#myla one last stop

[mildew-dread-mold]

i know jane canonically steals everyone’s clothes but i like to think everyone else does as well. apartment 6f has 2 communal white button ups that they just borrow when they need to for presentations or fancy dates and whatnot. there have been fights over whether that pair of jeans originally belonged to jane or niko. after wes starts staying at isaiah’s more, one of isaiah’s shirts turns up in myla and niko’s closet (they share a closet) and it’s pretty unclear how it got there. frequently someone will @ everyone in the group chat and yell about how they need that specific jacket, who has it, and the jacket is actually just at the bottom of the laundry basket. no one even owns their own socks, they just rummage through a pile next to the couch.

[blackcharactertournament]

art on the right by @gibbarts

Submitted explanations:

Connor Hawke / Green Arrow

His main villian is the Disney corporation. He's a icon. Plus he's DC's first canon asexual character. The Arrows really are all you could ask of superheroes. They're ant capitalists who work within in their community and do their best to support community resource. They hate cops. They're a loving family. And Connor fits right in with the rest of them. Tragically, an annoying amount of colorists just color him the same as his white dad, but he is black and Asian.

Myla

Submission(s) opted out of sharing their explanations.

[saybiwithme]

Myla I love you

[batwing00]

maybe its just bc i love chappell but i feel 100% sure august and jane love her and went and saw her in a tiny club with a bunch of queers and dressed up in cute matching themed outfits. rise and fall of a midwest princess (and def good luck babe) would be on repeat in apartment 6F

speaking of, i just know the whole gang would love her too. i can imagine another easter brunch and pink pony club being screamed by everyone. i feel certain isaiah would do some drag numbers to super graphic ultra modern girl. MY i love them and this book 💌

[keratonin]

i just finished reading one last stop and 😭 help i'm mOURNFUL about the fact that i'm done reading it and will never read it for the first time ever again

[shawolsos]

Mike Cooper 🤝 Myla

"My spouse has spooky ghost powers that I don't fully understand but I will be fully supportive regardless"

[kertikavics]

Please 🙏 🥺 please 🙏🥺 please 🙏🥺

Wes and Isaiah book.

Please 🙏🥺

The found family from from 6F>>>

[danikamariewrites]

can i request a fic with batboys x reader, they’re on a mission in the illyrian steppes and she overhears a few females at the illyrian camps gossip about her having three mates, they call her horrivle names and reader gets really insecure. her mates find out and confront the females, plot twist apparently it’s on of cassians exlovers who is jealous👀👀👀

Jealousy Is A Bad Look

Poly!batboys x reader

A/n: I love jealous bat boys so this is feeding my obsession with them

Warnings: bullying and name calling

As you walked back through the market you took in the Illyrians mingling and working. You wanted to keep yourself busy while your mates are in their meeting. Spotting a stand with wildflowers you stop to inspect them. You smile as you see your favorites and ask the female to make a bouquet for you.

While you wait you look around at the other vendors. You might sound crazy if you ever voiced this to your mates, but you loved being in the mountains at the start of winter. The snow fell in flurries that wrapped around you. The air is cold and crisp, fresher than in Velaris.

A horrifying cackle sounds from behind you from the midst of a group of females spreading camp gossip. The one that cackled noticed you and gasped. You were quite noticable up here since you didn't have wings.

"That's her." She whispered very, very loudly. "Our new High Lady apparently. Perfect y/n over there is mated to the High Lord and the other two bastard brutes." Her tone was condescending and taunting which you had no patience for.

You scowled at the group. One of the females' cheeks turned crimson from your attention as she looked back at her friends murmuring some insult probably.

The main one, you think her name is Myla, kept throwing insult after insult at you. Spreading rumors to her friends and hoping the whole camp will hear. "I think she's just a gold-digging whore. Not Cassian's type. But I can't say anything for the other two."

The florist hands you the bouquet, you snatch it and stuff it into your basket. You quickly head for the path back to the cabin, practically stomping your feet.

You were fuming. How dare she say those things about you! And your mates! And how would she know what Cassian likes? Myla definitely isn't something Cassian would like.

Before you knew it you were back at the cabin. You flung the door open and dropped the basket by the front door, marching yourself over to an armchair. Plopping down you sink back into the oversized piece of furniture crossing your arms. You face the fireplace huffing.

Going over Myla's words again and again you start to swing your feet. You take deep breathes reminding yourself that she isn't the first person to judge you and your relationship, and she won't be the last.

You hear three sets of wings flapping wildly, three sets of feet landing hard on the frozen ground just outside the front door. Rhys flung the door open, Cassian and Azriel trying to push in behind him. "Darling we felt you down the bond. What's wrong? Are you alright?" You didn’t realize that you had been projecting your feelings.

Rhys and Cassian kneel in front of you while Azriel stands next to you, gently rubbing at your shoulders. Worry clear in their faces. You take in each of them letting out a deep sigh. “Did someone hurt you?” Azriel practically growled out.

You shake your head no. “No, no. Just some females talking about me and our relationship.” They all seem to tense at that. Rhys takes your hands in his large ones. “What did they say?”

“That it this isn’t real. And they don’t understand how you picked me, that I’m a gold-digging whore and all that.” You could feel the anger rolling off them, Cassian especially. “Sweetheart, who said this?” Taking another deep breath you close your eyes and exhale.

You didn’t want this to cause any problems. But if you don’t tell them it will eat at you and them. “Myla.” Cassian shoots up so fast Azriel has to grip his shoulder to keep him in place. Rhys stands trying to calm him. “Don’t do anything rash Cass. If you do something it won’t end well.”

Your eyes dart between the three of them. Your mind is racing about what the silent conversation between them is. Cassian was clearly fuming and wasn’t calming down until you say something. “Cass,” you whisper, “look at me.” You stand pulling him into the chair, placing yourself on his lap. Wrapping your arms around his wide shoulders you place your face in his neck.

Cassian relaxed under your touch and he pulls you in tighter. “It’s ok Cass. It’s not a big deal.” He sighs through his nose. Cassian looks at Rhys and Az, fury swirling in his hazel eyes.

The next afternoon you accompanied them to a meeting including the other leaders and higher-ups of the camp. You spotted Lord Devlon speaking with another male in similar Illyrian leathers. You stop thinking about the male and take your seat between Rhys and Cassian. Reaching under the table you give Cassian’s hand a loving squeeze with a small smile which he returns.

Facing the room your eyes go wide as you watch Myla stride over to Devlon and the other male. You hear the male introduce her as his daughter. You look at Cassian, his face set in anger. “Anything else you want to tell me about her?” You whisper. “She’s my ex.” He bites out. Your eyes go wide at the confession.

You feel Rhys gently caress your mind, “She means nothing to him. Remember he’s with you, we’re with you. She was always jealous she couldn’t have Cassian and now you do. Hell, you have all three of us.” He breathes out a laugh.

