#centurion oath

[whencyclopedia]

The Year of the Four Emperors & the Demise of Four Roman Legions

During the Year of the Four Emperors (69 CE), the fight between Vitellius and Vespasian would ultimately bring about the demise of four legions, the XV Primigenia, I Germanica, IIII Macedonica, and XVI Gallia. All four of these legions had previously served the Roman Empire with distinction under such leaders as Pompey and Octavian but made what turned out to be the wrong choice in 69 CE. While there remains a question concerning the loyalty of XV Primigenia, three of the legions made the mistake of supporting Vitellius.

Roman Expansion

Originally, the Roman army consisted of a citizen-based militia recruited from the propertied citizens. However, the consulship of Gaius Marius (l. 157-86 BCE) brought a number of changes. Property ownership not being a requirement anymore, the Marian Reforms allowed the Roman army to reinvent itself as a professional fighting force. Another significant change came in the reorganization of the legion. The new legion was broken into centuries and cohorts. A centurion, commanded a century of 80 men (not 100) – six of these centuries equaled a cohort of 480 men. With the rebirth of the legion, the legionary became a well-trained and disciplined foot soldier, fighting as part of a well-organized unit.

With Gnaeus Pompey’s (106-48 BCE) venture into Spain and Caesar’s assault on Gaul, the number of legions increased dramatically. As the empire expanded, more legions were necessary to keep the frontier borders secure. Before the time of the first Roman emperor Augustus (Octavian) (27 BCE - 14 CE), the Roman army was constantly on the march, relying on temporary camps more than permanent fortresses. As the borders of the empire expanded, permanent fortresses began to replace the marching camps. This move helped to stabilize the frontier.

After his successful return to Rome, Augustus wanted to be assured that his legionaries were loyal to him and not a usurper. Each soldier had to take an oath of allegiance to the Roman emperor, the ius iurandum: an oath renewed every year, on 3 January. Next, Augustus reduced the number of legions from 60 to 28. These 28 legions became 25 after the Roman commander Publius Quinctilius Varus (46 BCE - 9 CE) lost three legions - XVII, XVIII, and XIX - in the disastrous Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Most of the 25 legions were stationed in the troubled provinces and along the borders - only nine cohorts were assigned to Italy with three of these in Rome. In the end, Rome had a standing army of 150,000 legionaries and 180,000 auxiliary infantry and cavalry.

The empire’s expansion brought them into contact with a population of different customs, languages, and religions. To deal with this disparity and maintain the peace, the Pax Romana, the Romans relied on the army. According to historian Stephen Dando-Collins in his book Legions of Rome, the 1st and early 2nd century CE was the golden age of the legion when they "swept all before them." He considered the Roman legion of the imperial era to be "a triumph of organization.” He added, "… each component from heavy infantry to cavalry, artillery to supporting auxiliary light infantry, fitting neatly together to form a solid, self-contained military machine." (10)

Continue reading...

[cast-you-dxwn]

Swap Verse Lore: Crown Knights

When Saint Michael fell alongside his brothers, his sister in law, and his wife and children, so too did his men, ever loyal, fall alongside him.

What had once been the whole of Heavens defenses became the backbone of Hells military might as the Kingdom was established, then the elite of the Empire that The Pit became.

They are the Hand of the Emperor, ever-loyal to Michael as they always have been, serving as the sword, shield, eye, and hammer of the Royal Family. In many ways they fulfill the purpose of a royal guard, defending the palace when they are not otherwise deployed in militant action.

The Royal Family is large and it is not feasible for all of them to remain in reach of the usual guard at all times in the course of their daily lives and court duties. For this reason, certain Legionnaires singled out for their skills, vigilance, and comparability with each of the royals personality are selected as personal guards.

For the Empress and the Queen of Pride, Oriana and Lilith, this assignment was near-immediate, but their children were not given personal guards until they reach the age of majority, when they go out into the world beyond the reach of their parents.

These are the Crown Knights, the most ardent servants of the Imperial Family.

While these Legionnaires retain their rank, usually chosen amongst the Decanī or Centurions of the Fallen Legions, they no longer serve with their Legionnaires, as the title of Crown Knight overrides all of their previous duties, their charge theirs for the remainder of eternity.

The selection process is exacting, only the true best of the already unspeakably elite Legions are even considered for this assignment. Culling the candidates further is the simple fact that each is considered for compatibility of personality for their potential charge, the assignee chosen personally by the royal they will be protecting for the process.

When a knight is chosen, a new suit of armor is forged for them personally by Shepherd, the Fallen Fabricator Angel who serves as the Imperial Family’s personal armorer. They are also forged a longsword regardless of their preferred weapon, an Oathblade, to carry as both weapon and symbol of their station. Their chest plate is engraved with the personal heraldry of the Royal they take as their charge, and their Oathblade is engraved with the words ‘Sanguis meus iam non est solus.’

My blood is no longer mine alone.

These arms an armor are forged first in the signature gold and silver hues of pure angelic steel, just like those of the Legions standard full-plate. But when the appointment is confirmed by their charge, an additional step is made.

The Emperor, Empress, and Royal Charge let blood for the Royal Armorer prior to the official swearing in of the Crown Knight, and each piece, given its own symbolism, starting with the helmet and ending with the Oathblade, is reheated in balefire before being quenched once more in the Royals mingled blood, the process giving the armor and blade a signature blackened coloration.

The properties of angelic blood harden the armor even further against spell and sword, and serves as a reminder that this is the last of their charges blood that shall ever be spilled. Should any foe seek to harm the royal family, they shall only meet the armor and blade of the Crown Knight, and the blood with which they were forged.

The Knight then kneels before their charge, who takes up the Oathblade and knights them, echoing oaths that they have written, before bidding them to rise and presenting them with the sword, officially greeting them as their eternal protector.

[fetznerdeathrecords]

Into the Fray - Deofolist

Groove/Death Metal from Moscow, Russia

Military groove metal from Israel/Russia. INTO THE FRAY is the result of a relentless search for itself under other names, until, finally, the first track "Centurion" was born in one of the basements of the machine tool factory on Leninsky Ave in Moscow. This song launched the long and complex twelve-year history of the band that can be seen now. ITF is like listening to Pantera, Lamb Of God and Hatebreed, while reading Erich Remarque and Boris Vasiliev, and watching Black Hawk Down with one eye. Musically, the band was inspired by groove metal, and ideologically by the militaristic Just Before Dawn and Bolt Thrower. Echoes of all this, from riffs to ambient, can be heard on all of the band's releases.

