiful, noble face and clear, melodious voice created the most unforgettable scene of this year's celebration.

...

While the people of Daionia in Magna Graecia celebrated the festival to sweep away the gloom of war, the Daionians in the Sicily Territory were steadily marching into the most arduous phase of the conflict.

Mago led over 50,000 soldiers over the mountains and into the southern edges of the Plain of Catania. They constructed a camp between Leontini and Palagonia in an attempt to sever the connections between these towns and isolate Palagonia.

While the Carthaginians built their camp, the defenders of Palagonia and the New Katane Military Camp, located just north of Leontini, repeatedly dispatched troops to harass the Carthaginian army. However, because Mago maintained high vigilance, these raids yielded no significant results. In one instance, troops sallying from the new camp to harass the enemy failed to retreat in time and were intercepted by Carthaginian cavalry. They suffered substantial casualties, forcing Brelius, Legion Commander of the Seventh Legion, to deploy his forces far more cautiously.

Nevertheless, the harassment from the Daionian Army delayed the construction of the Carthaginian camp, taking several days just to reach rough completion. Mago did not sit idle during this time. He dispatched thousands of Numidian Cavalry into the Plain of Catania, intending to plunder Katane's civilians and resources.

However, Cyprolus and Leotychides had long anticipated this. The moment the main Carthaginian army began its advance on Palagonia, they mobilized all the Daionian citizens living outside the walls to pack up their supplies and temporarily relocate into Katane.

Finding nothing to loot, the Numidian Cavalry turned toward destroying villages, farmlands, and other facilities. Soon, massive fires blazed across the Plain of Catania, reducing village after village to ash. The only stroke of luck was that Palagonia had successfully stalled the Carthaginian army for several days, giving the people on the Plain of Catania just enough time to finish their autumn harvest.

When the citizens sheltering inside Katane heard that their homes had been destroyed, they were consumed with anxiety. The crowds gathered and petitioned the City Hall, hoping the army would drive off the foreign cavalry ravaging the plain.

Given that the main Carthaginian force was attacking from the south of the Plain of Catania, Leotychides had already led half of the Eighth Legion in a retreat from Agyrium back to Katane.

Over the past few days, Leotychides spent his days inspecting the defenses on the city walls and listening to the scouts' reports. At night, he stayed in his study, staring at the map in contemplation.

When Cyprolus came to visit Leotychides, he found the commander exactly where he expected—still holed up in his study.

"Prosous, it's utter chaos outside, yet you're still sitting here so calmly!" Cyprolus said, half-joking and half-serious, as soon as he saw him.

Leotychides knew exactly what he meant. "War is not a brawl between children where you immediately strike back the moment you are bullied," he replied, his tone cold and hard. "I have no reason to listen to the senseless shouting of the ignorant."

Cyprolus frowned slightly. "You must understand the pain these people feel at losing their homes," he gently urged. "Even if their anger is somewhat irrational, I fear it will infect your soldiers. You must remember that most of the men in the Eighth Legion and the reserves are Catanians. Their own houses and fields have also been destroyed. Surely that will take a considerable toll on their morale, will it not?"

Leotychides tore his gaze away from the map and looked at Cyprolus. "Has there been any abnormal behavior?" he asked.

"I am not entirely sure about that," Cyprolus answered awkwardly, "but I imagine the soldiers must be harboring some thoughts on the matter."

"You imagine?" Leotychides raised an eyebrow. Considering that Cyprolus was the Wartime Governor of Sicily and that he still needed his full support to command the operations, Leotychides forcefully swallowed the mockery he was about to unleash. Suppressing his irritation, he said, "I will keep a close eye on the men's condition. However, the Carthaginians are currently hoping to lure our forces out of the city to use their superior numbers to crush us in a field battle, lessening the resistance for their siege of Katane. We must hold our composure and refuse to fall into the Carthaginians' trap. Lord Cyprolus, did you have important business with me?"