Rhys is right. The Mother matched you with the three of them. You didn’t need to angry with her. Honestly now you just wanted to make her jealous. You give Rhys a quick peck on his cheek, then wave Azriel down from his standing position behind you and kiss him as well. At this point everyone is seated as you turn to Cassian.

You can feel Myla’s eyes on you. You catch her unpleasant face out of the corner of your eye and smirk. Placing your hand on the back of his neck you pull him into you, giving him a deep quick kiss. After you break apart Cass smirks. Myla dramatically groans standing from the table. She rushes out the door and slams it behind her.

Azriel hides his laugh behind a cough. Rhys clears his throat, “Well, now that that’s done with shall get started?”

tags: @rigelus @auggiesolovey @bubybubsters @baybay123455 @msiecrane @aroseinvelaris @twsssmlmaa

[elly-grace]

The love of my life

Pairing: Joe Burrow x Reader

Warning: idiots in love

Word count: 1234

Disclaimer: just pretend that’s how the championship game went idk how it actually went lol.

LSU 2020

The Tiger stadium had never been so packed before. The atmosphere was the best it’s ever been. You could tell the players were definitely feeding off the vibes of the stadium.

“Burrow steps back looking for an open man down field. And he found his man Chase. He’s at the 40, 30, 20, 10. TOUCHDOWN TIGERS!”

The roar of the crowd is deafening. This was it, all that stood between them and the championship was 2 minutes.

Two minutes of amazing game play, two final minutes of being in a LSU tiger jersey for some. Two minutes of watching your best friends play on the field together for the last time.

Tears stream down your face knowing that your best friend led the team to an undefeated season. There was no doubt in your mind, he’s going to the NFL.

You're pulled out of your thoughts by your other best friend Myla elbowing you. As you come to your senses you feel someone stare at you. On the sidelines not paying any attention to the game was Joe Burrow. He looked at you concerned.

You motioned to him to turn around and pay attention to the game with a stern look on your face. He didn’t listen, he kept looking at you.

“How can two people be so oblivious?” Myla said in a sing-song voice.

You rolled my eyes at her and started walking to the fence of the bleachers where Joe could see you.

“Hey Burrow, pay attention to the game. You can’t ruin your perfect record. What if you need to go back out there?”

“You're crying?”

“I’ll tell you later. Now pay attention to the game.” You said then started walking back to your seat. By the time you made it back there were only 30 seconds on the clock.

The Tigers won the game. You were so happy and proud of your friends. But you were also sad Justin and Joe are going to the NFL draft. Tears start to stream down your face again.

“You seriously need to stop crying.”

You have Myla a dirty look.

“So you're not at all sad that Justin just played his last game with Joe and Marr? You’re going to have one sad boyfriend for a little bit.”

“Keep saying that’s why you're crying, I don't believe you.”

You just ignore her and run down to the tunnels to meet the boys. When you hear a voice call out to you

“Y/n wait up.” You turned around next to the tunnel to see Josh, a boy from your history class.

“Hey Josh, how are you?”

“Good, so I was wondering if maybe you want-“

He was cut off as you felt strong arms wrap around you.

“No she wouldn’t. Bye now.”

“Joseph, what if I wanted to go on a date with him?”

He scoffed, he was shocked by what you just said. You have never been one to accept date offers from men. He’d never admit it but he liked that, because that meant he still had a chance.

“Now tell me why you were crying.”

You couldn’t believe that this man just cockblocked you and is now making demands. You just scoffed, seeing Ja’marr walk out you ignored Joe and ran to Marr.

“CONGRATS MARR!” You gave him a hug. And he picked you up and spun you around.

Joe's heart broke a little at the sight. Justin saw the exchange between You and Ja’marr and walked over to Joe.

“You need to tell her.”

Joe looked up at Justin in shock.

“Tell her what?”

“Man we’re not oblivious, you��ve clearly got feelings for her. Tell her before someone beats you to it.” He said and Joe sighed he knew Justin was right but he didn’t know how to convey his feelings for you.

LSU February 2020

History lecture couldn’t go any slower. The lecture hall was small and stuffy, it was meant to fit 20 students tops. But this lecture was with 42 students. Sure, cram this lecture in the smallest lecture hall.

At least Myla and Ja’marr were in this class. The three of you are paying partial attention to the professor. You loved history and obviously were the one paying the most attention out of the three. Jotting down notes occasionally that undoubtedly Myla and Ja’marr were going to copy.

When the hour and a half was up you gathered your stuff and left. You didn’t hear the voices calling after you. Finally a hand reaching your shoulder startled you.

“Hey Y/n how was lecture?”

You turned around to see Joe, you’ve been avoiding him since he cockblcoked you. You rolled your eyes and started walking away again.

“Y/n I’m sorry. How many times do I need to say it till you forgive me?”

“Please leave me alone Joe.”

“Y/n please you’re my best friend.”

“Maybe I’m tired of being your friend.”

“You. You don’t mean that.”

“I- I can’t be your friend Joe.”

“Y/n stop. Tell me what’s wrong”

“I have to go.”

You walked away as tears started to stream down your face.

“I THINK I LOVE YOU Y/N.”

You froze, too shocked to move. Finally you pinch yourself to make sure you weren’t dreaming. You’ve wanted to hear those words out of his mouth since last year. When you met it was love at first sight. You finally turn around and see tears on his face as well.

“I-I, have feelings for you Joe.”

“Then please stay even if we’re just friends. If we date and things don’t work out. I can't lose you.”

“Why would you date me?”

“Because as I stated I think I have feelings for you. Hell, I think I love you. Please let me take you on a date. One date is all I ask.”

“One date if things don’t go well l then friends.”

“Deal”

A smile appears on both of your faces.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you that for a while”

You stared at him dumbfounded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was afraid you didn’t feel the same. But seeing you almost walk out my life I knew I needed to tell you. You deserved to know at least.”

“Joe, how could you have thought I didn’t feel the same? I’ve been falling for you since Marr introduced you to me.”

You both laugh realizing you could have been together since last year.

“Let’s get out of here. Also you owe me an answer still.”

He grabbed your hand as he dragged you out of the building.

“Of course you’d remember.”

“The girl I'm pretty sure I'm in love with was crying, of course I remember.”

“I was crying cause that was the last time I’ll ever see you in a tigers uniform. The last time you and Marr will play together. The last time you and Justin will play together.” You paused. “The last time I might ever get to see you do what you love. At least in person because you're going to the nfl.”

“Y/n I’m not leaving you! I’m going to call you every night from wherever I’m drafted to. You’ll be at some of my games I know, I’ll even save the tickets for you Ja’marr and Myla.”

“Okay I am totally in love with you.”

Joe leans in.

“Can I kiss you?”

“Yes”

[saybiwithme]

Myla can’t keep making me laugh out loud as much as she is

[henry-fox-biggest-stan]

Chappell Roan and Casey McQuiston let’s go

Good Luck, Babe - Shara Wheeler!!! Shara heard this for the first time when it came out and dropped to her knees.

