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    © All Rights Reserved
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    18 views12 pages

    LA - Itinerarium Imperii

    Uploaded by

    DarioLandi

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    of 12
    ITINERARIUM IMPERII THE EMPIRE AND ITS ROAD: Reo seme kts ity and everything tat needed to create the structure of| lization, Infact, while the Greeks deemed that Founding cies and giving them beauty was sufficient our fathers understood that a people also needs safety and comfort. In ancien imes, we began vo channel wate, build sewers and pave sets. The territories were made secure by the passage of cobbled roads. Hill were cue and valleys led so that the stride of out legions and the caviages of cour people could tavere the word, binging peace and prosperity. ‘Compliant with the mandate ofthe great architec Vtnvius, who recommended “oid, tly, and beauty" our roads were built Jat, anid also to make the journey peasant THE ROADS ‘The entre Empire is erosed by almost four hundred vize publica, large and well: paved roads, with the exception of some remote regions Iheyond the Vallum Antoninum, in Britannia, in inner Daca, and Iheyond the Euphrates. From chese main roads radiates a nctwork of minor trod roads, suitable for both horses and heavy carriages, and ounces secondary roads The system is s0 wel connected thatthe Di vine Caesar, departing from Gallia, could reach Brundisium, Apulia, Jn jus three days, alshough with obvious forced stops. The Roads are livid into categories, based on dimension and the level of finiteness AVERAGE JOURNEY TIMES ‘Miles traveled Tinvler pecday Private om a carriage pulled bya horse or + mule From35 1045 ‘Wagon pulled by hors and paved oad. In diffrent conditions, apply the fllowing (umulatve) penalties: on unpaved roads the values go down by one tied (eg, a orse-plled easiage travel nly 25 mikes day on unpaved eas ori the rain); en mountain wads or soowy grounds the values ae haled (eg, an army’ on foot covers only 10 miles day on the mountain) TTINERARIUM IMPERIL Viae publieae, These are wolkpaved main roads (ela ‘iae), wide enough to allow two carriages to pass side by side, berwwen 15 and 18 feec. Usually built and chen maincained by the State they ake their name from the magistrate curating theie construction (hence they can also be defined eonsulaen, prttoriae, and malta), They ‘connect main cites to other important towns and often merge one into the other, forming long trajectories that pass through a number of provinces, like the Via Aurel ia ~ Via Acmilia Scauri~ Via Julia Augusta axis, which, from Rome, leads directly to the Pillars of Hercules, in Ispania, through a path 1,840 miles long, U. Viae privatae. These are roads produced by private cit zens and dedicated to public use, They can be fairly wide and usually connect main toads to minor towns or pri- vate properties, . Viae vicinal. ‘These connect sci, the minor towns, to ‘one another and tothe vize publicge They ate usually un- dr direct control of the city administration. Sometimes zeleatae, most often trod, Vine rusticae. These are county roads, frequently un- ‘paved and simply cro, Caravan routes. The Empire aso stretches to regions ‘where its not possible to lay actual vias, but where ex tremely ancient tracks arestil travelled by caravans cary ing fine wares fom faraway lands, These tracks are hard to cross withoutan adequate guide anda proper means of transportation, usually a mule, and in desert areas mainly camels or dromedaties. SERVICES ALONG THE ROAD ‘The Empire's road network was initially destined for the displace- ment of troops. There was therefore no ced for eateries of places for the restoration of vehicles because our armies are always sl-sufi- cient, But later on, ote beautiful roads alsa welcomed emissries and post riders, as well as ravelers, merchants, and pilgrims, soir became necessary to offer them some kind of asstance. Nowadays the main roads are all riddled with saging poses and tabernae, and journeys are progressively afer and more comfortable. Nanurally, on minor roads And in wastelands it’s hard to be cerain of the quality of services or ofthe honesty oftavern keepers, thus prudence is always advise. (U_ Mansio. This isan offical staging post managed by the ‘Central administration. The name, derived from manere, “to stop”, suggests the idea of a longer say, and they are ‘specially chosen to spend the night. Usually the access ‘to mansiones is reserved to Imperial personnel on official missions, and is chetefore necessary 10 show an official travel documene (diploma), in which the reasons and the ‘manner of raveling must be specified. Occasionally, they ako accommodate personalities and wealthy travelers who received a special permit. They are equipped wich a change of horses, mules, or oxcn, sevice workshops for people and animals, fariers and blacksmiths for resto rations, and veterinaies, TTINERARIU satio vigiliae = guardroom stabulum = stables cohors mediana = central square cella instrumentorum = equipment room armamentarium = armory aula communis = common room sedes mansionarii = mansonarius’ office P cella vinaria et penaria = cellar and pantry _furnus et furnas: = oven and furnace thermae = baths lesrina = lavacory fabricae = workshop cubicula = bedrooms cellae diversae = other rooms sce ‘° rece “lL The chance of hindrances tothe journey is linked tothe typeof road che better the overall path the les Tikely isto have an accident. A ROADS AND RISK OF ACCIDENTS roll on 1d8 will tablish ifthe inconvenience acurs, then 1d6 on the tale blow will sate what kind of problem has arisen D6 roll ‘Type of road Chance of accident Via publica 1 Via privata 12 ‘Via vicinalis 13 Via eustca 14 Caravan route 15 TABLE OF ACCIDENTS ‘Type of accident (One ofthe spokes ofa wheel snapped. In case ia filled wheel a big crack forms from the edge towards the ‘enter. If the damage isnt fixed, the wheel will break within a mile of road. The oad i all of holes, more or less visible: « bump harder than the others snaps the axle joining the wheels ts imposible to cantinue the journey unless you have the necessary material to repair the damage or specialized. personnel, (One ofthe shafts joining the carriage with the animals has loosened the tow is misaligned and this tres the animals and consumes excessively only one side of the whecs. Ifthe problem isn fixed by 143 hours of travel, ‘one ofthe wheels will break and the animals will fuse to move forward. A tertble jolt makes part ofthe cargo fall fom the vehicle. IF is Fagile material the goods can be damaged. ‘A.sthee gets stuck ina mulled hole. To put the vehicle back ontrack, its necessary to unload it, push cout ofthe ole, chen reload it A shoe detaches from the hoof of one ofthe animal pulling the vehicle. you don't have the rools necessary 0 fic i, someone must reach the closest mansio on foot and beg the farrier to come to the place ofthe accident and fix the damage. TTINERARIUM IMPERIL ‘They are often small establishments of theee oF fous joint buildings che smaller mansiones are simply a spacious building, wich a room for tavelers, stables, accommo: dations on the upper floor, and sometimes even a small thermal planc on the fits floor. The mansiones ate sur veilled establishments: on the stret side, chey are closed by a fence, and the entrance gate is watched by a sent rl. In some order areas the mansiones are like a small military encampment. Usially they are located about 15-18 miles from one another, which, om average, isthe distance a carriage can travel, The mansiones are ander command of the praepositus mansionum (also called ‘mansionarius), official commander ofthe garrison. “Mutatio. From muare, “to chang’, since its possible to change horses or mules and rapidly continue the journey, these are more frequent than mansiones, with a disti= bution along the route of about four or Give mutationes for very mansio, On particularly uncomfortable, cough roads, or in places devoid of water sources, the Frequency is even higher, and many ae also equipped with accom= smodations since accidents could prevent reaching the smunsiones, These establishments are offical as well, and they are subjected to the same rules of the mansiones, hence the right to use public animals and provisions is granted only to those who show a regular diploma, “Tabema viaria, These are destined to the asistance of private travelers, and can usually be Found a few steps away from the mansiones. They offer more or lest the same services, except they obviously require payment. IF the Custodes travel undercover, they will have to pay for the service, The quality ofthe tabernse viatiae is very un- even, since they are nor under State control. Therefore, some offer mediocre meals and dirty accommodations, actimes even in the company ofthe beasts, for an absurd price, taking advantage of che state of need che teavel- crs find themselves in, They are very offen frequented by crooks and women of il repute, sais important ro be careful. Many athets, though, havea very good name and attract many visitors, to the point that around some tabernac have emerged actual villages, ike the towns of Tahernae, along the limes, and Tres Tabernae, ‘west of Argentoratum. Stabulum. The word strabulum merely indicates asta ble, which speaks volumes about the nature of these places. They ae, in fict, cheap dives that ofer food and beverages of questionable quality, and are often situated far from the best stations. The sabula, however, offer service to those who must travel on secondaty roads far fiom the comforts of Imperial viae, and a stoke of luce can always happen. Some excellent tabernae viariae satt- ed off humbly, but the ability of the managers and the good cooking of thet wives managed ro transform them fiom mere stabulum co renowned inn, asin the ease of taberna on the Via Appia, near Sinucss, recommended ‘om al travel itineraries, ® PRAEPOSITUS MANSIONUM Average value: DV 6 1 dee Sensi 2 dice: De Ballo, De Coepore, De Scientia (vestigation) 3 dice De Socictate (Command, Negotiation), Ratio Hie Points 12 Weapons Gladius (damage 6) Protection: Covi Loria (protection 3) “The Pracpostum a the head of « mansia is an official who must have many competencies. The fact that he resides in a fixed location and docs fight on the battlefield docanit ‘mean his ob has no challenges. He, infact, has to adapt to unforeseeable situations. Although the manso is reserved for travelers on official missions on behalf of the Empire, i cant be ruled our that civilians in need, unannounced robles, bandits, or crooks might show up. “

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