1. I, Borealis 05:50 2. The Frogfoot 05:25 3. Teufelsbrucke 04:30 4. 776 06:10 5. Lien Xo 05:03 6. Warfighter (Ramin Djawadi cover) 01:54 7. Vale of Tombs 06:28 8. Bloodstainless Steel 05:30 9. S(owulo) T(eiwaz) T(urisaz) 04:06 10. Smorgon 04:36 11. Martia Victrix 06:25 12. The Oath 06:31

Release date: April 15th, 2025 via @satanathrecords

@intothefray_rus

[livsoulsecrets]

I need to share this excerpt of Blood of Olympus where Nico is at his best mix of righteous anger and terrifying power:

Nico marched towards him. He grabbed Bryce’s probatio tablet and ripped it off his neck.

‘You aren’t worthy of this,’ Nico growled.

The earth split under Bryce’s feet. He sank up to his waist. ‘Stop!’ Bryce clawed at the ground and the plastic bouquets, but his body kept sinking.

‘You took an oath to the legion.’ Nico’s breath steamed in the cold. ‘You broke its rules. You inflicted pain. You killed your own centurion.’

‘I – I didn’t! I –’

‘You should’ve died for your crimes,’ Nico continued. ‘That was the punishment. Instead you got exile. You should have stayed away. Your father Orcus may not approve of broken oaths. But my father Hades really doesn’t approve of those who escape punishment.’

‘Please!’

That word didn’t make sense to Nico. The Underworld had no mercy. It only had justice.

‘You’re already dead,’ Nico said. ‘You’re a ghost with no tongue, no memory. You won’t be sharing any secrets.’

‘No!’ Bryce’s body turned dark and smoky. He slipped into the earth, up to his chest. ‘No, I am Bryce Lawrence! I’m alive!’

‘Who are you?’ Nico asked.

The next sound from Bryce’s mouth was a chattering whisper. His face became indistinct. He could have been anyone – just another nameless spirit among millions. ‘Begone,’ Nico said.

The spirit dissipated. The earth closed.

[soraka-in-warhammer40k]

Space Goat List Design (temp title)

Today's topic: Deathwatch

Alright, due to popular demand let's try and do this

@strumwulf , @trat-yrrebeulb, @saintnuke-ac, I hope this sort of post is what you expected, and if anyone wants me to cover a specifc supposedly "bad" faction, just drop an ask into my inbox.

Todays's topic is the Deathwatch. As by a Metawatch article from three weeks ago sitting at the very bottom of the roster with a miserable 42% winrate, right there with Admech. In this post I'll put together a list that definetly will pack a punch on the table and definetly perform better than 42%.

Let's see what we are working with first. Our Army Rule is "Oath of Moment" - essentially "each round pick a target, go fuck them up with full hit rerolls". The detachment rule is 3 tactics to pick for a round, which is Sustained Hits 1, Lethal Hits, or Precision on a 6. All in all pretty simple, just fire up whatever is needed. Nothing here gives us specific instructions on list construction, so let's look at the Stratagems:

Aside from Armor of Contempt, each of those targets either ONE regular unit or TWO killteams. Adaptive Tactics is fairly lame as well, so we will spend our command points mostly on a) teleport 2 killteams around with Teleportarium and b) turn on one of the Rounds-Boost depending on the situation, either Hellfire or Kraken.

That gives us the first order to be effective: slap two Killteams in there, and we can effect the most points (and firepower) with this by using Proteus Killteams. Two big units are priced 360p each, which gives us a neat 720p core to work around. There's just a problem with that: those boys will never hold objectives. Ideally you always have them placed at max range, have them blast away, and then jump back up.

So what DOES actualy hold the objectives for us? For the homefield that is fairly simple: 5 man Infiltrator Squad. Their 12'' deepstrike denial shuts down so much possible enemy nonsense, making their inclusion for the homefield a no-brainer. We are now at 820p with that.

But what about other objectives? In general Space Marines are not good at holding objectives unless they throw a Terminator Brick on something. Their units are too pricy to be relegated for holding duty most of the time. Luckily, we don't have to be good if we can just grab the enemy homefield instead. Usually that's not easy for the faction, but among the exclusive Deathwatch units there is an Aircraft Transport: the Corvus Blackstar.

And would you look at that, it can transport EVERYTHING.

So what is the most annoying, hardest-to-remove, packs-a-punch unit we can send right on its way to the enemy homefield? Centurion Devastators of course! A squad of 3 with Grav Cannons should be able to deal with any big stuff the Blackstar's Hurricane Bolters can't shred - and would you look at that, they even get full rerolls when shooting a target on a marker. But wait, there's more! We still got three unit slots left on our party cruiser! It's a bit cramped, but we can still fit a unit of Eliminators in there! Very useful if the marker is full of units and you can't directly disembark on it: they can move after shooting, so you still got a shot of scoring the objective after blasting the enemy off it.

Adding that all together with what we already have that puts us at 1260p, and oh dear, we don't have any characters yet!

Remember the pitiful 5 man infiltrator squad we left to defend our base? Those people will just get shredded away by any sort of serious indirect fire, or especially ballsy deepstrikers, and then our primary scoring takes a nosedive. Turns out for just 70p you can eliminate that risk entirely: a Librarian in Phobos Armor gives essentially the entire unit Lone Operative. Since the enemy cannot deepstrike within that range due to the unit's ability, that means they are now ultra-safe. With the homefield now at maximal security, we are now at 1330p.

So what to do with the remaining points? Well, the Proteus Killteam does have a mirror: the Fortis Killteam. While the first gets a bonus for aiming at targets above half strenght, they get a bonus for hitting units below that. There's just one problem: they don't have deepstrike and out other Killteams are clogging up the Teleportarium. So we add a regular Apothecary with the Beacon Angelis enhancement to a squad of 10. Just in case those Plasma Boys blow themselves up, we now got a medic on standby.