Naked In Manhattan - One Last Stop!! The most One Last Stop song to ever One Last Stop. Seriously. It’s SO them.

Casual - Alex after the lakehouse. I know you’re thinking “but the song is so Henry!! Two weeks and your mom invites me to her house in Long Beach!” but you’re wrong. Henry meant for it to be casual the whole time, and when it was clear than for Alex it wasn’t casual, he ran. It was never casual for Henry, sure, but Alex thought it was after he left the lakehouse. Also Jane when August kept insisting the kisses were purely “for research”.

Picture You - Somehow both Henry and August.

Pink Pony Club - IKSW cast after leaving False Beach in the future (specially Shara), also August through the book, with all the people she met (oh Santa Monica, you’ve been too good to me)

My Kink Is Karma - Chloe Green!

HOT TO GO! - I feel like this will fit The Pairing (no I haven’t read it, but I do have read reviews)

Red Wine Supernova - August!! I mean, “she was a playboy, she showed me things I didn’t know, she did it right there, out on the deck, put her canine teeth on the side of my neck” and “fell in love with the thought of you” is SO august.

Femininomenon - Nora, Shara, and Myla would know the whole song from memory and scream it during car rides.

California - Teen Jane after running away from home to be herself, finding herself missing her sisters and her parents.

Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl - June Claremont-Diaz the super graphic ultra modern girl that you are.

Kaleidoscope - Henry before the lakehouse, thinking than Alex would eventually get tired of him and it was all just casual fun.

Die Young - Somehow, Bea (before rehab)

Coffee - Kit perhaps. Again, haven’t read the pairing, but based on reviews (containing spoilers) then…

After Midnight - Our bisexual icon, Alex (while drunk)

Guilty Pleasure - August! Also Shara (guilty cause you know)

Love Me Anyway - Both Alex and Henry!!! “When I met you at summer camp, I would never give you the chance,” Alex hating Henry after meeting him at Rio, and Henry wanting to keep distance from Alex. “Turned you down at your high school dance” Alex insisting to keep things casual and Henry leaving the lakehouse.

Good Hurt - Baby Henry with Philip’s uni friend, who he knows is not the best choice, but he’s just lonely and grieving and needs someone, anyone.

Meantime - Perhaps Liam’s pov of his situationship with Alex during high school.

Sugar High - Rory about Smith.

Bad For You - idk (and no, it is not rwrb)

The Subway - DUH august during the month she thought Jane went back to the 70s. Also Alex after the lakehouse, but mostly August.

rest in peace, chappell roan, you would LOVE one last stop

[cowboybarzy]

Hi can you write a fic for part 4 of unexpected. Where Reader brings Myla to her first Islanders game? You can be creative and add more to the request I just couldn’t think of anything else to add to it. 😂

hii!! tysm for the request!! sorry it took so long but then I thought it’d be more fitting to post it at the actual season start!

so I decided to do more one shots of this series than actual longer parts, so feel free to keep sending in requests if you want to see more :)

word count: 620 part of the unexpected series

"Oh no, baby girl, don't fall asleep. You're gonna miss your daddy's first game," you whispered to you daughter as you rocked her in her carrier, trying to keep her awake, but that only seemed to make her sleepier. She looked so adorable cuddled up against you in a fuzzy beat suit and big noise canceling headphones. And now at five months old, she started to look a lot more than her father. Her eyebrows bent like his, her eyes shined green at times, and her smile was just as crooked as Mat's. You took a quick picture of her and sent it to Mat, hoping he'd still see it before he had to go on the ice.

"How's she doing?," Sydney Martin came up to you, her own to kids attached to her.

"Sleepy." You laughed and stroked her little cheek, before bending down to little Winnie, complementing her cute Islanders outfit. She twirled around for you, loving the affection and you had a vision of baby Myla in a few years cheering for her dad.

It was the first official game of the season for Islanders and for that occasion the girls decided to rent out a suit, especially because of all the kids around. You hung out with the other, mingling with Mat's family as well who flew out here for the home opener.

For warmup's you went down to the ice level where Mat stopped to say 'hi' almost immediately after stepping on the ice. His grin was enormous when he saw you two standing there. He was so proud to have you here and his daughter at her first game. He tried his best making silly faces at her to get her to laugh or even smile, but she didn't seem to recognize him and eventually the sleepiness got to her.

Unfortunately, you couldn't quite enjoy the game like you usually do, not wanting to disturb sleeping Myla, so you did away at the back of the suit following the game on the big TV with a virgin cocktail. You were joined by some of the other girls with smaller children so it wasn't too lonely.

After the game, you made your way to the car, too tired to mingle more. You put Myla in her car seat and spent some time soothing her back to sleep after she woke up because of the transfer. A while later the trunk opened, making you jump, and Mat popped his head in dropping his bags. "Hi!"

"Hi," you whispered excitedly as you turned back to face him. He closed the trunk as quietly as possible, but instead of jumping right in the driver's seat, he stopped by Myla.

"Hi, pretty girl," he whispered pressing soft kisses to her face. "I'm so so happy you were here tonight."

"She can't hear you."

"So?" He stuck his tongue out at you, before finally climbing in the driver's seat. "Hi."

He grabbed you face and kissed you deeply. "I'm happy you were here, too."

"You did good."

"Might have had something to do with who was in the audience." You smiled and got another long kiss from him. "Alright, let's go home. I'm beat."

"Me too. I don't really remember the last time we stayed up so late." You both chuckled.

"Oh, look." As Mat was hooking up his phone to the car he showed you his new wallpaper. It was the picture of the three of you his mom had taken earlier during warmups. A loving warmth spread throughout your body and you leaned over to kiss him again. You would never get tired of your little family. "Seriously though, how did she do tonight?"

[no-punintended]

small one last stop moments that rot my brain (a non-exhaustive list)

-jane staring at august's mouth while she chews on a pencil and august getting self-conscious about it even though jane is admiring her (pg. 122)

-jane relaxing when niko says august and he are "meeting his girlfriend in soho" becuase it means niko and august aren't together (pg. 99)

-myla scratching niko's beard scruff!!! (pg. 259)

-when jane says "i'm almost there" when remembering a memory and august's brain shorts out (pg. 141)

-bao (pg. 334)

-when jane gets sheepish about kissing august before the first sex scene because she "doesn't know what august likes" (pg. 217)

-jane wearing skinny jeans and billowy button downs/crew necks when she's off the Q (pg. 414)

-when august takes a pencil out of her hair and shakes it out and jane honest-to-god gawks at her and august thinks she's "bemused" and not falling in love (pg. 149)

-the way august refers to jane as both handsome (pg. 411) and pretty (pg. 165)

[racecarcat]

who is rhiddon vidhya? i’d love to know

Let me warn you… the Rhiddion, Vidya, and Cato saga consists of FAR too many characters of my ocs to the point it could be considered its own plot in itself. That being said I can explain the Rhiddion/Vidya dynamic pretty well ^^ (this is my most developed oc group I kid u not)

SO Rhiddion (whose real name I decided would be Jade… and then the hsr Jade came and I never changed it since but it’s not like anybody uses it$ is a member of the “Jubilant & Joyous Circus!” elation faction I made up, and Vidya is a Stellaron Hunter! They’re longtime rivals and used to be friends until Vidya quite literally kicked him off the planet.

