Secrets Of The Rubicon

just beyond the Rubicon. I can tell you that even there they order the killing of enemies of the state, first with divine rituals, then if this is not enough, with much more," replied Caesar.

"And why then, instead of setting ourselves against the curses of our priests and Ancestors, don't we seek to make a peace agreement with them?" said General Labienus who had no desire to go to war against Rome.

"Because they have become enemies of the state, because of the crimes committed against the citizens and our popular representatives and they will have neither the Gods nor our Ancestors on their side. But I don't intend to defeat them with magical rituals," concluded Caesar.

"Instead it seems that that is what they intend to do, Caesar," replied Curio.

Explain this better."

"From what I have heard, they intend to draw another red line on the second line of defense and make it sacred and impassable," added Curio.

"They want to draw another red line? The one on the Rubicon is no longer enough for them..." Caesar burst out laughing, then added, "... and where would they like to draw this other red line?"

"Right behind the front line of the Prissatellum."

"I understand. So in case that fails, it will be enough for them to retreat behind that line, and they think no armed Roman soldier would dare cross it. But this also means they don't have many legionaries lined up on the Rubicon and they are trying to stop us using fear of the Gods."

Then he added, "Order the annihilation of our legionnaires fears immediately, using counter sacrifices performed by the Druids and Celtic priests of our Gallic legions," ordered Caesar.

"This may work with the Gallic legionaries, since they have more belief in their Druids than in the Gods of Rome, but our Roman legionaries believe in the Flamini and we, as you know, have no Flamini priests following us," replied Curio.

"I know, the Flamini Priests are in the service of the Senate and cannot put themselves in the service of a legion without authorization from Rome. However, I intend to ensure that our legionaries are no longer afraid of subgestitis et superstitis

inculcated by the enemies," replied Caesar.

Curio said to Caesar, "But there could also be another problem besides that of the Flamini."

"Explain!"

"They also intend to influence our Gallic legions on the front line of the prissatellum."

"In what way?"

"There is a very powerful Gorgon Witch

recognized by the common people who lives near the sources of the Urgon

on the mountains above us, who Pompey's men intend to use against the beliefs and fears of our Gallic legionaries," replied Curio, for a moment freezing the attention of all present.

"Mortatibus sibi!

Explain this last thing to me right away," exclaimed Caesar.

The Urgon witch

There is the source of a river on the Romagna Apennines, which is still called Urgon today.

Many believe that the Rubicon originates there, since in the Romagna dialect that word could mean Rubicon, but to tell the truth this is not certain since, in the Romagna dialect, it should be Rubgon or at least Urbgon as well, if you use the Romagna pronunciation as it is fairly closed.

Instead, no one has ever noticed that the word Urgon in ancient Etruscan meant Gorgon, which is a kind of horrible and terrifying witch similar to the legendary Medusa and that where the Urgon rose, there was a place that today is still called Strigara.

Also, a little way after these springs, there is another place that many still consider mysterious, named Gorgoscuro.

But let's return to Curio as he begins to explain the witch of Urgon to everyone.

"This witch lives and casts spells in the mountains near the headwaters of the river."

"She is also said to have access to the underworld, to be able to see the past, present and future, and to resurrect the bodies of the dead, forcing souls to re-enter to create spells and magical hexes."

"And so? Even if it were true, she is not a Goddess, but only an intermedium

between people, the underworld and the Gods. What could she possibly do against us?" replied the commander Mark Anthony.

"Even the Flamini priests are not divinities but only intermediaries between people and the Gods of Rome," answered Curio.

"That's not true, this is blasphemy. The Flamini and our other Roman priests speak with the mouths of the Gods of Rome and are their vicars on earth," replied General Labienus.

"For this reason, it is said that even the Witches speak with the mouth of the underworld and the afterlife," Curio replied.

"Yes, but they are inferior to the Flamini. Flaminis super stitiius striges, sed sub stantias Deis,"

replied Labienus who fervently observed the Roman religion of the time.

"That's not the point. They are trying to influence us so we won't fight. We've seen many similar things used against us during the Gaul campaigns and the Roman legionaries have little fear of barbarian deities, but the Gallic might be held back and frightened by these things. Tell us, Curio, what else do you know about this Gorgon witch," interrupted Caesar to stop the discussion.

"Just before the springs, there is an embankment where an artificial lake has formed, used to regulate the flow of the waters from the Prissatellum River, which separates us from Pompey's legions."

"Informants have also told me they intend to use the Gorgon to curse that water and release it into the river as soon as they see we are preparing to attack them."

"Of course they'll spread the story that anyone who crosses that water will soon die so as to try to stop us from crossing the river."

"Then they will fill the banks of the prissatellum with Gorgon heads and masks tied to poles set into the ground as a limit and border to bring bad luck to those who cross. In this way our legionaries will be affected and filled with fear of crossing that river,"

Curio ended his explanation.

"I'm a little superstitious myself, but if that's the only problem, let's leave all the countermeasures and protections to a couple of Druids in our Gallic legions. Some of them are very good," replied a Gaul commander who was also present.

"What could a Druid do to protect our troops?" asked Caesar quickly.

"Druids don't talk too much about what they can do, but they can free us from spells and curses, woods and places in the forests, leaving you fairies and goblins to guard in their place, they can heal all evil and witches' curses with herbs, cause springs and rivers to become miraculous and magical, they can cast abominations and curses on their enemies that are so powerful that they can paralyze anyone."

"But they refuse to curse the gods of the enemies directly, only to defeat them in battle. Druids curse places and people but not Gods," replied the commander of the Gauls with conviction, by way of explanation.

"How can you be so certain about all this?" asked Hortensius.

"A Druid accompanied me at night under an oak tree in a northern forest and showed me and others many things, also what I've just told you."

"And couldn't it have been a trick or an illusion of the mind?"