Adding that to what we have puts us at 1640p. To make the most out of this, let's add a Watch Master and 5 Deathwatch Veterans - they are just there to carry the following Enhancement:

This levels up Oath of Moment to its old glory, AND gives you an extra use. Meanwhile the special weapons on the Veterans can pack quite the punch as well, even when they are just a small unit. The "makes stratagems more expensive" skill is also neat.

Overall: 1920 points by now.

What we do with the last 95 points is completly up to preference. I just threw a Callidus Assassin in there for scoring purposes, and that fits thematically with the Proteus Teams jumping around.

TO CONCLUDE OUR LIST CONSISTS OF:

Librarian in Phobos Armor

Apothecary (Beacon Angelis)

Watch Master - Warlord (Tome of Ectoclades)

Deathwatch Veterans (5 models)

Centurion Devastator Squad (3 models)

Corvus Blackstar

Eliminator Squad

Fortis Killteam (10 models)

Infiltrator Squad (5 models)

Proteus Killteam (10 models)

Proteus Killteam (10 models)

Imperial Agents: Callidus Assassin

With a total of 1995 points. Weapon options are to be taken as common sense dictates (= no Frag Cannons on the Proteus, Fortis goes full Plasma, high damage weaponry on the Blackstar).

Notes on playing this list:

The most interesting part about this: the list has an extreme advantage when going second. Not only can you start deepstriking on the first turn with your Teleportarium, you can also RAPID INGRESS THE CORVUS BLACKSTAR in the enemy T2, meaning for your T2 you can already zip over to their homefield. The list is not ideal for secondary scoring (you will most certainly not even consider Investigating Signals with just the Callidus), but it does not have to be, for your focus is to ruin the enemy primary scoring by directly putting their homefield into your focus. And hey, "Capture Enemy Outpost" is 8 points, so having your Centurions parked there at the first chance you get definetly will also score a bit.

Your biggest worry is running out of command points for you have no generator in your list but that is something one can play around. The operating procedure should be fairly obvious: mark Oath of Moment Target -> let the Proteus Killteams blast them off the table. Eventually strike in the Fortis Team for cleanup duty. Meanwhile the Blackstar with its cargo has its own gameplan mostly independent from that.

The biggest issue for this list in a competititve setting is time, for your goal is to win the primary game in the long run. I recommend unit trays for the Proteus Killteams so taking them off the board and putting them back down is easy.

Last fun bit: I am not sure how this works on the rules specifically, but in this list you would have TWO instances of "make a enemy battle tactic stratagem worse". Of course that means you target their best + Command Reroll, but I am not sure if you can stack them. Putting Command Reroll at a 3CP cost sounds hillarious tho...

[blackthornv]

TWP: my arthurian headcanon pt.3

A plea for help: This one... hurts. I don't want her to go that way but as of right now i don't see her story going anywhere else.

Livia Blackthorn, fourth of the Seven Blackthorn Siblings: unfortunately, yes, i have to make the comparison with Morgana Le Fay. Historically, Morgana gives in to her thirst for power and becomes the antagonist (this hurts, i hate it) of Arthur (no) and Merlin's (please, god, no) quests.

However. (Let's take a deep breath.) In some versions, Morgana used to be Merlin's apprentice and once he grew tired of her, he inadvertently turned her evil.

I don't like it, i really don't, but let's face it: things are already going sideways for her as a ghost. She was gone, presumably to rest in peace with her parents and now she is a literal haunting, she can't communicate with her other loved ones and the forbidden magic is already taking it's toll on her mind - to the point that she nurtured thoughts of possessing not only a baby, but also her own sister.

In life, she wanted to be bonded do Ty, to have their own adventures, to discover the world together - she hated the idea of going to Scholomance since LM because Centurions can't have parabatai.

In death, she is chained to him, and that heavy chain seems to be steadily bringing her down. She is forced to follow Ty wherever he goes not because they made an oath, but because she scarcely exists by herself.

There is a great part of me who wonders if she'll resent it someday or if bigger forces are going to use her to their own ends, and the rest of me hopes she remains the same Livvy i love. Deep down i know she isn't what she used to be. She'll never be that girl again because that girl is gone.

"You cannot hear me, even though I am speaking to you because I have things I need to tell you. "

[superbtacocollector-world]

Don't worry

Acts 23:12-22

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

There are many times in my life that I wonder if God is real. Life seems so difficult. God will test our faith and we must believe.

I believe that Paul was thinking about the faithfulness of God and showed himself to be faithful.

#dontworry #stress #life

[yourreddancer]

DEMOCRACY DOCKET

This is a day we did not want. At noon Donald Trump will take the presidential oath of office prescribed by the U.S. Constitution.

I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Nearly every word he will say will be a lie.

Being solemn requires having “deep sincerity,” something Trump utterly lacks. Trump will not be “faithful” in exercising the power of his office. Trump has contempt for the restraints on his power the U.S. Constitution represents. He has no intention of preserving, protecting or defending it.

Starting this afternoon Trump will attempt to transform our country from a nation of laws into a dystopian authoritarian regime. Those of us who care about democracy must stand tall and resolute in preventing this from happening.

Since the election, we have witnessed the guardrails of democracy fall aside with astonishing speed.

The Republican Party has ceased to exist as an institution separate from the will and whim of Donald Trump. Speaker Johnson serves only at Trump’s pleasure. Senate Republicans have surrendered their right to advise and consent.

Corporate titans and billionaires have been transformed into court jesters that Trump can summon for companionship and mock for amusement. They have paid for the privilege of being reduced to objects of ridicule and scorn.

The legacy media, that assured us it stood as a centurion of democracy, has largely gone AWOL — unwilling to confront Trump as confident protectors of press freedom and independence. Many of its most prominent voices have gone silent, others have suffered the humiliation of public capitulation.

Shortly after the election, I wrote about the need for a new opposition movement based on winning elections and developing new institutions of power. I argued that it should be a big tent that is unafraid of good faith debates and differences. I also made clear that we need to nurture and support new, independent media outlets that are willing to embrace a pro-democracy ethos.

Since then, there have been promising signs that an opposition movement is emerging. But the real test begins today.

When Donald Trump walks off the podium and back into the Capitol, his term will begin. He has already promised scores of new executive orders and policies and loyalist officials ready to do his bidding.