To briefly summarize their whole dynamic and past work one another; they used to be students at the Intelligentsia Guild who were considered “the best of their time” and were often butting heads because they were always fighting for that #1 spot in each of their classes together that they were always evenly matched against one another—Cato (another oc) was the only one who could settle them down and get them to become at the very least close and Vidya and Rhiddion only managed to get closer because of Cato.

They went on and graduated at the top of their classes and went on to build a laboratory on a planet with a thriving ecosystem! Therefore they could study and cultivate and record their studies in peace, and life went great for them for a long, long time.

That was, until Vidya took a personal expedition for mysterious purposes and came back entirely and completely differently—she locked herself in her study for about 6 months before she was forcefully checked upon by Rhiddion for her mental wellbeing where he found her room a mess and covered in papers and energy drinks and it looked like someone had ransacked the place. Apparently Vidya had been hardly eating, sleeping, or even drinking or doing any basic necessities for herself because she was researching something Rhiddion couldn’t mentally comprehend. Vidya claimed to have “received the gift of the future from the erudition” and went crazy trying to figure out what it meant.

Rhiddion and Vidya get into an extremely large argument about her mental state, and Vidya claims that he’s been hiding the last piece of information she needs to figure out what vision she was given meant. Rhiddion claims to not have.

And so, because Rhiddion doesn’t tell her anything, Vidya claims him to be disloyal to their research facility and gets many people to be in the democratic vote of exiling him. So he gets an anti-gravity device attached to him, and he’s sent off into space.

And this is where their lives split—where Rhiddion meets a young girl named Jyotika (soon to be named Machiko) and Vidya continues her descent into madness. As for Cato, she finds the information Rhiddion has been denying having to Vidya.

TLDR: Vidya and Rhiddion went from academic rivals to friends to coworkers to mortal enemies and Vidya sends him to go join the circus.

And unfortunately it doesn’t stop there this causes a MASSIVE series of chain reactions for a lot of characters. Hehe I fear you’ve unlocked a rabbit hole myla 🤭

[marymary-diva17]

Where I belong

female spider and ash Navi

There was a saying on earth and among the humans " The sins of the father" well that become something that myla had become use to over the years. She knew she was not welcome among the human or the navi all because of who her parents were, their actions and crimes had been passed down onto her. No matter what she had done she was seen as bad child or demon girl. All she ever wishes for in life was to have everyone around here see her as one of them, and not some demon child but those wishes seem to be child's play or dreams.

myla " do you think they made their final vote"

kiro " don't worry myla everything will be okay there no way dad will have, them kick you out we have come to your defense"

myla " thanks everyone"

tsireya " everything will be alright myla my father will make sure of it as well"

neteyam " hey here comes someone"

warrior " the sky child come now with me they wish to tell you the vote"

lo'ak " we are coming as well" everyone had left the area and followed the warrior it seems like everyone had gather to hear the decision, about what will happen to myla.

tonowari " myła is had been decided fully among us about you staying here after the awful events that had unfolded"

myla " yes sir"

tonowari " we have all decided no on you staying here it not safe for anyone if you are here" there had been some whispers heard among the navi as they watched and listened.

kiro " that mean she can't live here but she can live with norm and max right, along with the other humans"

max " I'm sorry myla but you can't stay with us either there to much at stake"

lo'ak " that sounds like a lie"

neytiri "lo'ak"

lo'ak " no mom myla our friend she can't kick her out like that she still a kid"

ronal " that demon no kid she pure evil like that father of her, she has caused to much damage"

myla " Jake please please I don't know where to go"

Jake " you will be sent to base away from her it will be good for you"

myla " alone or will be someone be coming with me"

Jake " alone I fear everyone else has their own families and responsibilities, and you are old enough to be alone we will check in with you here and there"

myla " please I don't want to be alone"

Jake " myla stop this right now you will accept this vote it good and you will learn to live with it, and maybe there will be chance you can come back here"

kiro " then we will go with her as well"

lo'ak " yes if she outcast then we will go as well"

neytiri " no you will not be going with the demon you, she not one of us she will never be one of us"

kiro " mom you are being rude all of you"

myla " it okay kiro I will pack my stuff and get ready to leave" myla felt like crying but she was not going to show them, she was broken she had packed her stuff with the help of her friends and mo'at.

mo'at " here some stuff from the forest it will help you"

myla " thank you"

kiro " I'm so sorry but I will come see you ever chance I get, and mom can't stop me"

myla " thank you"

lo'ak " we will call as well to see how you are doing"

myla " thank you"

tuk " we are going to miss you myla"

myla " i will miss you all as well old friends and new ones"

norm " hey kid we have to get going"

myla " coming" myla had hugged everyone one last time she walked off with norm, she had passed by the couple she had saved form the rda. they looked like they wish to say something but didn't as myla kept on walking.

Jake " myla i hope one day you will understand where I'm coming from I need to protect my family and the clan"

myla " yes sir good bye sir" myla had gotten onto the helicopter as she was taken far far away. After some flying they soon landed to where she will be staying it was so far away, that seem to be the goal.

max " well kid you have everything here and if you get low tell us"

myla " okay"

norm " we will see you soon okay and hey maybe you can decorate up this place"

myla " sure I can do that and hey if I see any trouble I will call"

norm " sure myla we are sorry we wanted to ...."

myla " I know I understand" myla was soon all alone she spent up to a two weeks or longer of being alone she had lost count or she thought she was completely alone here. One day myla had been out gather some supplies for herself as getting in contact with everyone seem to be failing. It seems like myla was getting use to be alone and not feeling like she really belonged.

myla " yes these will be good I can make something out of them" myla was gathering when she finally got enough that she needed, she soon started walking.

myla " wow I finally get to see more of this place" the groud soon started shaking many myla panic, as the ground gave out from under her as she soon fall. She had landed on the ground and soon felt so much pain in her body.

myla " I need to call for help" myla had gotten out her ear piece and started making the call for help.

myla " norm I need help something happened over here and I'm ..." myla had only heard Static on the other line she was not getting a call, she soon got herself up and started walking a bit.

myla " i can't get back up there maybe I can find other way and make a better call or fix myself up" myla was walking to her best ability but that pain was so much. She soon found a cave and decided to take shelter in there, she was doing her best to rest and make a call once again.

myla " ahhh"

????? " she had gone in there"

myla " ....." myla had thought maybe norm had gotten her call maybe it went through and they had tracked her.

myla " N..." she was about to call our norm or jake name when she was a strange navi coming out from the shadows, with a few others as well.

myla " please .... I don't ...mean any harm .... I ...."

????? " mawey maw young one it okay"

???? " she looks like to have a fever along with being hurt as well"

myla " i ...."

???? " hush it will be okay we are taking her send someone ahead" before myla could say anything else she had soon passed out, she had been caught by one of the strangers. They had looked at each other and soon at her, as they all soon ager her things and soon left the cave.

some time later

myla " umm" myla had soon opened her eyes and saw she was healer hut maybe she was back with the village or another village, she didn't know until she heard a gasped. She had looked around to see some young warriors looking at her or they seem to be warriors to her.

myla " hello"

???? " go get them tell them the girl has woken up now go get them, but tell the tshaik and healer first" the other warriors had left while one stood there holing the door open, as myla should see everything and it looked beautiful for what she can see.

???? " the child is awake"

???? " yes she awake and seem to be enjoying the view" soon a women had stepped into the hut.

myla " hello"

????? " hello young one I'm tshaik Oing"

myla " hello Oing i see you"

Oing " hello myla I see you as well and you are beautiful girl"

myla " how do you know my name I ...."

????? " let me see my daughter I need to know if she okay" soon a face myla thought she wouldn't see in long time, had soon stepped into the home.

myla " hey"

quairtch " hey there sweetie you are wake"

????? " hey quaritch how the kid ... hey myla"

myla " hey everyone" myla soon saw the rest of her father team by the entrance soon one them stepped into the room carrying a medical kit.

prager " hey myla I'm going to check to see how you are doing"

Oing " your daughter injuries will heal quritch she is lucky, the great mother was on her side"

quaritch " thank you"

prayer " well she good but she going to need to take it easy"

oing " i second that as well"

????? " move please give my sister and them space to work you are all crowded" soon a women had stepped into the room, and it was easy to tell she was the one in changer of the clan.

myla " hello"

quaritch " varang this is my daughter I have told you about"

Varrang " yes ma quaritch wow she is very beautiful and strong as well, even braver to stay alone for this long amount to time"

myla " olo'eythe varrang thank you for help me"

Varrang " you are welcome child my warrior had stopped your come and have been following you, they brought you hear last night but you were unconscious and hurt"

varrang " my sister and the healer from your father group had been able to help you, along with others as well"

myla " thank you all"

quaritch " may I have some time with my daughter"

varrang " yes we shall leave the father and daughter to talk everyone" everyone soon left the room leave the daughter and father alone.

Quaritch " we had been watching to see if anyone else will come and they didn't"

myla " i want to say they are busy but that a lie they were just keeping me away"

quaritch " even after all you had done they still see you evil and that because of me"

myla " they had always thought that there was probably low chances of being fully welcome by any of them"

quaritch " the youth seem to like you"

myla " yeah most of them but I had been blamed for fights between families and marriages ... heck I might ended some marriages"

quairtch " then that on them not you look I know we don't have the best relationship, but I wish for you to stay here"

myla " will the clan let me stay"

quaritch " yes Varrang has spoken about it with her sister and higher up and it look like you are staying here, as your old base is gone we brought back some stuff but not all of it"

myla " thank you"

quaritch " your welcome and once you are heal enough you can started getting use to the new home"

myla " thank you"

quaritch " your welcome kiddo" quaritch had hugged her daughter he really wanted to fight Jake sully, but the only one who was stopping him and his team from doing that is myla. Even after everything she was still being nice to them. She had spent that night caught up with her father and everyone else, along with getting to know Varrang and Oing. She will later find out there is relationship between quaritch and varrag, she had nothing against it as they seem perfect together.

myla " ........" one night myla had not woken up it was like she was deeper slumber, and nothing anyone did will wake her up worry everyone.

prager " I have tried everything I know we don't have the proper tools and what got some the place will not help official"

Varrag " there most be a way"

Z dog " yes prager you are best medic we have"

Prager " i will try what I can do"

lopez " we can't lose the kid"

quaritch " we will not my daughter and fighter"

Oing " there one way we can help her bring here to tree of souls right now" Quaritch had picked his daughter up and they all went straight to the tree with clan. They had placed her in small hole and laid her down there.

Lopez " what next"

Oing " we will burry here and let the roots and vines cover her and pray"

quaritch " whatever can help my daughter" everyone had one what was need and soon the prays had began as everyone waited, they all saw myla being covered by dirt/vines. and roots as everything started glowing and soon it ended.

lyle " someone tell me it worked please" soon myla had moved out from the nature wrapped from her, but she didn't come back as human she now had navi body.

myla " what is going on why is everyone looking at me like that ... oh look I'm blue that cool ahh I'm blue"

oing " breath it okay it seems like the great mother has finally given you a dreamwalker body"

myla " wow that cool" everyone had become happy to see myla was okay, they soon had went home myla was give some new clothes as her old ones had become dirty.

Varrang " here is myla" myla soon stepped out of the hut showing everyone her new look.

z dog " wow kid love the new look"

myla " thank you"

quaritch " now you are always something you always had been navi"

myla " thank you"

????? " hey myla come play hangout with us"

myla " sure can I go"

quaritch " sure go have some fun" myla ahd ran off with some teens laughing and talking, she had felt like she didn't belong but maybe after all she did know where she belonged. IT had taken her a while but she soon seem to see that she did being after after, it might of take her a long time and she had been through some trails but now she was navi and belonged to pandora and is one of her children.

[mapsontheweb]

The expansion of the Roman Empire to AD 117.