It will then be up to each of us to declare for ourselves how we will confront the reality of another four years of Trump. Some will choose to tune out and go about their lives. Others will bend and accommodate.

I have made my choices known for myself and for Democracy Docket:

Like others, I fear the threat of government retribution, political vengeance and an angry right-wing mob. But I know that giving into it will only strengthen Trump and undermine the future of our democracy. Trump wants us to be scared. He wants us to give up — gradually and then suddenly.

As a lawyer, I will continue to fight for voting rights and democracy in court and to help build a strong opposition. As the founder of Democracy Docket, I can assure you it will become an ever more fearless voice for democracy.

We will not bow down.

We will stand tall.

We will not obey.

Starting at 12:01pm today, I hope you will join us for the next four years.

Marc Elias

[ramrodd]

On the Historicity of the Book of Acts (feat Dr Bart Ehrman) (Craig Keen...

COMMENTARY:

Giggles, as Literature, the Book of Acts is absolutely, inerrantly reliable, As History, who the fuck cares. Post Modern historians cannot identify the influence Aristotle had on Alexander the Great, Apollo 11 is absolutely inerrantly, harmonically, dipped in the blood of the Lamb reliable evidence that Aristotle had a huge influence on Alexander the Great.

You guys are trying to define the Hallelula chorus by applying state of the art acheological protocols on fixing the position of each discarded ticket stup in the audiotorium of Carnegie Hall after a Christmas production of Messiah (players to be named later)

Post Modern Hittoric Deconstruction creates a creative glass curtain between the broken pottery of a culture and how the pottery was handled in the culture, the difference between Hemingway and F. Scott. Except, of course, Papa and Fitz were the leading edge of Post Modern Literary Deconstruction, if you don't count T. S. Eliot.

The question is, is To Kill A Mocking Burd reliable? Or Gone WIth The Wind? Absolutely, in terms of Post Modern Literary Deconstricution. Dr. Molly Worthen achieved her epiphany by breaking through the creative glass ceiling to engage the inerrant epistemology of Jesus and the Bible. Her journalism, N.T. Wright and the Holy Spirit led her to Resurrection.

Is Atlas Shrugged reliable? It is if you're an agent of Project 2025. Post Modern Historic Deconstruction makes Atlas Shrugged a viable alternative interpretation of current events. It/s as good as any. I mean, if it makes sense to Tucker Carlson, it's USDA Approved Project 2025.

A question nobody ever asks is Where, exactly does Luke, a Greek, fit into a Jewish narrative? You claim the "We" passages demonstrate no particular individual as the author. If you are correct that most scholars agree with you, it supports my thesis that Post Modern Historic Deconstrucition has made PhD in Christian literature and apologetics uniformly stupid and you are the high prince of academic pratices and standards.

The “We” passages mark the moment Luke and Paul crossed paths and became a constnat item in luke's medical journals. The question you guys never consider is, how the fuck does a Greek end up in the middle of what everyone from Albert Schweitzer, assumes is a Jewish narrative.

Robyn Faith Walsh and John MacDonald are very close to a Post Modern Literary Deconstricution break through with their thesis of the Gospel of Mark as a literary project.

Exactly.

The Acts of the Apolstles is put together exactly like Truman Capote's In Cold Blood was put together: research and journalism writing. And, for that matter, the Gospel of Mark,

As a physcian trained under the Hipporactic Oath, he journaled everything, It was part of the pleasure of being a physician for Luke: he liked to write, to turn an elegant phrase if only for his own amuement,

But why does Luke compose the longest complete narrative of Jesus from beginning to the source of the Apostle's Creed, the centuiions of the Italian Regiment, who were justified by faith with the Talking Cross of the Gospel of Peter. Luke was traveling with Paul from just after Paul's escape in Phillipi until they got to Caesarea, when Luke begins to compose an amicus breif for Paul's defense in Rome when he is introduced to Cornelius and is resruited to do the research regarding the origins and significance of the covenant of the Talking Cross in regards to the divine status of the stoic culture of the Italian Regiment as the Republican State subordiante to and separate from the “Church” of the Roman secular humanism. Hebrews is a military intelligence finding based on the Bibliography of the 18 documents that predeed it, The connection of Socrates Hemlock to the Cross, Romans 13:1 – 7, Hebrews 13:17, and the authority of Manlian Discipline is straight as a laser to the Justice behind the stoic equity of the authority of the centurion in Matthew 8:9.

So, as History, how do you calculate In Cold Blood? And why Luke?

It has to do with the Pro-Choice interpretation of the woman with the 12 year hemmorage as the basis for Planned Parenthood as the rational application,

Luke is a gynecologist. In a universe where women are unclean by definintion, and beyond unclean during their peiords, Greeks don't share Peter's misogyny, Luke had seen more Hebrew pussy than any of the annoited saints in either covenant except David and Solomon (and, maybe, Saul). I mean, rumor has it that Daved was the the Milton Berle of the Patriarchs: it had to do with Ruth's DNA.

But none of them wanted to deal with any woman during her period. And, for luke, it was just another day in Paradise. And Paul employed Luke like Truman Capote employed Harrper Lee to get interviews with the wives of the people he needed to talk to, including the wives.

And that's how Luke put his two volume study together for Theolophilus, which was delivered by hand before Philippians in 61, CE. Paul had a successful defense before the Praetorian Guard, but the Guard couldn't answer for the Emperor and Paul's timing was bad,

As near as I can tell, your little conference is designed to shape Pauline Theology to fit the Cnristian Nationalism of Pope Benedicts conservative theology.

N.T. Wright's interpretation of Pauline Theology and Pope Francis's Liberation Theology are had in glove. It's why Dr. Molly Worthen had her Born Again epiphany,

[cast-you-dxwn]

Thick is the blood that stains the grounds of the Hazbin Hotel. Glowing and golden, running in ichor rivers down the hill it sits atop. Angelic being violently opposed to angelic being, seeming a micro scale reenactment of the rebellion that had lead to all of this foolish bloodshed in the first place.

Here, an Exorcist lands amidst one of the AAA positions set up on the hotel roof, blade raised to strike, only for her to be thrown from the parapet by a shotgun blast, her chest a ragged, gaping hole.