by Undevicesimus

From its humble origins as a group of villages on the Tiber in the plains of Latium, Rome came to control one of the greatest empires in history, reaching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Tigris and from the North Sea to the Sahara Desert. Its extensive legacy continues to serve as a lowest common denominator not only for the nations and peoples within its erstwhile borders, but much of the modern world at large. Roman law is the foundation for present-day legal systems across the globe, the Latin language survives in the Romance languages spoken on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and beyond, Roman settlements developed into some of Europe’s most important cities and stood model for many others, Roman architecture left some of history’s finest manmade landmarks, Christianity – the Roman state religion from AD 395 – remains the world’s dominant faith and Rome continues to feature prominently in Western popular culture… Rome rose in a geographically favourable location: on the left bank of the Tiber, not too far from the sea but far enough inland to be able to control important trade routes in central Italy: southwest from the Apennines alongside the Tiber, and from Etruria southeast into Latium and Campania. In later ages, the Romans always had much to tell about the founding and early history of their city: tales about the twin brothers Romulus and Remus being raised by a she-wolf, the founding of Rome by Romulus on 21 April 753 BC and the reign of the Seven Kings (of which Romulus was the first). According to Roman accounts, the last King of Rome – Tarquinius Superbus – was expelled in 510 BC, after which the Roman aristocracy established a republic ruled by two annually elected magistrates (Latin: pl. consulis) with the support of the Senate (Latin: senatus), a council made up of the leaders of the most prominent Roman families. Often at odds with their neighbours, the Romans considered military service one of the greatest contributions common people could make to the state and the easiest way for a consul to gain both power and prestige by protecting the republic. The Romans booked their first major triumph by conquering the Etruscan city Veii in 396 BC and went on to defeat most of the Latin cities in central Italy by 338 BC, despite the Celtic sack of Rome in 387 BC. Throughout the second half of the fourth century BC, the republic expanded in two different ways: direct annexation of enemy territory and the creation of a complex system of alliances with the peoples and cities of Italy. Shortly after 300 BC, nearly all the peoples of Italy united to stop Roman expansion once and for all – among them the Samnites, Umbrians, Etruscans and Celts. Rome obliterated the coalition in the decisive Battle of Sentinum (295 BC) and thus became the strongest power in Italy. By 264 BC, Rome controlled the Italian peninsula up to the Po Valley and was powerful enough to challenge its principal rival in the western Mediterranean: Carthage. The First Punic War began when the Italic people of Messana called for Roman help against both Carthage and the Greeks of Syracuse, a request which was accepted surprisingly quickly. The Romans allied with Syracuse, conquered most of Sicily and narrowly defeated the Carthaginian navy at Mylae in 264 BC and Ecnomus in 256 BC – the largest naval battles of Antiquity. Roman fleets gained a decisive victory off the Aegates Islands in 241 BC, ending the war and forcing the Carthaginians to abandon Sicily. Taking advantage of Carthage’s internal troubles, Rome seized Sardinia and Corsica in 238 BC. Rome’s frustration at Carthage’s resurgence and subsequent conquests in Spain sparked the Second Punic War, in which the Carthaginian commander Hannibal crossed the Alps and invaded the Italian peninsula. The Romans suffered massive defeats at the Trebia in 218 BC, Lake Trasimene in 217 BC and most famously at Cannae in 216 BC where over 50,000 Romans were slain – the largest military loss in one day in any army until the First World War. However, Hannibal failed to press his advantage and continued an increasingly pointless campaign in Italy while the Romans conquered the Carthaginian territory in Spain and ultimately brought the war to Africa. Hannibal’s army made it back home but was decisively defeated by Scipio Africanus at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, securing Rome’s hard-fought victory in arguably the most important war in Roman history. Firmly in command of much of the western Mediterranean, Rome turned its attention eastwards to Greece. Less than fifty years after the Second Punic War, Rome had crushed the Macedonian kingdom – an erstwhile ally of Hannibal – and formally annexed the Greek city-states after the destruction of Corinth in 146 BC. That very same year, the Romans finished off the helpless Carthaginians in much the same way, burning the city of Carthage to the ground and annexing its remaining territory into the new province of Africa. With Carthage, Macedon and the Greek cities out of the way, Rome was free to deal with the Hellenic kingdoms in Asia Minor and the Middle East, the remnants of Alexander the Great’s empire. In 133 BC, Attalus III of Pergamum left his realm to Rome by testament, gaining the Romans their first foothold in Asia. As the Romans expanded their borders, the unrest back in Rome and Italy increased accordingly. The wars against Carthage and the Greeks had seriously crippled the Roman peasants whom abandoned their home to campaign for years in distant lands, only to come back and find their farmland turned into a wilderness. Many peasants were thus forced to sell their land at a ridiculously low price, causing the emergence of an impoverished proletarian mass in Rome and an agricultural elite in control of vast swathes of countryside. This in turn disrupted army recruitment, which heavily relied on middle class peasants who were able to afford their own arms and armour. Two possible solutions could remove this problem: a redistribution of the land so that the peasantry remained wealthy and large enough to be able to afford their military equipment and serve in the army, or else allowing the proletarian masses to enter military service and make the army into a professional body. However, both options would threaten the position of the Roman Senate: a powerful peasantry could press calls for more political influence and a professional army would bind soldiers’ loyalty to their commander instead of the Senate. The senatorial elite thus stubbornly clung to the existing institutions which were undermining the republic they wanted to uphold. More importantly, the Senate’s attitude and increasingly shaky position, in addition to the growing internal tensions, created a perfect climate for overly ambitious commanders seeking to turn military prestige gained abroad into political power back home. Roman successes on the frontline nevertheless continued: Pergamum was turned into the province of Asia in 129 BC, Roman forces sacked the city of Numantia in Spain that same year, the Balearic Islands were conquered in 123 BC, southern Gaul became the new province of Gallia Narbonensis in 121 BC and the Berber kingdom of Numidia was dealt a defeat in the Jughurtine War (112 – 106 BC). The latter conflict provided Gaius Marius the opportunity to reform his army without senatorial approval, allowing proletarians to enlist and creating a force of professional soldiers who were loyal to him before the Senate. Marius’ legions proved their efficiency at the Battles of Aquae Sextiae in 102 BC and Vercellae in 101 BC, virtually annihilating the migratory invasions of the Germanic Cimbri and Teutones. Marius subsequently used his power and prestige to secure a land distribution for his victorious forces, thus setting a precedent: any successful commander with an army behind him could now manipulate the political theatre back in Rome. Marius was succeeded as Rome’s leading commander by Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who gained renown when Rome’s Italic allies – fed up with their unequal status – attempted to renounce their allegiance. Rome narrowly won the ensuing Social War (91 – 88 BC) and granted the Italic peoples full Roman citizenship. Sulla left for the east in 86 BC, where he drove back King Mithridates of Pontus, whom had sought to benefit from the Social War by invading Roman territories in Asia and Greece. Sulla marched on Rome itself in 82 BC, executed many of his political enemies in a bloody purge and passed reforms to strengthen the Senate before voluntarily stepping down in 79 BC. Sulla’s retirement and death one year later allowed his general Pompey to begin his own rise to prominence. Following his victory in the Sertorian War in 72 BC, Pompey eradicated piracy in the Mediterranean Sea in 67 BC and led a campaign against Rome’s remaining eastern enemies in 66 BC. Pompey drove Mithridates of Pontus to flight, annexed Pontic lands into the new province of Bithynia et Pontus and created the province of Cilicia in southern Asia Minor. He proceeded to destroy the crumbling