There, another swoops to cling to one of the boarded up windows, talons ripping at the blockade to seek a route of entry for herself and her comrades. A round fired by the Legionnaire manning the window catches her in the stomach from point blank, detonating inside her abdomen and turning angelic flesh into little more than gold-tinted soup. Still she clings, though, and the soldiers bayonet is thrust through the slats, the serrated blade driving into her eye socket and finally dislodging her.

Such scenes are commonplace as the soldiers of Century 14 hold the position they have fortified, taking life, as is the purpose they took up when they took their oaths. Perhaps they’re winning.

It doesn’t matter much, in the end.

The earth-shattering voice that booms across the ring is unmistakeable, as is the ragged red wound that the Sin carves into the very air with his sword, spilling forth an army of horrors as the wretch declares his treason.

Deep in the hotel, setting upon her knees, hands clasped before her and head bowed in prayer, lays the Centurion in command of the defenders. She can feel the movements of her kin, their racing thoughts, the strength of their sword swings and every pull of a trigger. In turn they can feel their courage bolstered, their senses heightened, their bodies strengthened. Directed almost as one.

The first blast shakes the ground as one of Satans endless Horde trips the first of the landmines that had been laid, and Joan steadies herself with a breath.

“Call for aid. Reinforce the Hotel.” She murmurs, a gentle tingle in the back of her head signaling an acknowledgement.

All they must do is survive.

@dracoiaboli

[fordecree7]

THE BIBLE BOOK OF GOD

New Testament

Acts 23

23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

A Plot to Kill Paul

12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16 Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. 21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.

Acts 23

Diane Beauford

[zooterchet]

The Failures of the Pashas (The Three Swords)

Joe Chill: Joseph Chilton, was a successful Macedonian mercenary, for generations, during the Punic Wars; the wars against Carthage, over the control of the white bloodline, held as sport and rape by "blacks", those of Sub-Saharan blood. A "Chinee", a Chinese prostitute incapable of Islam, a true Sunni, held bed to Joseph Chilton, and birthed Joseph Chill, a "junior"; the opposite of his father, a Rosecrucian, the order of Centurions. Mithras, the seizure of women as prostitutes, for a night, a guaranteed orgasm, and a child and lands and pastures, to make them women off of the street, having lost their fathers through war. An inclusion into Rome. Jesus, tucked in his right thumb, called an "imami", the slur for a homosexual, and broke rules, within law non-legalized, the code of the Gauls. You called him "Jesus"; prizefights, police badges, and wine bets, the origin of the athletics leagues, breeding the constable. The origin of the military tribunal, to kill him.

Adolf Hitler: Adolf Hitler, was the son of a military engineer, having outed a Catholic Cardinal for pederasty, the conversion of one of the Hitlers to Rabbinical order; however, the Rabbinical having Romalian blood, an "Azaz", angels, having jumped and bounded, in a living agony, despite having all the attributes of the Stasi, the Huns and Uighurs and Boers and Amish and Americans and Germans, the sacred points against Napoleon Bonaparte. A "Sheriff", the term for a political deacon, hired by any international actor, a politician, under Realpolitik's rules, out of embassy, those of Bismarck. Fire marshal, the mark of the Swastika, on the left pectoral or breast, breast if a woman, the father of Adolf having slain one, his son gay, under Calvinist code, not replied in type print of law, but in fact of transvestite observation. A homosexual dominatrix. Adolf, tucked his in his elbow at court's oath, called a "Jewish doctor", under code of testimony, and created a movement of beer swillers, killing Ernst Rohm, the "Boelyn", an innocent panda fighter, the creator of all of German culture and ales. You called him "Fuhrer"; creator of film arts, cinema, and psychiatric film, the creation of the movie part to determine medicine, a cop's drama. The origin of the castration clinic, having been stolen of semen by prostitute.

Ted Bundy: Theodore Charlebois, was removed from the Bombardiers, Philip J. Morris, and born through the McMahons, the World Wrestling Federation, the sales of cigarettes and Atavan, for pilots and from cats, a High House of Enver Pasha; that of the Harpoon brewing fortune, microbrews and state universities, all of the State Police, the Reserve Officers Training Corps, and the COBRA cop and teacher funds and court date appraisals, at his fingertips. He was CIA from birth, a child soldier, as marked on his DMV license, but was a whaling expert; spotting his market declined, he wrote nautical penmanship as "Buddy", the blood of Booth, the actor's stage wright, hunted by Israeli intelligence services, "Meir", since birth, "Fillmore Lodge"; the Rotary Association associated with strip malls, malls, and prison labor, a proper cop among the households of United States Presidencies, the intelligence adjuncts of the United States. The criminal guilds, this one being CRASH. He supborned a book on Spider-Man, early in the publication's run, teaching writers how to write backwards, a past news edifice, instead of forwards, and intended pattern of treaty, and therefore, to create a predictable pattern, a procedure drama. This was a pedophile, by judgement of his family, the Charleboises, and he was expelled, hunted by MI-6 assassin Alice O'Neill, Army intelligence Jeffrey Dahmer, Catholic friar Steven Charlebois, and Los Angeles police detective Richard Ramirez. Ted Bundy mastered print, and with it, the Grand Ol' Party turned to pederasty, with international scandal breaking out at dozens of murderers running through prostitutes circuits at the writer's duels, luring them into his realm, the written pen. In the end, he was seized, having killed a child for NAMBLA, and was put to death, by his conjugal liaison, a beautiful temptress in his mind, however the sex unsatisfying. It was his first, and last sex, having refused to see a hooker. His mark was the "Spider", a Hopkins, the middle and ring fingers tucked in, but he wasn't a Ludlow; he was a Charlebois, the name meaning "Cain"; the first murderer, the Inquistor's Oath.

[princemordecai]

"Yes you, a nuisance. Agron the Red Knight of Nuisances. Queensguard Nuisance." Leander preferred that title above the others - well, he didn't - but he did enjoy the way that Agron seemed to become inflamed over it. Poking at the other's ego was an easier feat than most, but men were almost always insecure - particularly those who were still so burdened by rejection. "Exactly. My Red Knight of Lysara. That's it." Leander repeated, parroting the other's words perfectly. "You did swear yourself to me already," Agron didn't strike him as someone who took his oaths lightly, and there was something else too, "And you said you would call me Leander as long as I called you Agron, so if you plan to continue to address me as Prince then I'll just have to settle on Agron the Nuisance."