Seleucid Empire and turned it into the new province of Syria in 64 BC, causing Armenia to surrender and become a vassal of Rome. Pompey’s legions then advanced south, took Jerusalem and turned the Hasmonean Kingdom in Judea into a Roman vassal as well. Upon his triumphant return to Rome in 61 BC, Pompey made the significant mistake of disbanding his army with the promise of a land distribution, which was refused by the Senate in an attempt to isolate him. Pompey then concluded a political alliance with the rich Marcus Licinius Crassus and a young, ambitious politician: Gaius Julius Caesar. The purpose of this political alliance – known in later times as the First Triumvirate – was to get Caesar elected as consul in 59 BC, so that he could arrange the land distribution for Pompey’s veterans. In return, Pompey would use his influence to make Caesar proconsul and thus give him the chance to levy his own legions and become a man of power in the Roman Republic. Crassus, the richest man in Rome, funded the election campaign and easily got Caesar elected as consul, after which Caesar secured Pompey’s land distribution. Everything went according to plan and Caesar was made proconsul of Gaul for five years, starting in 58 BC. In the following years, Caesar and his legions systematically conquered all of Gaul in a war which has been immortalised in the accounts of Caesar himself (‘Commentarii De Bello Gallico’). Despite fierce resistance and massive revolts led by the Gallic warlord Vercingetorix, the Gallic tribes proved unable to inflict a decisive defeat on the Romans and were all subdued or annihilated by 51 BC, leaving Caesar’s power and prestige at unprecedented heights. With Crassus having fallen at the Battle of Carrhae against the Parthians in 53 BC, Pompey was left to try and mediate between Caesar and the radicalised Roman proletariat on one side and the politically hard-pressed Senate on the other. However, Pompey had once been where Caesar was now – the champion of Rome – and ultimately chose to side with the Senate, realising his own greatness had become overshadowed by Caesar’s staggering military successes and popularity among the masses. When Caesar’s term as proconsul ended, the Senate demanded that he step down, disband his armies and return to Rome as a mere citizen. Though it was tradition for a Roman commander to do so, rendering Caesar theoretically immune from any senatorial prosecution, the existing political situation made such demands hard to meet. Caesar instead offered the Senate to extend his term as proconsul and leave him in command of two legions until he could be legally elected as consul again. When the Senate refused, Caesar responded by crossing the Rubicon – the northern border of Roman Italy which no Roman commander should cross with an army – and marched on Rome itself in 49 BC. Pompey and most of the senators fled to Dyrrhachium in Greece and assembled their forces while Caesar turned around and conducted a lightning campaign in Spain, defeating the legions loyal to Pompey at the Battle of Ilerda. Caesar crossed the Adriatic Sea in 48 BC, narrowly escaping defeat by Pompey at Dyrrhachium and retreating south. Pompey clumsily failed to press his advantage and his forces were in turn decisively defeated by Caesar at the Battle of Pharsalus on 6 June 48 BC. Pompey fled to Egypt in hopes of being granted sanctuary by the young king Ptolemy XIII, who instead had him assassinated in an attempt at pleasing Caesar, who was in pursuit. Ptolemy XIII was driven from power in favour of his older sister Cleopatra VII, with whom Caesar had a brief romance and his only known son, Caesarion. In the spring and summer of 47 BC, another lightning campaign was launched northwards through Syria and Cappadocia into Pontus, securing Caesar’s hold on Rome’s eastern reaches and decisively defeating the forces of Pharnaces II of Pontus, who had attempted to profit from Rome’s internal strife. Caesar invaded Africa in 46 BC and cleared Pompeian forces from the region at the Battles of Ruspina and Thapsus before returning to Spain and defeating the last resistance at the Battle of Munda in 45 BC. Caesar subsequently began transforming the Roman government from a republican one meant for a city-state to an imperial one meant for an empire. Major reforms were required to achieve this, many of which would be opposed by Caesar’s political enemies. This was a problem because several of these people enjoyed significant political influence and popular support (cf. Cicero) and while none of them could really challenge Caesar individually and publicly, collectively and secretly they could be a serious threat. To render his enemies politically impotent, Caesar consolidated his popularity among the Roman masses by passing reforms beneficial to the proletariat and enlarging the Senate to ensure his supporters had the upper hand. He then manipulated the Senate into granting him a number of legislative powers, most prominently the office of dictator for ten years, soon changed to dictator perpetuus. Though widely welcomed by the masses, Caesar’s reforms and legislative powers dismayed his political opponents, whom assembled a conspiracy to murder him and ‘liberate’ Rome. The conspirators, of whom Brutus and Cassius are the most famous, were successful and Caesar was brutally stabbed to death on 15 March 44 BC. Caesar’s death left a power vacuum which plunged the Roman world into yet another civil war. In his testament, Caesar adopted as his sole heir his grandnephew Gaius Octavius, henceforth known as Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian, in English). Despite being only eighteen, Octavian quickly secured the support of Caesar’s legions and forced the Senate to grant him several legislative powers, including the consulship. In 43 BC, Octavian established a military dictatorship known as the Second Triumvirate with Caesar’s former generals Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus. Caesar’s assassins had meanwhile fled to the eastern provinces, where they assembled forces of their own and subsequently moved into Greece. Octavian and Antony in turn invaded Greece in 42 BC and defeated them at the Battles of Philippi. Octavian, Antony and Lepidus then divided the Roman world between them: Octavian would rule the west, Antony the east and Lepidus the south with Italy as a joint-ruled territory. However, Octavian soon proved himself a brilliant politician and strategist by quickly consolidating his hold on both the western provinces and Italy, smashing the Sicilian Revolt of Sextus Pompey (son of) in 36 BC and ousting Lepidus from the Triumvirate that same year. Meanwhile, Antony consolidated his position in the east but made the fatal mistake of becoming the lover of Cleopatra VII. In 32 BC, Octavian manipulated the Senate into a declaration of war upon Cleopatra’s realm, correctly expecting Antony would come to her aid. The two sides battled at Actium on 2 September 31 BC, resulting in a crushing victory for Octavian, despite Antony and Cleopatra escaping back to Egypt. Octavian crossed into Asia the following year and marched through Asia Minor, Syria and Judea into Egypt, subjugating the eastern territories along the way. On 1 August 30 BC, the forces of Octavian entered Alexandria. Both Antony and Cleopatra perished by their own hand, leaving Octavian as the undisputed master of the Roman world. Octavian assumed the title of Augustus in January 27 BC and officially restored the Roman Republic, although in reality he reduced it to little more than a facade for a new imperial regime. Thus began the era of the Principate, named after the constitutional framework which made Augustus and his successors princeps (first citizen), commonly referred to as ‘emperor’, and which would last approximately two centuries. Augustus nevertheless refrained from giving himself absolute power vested in a single title, instead subtly spreading imperial authority throughout the republican constitution while simultaneously relying on pure prestige. Thus he avoided stomping any senatorial toes too hard, remembering what had happened to Julius Caesar. Augustus and his successors drew most of their power from two republican offices. The title of tribunicia potestes ensured the emperor political immunity, veto rights in the Senate and the right to call meetings in both the Senate and the concilium plebis (people’s assembly). This gave the emperor the opportunity to present himself as the guardian of the empire and the Roman people, a significant ideological boost to his prestige. Secondly, the emperor held imperium proconsulare. Imperium implied the emperor’s governorship of the so-called imperial provinces, which were typically border provinces, provinces prone to revolt and/or exceptionally rich provinces. These provinces obviously required a major military presence, thereby securing the emperor’s command of most of the Roman legions. The title was proconsulare because the emperor enjoyed imperium even without being a consul. The emperor furthermore interfered in the affairs of the (non-imperial) senatorial provinces