Was he intentionally antagonizing the strigoi? Yes. There wasn't much left to do here though and he'd marched all this way already; he'd managed to inflame Agron this far - though he supposed they'd both managed to get under one another's skin at this point. Leander didn't wish to stop now. "So am I not good enough for you then?" Leander pressed, he left little space between them. His grip on the strigoi was still firm as he felt the other's knuckles digging into his chest. "We Centurions, Princes, and Warriors don't take insults lightly. If you find the thought of my blood so repulsive then you really should just say it. Agron."

Leander smiled, his tone shifting to something more sincere despite how he still loomed over Agron. His grip was less the vice of comrades and something more gentle now. "You may be my Knight, but never for a moment since we met have I considered you as being less than me. I hope you know I respect you with the same measure as I do any warrior I've stood beside in the past. So, at the very least, call me Leander when we are alone."

"I'm the nuisance? Me?" Maybe it was a good thing that Leander's words got to him so much. It meant that he wasn't hiding behind some damn facade that he put up all the time to seem like the perfect soldier. Then again, he was sure that most that knew him close enough would know that he was far from a perfect soldier. He didn't think one that was thrust into a specific way of life could be anything other than a puppet in a suit. Agron himself never thought of himself that way, but the thought always surfaced in the back of his mind that he was only here because Queen Damodred made it so. Nevertheless, this was clearly what the prince had wanted out of him. Something other than just the flat tone that he gave to anyone he spoke to. Perhaps he should have done the opposite. "I think you're the one that's the nuisance, Prince Leander Mordecai, Centurion of the Lysaran army and Warrior of Mars." He paused, clearing his throat for the umpteenth time. "And I said I was your Red Knight of Lysara. That's it."

Even as he said the words, he felt himself falter saying them considering the witch had placed his hand on Agron's shoulder. The strigoi looked down at the pulse beating from the other's wrist and then looked back up. He had quite a lot of control so he wouldn't do anything, but he couldn't help but think about the fact that he had indeed gotten that offer before. Just not right now. But he still didn't shrug the other off. He could have, but he didn't. Probably because he didn't want to. "Your scent is not a problem for me. I have perfect self-control. As you very well know already."

[vacantgodling]

GOTHICA (CHARACTER OVERVIEW)

yeah i seriously dk what else to call this wip so this is probably gonna be an instance where the fake me out title sticks pff

LENNON RHAPSODY GRANGER

(yes her first name is lennon rhapsody - all together. but call her len)

MOTIVATION (NEED): To stay alive

GOAL (WANT): To be with Aurora romantically

CONFLICT: By getting close to Aurora, Lennon has become a target of The Centurion because she could potentially learn their secrets. 

MAIN FLAW: Main Character Syndrome; aka she thinks of things only in terms of how they affect her and not the broader impact that her actions have on others. She doesn’t consider the idea that other people have rich inner lives, wants, needs, dreams/aspirations, etc. outside of how she interacts with them.

EPIPHANY: She learns sympathy and learns to value others as more than just npcs or hurdles/conquests in her life. 

Lennon Rhapsody has always struggled to stay out of trouble in school; causing her parent's divorce after the third expulsion and getting sent to Holy Oaks Preparatory Reform School by her stepfather after the fifth. Immediately feeling outcasted by her peers despite this being a school of “misfits,” the one person Lennon seems to get along with a boy from the boy’s school, Aurora O’Rion. Sneaking out to meet Aurora and growing closer to him causes feelings to begin to bud, but this more serious romantic inquiry has caught the eye of Aurora’s surperiors of The Centurion, a secret society. After Aurora nearly kills her on their word, he forgoes the final blow to try and help her escape to safety away from The Centurion’s clutches and hides her with his best friend and another Centurion lackey, Morrigan. Caught between her fear and her emotions for both boys, Lennon must recover quickly in order to escape and stay alive.

AURORA O'RION

MOTIVATION (NEED): To get Lennon out of the clutches of The Centurion. 

GOAL (WANT): To have his cake and eat it too; Aurora doesn’t want to give up his position in The Centurion where he can virtually do anything he wants so long as it aligns with The Centurion’s interests and he’s given room, board, pocket money, and isn’t subject to the boy’s school rules like everyone else. However, he does develop Real Feelings for Lennon, but because she’s an outsider he can’t swing that relationship even if he wants to.

CONFLICT: After developing feelings for Lennon and getting her involved more than she should be with him, Aurora must choose between his oath and his emotions. 

MAIN FLAW: Recklessness; Aurora doesn’t think about the consequences of his actions before it’s usually too late to do anything about it. His ability to shirk responsibility because he’s never had to care about anything causes him to make split second decisions and irrational choices that are detrimental to the people around him. 

EPIPHANY: Aurora learns responsibility, and how to think before he acts. His innate drive to fight for what he wants isn’t bad, but he learns that it can be done more effectively. 

Aurora O’Rion has been a lackey of The Centurion since he was born, and has been afforded a life of luxury at what seems to be a meager cost. As he grows older he gets into the business of smashing heads and breaking hearts, earning him the title of bad boy on the combined campus. Meeting Lennon Rhapsody at first just seemed like another game, until she proved to be somewhat different than the other girls he’s led on which sparked his interest. This closeness however catches the attention of The Centurion and Aurora is ordered to kill Lennon—and unwilling to fully give up his life or position, he goes in for the kill, but leaves Lennon alive and hides her away with Morrigan with a plan to sneak her away and have her be presumed dead. This plan turns out to be more complicated than he thought.

MORRIGAN BRIARCOS

MOTIVATION (NEED): To help Aurora.

GOAL (WANT): For things to stay the way they were before Lennon appeared in the picture. 

CONFLICT: Taking care of Lennon puts his position with The Centurion, his life, and Aurora’s life at risk. But he is unable to say no to his friend due to unrequited love. 