on a regular basis and gave literally every person in the empire the theoretical right to request his personal judgement in court cases. Roman religion was also brought under the emperor’s wings by means of him becoming pontifex maximus (supreme priest), a position of major ideological importance. On top of all this, the Senate frequently granted the emperor additional rights which enhanced his power even more: supervision over coinage, the right to declare war or conclude peace treaties, the right to grant Roman citizenship, control over Roman colonisation across the Mediterranean, etc. The emperor was thus the supreme administrator, commander, priest and judge of the empire – a de facto absolute ruler, but without actually being named as such. It is worth noting that Augustus and most of his immediate successors worked hard to play along in the empire’s republican theatre, which gradually faded as the centuries passed. The most important questions nonetheless remained the same for a long time after Augustus’ death in AD 14. Could the emperor keep himself in the Senate’s good graces by preserving the republican mask? Or did he choose an open conflict with the Senate by ruling all too autocratically? Even a de facto absolute ruler required the support and acceptance of the empire’s elite class, the lack of which could prove to be a serious obstacle to any imperial policies. The relationship between the emperor and the Senate was therefore of significant importance in maintaining the political work of Augustus, particularly under his immediate successors. The first four of these were Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero – the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Tiberius was chosen by Augustus as successor on account of his impressive military service and proved to be a capable (if gloomy) ruler, continuing along the political lines of Augustus and implementing financial policies which left the imperial treasuries in decent shape at his death in AD 37 and Caligula’s accession. Despite having suffered a harsh youth full of intrigues and plotting, Caligula quickly gained the respect of the Senate, the army and the people, making a hopeful entry into the Principate. Yet continuous personal setbacks turned Caligula bitter and autocratic, not to say tyrannical, causing him to hurl his imperial power head-first into the senatorial elite and any dissenting groups (most notably the Jews). After Caligula’s assassination in AD 41, the position of emperor fell to his uncle Claudius who, despite a strained relationship with the Senate, managed to play the republican charade well enough to implement further administrative reforms and successfully invade the British Isles to establish the province of Britannia from AD 43 onward. But the Roman drive for expansion had been somewhat tempered after Augustus’ consolidating conquests in Spain, along the Danube and in the east. The Romans had practically turned the Mediterranean Sea into their own internal sea (Mare Internum or Mare Nostrum) and thus switched to territorial consolidation rather than expansion. However, the former was still often accomplished by the latter as multiple vassal states (Judea, Cappadocia, Mauretania, Thrace etc.) were gradually annexed as new Roman provinces. Actual wars of aggression nevertheless ceased to be a main item on the Roman agenda and indeed, the policies of consolidation and pacification paved the way for a long period of internal peace and stability during the first and second centuries AD – the Pax Romana. This should not be idealised, though. On the local level, violence was often one of the few stable elements in the lives of the common people across the empire. Especially among the lowest ranks of society, crimes such as murder and thievery were the order of the day but were typically either ignored by the Roman authorities or answered with brute force. Moreover, the Romans focused on safeguarding cities and places of major strategic or economic importance and often cared little about maintaining order in the vast countryside. Unpleasant encounters with brigands, deserters or marauders were therefore likely for those who travelled long distances without an armed escort. At the empire’s frontiers, the Roman legions regularly fought skirmishes with their local enemies, most notably the Germanic tribes across the Rhine-Danube frontier and the Parthians across the Euphrates. Despite all this, the big picture of the Roman world in the first and second centuries AD is indeed one of lasting stability which could not be discredited so easily. The real threat to the Pax Romana existed not so much in local violence, shady neighbourhoods or frontier skirmishes but rather in the highest ranks of the imperial court. The lack of both dynastic and elective succession mechanisms had been the Principate’s weakest point from the outset and would be the cause of major internal turmoil on several occasions. Claudius’ successor Nero succeeded in provoking both the Senate and the army to such an extent that several provincial governors rose up in open revolt. The chaos surrounding Nero’s flight from Rome and death by his own hand plunged the empire into its first major succession crisis. If the emperor lost the respect and loyalty of both the Senate and the army, he could not choose a successor, giving senators and soldiers a free hand to appoint the persons they considered suitable to be the new emperor. This being the exact situation upon Nero’s death in AD 68, the result was nothing short of a new civil war. To further add to the catastrophe, the civil war of AD 68/69 (the Year of Four Emperors) allowed for two major uprisings to get out of hand – the Batavian Revolt near the mouths of the Rhine and the First Jewish-Roman War in Judea. Both of these were ultimately crushed with significant difficulties, especially in Judea where Jewish religious-nationalist sentiments capitalised on existing political and economic unrest. Though the Romans achieved victory with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the expulsion of the Jews from the city, Judea would remain a hotbed for revolts until deep into the second century AD. The fact that major uprisings arose at the first sign of trouble within the empire might cause one to wonder about the true nature of the Pax Romana. Was it truly the strong internal stability it is popularly known to be? Or was it little more than a forced peace, continuously threatened by socio-economic and political discontent among the many different peoples under the Roman yoke? Though a bit of both, the answer definitely leans towards the former hypothesis. While the Pax Romana lasted, unrest within the empire remained limited to a few hotbeds with a history of resisting foreign conquerors. Besides the obvious example of the Jewish people in Judea, whose anti-Roman sentiments largely stemmed from their unique messianic doctrines, large-scale resistance against the Romans was scarce. It is true that the incorporation and Romanisation of unique societies near the empire’s northern frontiers led to severe socio-economic problems and subsequent uprisings, most notably Boudica’s Rebellion in Britain (AD 60 – 61) and the aforementioned Batavian Revolt near the mouths of the Rhine. Nevertheless, it is safe to assume that the Pax Romana was strong enough to outlast a few pockets of rebellion and even a major succession crisis like the one of AD 68/69. The Year of the Four Emperors ultimately brought to power Vespasian, founder of the Flavian dynasty (AD 69 – 96) and architect of an intensified pacification policy throughout the empire. These policies were fruitful and strengthened the constitutional position of the emperor, not in the least owing to the fact that Vespasian’s sons and successors Titus and Domitian were as capable as their father. However, their skills did not prevent Titus and especially Domitian from bickering with the senatorial elite over the increasingly obvious monarchical powers of the emperor. In the case of the all too authoritarian Domitian, the conflict escalated again and despite his competent (if ruthless) statesmanship, Domitian was murdered in AD 96. A new civil war was prevented by diplomatic means: Nerva emerged as an acceptable emperor to both the Senate and the army, especially when he adopted the popular Trajan as his son and heir. Thus began the reign of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty (AD 96 – 192). Having succeeded Nerva in AD 98, Trajan once more steered the empire onto the path of aggressive expansion, leading the Roman legions across the Danube to crush the Dacians and establish the rich province of Dacia in AD 106. Subsequently, the Romans seized the initiative in the east, drove back the Parthians and advanced all the way to the Persian Gulf (Sinus Persicus). Trajan annexed Armenia in AD 114 and turned the conquered Parthian lands into the new provinces of Mesopotamia and Assyria in AD 116. Trajan died less than a year later on 9 August AD 117, his staggering military successes having brought the Roman Empire to its greatest extent ever…