MAIN FLAW: Logical to the point of rigidity, self sabotage, and self sacrifice. He has a hard time accepting that he is more than just a pawn in other people’s games, and his emotional repression causes him to accept whatever small morsel of humanity he is given that takes the form of loving Aurora from afar.

EPIPHANY: He learns to be selfish; aka, he learns that it’s okay to want things for himself and to try and attain those things even if they could have bad consequences. This also causes him to learn to stand up for himself more than letting things just go with the flow. 

Morrigan Briarcos has always kept his head down and did what he was told to do, between his stellar grades, his rank in The Centurion’s bracket, and whatever nonsense Aurora gets up to. His best friend’s newest conquest however, has him raising an eye—Aurora has never entertained himself with people beyond the first encounter. It makes something shift in Morrigan’s heart, what he knows is the pang of his unrequited love, and he’s proven right as he watches Aurora and Lennon get closer and closer, until The Centurion notices and Aurora is forced to make a deadly choice. Despite his better judgment, Morrigan sticks with Aurora through the aftermath, hiding Lennon away as she heals and helping him concoct a plan to sneak her out of the campus while she’s still presumed dead. But when Lennon begins to show interest in him, well, how long will it be before he snaps?

[sammycoola]

Created this now. Like, just now. @genderbenduniverse , @the-cat-reads @comfortablynumb , @witchy-lassie , @affybackintime , thanks for the encouragement. Here you go.

Reyna's POV

Finally, they took down the Temussian fox. The ex-preator had never had such a burden removed from her in her life.

Little did she know that it wasn't the only burden that had been cast off.

Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano woke up in the solitude of her camp tent feeling lighter.

Not Camp Jupiter, of course. She'd left them behind in the capable hands of her colleague Frank Zhang and ex-centurion Hazel Levesque.

No, she was in the camp of the maiden goddess Artemis and her all-female band of Hunters. She had become a Hunter herself not too long ago—or was it such a short time? Immortality and the daily activities of the Hunt made it hard to keep track of the days passing.

Maybe that was what made her feel lighter. She was free, without the responsibilities of leadership. She was rid of the burden of counting days, living a regular life. Above all, she, the rest of the Hunters, and Artemis had caught and killed the Temussian fox—a fox that was cursed to never be caught—just yesterday, when she had feared the curse would go on for the rest of her life.

A deer horn sounded—the Hunt's wake-up call, maybe.

Reyna leapt to her feet.

It was then she saw the change. No wonder she felt so, so, so light.

Her boobs—a woman's eternal burden—had disappeared.

Reyna somehow found the courage to keep calm. It was probably just a bad dream. In a few minutes, she'd wake up as a b-cupped nineteen-year-old Puerto Rican girl.

But when the horn sounded three more times, she felt as awake as she usually did. She also became aware that she needed to answer the call of nature.

And then she saw—she saw…

She yelled as if she'd seen what she had seen on someone else. But she was certain the strange enlargement sticking out from her pj bottoms was solely hers.

In fear, she ran out of the tent—bumping into someone in the process.

“Reyrey,” a deep voice called.

Reyna leapt in fear. No, she shouldn't be seen with men. Just because she had a boner didn't mean she could break the oath she'd made to an Olympian goddess.

She balled her fists and put them in front of her. “Leave my camp or—uh…”

She took a better glance at the person of forbidden gender. He had black punk hair, angel-blue eyes, and freckles that were in nearly the same pattern as their lieutenant's. Hell, he wore the same headless-Barbie pj's Thalia had worn the day before.

“D-don't just lie there!” Reyna said, her fists still ready for combat. “Speak your purpose or—”

The man did a handstand, then lightly karate-kicked Reyna in the face.

“Don't sass me, preator,” the deep-voiced person said. “You're late enough for the emergency meeting. If there's anyone I'm gonna take to our…lady, it's you.”

“Thalia?” Reyna called.

“No, Green Day. Of course it's me. I just got a little Jasony.”

With no more words, she—he?—dragged her away.

Morning muster was awfully spacious.

Usually, the Hunt sat on logs to make a full circle. Now, they stood in rows, each Hunter six feet apart from the other. Artemis—or, from what Reyna was seeing, a black-haired, twelve-year-old Apollo—stood in front of them.

“Have you fetched what's left of Reyna, Thalia?“ Artemis asked. Her voice was shrill, but still quite masculine.

“Yes, lady Artemis,” Thalia said, kneeling before the goddess—god?

“Now that everyone has been summoned,” Artemis began, “I'll tell you what I know about the recent…changes in our base.”

The little noise died after Artemis's last word.

“I swear by the River Styx that I know nothing,” Artemis said. She waited for her father's customary thunderclap to cease before speaking further. “All I can do is speculate. A good guess is that we've incurred the wrath of the Temussian fox's spirit. It makes sense since it should've known that we're all female and must turn our backs to the company of men, and the best punishment should be to make us men.”

The goddess's band of Hunters shivered collectively.

“I'm just as uncomfortable as you are, Hunters. I've seen—I saw what I never hoped to see in my life on myself this morning. That's right, Felicia Dalton. I saw male private parts on my body. No, Julia Gomez, I will not speak of its size. You all have yours.”

A few laughed. Since Artemis didn't call for silence, the joke was intentional.

“It's disturbing, disgusting, strange…and that is why I offer to find a solution. I will seek my brother Apollo for his thoughts on what could be the reason for this change,” Artemis said. “Sadly, it'll take a few hours. The sun isn't up yet, as we can all see. My brother hates being woken up before five a.m Coordinated Universal Time. I'm not in the state to have a lunar eclipse.”

“But it's only three a.m UTC, Artemis,” Thalia complained. “Lots of the hunters need to use the bathroom and…and our new anatomy is confusing. Do we aim? Do we sit? Damn.”

“Now you're using the words of men!” Olga of Luxembourg screeched.

“Calm down,” Artemis said. “I suggest aiming, but be good at it. We're Hunters, for Zeus's sake. Don't disgrace your skills by streaking the floor or toilet seat with your urine. Clear?”

“Yes, our la—Artemis,” the Hunters chanted.

“Proceed with what we would do in our natural forms. Our bodies may have morphed, but we are women in heart and mind,” Artemis said. “ Siproites, Vic, Preet, and Morgan; I believe you will have the easiest time in this form. Please educate your fellow hunters wherever they may have difficulty.”

“Yes, Artemis,” chorused the four.  Siproites, Morgan, Vic and Preet had been men before the recent changes. Reyna knew only of Siproites case—he had seen Artemis bathing, but the goddess took pity on the innocent boy and made him a girl. The rest must've been similar.

“Until we meet again,“ Artemis said.

[zazzander]

Octavian's Fatal Flaw was Wrath not Ambition

Looking for more? Here's my master list of Octavian analysis.

This post uses this definition of wrath "uncontrolled feelings of anger, rage, and even hatred. Wrath often reveals itself in the wish to seek vengeance. In its purest form, wrath presents with injury, violence, and hate that may provoke feuds that can go on for centuries.” - Wikipedia

It's all very eye-for-an-eye.

Octavian was never that ambitious

So let's talk about it.

“We can’t have a power vacuum any longer.” - Octavian to Hazel, Son of Neptune, page 58

Octavian only started to try for praetor after Jason’s disappearance. It’s important to know just how much Romans traditionally hate kings. Having a sole commander with the power of a praetor? That’s really bad. And the text actually shows why it’s bad, Reyna often acts in way that goes against what the majority of Romans want. Even if she doesn’t intend it - she is breaking a big taboo.

(I've spoken about Octavian and Reyna's relation in Son of Neptune, so read that for context.)

“Jason was only praetor for a few months before he disappeared. Ever since then, Octavian has been pestering me, agitating for new elections. I’ve resisted. I need a partner in power - but I’d prefer someone like Jason. A warrior, not a schemer.” - Son of Neptune, page 181

Octavian is the third-in-command of the legion, even under Jason & Reyna. He is the most senior centurion and the augur to boot. But we know that he never made a bid for power while Jason and Reyna were in charge. It's only after Jason disappeared and a threat is coming towards them that Octavian looks to step up. Potentially out of duty or pressure from his family than his own personal amibition.

Octavian narrowed his eyes. “While you’re gone, the augur is the senior officer. I will be in charge.”

“I know,” Reyna didn’t sound happy about it. (House of Hades)

Octavian says this after pleading with Reyna multiple times not to leave the legion. If he was so power-hungry as the other characters claim, why not embrace Reyna's departure? He doesn't believe she'll come back - and even better, she will be breaking their laws by going.

Octavian's Anger

“Just let them land. Hear them out. Jason will back up everything I’m telling you. I swear it on my life.”

“On your life?” Octavian looked meaningfully at the senate. “We will remember that, if this turns out to be a trick.”

[…]

“No,” Percy said firmly. “You all raised me as praetor for a reason. I will fight to defend this camp with my life. But these aren’t enemies. I say we stand ready, but do not attack. Let them land. Let them speak. If its is a trick, then I will fight with you, as I did last night. But it is not a trick.”

So we have Percy's oath, which is broken.

Then Percy's promise, which is only broken.

It makes him a liar, a traitor, and oathbreaker - all things Octavian warned the Romans the Greeks might be. And worse, Octavian probably feels guilty for having allowed Percy to join the legion, to sieze power.

“Percy,” Hazel said, “you swore on your life. Romans take that seriously. If anything goes wrong, even by accident, Octavian is going to kill you. You know that, right?”

This where I think we first hear of Octavian’s fatal flaw.

You break your oath?

You break our trust?

You hurt my people?

You die.

And, yes, it’s a flaw. It’s a dangerous flaw. And in Octavian’s case it’s literally fatal. But I think many people get distracted by Octavian’s focus on being remembered as a saviour of Rome. I think it could be a carrot and stick situation, the saviour of Rome prophecy is the carrot, but his flaw is the stick.

We Have Reyna’s Words to Inform Us

(Albeit we know she’s not a reliable source about Octavian)

“You think I don’t know that?” Reyna’s voice was as hard as iron. “What choice have you left me? Octavian smells blood. He’s whipped the legion into a frenzy, and I can’t stop it. Surrender to me. I’ll bring you back to New Rome for trial. It won’t be fair. You’ll be painfully executed. But it may be enough to stop further violence.”

So, this implies to me that Octavian and Reyna have spoken about the situation and come to his agreement. Further:

“Octavian won’t be satisfied, of course, but I think I can convince the others to stand down.”

There are two options for this:

So Octavian and Reyna have spoken, as implied by the earlier statement. And now have a tense agreement about what they’ll do with the Seven. The legion, after all, cannot march without Reyna’s approval.*

*There could be several reasons why Reyna agrees to this. Perhaps she’s a selfless saint who only wants to keep “the big bad menace” away from the seat of power. Or perhaps Octavian has blackmailed her too. Or perhaps Reyna’s fatal flaw is more involved. If she opposes Octavian now the legion will take away her power, her rank; and she is willing to have several members of the Seven die to keep that power.

[Which I’m not judging. I love her. But for the fans, just remember that she agreed to that option.]

“If Octavian can’t get vengeance on your ship, he’ll turn his attention to Camp Half-Blood.” - page 249, Mark of Athena.

Let’s review: Why attack Camp Half-Blood.

Well, the Argonauts didn’t build a warship without the help of their camp. That’s pretty obvious - only a camp / something similar would have that kind of resources. So, it can be assumed that Camp Half-Blood approved of the plan.

As I’ve said before, it seems from the outset that Jason has also lost all his memories of Octavian. Which to me would be super suspicious. And unlikely to have been achieved by a few rogue demigods. More, Jason is "dating" a charmspeaker who isn't afraid to use her powers to control people. Could she not have used her powers to brainwash Jason?

The Seven seem to be only the preliminary forces of a far greater force, one which fully intends to wage a war - a war they have been setting up for months. One that infiltrated your power structure. One that definitely didn’t tell the truth at the peace meeting.

And I think you can start to understand that this isn’t just some kid going crazy. This is a child soldier who’s already lived through one war. A commander who is fresh off a battle that left his home damaged and his people weak - only for it to get attacked again by people claiming to be allies. And all of this he had foreseen but trusted either himself, Reyna, or the gods that it would all turn out right in the end.

Every hero has a fatal flaw

It just so happens that Octavian’s buttons were pushed too far. The Greeks were give their chance. They swore their oaths. And they still attacked.